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The Ronny Experiment Has Failed – Time For Celtic Board To Act

I wrote an article on December 21st titled ‘RONNY DEILA – NOT GOOD ENOUGH TO REMAIN CELTIC MANAGER’ https://etims.net/?p=8311 as the name suggests I’d reached the point where it was obvious to me Ronny had run out of ideas. Fast forward seven weeks and it’s now painful listening to Ronny as he makes one excuse after another following yet another poor performance.

Recent thumping defeats to Ross County and Aberdeen (don’t let the score-lines fool you) simply reinforced my belief the ‘Ronny experiment’ had failed and it was time for the amiable Norwegian to be shown the door as there’s now a very real chance Celtic, with our vast financial and squad advantages over the rest of Scottish football, will fail to win the SPFL this season. Just let that sink in for a minute…

We have financial resources the rest of our domestic opponents can only dream of. While we spent £1.5m during the January transfer window (and a considerable amount on wages) our nearest challengers Aberdeen, a team full of free agents and minimal transfer fee purchases, brought in a loan signing from MK Dons. While losing arguably their best player in goalkeeper Danny Ward who returned to Liverpool. That Dons team, not one of whom I’d consider good enough to play for Celtic, completely out-thought and out-fought Celtic at Pittodrie last week and are now level on points with us, albeit Celtic have a game in hand.

It echoed a similar performance against Ross County at Hampden the previous weekend. Sure Celtic played with ten players for 77 minutes after Ambrose was red-carded but a Celtic team packed full of internationals created next to nothing against an opponent on a fraction of our budget. There was little in the way of shape or progressive ideas to adapt to such a situation. The team look directionless and I attribute most of this to Ronny.

Gordon Strachan celebrating

A football team is said to mirror its manager. Martin O’Neill, Gordon Strachan and to a large degree Neil Lennon showed desire and passion on the touchline and left their players in no doubt what was expected of them. Like managers of all clubs they had set-backs and lost to teams they shouldn’t have but after eighteen months in the role it was rare for their teams to continually roll over and look so lacklustre against inferior opposition. Watching Ronny just now is like watching John Barnes and Tony Mowbray when they managed Celtic. Little fight in the team and ongoing plethora of excuses telling everyone it will soon be alright. It won’t be.

MON with Lenny at Ibrox

I’m a bit older in the tooth and can recollect telling folk to give John Barnes more time during my distant youth. He’s just in the door, he’s got Kenny’s backing, he’s lost Henrik (I’ll give him that one!) and a bit more faith in him and it will turn…trust me. The reality was his dressing room was split and players didn’t believe in his 4-2-2-2 system as it left us too open and easy to exploit. Ring any bells?

Mowbray

Under Tony Mowbray there was once more this soft underbelly and through my Barnes experience it was clear pretty early in his domestic campaign that not all was good. He put his faith in Marc Antoine-Fortune, a non-goalscoring forward, and his walls came crumbling down following a 4-0 gubbing away to St Mirren.

In both cases above they were replaced with managers who would quickly put their stamp on many of the same players and have them scrapping for every ball for fear of a verbal assault from the managers. Barnes went Dalglish, the man responsible for bringing him in, held the fort until the arrival of the magnificent O’Neill who completely galvanised Celtic with an energy and belief that was infectious. There were many doubters in the support due to MON’s workmanlike team at Leicester and a fear he’d play a similar style at Celtic. What little did we know!

Lennon celebrating with players

After Mowbray, Lennon was asked to hold the fort with Mowbray’s players until the end of the season before being offered the job as manager. It took him a season to build his own team but you could see the fruits of it and it wasn’t long until he had many players who looked useless under Mowbray fighting or working as if their lives depended on it.

Now under Ronny it is history repeating itself. There’s no passion, little fight, zero hunger, no leadership, minimal direction and lame excuses after an increasing number of pitiful performances. Ronny has some very good players at his disposal and is getting nowhere near the best from them for a variety of reasons. His tactics, team shape, instructions and complete lack of options when a game isn’t going to plan.

A new manager, be it temporary until the end of the season, or ideally permanent would get far more from the current squad which pishes all over the rest of Scotland in quality terms. We need a manager who can focus on the basic art of defending. Know your job and deal with corners and set pieces. Think back to this season, scrap that, think back just to Pittodrie and a fear the Dons would score with every delivery into our penalty area. It’s astonishing that after telling the supporters he is working on this that we have shown no improvement and if anything are getting worse. A half decent manager would have this sorted in next to no time at all and with that most of our defensive problems would evaporate. Organisation and solidity can be easily rectified at this level and with the right manager (No, not John Collins as he must go when Ronny departs) would be sorted in next to no time at all.

This two centre backs sitting on their own with little in the way of protection would also be addressed quickly. It’s basic, basic stuff.

