{"id":6134,"date":"2014-12-08T10:23:40","date_gmt":"2014-12-08T10:23:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/etims.net\/?p=6134"},"modified":"2014-12-08T10:23:40","modified_gmt":"2014-12-08T10:23:40","slug":"celtic-diary-monday-december-8-diary-achieves-a-first","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/etims.net\/?p=6134","title":{"rendered":"Celtic Diary Monday December 8: Diary Achieves A First"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Diary has set the standard now. Oh yes, on Saturday we achieved a first in the world f internet bampots, becoming the only site\/article to ever predict a Ronny Deila line up.<\/p>\n

The 1-0 win over Motherwell was overshadowed by the celebrations as we finally saw that our new manager can be second guessed.<\/p>\n

Lets be honest, thats all it was, a guess.<\/p>\n

The game itself saw some good football, some excellent movement, with the ball this time, and a clinical piece of finishing from Anthony Stokes after Stefan Johansen whipped the ball away after a slack back pass.<\/p>\n

Supporters everwhere sat back and waited for the deluge. And waited.<\/p>\n

Celtic should have been out of sight in the first twenty minutes, and I was looking for one of those betting sites where you can lob money on during a game. James Forrest and John Guidetti both shaved the wrong side of the post, Guidetti had an overhead kick ruled out ofr offside when replays showed he wasn’t, and so on….<\/p>\n

Actually, the two one on one misses that shaved the post made me wonder oif they hadn’t been told on the training field to aim for the far post, instead of simply putting it past the keeper high and hard where he can’t reach it. A small difference, but I found myself remembering the Roberto Baggio penalties that always hit the post and went in. Because that was what he was trying to do.<\/p>\n

Forwards need to be allowed to do what they think is right, not what the coach suggests. Perhaps the recent low conversion of chances to goals is down to overcoaching..but then again I might be talking shite.<\/p>\n

Thats happened before.<\/p>\n

Well, perhaps theres something in it. After all, Deila has his system, and the players must stick to it. Perhaps he sticks with Stokes because he does what he’s told, for the same reason Kris Commons is on the fringes as he is more of an impulsive player.<\/p>\n

It could also explain why Aleksandr Tonev is picked ahead of Leigh Griffiths.<\/p>\n

And could also explain why its the middle of October since we scored more than two in a league game.<\/p>\n

Deila knows theres a problem, but is confident he can deal with it;<\/p>\n

“The positive is that we are creating chances but of course we need to be more effective than we are now I think the first 20 minutes was brilliant. They created chances and they pressed well when they didn’t have the ball. We got forward well and had good penetration runs and I want to see more of that from the players.<\/em><\/p>\n

“If they can do that for 90 minutes then we are talking about a team playing at the top level and we’re going to be a hard team to beat. I was satisfied with that and the fact they created a lot of chances but we should have scored much more goals than we did. When you don’t score then they can still get something and it was lucky for us that they didn’t score.<\/em><\/p>\n

“The nervousness in the last ten minutes was because we didn’t finish the game well and didn’t score the goals. We can’t have 12 chances in every game. We need to score more goals and that’s about practice and skills. It’s also about getting confidence.<\/em><\/p>\n

“We are winning games, which is positive. We have a good mood in the group, it’s a good atmosphere. We’re working every day to improve and I see signs every day that we’re getting somewhere but we are not there yet, it’s a lot of work still.”<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0Anyway, looking at the big picture, Celtic are still clear at the top of the league, and although there is a dead rubber game against Zagreb in the week, the schedule now shifts primarily to the Premier League, and the quest for four in a row. continuing with the recent run of league results could well all but seal the title between now and the Europa restart, and that could mean that Ronny will be able to fully concentrate on European glory.<\/p>\n

Am I getting ahead of myself here ?<\/p>\n

Probably, but although he’s not had his problems and criticisms to seek, there isn’t a single supporter amongst us who would not have been happy with top of the league, \u00a0still in both cups domestically, and last 32 in the Europa, even had we got into the UCL groups.<\/p>\n

Remember, no matter who we face in Europe, the odds are they won’t really fancy a full Celtic Park. No matter how much they talk about it, and how many of them have added it to their bucket list.<\/p>\n

Celtic will also have the advantage of being able to rest players for league games, because by then we should be way out on front.<\/p>\n

Opponents may still be battling for UCL places, and treat the Europa as second best.<\/p>\n

We won’t.<\/p>\n

Next month sees the transfer shuffle start all over again. Beram Kayal, not surprisingly has told a “source ” he wants out.<\/p>\n

