I heard Leigh Griffiths was being damned in a Scottish newspaper with a wide-eyed wonder about how many goals Steven Fletcher would score against Hamilton Accies, Ross County and Kilmarnock. Not Fenerbahce, Aberdeen or Malmo, who Leigh has scored four times against in four games, but didn’t rate a mention. Not even his goal against the mighty (cough) St Johnstone was recalled.
Leigh is the great underdog of our time. The Tea Cake Warrior who has reached above this allotted station. Hostile journalists are not alone in dismissing his potential, ask around, there are some in our own ranks.
Yesterday he responded, with wonderful understatement, to Paul Dykes tweet (below), noting the return he’s given compared to some of the more successful strikers we’ve had over the last dozen years of so, with “Not too bad I suppose…”
Goal scoring stats don’t tell you everything. Griffiths, Hooper and McDonald have a better goal return in their first 50 Celtic games than Henrik Larsson, but they are nowhere near the player he was, but if you are paid to be a goal scorer, this is a pretty important measure.
What Larsson did after those 50-or-so games was kick on with impressive style, eclipsing the exploits of Dalglish, and gave a return only McGrory could match. It’s totally unfair to ask Leigh to emulate Larsson, but there are comparisons with the immaculate Swede, Hooper and McDonald he achieve. All of them scored big goals for Celtic in important games.
When given a chance, Leigh has delivered in Europe. He never played for Celtic against Oldco Rangers, but he opened the scoring in an important League Cup semi-final against Newco last season, and he shows none of the complacency one or two on the above list were, on occasion, accused of.
A “bunch of Scots wrinklies” are walking through the Grand Canyon from Friday to raise funds for St Andrew’s Hospice in Airdrie. The Hospice costs thousands of pounds each week to carry out the work they do. Have a look here at what one of the “wrinklies” has to say about it. You’ll no doubt read more from Weeron inside.
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TD67 thought we played Molde on the 22nd Oct and 5th Nov,should I change my flights?
e results do not go well, the Norwegian boss may soon pay the price for failing to live up to Neil Lennon’s achievements as the club’s business model of identifying young players, building a team, and then selling them on at a profit may be reaching the end of its life cycle.
The business model has its associations with the start of Lennon’s spell as Celtic manager in 2010. Lennon was pressed into service after the disastrous nine-month reign of Tony Mowbray ended in March of that year. Lennon made an immediate impact in the Scottish Premier League (SPL), reeling off eight successive victories to end the campaign but also had to endure the humiliation of a 2-0 Scottish Cup semi-final defeat to Ross County.
However, in his first summer, Lennon brought in 11 new faces, including striker Gary Hooper, goalkeeper Fraser Forster (on loan) and midfielder Joe Ledley.
Lennon’s first taste of Europe was excruciating. In 2010, his new-look team lost 3-1 on aggregate to Portuguese side Braga in a Champions League qualifier before crashing out to Utrecht in a Europa League qualifier. A 2-0 lead from the home leg was squandered as the Celts capitulated 4-0 in the Netherlands.
But the Bhoys were further strengthened by, in particular, the arrivals of attacking midfielder Kris Commons and defensive midfielder Victor Wanyama in 2011. These two, in addition to Hooper, Forster and Ledley, would be key figures as Celtic went from SPL and European also-rans in 2010 to SPL champions in 2012 and Champions League last 16 contestants in 2013. Only Commons, now 32, remains as the other four have moved on at a profit.
Deila’s briefing was apparently to work within the club’s policy of developing young players. But for the Norwegian, in contrast to Lennon, progress has been painfully slow. However, with a lack of serious investment in the team, it is difficult to see what he might have done better.
Unlike Lennon, he was given little to spend when he arrived – the only signing of note being striker Stefan Scepovic, bought from £2.3million from Getafe.
Five players came in on loan deals and a chance was taken on former Scotland goalkeeper Craig Gordon, who had been injured for two years.
humiliating. In summer 2014, Celtic suffered a 6-1 aggregate defeat from Legia Warsaw in a Champions League qualifier, only to be given a reprieve as Legia were penalised for fielding an ineligible player. Further embarrassment followed, however, as the Bhoys returned from Slovenia with a 1-1 draw in the Champions League play-off round but contrived to lose 1-0 at home to Maribor.
Unlike Lennon, Deila’s Celtic parachuted into the Europa League and some mixed performances saw them emerge from a group featuring Salzburg, Dinamo Zagreb and FC Astra.
