I had a text from a mate at work yesterday. As some of you know, I had a chat with Ronny deila at a fans forum last May, and told him that the way the team were playing forced me to eat a little humble pie, but I was pleased about it.
My mate, incidentally once with PSV at the same time as Romario, although there careers took a different path, asked me if I was going to ask for my humble pie back.
He supports blackburn, or bolton, or burnley. Some northern team undeserving of a capital b , anyway.
And know what, it really annoys me when English fans do that.
It seems the goings on at Celtic Park have also attracted the major players in Hollywood. George Lucas and Steven spielberg (pictured below ) are looking at putting together a movie which will detail the Ronny Deila years, and they are just waiting to see what happens this weekend before announcing times and dates.
We hear Harrison Ford will play Deila, with Kate Capshaw playing new manager Jorge Cadete.
Speaking of the world of light entertainment, congratulations to Matt le Blanc-Joey from Friends-who will co host Top gear with Chris Evans. Its a moment in tv history, a ginger with a friend….
Before we start, i’d just like to remind everyone why , for television pundits, especially those who reckon that they-or their co-hosts-could do a better job than Ronny Deila, is , in fact talking bollocks.
And for them, Sky really is the limit
Gary Neville, one of the better tv pundits, gave up telling others how to do their jobs and decided to have a crack at it himself.
Fair play to him.
Barcelona 7 Valencia 0 match report:
Gary Neville remains defiant after Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi run riot
Gary Neville was defiant in the face of repeated pointed questions about his future at Valencia following a harrowing 7-0 thrashing by Barcelona.
The manager was asked a total of three times by Spanish journalists if he would resign from the job he took two months ago and quickly grew impatient with the endless jabbing, merely stating “next question”.
“Tonight was a painful evening. That result and that scoreline is unacceptable,” said an ashen-faced Neville after Lionel Messi’s hat-trick and Luis Suárez’s four goals condemned Valencia to a heaviest defeat in the cup since 1928.
So maybe its time to stop and think before issuing such statements as “I could do better than ronny ” or “Anyone could win this league “
No, you couldn’t, and no, they couldn’t.
Management isn’t easy, and to succeed you need everyone pulling in the same direction.
You need to be leader and follower.
You need to be decisive and flexible.
You need to delegate and put in the work yourself.
Above all, you demand loyalty and support from those above you and those below you.
In equal measures, because if you don’t get the support from above, your authority is undermined, and you will lose respect in the eyes of your staff. They won’t see you as a boss anymore, they will see you as an equal.
Before you know it, you’ll be in the pub with them agreeing that the bosses are all tossers.
When in fact, you are their boss.
And those immediately below you are only immediately below you because their fear of being sacked is greater than their chances of getting your job.
I mention all of this because instead of spending my Friday night reading Deila Out!, Deila In ! or You’re all fucking huns ! when I sit down to read the replies with a beer or two later on, I’d like to feel that together we have achieved something.
Today , the training has been cancelled at Lennoxtown, which could mean that a press conference is on the way, and the powers that be have decided who will take over from Ronny Deila , at least until the end of the season.
Or, it could be , that in a master stroke of man management, the players have been given time off to rest ahead of Sunday’s game against East Kilbride, who I am scared to google in case it turns out they know how to pass, tackle and shoot.
If they can, we’re in trouble.
The site receives a lot of “information ” from people who know things, have heard things or are merely speculating.
The difficulty is in knowing which to believe, which to dismiss, and which to put into the Rumour Mill.
Whereas a reader-thats you-might see the filtered version-the writers-thats us-see a lot more.
And when we read the replies to our articles, we sometimes pick up on something that others haven’t, usually becaus they’re too busy taking offence at each other.
So, this morning we’re going to do a little exercise..
( This yoga sequence continues with the right leg being brought forward, the yogi standing up slowly, with the left leg remaing in the bind, and then , with his weight on the right leg, gently extending until it forms a vertical line . I have sort of done this one, but fell over at exactly the point when I realised I was actually doing it. )
Not that sort of exercise, a thinking exercise.
We know something is wrong at Celtic.
We know that the manager is under pressure, and , indeed, by the time we reach a conclusion, he may be out of a job.
So, what went wrong ?
What we are not going to do is state that “he is out of his depth “-that doesn’t mean anything .
We are not going to say the job is too big for him-that means the same as out of his depth. Nothing.
What we are going to establish, by talking it through sensibly, is where he went wrong, because he has.
Or, at least, he is being perceived as having gone wrong.
First, lets look at the manager himself, a profile, if you like.
He doesn’t shout or scream on the touchline. His style is quieter and more cerebral. He wants the players to work out what to do next. As highly paid professionals, they receive their training in the week, and are expected to perform on matchdays.
Unlesss, of course, you are a defender, when it seems you can do what you want, when you want.
This picture, posted by Etims colleague Hector Bandido elsewhere on the site, illustrates a problem.
The defence don’t know what they are doing, or how to do it. They play as though they met each other on the bus that morning.
Yet we ( apparently ) have a full time defensive coach. It used to be Danny McGrain in that role, and he did it very well, but he’s not been well, and the task has fallen to John Kennedy.
not only does the personnel change from wek to week, the system seems to be similarly haphazard. One wekk it’s man marking, the next it’s zonal, and then the following week its “can someone fucking get that ? “
The picture above seems to be depicting the third way.
Emabarassingly , I’ve only ever seen one picture that mathces that one for defensive ineptitude;
Why is this happening ?
If a coach wants to play a certain way, whether rightly or wrongly he must instill that into his players. changing it every week doesn’t inspire confidence or encourage familiarity and therefore competence.
More than that, it means he isn’t sure which is the way forward, and therefore if he isn’t sure, how can he expect the players to be ?
First.lets ask who is responsible for the coaching of the defence.
Ultimately, of course, it’s Deila.
He has delegated Kennedy, who , from what we have seen lately, doesn;t appear to be decisive enough. He is unsure which is the better system. Although the players seem to make both equally unworkable.
If Deila feels that Kennedy is not doing as he asks, he must instruct him accordingly. If he continues to ignore instructions, then its time to be ruthless.
If, however, Kennedy is following instructions, and the indecision is Deila’s, then the fault is at the top. We don’t know for sure which it is, but if it were Kennedy’s problem, then something , you would hope, would have been done about it.
Or does Deila feel he doesn’t have the authority ?
Can he hire and fire his own staff ?
The appointment of assistant John Collins suggests he cannot.
In which case, he needs to make a stand, and stamp his authority on the club, something he should have done on day one. When you take a job in management, the first few days are the only time you will get things your own way, and its crucual to establish the rules.
Your rules.
You are welcome to disagree, but I feel that Deila , in accepting Collins, ceded the control that he needed to make the job work, and although its taken nearly two years, now its going wrong, he can’t do anything about it.
Of course, injuries sales and loss of form haven’t helped, but there are now six players, all of them who have represented their country at some level, capable of playing centre half.
Yet it’s only recent arrival Sviatchenko who stands out.
Then again, he hasn’t been here long enough to be “corrupted “.
The concept of defence is simple.
You have to stop the other team from scoring.
This is best achieved by everyone knowing what they should do, what everyone else should do, and if in doubt, blootering the ball into the stands.
We are not actually doing any of that.
Which is unforgivable. There are two former defenders on the coaching staff. How can both of them fail to get their message across.
To me, this must be because they are saying two different things. They do not agree on a system, or how to play it. When this happens, the two “idea’s ” become blurred, and a new idea emerges.
That idea seems to be “ah fuck it. someone else can chase him “
You may feel there is a valid argument that the two holding midfielders should be protecting the defence. If thats the way we are set up, then yes, they should be.
But they aren’t. It appears that they aren’t sure how to play this role.
Again, why is this ?
John Collins was a damn fine midfielder in his day. If he os half as good at coaching as he was at playing, then he should be able to bring one or two a least somewhere near his level.
But again, is he telling them one thing, and Deila another ?
The defence seem uncertain of where they should be, but comapred to the holding midfielders, they are positvely disciplined.
The two in those positions don’t actually remain in position. Like a dog chasing a bin bag on the beach, they race around with little idea why they are doing it, and then stand, tongues out and tail wagging when it all goes tits.
In fact, with the full backs also given licence to roam, with little or no cover, we have four headless chickens in a line, leaving the two centre halfs exposed.
No wonder we keep losing goals. It can’t all be down to Ambrose or Boyata .
But hey, we need a scapegoat.
If Collins is telling the midfielders one thing, and Deila another, it could also explain something else.
Why have we got so bloody many midfielders ?
Not counting those on loan, there are fourteen listed in the first team squad. Sixteen if you count Mulgrew and Kazim richards as midfielders.
How do you keep them all happy ?
Some of the more credible stories emerging from more than one souce involve players who have been promised one thing and received something else.
Game time being the main gripe.
Scott Allan, for instance, must be now believing his mates who are telling him he was only signed because it would annoy whoever happens to be in charge at ibrox.
Of course, this is nonsense, but its not difficult to build a case to back that argument. He hasn’t started a game yet, but has shown he has talent, vision and attitude.
Ryan Christie ? Will he get a game ?
No wonder Aiden Nesbitt took his chances with Partick.
And heres something else to think about.
Something i think may be at the heart of the lack of heart and passion when things go against Celtic on the park.
We’ve seen that Dedryck Boyata doesn;t want to make a mistake. Efe Ambrose doesn;t care, he’s used to the flak by now.
But when things are going wrong, and its up to the middle men to create something, to inspire those around them, there seems to be a fear of trying something different.
After all, if they do as the boss tells them, and don;t make any mistakes, they won’t be dropped. There are a dozen men waiting to take their places in the team.
This could go back to Stuart ?Armstrongs decison to play in Scott Allan from a corner against ajax. Had Allan been a little quicker and scored it would have been a superb piece of imagination. He didn’t, he lost the ball and Ajax scored from the break. Or was it Fenerbache ?
It seems so long ago, and yet it may have been a defining moment in the season.
Have the players been told not to take risks, not to try anything different ?
Is that why there’s no fight, and we’ve reverted to just sidieways passing, hoping a defender falls over and creates a bit of space ?
Add to that the guaranteed abuse from the crowd when a player misplaces a pass, or makes even a slight error, then it’s little wonder the players are , well, at best nervous, at worst terrified.
