{"id":7819,"date":"2015-09-25T09:42:52","date_gmt":"2015-09-25T08:42:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/etims.net\/?p=7819"},"modified":"2015-09-25T09:42:52","modified_gmt":"2015-09-25T08:42:52","slug":"celtic-diary-friday-september-25-ronny-on-management","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/etims.net\/?p=7819","title":{"rendered":"Celtic Diary Friday September 25: Ronny On Management"},"content":{"rendered":"

Apologies again for the non appearance of the diary yesterday. due to a family illness I have been spending a lot of time traversing the railroads of the country between Stoke and Paisley, which explains the somewhat erratic publishing \u00a0of the diary this week and last.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Still, at least that brings it in line with the equally erratic quality of the piece.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Oh, and a big thank you to the man heading to Bishopbriggs \u00a0yesterday, who made a long journey shorter yesterday, sitting opposite me on the train, and reminiscing about all things Celtic. Normally anyone I travel north with makes a long journey longer.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

So, where were we up to ?<\/p>\n

Celtic did beat Raith Rovers, and therefore got into the quarter finals of the League cup, but the draw isn’t being made until Monday, which has puzzled a few obseververs who felt the excitement of the competition would be enhanced if the draw was made immediately after the completion of last weeks games.<\/p>\n

However, the extra time is needed as the SPFL diligently check the eligibility of players from St Johnstone and Hibernian, who have upset the beaks by proving that the nations two favourite teams aren’t quite at the level of Barcelona, Bayern Munich, or even Burton Albion yet.<\/p>\n

We hear at least one player is being studued closely as he had time off school once and didn’t even offer a note from his mum.<\/p>\n

It’s not just that the Hibees beat Aberdeen, but they have shown a fighting spirit that wasn’t there earlier in the season, and that has probably worried the beaks even more than the failure of Warburtons warriors to overcome a top division side as they march forward on their inevitable (copyright MSM ) eventual domination of Europe.<\/p>\n

And probably Asia, Africa and America \u00a0as well.<\/p>\n

All of which is good news for football, as it makes every game interesting.<\/p>\n

None more so than this weekends visit of Hearts to Celtic Park.<\/p>\n

The Jambo’s, (politically correct nickname for the Cousins Of William) have made a good start to the season, and showed they have teeth-unusual for anyone in edinburgh over the age of fifty- by clawing back a win against Kilmarnock in their League Cup clash, virtually guaranteeing a home game against Celtic in the quarters whe the draw is made on Monday.<\/p>\n

Manager Ronny Deila, who perfected his English use of the phrase “Aww for fuck’s sake ” during the Raith game, warned that Hearts are a better side than they were last year, when Celtic eased past them in a couple of cup games;<\/p>\n

“We had them twice last year it was a tough draw for us in both cups.<\/em><\/p>\n

“It went well both times, but they have improved since then and we’ll have to be switched on and put in a really good performance to get three points.<\/em><\/p>\n

“They are a club who have impressed me. It’s a big club which has come up and that is good for everybody.<\/em><\/p>\n

“They had a bad period with a bad economy, but they used that half a year or whatever it was to play a young team and build a new team.<\/em><\/p>\n

“Last year they were almost winning every game with their energy and the fans were on their side.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

“They started well so far and they showed they can be in the top six so it’s going to be a tough game.” \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

But then , so are we, he added;<\/p>\n

\u00a0“People know what to expect in the different roles, so we are stronger as a squad now.<\/em><\/p>\n

“A lot of players have developed, so players like Tom Rogic and James Forrest, who didn’t play so much last year because of injuries, are now becoming important in the team.<\/em><\/p>\n

“We have improved – we have more points than we did (this time) last year, we’ve scored 23 goals in eight games, which is double what it was last year, so we’re in a better place.<\/em><\/p>\n

“We’re still in every competition and we got a point away against Ajax (in the Europa League) so in terms of results, we’re better<\/em><\/p>\n

“But I see things beyond that. I see a culture where players are getting better and better.<\/em><\/p>\n

“It’s nice to see players like Rogic and Forrest starting to get to their potential – it excites me and gives me energy every time they go on the pitch and I see they’re getting better.”<\/em><\/p>\n

Ronny’s always nice about opponents before a game, paying them the utmost respect, which is all very well and good.<\/p>\n