Midfielders Stuart Armstrong and Gary Mackay-Steven arrived from Dundee United in January as Deila sought to bolster the squad
A battling 3-3 draw at home to Inter Milan, featuring a double from Armstrong, in the last 16 of the Europa League was one of the highlights of the season as it looked like Deila’s side may finally be making progress. Only a late Inter strike in Milan against the 10-man Celts killed the tie.
After a poor start to the campaign, Deila’s men took the SPL and the League Cup, and were arguably denied a domestic treble by an extremely controversial refereeing decision in the Scottish Cup semi final.
With two trophies and a significantly better second half of the season, the fans were fully behind their boss at the end of May. The ‘Ronny Roar’ celebration became a highlight of matches as the manager joined the fans in hailing key victories.
However, while Lennon’s many successful signings from 2010-11 stayed on to form the core of the team for another two or three years, only loan defender Jason Denayer and Gordon were success stories from Deila’s first summer. Scepovic did not work out and he has moved back to Spain.
With Denayer’s loan deal not being extended, and mid-season signings Armstrong and Mackay Steven featuring intermittently, Deila has had to rebuild a year later than Lennon.
Champions League qualification, however, remains the club’s number one priority. There was sympathy for the lack of preparation time in 2014 but this year the team came up short despite a golden opportunity.
Deila’s side eased past Iceland’s FC Stjarnan and struggled past Azerbaijan’s FC Qaarabag 1-0 on aggregate in the qualifying rounds. The play-off draw handed them a tie against Sweden’s Malmo FC. Having beaten Swedish sides in two of their previous three qualifying campaigns, the Bhoys had recent history on their side.
blew it. After taking a 2-0 lead within 10 minutes of the first leg at home, they contrived to concede two goals for a 3-2 victory and a listless performance in Sweden saw them lose 2-0.
For the first time in a while, serious questions were being asked of Deila. This is exactly the kind of game he was brought in to win, but confidence in the manager has been shaken by this defeat.
The side’s biggest asset, defender Virgil Van Dijk , would soon leave for Southampton for a reported £11.5million, replaced by the incoming Jozo Simunovic, a 21-year-old Croatian, who cost the club approximately £3.5million. Deila has made the shaky defence a priority with the captures of Derdyck Boyata, Saidy Janko and Tyler Blackett (on loan from Manchester United)
Now, at the beginning of October, Celtic stand just one point behind Aberdeen at the top of the SPL. They are three points better off than they were after 10 games last season and have just beaten Hamilton 2-1 away. At the same time last year, they lost 1-0 to the same opponents at home.
However, such incremental improvements are not enough to keep Deila in a job. Given Celtic’s vastly superior resources, they are expected to run away with the league every year. Anything less will be seen as a failure.
Assuming domestic dominance continues, it is in Europe that Deila will be judged. In a tough Europa League group this season, Celtic haven’t performed badly in 2-2 draws away to Ajax and at home to wealthy Fenerbahce. But they have let winning positions slip in both games due to defensive errors.
Given the nature of the opponents, Hoops fans have been forgiving so far. Two victories against Molde FK could put Deila back on a pedestal. But anything less may see a winter of discontent ahead for the young Norwegian.
It is time for him to prove himself as the manager who gets the best out of a limited group of players. Erling Moe, the Molde FK manager has been making a good job of that so far – Deila must prove that he can do better.
Sorry I could only post that story in bits, as it would not let me copy it all at once, it was from the back page football press, written by a guy called Paul Murphy, and obviously not to big on RD :)
TD67
Merchant City, High Street and Gallowgate pubs will be visited, I suspect.
Would be great to meet you.
Hail Hail
22 October. Is the Molde game
5 Nov return game, return game should be fun, 6 o’clock KO and the fireworks display in the Glasgow green, traffic jams right up yer ying yang, unbelievable.
Delaneys Dunky
Im not one for the pub crawling mate, but I’m sure you will all have a great time, and have lots of fun, and it’ll be a good laugh.
Phil saying they only have $170,000 left?
If so, they won’t be able to pay the wages this month, unless they raid their own VAT escrow account. When is the next VAT payment due?
Phil’s sources are usually good, but not sure I believe him here. If this were the case i think we’d be seeing much more in the way of distress signals.
TD67
“22 October. Is the Molde game
5 Nov return game, return game should be fun, 6 o’clock KO and the fireworks display in the Glasgow green, traffic jams right up yer ying yang, unbelievable.”
———————————————————
Who organised that?
Rockets!
Blog not working?
