{"id":5183,"date":"2014-06-10T09:39:22","date_gmt":"2014-06-10T08:39:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/etims.net\/?p=5183"},"modified":"2014-06-10T09:39:22","modified_gmt":"2014-06-10T08:39:22","slug":"celtic-diary-tuesday-june-10-mcstay-comes-home","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/etims.net\/?p=5183","title":{"rendered":"Celtic Diary Tuesday June 10: McStay Comes Home"},"content":{"rendered":"

Charity football matches seem to come along more often than league games these days, but one that should grab the attention, and see a decent turn out takes place in September at Celtic Park, and will feature Paul McStay. The man who carried Celtic through the dark days of the early nineties when he should have been away establishing himself as one of the greats of European football will return, and theres more than a few of us that are looking forward to it.<\/p>\n

MvStay has always shied away from playing football, even in legends games, as his ankles were seriously damaged during his playing days as opponents, usually in blue, couldn’t work out any other way to control him. The club website gives details of the fixture;<\/p>\n

CELTIC Football Club is delighted to announce \u2018MAESTRIO\u2019 \u2013 a legends\u2019 charity match featuring former Celtic star Paul McStay and ex-Manchester United captain Rio Ferdinand – on Sunday, September 7, 2014 (2pm kick-off).<\/p>\n

This unique event, which will be hosted by Celtic FC Foundation*, will see the ‘Maestro’ himself – Celtic legend and former Captain, Paul McStay – make a rare and much-anticipated return to Paradise. McStay’s Maestros\u00a0will take on Rio’s All-Stars\u00a0as a host of footballing legends and celebrity fans battle it out on the pitch at Celtic Park.<\/p>\n

Paul McStay spent his entire career with Celtic, making his debut in 1982 and retiring in 1997. In his time with the club, Celtic won the League title three times, the Scottish Cup\u00a0four times and the League Cup\u00a0once. His talent, passion and commitment have never been forgotten by the Celtic support and it will be an honour to welcome him home.<\/p>\n

Paul McStay said: \u201cAlthough I’m now based in Australia, my heart will always belong in the East End of Glasgow. It was a privilege to play for and captain the Club I have supported all my life and the pride I felt all those years ago will forever remain.<\/p>\n

“The Celtic fans were always an inspiration to me and I can\u2019t wait to share another very special day with them, one which honours the very essence of our Club and its charitable beginnings.\u00a0There\u2019s going to be a buzz about the place!\u201d<\/p>\n

Those of us old enough will remember the countless interviews where McStay would describe any sort of good news as creating ” a buzz about the place “, though all too often it was more of a desperate attempt to convince himself that sooner or later other players nearer to his own level would join the team. They did eventually, such as John Collins and \u00a0Tommy Boyd , but it was too late for him to enjoy the success he deserved.<\/p>\n

\u00a0If only the old board had built a team around him and Charlie Nicholas when they exploded onto the scene…<\/p>\n

\u00a0Tickets will go on sale to season ticket holders on a first come, first served basis \u2013 maximum of 10 per person – from 9.30am tomorrow, Tuesday, June 10, 2014, priced at \u00a310 for adults and \u00a35 for concessions. Tickets will be available to purchase\u00a0ONLINE<\/a>\u00a0by calling 0871 226 1888*** or by visiting the Celtic Ticket Office.<\/p>\n

\u00a0I don’t normally bother with this sort of thing, but \u00a0its McStay. It’ll be like seeing a puppy you had to give away as a kid, and meeting it years later when you’ve both grown up.<\/p>\n

\u00a0Speaking of John Collins, McStays midfield partner for a few years in that period, theres still talk he will be appointed as Ronnie Deilas number two . That should come as a relief to John Park, who doesn’t want the job, as it will mean relinquishing some of his powers. He may not have any authority on paper, but like the Cabinet Secretary in Government, he has the ear of the boss…..and appears to control who else has.<\/p>\n

\n

Scott Burns, in the Daily Express, still looking for that golden moment when he gets something right-which would mean going against company policy-says that Deila has all but convinced Collins to take the job;<\/p>\n

” The Norwegian had lengthy discussions with the former Scottish international last week.<\/p>\n

Collins, who has been manager of Hibs and Belgian side Charleroi and director of football at Livingston, is now considering an offer to become Deila\u2019s assistant.<\/p>\n

The former Celtic, Hibs, Fulham, Everton and Monaco player is impressed with Deila\u2019s plans and\u00a0vision<\/span><\/a>\u00a0for the Scottish champions, but had been seeking assurance that they will get total control of all football matters.<\/p>\n

\"laughter\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The 46-year-old, who had been helping the SFA as a part-time youth coach, is keen to return to management \u2013 but he wants everything to be right.<\/p>\n

Collins has a strong philosophy on football and how it should be played and that was part of the reason why he walked out on both Hibs and Livingston. “<\/p>\n

Deila is also likely to include John Kennedy in his new-look management team. Kennedy, who saw his career ended prematurely through injury, has worked wonders with the club\u2019s young players and Celtic believe that he is now ready to step up.<\/p>\n