My final umbrage with Ronny is the number of midfielders he’s bought after saying last summer he wanted to trim the squad. We now have Bitton, Mulgrew, Johansen, Brown, McGregor, Allan, Christie, Armstrong, Forrest, Rogic, Commons, Roberts, Mackay-Stevens and arguably Kazim-Richards fighting over five positions. 14 players fighting over 5 positions. This is bordering on lunacy and goes against everything he said last year.

There’s no rhyme, no reason to what he does and can only be adding to confusion among the players, who I have no doubt many of whom are as perplexed as an ever increasing number of fans.

An example of that was yesterday’s Scottish Cup game away to East Kilbride from the lowland league. East Kilbride are a non-league amateur team and this was an ideal opportunity to start players he’s put faith in by purchasing in the shape of Scott Allan and Ryan Christie. Instead he brings back Charlie Mulgrew to sit in against East Kilbride, a team in the fifth tier of Scottish football, who were playing away from home at a neutral ground. Ronny’s mindset was laid bare for all to see after the match when commented “I think it would have been very hard had we lost today so it was a crucial victory”.

Very hard had we lost today?

Like Barnes and Mowbray before him, Ronny’s time is up. If the Celtic board don’t act quickly enough to rectify their mistake then their culpability increases.

The Ronny experiment has failed. Time for action from the Celtic board as finishing second is not an option.

You can follow ETims on twitter @ETimsNet

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Bawsman
8 years ago

Get Efe and Eric in the middle of the back 4 and KEEP THEM THERE., the rest of the season will be victory’s,

Degsy
8 years ago
Reply to  Bawsman

Do you watch Celtic games? Why would you want efe in the team? He’s fucking hopeless. He misplaced four passes in the opening 8 minutes yesterday, then went downhill. He’s the worst footballer at the club. I’d rather play Forrest at centre half

Monti
8 years ago
Reply to  Degsy

Degsy,
Ambrose is terrible, never a football player.

Monti
8 years ago
Reply to  Bawsman

Did you ever go to the Hacienda, Manchester early 90’s?

BondiBrian
8 years ago
Reply to  Bawsman

Good article, however who do we bring in? Ah thinks RD tea is oot but ah still think it would be madness ti papp him ( and the backroom ) the now. Ma patience wi RD is almost gone but rather than some folk on here ( no you Hec ) but some folk IMO taking glee from RD predicament, am fed up wi aw the RONNY OOT brigade. We hear yi, most would agree but FFS gie is a rest, get behind the team, see this season oot then discuss manager replacement.

Doin ma nut in, so it is. But hay-ho dats the way it goes ah suppose.

Monti
8 years ago
Reply to  BondiBrian

Bondibrian,
David Moyes.

mike
8 years ago
Reply to  Bawsman

WE ARE UTTERLY RUDDERLESS THE NOO,

NO FIGHT, NO ORGANISATION,NO MOTIVATION,NO PASSION,NO CLUE.

PLAYERS BROUGHT IN WITH NO COHESION OR WITH NO THOUGHT OR TEAM
PLANNING,IF THERES A PLAN,WHO HAS A CLUE WHAT IT IS.

ASK THE MIDWIFE,SHE MAYBE KENS.

8 years ago
Reply to  Bawsman

You sound like a sevco supporter.

Cartvale88
8 years ago

Well Bandido, I agree wth the majority of your comments, but. Think Delilah is the fall guy for a board of malcontents.
Lawell and his board criticise the fans, not realising they are the life blood of a fantastic enterprise.
I do not understand the buy in players policy, it has the ravings of a lunatic behind it.
W have no money to buy quality, look a all the forwards that have been tooooooooo expensive, he we waste a fortune in transfer fees, wages, and all the ancillary costs for mediocrity that hardly ever play.
Delilah appears to have no passion for the job, even yesterday he stood in a stupor.
His total idea was the Ronny roar, what a farce that was.

Joe.Mac
8 years ago

Fully agree re giving youth a chance. Every time I’ve seen Allen he’s looked decent but doesn’t seem to be getting any game time! Was he just a GIRUY to Sevco? How are we going to know if these young lads are good enough for Europe if we don’t play them (or in there right positions!).

8 years ago

Whilst many Celtic fans have made their minds up abobut Ronny Deila, I’m willing to wait until the end of the season.

I agree with your brief analysis of the last four managers at Celtic, though disagree that there were may MON doubters – I never got that at all.

The comparisons between Mowbray and Deila aren’t even similar.

Deila’s was a completely different type of appointment.

The only similarity in fact to the last three coaches, Mowbray, Lennon and Deila is that they all came with risks:

Mowbray – naive
Lennon – rookie
Deila – experimental

Get rid of of Ronny and we take another risk because we cannot attract or afford the kind of coach that we once used to.

I still think there is time for Deila and I’ll stick my neck out and say I am happy to see how this season ends before deciding on the next but no changes before then.

