Since Ronny Deila became manager I’ve met a Norwegian journo a few times who has been keen to discuss our manager’s progress. One of the points he’s continually made is about Stefan Johansen, who he insists is known as a creative midfielder in Norway, someone who regularly makes defence-splitting passes.
Until recently, we’ve not seen this, Stefan has played as a box-to-box midfielder. Something changed against Hamilton Accies two weeks ago. Celtic were inept in many areas but Stefan seemed particularly exasperated at the lack of penetration. He ran and harried, pushed and prodded. It was as though the general malaise around him afforded him the authority to take control of the situation.
Late in the game against Accies he bent double with his hands on his knees, the outward sign of exhaustion anyone over 40 who’s played fives is familiar with, but which you seldom see from professionals, as it’s a sign your batteries are empty. When fans see this in a player the natural reaction is to berate him but Stefan’s knees deserved to be held, he’d put more effort in over the 90 minutes than anyone I’d seen all season.
Saturday’s performance from Celtic seemed to come from nowhere; suddenly we looked like a team. Stefan’s newly acquired authority, which I think he acquired two weeks earlier, goes some way towards explaining why.
I’m loving the love being shown to the glib and shameless one today, especially the accompanying commentary, “are you a fan who is staying away from Rangers matches?”, “this Rangers support is already dangerously close to a full-scale rebellion”. Framing the debate like this is an explicit call to Newco Rangers fans to ditch their hard-up club.
I would like to echo this sentiment. Go find another sport, or take up a higher education class instead.
That’s easy for me to say, I care nothing for Newco, but at least I’m being honest about it. There are those prepared to drive the club into the Clyde in their attempts to grab control on the cheap – i.e. instead of buying shares on the open market.
Good luck to them. I’m sure Mike Ashley and the Easdales will be easily bullied.
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the battered bunnet
19:05 on 20 October, 2014
What about the Celtic punters that go to away games.
corkcelt
19:05 on 20 October, 2014
Very witty mate. Just another rumor I posted it with tongue firmly in cheek. As pointed out if it was one of our own it would be in press by know.
hun skelper-i got 3 DU players names ,wouldn’t post them here mate,if you are in Dundee,you will be hearing them too.HH
minx1888 praying to wee oscar,
Good to see you on, is Simon HT Cowell having a nap:))
I am very pleased with the 5 0 result on Saturday, any win of that margin away from in professional football is not easy to come by ,no matter what the calibre of the opposition, so it would be churlish to attempt some criticism so I won’t. Well done ronny, however I am still not convinced. You never know if you keep it up I might stop saying ronny out
Tom, I’m a major football bore and know guff like that. lol
A friend in work is a Roma fan, he’s from Manchester and I can’t quite work out why he likes Roma, and he told me the background to the Rubentus name.
Awful news about Glenn Gibbons. One of the few in the media who dished out overdue criticism of the Legned and what was happening at Ibrox.
A terrible loss for his family.
I believe he was very friendly with big Billy.
May his soul rest in peace.
My friend got her money refunded by her bank today.But the scammers are still out there so be on ur guard!!!
Sports loses a proper journalist in Glen Gibbons. Sadly his position will likely be taken by a Sports PR.
RIP
MWD said AYE
Sad news about Glenn Gibbons. One of the very best Scottish sports journalists and I know that’s not exactly up against strong competition.
Very sorry to hear about Glenn Gibbons. I believe that he was a fellow St Augustine’s former pupil.
He was up there with Ian Archer as a sports journalist. Willing to write it as he saw it rather than sell an easy headline.
Great loss to a profession that is not over loaded with talent.
RIP
Any footy on the box 2 nite??
Lennon’s Passion
Celtic derive no income from gates at away league matches.
Jimmynotpaul – neither could I :-)
Sipsini – ha ha he wishes he was!
Used to work with Harry on Snyde just now. Biggest bigot I have ever met who has never been in the midden.
Jude -W Brom v Man U SS2
Glenn Gibbons RiP. A truly outstanding journalist, amongst pygmies.
First Snyde listen in a few weeks, and wee burchill obviously now very fond of the mulligatawny.
B B
Ta
bournesouprecipe
I can’t see anything wrong with posting anyone’s name re the LZ assault.
As posters we are responsible for what we post.
HH
Dallas,
You’re right. He certainly deserves more respect than I gave him. He has been great many times and it isn’t really his fault the rb thing has been a disaster (which I maintain it has).
Daft, considering I was trying to make the point that we are too harsh on our players.
cheers
Aye but they just soak it up…
Dallas Dallas
Funny u shud say that i found out today a friend im work supports Atletico Madrid
Atletico Madrid
No one else like
Great pity Guidetti was not signed on loan earlier in the season to play in European games, poor planning? Any chance we could smuggle him into the team on Thursday night with a black wig disguised as Scepovic.
With the sad loss of Glenn Gibbons, I think that brings to, erm, “0” the number of Scottish journos prepared to tell the truth about Sevco.
Try wee Hamilton player who we have always detested
TET-you have mail,P67 might get into bother if names are posted possibly mate.HH
Chic Charnley? He didnae take a sword to him did he?
Glenn Gibbons R.I.P
You can switchthe lights out now as far as Scottish football journalism is concerned.
Elvis has jsut left the building.
HH
Glen Gibbons – RIP.
As a journalist I often enjoyed some of his articles on the run-up to our European ties. He was particularly good at relating the atmosphere/story of previous ties against the same opposition in the years gone past.
Unlike the majority of the SMSM – he could actually ‘pen’ a match report!
Glenn Gibbons. You told the truth. Thank you.
Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord.
Was Zaluska at the Ubiquitous Chip ?
Big Ronny gonnae be furious.
Must have been a weapon involved if the rumours are true
HH
stairheedrammy-read back a couple of pages mate.
!!Bada Bing!!
A certain fleg wouldn’t be a common denominator – would it??
We were great at the weekend. Better balance, hunger and I wa snot astonished that the tackle that took Izzy out was not worthy of more. Shocking.
BUT
we need to do this again on Thursday. By again I mean controlling the game from beginning to end and winning.
I gave up paying for a ST die to the game bing bent in Scotland , all the way right up to Peter Lawwells obscene bonus.
HH
Glenn Gibbons RIP…. We’re on our own now….the s**t bags wont speak up and let the rest tell the lie.
Wish I was younger and I’d get to F**k from here, I’ll advise my kids to go.
die=due
Bada, looks like I,m hearing the same thing. As an aside I notice that Gardynes assault has been airbrushed out of the weekend game. The BBC completely ignoring the main talking point is like them avoiding mentioning that Dave king is a convicted fraudster.
Lets be more precise the game has always been bent in Scotland. It was just too much to see that Celtic dont actually care about it. They care more about the money than the sport itself. I dont consider the plc to be Celtic or custodians of the club. Of the money making opportunites possible .. way to go
HH