I suppose that’s why he rejected my offer to write the pre match speech.<\/p>\n

“ Hearts are alright, nothing special. They’ve done okay so far this season, but even a dead cat will bounce so high when you fling it to the floor. We should take care of the matters on the pitch easily enough, but off the pitch ?Have you ever met any of their fans ? Fuck me, it’s like being on that \u00a0archaeology \u00a0programme and finding a couple of cavemen amongst the stalactites. I just hope they don’t wreck the toilets like their weegie cousins did. ”\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Mind you, his politeness doesn’t extend all the way up to Aberdeen, where it’s fairly obvious he’s getting sick of being told how good the northern side are, after they managed to sneak a 2-1 over his charges when the goalie wasn’t looking.<\/p>\n

That 7-0 I keep harping on about ? Might well be when the dons come down to civilisation when the return game takes place;<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u201cI want to win the league. It\u2019s not about them, it\u2019s about us. I\u2019m always into whether my team is doing well or getting better.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cIf we are doing that and getting results then we will see how good the others are.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cSo I don\u2019t care about what they are doing. I care about what I can do and that\u2019s getting my team to be as good as possible.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cWe work hard to confront the players on what they can improve on. The domestic competition is getting better and better and that\u2019s a positive. But it\u2019s still early to say, we will know more at the end of the season.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cAberdeen have started very well and if they continue that way we won\u2019t make it because they\u2019ll have won every game!<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cWe have to get better than them.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cThere will always be questions but I know it is about being focused on the long term.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cWe have a lot of experience in doing that and a strong team. We just have to focus on what we can do, I can\u2019t do anything about Aberdeen and I don\u2019t care.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cWe follow what they are doing of course but I know if I get the best out of my team we can be better than Aberdeen.\u201d\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

He didn’t tell anyone to fuck off, but you know he wanted to.<\/p>\n

He also cast doubt on the return of Charlie Mulgrew to the side, who has been out now for a few weeks with a cough or something equally trivial.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe is still not on the pitch training with the ball so it will be tough to make the Scotland games.\u201d\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

He was referring to the final two games of Gordon Strachans run as manager against Poland and Gibraltar, where the Scots need two wins and a snooker to progress to France, where they will need divine intervention if they are to make any impact.<\/p>\n

\u00a0A while back we noted that certain senior players were called into the office for a “chat ” after there was a story that a Celt had been , er, expressing a full and frank opinion on how things were going at Celtic.<\/p>\n

Now a senior player has picked up an injury and is keeping Derk Boerrigter company…<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

I’m sure there’s nothing in it but my imagination.<\/p>\n

Mulgrew could also have company in the form of centre half Eoghan O’Connell, who has picked up what may be a \u00a0long term injury while on loan at Oldham, and their manager David Dunn said ;<\/p>\n

Eoghan got an injury in training this week so we will have to see how he is If it\u2019s a long-term injury then he might be better going to Celtic for his rehab.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Back to our manager, and as he does sometimes, once he started talking, Ronny found it difficult to stop.<\/p>\n