Lainie1888
8 years ago

Totally agree with your views. I shuddered as I read Fortune’s name recalling what he brought to Celtic. Nothing. It just feels like it did now under Mowbray. He went further and further into the dug outs during games and made me depressed just watching him. Deila’s doing the same. We have a team who show no flair, no passion and no idea yet they are all extremely capable of playing well- well, most of them. I can see us losing the title it has got that bad.

Gerry
8 years ago

You’ve highlighted the key issue, Ronnie is not getting the best out of these players. Forget Europe, budgets, etc for one moment, he has a squad of 20-25 to pick from for the rest of the season. There is no other distraction but getting the best from them, no transfer speculation, no building towards next years CL, just training all week, and picking the best team for the weekend. How many of us trust him to do that well?
It’s been mentioned on here that loss of form for so many key players excuses Deila from our poor performances. WTF?! Is it not the managers fundamental job to extract the maximum effort and performance as often as possible? Poor performances will happen as they are of course only human, but so many players, so much of the time is not acceptable. One-off players are to blame, a squad of players not performing is due to the management team.
Sorry Ronnie but you are not getting your ideas across, sort it very, very quickly please!!

8 years ago

But Ralph who would replace, Ronny, certainly not Strachan,or Lennon they have there time, I mentioned Milky Mckay for the post,what do you think.

deadhead67
8 years ago

no racists as manager of celtic,plus he,s crap

8 years ago

Time for the management team to go we are just pure shite end of

Jagsbhoy
8 years ago

Brilliantly written article. I agree with everything you said. For me the lack of passion is the thing that scares me the post. I do not expect to have a ranting daftie on the touchline but I do expect a manager who will berate players if they show lack of or no effort at all.
Why Deila insisted on bringing back Mulgrew for the game yesterday is both angering and baffling. This was the perfect opportunity to give Scott Allan 90 minutes and also give Ryan Christie a fair amount of game time. Even though we are through yesterday should have been Deila’s Mowbray moment where he was relieved of his duties. He clearly is not going to resign so the decision should have been taken for him by the board and Lawwell and co. should have the guts to admit they may a massive error with Deila’s appointment. Cheap options don’t always work.
I am also angered with Scott Brown’s comments also where he suggests those who are criticising the club and the management team should shut up. He should stick to doing his mouthing off on the park to his underachieving team-mates. I exclude Leigh Griffiths and Kieran Tierney from this. May I also ask why one of the replies to your article suggests Ambrose should play at centre back. Ambrose along with some others are not good enough to play for us in any position and would the James Forrest apologists please stop requesting that he play as well.

8 years ago

Go and go now.

If Ronnie’s still in charge then we’ll be out of Europe before the end of August unless our unbelievable luck in the pre-qualifiers continues. Incompetence off the field (Legia) and on it (Qarabag) can’t be repeated surely.

Even if he continues until the end of the season, the past 11 years has shown that 2-3 months isn’t enough for a new manager to whip a Celtic team to play competently in Europe.

Kombuchis
8 years ago

Teflon Ronnie will still be here next season, get used to it.
Yes, the man who failed against Legia Warsaw, Maribor and Malmo will be given another chance to cost the club a £20m windfall.

I have absolutely no idea what the Celtic boards “stand alone business policy” is when you look at how poorly Celtic perform under pressure in the Deila era.
Still, the board and a lot of the fans are very fond of him, so unless we lose the league title to Aberdeen, Deila will be in charge until October at least.
Even if we are humiliated in the cup and win the title on goal difference, that is now the accepted standard with this board and a section of the support, so Ronnie won’t be going anywhere.

If Deila & JC (a man as culpable as Ronnie for this poor Celtic team) fail to qualify against under resourced opposition for the third year in a row then they might be moved on, but whilst achieving the bare minimum and being the nodding dogs to Lawwell’s fiscal policy, they’re safe as houses.

Sad times.

adam rush
8 years ago

I agree totally. Don’t you think Lawwell is overpaid ? This League title is slipping away.The Refs Loyal will be solidly behind Aberdeen for the rest of the season. We got the wrong Norwegian- should’ve been the guy at MOLDE- he certainly got two performances out of his team against Celtic. How much to buy Desmond out ?

8 years ago

Your comment is awaiting moderation.

Whilst many Celtic fans have made their minds up abobut Ronny Deila, I’m willing to wait until the end of the season.

I agree with your brief analysis of the last four managers at Celtic, though disagree that there were may MON doubters – I never got that at all.

The comparisons between Mowbray and Deila aren’t even similar.

Deila’s was a completely different type of appointment.

The only similarity in fact to the last three coaches, Mowbray, Lennon and Deila is that they all came with risks:

Mowbray – naive
Lennon – rookie
Deila – experimental

Get rid of of Ronny and we take another risk because we cannot attract or afford the kind of coach that we once used to.