So, whose fault is that ?
Collins was no shirker in going forward. so has he passed that on to his changes on the training pitch. Or has he decided that safety first is the way ?
Has Deila adopted at policy that prioritises not losing before winning ?
Whether he has or hasn’t, the lack of fight is disheartening. After all, its not so long ago that we would settle down , a goal behind , and not be worried at all because there was still injury time to be played.
On Wednesday night, after about an hour of the game, you knew it wouldn’t happen.
If we, as a support, know it, is it also possible the players know it ?
As for the forwards, we now have two Carlton Cole and Leigh Griffiths.
I’d be wrapping Kris Commons in cotton wool right now, as he is the only other player on the books who can be counted on to score goals in and around the penalty area.
When Henrik Larsson left Celtic, I, and a number of others watched his last game at Celtic Park wearing sunglasses. That way, the tears and the fear couldn’t be seen by anyone around me.
Tears-becuase we were gonna miss him.
Fear-because I couldn;t see how we would cope without him.
If Leigh Griffiths gets an injury, or a court case , or any other kind of incident that affects his performance, we are knee deep in doodoo.
Its that simple.
Eleven defenders, Sixteen midfielders, one striker and Carlton Cole.
That’s the squad coming up to the time when medals are handed out.
Who allowed this to happen ?
Who is in charge of recruitment and planning ?
For good or bad, I’m hoping that we stick with Deila.
Partially because i don’t think he’s all to blame for the ills at the club, although he must take responsibility for, well, not taking responsibility and making sure he was in complete charge from day one.
Partially because there is a good coach in there, although perhaps one who , again, needs to be a little more assertive with what he wants from the players, and , of course the other coaches around him.
And finally, and this is the important bit, the alternatives are really too terrible to consider.
I know some of you have your favourites, I know that some of you think Moyes, Rodgers et al are the answer.
They aren’t, really, they aren’t.
Pick up a copy of Michael Calvins Living on a Volcano. You’ll see where I’m coming from.
The other scenario is that Collins takes over as an interim manager. Far more likely at this stage, I would venture.
And that would worry me, as it would mean his fear of being sacked has been pushed away by his hopes of getting the top job.
Despite not being popular in the dressing room, the board may see it as a logical take a step back and assess the next move type of appointment.
Speaking of the dressing room, where the fuck does everyone sit ?
Is it first come first served ?
Theres too many players. simple.
At the fans forum in May of last year, Deila spoke of trimming the squad .
What happened ?
Which also begs the question…for a selling club we didn’t sell too many players last month, did we ?
None actually.
Recently we had a new director of finance, as Eric Riley stepped down. Is he taking time to assess the assets ?
Re directing the finances ?
What input into transfer policy and spending will he have ? Will he operate differently from Riley ?
His name is Chris Mackay, and he’s an accountant.
Just what we need. Someone to count the money.
A Director of finance should also be able to raise and distribute money, not just excel at counting it. well, these days accountants are more used to hiding it than counting it, though I must stress that is not my impression of Mackay, or the board. Its more of a sweeping statement based on an inherent mistrust of the profession second only to bankers in fund , er, management.
In summary, there is no plan on the pitch, off the pitch and the whole set up seems to lurch from one “crisis ” to another .
Yet the team remains at the top of the table, and still in with a chance of the double.
Do we stick or twist ?
It’s certainly possible, and I’d argue quite likely, that removing deila at this stage will increase the nervousness and tension around the ground.
Install Collins and we’d be lucky to make top six. The players don;t like him, Common’s rant a few months ago is indicative of that, why else would he have a pop at him and not Deila ?
Maybe its not Deila making the decison s…maybe he is just plodding along amd optimistically making it up as he goes along ?
Some of his team talks cannot possibly be true, Really, they beggar belief, and thats why I’m not repeating them. not because I don’t believe them, though I’m certainly sceptical, but because at this stage they are irrelevant, do piont to, shall we say, a less than professional attitude, certainly less of one than he is trying to put across.
From what we are told, Gran Canaria last year was just a jolly for him. He didn’t take a single training session.
A persona, incidentally,that fooled me.
I don’t see him every day, though, the players do, and they may have noticed something, and perhaps they feel that he is a little more lackadaisical than he used to be. Maybe its easy for him to promise them something, and think thats the problem solved….
However, if he has chucked it, mentally at least, then do the honourable thing and resign.
If he hasn’t , then start doing the job properly.
Theres a lot to think about in that, some of it only occured as I was typing. So, if it doesn’t flow properly, and appears a little disjointed, I can only apologise.
Not that I give a toss, but it’s nice to apologise.
The purpose of this article is to make you think, and for you to offer your own opinions, sensibly and maturely.
And hopefully in a much more readable and presentable style than I have.
There is a problem at Celtic, there’s no doubt about that, but by talking it through together, I’m willing to bet we’ll be very close to solving it by teatime.
Or at least identifying it.
If the team or the manager isn’t going to unite the fans, then we’ll have to do it ourselves.
Our problem is a forever changing back 4.
Eric and Efe back two, keep that and stick with it, the rest will solidify accordingly.
yes & no
Eric & Jozo
Ah don’t really buy the thought of the players no liking their “boss” who goes a buck aboot liking anybody? If yi dinny put in shift then yer telt:sort it oot son or yi can start looking elsewhere. Players are paid a fortune, if they don’t want to buy inti the gig then they should bolt.
Afraid you lost me, Ralph, at the ‘there’s a good coach in there’ comment. How do we know that? Is Stokes and example of good coaching? Commons? Izzy? Scepovic? Ciftci?
He got lucky with Tierney but is his coaching of McGregor, dragging him off at the earliest opportunity, any example of coaching skills?
As to his other attributes, I’ve not got time to say what I really think.
McGregor gets sacrificed no place for a number 10 if your down to 10 men
Ronnie has done well with McGregor, hes turned out better than I expected.
When your #10’s performing and others aren’t and you’re against a side that should be well weaker that you are, with 80 minutes still to play, play the odds a bit. He who hesitates etc. Anyway, McGregor gets hooked all the time whilst others (no names, no pack drill but Johansen) just play on.
Desi,
Mcgregor got a chance only because Brown was injured, if Brown had been an ever present this season, Mcgregor would have been away on loan.
There is if you go 3-4-1-1
So winning a league & a cup in Norway with a club with little pedigree can be attributed to pure luck?
On the evidence we’ve seen in the last 18 months, yes.
As for training being cancelled Ralph, they always planned to have today off.
Ralph
It is impossible to get away from the out of his depth argument. Ronnie has shown he cant handle big players, has a haphazard approach to recruitment (how many midfielders?, Carlton Cole), cannot get the team to play to his system (if there is one), has no ability to influence the term once the whistle goes (eg. Pittodrie?) and has not progressed the team one iota in eighteen months. Although Broony is supportive, in public at least, the performances and body language of the players suggest they too are fed up with Ronnie.Finally his post match comments suggest he is out of touch with what is happening not only on the pitch but on the terraces. Sorry, time for him and his two sidekicks to go
Define the problem: Ronnie doesn’t know what he’s doing, the football on show is tragic, we’re loosing games and the fans are staying away.
Develop a Plan: How about we change the manager.
Implement the plan: Thank Ronnie for his efforts, pay him a wee bit bit of money and wish him well in his future career
Evaluate: Ronnie’s gone. Feel much better
I always enjoy reading the Diary even though sometimes I feel like screaming at the screen!
I would like to think on the few replies I’ve made I haven’t been and no one has taken offence.
First – Barcelona 7 – Valencia 0 not sure why you have put that scenario up there? I would imagine if we played Barca it would go into double figures easily!
So we need a leader (The Manager?)
You need to be decisive and flexible (The Manager?)
You need to delegate and put the work in yourself (The Manager?)
Above all, demand loyalty and support from those above you and below (The Manager?).
In summary, there is no plan on the pitch (The Manager?)
All these statements start with the manager and at the end of the day stop with him as well!
The give him time shout , there is a good coach in there. How much time? Because all I can see is the Taxi Driver at the end of Airplane
Excellent analysis.
Just finished reading Paul John Dykes biography of Neilly Mochan – one of the things that stands out here is the critical importance that the friendship, collaboration and absolute trust between Stein, Fallon and Mochan made to Celtic’s success in the 1960s and 70s. Stein’s absolute control of all football matters was vital too. Fast forward today and it seems clear from the evidence on the pitch that we simply don’t have those ingredients in the current set up, which sort of answers your questions on how Deila, Collins and Kennedy operate. Of course the current incumbents are not of the same stature and experience as Stein et al, but the core principles of the need for total control, friendship, experience, collaboration and absolute trust remain the same.
Good post
“You don’t need eyes to see, you need vision!”
Does anyone believe the Club has an actual plan?
Anyone believe it isnt “Spin whatever we need to spin, those chumps will accept anything we tell them, or just stay schtum and leave then bewildered”
This is a club whos brilliant forward strategy can build a “brilliant state of the art training complex” in cold damp Scotland and forget to include a full size indoor pitch as well as make it with surfaces that seem to actually cause more harm than good.
All the colourful Food on plate distribution charts come for nothing when your racking up Clinic visits
This is a club who cant produce one striker to step up to the plate despite constant “Hes the next big thing” promises.
This is a club who tell us its transfer policy is all about bringing in the next superstars, bringing them on and selling them on, yet for the key position, striker, all we do is take in loans, buy rejects or unproven diddies.
Is the reason we don’t splash heavy on a proven striker because we know there is more return on defenders on the sell on market giving SPL is seen as easy to score in?
You’re not wrong about strikers, Desi. We seem to have blind spots when it come to recruiting them. We seem, too, to want immediate results but it’s a position that does need a bit of patience. Before we focus on hiring strikers, we need to get a grip on how we expect to play with them. Domestically, will we have 1, 2 or 3 strikers? In Europe, do we have a different approach at home and away? Once that’s clear, we know what to go and look for. (Hint, it’s best to start looking before the final day of any transfer window.)
We might even have some youngsters on our books already who could do a gentle “Tierney” and step up to the hot-plate. Now, there’s a novel approach. Grow yer own.