“I want to leave Celtic during the transfer window,” Kayal allegedly said. “I feel my time is up and it would be better to go in January rather than hang on until the end of the season.”\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

He won’t be the only one. The squad is far too big. too many players won’t feature unless the bus crashes on the way to a game, and its kinder to let them continue elsewhere. That, of course would also free up space for genuine challengers for a place, and the loan system, which I heavily criticised at the start of the season, might well have worked out this time round, and when some are sent back, others could come in.<\/p>\n

Berget, Wakaso, Tonev-although he is a Deila favourite- none of them have set the heather alight. Denaayer and Guidetti , though, have worked out. although I am probably alone when I say I prefer Ambrose at the back to the Man City loannee, probably because of his greater experience, even if it is in getting things wrong. If we are going to blood a youngster, it should be one of our own.<\/p>\n

Guideti has been the gold in the bottom of the pan. I’d happily bring in five or six loannees if we can get one like him with an option to buy every window.<\/p>\n

Theres no certainty he will sign permanently, but if he doesn’t, at least we tried. Although he’d be a fool not to. And thats without the green tinted glasses on.<\/p>\n

His career to date has been stop start at best, and he has a chance to progress now, and make a name for himself. I can think of another Swede who would claim thats what he did.<\/p>\n

Ronny gave us his thoughts…<\/p>\n

\u201cWe talk together a lot, John and me, \u00a0Hopefully, we can are going to get an agreement. But, it\u2019s not easy, with players and agents.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI think it would be a good choice for him and I think he wants it. But, there are many people (involved) in a decision like that.\u201d \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0you might have heard that Guidetti was in the Netherlands at the weekend, He was, his pal Kristoff Peterson plays for Utrecht, and he went to see them play Heracles. The two grew up together, and spent a lot of time together when Peterson was at Liverpool, and Guidetti in Manchester.<\/p>\n

\u00a0It may be that agents are telling him to go for the money, in case he gets injured again. After all, they are in it for the money, and they will always advise a client to seize the moment and take whats on offer. Its rare an agent would have the players on field career as a priority. Or his future in the game.<\/p>\n

\u00a0Dundee Utd midfielder Stuart Armstrong is also likely to be the subject of a bid, but don’t be surprised if we seal the deal by offering to loan him back for the remainder of the season.<\/p>\n

\u00a0Martin Odegaard looks set to join Arsenal, according to the Daily Express, so expect him here in January as well. Deila prefers Scandinavian players, or at least, he admires their discipline and professionalism. and he knows the lad, which should count for a lot when Odegaard and his parents choose his destination for the next few years.<\/p>\n

Someone loves us, though, and wants to come here…<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n
‘Firstly, it’s a great feeling to be linked with Celtic because everyone wants to be in the top clubs in the world, and sure I will be successful there if I am signed,” said \u00a0Olarenwaju Kayode<\/strong> to SL10.ng.<\/em><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/em><\/div>\n
”Celtic is a big and fantastic club, and my brother Efe Ambrose is there. Everything about this club is right for my career.”\u00a0<\/em><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\u00a0In case you had forgotten, he’s the nigerian striker we mentioned at the weekend.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\u00a0The scandalous behaviour of Celtic supporters at the recent Scottish Cup game at Tynecastle continues to make the news. It started with an article in yesterdays Sunday Post, that most Scottish of papers, which I believe these days even employs catholics, but probably not too many.<\/div>\n
\n

Sick yobs daubed Tynecastle with graffiti mocking the memory of the Ibrox disaster dead.\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

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\n

The Sunday Post has obtained shocking photographs which show the carnage inside Hearts\u2019 ground following last Sunday\u2019s match, which was marred by ugly scenes.<\/em><\/p>\n

The revelations come as a war of words rages between Hearts owner Ann Budge and Celtic over the fixture.<\/em><\/p>\n

Our explosive images from inside the ground\u2019s Roseburn stand \u2013 where Celtic fans watched the match \u2013 show toilets and doors daubed with sick tags including \u201c66 dead huns\u201d.<\/em><\/p>\n

It is a direct reference mocking the number of fans who died in the 1971 Ibrox disaster.<\/em><\/p>\n

Last night those who lost loved-ones in the tragedy, said the minority of \u201cdespicable\u201d fans ought to be ashamed.<\/em><\/p>\n