I still think there is time for Deila and I’ll stick my neck out and say I am happy to see how this season ends before deciding on the next but no changes before then.

deadhead67
8 years ago
Reply to  Stevie Mac

keeping the norweigian idiot is more of a risk,the league should be won by now,he never learns from his mistakes,2semis down to 10 men,takes the wrong player off,a diddy who should have went long time ago

JintyBhoy
8 years ago
Reply to  deadhead67

Aye because past history shows the league’s always won by the first week of February ….

BondiBrian
8 years ago
Reply to  deadhead67

‘no racists as managers of celtic’ but calling the Celtic manager an ‘Norwegian idiot’ is awrite?

Robert McEwan
8 years ago

I feel as if i’m last man standing, I still have faith in Ronnie, I can see the bigger picture and i’m confident we will win the double, too many supporters are now following the MSM anti Ronnie brigade, think back about the good managers we’ve had, and think of the abuse they had to put up with, mon union jack planted outside his house, remember wee Chesney how we were divided over him, how about Neil the hatred ushered upon him, now we have Ronnie because he has a new approach to bringing in more young talented SCOTS mixed with european, he has a plan for goodness sake i’ve never heard so much gripe, we would have one the treble last year except for blatant ref decision and it has happened again ambrose should have been yellow carded not red as Gordon had it covered, as for europe there have been many managers before him have done miserable in europe

deadhead67
8 years ago
Reply to  Robert McEwan

do you have a iq in single figures ,or are you lawell in disguise

8 years ago
Reply to  deadhead67

No need to abuse the guy because of his opinion. Uncalled for.

CeciltheLion
8 years ago
Reply to  Stevie Mac

The guy’s abusing everybody else by implication. It’s an idiotic observation “…I can see the bigger picture…” suggesting that the rest of us can’t. Total garbage.

CeciltheLion
8 years ago
Reply to  Stevie Mac

The guy’s abusing everybody else with his implication that only he can see the “bigger picture”. That offends me and he deserves any abuse he gets.

8 years ago
Reply to  CeciltheLion

That’s up to you if you are offended by his statement personal abuse is out of order.

He is right in what he sats though. Too many Celtic supporters DON’T see the bigger picture.

They just want instant success without thinking about what it takes. As Celtic supporters we all roughly want the same but not too many actually think about what it takes to get there.

That isn’t just Celtic supporters though. That’s football supporters in general.

So I disagree with you. He doesn’t deserve abuse for making a truthful statement.

Tony Paterson
8 years ago
Reply to  Robert McEwan

Stop saying independent-thinking Celtic fans are following MSM agenda.

Stop blaming refs for losing 2 Cup semis heavily under Ronny.

Deila is failing miserably. It’s beyond whether people like him or not now – the players are not playing for him, making hid position untenable. Arguments over player clear-out are for another day, but to be sure of winning the title you’d have a better chance without Ronny.

basqueceltic
8 years ago
Reply to  Tony Paterson

100 per cent.

Shug
8 years ago
Reply to  Robert McEwan

Robert

What is the big picture you are seeing ?

Whats is happening now is the fall out from the European disasters this year, Ronny used up all the goodwill he had from the fans.

Malmo beat us comfortably, Molde humiliated us home and away.For Ronny to stand any chance we had to see things improving markedly.

Forget yesterday, the previous 2 games confirmed to a lot of fans that he as not got it.

The same defensive weaknesses at set pieces, inability to manage the game tactically and the players showing no character.

We were beat in Malmo at 1-0, we were beat against Molde at 2-1, were we beat against Aberdeen at 1-0 and beat against Ross County at 1-1.

8 years ago
Reply to  Robert McEwan

I know the feeling Robert but then I that was how I felt about Mowbray when I was saying he was poor and Strachan when he should stay – in the minority.

There’s nothing to say Deila will make progress/succeed in a third season but I’m willing to give it a go.

CeciltheLion
8 years ago
Reply to  Robert McEwan

“…I see the bigger picture…” The last refuge of an idiot with no arguments.

Charlie Saiz
8 years ago
Reply to  Robert McEwan

@Robert
Spot on bud there are plenty of us who think the same.We don’t stamp our feet or shout as much as the doom and gloom brigade.
KTF bud.

Voice of T'Reason
8 years ago

Should Celtic go any more than 4 points behind Aberdeen, Deila, Collins and John Kennedy will get punted and they will probably give the job temporarily to someone within the club, Brown/Commons-esque type, then bring in a Director of Football type… or they’ll send an SOS out to Henke!!

Could be worse, they could give it to Collins in the interim. I think I’d rather have Craig Levein than Collins… which is saying something.

The players don’t look like they want to play for the manager, as I’ve said before there’s a rotten apple somewhere either player or coach and it is causing problems. The players don’t look happy and happy players don’t play well.