Ralph, whatever is going on at Lennoxtown is a mystery to me. The players spend most of their time preparing for ninety minutes of football but when they cross that white line all the prep seems to go out of the window. Craig Gordon obviously has no confidence in the players in front of him and instead of getting the ball forward quickly the players indulge in all that square passing, going nowhere fast. Sviatchenko must be wondering what he’s let himself in for when he sees the total disorganisation around him. We are crying out for leadership both on and off the park. Scott Brown is too volatile to do that because he is too much of a loose cannon. Ronny Deila doesn’t seem to have the personality to give his players the rocket they need to buck up their ideas but once again, maybe he gives them hell at Lennoxtown and the message isn’t getting through. I think Ronny should go but now is probably not the time as a new man is going to need time. We’ll just have to keep the faith and hope for the best.
HH
Deila talks a good game but his delivery sucks. Where’s the high intensity, free-flowing football?
From a lot of the injuries, he appears to be over-training the players to attain his idea of an optimum player. He can’t see, as good managers do, that one size of approach doesn’t fit all players. You’ve got to cuddle some, beat some up, take some for a drink, train some others to oblivion but every good player needs specialist attention.
His recruitment is lousy. He lends out some of our home-grown quality and borrows dross from elsewhere. He doesn’t appear to be able to spot a decent player – Cictci, Cole, Boyata, Blackett are some obvious examples. If he’s not making these decisions, it’s still his fault because he should be in charge.
He fails to grasp basic tactics. Again, whether he’s in complete charge or not, it’s his responsibility. Zonal marking or man-to-man or something else. Who knows? Wing backs or not, depends on what abuse is coming from the stands. One up front or two up front or some other variation? Again, nobody knows. Holding midfielder (surely one out of the several hundred midfield players on the books is good in the holding or defensive role)?
All negatives. Positives? He’s a nice guy and deserves success.
It’s folly to ignore such glaring weaknesses and to hang on in the forlorn hope that he’ll come good. He can’t learn enough, quickly enough for us to benefit. Certainly not in the next few months.
We MUST cut our losses. We could keep him on under, say, Stevie Clarke. Clarke has a good record as a manager and a cracking record as a coach under some top managers. Although he might get close to breaking our budgets, he’d be a whole lot more realistic bet than Moyes/Rodgers/Van Gaal/Super Sally McMoist and all the other names that’ll be linked.
Personally I believe the only recruitment Deila has been responsible for is the Man City connection. The rest are clearly following the Liverpool model of “You will get what you are given”
I accept that Boyata looks a 6 quid player these days although he seemed to be doing okay for first 30 mins at Pittodrie and then reverted to deer in headlights yet again.
As discussed on recent podcast, the manager role is now a head Coach role in football and control has moved on. Anyone who says “Well Deila shouldn’t have accepted such terms” should look around modern football, The days of harry Redknapp and co are over, the Manager is no more and the Head coach does what he is told, or at least is told to make do with what he gets given.
If Ronnie cant get more from present lot then theres only one outcome for sure but sadly for him, every time I think we have the personnel needed, turns out theyre made of glass.
Agree with you to the extent that young managers get what they’re given until they prove themselves. Once they’ve got some recognition, they’ll start to control recruitment, as they should already control the whole club’s tactics and development plans. Top managers will still determine hiring plans, maybe not entirely on their own, but they’ll have the final say.
We might not be attracting top managers but I’d like to think anybody we have will have the strength of will and ability to drive any recruitment committee down the road of his choosing. If he can’t, that’s another reason to get rid.
Look at our rec managerial hirs…not one name amongst them, Strachan on scrap-heap and 2 realistically rookies in the managerial game.
Even Mowbray was unwanted at West Brom when we paid money for the sap. Frank Skinner is still laughing at us for that one.
Ever decreasing circles all round it seems
Yep although WGS did well at the scummers of Southampton. I doubt anybody would laugh much if we secured Steve Clarke. He’s got an excellent reputation in England.
Maybe Skinner’s laughing at himself; after all, nobody else does.
The management/board hav lost the plot. Their great idea was to bring in hopefuls for bawbees and move them on for mega gold, they somehow forgot tha the most important thing for the Celtic family was a fast moving, well drilled, team that won the majority of trophies in Scotland, and made a dig of it in the Champions League.
Delilah was brought in after Keane et all turned the managers position down, he was then landed with JC and JPK.
He has stumbled around, dealing with players moving on, injuries and an obvious issue within the playing squad.
If he does not step up to the plate now and tells Lawell wha he wants don or he walks away, he will b away anyway.
Lenny tried to flex his muscles, where is he now.
We continuously bring in dross and ignore what we have in house.
Henderson, Nesbitt, O’connell, Irvine and Stokesy a player that I would always have as a fall back, irrespective of baggage.
There is no panic at Parkhead, except that manufactured by the media, If there was no rumours, there would be no story.
The sheepish were poor on Wednsday, but our lack of bottle and fight made them look good.
I am nurse where we go from her but JC s a massiv disaster waiting to happen if Delilah goes.
Ralph
Great diaries recently well argued cases especially for Ronnie to go. I don’t see who is available right now to ensure we get the League so I can’t see change now being sensible. This time last year we were also just 3 points ahead and this year we have scored more goals but conceded more too. Griffiths will score in the firsthand the last minute but no one else will, last year Johannson and even Brown weighed in from midfield, that hasn’t happened for months. We have always been succeptible to goals from set pieces , I remember Packy flapping at a few but Elliott and Mick or all of the Blessed One’s back four( well except Deider) could handle them.
By the way I think it was Ajax and McGregor had a hand in that goal too.
Ralph, I can see what you trying to do here approaching the situation calmly and rationally, look from diverse angles etc all very mature and sensible. However, I feel there are at least a couple of major points that need to be pointed out. If the defence is as bad in training as it is on match-days as it is in training surely the manager a former central defender steps in and removes the defensive coach and takes over the coaching himself or if he doesn’t see this or worse isn’t watching them train he is incompetent and that justifies his removal.
The team talk stories tell a tale either way if they are true then god help us if not the fact that they circulate show a massive loss of respect for the manager which I would suggest is irreversible. If Collins is so unpopular which incidentally I can believe surely it is up to the manager to either replace him or decide that he doesn’t want a “popular” no.2 but an effective one and if Collins is doing what he is told to do the players must be told to do the jobs they get paid for and get on with following instructions,
I accept that you completely believe that the alternative to Ronnie could well be worse but is it really worse than the continued and growing disenfranchisement of the support and the increasingly bitter disputes between the view and I refer you to Monti and Charlie Saiz who are both passionate committed Celtic men reduced to hurling insults at each other this situation cannot be allowed to continue and fester I have no personal grudge against Ronnie who seems a very nice man but in my view his time is up. I am not saying I COULD DO BETTER I STRESSED THIS YESTERDAY I know we need to manager with a level of expertise far beyond the man in the street or the stand but the team is not at death door they are a selection of international players who need guided and motivated for the a maximum of 20 games to win a double.
Ask yourself this would you be confident in going to Ibrox or Hampden against them later in the season with Ronnie as manager? If the answer is not unequivocably yes then there is no further need for discussion is there?
I dont think we need to holders its a monsence in scotland. We only need one and the other two should be attacking and providing support. Also think its time we stopped this playing guys on the wrong side. Gms is a left winger , forrest is a right winger so we should play them there and let them provide the width rather than rely on full backs which leaves us exposed. If we done that and got two runners in midfield supporting griff. One of them a propper goal scorer like commons then i wouldnt even say we needed two up front.
Where we are right now is where I have said for months we would be. Yes Ronny MIGHT just win the league if he stay. But, and I’m sick of repeating myself here, I have no confidence that he will lead us into the Champions League. And with Sevco and all the honest mistakes next season, I have no confidence that he will win the league next year.
Given our relative strength compared to our domestic opponents, and those we come up against in CL qualifiers, that’s an absolutely shocking position to be in.
Ronny is not 100% to blame for this, but he should have the team much better organised than it is. He should have them MILES ahead in this league. We absolutely should have qualified for the CL groups this season, given the opposition.
Long winded I know but Ronny is not the man to take us forward. Think it’s bad now, fast forward 12-months with him in charge and you will see what bad is.
Nice guys come second,to manage you have too be strong,challenge your team to improve week in, week out,
I just don’t see it with RD or the other staff,
Deila outlined his plans very clearly on arrival:
Change the System and approach to one which he feels will be benficial both at home and abroad.
4-2-3-1
That’s 4 defenders 5 midfielders and 1 Striker on the pitch at any one time.
This means an over reliance on Midfielders and less relliance on multiple strikers.
As a esult of this Griffiths has been on fire this Season (on course for a personal best) yet has only contrributed a 1/3 of the total goals scored.
Hence why we now have more Midfielders and less Forwards at the Club.
His second priority was change of Diet and approach to fitness.
As pointed out we have multiple International players at Celtic these same players have already notched up over 30 games for Club by the 1st January.
This was the same last Season but thanks to UEFA these same players are expected to have a shorter Summer Break to play in qualifiers for European Competition.
They looked knackered in December but look sharper now thanks to having a week or two off.
The run in will prove whether this approach is paying off I personally believe it will because thanks to brining in so many Midfielders (where the bulk of the running is done)we have players fit and ready to go.
He also stated he wanted our team to play a higher pessing game by the looks of things this has taken a back seat as injuries ans fatigue (see above) have set in.
No matter what Deila was focussed on us achieving this year the simple fact of the matter is the loss of Denaayer &Van Dijk has severely affected it.
The loss of both Mulgrew and Brown (both natural leaders) has just compounded it further.
The loss of form of Johansen (poty last year btw let’s not forget)Commons (the previous POTY) and Armstrong has SEVERELY impacted our movement and ability in Midfield.
Since midfield is such a crucial area in the System he wants us to play again this has complicated things further.
Putting that aside however we are still top of the League with another double on the cards.
To push the panic button right now would put us back another 12 months and as we all know some on here can’t wait 5 minutes to see improvement.
I suggest we all give it till the Summer once the injuries have cleared and the new guys are bedded in I believe we will see a serious jump in both quality and results on and off the Park.
It is not Deila who has altered his approach it is results that are altering how some are viewing him.
After all he managed to coach a defence less than 6 months ago into breaking a 96 year League defence record and League and Cup Double?
That’s not luck that’s a proven fact.
