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Celtic Diary Sunday November 8: Starting Over

When Ronny picks his team for the Ross County game this afternoon, he should maybe ride the wind of change, as explained in another article, that has began to blow through Scottish football.

He may decide to change a few things himself.

How about giving a few “fringe ” players a chance to show that they have the hunger and none of the fear that a few senior players have shown in the last few weeks ?

Especially when they are out of their comfort zones against familiar teams ?

One of the criticisms aimed at the manager is his reluctance to change things that clearly aren’t working.

Or people.

How about giving Logan Bailly a start ?

Maybe he can do something with the guys in front of him ?

Saidy Janko and Keiran Tierney as full backs ? Sounds good to me.

Simunovic and Ambrose ?

You think ?

Ambrose was missed against Molde. He is calm, he can be composed and is exceptionally good in the air. Alright, the ball may sometimes end up going in the wrong direction, but having watched some centre halves move away from the ball, at least it’s a start.

Scott Allen and Scott Brown ? Go on. The teacher and the pupil ?

Stuart Armstrong in the pivotal role, with James Forrest and Tom Rogic either side.

And Leigh Griffiths , of course, to score a couple of goals to take the pressure of the others.

Injuries may prevent this line up, either that or common sense, but fuck it.

It’s time for Ronny to show he is boss, and time for some players to realise it.

The game is on at 3,30 on Bt sports.

I’m looking forward to it.

 

And lets be even more , er, controversial.

Ronny Deila has told the press he may move for an ex player to help out the youngsters. Shaun Maloney and Aiden Mcgeady were mentioned, but not by anyone who has thought this through.

What we need is an experienced centre half who is Celtic minded.

One who could go from having two championship medals to five between now and , say, next May ?

Darren O’Dea.

He’s been around a bit now, and has the heart that is so sadly lacking in some of our current players.

 

And if you are talking about heart, and courage, then another experienced pro who could help out would be James MacLean.

A man of principle, booed at Old Trafford yesterday, who would almost instantly send shirt sales through the roof. Though we’d probably have to be careful what number we gave him.

Why MacLean ?

Well, this is the story that convinced me…

Irish international James McClean has paid for a hand cycle bike, as a gift for a disabled girl in Derry.

The bike is a Christmas present for a young girl with Spina Bifida, after her family tried to raise funds online.

The family made a Facebook page in an attempt to afford the bike, which is specifically designed for her needs.

McClean, who is a former Derry City player, contacted the family directly, and offered to pay the full amount of £1,500 himself.

The West Brom winger followed up his promise, as Paediatric EquipmentSpecialistsJohnPreston.co.uk posted the following on their website.

The post stated: “With the current mild weather Kaylee can get out to play and this particular model allows Kaylee to use her arms to power her trike while providing movement in her legs”. 

William Sweeney, who originally posted about the bike on Facebook, heaped praise on McClean on his Facebook page.

“My family can’t thank him enough,” he said,

“He’s truly a legend with a heart of gold,

“Can’t wait to see Kayley’s face when she gets her wee hand bike at Xmas”.

Sweeney added: “He’s a class act and gives so much back to his community and it’s why the people of Derry and so many love him.”  

MacLean has courted controversy, deciding not to wear a poppy, as his his right, and as usual the boo boys were out in force demanding all sorts of retribution.

Maybe he should have turned up like this, which to me shows just how much a once respected and dignified day has been hijacked by, well, fucking morons.

Embedded image permalink

Morons who have absolutely no idea of the horrors endured by young men conscripted to years of life in the trenches around one hundred years ago.

And , with shows like the one yesterday at Ibrox, apparently have little respect for anything at all.

These days, there are few around with any memory of total war, and when that happens history is usually fated to repeat itself. Today should be a day to solemnly remember sacrifices made during the dark years of the early twentieth century.

Khruschev and Kennedy, who both saw service in the Second World War, were instrumental in reigning in the hawkish members of their respective governments back in 1962 who were hell bent on conflict over Cuba.

Today is about remembering what happened, and using those memories, albeit mostly second hand now, to put a stop to all war, wherever it takes place.

Because if we don’t….

