{"id":8589,"date":"2016-02-04T09:17:47","date_gmt":"2016-02-04T09:17:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/etims.net\/?p=8589"},"modified":"2016-02-04T09:17:47","modified_gmt":"2016-02-04T09:17:47","slug":"celtic-diary-thursday-february-4-hand-me-that-black-cap","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/etims.net\/?p=8589","title":{"rendered":"Celtic Diary Thursday February 4: Hand Me That Black Cap"},"content":{"rendered":"

Well, why not ?<\/p>\n

Ronny Deila this morning won’t know whether to laugh or cry. Like a ginger haired fellow who has discovered he’s going bald.<\/p>\n

After last nights 2-1 defeat at Pittodrie, the knives are out.<\/p>\n

In fact, the guns, tanks and tactical nuclear weapons are being unleashed as well. The lead at the top has been cut to just three points, and if thats not a sacking offence I just don’t know what is.<\/p>\n

Celtic started brightly, and in fact there was evidence that they were up for the fight, but the two Aberdeen goals just before half time lifted the Dons and sunk the Celts.<\/p>\n

To be honest, my own confidence ahead f the game disappeared when the team was announced, and the manager had gone with Dedryck Boyata , who has returned from injury and the big problem this season, continuity in defence, re-appeared with yet another new central defensive partnership.<\/p>\n

Though little could be done about the first Aberdeen goal, it was an excellent strike, the second one left something to be desired, that something being a defence who knew what they were supposed to do, and who was supposed to be doing it.<\/p>\n

With forty five minutes to go, Deila altered things, bringing on Colin Kazim richards and going with the fabled 4-4-2 which , some would argue, is what we should have been doing all along.<\/p>\n

What actually happened was that the main goal threat, Leigh Griffiths, moved wide, and thus became a secondary striker.<\/p>\n

He still scored, but not until the ninety third minute, and it was greeted with an eerie silence.<\/p>\n

So, that’ll be time to sack the manager then.<\/p>\n

You can almost taste the hysteria.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

So, just for a moment, let’s talk through what happens next.<\/p>\n

The first scenario is simple. Deila stays, he , having realised that there are a couple of problems with the team, and arguably as the creator of these problems, he is told to sort it out. These problems, according to the support, the media and most pundits are twofold.<\/p>\n

Celtic are not “progressing ” , there is no sign of improvement from last year.<\/p>\n

Of course there isn’t, the removal of Matthews, Denaayer and van Dijk from a settled and competent defence meant that he had to start again. It left the club short handed in central defence, and a need to rebuild.<\/p>\n

The usual fitness checks didn’t show that Jozo Simunovic has a tendency to phone in sick, and Belgian international Boyata forgot to mention his fear of moving objects, especially round ones.<\/p>\n

That may well have been rectified, finally, with the arrival if Erik Sviatchenko, who looks like he has the quality to succeed, but there needs to be another in beside him. Simunovic isn’t fit, Boyata isn’t any good, and Ambrose could score four, save a dozen on the line, and still be maligned for not curing cancer at the weekend.<\/p>\n

It’s easy to criticise, and many will. but criticism should not be simply along the lines of get him out, get someone else in and all will be fine.<\/p>\n

So, lets move to scenario two.<\/p>\n

Deila either resigns, or is sacked.<\/p>\n

Then , if they are not removed as well, John Collins seps up to the plate.<\/p>\n

At least temporarily.<\/p>\n

Will that steady the ship ?<\/p>\n

Its unlikely, Collins is getting a similar amount of blame for the current situation as \/deila, so we’d have to assume he’d be on his way as well.<\/p>\n

John Kennedy ? Promote the defensive coach in charge of the defence that doesn’t defend ?<\/p>\n

Thats not going to happen. If anything, he could be the first casualty of the management team. We hear Deila wants his own man in, though unless that man is Carlos Puyol or John Terry, he’ll get stick for that as well.<\/p>\n

John Terry ? Well, he might relish the challenge, and he will be available on a free in the summer. So it might be possible to tempt him into beginning his coaching career, possibly in a player coach role.<\/p>\n

He is on record as saying he will never play for another EPL team, which is surprising, as I never considered loyalty to be one of his strong points.<\/p>\n

With Deila gone, and Collins playing the holding role, who do we go for neat.<\/p>\n

Let’s widen the net, and put an advert in Football Manager’s Monthly. The situations vacant column.<\/p>\n

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

Manager \/Coach.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

YOU<\/em><\/p>\n

Must have experience of top level European football, preferably champions League group stages \/knockout stages.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Must be comfortable dealing with a hostile media<\/em><\/p>\n