So, CS, as part of this grand plan, he buys two strikers for £4m plus wages (Scepovic and Ciftci) then punts them out on loan. Good to see my season ticket money being taken good care of.
He’s so focused on a one-size-fits-all diet that he loses the plot on training over-trains the players such that they’re injured incessantly and, poor wee souls, they get tired by December. Not to worry, though, by January, they’re fully recovered just in time to collapse again in February when we have a cup semi final and an away match against our nearest challengers.
He’s also suffering from the loss of form of some players. Seems to me that good managers and coaches should be able to address form issues and improve struggling players. One player still plays, week in week out, despite having had a season-long loss of form.
The overall performances have been rapidly deteriorating, except for January 2016, so it seems to me to fail to press the panic button until the summer, is a gross dereliction of duty by our board and will lead to another season of excuses, promises of false dawns and supporters being taken for mugs.
Previous reply lost, I feel the need to try again.
Madness, just madness, CS. In an effort to force-feed a one-size-fits-all diet down the throats of a reasonably fit squad, the manger neglects to ensure that they’re not over-trained. The over-training appears to be causing unnecessary injuries to key player at key time.
The diet, hover, gives them such great energy that the performance we see are of outstanding, superhuman standards. Eh, no, the poor wee souls are tired by December but no worries. In January, they’re refreshed and roar back like lions. Sadly, the diet’s effect runs out and when we need to cope with a cup semi-final and a match against our nearest rivals, we’re shagged again.
This diet-induced tiredness causes us to lose all sense of tactic, skill and passion but, no fear we promise to get it right again. Forget about the £4m plus wages spend on two strikers. We didn’t need them anyway and we’ll stick with one striker and an old-timer who should see us through.
It’s reassuring to know that my season ticket money’s being spent so wisely and that it’ll be OK. I was fearing that we needed to hit the panic button now so that we’d see an improvement by the summer. Sill me. It’ll all be fine and I’m not a poor sap who’s being fed the same old shite endlessly, seeing the same old garbage and hearing the same old excuses.
Finally, the rubbish that we’re fine until we lose a couple of matches is contemptible. It’s got nothing to do with winning. It’s all to do with performances and, unless they improve immediately, we’ll do well for a top six finish.
Action must be taken now.
Also said in the “lost” reply that it’s the responsibility of the management/coaching staff to reduce the time that off-form players are off-form. That’s what coaching and management is all about. One player, still plays, and has been off-form since the season started. That is nothing short of negligence on behalf of the coaching team. It damages the team, it destroys the player’s rapport with the fans and it, ultimately, destroys the player’s confidence.
Form is temporary it can hit any player at any given time the Manager has no control over this this is just human nature.
Johansen although struggling for form has not been struggling for effort he is one of a few you will see still bombing about the pitch with 5 minutes to hence why the Manager is less reluctant to pull him than say Armstrong or GM-S who slow right up.
We need tempo to provide the spark you won’t get that from sluggish players.
Johansen has played in 38 games combined this Season already.He played in 63 last Season.
You might not think that should take a toll on a player but when players like him (Brown) are doing more miles on a Park compared to the rest it soon mounts up.
Fatigue can and does play a part in performance.
These qualifiers are starting way too early now and are having a bad effect on sides like us who in effect have to cut the Summer break short to compete in them.
Celtic Season 2014-15
We played 61 Games
Summer Break of 7 weeks and 3 days
This Season we have played 40 Games so far.
That’s a combined total of 101 Games
Aberdeen Season 2014-15
They played 48 Games
Summer Break of 5 weeks and 4 days
This Season they have played 32 Games so far.
That’s a total of 80 Games.
Ross County have played 30 games this Season
Summer Break of 10 weeks and 1 day.
Folk are wondering why we look tired compared to these sides?
Concur Charlie
It looks like change,will now be in the summer.
For that reason,all Celtic fans should unite behind RD and the team,to support them,in our quest for the Double.
No more negativity from me.We have the smsm doing that for us,on a daily basis.
The faithful Celtic fans can help inspire to this team to a Double.We have done it before.
Forget the personalities.Managers and players will come and go.We,the fans,will always be their.
So,let’s get right behind the team,with passion and noise.Show to the Celtic haters,Celtic fans are driving this team on to victories.
Your club needs you !! HH COYBIG
Sorry HS, I am finding it very hard to unite behind anything at Celtic Park at the moment, particularly when you see Lawwells disgusting wage. Yes I was aware of it, but when it hits home you really get the feeling these people are taking the piss and a good bit more.
Totally agree HS. Changing manager/backroom the now would be madness…msn has an agenda ti pile on the pressure, ramp up Tic against Tic. We should get behind the team til summer then see what happens. HAIL HAIL N as that.
Oh dear!
Ronny will never change his system,J Collins quote last year,
a silly and obstinate statement.
What we see when we watch the team,is a total lack of cohesian or organisation,your picture captures that.A total lack of Motovation shows in the players lack of confidense and fight.
Ronny will not or cannot deliver,he has to go ASAP.
Player recruitment looking from the outside is haphazard and unfathomable,40 poss.first team players,mostly midfielders shows quantity not quality who is to blame for this Peter Lawell,Dermot Desmond and the rest of the Board,
they need to raise there game,Quickly.
When Johanne Mjalby decided to return to Sweden,R.D.was appointed to be Neil Lennons No2,Neil then decided to go.
D.D.then offered the job to Roy Keane and asked to contact P.L.who told him the salary on offer and who his No2 was.
Keane according to his book then declined the position,feeling that he was not really wanted.R.Deillia was then appointed Head Coach and offered J.C. as his assistant and young Kennedy as defensive coach,which if he had any balls he could have refused,what follows is his and only his is responsibility.
I could bet that P.L.regrets his decision now.
Aye mike, he’ll be regretting not having a big enough wallet…That is all.
Andy,
I used to have great faith in P.L.but that changed when i discovered his bonus payments.I am certainly not jealous of that, but it must relate to profitability and
signings and that for me is unnaceptable in our football club,in fact its clearly detrimental and totally against the clubs roots.
Bang on.
Twist.
The Commons/Collins incident in Molde signalled to me anyway that things are not right. Commons , who is a personal favourite of mine btw, should have been noweher near the team for weeks.
However, as well as Deila, Lawwell should go NOW. There is now way a CEO of Celtic should earn more than the manager/coach. The manager position is the heart of the club , the most important employee of the club. If you as manager are not fully in contriol, how can you do your best ?
Sunday should be a cakewalk, no excuses at all.
I like RD and his philosophies on football and his desire to nurture the youths as well as instigating the high standards he’s set in regards to professionalism. But learning is a two way street and maybe RD could learn something about playing football by studying how to play football ‘The Glasgow Celtic Way’. If I was him, I’d be approaching all of ‘The Lions’ left and asking them a simple question. What was your favourite training exercise under ‘Big Jock’, that YOU felt made YOU a better football player. I want it documented extensively in how to train a team and how to get a team to play football ‘The Glasgow Celtic Way’. Only my opinion. HH
I thought Deila was the ” Soccer Sensei “?
Surely no need for him to court advice…
Wax on Wax off…
Daniel son.
“Sweep the leg” as big Dion Dublin used to say, ahem
Hey Minti, absolutely loving the quote from the kids film, it’s very, very funny even after you have quoted the line fifty odd times now. I have a tip for you; there is a newer kids film around, I think it is called…eh, Foundered…naw, naw it’s…FROZEN, that’s the one! Well, Minti, apparently All the kids are not only singing songs from the film but, just like your good self, they are quoting lines at each other! So, why don’t you have a look at the film and see if you can pick up some more of your absolutely hilarious epigrams and you will be part of the zeitgeist.
Let it go.LEt it Feckin Go.
Andybhoy absolutely Fucking Brilliant,
CHEERS.
I ‘aim’ to please Oh special one. If it was RD’s idea for the defenders the other night, to ‘punt’ the ball up the park ‘aimlessly’, well it’s indefensible. Where do you think the philosophies of, to be introspective, work hard every day and be humble come from and have you ever heard ‘ANY’ manager use such language in relation to football. I’ll give you a clue, it’s not North, nor South or even the West. Any closer? All I was stating was that ‘TIME’ is running out for ‘The Mighty Glasgow Celtic’ to get documented, the training methods and philosophies surrounding them and how to implement those methods into a professional match of football, to play ‘The Glasgow Celtic Way’. I watched a documentary a while back and there was a camera in the dressing room and ‘Big Jock’ described the starting formation a 4-2-4. Personally I’d like to know ‘HIS’ reasons for that. Is that too much to ask for. P.S (1) I have yet to see you make 1 positive contribution in any shape of form. (2) You really really really are not funny, no seriously, not even in the slightest bit. (3) It’s always easy to criticize, it’s solutions that’s the hard part. So what are your, apart from “sack the manager”? It saddens my heart just the thought that ‘The Mighty Glasgow Celtic’ may never play ‘The Glasgow Celtic Way’ again, that made the footballing ‘WORLD’ marvel at us. Hail efin Hail
Well said holy sea.
That’s my approach – support what’s there right now and until a clearly better alternative is identified.
I know from experience, I was shit at my job in the past, at least the results suggested that. But through time, effort, experience and support it appears I’ve become much better at it – the results suggest?
In that time I’ve had to get clarity on my powers, authority, budgets, etc and change some infrastructure and a lot of the people, but it’s working really well after a not too impressive start.
I was speaking to regular reader of this site yesterday, I said I think it’s a little tweak we need most, not wholesale change. And fact is, unless any of us are in and around lennoxtown daily none of us know enough to be sure of what wrong and what’s required to put it right. That’s what bugs me the most about the “we must do this or that” type comment – they are all poorly reasoned.
I think the success we all want can be achieved with Ronny. I’m right behind him, and the board, and the club. I hope we can all join together to be enthusiastic, loud and passionate supporters of the team and coaches through the rest of the season. Apart from anything it’s much more fun that way.
Hope I see you all on the way.
Brendan
In 19 months, name one thing that Deila has done right?
On his arrival he immediately drops our current player of the year for the clubs most important game of the season v Maribor at home.
Shocking decision compounded by a guy from Cardiff reserves going straight into the team, massive blunder, cost the club the CL and millions in revenue.
Legia? Embarrassing, Malmo, joke, the Europa league, further embarrasment.
