{"id":7410,"date":"2015-07-05T10:08:41","date_gmt":"2015-07-05T09:08:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/etims.net\/?p=7410"},"modified":"2015-07-05T10:18:35","modified_gmt":"2015-07-05T09:18:35","slug":"celtic-diary-sunday-july-5-calm-down-dear-its-only-a-friendly","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/etims.net\/?p=7410","title":{"rendered":"Celtic Diary Sunday July 5: Calm Down Dear, It’s Only A Friendly"},"content":{"rendered":"

Pre season friendlies are not the most important games you’ll ever watch.<\/p>\n

Which, given Celtic’s good hiding at the hands of Dukla Prague yesterday, is probably a good thing.<\/p>\n

Ronny Deila won’t have learned much about his players, or formations, or even who he is prepared to offload. Nothing in the game would have changed his mind about any long term plans he might have, except maybe that Deydrick Boyata needs to stop getting in everyone’s way.<\/p>\n

And we probably need another goalkeeper. Leo Fasan shows promise, but he’s not ready to step into the first team should anything happen to Craig Gordon.<\/p>\n

Celtic were comfortably beaten by a better side 5-3, and never looked like winning, or even making a game of it. The Czechs were way ahead in fitness, cohesion and ability, and seemed to be capable of scoring at will.<\/p>\n

The hoops never got going, and weren’t exactly out of sorts, but there was the feeling that they have a way to go before the visit of Icelandic champions Stjarnan next week.<\/p>\n

Still, if nothing else, the game was a reality check, and everyone now knows exactly what needs to be done.<\/p>\n

I had to feel for John Collins, when ronny turned to him and asked<\/p>\n

” What the fuck have you been doing with them all week ? ”<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Anyway, at least we know where we are now.<\/p>\n

Ronny didn’t blame anyone in particular, but had a few words to say afterwards;<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u201cDefensively we didn\u2019t play well. We lost the ball far too easily and they got past us.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cWe scored a couple of nice goals and created some chances but defensively we were a big distance from where we normally are.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cWe were always half a metre behind but we have to give credit to Dukla. It was a good test.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cYou could see some players are behind others in terms of sharpness. But I have to fix these problems in 10 days and we can do that.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cThe Stjarnan coach saw some possibilities today \u2013 but he will see a different Celtic team.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cWe can\u2019t play like this or we will have big problems whoever we play, whether it isSt Johnstone,<\/a>\u00a0Stjarnan or Barcelona.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m happy with what we have defensively. It\u2019s not about quality, it\u2019s about sharpness. We need to win the ball quicker. But we would also like to get another keeper because we need three.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Even playing three keepers yesterday probably wouldn’t have helped.<\/p>\n

\u00a0Though I have to say it was somewhat immature of Deila and Colllins \u00a0to adopt the ” Barry Ferguson ” style of dealing with criticism;<\/p>\n

\"Image<\/p>\n

Overall, the manager was realistic about the game;<\/p>\n

\u201cWe met a good team today. We had a good test and we have a lot of things to work on. But there are lots of things we have to forget as well, as you know when the sharpness returns that we will not come up with a situation like we did today.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cThis is good, though, as we want to play good teams and stretch ourselves. Dukla Prague had played four games before they played us and had more matches under their belt and you could see that today. We will use video analysis to get the players aware of they did well and what they can do better.\u201d\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Ronny will now take the squad \u00a0away for a couple of days to a training camp where he can kick their heads fucking heads in.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Of course, he was a little more diplomatic about that;<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have had good exercise and haven\u2019t used a lot of time travelling which is a positive.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s going to be good to have a couple of days away. We have a couple of new players and we can get all the players connected which is important.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cHaving a couple of days together is the most important thing now. We will enjoy them and then will have a big training week ahead of the Real Sociedad game.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Runar Pall Sigmundsen, the manager of Stjarnan, was at the game, and \u00a0it’s unlikely he will have learned anything he didn’t already know, he said;<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u201cWe know Celtic is just starting their pre-season and we know they are a very good team, with great players and a great coach, It\u2019s good for us to see how they are trying to play.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cThere is a very big gap between the teams \u2013 this is our first time in the Champions League. We are semi-professional \u2013 our players don\u2019t have great salaries.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

We like to play in Europe It\u2019s a great feeling for everyone around the club and we will enjoy the moment. Everyone needs to have the game of their lives for us to get a result.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cThere is always a chance in football. We know it will be very difficult but we are optimistic. We believe in our team and in our system.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Or, as the Sun interpreted it;<\/p>\n

\"EXCLUSIVE:\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Should we be worried ?<\/p>\n

Probably not.<\/p>\n

There’s one big difference in the way the two sides approached the game, illustrated by this, from the Dukla Praha website;<\/p>\n

Celtic Glasgow<\/a><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n

FK Dukla Praha<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/div>\n
\n
\n

Celtic Glasgow<\/h2>\n
\"Celtic<\/div>\n
28′\u00a0 Griffiths \u2022 43′\u00a0 Mackay-Steven \u2022 83′\u00a0 Dijk<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
3:5<\/div>\n
(2:2)<\/div>\n
konec z\u00e1pasu<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n