 

 

 

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Daviebhoy
8 years ago

Ralph you seem to be sticking with Ronnie and I would love to think you faith and loyalty are not misplaced, unfortunately good, real good managers do not continually make the same mistakes over and over again. If indeed Ronnie was the man he would have already sorted the dressing room out. This years European campaign has been fought(I use that term loosely)with Ronnie’s team no one else’s. In my opinion the job is far to big for the man.It would be great if I was wrong. Our board should be ashamed. HH

FredCDobbs
8 years ago
Reply to  Daviebhoy

ambrose is minging and that’s on his best day

FredCDobbs
8 years ago
Reply to  FredCDobbs

and Darren o dea is fucking worse.

why cant celtic get good players instead

Dziekanowski's nightclub child
8 years ago

Efe ‘exceptionally good in the air’ where you on the hard stuff lastnight? The guy jumps straight up with no forward momentum and is physically weak in the air. Fenerbache game was the tip of the iceberg.

Dziekanowski's nightclub child
8 years ago

Were you on the hard stuff?… it’s early and i was on the hard stuff!

Monti
8 years ago

I was.

Monti
8 years ago

Morning Ralph,
I was enjoying your article until o read ” Ambrose ” then I started to get nervous, this could be due to Stella Artois and Morgans I was drinking last night or it could be just incredulity that anyone would play Ambrose in a Celtic fixture.
I do agree with your thoughts on shuffling the pack though and Bailly in particular, I have asked for a while now for Bailly to be given his chance.

My team today: Bailly
Janko
Simunovic
Lustig
Tierney
GMS
Bitton
Brown
Armstrong
Griffiths
Forrest

CarllJungleBhoy
8 years ago

I’m not sure about GMS or Armstrong TBH. I don;t think either have been up anywhere near the level they showed last season. However, IF Lustig’s up to it, I like the idea of trying hin paired with Simumovic. I can see both Janko & Tierney becoming first choice full backs in the future. I’d go with the above but give Rogic another chnace in ateadof GMS

Monti
8 years ago

Carl,
I agree with you, on reflection Rogic should start. HH

8 years ago

armstrong/gms,been totally ruined as footballers in the space of 6 months thanks to the tutelage of john collins and under the watchful gaze of deila.ps,working hard on scott allan,i reckon he should be fully zombiefied in a couple of weeks.

ChrisBhoy
8 years ago

Well Ralph, you were doing so well until you brought Efe into the equation.
There has been some questions over Gordon this season. Can you blame the guy if he is unsure what he is doing when, the combinations in front of him change weekly.It is bad enough watching the shambles from the stands, think what it is like for him trying to second guess what the numpties in front of him are doing

John
8 years ago

A new manager and James McLean would be great. Respect to McLean standing up to the poppy fascists. I also agree that there is a great player in Ambrose, perhaps with proper coaching we could see this.

FredCDobbs
8 years ago
Reply to  John

moyes will be sacked before xmass.

DantheMan
8 years ago
Reply to  FredCDobbs

That sounds like a plan let’s sign up somebody else’s rejects.

Honest Hoops
8 years ago

I’m all for starting with the young guns as they will run through walls for the jersey, I would keep a couple of experienced guys to calm them down, Griffiths up front, I would defo drop Lustig, Boyo, johanmyhairnetffs, keep Rogic in….Gordon on the bench….nothing to lose but the game although we have points in hand….

Hail, Hail ,……2-1 celts….

Charlie Saiz
8 years ago

I believe Ronny Deilas vision for Celtic when he arrived was the correct one for our Club.
The increased tempo,the pressing game and the change to diet and so on tick all the boxes for me as we need to adapt our approach due to a change in signing policy.
The fact he has stated he wants us to develop and play our own players wherever possible whilst developing young exciting talent from abroad with a view to selling on for profit just backs up the wider plan at Celtic.
That was never going to be simple.
That was never going to take a season but so long as we maintained a decent level of performance on the Domestic front then I was prepared to give him the time and support for the long haul.
To my mind Europe has not been great but then under our current setup I was not expecting it to be easy.
I do not base Europe on one solitary Season where we punched well above our weight to be let’s face it knocked the fuck out by Juventus in the end.
No I base it on the past 5 years after all we do work off a 5 year Cycle at Celtic according to those who make the decisions.
Ronny is 18 month into that so by my reckoning he has a further 42 to go before he is judged.
In Neil Lennons final Season we were not great in Europe we struggled to qualify for the CL and when we got there we had our arse skelped.
This is the direct result of now becoming a selling Club.
Other Managers are used as a barometer against Deila but the fact is Neil Lennon is the only one to have Operated and built squads under similar Circumstances.
He had 1 exceptional Season in 4 in Europe.
However he also maintained a decent showing on the Domestic front.
Ronny Deila has been successful on the Domestic front we were not a million miles off securing a treble last Season.
We are still in with a chance of one this Season.
That is why I will continue to back him in his vision of Building a side that can COMPETE in all even with our restrictions as a Club.
In January several of our developing players return.
O’Connell Lindsay and Henderson will come back and hopefully get and grab their chance just like young Kieran Tierney has now.
We also have young Christie and Allan to come into the side they are all talented young players who I think will add the energy and drive that some of our current squad have either lost or simply forgotten.

bob
8 years ago
Reply to  Charlie Saiz

Still on the sauce I see.