Domestic results this season have been woeful and similarly, so too are a number of performances.
There is no leadership at the back, Brown is the only leader in the squad, you need a team.of captains, not one.
We are struggling to beat Kilmarnock and Motherwell, teams are not on the slightest intimidated by Celtic any longer, the fear factor is gone.
19 months in the Job and the club is going backwards, rapidly.
Peter Lawwell took a gamble and lost!
OUT!
League and cup double?
Good Diary once again Ralph. I have a wee story from a good source within Parkhead. According to my source Ronnie speaks to each player individually after each game and with his iPad goes through in detail what that player did or didn’t do whatever the case maybe, which in itself sounds good. However there is no rebel rousing team talks prior to any game, the players are informed of the tactics for each particular game but that is it. While under Lennon, he followed MON,s lead with rebel rousing team talks which in turn would fire everyone up. Maybe that is one small reason why do not witness any fight within the team. Little or no motivation from the Manager/coaching staff.
Daviebhoy
If you look at posts going back 19 months, you’ll see that has been an issue raised on multiple occasions regarding the clueless ones managerial skills. It is also a huge part of setting the team up for any game.
Seem a good way for post match analysis, find it strange and hard to believe that he does not do a pre match team talk
If you go over all the promises or hype issuing from aronnie then you get a clue as to his managerial ability. He talked of changing diets, changing fitness levels, changing performance into a quicker passing quicker closing down team, developing players further etc etc etc and guess what.mit’s a pile of keech. He has been here a season and a half and looking at performances we are worse. It is humiliating and Ralph, looking at your list of issues about who is doing what or not, they are all enough to get this management team to hell.
Kind of think that the motivational bit is weak compared to Neil and MoN but can we stop the green eyed bit bout what Lawell’s paid. He is the CEO of a big company with potential world wide marketing,he should,get the rate for the job, we could get Jock Brown back or maybe one of the Kellys or a Whyte. It would make more sense to query some of the players wages. If Lawell is not the right fit for CEO Dermott will have no sentiment, it isn’t what the CEO is paid that matters, it is the state of the organisation, are we wildly unrealistic about what even the biggest club in a 10p league can achieve?. We all know that the company and therefore the club is on a sound footing so what’s the beef and in fact a good manager is worth more than Ronnie gets,I hope the next time we don’t recruit on the cheap putting too much money in agents pockets.
He’s getting far more than the going rate…that’s the problem….and he’s also a BIG problem as it’s his strategy that is failing.
BJF,
Mate its ridiculous and it clearly sets him up to deliver profitabiliy,opposed totally to the product on the pitch,it may even be based on players sales,how can that benifit the team?
Ralph,
when you read your article , then sit back and digest it , the overall vision is of CHAOS , complete and utter CHAOS .Throw Lawwell into the mix and it’s a desperate situation .
My feeling is if , as it seems , chaos rules then trying to pick the bones of it and start trying to solve the myriad of problems/scenarios you’ve highlighted , is a lengthy and probably futile exercise.
If it’s anywhere near as “random” as you’ve suggested , then the only solution I see is to ” clear the decks” , ( though to completely clear the decks would have to include Lawwell), and start fresh with someone new , even now .
As to who that could be , I don’t have that answer , but then it’s not my decision to make .
Anything other smacks to me of ” the easy option” maybe even cowardly.
It’s easier to just do nothing , rather than be pro-active and do something.
Either one though , is a big gamble for the club ; how did we get from the heights of Feb 2013 CL last 16 – to this ?
Good piece of analysis Ralph, being privy to a lot more information, rumour and tales than we, your humble worshipers, I would expect no less.
Like you I get annoyed at television presenters who being good players in their day are normally failed managers or like us wannabes (speak for yourself, they cry). Reading and listening to reporters from the media with agenda’s. Worst of all our own who constantly bleat “Ronny out”. I am all for an opinion but every day regardless of the topic does ma nut in.
We are top of the league by 3 points and still in the Scottish Cup so you would normally expect everyone to be happy? You mention team talks and conflicting coaching/tactical advice for players. Without knowing the truth of such matters it is hard to make a comment. I watch Celtic TV and when players and staff are on, whether it’s training or interviews you get the feeling that they are a happy bunch and all is well.
However, when we play in big games, the games that have mattered this season, we struggle. No one looks happy when we are up against it and more importantly no one seems to be able to do anything about it. This is worrying and has been going on for far too long.
I like the manager, like his philosophy and if he is eventually successful we will be a great team. But, will he get the time, will the players respond? Too many if’s and that is the problem for many. A lot of people have taken a personal dislike to Ronny, oh they say it’s “the team’s performance” that turns them against him. I don’t believe that, we have had poor performances in the past and we don’t always get the same volume of tantrums.
Fans claim they want a more competitive league but when we get one, they turn inwards with their anger. They deny a sense of entitlement but what else can you call it when they will not accept defeat? Whatever happened to win, lose or draw? I don’t like defeat and it sure as hell ruins my day but I can accept it. I suppose what we all can’t accept is the manner of some defeats.
The manager is now under immense pressure and maybe, just maybe this will grow him some. It appears to me that he is to laid back and could do with taking a leaf (or a cup and saucer) out of Sir Alex book and start throwing things around the dressing room and kicking some arse (nothing personal Jamsie.)
It doesn’t help matters when one of your highest profile fans (no not you Monti!) says this “If I was to say anything about the manager, I just think that maybe the club is a bit too big for him at this point in his career. I don’t want to run him down and mock him, but that’s the way I look at it” You don’t want to run him down Rod? So why are you sitting in the Lennoxtown carpark in that Ferrari? Don’t you know training is off today?
I think the problem is twofold, 1: Ronnie hasn’t the players to play his system or he is picking the wrong players. Solution? Change the system or man up and pick the right players. 2: The central midfield pairing is not working as it should and protecting the defence. In all competitions our main pairing Scott & Nir have played 18 times W9 D5 L4, Nir & Stefan 12 times W7 D2 L3, Scott & Stefan 3 times all wins. Solution? Well this is a tough one, I don’t think we have anyone else who could play CM, Stuart, maybe, everyone else seems too lightweight. Sviatchenko maybe when we have two fit CB’s.
You all know my opinion, Ronny should stay until the end of the season at least if not longer. I would prefer that we got a more experienced defensive coach to work alongside JK. I would also like to see more protection for our players on the park as this is contributing to our injury list and making a consistent team sheet nigh on impossible. Peter needs to step up here as well with these issues and also made sure we have a DM lined up for the summer because without one, Ronny will be out and we will be out.
Good piece of analysis Ralph, being privy to a lot more information, rumour and tales than we, your humble worshipers, I would expect no less.
Like you I get annoyed at television presenters who being good players in their day are normally failed managers or like us wannabes (speak for yourself, they cry). Reading and listening to reporters from the media with agenda’s. Worst of all our own who constantly bleat “Ronny out”. I am all for an opinion but every day regardless of the topic does ma nut in.
We are top of the league by 3 points and still in the Scottish Cup so you would normally expect everyone to be happy? You mention team talks and conflicting coaching/tactical advice for players. Without knowing the truth of such matters it is hard to make a comment. I watch Celtic TV and when players and staff are on, whether it’s training or interviews you get the feeling that they are a happy bunch and all is well.
However, when we play in big games, the games that have mattered this season, we struggle. No one looks happy when we are up against it and more importantly no one seems to be able to do anything about it. This is worrying and has been going on for far too long.
I like the manager, like his philosophy and if he is eventually successful we will be a great team. But, will he get the time, will the players respond? Too many if’s and that is the problem for many. A lot of people have taken a personal dislike to Ronny, oh they say it’s “the team’s performance” that turns them against him. I don’t believe that, we have had poor performances in the past and we don’t always get the same volume of tantrums.
Fans claim they want a more competitive league but when we get one, they turn inwards with their anger. They deny a sense of entitlement but what else can you call it when they will not accept defeat? Whatever happened to win, lose or draw? I don’t like defeat and it sure as hell ruins my day but I can accept it. I suppose what we all can’t accept is the manner of some defeats.
The manager is now under immense pressure and maybe, just maybe this will grow him some. It appears to me that he is to laid back and could do with taking a leaf (or a cup and saucer) out of Sir Alex book and start throwing things around the dressing room and kicking some arse (nothing personal Jamsie.)
It doesn’t help matters when one of your highest profile fans (no not you Monti!) says this “If I was to say anything about the manager, I just think that maybe the club is a bit too big for him at this point in his career. I don’t want to run him down and mock him, but that’s the way I look at it” You don’t want to run him down Rod? So why are you sitting in the Lennoxtown carpark in that Ferrari? Don’t you know training is off today?
I think the problem is twofold, 1: Ronnie hasn’t the players to play his system or he is picking the wrong players. Solution? Change the system or man up and pick the right players. 2: The central midfield pairing is not working as it should and protecting the defence. In all competitions our main pairing Scott & Nir have played 18 times W9 D5 L4, Nir & Stefan 12 times W7 D2 L3, Scott & Stefan 3 times all wins. Solution? Well this is a tough one, I don’t think we have anyone else who could play CM, Stuart, maybe, everyone else seems too lightweight. Sviatchenko maybe when we have two fit CB’s.
You all know my opinion, Ronny should stay until the end of the season at least if not longer. I would prefer that we got a more experienced defensive coach to work alongside JK. I would also like to see more protection for our players on the park as this is contributing to our injury list and making a consistent team sheet nigh on impossible. Peter needs to step up here as well with these issues and also made sure we have a DM lined up for the summer because without one, Ronny will be out and we will be out.
Hail, Hail
I think two of the big problems are the downsizing of the team and club whilst also attempting to bring in a “Moneyball” approach to recruitment where players are bought for their stats, (gleaned from the wee box atween their shoulders), rather than what your eyes should tell you. Of course using stats gets you cheaper players like a Van Dyke now and again but it mostly gets you players like Pukki, Berget, etc, etc. It also more or less removes recruitment from the football men to the suits but much worse, it removes authority from the manager and gives him no autonomy in the dressing room. Since I don’t see the downsizing and “Moneyball” approach changing for a while, what difference will changing the manager make to that? “Moneyball” is a good way to earn yourself £1M a year…isn’t it Peter!