BondiBrian
8 years ago

Keep the King as far away as possible fae Celtic park.

Let us cherish his memory.

Voice of T'Reason
8 years ago

* edit *

unhappy players don’t play well…

Whoops

Shug
8 years ago

It’s a risk/gamble what whatever the board decide to do next.

My view is that Ronny knows he will not be here next year and history tells us that players start to switch off in such circumstances.

This is a huge call both in the short and medium term.

I suspect the board will put on their tin hats and hope to see it through.

Jim
8 years ago

Why don’t we get NL back, maybe we could get a laugh as Morton, Kilmarnock and St Mirren beat us in big games.
Where was all this criticism that RF is working under. Too many on here reading the Daily Record and The Sun and gullible enough to believe every word.
The time to judge is at the end of the season.
Even then a double wouldn’t be enough for some.

John
8 years ago
Reply to  Jim

You are blind to the crap being played under Ronny. He can’t even motivate his players. He is gonna lose the league to an organised team consisting of players working for their manager. I don’t read any newspapers whatsoever. I don’t listen to radio station phone ins. I like many have made my mind up because of the crap we have to endure week in week out. He is clueless putting it politely

BondiBrian
8 years ago
Reply to  Jim

NL back??? jesus, like the huns getting the cardigan when in strife.

Monti
8 years ago
Reply to  Jim

Jim,
Nonsense!

Charlie Saiz
8 years ago
Reply to  Jim

Well said Jim.
HH

schoosh71
8 years ago

St Martin had £20,000,000 to galvanize a squad which already had Malby, Petrov, and the ‘king of kings’. I always thought that the reason why ‘Tims’ were the best supporters in the world, was because through adversity we always stuck together. ‘More Than A Club’? Only when we’re winning. HH

John
8 years ago
Reply to  schoosh71

Players aren’t playing for the manager. Gutless performances are the norm. Not about winning all the time, its how we are losing that gets on my tits.

schoosh71
8 years ago
Reply to  John

Fair enough, it’s all about ‘opinions’, personally I try not to allow emotion skew mine. HH

edward
8 years ago
Reply to  schoosh71

Internet reaction with emotion seems to be the norm.
Why bother any more.

Johnny Murray
8 years ago

The game is up for Ronnie and his backroom team.The board really need to act now.Everyone says we should have a Celtic man with European experience,a person who will not be afraid of Peter Lawell and the board someone who is his own man, a guy with passion and experience.
The obvious choice is David Moyes ,we should break the bank to land him.He ticks all the boxes for Celtic. Peter Lawell and the board are currently ignoring the demands of the fans he should be careful he dosnt join Ronnie and sent packing

Johnny Murray
8 years ago
Reply to  Johnny Murray

has my post been oked yet

Bgbhoy
8 years ago

Excellent post. There will be a few on shortly telling you that your eyes deceive you and it will be all right on the night. Ronny lovers. How long will it take? How many more embarrassments until he gets it? Warsaw, Maribor, Hamilton, Motherwell, Kilmarnock. Salzburg Malmö. Molde. Ajax. Fenerbache. Aberdeen more than once. Ross county. Inverness. And the list could go on. All horror shows. Far more pish poor games than good. These people that continually back the man are now seriously clutching at straws. Trying to tell us supporters that we are wrong and the stats suggests otherwise. TOTAL BOLLOCKS. Eyes to not deceive. Stats do!!! As people will say we beat Barcelona with next to no possession. Well if we win this league it will be with next to no good performances. This has fuck all to do with the manager having less money to spend than others as he’s now spent a right good few quid. It’s about getting the best of what’s available. Lennon did it. Why can’t Ronny?? Answer he’s a fucking dumpling and out his depth!! The one thing that gets to me is people saying we are not true supporters for not backing this guy. Well I tell you something. I we don’t win the league these guys need a very long hard look at themselves as they will be part responsible for refusing to see what’s unfolding infront of there eyes. Hail hail.

Charlie Saiz
8 years ago
Reply to  Bgbhoy

Barrcelona should have battered us that night poor finishing and last ditch defending plus divine intervention created the perfect Birthday present fo the Club.
Juventus brought as back to reality again.

John
8 years ago

Strachan will sort us out in no time. He must be available for a few months! League is in real danger! Ronny must go now. No motivation in his team, full stop. No balls, full stop!

BondiBrian
8 years ago
Reply to  John

Strachen??? Stand by ma previous post on the cardigan.

Monti
8 years ago
Reply to  BondiBrian

Bondibrian,
Strachan progressed from the CL group stages with Celtic, at the same time he was having to trim the squad.
Do you know anything about football?

Maybe you could throw a name into the ring rather than criticise others who are making suggestions.

Charlie Saiz
8 years ago
Reply to  John

League is in Danger.
Scored 20 more goals
Conceded 5 less goals
Lost less games
On top of the League with a game in hand.
How the fuck do you get there?
I know I read shite on the Internet and read the Daily Ranger.

