{"id":6332,"date":"2015-01-12T10:09:43","date_gmt":"2015-01-12T10:09:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/etims.net\/?p=6332"},"modified":"2015-01-12T10:09:43","modified_gmt":"2015-01-12T10:09:43","slug":"celtic-diary-monday-january-12-guidetti-to-stay","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/etims.net\/?p=6332","title":{"rendered":"Celtic Diary Monday January 12: Guidetti To Stay ?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Swedish striker John Guidetti may have given a huge hint about staying in Glasgow. With the League cup semi final against Second Rangers just a few weeks away, he’s told the press what he wants from the game;<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u201cI fancy three goals. That is what I did against Ajax and that is the aim this time.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cThe dream would be to score but the most important thing is we win.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cThe Feyenoord v Ajax match was a big game. They are what I love the most. That is why I wake up in the morning.\u201d\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Now, for those of us old enough to remember when Guidetti last found the net, there is a player in there, and perhaps we should ignore the \u00a0whispers that his mind might not be fully on the job. With high flying southampton in the EPL among those reputedly \u00a0interested, as they are coached by his former boss Ronald Koeman, he will have options.<\/p>\n

But \u00a0the Swede reckons he wants to stay where he is;<\/p>\n

\u201cI want to play football and I\u2019m really happy here. Everyone knows I love it at the club.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not affecting me at all. It\u2019s not like I am thinking I don\u2019t want to score because of my contract. No, that would be stupid.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cMy agent will do what he does best. He doesn\u2019t tell me to take the ball with the inside of my foot so I don\u2019t tell him how to do his job.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t bring an electrician into your house and tell him how to fit the plugs.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI am not worried. I am just so happy to wear the Celtic shirt. The rest will work itself out.\u201d\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Although I am a bit worried he phones an electrician if he needs to fit a new plug.<\/p>\n

That came from the Record, which seemed more interested in plugging the game against the Darkside, but Guidetti carried on talking, and De Telegraaf in the Netherlands carried on listening;<\/p>\n

“If I come to Celtic Park and they sing my name it is a fantastic feeling.\u00a0The fans have two, three songs for me.\u00a0Just like in Rotterdam.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

“Feyenoord will always hold a place in my heart. The club, the people, the fans. I hope Feyenoord performs well and always watch what results they have achieved since I’ve had a great time there, but now I play for Celtic.. and I am also very happy.<\/em><\/p>\n

“This is also a very nice club with great fans. It’s nice to see that fans of Feyenoord and Celtic well get along.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

As the Scottish press are always determined to sell our players on, the Dutch press were different. They wanted Guidetti to talk about Feyenoord, and possibly even joining them, but the forward only wanted to talk about Celtic, it seems;<\/p>\n

\u00a0“Everything happens for a reason.\u00a0I’ve been at Celtic seven-time Man of the Match, I’ve been Player of the Month, I made \u200b\u200beleven goals and six assists given (in all competitions) and I’ve played for the national team. “<\/em><\/p>\n

“Then people still dare to say that I’ve chosen wrong.\u00a0I am so proud of myself and so proud of everything I’ve done… This is just a fantastic achievement.\u00a0And could it be better?\u00a0Yes, it can be even better, but personally I think it’s fantastic.”<\/em><\/p>\n

The grapevine tells us he is after around \u00a335,000 a week, and of course Celtic won’t sanction that. Especially when Leigh Griffiths and Stefan Scepovic are on the books. It would also cause unrest amongst the regulars if Kris Commons was to be refused his two year deal, given what he has done for the club in the past, to pay for Guidettis wage.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Instead of paying a million here or there for players that may not adapt to Celtic, give the money to those who have proved they can. That includes Guidetti. Lets try to build something here, instead of selling on as soon as a decent offer comes in. Whuilst you can hardly blame the board for cashing in, thats the harsh economic reality, noting that Southampton beat Manchester United at Old Trafford yesterday it makes you wonder where we’d be if Victor Wanyama was still here. With Joe Ledley alongside him.<\/p>\n

Sometimes its not just about the individual, its about the team, and you could argue that Ledley leaving, and the way he was ruthlessly told he was going, has had an effect on his pals Commons and Adam Matthews, neither of whom are quite the same player they were last year.<\/p>\n

Throw Gary Hooper into the equation, and it perhaps makes everything a little clearer.<\/p>\n

Footballers know that its the nature of the beast to be suddenly sold on, so sometimes a club has to make it less obvious that thats the plan from the start. Might help them to settle a bit easier if they have a sense of security.<\/p>\n

If we do lose Guidetti, it might be worth looking at Manchester city again, because Edin Dzeko is available for a few months. With the English side signing Wilfred Bony, Dzeko will have dropped down the pecking order.<\/p>\n

Its good to see that \u00a0Manchester City have returned to tradition and signed a guy called Wilf. A good old fashioned northern English name, although its unlikely he will do twelve hours down the pit before the game, and be forced to change into his strip on the bus down to the ground.<\/p>\n

Though perhaps if he did supporters would respect players a little more.<\/p>\n

Theres an interesting and refreshing claim from over Tayside way. Goalkeeper Rado Czierniak thinks his team could win the treble.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u201cEverything is still possible for us and I believe we can win all three. Why not?<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cWe are a strong team and we can achieve it.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cPeople might laugh \u2028at me saying that but I don\u2019t care. We will see what happens.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe in May we will have won the league and the cups and I will be laughing too.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cWe have a very strong team and can win the league. Everyone here believes we can do it.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

