Johansen takes control, bullying Ashley and Easdales

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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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704 Comments

  1. Kojo.

     

     

    As much as I occasionally enjoy translating your output ,for you to come on here cold, speculating/stating Celtic players were involved is plain stupid and only encourages those who would wish this were true.

     

     

    Be sure were it a team mate there would be no suppression of names.

  2. The Huddle..

     

     

    at.. 21.36

     

     

    Hiya, Pally… Nice tae Meet n Greet ye..

     

     

    Wrong?

     

     

    Me?

     

     

    Well.. Wan part of Me … Says.. “Ah hope So”

     

     

    the Ither Part..says..” Na..No Way..It MUST be a Celtic Colleague o’ Cool Haun..”

     

     

    So Where Diz that Leave Me?

     

     

    Agonizing…. oan the Hoarns o’ A Dilemma?

     

     

    Right?

     

     

    Wiz it a Colleague?

     

     

    Ah Dunno.. Hope No..

     

     

    But, Ah enjoy Speculatin’…

     

     

     

    Disnae Eveybuddy??

     

     

    Course , they Dae..(n. Don’t Argue.. They Dae,Dae!)

     

     

     

     

    Nice Chatting , Pal.

     

     

     

    Kojo.

     

    Still,Laughin’

  3. I remember when the AC Milan goalkeeper was stretchered off after a Celtic fan patted him on the head while celebrating Scott McDonald’s late winner in the Champions League.

     

     

    In the days that followed, the SMSM were queuing up to declare that Celtic should be hammered by forfeiting the game or having the stadium closed etc.

     

     

    Glenn Gibbons wrote an article on the Friday’s Scotsman in which he slaughtered the keeper for his “shameful feigning of injury” and the Milan club for going along with the “charade”.

     

     

    He finished the article with a criticism of the Scottish journalists who had “embarrassed their profession” with their “hysterical championing of the Italians cause”.

     

     

    He was the only journalist in Scotland who correctly predicted a fine for Celtic.

     

     

    A fair, honest and responsible journalist.

     

     

    RIP Glenn Gibbons.

  4. TET

     

     

    If ur lurking, Sandman replied to your .com enquiry early this morning. After midnight.

  5. Excathedral

     

     

    Pal..Sorry if Ah hiv Made ye Sad.

     

     

    Ah didnae mean tae..

     

     

    Ah wiz jist ..well.. Speculatin’.

     

     

    Canny see any Harm in that…

     

     

    Obviously, YOU Dae..

     

     

    Ah repeat..

     

     

    Ah didnae Mean tae Upset Ye,pal..

     

     

    Please Accept ma Apologies..

     

     

    Kojo

     

    Still,Laughin’

  6. bournesouprecipe on

    “Very sad to hear that Glenn Gibbons has passed away. A very fine footballing wordsmith who was always worth reading. Requiescat In Pace.”

     

     

    Jim Spence

  7. KOjo

     

     

    There is something wromg in your post. Of course, the players of professional football club should not spend nights in the pubs. On the other hand, they went to the night clubs. they go to the night clubs and will be doing it in the future. In the extreme, spending the night in the club is a breach of the rule of contract. The type of the assult on Lukasz Zaluska is a crime. Whoever did it I hope he is banned from football for long time if not for life.

     

    Lukasz Zaluska is the kindness of the kind people.

  8. scotlands shame on

    Why is this walloper koJo tolerated on here, Im kinda stunned by it, he seems to get away with a lot more than other posters. Normally scroll by as not enough time in life to translate his gibberish an sure ill regret giving him oxygen but it genuinely baffles me

  9. BSR

     

     

    Sad news about Glen Gibbons indeed – one of the good guys. I never even knew he was ill.

     

     

    HH

  10. Kojo,

     

    “Ah wiz jist ..well.. Speculatin’.”

     

     

    Ah wud suggest, just stoap speculatin’. It just causes bile; so I wud be obliged if you

     

    wud apply your impressive approach tae things that serve our club……..if ye can.

     

     

    Thanks,

     

     

    Gerry

  11. bournesouprecipe

     

    21:58 on

     

    20 October, 2014

     

    “Very sad to hear that Glenn Gibbons has passed away. A very fine footballing wordsmith who was always worth reading. Requiescat In Pace.”