Pablomc
8 years ago

Not the way we are playing, ronny said it would be fast attacking football. I havent seen much evidence of this. Ok 8 1 against hamilton more exception than the rule. We haveno back bone, no leadership. We need to chance now, i wpuld love ronny to turn it arou d, but i do t think it will happen. As soo. As we go a goal down of ha e some sort of adversity against us we implode. Partick thistle at ho e the exception.

maryhillbhoy
8 years ago

Are those who are saying stick with Ronnie really convinced that those who are fed up with Ronnie are actually following a media agenda. We all watch the games what are you seeing that gives you such belief that it will all be good in the end.

8 years ago

Joke of a draw for Scottish cup – embarrasing

DanTheMan
8 years ago

I still remember helicopter Sunday under MON , I remember losing the league at Kilmarnock under MON ,I remember losing in Seville ( Enjoyed the journey)?under MON . I remember Lubo being a bit part player when MON came in ( MON watched him every day in training but did not rate him for a long time). MON inherited more than half a team and one of the best players in World Football then added some highly expensive players for his journey with us but it was not all rosy in the MON garden but he walked out on us a hero. Strachan won the treble but was castigated by some fans for his style of football ,he had some mares too and Lennon took about 18 months to stamp his personality on the team. Some of us have short memories. Having said that there are elements of Hectors post that cannot be denied . RD has brought in a mass of young midfield talent and to be fair I am excited by the likes of Allan and Christie but when is he going to start playing them.? He does not appear to have a handle on the defensive problems and being a former defender himself I find this quite naive . He is not showing any real desire to sort this out and when Rogic or Commons don’t play we look lethargic middle to front . To lose the opportunity of 10 in a row would be a massive failure and he will not survive it . Unfortunately I am beginning to see parallels with the Mowbray era not in the squad but in his demeanour and tha worries me .
The league has nearly always been won in the last ten games of the season so in my view RD has only got until then to get a team firing for the run in or I am afraid I will go with the Ronny out brigade .10 in a row is too important to experiment with.☘☘☘

Bgbhoy
8 years ago
Reply to  DanTheMan

Strachan won the treble?? Need to me.

8 years ago

Morton at home now

DanTheMan
8 years ago

Yeah ok he won 3 titles not really the point I was making he was lucky to survive his first Euro campaign in some eyes. But went on to be successful. And proved he was very much ‘Celtic Minded’

Bgbhoy
8 years ago
Reply to  DanTheMan

Yes strachan had a nightmare in brtislava. But won the return leg 4-0. Ronny lost the return leg from Warsaw 2 or 3 nil

DanTheMan
8 years ago

Anybody think the burst baw was sitting next to the heated Sevco baw and that is why it burst?☘☘☘

mike
8 years ago

Hector,
He has to go ASAP,I am not convinced that we will win the League this year and that is totally unacceptable.
In Lubos book he mentioned MON instructions, i want you to stay outside the box and pass to the forwards and if you track back i will kick your backside,the instructions were precise each player knew exactly what to do and all were given a highly motovated talk before they went onto the pitch.
I believe that now is totally different probably because Ronny
does not know what coaching at a big club involves.
The blame of his appointment rests firmly at P. Lawells door.

8 years ago

Need a change of manager. Watched hibs last nite. They’re players play for stubbs not like Ronnie the robot. No more efe please. Allan sits on bench all season waits his time then mullgrew becomes fit and bang. The team need more oomph. Christie,Allan,Roberts,Bitton (holding) in midfield. 2 up front. Go on Ronnie take a chance.

Charlie Saiz
8 years ago
Reply to  Brido73

Mulgrew comes on and suddenly the passing improves and the DM cover solidifies alongside Brown.
Allan comes on and runs about like headless chicken.
The boy has potential Mulgrew has delivered plenty times.

Charlie Saiz
8 years ago

Takes 3-5 years to build a side good enough to compete in Europe.
He should be getting at least 3 Years to do that.
Anyone who thought implementing as much change as Deila is was going to be pain free or done in 18 months is either stupid,naive or deluded.
Never read the OP no need to I see enough to be encouraged that we are heading the right direction.
Painful though it has been for some we are still on target to repeat the double with a poor defence.
A defence that will improve once

Charlie Saiz
8 years ago
Reply to  Charlie Saiz

Injuries clear up.
The loss of Denaayer and Van Dijk has put us back 6 months.

Monti
8 years ago
Reply to  Charlie Saiz

Pish!

Charlie Saiz
8 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Ooh Matron some hypocrisy from Monti who would have thunk it?

Monti
8 years ago
Reply to  Charlie Saiz

Charlie,
Hypocrisy?