He let us into one of his little secrets. Which appears to be shouting at players and provoking a response.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t see one player here I haven\u2019t had a confrontation with. But that\u2019s good because a culture without confrontation is dead. A marriage without confrontation is dead.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Which means I must have the healthiest marriage in the history of the institution.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you have the same problems all the time then you have to give up. I accept everyone makes mistakes but I ask how much do you learn from mistakes?<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cIf I have to have the same conversation with a player five times in five months then you give up. Those players are finished at Celtic because they can\u2019t handle the way it is going.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cIf the others are improving then one man can\u2019t afford to stand still. That player might have been good enough at one point but it won\u2019t stay that way.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cNot everybody has reacted as I would have wanted to these confrontations but I treat them with respect and I give everybody a chance.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cBut sometimes you have to take decisions. This is not a kindergarten, it\u2019s a high performance team and we have to get results so you don\u2019t have time to wait for everybody.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cHere you have to learn quick and that\u2019s something that has to be in the back of their minds.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you have competition you can stretch them and that\u2019s why so many players have been in the team and then been out for a little while but then they are back again and are improving.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cSo it goes in circles and we are slowly going upwards. Nir\u2019s development is a good example. He has a big potential but he\u2019s not there yet.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cIf he develops the way he has done in the last year then in a year he will be a top international player. That\u2019s what we want for him and he has a very good attitude.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cHe wants to improve every day, he lives and dies for football and that\u2019s always the start of it.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cLast year I didn\u2019t understand where I could use him. He was not giving me everything but again we had a good talk and he understood what I wanted and started to do it.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s rarely down to an attitude problem. It\u2019s down to a player\u2019s understanding and knowledge and he did not understand what I meant by 100 per cent.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cWe worked on three issues. The first was if I said sprint in training you sprint \u2013 not give 70 per cent.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cHe had to be quicker on the ball and go forward as everything went sideways. His passing accuracy was 90 per cent. But 50 per cent of that was sideways.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cSo I asked him to look at Stefan Johansen and Scott Brown who had 68 per cent going forward. They only had 81 per cent accuracy but I said to him if he could improve going forward and stay at 90 per cent he\u2019d be world class. Now he penetrates much more.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cHe was also too central and now he can see an angled pass and has started to widen the picture even more.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cThe final thing was defensively he also had to win more ball. It was not enough for him just to be there \u2013 he had to win the ball also.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cThat improvement has been unbelievable. The workrate with him as a ball winner has\u00a0<\/em>
\nbeen incredible.\u201d\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cOffensively he looks very like Busquets and defensively he is on his way.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cBut he still has to work on when the ball goes over his head, what\u2019s happening then with his recovery runs and how he thinks in that situation.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen he has the ball in front of him he is good at winning possession and being aggressive.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cBut the things that makes Broonie the best player I have had to work with is when the ball goes over his head into dangerous areas. He knows how to shut down the right spaces and take out the runs from the midfield into the box.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cSo Nir still has things to deliver but he was at one level, now he is higher and can go even higher \u2013 once he\u2019s up there everything is possible. He can play in the highest levels in Europe.\u201d\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cAt Celtic you are aspiring to the Champions League. Now we are bringing in players not even close to that level, such as Ryan Christie and young Aidan Nesbitt \u2013 but they can be. When you can\u2019t buy Champions League quality you have to think who can become that standard.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cThat desire is the most important lesson players can learn\u00a0nowadays.You<\/span>\u00a0can be fifth in line in competition for places but does that mean you\u2019re going to give up? Now they have to think, \u2018How am I going to be No.1?\u2019<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s too much results-obsessed thinking in this country. Everyone is thinking about winning, winning, winning and playing every week because that is what they\u2019re taught. You have to win, you have to play all the time. But real winners think, \u2018How do we win? How do I get better?\u2019 Then they do something about it.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s the culture I want at Celtic and that is so much improved already. The players are thinking, making their own choices and getting knowledge about everything they need to do to be successful.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not about, \u2018I need to play\u2019, you have to make yourself deserve it.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd if you can\u2019t handle competition you are nothing at Celtic.\u201d\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

That last line should be on a t shirt.<\/p>\n

Along with Efe ambrose ” I Got This ”<\/p>\n

The above quote was taken from the Daily Record, in \u00a0an article by Euan MacLean. It’s a good piece, but MacLean could come up with a much more interesting article if he wanted to…<\/p>\n

I’ll give him a few keywords to perhaps jog his memory.<\/p>\n

Tennents Bar, Neil Lennon, Tantrum, How Dare They Look Down On Me….<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Back in May, I spoke to Ronny and was a little surprised at the enthusiasm and knowledge of the guy. He loves to talk about football, and will take time to explain his methods and ideas. This is the first time he has gone into any depth about how he works on a day to day basis in the press, and it’s difficult to disagree with anything he says.<\/p>\n

Maybe this high level of interaction with players is the big difference between Deila and the usual style of management, which largely involves players calling their agents and getting them to demand a place in the team.<\/p>\n

And managers caving in.<\/p>\n

In other news, that delightful and altruistic Yorkshireman Charles Green has been in the news again. On the 7th of December 2012, it appears he signed a contract which included this clause.<\/p>\n

\"Embedded<\/p>\n

And lo, it has come to pass that the former director is being charged with a number of crimes, which for him must have been impossible to forecast. Fortunately, as he usually does, he’s covered all the bases.<\/p>\n

He’s not usually so certain of future events…<\/p>\n

\"Embedded<\/p>\n

The Daily Record, having seen the brilliant replies to Wednesday’s diary caption competiton, had a go at it themselves today, with this one;<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

You can, of course do better than their effort, too poor to reproduce here…..<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, I’m off to finish my book. I’m at that stage where I fancy a career change, so I’ve been looking into mechanics, and the art of fixing and servicing the engines that keep the nation on the road.<\/p>\n

\"Embedded<\/p>\n

\n

If that doesn’t work out for me, there’s a job just come up in the paper I could look at…<\/p>\n

\"Embedded<\/p>\n

By the way, did you see that thing where Volkswagen have had software in their motors that stops the emissions being correctly recorded. They’re after BMW now, because there’s an idea that they have similar software that stops the indicators flashing.<\/p>\n

\n

Coming back home last night, I was on the motorway and I had a bloody lorry driver up my arse nearly all the way home .<\/p>\n

Still, I was grateful for the lift.<\/p>\n

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