Good piece of analysis Ralph, being privy to a lot more information, rumour and tales than we, your humble worshipers, I would expect no less.
Like you I get annoyed at television presenters who being good players in their day are normally failed managers or like us wannabes (speak for yourself, they cry). Reading and listening to reporters from the media with agenda’s. Worst of all our own who constantly bleat “Ronny out”. I am all for an opinion but every day regardless of the topic does ma nut in.
We are top of the league by 3 points and still in the Scottish Cup so you would normally expect everyone to be happy? You mention team talks and conflicting coaching/tactical advice for players. Without knowing the truth of such matters it is hard to make a comment. I watch Celtic TV and when players and staff are on, whether it’s training or interviews you get the feeling that they are a happy bunch and all is well.
However, when we play in big games, the games that have mattered this season, we struggle. No one looks happy when we are up against it and more importantly no one seems to be able to do anything about it. This is worrying and has been going on for far too long.
I like the manager, like his philosophy and if he is eventually successful we will be a great team. But, will he get the time, will the players respond? Too many if’s and that is the problem for many. A lot of people have taken a personal dislike to Ronny, oh they say it’s “the team’s performance” that turns them against him. I don’t believe that, we have had poor performances in the past and we don’t always get the same volume of tantrums.
Fans claim they want a more competitive league but when we get one, they turn inwards with their anger. They deny a sense of entitlement but what else can you call it when they will not accept defeat? Whatever happened to win, lose or draw? I don’t like defeat and it sure as hell ruins my day but I can accept it. I suppose what we all can’t accept is the manner of some defeats.
The manager is now under immense pressure and maybe, just maybe this will grow him some. It appears to me that he is to laid back and could do with taking a leaf (or a cup and saucer) out of Sir Alex book and start throwing things around the dressing room and kicking some arse (nothing personal Jamsie.)
It doesn’t help matters when one of your highest profile fans (no not you Monti!) says this “If I was to say anything about the manager, I just think that maybe the club is a bit too big for him at this point in his career. I don’t want to run him down and mock him, but that’s the way I look at it” You don’t want to run him down Rod? So why are you sitting in the Lennoxtown carpark in that Ferrari? Don’t you know training is off today?
I think the problem is twofold, 1: Ronnie hasn’t the players to play his system or he is picking the wrong players. Solution? Change the system or man up and pick the right players. 2: The central midfield pairing is not working as it should and protecting the defence. In all competitions our main pairing Scott & Nir have played 18 times W9 D5 L4, Nir & Stefan 12 times W7 D2 L3, Scott & Stefan 3 times all wins. Solution? Well this is a tough one, I don’t think we have anyone else who could play CM, Stuart, maybe, everyone else seems too lightweight. Sviatchenko maybe when we have two fit CB’s.
You all know my opinion, Ronny should stay until the end of the season at least if not longer. I would prefer that we got a more experienced defensive coach to work alongside JK. I would also like to see more protection for our players on the park as this is contributing to our injury list and making a consistent team sheet nigh on impossible. Peter needs to step up here as well with these issues and also made sure we have a DM lined up for the summer because without one, Ronny will be out and we will be out.
Been a lot of posts since I started this, will need to read through them.
Good piece of analysis Ralph, being privy to a lot more information, rumour and tales than we, your humble worshipers, I would expect no less.
Like you I get annoyed at television presenters who being good players in their day are normally failed managers or like us wannabes (speak for yourself, they cry). Reading and listening to reporters from the media with agenda’s. Worst of all our own who constantly bleat “Ronny out”. I am all for an opinion but every day regardless of the topic does ma nut in.
We are top of the league by 3 points and still in the Scottish Cup so you would normally expect everyone to be happy? You mention team talks and conflicting coaching/tactical advice for players. Without knowing the truth of such matters it is hard to make a comment. I watch Celtic TV and when players and staff are on, whether it’s training or interviews you get the feeling that they are a happy bunch and all is well.
However, when we play in big games, the games that have mattered this season, we struggle.
No one looks happy when we are up against it and more importantly no one seems to be able to do anything about it. This is worrying and has been going on for far too long.
I like the manager, like his philosophy and if he is eventually successful we will be a great team. But, will he get the time, will the players respond? Too many if’s and that is the problem for many. A lot of people have taken a personal dislike to Ronny, oh they say it’s “the team’s performance” that turns them against him. I don’t believe that, we have had poor performances in the past and we don’t always get the same volume of tantrums.
Fans claim they want a more competitive league but when we get one, they turn inwards with their anger. They deny a sense of entitlement but what else can you call it when they will not accept defeat? Whatever happened to win, lose or draw? I don’t like defeat and it sure as hell ruins my day but I can accept it. I suppose what we all can’t accept is the manner of some defeats.
The manager is now under immense pressure and maybe, just maybe this will grow him some. It appears to me that he is to laid back and could do with taking a leaf (or a cup and saucer) out of Sir Alex book and start throwing things around the dressing room and kicking some arse (nothing personal Jamsie.)
It doesn’t help matters when one of your highest profile fans (no not you Monti!) says this “If I was to say anything about the manager, I just think that maybe the club is a bit too big for him at this point in his career. I don’t want to run him down and mock him, but that’s the way I look at it” You don’t want to run him down Rod? So why are you sitting in the Lennoxtown carpark in that Ferrari? Don’t you know training is off today?
I think the problem is twofold, 1: Ronnie hasn’t the players to play his system or he is picking the wrong players. Solution? Change the system or man up and pick the right players. 2: The central midfield pairing is not working as it should and protecting the defence. In all competitions our main pairing Scott & Nir have played 18 times W9 D5 L4, Nir & Stefan 12 times W7 D2 L3, Scott & Stefan 3 times all wins. Solution? Well this is a tough one, I don’t think we have anyone else who could play CM, Stuart, maybe, everyone else seems too lightweight. Sviatchenko maybe when we have two fit CB’s.
You all know my opinion, Ronny should stay until the end of the season at least if not longer. I would prefer that we got a more experienced defensive coach to work alongside JK. I would also like to see more protection for our players on the park as this is contributing to our injury list and making a consistent team sheet nigh on impossible. Peter needs to step up here as well with these issues and also made sure we have a DM lined up for the summer because without one, Ronny will be out and we will be out.
HH
Had a piece written out to post but its not going up. The pish detectors working then?
Good piece of analysis Ralph, being privy to a lot more information, rumour and tales than we, your humble worshipers, I would expect no less.
Like you I get annoyed at television presenters who being good players in their day are normally failed managers or like us wannabes (speak for yourself, they cry). Reading and listening to reporters from the media with agenda’s. Worst of all our own who constantly bleat “Ronny out”. I am all for an opinion but every day regardless of the topic does ma nut in.
We are top of the league by 3 points and still in the Scottish Cup so you would normally expect everyone to be happy? You mention team talks and conflicting coaching/tactical advice for players. Without knowing the truth of such matters it is hard to make a comment. I watch Celtic TV and when players and staff are on, whether it’s training or interviews you get the feeling that they are a happy bunch and all is well.
However, when we play in big games, the games that have mattered this season, we struggle.
No one looks happy when we are up against it and more importantly no one seems to be able to do anything about it. This is worrying and has been going on for far too long.
I like the manager, like his philosophy and if he is eventually successful we will be a great team. But, will he get the time, will the players respond? Too many if’s and that is the problem for many. A lot of people have taken a personal dislike to Ronny, oh they say it’s “the team’s performance” that turns them against him. I don’t believe that, we have had poor performances in the past and we don’t always get the same volume of tantrums.
Fans claim they want a more competitive league but when we get one, they turn inwards with their anger. They deny a sense of entitlement but what else can you call it when they will not accept defeat? Whatever happened to win, lose or draw? I don’t like defeat and it sure as hell ruins my day but I can accept it. I suppose what we all can’t accept is the manner of some defeats.
The manager is now under immense pressure and maybe, just maybe this will grow him some. It appears to me that he is to laid back and could do with taking a leaf (or a cup and saucer) out of Sir Alex book and start throwing things around the dressing room and kicking some arse (nothing personal Jamsie.)
It doesn’t help matters when one of your highest profile fans (no not you Monti!) says this “If I was to say anything about the manager, I just think that maybe the club is a bit too big for him at this point in his career. I don’t want to run him down and mock him, but that’s the way I look at it” You don’t want to run him down Rod? So why are you sitting in the Lennoxtown carpark in that Ferrari? Don’t you know training is off today?
I think the problem is twofold, 1: Ronnie hasn’t the players to play his system or he is picking the wrong players. Solution? Change the system or man up and pick the right players. 2: The central midfield pairing is not working as it should and protecting the defence. In all competitions our main pairing Scott & Nir have played 18 times W9 D5 L4, Nir & Stefan 12 times W7 D2 L3, Scott & Stefan 3 times all wins. Solution? Well this is a tough one, I don’t think we have anyone else who could play CM, Stuart, maybe, everyone else seems too lightweight. Sviatchenko maybe when we have two fit CB’s.
You all know my opinion, Ronny should stay until the end of the season at least if not longer. I would prefer that we got a more experienced defensive coach to work alongside JK. I would also like to see more protection for our players on the park as this is contributing to our injury list and making a consistent team sheet nigh on impossible. Peter needs to step up here as well with these issues and also made sure we have a DM lined up for the summer because without one, Ronny will be out and we will be out.
You can say that again, Brian.
Pmsl
…run that one passed us again Brian.
give in
I don’t know,some people here keep whingeing about teams in Europe being walk overs.
What about Rosenburg ,Copenhagen Anderlecht Lyon, i think a lot of European teams have improved no end and can smell the gold
Austrian and Poles have always played good football so it’s no surprise they beat us
I think they,ve passed us by yeah even Molde.
Spot on.
The Molde side that beat us would have pumped every other team in Scotland with the form they have shown in Europe.
3 goals away to Fenerbahce tells me they would.
That’s a fair point that is often dismissed. I must have missed the part were we have been all conquering in Europe as some think.
Our last decent showing in Europe was 2013-2014, and then got duly pumped by Juventus. The season after the width of the crossbar saved us from going out in the play off round to shaktar before losing 5 of the group games. Looking at that without stating the obvious, Wanyama, Hooper, Ledley, Forster etc have not been replaced by similar ilk. Not news to anyone.