     

     

    Jim Spence

     

    ==========================================

     

     

    Nice tribute by another decent sort.

     

     

    R.I.P.Glenn Gibbons

  12. Dallas Dallas where the heck is Dallas on

    Bontybhoy at 7 44, sorry I never replied earlier, I’m just back in.

     

     

    Thanks for your courteous reply.

     

     

    Our only other option at right back was playing midfielder, John Heron, who occasionally right back for the Developement squad.

     

     

    We have three good right backs on our books and all three were injured at the same time. You can’y account for the timing of that.

     

     

    Efe played in the World Cup as a right back and did alright in that position in Brazil.

     

     

    The fact that he & Izzy were given very little cover by our new system didn’t improve things.

     

     

    Let’s hope Mikael, Adam & Darnell keep fit.

  13. glendalystonsils on

    Glen Gibbons was a journo with integrity, which made him a bit of a maverick in Scottish terms. The bog standard SMSM journo would not be fit to lick his boots.

     

    The sad thing is, he is likely to be replaced by the latter. Seems to be what is required in Scotland by the anti Celtic, pro deidco media.

  14. Mr.Z

     

     

    Hiya,Pally..?

     

     

    Great tae see ye Posting.. Again..

     

     

    Missed your alwiz Penetrating.. Perspicaciteeee…in awe Subjects.

     

     

    Yes.. You are Correct..

     

     

    This stupid Tradition..which is the Done Thing..In Scotland..Mebbe.. Elsewhere,of Course.. Ah canny Vouch Fur that..

     

     

    But in Scotland.

     

     

    This Drinking in Night Clubs..n .. Subsequently.. Paying the Price..

     

     

    Has bin going oan In Scotland fur Too Long..

     

     

    tae.. Stop.. Now.

     

     

    Ah am Sure the Cool Haun is One of the Best..

     

     

    But.

     

     

    Ye Know Drink.. is a Known Trouble Maker.

     

     

    Nice Chattin’, Pally..as evah

     

     

    Kojo

     

    Still,Laughin

  15. scotlands shame 21.59.

     

     

    Celtic and Celtic supporters are a broad church. In more general terms freedom of speech in observance to defined parameters is absolutely essential to a viable blog.

     

     

    Other than that, who will fill the void for the Celtic youth updates that Kojo currently fulfils.

     

     

    HH.

  16. Someone should tweet that twat Rumour Bagwash re NL’s “minor injuries”,comment when he was beaten unconscious

  17. Gerry Bhoy

     

     

    at 22.01

     

     

    Sorry that You Feel that way, Pal..

     

     

    But..

     

     

    Well..

     

     

    Ah Am Me..n.. well.. n..You ur You..

     

     

    N..

     

     

    Obviously, we Dinnae see Eye tae Eye ..oan .. this..

     

     

     

    Too Bad..

     

     

    Ah kin only offer ye Ma Apologies..

     

     

    Howevahhhhh

     

     

    Ah still wull Maintain Ma God Gien Right tae..

     

     

    well..

     

     

    Speculate.. when ..Ah feel Lke it.

     

     

    Kojo

     

    Still,Laughin

  18. Was down in Birmingham this morning for a meeting.

     

     

    A guy in the office asked if i was staying down for the night he is a big WBA fan and asked if i wanted a ticket for tonights game.was thinking about it till he told me about the big connection with WBA and the Huns and how long it goes back to the WULLIE JOHNSTON days.told him to Feck off and gave the ticket to my Nephew ,watching the game on Sky( DOPE).

     

     

    HailHail

  19. thomthethim for Oscar OK on

    Rip Glenn Gibbons.

     

     

    A contemporary of mine at St.Augustine’s, Milton.

     

     

    He never played football at school, but he hung around with the best players at the school, plus me.

     

     

    There is no one in the MSM left who can assume the mantle, which only serves to highlight the loss.

  20. Paul67 et al

     

     

    Scotland cannot afford to lose a journalist of such longstanding calibre as Glenn Gibbons, one of our very best Sport Writers. Sad news indeed.

     

    Condolences to family and friends.

     

     

    Rip Glenn

  21. TBJ says Wee Oscar Knox is in heaven with the angels on

    So the police line up could be imrie , Patton , and the CFC squad including hoopy . Or is that just speculation ;)

     

     

    Get well soon Lukas