Charlie Saiz
8 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Yes you were telling someone off on the other thread regarding rubbishing another posters opinion.
Yet here you are doing the same thing (again)
Hypocrisy.

Dan the Msn
8 years ago
Reply to  Charlie Saiz

Charlie
I am hopeful that he can still turn this round but Europe has never been my criteria to judge him . It has always been based on his domestic progress and unless he starts to get his Celtic team performing at a higher level he is going to risk the Ten which is not in my eyes acceptable. He needs to find an eleven who will storm to the end of the season unbeaten but in my view he now only has until we get to the last ten games to find this team. If they continue to wobble through games then he should walk before the last ten games .There is now no. room for error. Every game must be won from now on in to make Aberdeen buckle. we have to win this fifth title.☘☘☘

Monti
8 years ago
Reply to  Dan the Msn

Dan,
Excellent post!

Charlie Saiz
8 years ago
Reply to  Dan the Msn

Dan Lustig was rested
Jozo is Injured
Mulgrew just back in
Brown 2 games in
Johansen still to hit form
Commons to come back
Bitton to hit form
Armstrong improving
Mackay Steven improving
All that aside we have conceded 5 less goals than Aberdeen
Scored 20 more goals than Aberdeen
Sit on top of the league with a game in hand.
Aberdeen are at their best.
We have several gears to find and we will when the above sorts itself out.

Monti
8 years ago
Reply to  Charlie Saiz

If Celtic lose the League, will you demand Deila be sacked? Yes or no?

Charlie Saiz
8 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Won’t have to he will walk.
That’s the kind of man he is.

Charlie Saiz
8 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Celtic won’t lose the League.

Monti
8 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Still not answered the question….

DanTheMan
8 years ago
Reply to  Charlie Saiz

Charlie , I get where you are coming from but we are getting seriously close to the trophy lifting part of the season and we don’t have a settled team . I fear the ‘rut’ we have suffered two bad defeats , EK doesn’t bother me but we should be coasting and RD is still chopping and changing the team so we are not settled , this could go either way at the moment . For me he needs to settle on a back four and stop changing it for the run in . He should choose his best midfield and leave Griffiths up front on his own . What we don’t want to do is lose or draw another one soon which would give The Dons encouragement in the run in.☘☘☘

mike
8 years ago
Reply to  DanTheMan

Dan,

Squeeky bum time even the Happy Clappers are starting to get worried,what does that tell you.

My nightmare is that they retain him next year and we have to put up with this again.
Hail Mary full of.

Macca
8 years ago
Reply to  Charlie Saiz

Charlie, get a grip. We all admire your loyalty (really we do) but FFS…

CeciltheLion
8 years ago
Reply to  Charlie Saiz

“…I see enough to be encouraged that we are heading the right direction.” Can you tell us in which match(es) you saw enough to be encouraged, CS?

Clearly passed me by; there might have been 2 or, at best, 3 matches all season where I’ve seen a glimmer of improvement. All the rest have been dire, amateur, lacking performances.

Monti
8 years ago

Hector Bandido,
Good article mate,
You know how I feel about Deila, Dermot and Lawwell should be in the very same taxi!

Deila out!

Althetim
8 years ago

East Kilbride are NOT an amateur team. Raman fae STV and that we twonk Liam McLeod said the same thing. EK are a part time professional team. To describe them as amateurs is disingenuous.

Other than that, I largely agree with Hector.
One other thing. Add Liam Henderson to the 14 midfielders listed. If Liam is allowed to depart with being given a chance in the Celtic first team, I will be raging. Fantastic talent and delivers a set piece better than anyone currently playing at CP. My first choice midfield 5 would be Forrest, Brown, Allan, Henderson and Christie.

Charlie Saiz
8 years ago
Reply to  Althetim

That could well be our midfield in 18 months time if Ronny is still here then?
Doubt very much if a Moyes or Rodgers took control.
Back to buying in and running up debts again (no doubt the only way either of them would take the job truth be told).

Monti
8 years ago
Reply to  Charlie Saiz

Charlie Saiz,
Your point about spending money is moot and childish.
Celtic should be spending money in order to raise the quality and standard of the team.
You talk about me playing fantasy football, but you think that by playing O’Connell, Wardrop,Allan, Christie and Nesbit will turn Celtic into a CL level side? I think that is a fantasy.
For Celtic to be a CL level side, money needs thrown at this team.

joe
8 years ago

A degree of realism is required with regards Ronny. I certainly don’t agree with a lot of his team picks and substitutions, however he is not a bad manager. In relative terms he has a similar budget difference with Aberdeen as Rangers have with Hibs. The points difference is similar yet everyone outwith Celtic is convinced that Warburton is the best thing since “sliced bread”.
Mr Integrity (WS) only won one treble with a budget difference that was similar to the current Celtic Aberdeen. He may have favoured better in europe but the comparison is unrealistic. The quality of Celtic players under Ronny has deteriorated through no fault of his. Rangers had Gascoigne Laudrop Butcher Stevens et al.
Ronny has not lost to lower league opposition as have Strachan and Lennon. He would have won a treble but for Steven McLean , who incidentally gets rewarded with the next semi-final on offer. (Sorry don’t get me started).
Time to get behind the team instead of jumping on the media bandwagon.
HAIL HAIL.