As you say Ralph, define the problem, is it Ronny, a bit harsh to lay all the blame at his door given the above. Is it the board and, as monti puts it, their false economy? The accounts show where the money is going, bad signings aside, (that’s another issue) and it is used on the team.
So what Monti suggests is that we speculate to accumulate. So how many seasons are we to spend 10 million on players, and still not qualify for the champions league? Then up to our ears in debt? Qualifying for the champions league is a lottery for a lot of big teams now. Fenerbache (how much did they spend), Ajax, Monaco, Panathanaikos etc all pumped out before the group stages (I get the fact we lost to malmo in the champions route). The false economy would be, to me, jeopardizing your business on the throw of a dice.
I’m not saying that celtic shouldn’t invest,just need to be realistic about in the current business climate. Based on the money about to cascade through English football, what standard of player are we likely to get for 10 million shortly? We cannot sustain those losses without guaranteed champions league money over even a short term. Harsh, but that’s the reality of Scottish football.
The Spanish, Italians etc are voicing concerns about the money in the English game monopolising it. So how are we supposed to deal with it when it concerns them.
Possibly the board recognized that the long term future that would allow us to compete had to be done by nurturing our own talent, get a modern coach in, buy the best young players in Scotland and do more than pay lip service to a youth academy.
That doesn’t mean Ronny is the right guy, but getting Moyes or whoever and spending 18 million on stoke city players will not guarantee champions league football.
If that is the boards plan, then we should recognize it for what it is, applaud it and get behind the team. I don’t see many other options.
Spot on post on every level you sure we aren’t related because this is exactly what i have been saying for the past 3 years bud.
Lawwell needs to curtail the flannel and tell the Support straight.
He has bullshit’d about being debt free.
Bullshit’d about willing to spend £6m on the right man(remember that one)
Bullshit’d about us being a Champions League Club.
We are an average Europa League Club at best who has punched above our weight 1 year out of the last 5.
We got destroyed in the CL in Lennys last Season the writing was on the wall then.
Ps we also had Matthews clear one off the line v Shakhter Morton.
The most 1 dimensional side we have played in 10 years of Europe and we just scraped by them.
Shaktar Morton? Do they play in the same league as Athletico Forfar (c) “the bunnet”
Right re the board telling it as it is and outlining their plan, if they have one. It might get the punters back on side.
Let’s hope there is a shake up of how European football is run.
So true
Quality post mate. HH
Last try
Good piece of analysis Ralph, being privy to a lot more information, rumour and tales than we, your humble worshipers, I would expect no less.
Like you I get annoyed at television presenters who being good players in their day are normally failed managers or like us wannabes (speak for yourself, they cry). Reading and listening to reporters from the media with agenda’s. Worst of all our own who constantly bleat “Ronny out”. I am all for an opinion but every day regardless of the topic does ma nut in.
We are top of the league by 3 points and still in the Scottish Cup so you would normally expect everyone to be happy? You mention team talks and conflicting coaching/tactical advice for players. Without knowing the truth of such matters it is hard to make a comment. I watch Celtic TV and when players and staff are on, whether it’s training or interviews you get the feeling that they are a happy bunch and all is well.
However, when we play in big games, the games that have mattered this season, we struggle.
No one looks happy when we are up against it and more importantly no one seems to be able to do anything about it. This is worrying and has been going on for far too long.
I like the manager, like his philosophy and if he is eventually successful we will be a great team. But, will he get the time, will the players respond? Too many if’s and that is the problem for many. A lot of people have taken a personal dislike to Ronny, oh they say it’s “the team’s performance” that turns them against him. I don’t believe that, we have had poor performances in the past and we don’t always get the same volume of tantrums.
Fans claim they want a more competitive league but when we get one, they turn inwards with their anger. They deny a sense of entitlement but what else can you call it when they will not accept defeat? Whatever happened to win, lose or draw? I don’t like defeat and it sure as hell ruins my day but I can accept it. I suppose what we all can’t accept is the manner of some defeats.
The manager is now under immense pressure and maybe, just maybe this will grow him some. It appears to me that he is to laid back and could do with taking a leaf (or a cup and saucer) out of Sir Alex book and start throwing things around the dressing room and kicking some arse (nothing personal Jamsie.)
It doesn’t help matters when one of your highest profile fans (no not you Monti!) says this “If I was to say anything about the manager, I just think that maybe the club is a bit too big for him at this point in his career. I don’t want to run him down and mock him, but that’s the way I look at it” You don’t want to run him down Rod? So why are you sitting in the Lennoxtown carpark in that Ferrari? Don’t you know training is off today?
I think the problem is twofold, 1: Ronnie hasn’t the players to play his system or he is picking the wrong players. Solution? Change the system or man up and pick the right players. 2: The central midfield pairing is not working as it should and protecting the defence. In all competitions our main pairing Scott & Nir have played 18 times W9 D5 L4, Nir & Stefan 12 times W7 D2 L3, Scott & Stefan 3 times all wins. Solution? Well this is a tough one, I don’t think we have anyone else who could play CM, Stuart, maybe, everyone else seems too lightweight. Sviatchenko maybe when we have two fit CB’s.
You all know my opinion, Ronny should stay until the end of the season at least if not longer. I would prefer that we got a more experienced defensive coach to work alongside JK. I would also like to see more protection for our players on the park as this is contributing to our injury list and making a consistent team sheet nigh on impossible. Peter needs to step up here as well with these issues and also made sure we have a DM lined up for the summer because without one, Ronny will be out and we will be out.
HH
brian could you repeat that mate ha ha
Say again please….
great post mate
Great post Brian,
Great post Brian,
Great post Brian,
Great post Brian,
Great post Brian.
Monti rages at Delilah, but here is a bigger picture, who is pulling the strings and bringing in he duds, ignoring reasonable talent inhouse.
There is an attitude where we will bring in someone polish him up and sell him on rather than look at the current eams problems.
Gordon needs dropped for a game or two lets try Bailly, he may command his box more.
Lustig far to frequently looks isolated, more back tracking from mid field players, Forrest etc needed.
The central mid field due to injuries will have to be Awfy Awfy and Siminchenko, till Simunovic recovers.
We are aking a lot of Tierny he should be rested for he Cup game with Izaguire coming in,
Broony should strengthen our midfield Bitton should be dropped nd we should give Allan or Ritchie if fit a run, Zig and Zag should be dropped with Forrest given a run in is natural position.
Up front we should go with Grifiths And Cole we need the bulk up front till Commons returns.
We are still three points ahead with a far superior goal difference and an easier run in with a bigger squad. we should also win the Cup with a it of Luck.
HH
Cartvale,
To be fair, I have spoken out against the board as well.
The SPAM Filter seems to have been on overdrive!
Rescued what I found in there and published.
james doleman played a blinder again today
Is he any good in defence???
ha ha ha
Bleat!!! Brian 53, a more considered statement would be “re-state their opinion” but if you would rather insult feel free, I say again we have no right to win but we do have the right to lose games, if we must with a display of passion commitment, organisation and effort from players who at least seem to care.
If Ronnie who I have no personal dislike for, cannot guarantee this after 18 months he is not up to the job, if you can see any evidence that he is then fine if not why in the name of god should we waste the rest of the season.
This is not to excuse the failings of the board and the CEO but first and foremost we need to sort things out on the park right now.
I have not a minute to read all of the comments yet, but I was asked to come up with a solution to something.
http://this11.com/play/abKBTh1akK.png
http://this11.com/topics/add/abKBTh1akK/v
After revisiting the most successful tactics of Celtic this Century and understanding what Ronny Deila is trying to achieve I have come up with the tactic in the link above.
This requires the following:
Half-Back:
Physical, aggressive, defensive midfielder who is good in the air. Honestly I suspect that most of our defenders could do this except the 2 that look like deer in headlights when a player runs at them. This players main job is to close down attacking players quickly except in our own third, when he sits between the back four and midfield.
Central Midfield:
Think a more skillful Neil Lennon. Must be able to bomb left or right to mop up counter-attacks on either side of the field while our Full-backs track back.
#10 – Target Man
This position is designed with Tom Rogic/Nadir Shifty and Kazim-Richards in mind. In the final third he sits off the attacking line behind the leading striker in our current #10 role, but remains the most advanced/forward player with the ball in our half
Striker
Any fast player that can dribble obviously prefferred is the Griffalo, but honestly I’m pretty sure Jamesie and GMS could do a job in here if needed. Basically this player overlaps with the #10 Target-Man
Inside Forwards
Yes they have to backtrack and make up a 3 across midfield with the half-back behind them and the striker between them and the #10/Target-Man. Yes they arrive late in the box if the other Inside-Forward has the ball and yes they attack the back-post by running through the channel
Attacking Full-Back
They Attack and overlap. It is probably best if they only do so when the ball is on their side of the field.
Center Back
Hold your line retreat and let the Half-back charge about like a nut job.
Goalkeeper
Keep warm and don’t let them score from distance
That is pretty much it! Sit down and try to visualize where the players would be in each third or quarter of the field with and without the ball. Then try dropping in a 4-4-2, 4-5-1, 4-2-3-1 and a 4-3-3 against it. Each of these formations will provide different issues to this formation, but all can be easily dealt with by modifying the extent to which the Inside Forwards sit in or track back.
There you go Ralph.
Post missing and it’s a good one.
Uralius,what the feck is that name based on BTW,i prefered ANDY.
Sorry i missed that post,send it to Monti at E-Tims direct.
HA.HA.
Was playing fitba, with some lads and some beers one of them said Jesus is your alias. I said Jesus Uralius whit kind of flocking name is that. So my drunk footballing name became Jesus (pronounced South American style) Uralius. I kind like it because you put your name or your alias (Uralius) on your shirt I put it on any shirt I can get. It’s just a play on words.
Get it now,agree its a good name,but seriously playing fitba with beers,
I will never take your fitba opinion seriously again.
HE.HE.
We used to play a game called Diego, which was basically the side of a primary school (with no windows) and a bunch of lads trying to do some spectacular stuff, mostly volleys, scissors, nice crosses etc. We all had silly names. One guy was called “Art-Deco” another was called “Dan Schizeman.” We got batter with a little alcohol, but got much worse with a lot.
Uralius,
I never played that type of fitba,i was to busy trying to break the oppos ankles.
