Exactly twelve months ago, Timland woke up to this statement, from a Norwegian fellow we’d never heard of, and whose name we couldn’t even pronounce
“I will treasure this opportunity and will give everything I have to achieve success for Celtic,”
It is a magnificent honour to be named the new manager of Celtic, one of the world’s great football clubs and a club I have such enormous respect for.
“I know what I want for Celtic and our supporters and that is the best of everything, it is what our fans deserve.
“I want to deliver the best attacking, exciting and entertaining football we can play, for the players to give their best every time they take to the field of and, of course, I want my players to work with me to achieve the best results possible and bring trophies to Celtic.
“Celtic is in great shape and the club has enjoyed real success in recent years due to the hard work of Neil and his team.
“I want to carry on this work and continue to bring happy times to Celtic. I can’t wait to get started on this journey.”
After what had been a fairly underwhelming recruitment campaign, as one after another turned the job down, or ruled themselves out of the running.
Peter Lawwell tried to make us feel better.
“We believe Ronny will prove to be a fresh and dynamic new manager and someone who will give us a bright and energetic way forward for Celtic.
“Knowing that he was so highly-rated across Europe, Ronny was one of the first candidates we considered as manager.
“Having discussed the opportunity with him at length, we are convinced he has the talent and the determination to deliver very positive results for the club and our supporters.
“Ronny likes to play attacking, winning football, the Celtic way, something I know our supporters will endorse.”
Two days earlier, on June 4, former Celt Vidar Riseth gave us what turned out to be the most prophetic words of all. Riseth warned the players;
“If they are not playing, he will tell them why, If they don’t work the way he wants them to, he will sell them. It’s as simple as that.”
Riseth worked under him at Stromgodset, towards the end of his career;
“Even though he was quite young at that point, he was really, really tough and wanted all the players to work hard on the training pitch and in matches
“He’s tough but fair and always has a good relationship with the players.
And there was encouragement for the fans;
“With the style of football he plays, he will soon make himself a hero to the Celtic supporters.
“If he can get the team to play the way he wants them, the club’s potential will go sky high. He is the man to build the club’s future.”
One year in, he’s spot on.
So, this morning, it’s a happy first anniversary to Ronny, and we are looking forward to many more.
Someone who won’t be remembered with as much affection from last season is forward John Guidetti, who , like a shooting star blazed briefly in the darkness before fizzling out into oblivion. It didn’t work out for him in glasgow, for whatever reason, and the parting of the ways has been inevitable since he refused a permanent deal shortly after christmas, saying he wanted to think about it. And other offers.
The word got round that he didn’t want to stay, and there were a few stories that he wasn’t all that popular in the dressing room.
It didn’t work out, so at that point , you shake hands, wish everyone well, and move on.
Going bleating to the papers is not the way to endear yourself to your recent employers and team mates, nor is it likely to make anyone in the future view you favourably.
Guidetti has been excusing his poor form, first , it was Ronny’s fault;
“I would start, but the day before the game he [Deila] said I would sit on the bench because I was not going to stay at the club ”
I can’t see a problem with that. A manager should always play players who want to be there, unless he has no other option.
He said he would focus on the players who wanted to be there The coach said that we can’t play you if you keep scoring goals and we build up your value, and then you leave the club.”
Er, has he forgotten that he would have beenavailable on a free, and so therefore his value was irrelevant ?
That’s the problem when you tell lies. You have to pay attention to detail.
Then he blamed the quality of the league;
“I was taken out of the national team after scoring, I think it was 11 goals in 10 matches, but I did not play.
“Then I understood. It felt like my goals at Celtic were not counted in the same way as in other leagues and I can understand.”
“We played Inter and the stadium was packed, “It was the most magical atmosphere I have experienced. But there are too few big games in Celtic.
“So I felt that my goals were not counted in the same way as in another league. There are too few ‘big games’.”
Presumably that will be Mikael Lustig away as well now, because he will be overlooked for the Sweden side, in the same way Johann Mjallby and Henrik Larsson were.
Apart from a brief spell at Feyenoord, and a couple of months in glasgow, guidetti has not shown any evidence that he should be an international player.
Meanwhile, in Berlin , ahead of tonights Champions League final, there was further recognition for Celtic;
As one of the 22 clubs to have lifted the big Cup, Michel Platini, head of UEFA, presented something or other to Peter Lawwell.
I think it’s a big Kindle E reader. Which is nice.
Back home, and Hearts have announced that they have passed the 10,000 barrier on season book sales. The club, which faced oblivion not too long ago, sorted themselves out and were worthy winners of the first Division.
It’s good to have them back. And Tynecastle already looks like being a great trip next season.
Another club, who didn’t quite avoid oblivion, but reformed and worked their way up is Second Rangers.
They haven’t sold any season books yet, and with the Petrofac cup just seven weeks away, one could be forgiven for thinking that one week into the pre season, they might have started to sort things out ready for that day.
You know, like a manager, some players and some fans.
What we do have is endless speculation about a new manager, which is deflecting attention away from the fact that the place is in turmoil again, with an EGM due next Friday, which will see Mike Ashley demand his money back, and ask questions about how things are being ran over there.
Expect a press campaign to support the current board, but ultimately, it looks like we’ve reached the end of the road for this incarnation, not only because of what Mike may do, but because of what the King consortium isn’t doing.