Must be able to motivate, train, and develop the players given to him from the board.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Must show a proven track record of winning at domestic level.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Must have a desire to entertain supporters as well as win comfortably all three domestic trophies<\/em><\/p>\n

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

Are a club with a world wide fan base<\/em><\/p>\n

Are a dominant and successful club in our own environment\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Are financially sound and well maintained, with multi million pound sponsorship deals in place.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Are former European champions\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Are developing our own players at our own state of the art training complex<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Salary is negotiable , depending on experience. Other benefits will be discussed at interview\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Sounds alright.<\/p>\n

So, the first candidate turns up, whoever he is, and when he is asked his questions , its his turn…<\/p>\n

” Your club is sitting on four titles in a row, currently at the top of the table looking for a fifth, and having won one cup last year, could still win another this year . Why did you sack the last guy ? ”<\/p>\n

” He wasn’t taking the club in the right direction. He had failed to progress. ”<\/p>\n

“Okay, will there be money available to strengthen ? ”<\/p>\n

“No. ”<\/p>\n

“Will I have complete control over the football side of the business ”<\/p>\n

“No. ”<\/p>\n

” Will I have complete control of team affairs ? ”<\/p>\n

“You mean who starts every game ? ”<\/p>\n

“Yes ”<\/p>\n

“No ”<\/p>\n

They’ll be queuing down the length of London road for this particular gig.<\/p>\n

Of course things aren’t perfect just now.<\/p>\n

But maybe we should calm down a wee bit.<\/p>\n

Sack in haste, repent at leisure.<\/p>\n

An example of the hysteria was there for all to see on Sky last night when Andy Walker , another of their experts, informed presenter David Tanner that “you could do better ” than Ronny Deila.<\/p>\n

Three cups instead of two ?<\/p>\n

Even higher than top of the league ?<\/p>\n

Leaving aside that the multi talented Tanner couldn’t find his own arse with both hands and a flashlight, Walker should be banned from Celtic Park.<\/p>\n

And the club should not engage with any productions that feature him.<\/p>\n

That might sound hysterical, but its a fitting response to a comment which shows the level of respect and professionalism allowed on this sports channel.<\/p>\n

Though my support is well documented for the current regime, it is known that the board-and you’ll have to trust me on this one-are wavering.<\/p>\n

So, if they are to sack him, then they should get it over with now.<\/p>\n

That would be a mistake, but at least it will leave a clear line of attack to those who have engineered this so called crisis.<\/p>\n

If they don’;t, then they back him.<\/p>\n

And Celtic, as a club, and a support, come out swinging , defending ourselves from all comers.<\/p>\n

Its not the first time in our history we’ve had to circle the wagons, and it won’t be the last.<\/p>\n

But at least lets decide where we’re going to put them.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

That little statue in yesterdays diary was James Forrest.<\/p>\n

I know.<\/p>\n

Nothing like him.<\/p>\n

Before we move to todays little query, lets lighten the mood a bit.<\/p>\n

We’ve seen an email , marked urgent, which outlines nedia policy for the next few days, so we’ll need cheering up;<\/p>\n

\"Embedded<\/p>\n

Me, though ?<\/p>\n

I’m chilled. I’m nipping out for a beer later;<\/p>\n

\"Embedded<\/p>\n

Heres something worth mentioning…something someone deserves a lot of credit for;<\/p>\n

\"Embedded<\/p>\n

ROUGH sleepers will now have somewhere to bed down for the night following the opening of a \u00a3150,000 homeless shelter.<\/em><\/p>\n

The Macari Centre has launched in the council-owned Regent Centre in Hanley for a two-month trial.<\/em><\/p>\n

There are up to 18 beds available to ensure both men and women who would otherwise be sleeping on the streets have somewhere to spend the night.<\/em><\/p>\n

And on the first night on last night, it welcomed four people through its doors.<\/em><\/p>\n


\nThats cheered me a little. You can take the man away from Celtic, but not Celtic away from the man.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In fact, lets extend the hand of friendship to all;<\/p>\n

\"Embedded<\/p>\n

Even Lord Lucan has finally been given a death certificate, so their’s can’t be far away.<\/p>\n

Alright, cheer yourselves up then. with this picture, and tell us what’s going on…<\/p>\n

\"Embedded<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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

Well, why not ? Ronny Deila this morning won’t know whether to laugh or cry. Like a ginger haired fellow who has discovered he’s going…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":8590,"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\/2016\/02\/rope.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p2J7If-2ex","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8589"}],"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=8589"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8589\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8591,"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8589\/revisions\/8591"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/8590"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=8589"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=8589"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=8589"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}