I remember my first Senior Sunday League game. I was brought on as an early sub due to injury and my opposite number came in for a tackle that started on my right thigh and ended on my ankle, taking my shin pad with him. Having played more rugby that fitba growing up I just gave him what we would now call a Broonie Stare-Doon and chuckling at him. I don’t recall seeing much of him for the rest of the game. How did your ankle breaking go back then and when was it?
Uralius,
It started at School League, it went on to County and ended up at junior level,had to work saturdays after that to help support the family.
Then some bassa introduced me to wummin,after that occasionally played sunday league,now im just an auld git that loves to moan.
But like you and others share a great love for the Tims.
There’s a famous saying in football, ” It’s a results driven business”
Based on this season only, in Europe and a number of domestic games, is Ronny Deila getting RESULTS?
The answer is no!
You’re right, Minti, it is a results driven business and they should have got rid as soon as we went top of the league. When they failed to sack him on the spot after the disastrous 8 – 1 against Hamilton Accies, well…I was shocked!
So your benchmark is beating a team who the previous week got horsed by a club from the 2nd division.
Oh dear.
Whoriskey,
Are you capable of holding down an adult conversation?
Only with adults and not Karate Kid aficionados…x
Ahh, my comment is suspended between The Two Ronnies and their incomparable comedy routine. andypandy, who said anything about these benchmarks you are commenting on? Surely you are not setting up an argument and then trying to destroy it, you are only arguing with yourself in your head. And the ” Oh dear”, that you end on is just so, so cutting. You are an angry man.
Whoriskey,
You need to concentrate harder, try to think before pressing the send button.
I like your name the way it is. Makes me think of a whiskey drinking working man who heads down the docks in Aberdeen to get his end away with herpes faced prostitute.
Now that’s satire!
Ah Minti, if only you could take your own advice. Maybe then you wouldn’t Troll people for having the temerity to use the term “The Glasgow Celtic”. I assume you haver never heard of the great Glenn Daly or, indeed, sang any of his songs. See, it is easy to concentrate when you try.
Was going to correct my spelling of have there but on second thoughts I should have put a semi-colon between haver and never as…well, you do haver a bit.
Is that the most constructive you can be, you seem to be using a lot of unnecessary energy in your erm, posts.
Trolling, Trolling, Trolling…BAWSNIDE!
Whore, how do you think these gems up?
“Whore, how”…that’s not working mate, it creates dissonance and just doesn’t sound right. It also doesn’t really work as a sentence, well not one an adult would write. Growing up I used to get called Tchaikovsky, Whiskey, Ferrisky, Marriskey and, my favourite, Fenian Bassa Gonnae Kill You but this is the first time a master of wit and perspicacity such as yourself has called me Whore…well done Sir, we will have no more need to mourn the late, great Chic Murray, (A wee wumman saw me fall. She says tae me, Did ye fall, Son? Naw, Am breaking a bar o chocolate in ma back poacket.) when such new comedy talent of the calibre of the Two Ronnies arises here, on the famous Etims. Anyway, try Whoremaster, as that might make your sentence run smoother and the words won’t jar…x
Go check the League table.
Great article, Ralph.
Problem 1) Defence defence defence. Fix it and the confidence grows across the whole team.
Ive said for a long time the defensive coaching is inadequate. Its a no-brainer that we need that fixing. There’s clearly no discipline and strategy that they work on in training until the muscle memory (brain) has it locked in.
Answer 1:
Get rid of John Kennedy. He’s not up to it. Get in a proven defensive coach from a top team. pay them the money. it’ll be relatively cheap for the reward. Someone with aspirations of management but aren’t quite there, but have shown to be masters of an effective system. I dont believe this is hard to do.
2) leadership on the park. ther are none to rally the troops when the going gets tough
harder to fix. but it will only take one signing of a true leader to get everyone raising their fight. look for that one leader. Frankly, forget their footballing skill…it only needs to be adequate. We are looking for a specific skill in the mould of a Stein…footballer of limited ability (his words) but you wouldnt fucking mess (paraphrasing everyone else in the world ever)
Richards looked like he had the mettle the other night, don’t see him taking a backwards step. I’d like to see him and LG given a proper opportunity to form a front-line. With Brown and Bitton in the center together, with Armstrong right and Johansen on the left. Only my opinion. HH
Ralph,
Excellent post. Now that I have your attention I think that there are several problems at the club, due to several people. However, I’ll stick with the management team. Firstly, it is inexperienced and shows no sign of learning from its mistakes. I did not want it to be this way and was enthusiastic about Ronnies’ appointment. I was wrong and I have been wrong about many things during RD’s time. To be more specific, RD lacks too many of the basic attributes to be a successful manager at Celtic. Firstly, he is wedded to a system that does not work in our league with our players. He changes players in and out, but not the system. At least, he only tries to change it when we are in extremis…..too late. Secondly, he cannot read a game and make changes to counteract successes of the other team. Look at the Aberdeen manager in the last 25 minutes of our last game….he put on 2 defensive players to close out the game for a win. Remember the Malmo game at Parkhead? Look at Ronnies subs? Thirdly, as you said, if he sees that one or both of his assistants is failing in their job, he should replace them. If he is not permitted to do that, he should walk….he will only damage his rep otherwise. Fourthly, he cannot spot a player, or, at least, he cannot spot where a player should play. Remember he did not think much of Griff at the start…..footnote, neither did I! He said Boyata and Cifcti were his #1 targets. He thinks Bitton is a holding player. He thinks it is OK to play two wingers in the front three of his formation.
Now to get a manager who is good at all of these things is a big ask for Celtic, but it is a disaster when one is appointed that has none of them. We should be able to find someone who has some of these attributes. The main problem with replacing RD now is that, to be effective, he and his team need to go. Promoting one of them will not help….There is no Lennon on the books who can step in. So, surgery like this is risky, especially given our fragile state. Still sitting in with this team will only compound the problem……either he wins the league and then fails at CL qualification, or he loses the league. Qualification with RD is not likely. So, either bring in a new team now, if the Board knows of one, or put an interim in, like Strachan until the end of the season. I’d rather gamble on a new man appointed at the end of the season, than with RD because there is no evidence that can correct his shortcomings. By the way, I do not blame the Board for appointing him……trying to innovate was correct, they just chose the wrong man. It happens.
Rebus
Rebus 67,
A very good post!
Martin O’Neil said more than ten years ago that we should prepare for life in the slow lane.
We are a Europa league team at best these days. This is because the finance is not there to be anything other than such.
Ronny was appointed to change the entire strategy at the club by bringing through our own young players and trying to develop them to become good enough to qualify for the champions league- eventually. That sort of strategic change takes years not months. It is also bound to be fraught with problems, especially in the relatively early stages.
Our performances have often been poor and occasionally dire. Injuries to key players have not helped this season however we are top of the league, we will win the league and quite possibly the double. We have some of the best young players in the country. We potentially have a solid centre back pairing and have a few young boys on the verge of the first team squad.
Some of our signings have dismayed me, the Richards boy being one but I believe we have the makings of a very good squad if we can invest in a top striker and holding midfield player.
I hope we stick to the plan to change the strategy. I accept this will take years. I accept that CL qualification will be a huge bonus for the next couple of years. I believe the wait will be worth it and that in time we will have a great template going forward which will see us win titles and perform to a decent level in Europe on an ongoing basis with our own young players supplemented with quality signings.
HH
best post of the week
that is to celtsfan67
Agreed,
Board need to tell the fans exactly how it is, that way more chance of people buying into it.
It’s a bit lazy to say ” The finance isn’t there “, no one is asking or has asked the board to spend money that would in turn hurt the club.
Too much money has been wasted on players who should never have walked through the front doors.
Boyata, Ambrose, Boerrigter, Balde, Pukki, Rasmussen, Nouinoui,Miku,Scepovic, and Ciftci among those guilty.
What is required is less gambles, more quality signings, players with a real desire to win.
The team should be full of captain material, the entire squad has one leader, Brown.
This should be a focus on future signings, sign more captains, leaders!
Nail on the head stuff.
Been saying this for 18 months bud great sides take 3-5 years to build that’s sides that are not tampered with or flogged off at the first sniff of profit.
We are where we are due to circumstance.
Trapped in a League with little financial reward and hamstrung by being neighbours to the richest League in Football.
This is why we pay more for less and NEED to start producing our own.
The Support has to get real forget the O’Neill era ,the Lions and all that jazz because those days are long gone.
” Forget the Lions “?
Are you sure you’re a Celtic fan?
Trolling, Trolling, Trolling…BAWSNIDE!
Not trolling,
responding to a post, if someone else had posted that I would have posted in response to them….getting it yet?
Trolling, Trolling, Trolling…BAWSNIDE!
Yep sure as the day I wore my first set of hoops around 1975.
That would make you a wean,born sometime around
1965,i had a wee feeling that you were about 50
see thats the beuty of blogs,its good to guess as to whom your bloggin to.
BTW,gies a wee hint about your job are you ?
Naw dinny tell me let me guess.
It’s fast becoming a mill stone for every Manager since.
We won 1 European Cup with greatest Scottish team in hisory.
O’Neill lost a final with the costliest Celtic side in History.
Incidentally he won fuck all that Season..was that a good year or a bad year on reflection?
When I say forget these achievements what I mean is we are operating in an entirely different world now.
even if we spent £50m we would still not have side anywhere near the Level of the top sides who spend that on 1 or 2 players.
If it means deflecting from the ‘coach’ then yes, forget the Lions.
As for the Seville year being the costliest side, I would say Deila’s cost us twice as much as MONs side.
Bravo.
Best post of the week.
That was in response to Rebus.
Cheers, it means a lot from you.
Oh ma sides!!! stop it please.
andypandy, did it really take you nine hours to come up with that pearler? Is that it? Make an effort, man!
Even if we are becoming the Scottish Ajax. Youth being the lifeblood of the club etc it doesn’t mean insipid 1st teams are accepted.
Alan Stubbs anyone ?
Not for me Kiss, not yet!
Kiss, Kiss,not for me either.
Still sittin still waiten.
I was thinking about the new accountant at Celtic and thought of Oscar Wilde who said that accountants knew the cost of everything but the value of nothing.
…and was it not an Ulsterman who did for Oscar in the end? They’ve been protesting a long, long time, Gerard.