Charlie Saiz
8 years ago
Reply to  bob

Cool story bro.

Monti
8 years ago
Reply to  Charlie Saiz

Charlie Saiz,
Morning Charlie.
Reading over your post again I do get it, I see the value of sticking with a manager, let him build a team and give him the required time and funds to build a side who can grace Celtic park and foreign shores, I get it and I reluctantly admire your faith in him.
I do not want a new manager every few years, nothing would give me more pleasure than to see Celtic with a manager who is there forever, like an Alex Ferguson or Arsen WENGER, a manager who is successful and could be at the club for over 20 years, an institution if you like.
At the start of Deila’s reign I liked the whole package, young hungry manager who was a bit different thinking in his approach and philosophies.
Where I have lost faith in Deila has been his results in Europe, more worryingly his Celtic sides performance in Europe, abject and meek at best.
I will forgive a lot in a Celtic side but I won’t accept watching Celtic teams throw in the towel.
I actually believe Celtic have the nucleus of a very good squad, but we need a new central defence, if we don’t buy an experienced central defender we will toil at the back, Simunovic needs to keep himself fit to establish himself, Boyata may come good but he needs to calm down and relax a bit, that would happen if experience was playing alongside him.
I would move Lustig, Ambrose and Izaguirre out on the summer and possibly Mulgrew as well.
Build a defence around Janko, Simunovic and Tierney in there.
You threw in the name Kelvin Wilson yesterday which was a good shout, I will give you and others a name today, Chelsea’s John Terry?
His time at Chelsea is almost up and I know for a fact he loves Celtic.
So why not make a move for him? A great defender and a leader.

Janko Terry Simunovic Tierney?
HH

PR
8 years ago

As an amusing (or boring) aside, I was travelling back home to Dublin after a fleeting visit to Glasgow yesterday night.

The airport was absolutely teeming with Sevco fans, most of whom I expected to be boarding the two evening flights back to Belfast…..

To say I was somewhat alarmed to see about 40 of them, tanked up and in full battle regalia, at the gate for the evening Ryanair to Dublin would be somewhat of an understatement; needless to say, my seat was right in amongst them (for the first time in my life I wished Ryanair had unallocated seating again!) and I had the somewhat dubious pleasure of sitting beside a Johnny Adair lookalike for the duration of the flight.

Unfortunately there’s no punch to this anecdote involving diverted flights and riot Garda waiting to meet the plane as they were all fairly well behaved – obviously know better. Seemed they were all form Newry – I never knew there were that many huns in that town!

Still, genuinely never though I’d see the day….

LogicAl
8 years ago
Reply to  PR

Did you exchange opinions on the BTC and the stripping of titles?

PR
8 years ago
Reply to  LogicAl

The conversation was just getting round to that as we landed.

LogicAl
8 years ago
Reply to  PR

I’m guessing you had to agree to disagree but parted on amicable terms, right?

No, didn’t think so. They are utterly smug in their conviction that LNS closed the case. It will make justice all the sweeter.
H! H!

kkbhoy
8 years ago
Reply to  PR

last time i fly ryanair…

Charlie Saiz
8 years ago

I would like us to try:

………….BAILLY
.
JANKO LUSTIG SIMUNOVIC TIERNEY
.
…….AMBROSE BITTON
.
…COMMONS ROGIC ARMSTRONG
.
…………GRIFFITHS

I think Efe in at DM allows both Janko and Tierney to push up he drops back to create a back 3 when they do
Both WB’s are fit and young they should be encouraged to ovelap where suitable. This also allows Bitton to like Brown the freedom to step forward and overload the opposition defence.
Formations should not be rigid and fixed the best sides have fluid formations that alter to the situation be that posesion attack or defence.

Charlie Saiz
8 years ago
Reply to  Charlie Saiz

Possession’

DantheMan
8 years ago
Reply to  Charlie Saiz

Charlie I have just looked at both yours and Monti’s teams for today and you both have Simunovic in and you have Commons . Both were ruled out yesterday after injuries on Thursday. Do you know something the club doesn’t?