If this is true, it would mean that Danny McGrain will not be resuming his role after he recovers from his heart attack. This time, can we make sure we get the chance to give him a proper thank you and a heartfelt farewell ?<\/em><\/p>\n

The 30-year-old former Scotland defender is in the frame to be named Deila\u2019s first-team coach.<\/p>\n

Goalkeeping coach Stevie Woods is also likely to be retained, although coach Garry Parker is set to follow Johan Mjallby and Neil Lennon out the Parkhead exit door.<\/p>\n

Er, he’s already gone. Still, it is the Express.<\/em><\/p>\n

Deila\u2019s previous assistant manager, David Nielson, is unlikely to join him as he is remaining at Stromsgodset to become their\u00a0new<\/span><\/a>\u00a0head coach.<\/p>\n

And that should make us all heave a sigh of relief. He’s off his head. Peter Houston is being considered for the managers job at Falkirk, and we would just like to assure the Bairns that he is a quality performer, with an excellent knowledge of the game, fantastic communication skills, which will enable him to bring exceptional levels of skill, fitness and teamwork to any team fortunate to have him as their manager at any level. <\/em><\/p>\n

Think they will go for that ?<\/em><\/p>\n

Talk of new Scandinavian wonderkid Martin Odegaard continuing his development under Deila at Celtic Park was met with a swift rebuke from Nielson, as he claimed that the youngster was out of our league and will end up at Barcelona.<\/p>\n

That should help keep his feet on the ground and encourage him to work hard.<\/p>\n

Odegaard is now in the first team at Stromgodset, becoming the youngest player in the world to score a goal or something, at the tender age of fifteen.<\/p>\n

Website \u00a0Talking Baws had this clip of him in action…<\/p>\n

Odegaard<\/a><\/p>\n

After this game, Ronnie Deila took the chance to say an emotional goodbye and thank you to the Stromgodset support;<\/p>\n

\u201cI have almost no words,\u201d he said speaking on the pitch. \u201cBut I would like to say that I am incredibly thankful for the nine wonderful years we had together.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe support I\u2019ve had here in Drammen, the people I have met and the confidence I have gained is the reason I have been given this chance.\u00a0<\/span>Thank you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

After leaving the pitch Deila added: \u201cIt is very emotional, and lots of thoughts are going through my head right now, but first and foremost I feel incredible gratitude for having been allowed to be chief of Str\u00f8msgodset football for nine years. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0Seriously, does he ever stop talking ?<\/p>\n

\u00a0He’s been in the Celtic job for nearly a week and all he’s done is tell everyone how happy he is with it. Thats when he’s not telling everyone he was previously associated with how happy he was with them. If he wins any manager of the year awards, you’ll need to take a sleeping bag to the ceremony.<\/p>\n

\u00a0Anyway, his former director of football at Stromgodset, Jostein Flo, whom Deila has not yet thanked for his time, his voice and his applause, revealed there is a darker side to the new managers personality, and warned Celtics players they will have to do it his way.<\/p>\n

\u201cRonny is a nice guy who listens to everyone. He\u2019s very good with media guys, all smiling and chatting.<\/p>\n

Er, we’ve noticed..He even had lengthy discussions with John Collins. I’ll bet the time just flew by.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cBut nothing will make him change his belief in playing attacking football and he has a strong side \u2013 an aggressive side.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe had to fight inside the dressing room sometimes. We had to lock the door but that\u2019s because he knows what he wants.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt didn\u2019t matter if we argued, we didn\u2019t care about that because we were winning games.<\/p>\n

What were they arguing about then ? Whose round it is ?<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cEven when we disagreed we knew we were always caring only about what is the best thing to do for the team.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe would also sometimes fight with the players because he knows how they should play.<\/p>\n

For such a chatterbox, this sounds like he actually has poor communication skills…<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cHe is a strong-willed man when it comes to deciding how to play and you can\u2019t move away from his style of football.<\/p>\n

\u201cEven as a player he was very clear and precise about how to do things.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe was practically a manager even when he was playing.<\/p>\n

\u201cRonny is also very clear in what type of player he wants for each role, as well as the system of play he wants.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s tactically strong, he works them hard in training but he makes sure they have the skills to play the right football.\u201d<\/p>\n

Or, presumably, he locks them in a room and knocks them about a bit. Well, it might work.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cRonny\u2019s young but he has been here since 2007. He\u2019s a good leader who listens to people, works well them and helps them to grow around him.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt training on the pitch he\u2019s the best I\u2019ve seen and he will play attractive football. So I think it\u2019s no problem for him to take even a big job like Celtic.<\/p>\n

\u201cRonny has a great knowledge of football and knows how to play the game the right way.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s very offensive in his thinking and, almost regardless of who they\u2019re playing against, Celtic will have more than 50 per cent of the ball.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn the last year here he has also made us much more forward thinking in the way we play. He just loves to attack.<\/p>\n

Yes, so you said<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cHere he has brought in a lot of different types around him in order to develop players.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u201cWith Ronny in charge the goalie will not just kick the ball up the field. They will play football.<\/p>\n

