{"id":8208,"date":"2015-11-28T12:56:08","date_gmt":"2015-11-28T12:56:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/etims.net\/?p=8208"},"modified":"2015-11-28T12:56:08","modified_gmt":"2015-11-28T12:56:08","slug":"chris-sutton-passion-or-prejudice","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/etims.net\/?p=8208","title":{"rendered":"Chris Sutton : Passion or Prejudice ?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Charlie Saiz found a copy of the Daily Record on the train, and has countered the article within, penned by former Celt Chris Sutton.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Having read Chris Suttons views on all things Celtic this morning via the Record \u00a0I feel compelled to pick a few holes in it and write a counter argument in defence of all those he took aim at…ie the entire set up at Celtic bar the tea lady.
\nHe said….<\/p>\n

“NEGLIGENT in the boardroom. Naive in the dressing room.<\/em>
\nFrom top to bottom at Celtic Park, there are individuals who should be held accountable for the shambolic European campaign this season. Mismanagement in terms of policy, lack of direction in terms of the football.”<\/em><\/p>\n

The Board have had to develop a new strategy at Celtic in order to compensate for an ever decreasing decline in Financial rewards playing in an underfunded and poorly represented League.
\nAs a result the focus has gone from buy to build to buy to develop keep or sell.
\nBottom line is though we are no longer in the market to splash out the kind of money that brought Sutton to Celtic and ultimately doubled our debt under O’ Neill.
\nThose days are long gone Chris .<\/p>\n

Deal with it.
\nAs for policy and direction we are headed in exactly the direction they set course on Chris.
\nScout young talent (under 24 normally) develop it with a view to keeping them as long as possible or making a profit when they do go.
\nMeanwhile look to develop our own and bring them through into the fist team thus saving many millions in the process.
\nTo do that they needed to bring in a Manager who has this ethos already in place so they opted for a young Manager with a proven track record on that score.
\nHe came in and set his stall out immediately with a clear picture of what he wanted and envisaged.
\nThat going to take patience and time this was not going to be a quick fix solution.
\nA new system of play, a new ethos towards fitness and diet were all part of the transition needed….Oh and players able to pull it off.<\/p>\n

He then goes on to say…<\/p>\n

“First things first, let\u2019s get Thursday night out of the way. Celtic actually didn\u2019t do too badly against Ajax. They played well in spells and were unlucky to lose. But spare me the lame excuses.”\u00a0<\/em>
\nYou said it Chris we were unlucky to lose against a decent young team.
\nThat’s football<\/p>\n

.It happens we have no divine right to beat anyone ..particularly a Club who have 6 major European honours in their trophy cabinet.<\/p>\n

Then…..<\/p>\n

“The lines were being prepared before the game focusing on the absence of Scott Brown, Nir Bitton, Stefan Johansen and Kris Commons. I accept that hurt Celtic but let\u2019s deal in facts here. Ajax had five key players out too.” \u00a0<\/em>
\nSo you accept those players are key to Celtic (our entire first choice midfield normally)then go on to dismiss the performance based on Ajax’s team selection?
\nAjax have one of the best youth Academies in football Chris bear that in mind they don’t have to scout the SPL for affordable talent they have the best coming to their Academy from the off.<\/p>\n

( And which five were they ? -Ed)
\nHe then goes on to say..<\/p>\n

“As for Celtic having to field an inexperienced team, the average age of the side was 24 while for Ajax it was 22 and a half. It doesn\u2019t wash.” \u00a0<\/em>
\nAge has nothing to do with European experience Chris James Forrest is 24 and has played 40 times in Europe Gary Mackay-Steven is 25 and played 7 times.
\nIt has to do with ability and availability.
\nWe went with who we had available and Ajax did likewise.
\nAs a result a decent contest ensued.
\nThen Chris moves onto….<\/p>\n

“Callum McGregor is being held up as a shining light and the lad did well, with a fine goal to go with a decent display. But he\u2019s spoken about as if he\u2019s 14. He\u2019s 22.<\/em>
\nAjax captain Davy Klaassen is 21 and he is wanted by some of the biggest clubs in England.” \u00a0<\/em>
\nFirst of all McGregor scored Klassen didn’t Chris. And he’s their captain.<\/p>\n

McGregor is a fringe player.
\nThe much talked about Fischer had a quiet night mostly in part due to the great night an unmentioned 18 year old left back muted him for most of the night hence him being hooked on 69 minutes.
\nMcGregor put in a great shift (which he normally does regardless of form)and was highlighted rightly for doing so.
\nThe he goes on to say…
\n“I realise Celtic can\u2019t compete with the top leagues in terms of wages and transfer fees. But there is no balance to the signing policy. The buy young, improve-and-sell model is fine but you need some proven players in there too.” \u00a0<\/em>
\nProven players like Izaguirre,Lustig,Brown,Commons and Gordon perhaps?
\n2 of whom have been poor so far this season and the other 2 injured for this game?
\nNot too mention Ambrose who has played 34 games in Europe for Celtic and 50 International Caps but gets panned every time he plays by yourself before a ball is kicked.
\nThen further to that…<\/p>\n

“Celtic\u2019s strategy might have balanced the books in the past few years but the regression on the pitch has been shocking.”<\/em>
\nStanding still in Europe is going backwards Chris,financially we have no option but to balance the books a quick look across the Clyde should explain why overspending is not a great idea when plying your trade out of a poorly funded and represented League like ours.
\nWe have to be cautious as a Club there is no getting round it.
\nThe days of blowing \u00a36m on a player lie yersel are over Chris again deal with it as Celtic have.
\nThen onto this………<\/p>\n