Craig Smith, 48, from Livingston, West Lothian, who lost his dad George in the tragedy, said: \u201cIt is despicable that people find the deaths of 66 football fans funny.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cImmature, uneducated idiots is really the only way to describe them. Each of those 66 have become a missing part of someone\u2019s life since 1971.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cThose who wrote it should be ashamed and put themselves in the shoes of those who lost someone.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\u00a0The graffiti is believed to have been daubed on the walls by a gang known as the Style Mile Vandals (SMV).<\/em><\/p>\n

A small faction of so called \u201cultras\u201d, the SMV was formed in 2011, and is believed to have a membership overlap with the Green Brigade.<\/em><\/p>\n

The Green Brigade has previously caused outrage with sectarian singing and controversial banners.<\/em><\/p>\n

Last night Mark Dingwall, editor of Rangers fansite followfollow.com, said tarnishing Tynecastle with the Ibrox disaster slur marked a new low for Scottish football.<\/em><\/p>\n

He said: \u201cI am horrified anybody would mock the Ibrox disaster or any other tragedy connected with football.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

The ugly scenes at last week\u2019s Scottish Cup tie, which Celtic won 4-0, sparked a fierce war of words between the rival clubs.<\/em><\/p>\n

Hearts owner Ann Budge said she was \u201cappalled\u201d at the level of vandalism visited on the Edinburgh ground.<\/em><\/p>\n

Celtic immediately hit back with its own list of accusations, claiming missiles had been thrown at Celtic supporters and sectarian abuse directed at staff and players.<\/em><\/p>\n

Dave Scott, who is campaign manager at anti-sectarianism campaign group Nil by Mouth, said: \u201cThis graffiti is both moronic and deeply offensive and I\u2019m sure all real football fans would be appalled.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

A spokesman for Hearts refused to comment. A Celtic spokesman said: \u201cThese people are not Celtic supporters.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0Dingwall didn’t make it clear, but I think he was referring to the 1971 Ibrox disaster, and not any of those which preceded it.<\/p>\n

Of course, any graffiti which mocks those who lost their lives in any accident such as this is pathetic, and should be condemned.<\/p>\n

\u00a0But then, the Rangers supporters Trust issued a statement…<\/p>\n

The RST has tonight released the following statement:<\/span><\/em>
The Rangers Supporters Trust is disgusted to learn that a group of Celtic fans daubed offensive,\u00a0<\/span>sectarian<\/b>\u00a0graffiti, mocking the Ibrox disaster, on the walls of Tynecastle stadium during a recent visit there.<\/span><\/em>

We are even more disgusted by the attitude of Celtic Football Club towards this incident, which is to try to distance themselves from the behaviour of their fans rather than taking responsibility for it.<\/span><\/em>

We welcome Ann Budge’s recent statement and fully support her attempts to highlight the disgraceful behaviour of a sizeable minority of the Celtic support.\u00a0<\/span><\/em>

The group responsible for this are affiliated with\u00a0<\/span>The Green Brigade, who have been encouraged and tolerated by Celtic Football Club officials<\/b>. This despite outward shows of support for the IRA and various offensive banners including one protesting against Remembrance Sunday.\u00a0<\/span><\/em>

In the past few years we have seen\u00a0<\/span>riots in Dundee<\/b>, wide-scale vandalism and disorder at Fir Park and Tynecastle and various acts of public disorder in Glasgow centred around Celtic fans.\u00a0<\/span><\/em>

Throughout all this, Celtic’s PR machine, has sought to quell reporting of these incidents and no substantive action has been taken against the perpetrators by the Celtic Chief Executive, Peter Lawwell.<\/span><\/em>

Celtic Football Club has a major, ongoing issue with their fans which their constant denial of facts will not solve. Their official fan groups, including the\u00a0<\/span>Celtic Trust, seek to legitimise this behaviour by, for instance, campaigning for the right to display public support for terrorism without penalty.\u00a0<\/b><\/em>

We hope that belatedly, with their fans’ disgraceful mocking of the Ibrox disaster, Celtic will start to take their hooliganism problem seriously and the SPFL and SFA will do likewise, despite the strong influence wielded by Celtic in their boardrooms<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em>Which has gone down extremely well with the Ibrox support-those that still claim to support the entity operating out of there-and you’d have to wonder why they are clinging on to what really was a fairly trivial offence, and indeed, one that didn’t really justify such airtime.<\/p>\n

I mean, its not as if the RST are out on a major fundraiser or anything.<\/p>\n

\"LionPic1a\"<\/p>\n

Can’t see why Ben Robinson, the Sunday Post hack would give them the oxygen though, unless someone knows something I don’t.<\/p>\n

Caption competition today, and its former Rangers player Charlie Adam, now with Stoke, showing his versatility.<\/p>\n

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