Thats a relief. Fraser Forsters kick outs made the floodlights duck.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s very offensive. The keeper will pass the ball out from the back and defenders will have the ball as often as the central midfielders.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Oh, feck.<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThe style of play is very attractive on the eye, especially at home.\u201d<\/p>\n

Where most of us will watch it, from behind the couch.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cFor the first two or three years with Ronny we lost almost every away game.<\/p>\n

Strangely enough, it appears nobody noticed a pattern emerging.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cHe had his principles. It didn\u2019t matter if we lost the game away, he wanted to play offensive football, sometimes too offensive.<\/p>\n

\u201cOffensive football is his philosophy.<\/p>\n

Losing every second game would offend most of us.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cWe also had a problem with him in the beginning because in the last five or 10 minutes he wanted to attack all the time. Never just sit back and defend.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat changed a bit because we lost all our away games in the first year.<\/p>\n

Not that much though, they lost them in year two and year three.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cWe also kept playing really strong teams in friendlies so we lost all of these.<\/p>\n

Anyone else notice the repeated use of the words “we lost ” ?<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cYet he kept going to play better and better opposition.<\/p>\n

\u201cRonny kept challenging the team to move up a level and then we started winning away from home, with the same type of football.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were nearly as offensive as we were at home. And we won the league.<\/p>\n

\u201cAfter two or three years when he signed a new contract we were bottom of the league but he wouldn\u2019t change his style of football.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe was very clear that doing it his way would work.\u201d<\/p>\n

A bit like the Michael Palin character in \u00a0the ” Holy Grail ” who kept building his castles on a swamp. Is it too late to ring Willie McStay ?\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

\n

\u00a0Virgil van Dijk has another wee bit if trouble brewing. It appears that the business woman in the Diary the other day was not his sole external \u00a0project. Apparently he sent a text to another which has been misinterpreted, when he asked<\/p>\n

” Are you flexible ? Can you do the splits ?”<\/p>\n

\u00a0The Diary can reveal that he was actually talking to a mobile dessert chef, and was asking her to prepare the sweet course for an upcoming dinner party, but at that point was unable to confirm the times..<\/p>\n

\u00a0Look, I’m trying to help him.<\/p>\n

\u00a0Peter Lawwell says that the big man would benefit from another year in Glasgow, but you get the feeling that he might have to leave, or at least use that as his excuse.<\/p>\n

We hear that Loius van Gaal is interested in taking him to Manchester Utd, and the big fellow will resist all other offers until he gets that one.<\/p>\n

\u00a0Well, almost all other offers, obviously.<\/p>\n

BBC Alba showed a documentary last night which charted the life and career of Jock Stein, the man who turned Celtic from a club with a proud history, into a club with a present and a future. The ambitious project was well received, and praise is due to those behind it.<\/p>\n

\u00a0The hardest thing to do with any new work on Celtic legends, or the club, is to find fresh material, or at least a fresh perspective. Only Kevin McCarra, with the Nine Lives of Celtic, and Stephen Sullivan with Iron Man, have achieved \u00a0this successfully. so, the makers had their work cut out from the start, which is important to appreciate as you watch it.<\/p>\n

\u00a0The latter fifteen minutes or so of the programme was classic television. Powerful and emotional contributions from Archie MacPherson ( author of the best book on Stein ) Gordon Strachan, Graeme Souness, John Clark and Danny McGrain brought a tear to the eye, as they recounted the final moments of the great mans life.<\/p>\n

\u00a0Especially when Strachan, with a tear and a smile fighting for a place on his face, \u00a0reminded us the last decision in the greatest managerial career was to “take me off “<\/p>\n

\u00a0One visual image that got \u00a0me was the still photo where Stein is stumbling, and Alex Ferguson is looking on in the background, , wide eyed with shock and fear.<\/p>\n

\u00a0Although time is of the essence with these shows, one complaint is that a biography of Stein, which should always assume the audience has no prior knowledge of the subject, whilst considering those who do, ( Told you it was no easy project ) \u00a0cannot possibly be complete with absolutely no mention of \u00a0Sean Fallon or Bob Kelly. Two men who knew him better than anyone, and I’m still not sure why the lass in the mining museum , the football historian or the reconstructions were chosen ahead of maybe some footage of Fallon, Kelly, or Bill Shankly.<\/p>\n

\u00a0And where were Billy McNeill and Kenny Dalglish ? Two more men who were in Steins inner circle ?<\/p>\n

\u00a0All that to one side, though, because it was an enjoyable programme, and the ending especially was of the highest quality.<\/p>\n

\u00a0Sky Sports have announced that they will be launching a new channel, Sky Sports 5, adveised as ” the home of European football. “<\/p>\n

\u00a0Now, if Scotland becomes independent, then technically any football from there will be on SS5, as will the Champions League. Hopefully I can then ditch four channels of golf, cricket , English football and other pretend sports and spend what I save on a car, a holiday and a dessert chef.<\/p>\n

Yesterdays question concerned the man who has played the most minutes in matches at World Cup finals tournaments.<\/p>\n

2,217 minutes by Paolo Maldini.<\/p>\n

Which player has the worst disciplinary record-red and yellow cards in the finals ?<\/p>\n

\n

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