Morning Jobo
Thanks for that summary. I’ve lost touch with it a wee bit but surprised to see you say if Ireland win either game Scotland are out. Can we not catch Poland? We’re 6 behind, win tonight and it’s 3, potentially we can catch them and win on the head to head if Ireland beat them in the last game?
Sorry for being slow if this has all been covered.
More importantly I will miss tonight’s game. Sometimes as a parent you are called to do unspeakable things, make sacrifices. Well last Christmas we got the girls 1D tickets and tonight’s the night. And may the Lord have mercy on my ears.
Phil’s sources are usually good, but not sure I believe him here. If this were the case i think we’d be seeing much more in the way of distress signals. – See more at: http://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/griffiths-understatement-nailing-detractors/comment-page-7/#comment-2694126
Actually most of the blogs have been running with this since Phil brought it up at the beginning of the week, even a Hun wan, and he went into more detail than Phil.
But the usual pattern is developing, not a word from the board over there, and jubalations for the team, oi smell shoit.
Videos like the Hamilton one, need to be disseminated as widely as possible because I don’t believe the majority know how bad it is. I’d say the police are deliberately targeting the youth because they’re least likely to know their rights, and at the same time are less likely to take it calmly.
I’ve never so much as been looked at suspiciously by a police officer in nearly 20 yrs as a season ticket holder and I’m probably in that majority that just doesn’t see this kind of stuff happening.
I mean I’ve seen plenty get huckled for on street drinking, and while I think that law is another piece of stupidity, everybody knows about it and that the police are on the lookout for it round to the stadium so a bit of blame lies with the drinkers there.
ITALIABHOY
The distress signals weren’t sent out prior to Jelly n ice cream Day either,to be fair. No doubt,time will tell.
But…
Shoooorly they wouldn’t touch money belonging to Hector-would they?
Only one man with the power to organise all that………..and he’s got GCC to start the fireworks right on full time :)
http://youtu.be/A0ttGFEwhPE
HH
DELANEYSDUNKY
Is Morrisons now off the Saturday morning tour wi yer Mum?
Say hi from me,please. Hope she’s in fine fettle!
Bobby Murdoch… who knows?
If VAT is all they have then it might be tempting to raid that in the hope that someone – anyone – will come in with emergency funds to allow them to stagger towards January, when they might be able to sell a few players.
This has been their MO for a while now.
On the other hand, the court case, the inability to raise funds on the market, and the chronic losses (still not properly addressed) mean their room for manoevre is becoming narrower and narrower.
Every fix is short-term. There really is no obvious way out for them…
Like all that were at Hamilton on Sunday I found it strange the amount of police that were about and also the checks that were being carried out going into the ground. Our CSC’s banner was checked.
I never knew about the FAC Banner protest but when I found out about it the increase in police activity made sense. The video just shows the absurd nature of policing at domestic games.
Yeah, it a worry as WC mentions that his son could be randomly picked on but having seen the impact of this bill on the travelling support and how the police implement it, my view is that those effected are not random but are targeted.
The police questions to the young lads regarding what groups they could be potentially involved in enforces my view. Any group of lads singing songs that are on the ‘banned list’ are targeted either at the time or by video camera for an early morning call at a later date.
The fact that nearly all cases that have appeared in court have seen the accused walk free is testament to a law that is so poor it can’t stand up to scrutiny. It also proves as does the video that the police can’t enforce this law.
Those who travel to the away games especially up north will have the pleasure of Police Scotland stopping and searching their supporters coach.
For my sins I also go to Scotland games. The last game against Germany I saw fans get off the coaches with drink in full view of the police without them even attempting to take the drink from them our search the bus.
The games at Celtic Park against England and Ireland I saw behaviour that if it happened at a domestic game would have got Celtic Park closed. But Police Scotland seem to turn a blind eye on international nights.
I feel sorry for my fellow Scotland fans who I go to these games with as I spend most of my time pointing out what should be sensible policing for all football fans while constantly saying: “If that was a domestic game they would be lifted”.
Backs up my point. It’s targeted not random.
“Given Celtic’s vastly superior resources”
Has anyone EVER seen a comment like that in reference to Sevco?
Weet, Weet , Weet,
I enjoyed your very humorous post at 8:27 last night ( P4 , I think).
JJ
JUNGLE JIM HS
I liked the golf one from earlier!
.
Anyone recommended a Female Friendly Pub to watch the Scotland game in Glasgow Tonight..
That does Food..
TIA..
Summa
Tony
If Green defeats the challenge to his legal fees being covered it’s almost impossible to see past Administration for newco.