Which , on the face of it, appears to be nothing.
Meanwhile, Etims likes to bring people together, so anyone who can help with this appeal, could they get in touch… ?
As you know, today in glasgow sees a celebration of a threatened tradition as thousands of Orangemen get drunk and sing songs.
Fortunately, there is a way to try and stop it;
Worth a shot.
Anyone remember this guy ? Who is he ?
Mike Galloway….
Tim raindance has worked for once. Glasgow is cold, wet and windy – beautiful.
picture looks like a fat Paul Lmabert
Mike Galloway!
That guy who was mugged for his trouser leg.
Is he one of the nasty Chelsea fans that rioted in Manchester while the innocent fans of the dead team say and had a lovely evening meal?
Mike Galloway….a hard bastard!
Mikey mikey mikey galloway…scored only goal of the game in my first away trip in europe against germinal eckeren
Right fellow tims …stop the feckin rain dance, i still need to walk my dugs
If it’s a Rottweiler, take it to George Square, let it off the leash and say to it……ssssssssssssssssssss
To paraphrase Robert Duvall in Apocalypse Now………………
I love the smell of wet Orangemen in the morning…………….
It smells of SHITE!
tony, what about the smell of wet orangewomen in the morning?
Week old fish?
Brilliant weather. Sitting in my living room, glass of ice cold Magners, heating on nice and low, looking out window wondering should I feel sorry for anybody?.
Don’t f-cling think so. Drown ya bastards. Hh
At least their getting a nice day for their wee outing. I bet all the happy shoppers are clapping along to the lovely tunes.
HH
It is believed (my mammy told me) that if you put a statue of Mother of Prague outside it will guarantee good weather.
I took ours in this morning to give it a good wash!
How are things in Glasgow?
That brings back memories, was that the dark Madonna. Sorry I’ve been lapsed a while but I’m sure ma wee mother had that statue. hh
happy anniversary ronny, heres to many many more.
mikey galloway, was going to save us a million £ playing at centre back, think he cost us the same in points though.
new sevco venture in assocation with the safari park, drive up and get abused in the comfort of you own car.
http://www.blairdrummond.com/news/monkey-drive-through-opens-soon
I wasn´t wrong about Guidetti, he is the real deal but he also is a bit of a tit and should grow up and get his professional act together. I hope for his sake he does well in the Swedish U21 outfit this summer otherwise its hello Wolverhamton for him or worse.
Agree Molledog, the way JG started I thought we had found the 2nd great swede but well to say he went aff the boil is an understatement. there’s a reason he’s had so many clubs- despite his ability his attitude is holding him back and will only continue to do so by the looks of it. I hope for his sake the penny drops soon cos eventually clubs will stop taking a chance on him
So it,s all GUidettis fault,the whale killer would not play him,as he was leaving at end of season,I assume Rd would have dropped HENRik,when he said he was off,hoping for a better season but don,t see much chance of that unless we get in a good manager , ROnnie out out ,same as STurgeon ,out out out
are you typing this from George Square – hope you’re soaked to the skin (a wee wash wouldn’t do you any harm).
Guidetti will disappear off the football radar in the next couple of years. He’s not nearly as good as he thinks he is (didn’t notice a queue of top class teams lining up for him).
And Ronnie’s here for at least 10 in a row – so get used to it.
No one is listening to u, u hun.jog on…
deadhead did you answer the appeal for a date
Dead Head is a pretty accurate moniker. More worrying than that is that in 2015 a hate fest can be allowed in the city centre of any town. I remember many times when the “east coast walk” came through Broxburn. Hate, violence, ignorance and northern Irish thugs asking their fellow Scottish buffoons to point out Catholics. Disgraceful! And condoned by councils – I presume because they feared initimidation at the time. Very happy the weather was horrible for these horrible, nasty bastards
Guidettis’ biggest failure is his attitude along with a complete lack of pace and suspect decision making, his name will simply disappear into relative obscurity over the next couple of years.
I had the Irish tunes blaring last night
Big Jan Van Morrison’s Classic
♪ ♫ Oh it’s a fabulous night furra rain dance… ♪ ♫
Ralph
Would have loved to have done a longer comment but I don’t have an umbrella and I’m getting soaked in orange juice. Besides, our visitors have been giving me funny looks for the last hour or so wondering what is making me laugh so much. I guess trying to get rid of them by being on my laptop isn’t working. I will have to resign myself to the CL cup highlights – bloody Geordies. Nae priorities!!
Great read again. The Dairy’s producing quality double cream these days.
H H
Just thought. Ashley’s Nae priorities is better than his nae money.
H H
As we used to say in The Jungle:
Mickie-Mickie Gallo-way
Mickie-Mickie-Mickie-Mickie Galloway.
(Not saying it’s Shakespeare)
I used to despair when he was playing center-half.
Much better, as a.d. kinda remarked, when he was an earlier fat Lambert; doing damage to the opposition and not to ourselves.
Under Ronnie, I do wonder if the likes of Galloway, Mark McGee, Mark McNally and Bobbie Murdoch would have got into his desired team of green and white pressing-tackling-and-shooting whippets.
Hail Hail to Big Ronnie. My favourite whalekiller 😉
Just kidding there big man.
I’ve developed a helluva taste for watered doon Orange crush with my Jelly and ice-cream. H.H.
Where they making world war z 2 in George square,the smell of zombies was overpowering.