Devoy45
8 years ago

Some years ago, Celtic strip out of sight under my jacket, I was ‘trapped’ on the train with a carriage full of Huns of the knuckle-dragging variety. We’d just lost to them at Ibrox. How I wanted my mammy! 15 minutes felt like years. I pretended to be mute! When I stepped safely out into the night air,I felt like a free bird…
Today? Bailly
Janko/Ambrose/Is Simunovic fit?/Tierney
Bitton/Is Brown fit?
Forrest/Rogic/Commons
Griffiths

I’d like to see Allan get some match time and maybe young Nesbit. 3-1 to the bhoys. It’ll probably take us a while to break them down.

Devoy45
8 years ago

p.s. I was also wondering if taking trophies away automatically awards them to the runners-up? (not just Celtic) If unregistered players result in 3-0 forfeits, then every match over that decade needs considered in order to come up with a result.

LogicAl
8 years ago
Reply to  Devoy45

Devoy,
I’m in the camp that wants them left “void” so that, in years to come when those of us who were around then & now are long gone, people will ask “why are all those titles & cups void?” they will be told the full truth of why. The stain will remain on that name forever, regardless of which version is playing.

delbhoy
8 years ago

Armstrong is played out of position , p’s me off when i hear people say these players are spl players what nonsence , they are young scottish and two of the best players in the country , hence why we bought them. Armstrong in particular has god knows how many appearances in senior football playing fantasticaly well for dundee united , including performances andgoals against us. He has also got vast experience playing for scotland u21’s as a central midfielder , i seem to remember brown playing pish when he was wide right , steven gerrard was woeful for england in this role, the guy is being wated. Like wise gms , has anyone seen the youtube videos of this boy , he has skills but he needs to play, i thought he did well in his last start then next game he was benched again so he cant get going. Another annoying thing about ronny is playing left footers on the right and and right on left , no wonder its not working. Gms should be on left and forrest on the right providing width with there natural feet

charlie
8 years ago

bring back big johan

delbhoy
8 years ago

Agree charlie , personally i think tho he should have his number two he had in norway

Doc
8 years ago

Would McLean take a huge pay cut to come to Celtic?

Monti
8 years ago
Reply to  Doc

We could give him an EBT!

Jim
8 years ago

Darren O’Dea, would be better with Willie Gerner even though he’s in his seventies……

Monti
8 years ago
Reply to  Jim

Steve Mccahill and Paul McGugan… Lol

Charlie Saiz
8 years ago

Here’s a curve ball………..
Bring Kelvin Wilson back in Jan whilst Simunovic finds his feet.
Thoughts?

Monti
8 years ago
Reply to  Charlie Saiz

Why did Wilson want to leave in the first place?
To be nearer to his family.
Why would he go full circle?

Charlie Saiz
8 years ago
Reply to  Monti

I don’t have any answers to that except alot can change in 3 years on a personal level.
Just asking if it were an option what would people think of it?
I liked him at Celtic was a shame he had to leave.
VVD and him would have been a great pairing I think.

Monti
8 years ago
Reply to  Charlie Saiz

Wilson was dodgy for a spell Charlie, then he became a good player for us.
I agree VVD and Wilson would have been a proper central defence.
I actually think Jason Denayer was better than Virgil, not much in it but I would say Denayer was better.

Monti
8 years ago
Reply to  Charlie Saiz

To answer your question tho Charlie, if Wilson wanted to come back I’d be OK with that, I haven’t been following how he has been doing though, is he playing regularly and to what standard?

Charlie Saiz
8 years ago
Reply to  Monti

He picked up a bad injury when he went back to Forrest opted for Surgery which effectively wiped off the Season.
Played half the games 2nd Season on his return but played 10 of the 16 League games so far.
They did sign Matt Mills looks like he’s his replacement to me he brings goals.

Monti
8 years ago

Half time 0-1 Celtic, great goal from Rogic.
Boyata needs reminded at half time by John Kennedy that the central defenders job isn’t to try fancy tricks out on the touchline, put your fucking foot through it.
Ambrose and Boyata need to move the ball on to midfielders a bit quicker.
Efe playing well and I hope that doesn’t come back to bite me.
In these wet conditions, I would like to see Rogic and Griffiths try a few daisy cutters.

COYBIG!

Dziekanowski's nightclub child
8 years ago

At the moment its 75 mins gone and we are 4-1 up. If we were playing against a half decent team we would be 7-4 down. defence is shocking, look at the amount of good chances and hap-hazard defending.

hailhail
8 years ago

And what exactly did we learn from that double substitution today? Why not give Cole and Allan a run out the game was won ffs.

Monti
8 years ago

Glad of the result and the three points.
Played some decent stuff today and was happy to see Forrest attack people.
Defence shocking again and disappointed not to see Cole or Allan on at some point.