“The club hierarchy\u2019s argument is that Deila builds teams and progresses players. I\u2019m struggling to see the evidence of that. You can point to Tom Rogic and Kieran Tierney as examples of those who have developed under Deila but for the most part, it\u2019s a nonsense.”\u00a0<\/em>
\nYou did point to Rogic and Tierney…. Bitton and Griffiths have also improved. Then theres Simunovic and \u00a0Forrest
\nThe fact is some of the players he inherited appear to be on the slide now.
\nLustig,Izaguirre,Ambrose,Brown and Commons are on the downhill section it would appear?
\nThose guys have been the mainstay for several years and now we need to find the replacements? Some of whom are already emerging under Deila.
\nCole has just been brought in he is experienced and although you think it’s too little too late these transitions will take time
\nOne step backward to take 2 steps forward is not uncommon when doing this in Football.
\nfurther to that he then adds…<\/p>\n

“If the manager is such a master at it why are the likes of Liam Henderson and Darnell Fisher farmed out to other managers when they should be working day-in and day-out with the man who is meant to make them better?”\u00a0<\/em>
\nFirst of all Chris we have 4 right backs at Celtic all hoping for a start Lustig,Ambrose,Fisher and Janko.
\nIn Midfield we have Brown, Bitton ,Commons ,Johansen, Forest ,Mackay-Steven, Rogic Armstrong ,Allan, Henderson and McGregor vying for places.
\nNeither Fisher or Henderson were going to compete for first or second picks so rightly were sent out to get game time.
\nBoth should come back better for it.
\nThen further to that he adds…<\/p>\n

“McGregor would be a perfect example. When Deila arrived, he was one of the brighter points.<\/em>
\nScoring in games against Legia Warsaw and Maribor last season when the experienced players were running around with their hair on fire. McGregor was expected to kick on but what happened? Nothing. We basically haven\u2019t seen him for a year before he scored against Ajax.”\u00a0<\/em>
\nHe got injured and fell down the pecking order as a result his form dropped off.
\nIt happens Chris again deal with it McGregor obviously has and Deila rightly gave him his chance again..in Europe.
\nAgain back to the age debate….<\/p>\n

“And like I have said, this is not a kid. Just like Stuart Armstrong, Gary Mackay-Steven, Ciftci, James Forrest, Boyata, Simunovic, Allan, Bitton, Johansen and Leigh Griffiths are not children.”\u00a0<\/em>
\nNo they aren’t hence why he treats them like adults and give them their chance prove they can step up to the mark.
\nOnly Ciftci failed to play against Ajax.
\nThere is a reason for that he’s failed to make an impact so far at Celtic.
\nNothing to do with age Chris it’s you who’s hung up on that apparently.
\nHe then adds again to hammer home his point…<\/p>\n

“They are between 20 and 25, so don\u2019t give me inexperienced guff.”\u00a0<\/em>
\nSo again I shall point out age has nothing to do with European experience Chris.
\nAfter all you were 27 by the time you came to Celtic and had only played 22 games in Europe-scoring twice McGregor has already doubled that tally at 22 btw in half as many games.
\nThen onto Deila Chris’s favourite subject after Kristo Commondinho of course..<\/p>\n

“I like Deila. He\u2019s a nice fella but some of the stuff he says just has you shaking your head.”\u00a0<\/em>
\nReally Chris? You have been on his case since the moment he walked into Celtic and as fo shaking your head I do that with 90% of the guff that comes out of yours.
\nThen……..
\n“He\u2019s talking about being ready for the Champions League next season. On what evidence?\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Certainly nothing we are seeing on the pitch. <\/em><\/p>\n

He says if you don\u2019t see it, you don\u2019t see the big picture. Well the big picture I see is a team lacking leadership and constantly \u2028making the same mistakes while \u2028being mentally weak.” \u00a0<\/em>
\nYou would do Chris as Lustig ,Izaguirre ,Johansen Ciftci, Armstrong and Mackay Steven have all been poor this Season on the whole.
\nMulgrew and Brown have had injury setbacks and Deila is bringing in young raw talent as a result.
\nTransition takes time and patience and I for one see little being afforded from those who think like you do.
\nThe Celtic you joined spend millions building a side as a result we ended up with massive debts.
\nThose days are gone stop hankering after the past Celtic Fc is no longer a Big Fish in European terms we ply our trade in a forgotten backwater and have no means to finance the type of spending you and your like want at Celtic.
\nWe have to grow our own again,shop in the economy isle and develop our own system to compensate for the ever increasing gap between Domestic and European Football.
\nAjax the side we played on Thursday are having to do the exact same thing that’s AJAX winners of 6 major European honours ffs.<\/p>\n

Molde, who excelled in the group, do the same.
\nThey are getting on with it and so it would appear Celtic are too.
\nIt will take patience and time.<\/p>\n

Deal with it and stop trying to undermine it at every opportunity when it arrives .
\nChrist knows we have enough detractors in the media willing to do that anyway.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Charlie Saiz found a copy of the Daily Record on the train, and has countered the article within, penned by former Celt Chris Sutton.\u00a0  …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":8209,"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\/11\/sut.png","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p2J7If-28o","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8208"}],"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=8208"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8208\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8210,"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8208\/revisions\/8210"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/8209"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=8208"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=8208"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=8208"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}