Imho the thing that has slipped under the radar a wee bit is RIFC appointing Campbell Dallas as ‘auditors’ to replace Deloitte. Campbell Dallas are staunchly Scottish, and have been building a formidable insolvency department for some years now. This is preparation.
With Whyte we all knew what the plan was from day one, the timing became clear too (hence the awesome conga/party/half time fiesta at Inverness). This time there are so many variables it’s unnerving.
Ashley’s position remains the biggest mystery. How close is his relationship with Green? I reckon he’ll be the biggest creditor and therefore in control of the Administration, as it stands. But will the Worthinington/Law claim be held as valid and will this embroil Oldco/BDO in newco’s administration?
None of the players are complete hostages to chance here, positioning is what is happening just now, and probably some negotiation. But who’s doing what, where and with whom right now is material for a novel.
Good Morning Bhoys from a Sunny Central Scotland. I dont think if we dont qualify from our Europa League group that Ronny will be replaced immediately l believe his position will be reviewed at the end of the season and if we have won domestic honours they will be taken in to consideration.He will also be judged by the teams on the park performances if we have a settled team and are playing well he will get another crack at trying to qualify for the Champions League group stages. H.H.
BMCUW
Could you either C & P or direct me to that one?
JJ
Giggsy-Spot on mate,does any other group of fans get the same surveillance ? We didn’t help ourselves by assisting FOCUS openly film in and around Celtic Park for years,I think we let ourselves become a training aid for FOCUS,and it has mushroomed from that.I also said to my mate at the game on Sunday,there was a very heavy police presence for a 6,000 capacity.How much did this operation cost? HH
The question is: is it in Ashley’s interests for TRFC/RIFC to go under? I’m not sure it is.
That’s why, if there is to be a leftfield rescue package, it might well have SportsDirect logos all over it…
It is a pity that big VVD has made the comments about learning more at Southampton after 5 games than he learned in all his time at Celtic.We know from past football history that Dutch players can be very arrogant and this may be the case here.However,I have on wee worry at the back of my mind and that is what if what he saying is true ? it doesnt say much about our coaching and questions should be asked. H.H.
BLANTYREKEV @ 9:15 AM,
Yeah, Scotland seem to be in a worse situation than the League table suggests with a potential six points up for grabs.
But as per Jobo is right…
If you have a few minutes, the BBC put it into context very well…
http://m.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/34183206
What a legend you are, have made many a sacrifice for my Children but, well, nothing comparable to what you’re doing tonight.
Hail Hail
Italiabhoy
Agreed. He wants to protect 7 years of merchandising, his initial investment, his security and whatever springs from that. He has the most to lose from administration, unless he can control a way out of it. He may also want everything about the set up and IPO to be protected, depending on what agreements he has with Green.
That’s why the silence around Ashley while King bleats on about oldco and listings and overinvesting and shares will suit Ashley just fine, and he has no directors on the Board at the moment either so no route to him for anything. He’s relatively untouchable, yet pivotal. As Paul said previously, the enemy’s enemy is not necessarily a friend. He cannot control the criminal case of course, but he can and will be preparing for the fall out.
ItaliaBhoy on 8th October 2015 9:31 am
I think the real question is will Ashley gain more than he puts in if he prevents admin? If he’s already got security over enough assets to cover his input. He might not be that bothered.
Chairbhoy
Thanks for those kind words on my plight :-)))
That article suggests Jobo, remarkably, has erred and we can indeed catch Poland although it requires Ireland to win in Poland.
SUMMA OF SAMMI
To be honest,you can’t go far wrong wi The Blane Valley.
“Campbell Dallas???????”
Please, PLEASE tell me that’s one blokes handle…
…..what a belter!
.
Bobby..
Cheers..
Its a Crowd from the Uni in Ayr that have a Day in Glasgow or l could have made Your Gig and Seen My Ghirl.. at the same time..;(
Summa
SUMMA OF SAMMI
http://bacchusglasgow.co.uk/index.php
a step up from the Blane and better suited to young ladies
I would urge all Celtic supporters to email their msp including the clip from Morrison’s car park in the correspondence and ask them for answers regarding the police action towards innocent football supporters.
If enough of us get involved and raise the public profile of the harassment aimed at young football supporters , particularly Celtic supporters then perhaps we may get somewhere .
It’s time to back our fellow supporters.
BLANTYREKEV @ 9:44 AM,
Oh yes, that’s true, maybe like Myself Jobo was thinking the possibility of Poland securing no points over their last two games was a bit remote.
Still although they are good side, if Scotland win tonight then Ireland need to beat Poland to qualify, tough ask but by no means impossible.
Hail Hail