Monti
8 years ago
Reply to  joe

Joe,
The media have no influence on anyone, do you think Celtic supporters can’t make up their minds based on what they see?
Come on noo…..

Charlie Saiz
8 years ago
Reply to  joe

Spot on Joe KTF bud.

Pablomc
8 years ago

I really want ronny to turn this around, but i just cant see it happening. I dont want to take the risk. Get morinhio in short term and then go and get pep off of man city i hear there is a release clause in his city contract. Or lets get stubbs or yogi? Or dare to dream henrik.

Monti
8 years ago

I made my mind up about Deila after we shat it at home to Maribor.
His arrogant treatment of Kris Commons, at that time our player of the year, was disgusting.
I remember leaving the ground that night completely dejected.
Has he learned from that night, has he changed tactics? No.

Out!

salad gueen
8 years ago

Great post Hector. If the salmon farmer is still here we will not win the league or the cup. The champions league will be the challenge for the sheep. The cup winners will come from the hibs/haerts/cheating highlanders.
Does anybody on this site think we can beat mort on and then possibly beat the sevco in the semi?
We can’t beat ex hillbilly and struggle v non league club.
Ralph,charlie and his buoys think we will win the double.
Think i’ll stay in Sa.

Macca
8 years ago

Late I know but great article Hector.Just about sums it up. Time for Ronnie to move on

john young
8 years ago

I think most of the comments fail to see where the real issues lie they are inmo in mid-field where we are small/weak/average we have none that are strong athletic types,we cannot create we are easily brushed aside and overrun.This impacts seriously on our defence we do not have the players that can dominate the opposition,we need to get rid of at least 5 pos 6 players,I would put sviachenko in the middle as he has a bit of strength and ability,if Blackett is still here I would also put him in there temporarily as he would also give us a bit of strength,put Izzi wide left where he could also support Tierney,as for S Allan/Christie both are lightweight again,Christie in particular unless these type of players are exceptional then they will fade that is a given.

CeciltheLion
8 years ago
Reply to  john young

Incredible post. There’s not a word I can agree with. Blackett?! – sums up all that I think is wrong with these suggestions.

john young
8 years ago
Reply to  CeciltheLion

cecil I put him forward because we have nothing on the bench nothing that is with a physical presence,young Christie just looks like another weak player something we seem to have a monopoly of,is there any one in the present squad you would put forward.

andybhoy
8 years ago
Reply to  john young

Blackett, are you kidding? One of the biggest lightweights I’ve had the misfortune to see ‘playing’ in a Celtic jersey.

john young
8 years ago
Reply to  andybhoy

Andy are you looking at our present squad? even Gordon Wallace commented on how weak we are.Blackett played 12 games for Utd he must have shown something,he was introduced into a back 4 that were going through the mill,not entirely their fault,if you have played the game you will understand that you have to have as strong a mid-field as possible,no defence could ever function with what we have in the middle,we have nothing nada and until he gets in some proper players we will struggle big time.

CeciltheLion
8 years ago
Reply to  john young

Incredible post. There’s not a word I can agree with. Blackett (!?) sums up all that I think is wrong with the thinking

Chris
8 years ago

I have every faith in our manager and he will deliver the title which is all that matters as for our so called fans who write these blogs and go on radio to slag off everything our manager dose are unbeliveable everyone has an opinion but it’s gone way over the top now what happened to FAITHFUL TRUE N TRUE …..hh

john young
8 years ago
Reply to  Chris

Chris you have to have belief before you have fath,he is a busted flush,he shows no sign of understanding our weaknesses far less addressing them,we are and have been over-run in the middle,outthought out fought by mediocre teams ffs.

CeciltheLion
8 years ago

Steve Clarke

8 years ago

At last someone who talks sense.Well said HB.
It would be great if the Celtic board read this and acted on it.HH

john young
8 years ago

mentione Blackett because we have nothing reerve,ffs the ghuy was good eough to lay 12 games for Utd,would you prefer we continue with proven weak failures tha do not have it in them,I know little of what type of player he is having seen so little of him,remember he came into a defence that was under the hammer every other game,they were.are still struggling do you understand part of the problem and a big part is that we have absolutely nothing in the middle,nothing nada,if you do not have a proper mid-field your defence will collapse and your strike force will be useless,we have been for a long time now trying to win games with a weak/slow/average ability mid-field,yet you would ignore any chance to at least put some strength/pace in there.We will continue to be rubbish until we address this big big problem.

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