Players and manager with common purpose

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Could someone remind me the last time we heard rumours that Ronny Deila had players rebelling against him?  I heard it often, and put it to the club, but was told the players had bought-into the changes, then underway and largely unproductive.  I think we got our answer after the full-time whistle yesterday.  This is a group of players and manager with a common purpose.

Celtic are now top of the league, a point away from qualifying from the Europa League knock-out stages, and are beginning to look like a team, but the results are largely secondary to the transformation.  Even if Virgil’s 90th minute winner hadn’t arrived at Pittodrie, progress is evident.  The fragility and lack of cohesion which marked so many of our performances until early last month has gone.

Success has many fathers so it’s difficult to know exactly what’s behind the improvement.  Scott Brown’s return from injury helped enormously, as did the return of Mikael Lustig and Adam Matthews (although I thought Adam had a torrid time with Niall McGinn yesterday).

The blossoming of Stefan Johansen has to be the most striking element.  He has without doubt been the most improved player this season and an early contender for end of season awards.  By any measure, he had no right to score his goal yesterday.

The return of James Forrest, who yesterday played his fourth game in eight months, will give the squad an extra boost before the final two Europa League group games.  If he has fully recuperated from the problems which blighted him throughout this year, he’ll give fresh impetus to the pacey product Ronny is trying to hone.

You can get copies of Caesar & the Assassin, Billy McNeill and Davie Hay’s accounts of managing Celtic from Jock Stein’s departure until the appointment of Liam Brady, signed by both Billy and Davie here.

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803 Comments

  1. Brogan Rogan Trevino and Hogan supports Oscar Knox, MacKenzie Furniss and anyone else who fights Neuroblastoma on

    DD

     

     

    Thanks for that.

     

     

    I got a message from someone this morning telling me that his dad was in the fire service and that he spent days pulling bodies out of the rubble in Clydebank after the blitz.

     

     

    The events of those two days in March scarred the man for life. There was no counselling, no training for such an event or for dealing with such a catastrophe.

     

     

    Clydebank never recovered from those night and the ineptitude and lack of forethought from the national politicians was disgrace.

     

     

    What the people of Clydebank has to suffer during and long after the war can only be imagined by others.

  2. sipsini

     

     

    22:43 on 10 November, 2014

     

    marspapa,

     

     

    My da,is a professional moaner when it comes to Celtic, I appreciate your offer, but my feck I’ll only take you up on it if you sit beside him ;))

     

     

    ——

     

     

    You really need to see what he says about you on Celtic Slow News!

     

     

    ;-)

     

     

    HH jamesgang

  3. weefrathetim

     

     

    for once i was having a laugh and getting a bit of craic / replies ( most scroll by) now i’m tears ..

     

     

    so sorry about you and D’s loss , the gift of life is truly amazing and we take it for granted at times ….we forget there are families out there not so lucky ..im off

     

    catchyeez .

  4. jamesgang

     

     

    A big hoopy birthday to yer dad tomorrow. And ye don’t need to lose weight. According to my weight, I should be the same height as you. Feck that. Hahahaha Nighty night.

     

     

    Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.

  5. weefrathetim and jamesgang

     

     

    The same birthday as the Memsahib here at Whatfor Towers. I wonder is it true what they say about people whose birthday is on the same day sharing characteristics. The memsahib is a determined sort, fiercely loyal and you would only cross her once. Heart of gold but slow to forgive if she’s crossed. Ring any bells?

  6. Sips

     

    its a deal ;)

     

     

    Doc

     

    thats the problem with belfast only a couple of hours away , but i’d hate not to be there .

     

     

    Jamesgang

     

    you are one funny fella ,you brighten up the darkest of rooms

     

     

    weefra

     

    God luv ye xx

  7. marspapa

     

     

    It was not meant to draw a pity response, it was over 40 years ago. Yes it would have been a wonderful event, but our beautiful, wonderful daughter would probably never have been born after that occasion. For every tragedy……. Ghod has his own way of working. KTF.

     

     

    Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.