Still, a good way to end the weekend.
HH

Devoy45
8 years ago

LogicAl. Your “void” idea is the best one I’ve heard. I support it.
Today, ok just, but defensive bombscares all over the place.We need to sort that as soon as possible.A tough place to go and to win 4-1 there is very good.The break will give some injuries time to heal.

BroxburnBhoy
8 years ago

Well another rather routine win with warts and that said in the end routine. The issue is in Europe and compounded by the fact that SPL teams are just not very good. I’m very happy to win 4-1. Personally I think we should arrange bounce matches with EPL sides every now and then and get a taste of that standard of football. We are going into European games expecting that mistakes we make against SPL teams will be benign and unfortunately in Europe we are punished for those errors. We certainly will be unlikely to face any high standards in the SPL for the foreseeable future apart from the odd inspired team in the day. I’m at a loss to explain how the same group of players can put these games away in the SPL and struggle against teams like Malmö and Molde. All due respect to them and yet who had heard of them a few years ago?

Monti
8 years ago
Reply to  BroxburnBhoy

BB,
Malmo and Molde are decent sides, they have good players, no superstars and a team mentality.
They also have belief when they play us, I don’t think SPL sides have real belief when they face us, maybe Aberdeen but I think even they know they can’t finish above us over a season.
Malmo knew they would get past us and they went out and done it.
Domestically, Deila will deliver for Celtic, but we can’t keep getting performances like the double header v Molde.
That isn’t on and shouldn’t be accepted.
We badly need a central defence.

delbhoy
8 years ago

Any word on mulgrew? They should go and sign someone like mastorovic was , an experienced hard man or rico annoni , he came for pittance , there must be someone in seri a or scandanavia

Monti
8 years ago
Reply to  delbhoy

Delbhoy,
We won’t go for experience because our boards ‘ business model ‘ is to buy young, develop then sell.
This is one of the reasons why we have a problem on the park.
Surely not every signing we make has to be a young player who is ‘ work in progress ‘?
You are right we need an experienced campaigner, an old head at the back and a leader of men, such as a Mick Mccarthy or a Ramon Vega.

Something needs to happen at the back because Ambrose, Boyata and Izaguirre aren’t the answer, I think Lustig should be moved on in the summer as well.
Let’s develop Janko at RB, Tierney at LB, Simunovic has it all to prove, does he have the physical presence to make that defence his own?
I would like us to put a proven experienced international defender beside Simo, this will allow him to develop with the defence being held together by the more experienced player beside him.

John Terry?

kkbhoy
8 years ago
Reply to  Monti

are you takin the piss? i can only hope so..

Monti
8 years ago
Reply to  kkbhoy

Kkbhoy?
Care to elaborate?

delbhoy
8 years ago

Agree monti people forget simonovic is only a boy , i cant think of any team in europe that would go into a euro tie with such a young defence . There must be an exeption to the rule when the defence is so bad. Your right about lustig hes starting to make mistakes to now and makes you wonder why mathews was sold!

Monti
8 years ago
Reply to  delbhoy

Delbhoy,
Matthews head went down when his pal Ledley left.

tony_mac
8 years ago

Hey Monti, agree with you about janko, was worried to read a piece about simunovic saying he wouldn’t play through pain barrier, day after going off at 9 minutes, but saidy could be one for future.
Lustig was our last reputable buy before moneyball but think he’s too sporadic now, although I remember the game last season when he came back from long time out as per and should have had hat trick but for the post.

Oh to have some consistency.

tony_mac
8 years ago

But I also think the board will have to bend a wee bit on the experience bit with a cb as its affecting the whole team.

Monti
8 years ago
Reply to  tony_mac

Totally agree, it is glaring!

delbhoy
8 years ago

Thats where the managers not strong enough , should be demanding one in january. Wheres the boy st ledger we eere linked with a few times

tony_mac
8 years ago

Last season was the first in years we had a consistant back 4, its what great teams are made of.

tony_mac
8 years ago

I believe the managers passion in press conferences is genuine, I believe he has something about him that we seem to gravitate towards, even his critics tactically agree, whether this proves to translate to the pitch given time? Who knows, but I cant believe he sees the shite he has to deal with in defence, and isn’t battering down lawells door, whether that door gets opened is what will prob decide his fate.
I think they should and will.
We live in hope.

Monti
8 years ago
Reply to  tony_mac

Tony,
I would suggest Ronny Deila has nothing about him apart from talk.
Passionate? Yes.
Talk a lot? Yes.

Celtic showing up well in Europe? No!

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