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

\u00a0\u201cAt the start of the season I didn\u2019t think about it as everyone knows in Scotland only Celtic and nobody else can win it.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cBut now everyone has played each other twice and we\u2019re confident.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cWe believe we\u2019re as good as Celtic.\u00a0This is the strongest the league has been in the three seasons I have been in Scotland.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cCeltic are still strong but the rest of the teams have got stronger and are closer to them now.\u201d\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u201cThe spirit is there in this team, the attitude is good and we believe we can win every game we play.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0Its unlikely Dundee United will win all three. In fact, they’ll do well to win anything, given the amount of competition just lately amongst the leagues leading clubs. But what is significant is that Cziernak probably believes they can, and that makes a big difference within any player.<\/p>\n

\u00a0In pre-Armageddon days, the two club dominance in Glasgow meant every other club would start the season knowing the best they could do was third, and possibly a good run in the cup.<\/p>\n

\u00a0Thier way of thinking has changed. They now know they can win a cup, and that they have a second spot-which in years to come could be a Champions League spot-to chase.<\/p>\n

\u00a0The liquidation and removal of Rangers from the scene meant that there were only three or four games a season when they would have to park the bus, and so other formations were tried, and several sides now don’t see its worth changing it when they play Celtic, hence the increase in “shock ” results. The other clubs are no longer afraid of playing the Hoops, but not because they think Deilas side are neatable, its more that they think they might as well have a go, and of course when they do snatch a result, it increases belief all around the league that this is indeed the way forward.<\/p>\n

\u00a0Its a slow process, but there is genuine hope that the standard of football will continue to increase, and as a result, Scotland will soon be back amongst the top nations in Europe.<\/p>\n

Ronny Deila seems to agree that its not so much that Celtic are bad, but that the other clubs are getting better. Aberdeen in particular.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u201cIt\u2019s important to see behind things now. Aberdeen have done very well.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not that we have been bad \u2013 they have been very good. They\u2019ve won eight league games in a row and in 11 games we have only one draw and one defeat.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cSo our goal is to win the league, that\u2019s the most important thing.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cWe are going to keep focusing on the things we do. We know we are a strong squad and developing all the time.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cSo my message is we need the energy fans give us. At home games and away games they need to support each other. We are very comfortable and are going to have a better second half of the season.\u201d\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Time to get into the Tardis again, and back to 1966.<\/p>\n

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

Tom Campbell, who is probably reading this, will recognise this extract, from his Jock Stein The Celtic Years book;<\/p>\n

Jock Stein extract<\/a><\/p>\n

Stein told the players that Zurich would play exactly the same way at home as they had in Glasgow in the European cup tie first leg. Of course, the players will have doubted that, but the great man was proved right.<\/p>\n

Deila has some way to go to earn that kind of trust, but his calmness and confidence are very similar to Steins. He does know what he wants, and how he wants to do it.<\/p>\n

Perhaps all he needs are those shovel like hands of Steins to beat it into the players.<\/p>\n

At first I thought Deila was a diddy. There are still times when I return to that opinion, and there will be times again when I shout it from the rooftops. The original cynicism , however, has been replaced by a kind of curiosity. Theres little doubt he has his theories, and there is litttle doubt that done correctly, they will be effective.<\/p>\n

But its in the actual implementation \u00a0of the theory where he will be judged.<\/p>\n

We need that ten in a row. It will cleanse us of the toxicity that hangs around the Ibrox Nine , which has, statistically at any rate, made our own original nine look like less of an achievement.<\/p>\n

Hopefully, the signs that Deila can be a little pigheaded about things are also an indication of the inner strength required for such a task.<\/p>\n

Lightening the mood a little, it appears that the Second Rangers board have rejected the latest takeover offer from Robert Sarver, the US businessman who really needs to have a look at his business advisor, and ask if he is really up to the job. In fact, perhaps Sarver should have a wee read of this, from Ian Archer, around thirty years ago, if he needs an insight into the background and forerunners of the particular entity he is interested in acquiring;<\/p>\n

\"Embedded<\/p>\n

It looks like I’ve upset them by reprinting that<\/p>\n

Just had a look outside my front window.<\/p>\n

\"Embedded<\/p>\n

With the prospect of facing the Ibrox club-or at least a version of it -getting closer, some Celtic fans have clubbed together and will be placing a full page in the Herald newspaper;<\/p>\n

\"Embedded<\/p>\n

\u00a0Very good. But who are we trying to convince ?<\/p>\n

\u00a0I know its a new club. You know its a new club.<\/p>\n

\"Embedded<\/p>\n

\u00a0Its a bit like when Brendan Behan, the legendary Irishman , was asked to come up with an advert for Guiness, and after several days research offered this ;<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u00a0I can understand that it needs to be made clear, perhaps even to the point of saturation, but by taking out this advert there is a suggestion that we are trying to convince ourselves. The problem is, well, I’ll let U.S. comedian George Carlin explain;<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u00a0Let them believe what they want to. Its only the same as telling a child Santa Claus is real, it comforts them and helps them to sleep at night.<\/p>\n

\u00a0Of course, should Celtic describe in any \u00a0way \u00a0whatsoever the tie as an Old Firm game, I’m outta here.<\/p>\n

Its our own \u00a0clubs viewpoint on the fixture that \u00a0I think is what we are bothered about, to be honest.<\/p>\n

\n

\u00a0St. Pauli, the Hamburg side with supporters links to Celtic, have sent us another link between the two clubs, with some \u00a0strategically placed substitutes.<\/p>\n

\"Embedded<\/p>\n

\n

\n

Barry Elliot was the player in yesterdays diary who played \u00a0just the one game.<\/p>\n

\u00a0This guy played more than one, and they were quite memorble, although he’d probably rather forget them. I had until just now.<\/p>\n

\u00a0Who is he, and why will he not be happy at the memories ?<\/p>\n

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

\n

\n<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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