  8. jude2005 is Neil Lennon \o/ on

    Some teams just run off ur tongue dont they?

     

     

    Beattie Donelly Fallon Fernie Evans Peacock

     

     

    Tully Co;;ins Mc Phaill Wilson Mochan……

     

     

    And.

     

     

    Simpson Craig & Gemmell. Murdoch Mc Neill & Clark.

     

     

    Johnstone Wallace Chalmers Auld & Lennox…….

     

     

     

     

    Hail Hail.

  9. doctor whatfor

     

     

    Mrsweefra will love you for that, it’s our daughters birthday tomorrow. Hahaha I appreciate your good wishes and will pass them on, to our daughter of course. :-)))

     

     

    Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.

  10. Sips

     

     

    Hadn’t planned to but wouldn’t want to let you down.

     

     

    marspapa

     

     

    Thank you. Peace n love.

     

     

    doctor whatfor

     

     

    Sounds awfie familiar. My Dad’s a mild mannered bloke. But getting on his wrong side tends to kinda permanent for those few who’ve incurred his scunner!

     

     

    HH jamesgang

     

     

    PS Now sips I’m away now. No more of this ‘you hang up first sweets’ …… ‘No you hang darling’ mancrush nonsense!

  11. Weefrathetim and Fourleafclover,

     

    just want to join those in passing on my condolences at your loss today,

     

    may they rest in peace

  12. jamesgang

     

     

    Hi james, wits happening?? You tired or sumfing? :-)))

     

     

    Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.

  13. geordiebhoy

     

     

    Cheers buddy, I hope you are well. Great result and no a bad performance against the shee……..I need to watch what I’m saying here as lambing time is approaching. :-)) I’m sure you know what I mean. KTF.

     

     

    Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.

  14. What is the Stars on

    Weefra, sorry to hear your news, still in fairness she got a good run for her money

     

    Fourleafclover., sorry to hear about your friend, tragic

  15. BRTH

     

     

    My mate’s father J. O’Neil, is an asbestosis counsellor in Clydebank. It is our hidden killer in this town till this day.

  16. Weefra, just reading back and saw that your aunt had died. Will remember her when I go to Mass tomorrow. RIP. My aunts were a big part of my life even though I only saw them when I went to Ireland. I was lucky to meet live to be, we can always dwell on the good times we shared with these important members of families.

     

     

    Zico, continuing to pray for our niece.

  17. missed a bit back there…should have read “lucky enough to be able to visit amn aunt in USA four times, because she lived to be 103….

  18. wits

     

     

    Thanks for your comment, yes indeed, we are just getting to that age, all you young yins excluded, when our elders are getting to the end of their life circle. Thankfully, ours have had wonderful life’s and that is the solace we can take from their passing. :-))

     

     

    Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.

  19. zico

     

     

    We are continuing our prayers for your niece. Thank you for your condolences.

     

     

    Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.

  20. jude2005 is Neil Lennon \o/ on

    D D

     

     

    Ive lost 2 friends who died of asbestosis. They were female clerical office temps. Disgusting the way these sufferers are being treated!!!

  21. What is the Stars on

    Weefra, while all deaths are occasions of sadness for those left behind I think when someone has managed to get into their 80s and has lived a full and happy life, well maybe it’s not so sad. It’s waiting for us all. Take care, Ronny is starting to grow on me

  22. Weefra.

     

     

    I’m trying to be good to myself.

     

     

    Was making the packed lunches at midnight last night so early to bed tonight.

     

     

    Over&OutCSC

     

     

    HH jamesgang

  23. connaire12

     

     

    How are you my friend. Have not seen you at the ole corner since our first meet. I hope you are well. Will you make the Dundee game on the 22nd? If so looking forward to another meet.

     

    Thank you for your condolences, we had lost touch with this side of the family since we moved to the farming community. Probably thought we were aff our heids.

  24. jude2005 is Neil Lennon \o/ on

    Night all. Night wee Oscar my hero God bless x x.

     

     

     

    Blood test (fasting) in the morn. So no Monday malt tonight. Wee extra one 2 morro nite??