{"id":7614,"date":"2015-08-11T10:07:06","date_gmt":"2015-08-11T09:07:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/etims.net\/?p=7614"},"modified":"2015-08-11T10:07:06","modified_gmt":"2015-08-11T09:07:06","slug":"celtic-diary-tuesday-august-11-deila-sticks-up-for-his-pal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/etims.net\/?p=7614","title":{"rendered":"Celtic Diary Tuesday August 11: Deila Sticks Up For his Pal."},"content":{"rendered":"

See. If only John Collins would take time out to learn Norwegian, he and Ronny could say what they want about the other teams and the monolingusitic SMSM-they can only talk shite-wouldn’t have had a clue what they were on about.<\/p>\n

Collins caused a storm in the Scottish media when he said that the other teams in scotland weren’t quick or clever enough to challenge celtic, and that the hoops had to step up a level in the champions League. As opposed to Derek McInnes, who claimed after his team were knocked out of Europe by some mob from Khazakstan, that his side wouldn’t face a team like that again all aseason, presumably because they won’t be involved at that level any more.<\/p>\n

In a nutshell, both Collins and McInnes said effectively that the teams they were facing, the best from their relative countries, were better than the others in the Scottish League. Oddly enough, they are better than the ones in their own countiries as well, which is why they are at that level.<\/p>\n

Then McInnes, who worked abroad in management at Bristol City, where he was let down by the climate, the players, the coaches and the Avon brifdge on the M5, said that Collins had “spoke pretty big words for a little man ” (or something like that )<\/p>\n

All set for a showdown ?<\/p>\n

Collins….<\/p>\n

\"Image<\/p>\n

McInnes…<\/p>\n

\"Image<\/p>\n

( I couldn’t find one that said “the piss poor ” )<\/p>\n

and the Scottish sports media..<\/p>\n

\"the<\/p>\n

Ronny had a quiet word with Collins, and asked him to point out the guy who was bad mouthing him;<\/p>\n

\"Ronny<\/p>\n

He then told Leigh Griffiths not to worry, he’d deal with it. Leigh is always handy to have around if there’s a rammy.<\/p>\n

Ronny said;<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u201cHe should call me if he is angry about it.\u00a0<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

If you think that collins got it in the neck, spare a thought for poor mikael Lustig. During the 2-0 win over Partick, he jumoed for a cross, missed it, and the Partick forward clipped a shot which hit his arm.<\/p>\n

Bt Sport, covering the game, discussed the matter in a calm and rational way. It wasn’t a penalty, but they managed to drag it out a bit, and even Stephen Craigan, who thought it was a spot kick, explained why. He felt that Lustig, having erred, made himself as big as possible to try to block any resulting effort on goal. An acceptable viewpoint. Perhaps even a good point, well made.<\/p>\n

Neil McCann, however, had a different opinion.<\/p>\n

\"Embedded<\/p>\n

Getting the game onto the back pages, encouraging debate and listening to different views can only be good for the game.<\/p>\n

But sometimes you have to wonder who chooses who to ask for their opinion, and what criteria they use. For instance, imagine the meeting down at Sky sports HQ where names were tossed around for opinions, where potential summarisers and experts were compared, their knowledge, their communication skills, their appeal to viewers and so on, and how , when someone said,<\/p>\n

“I know ! Neil McCann, he’s the very man for this job. ”<\/p>\n

We can reveal that the man who nominated McCann was also the man who reckoned that ginger beer was a winner.<\/p>\n

Another one that left me wondering about what actually goes on in the heads of these people was when Celtic drew Malmo last week in the final qualifying game ahead of the Champions League group stages.<\/p>\n

The Record found Vladimir Rodic, a winger with a unique and possibly revolutionary view of how the game should be played;<\/p>\n

“ To progress in Europe we feel our best chance is going forward to score ”\u00a0<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

As opposed to going backwards ? How long before he’s a Sky Sports pundit. ?<\/p>\n

Then there was the frantic search throughout Swedish football to find someone who might know something about Malmo, and perhaps pick up a few handy hints about their sttrengths and weaknesses, which meant that somehow, a now defunct financial basket case with identity problems got a mention in a champions League story….<\/p>\n

Former Rangers ace Robert Prytz backs his<\/h1>\n

old club Malmo to see off Celtic if the Hoops<\/h1>\n

fail to land a knockout blow at Parkhead<\/h1>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

REMOVAL man Robert Prytz has warned it will be Malmo flitting into the Champions League unless Celtic deliver a win a first-leg win at Parkhead.<\/em><\/p>\n

The ex-Rangers ace<\/a>\u00a0\u2013 who is now in the removal business \u2013 reckons his old club in Sweden will be the ones packing for\u00a0<\/em>
\nthe group stage following yesterday\u2019s draw.<\/em><\/p>\n

Prytz thinks Malmo landed exactly the play-off tie they wante<\/a>d \u2013 especially with the crucial second leg in Sweden.<\/em><\/p>\n

The 55-year-old says the Swedbank Stadium is a fortress for his former side \u2013 and it could be a graveyard for the Hoops.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

In just the opening paragraph, he points out no less than six warnings for the Celts.<\/p>\n

Writer Michael Gannon explained why Prytz was deemed worthy of the interview;<\/p>\n

Cause Prytz answered his phone.\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

A little later he remembered that Mikael Lustig is Swdish, and his opinion was sought. Still no sign of the Jo Inge Berget revenge piece though, which would have been my first phone call.<\/p>\n

Now, with the media tearing John Collins apart for running the game in Scotland down, you’d think that they would have bounced back and sung the praises of a Celtic side which has three wins in Europe and thus far has conceded just the one goal.<\/p>\n

But hey ho, what do I know ?<\/p>\n

I wonder, is there perhaps an ex Celt working in Sweden, perhaps as a manager with maybe one of their clubs, who could offer some constructive advice on how to get through the tie ?<\/p>\n

Larson , presumably , didn’t want to talk to the Record.<\/p>\n

Celts travel to Rugby Park , Kilmarnock tomorrow for their next 2-0 win in this seasons quest for five in a row. Thinking of going ?<\/p>\n

Lets check with the Celtic website…<\/p>\n