FK Dukla Praha<\/h2>\n
\"FK<\/div>\n
14′\u00a0 Hanousek \u2022 36′\u00a0 Hanousek \u2022 49′\u00a0 Hanousek \u2022 59′\u00a0 Mare\u0161 \u2022 85′\u00a0 P\u0159ikryl<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
Sestava<\/div>\n
Gordon (46. Fasan) \u2013 Lustig (46. Fisher), Boyata (46. Ambrose), Mulgrew (62. Tierney), Izaguirre (62. Stokes) \u2013 Brown, Rogic (46. van Dijk) \u2013 Forrest (70. Donnely), Johansen, Mackay-Steven (62. Henderson) \u2013 Griffiths (70. Scepovic).<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n
Sestava<\/div>\n
Rada \u2013 Gedeon, Berger, Mare\u0161, Mat\u011bj Hanousek, Marek Hanousek, \u0160tetina, Beauguel, Pova\u017eanec (60. N\u00e9stor), Je\u0159\u00e1bek, Jurendi\u010d.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Notice how many players they used…<\/p>\n

One player in particular caught the eye, Marek Hanousek, who scored three times and laid on another. That prompted a wave of “sign him up ” by some sections of the on line support,<\/p>\n

Those three goals took his career total to , er , eighteen. From 117 games.<\/p>\n

So, it looks like we’ll be stuck with Nadir Ciftci, who , along with his agent, the former Celt Pierre van Hooijdonk. Van Hooijdonk has probably matured a little since his “seven grand a week is good if you are homeless ” jibe, and is by all accounts a very nice chap these days.<\/p>\n

But he’s not one of my favourites. He treated Celtic, and Fergus McCann, who plucked him from obscurity so he could moan about his wages and go back to obscurity, with little more than contempt, and there’s a kind of poetry in that he represents the thouroughly distasteful Ciftci.<\/p>\n

\u00a0Whoever it is who scouts our strikers has to get one right sooner or later. This may be his last chance, and it seems odd he’s gone for one with so much baggage.<\/p>\n

Maybe the feeling is that having spotted so many duds overseas, the time has come to pick what he thinks is the best of the bunch available domestically.<\/p>\n

\u00a0Or maybe the time has come to pick someone else to run the rule over forwards.<\/p>\n

Gary Hooper is available on loan. If we haven’t already, we should be at least sounding him out about a move back. Get Commons and his missus on the case.<\/p>\n

\u00a0We know that the manager is big on team spirit. Ciftci, and his agent , think that’s a song by Nirvana.<\/p>\n

Whilst the Turk may score goals, and may “bully ” the opposition defenders, his attitude and personality don’t make \u00a0“Celtic player ” come easily to mind.<\/p>\n

\u00a0Meanwhile, social media let fly at Charlie Mulgrew after he failed to shine yesterday. Celtic fans will always need a scapegoat, and now that Adam Matthews has gone, the baton has passed to the likeable big utility player.<\/p>\n

\u00a0Who, somewhat unfortunately, was on the back page of the paper this morning;<\/p>\n

\"Embedded<\/p>\n

Probably not the best timing.<\/p>\n

Mulgrew is an important part of the squad. Ronny knows this, and so therefore he will have a part to play this season. Not as a regular first teamer, but as cover for the midfield, the left back , the centre halfs…<\/p>\n

\u00a0He’s experienced and capable. But then again, one duff game in a friendly and your career is over.<\/p>\n

On that basis, we’d be getting rid of everybody.<\/p>\n

\n

\u00a0I was a little disappointed with a recent poll. Far too close for comfort;<\/p>\n

\"Embedded<\/p>\n

Celtic being only a fraction more popular than a club that no longer exists due to financial misadventure, cheating, tax dodging, institutional bigotry and racism has left me questioning my own values.<\/p>\n

I suppose it is possible to remain popular after death. after all, there was a big feature on Dracula actor Christopher Lee in the Sun when he passed away recently.<\/p>\n

Oddly enough, he didn’t appear in the Mirror.<\/p>\n

I’m here all week. Try the veal, etc.<\/p>\n

Nw, they haven’t had much to cheer about over Ibrox way recently. Sure , they had their we walkabout yesterday, but the raindances held all over Timland seem to have worked, and for the second time this year their little get togethers have been cleansed by the holy rain.<\/p>\n

So I thought i’d cheer them up, with a memory of a time gone by, when all was rosy in the garden, when the moon was beaming down benevolently on their famous club;<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Probably a bit of work still to be done, I suppose.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u00a0Fridays picture of Scott Brown playing for Hibs prompted a few memories.<\/p>\n

Anyone have any memories or stories of this guy, or his brothers ?<\/p>\n

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

Pre season friendlies are not the most important games you’ll ever watch. Which, given Celtic’s good hiding at the hands of Dukla Prague yesterday, is…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":7412,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/etims.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/cracked-crest.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p2J7If-1Vw","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7410"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=7410"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7410\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7414,"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7410\/revisions\/7414"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/7412"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=7410"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=7410"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=7410"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}