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.
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I’m just glad Remembrance Sunday is over, I always find it divisive & nasty on the blog. There are and always will be two conflicting views amongst Celtic Supporters, we just have to agree to differ & move on. In time the memories of Bloody Sunday, Loughall & Gibraltar may well subside for those who are still hurting and who cannot forget. I admit I am in the ranks of those who will never forget these and other atrocities but I would never wish to inflict my views on anyone else. I totally understand those who wish to wear the poppy and also those who don’t but yet like Tom just feel its best for the Club, for them to stay silent for a minute let the other side have their remembrance, and then get on with the match. Its over now for another year, Thank God so lets get back to what we do best,
sandman
13:33 on 10 November, 2014
“Sadly, that brief exchange told a lot – it wouldappear LG has had enough of producing umpteen weans from umpteen different burds and is moving towards more exotic tastes, looking for a touch of lavender about him and filling his Ipod with George Michael and Elton.
What passed between him and Ronnie yesterday could be described as ‘tension’ and not of an antagonistic kind. I hope I’m wrong but it looked like ‘Deila denial’ to me…
BrokebackMountainCSC”
Would that be the voice of experience ?
I think a few people have questioned a number of things yesterday. One being Mr Mulgrew. I like big Charlie. He is a Bhoy from our own flock. He grew up supporting the club and I love it when a Bhoy makes it into the team and excels. He has been a very good servant to Celtic. I have always thought was he a touch slow in Europe but he is a good player. Charlie can play in a number of positions and is a great player to have in your squad. He has not long came back from a stretch out of the team and whilst some others are afforded a few weeks to get up to speed certain players aren;t and Charlie is one of those. Regardless of what his best position is Charlie gives his all and that is all you can ask for from any player.
Regarding Ronny, I think some of us have forgotten what the club have gone through with Aberdeen this week. Make no bones about it this was a grudge match and McInnes knew what he was doing. He stoked up the Dons support by making ill advised comments about Tonev and always slapping down our gaffer in the media by saying he didn;t know what he was talking about regarding the racism incident. What transpired was that the Dons end up as the good guys (in the media) and they have a fired up support for when they play the Champions at home. He knew having a fired up crowd would give the Sheep the best chance possible of a positive result. Would a half empty Pittodrie with a full Celtic allocation have resulted in a red card for Scott Brown? We all know the answer to that question. Whether you understand or like the methods of McInnes he did it to get the most positive result for his employers. Some of us may have thought it a bit snidey or underhand but Ronny decided to leave Tonev at home which was a sensible decision. Maybe McInnes should have left out Logan who clearly did not handle the result well after seeing red after approaching the referee after the match and I believe making foul and abusive comments which McInnes has said he didn;t do after speaking to the player. Very risky strategy by McInnes because if the referee and his assisstants over rule that version of events then Logan is then a confirmed liar and his case against Tonev must come under severe scrutiny as his version of events in the incident with Tonev could be challenged considering it is one mans word against another. Ronny reflected the mood of winning a grudge match against a club he believes have dealt with the Tonev situation badly. He also had to deal with a manager who a few days before this match had told him to shut his mouth. His reaction was defiant and joyous. I enjoyed him letting go a bit and celebrating a hard fought win at a tough ground with his players and staff. Was it a tad over the top? Maybe? Should you celebrate winning? Absolutely! Think of what Ronny has gone through and what the club has gone through with Aberdeen the last few weeks and then look at the reaction again. It was a GIRFUY to the Aberdeen manager and the togetherness of a squad who have universally backed their team mate under a bit of provication from the club they had just beaten. Throw into the mix the softest red card since the last one at Aberdeen for VVD and you can see what it meant to the players up there.
We have now played a number of games in a short time frame since defeat to Hamilton and are unbeaten and winning ugly when required.
Ronny knows what is required personnel wise in January and probably who needs shipped out but I think since he realised he must fit into what the players can do rather than what he wants them to do we have started to win games. The future looks bright to me and although we have far and away the best resources in the league sometimes when we win we need to enjoy it. I think yesterday was a sweet win for the players and the gaffer and they lapped it up! Good on them.
LB
TinyTim
13:54 on
10 November, 2014
Oh FFS,thats all we need now.The Rev I.Am.Jolly.What a load of morose crap.I really hate Celtic fans like you.Away and gies peace.
Touch harsh Turkeybhoy!
LiviBhoy
14:28 on
10 November, 2014
Great post.
The battered bunnet.
You shoulda heard ol’ tinytim when he found out the big cheque wizny real and only for photographic purposes. :)
Tinytim, the other view is that Legia are flying in their Europa League group and that they are a better side than us with better players at their disposal. (Despite our better resources)
Maribor was a narrow defeat and came too early in Ronnys reign. Ronny has changed his tactics since then and the players.
As for the alleged PR stunt? Ronny has continually worn his heart on his sleeve. He continually repeats the desire to hammer teams and I have seen him go to the fans on a number of occasions.
Canon foder or not, Ronny has to beat what’s in front of him. We went top of the league yesterday and Ronny has got us there after dropping points early and after difficult away Europa league games.
Astra deserve their place in the Europa but were lucky to get a point against us. Zagreb and Salzburg look worthy of a Europa league slot if not a Champions league pot 3 or 4.
I don’t remember another Celtic manager being unbeaten after 4 European league stage games. Gordon Strachan lost to Danish opponents, Martin oniell to Belgians and Lennon to Norwegian and Swiss. Romania has a better football pedigree than any of these nations and have Steau and Cluj performing well above their financial weight.
As for Guidetti. You are correct. He did get Feyenoord. He does get Celtic. I don’t remember him kissing our badge? He enjoys being a footballer in much the same way you or I would. Celebrating goals, winding up the opposition etc. enjoy him in the short to medium term and he might be here longer. Who knows.
Lose and your a failure. Win and your criticised for enjoying it.
Turkeybhoy
I love your posts !
Keep ’em comin’!!
Livibhoy
Another top post!
All I’ve done today is post compliments to fellow posters for great posts.
Mibbe am goin saft.
OR MAYBE I JUST LOVE THE CELTIC!!!!!!!
EUREKA!!
The Battered Bunnet
14:32 on
10 November, 2014
Touch harsh Turkeybhoy!
No it is not.Utter crap.Not one word of praise or hope.
After Turkeybhoy’s onslaught on Tiny Tim, I scrolled back to see what was in original post. Didn’t agree with everything but it was a well thought out articulate post expressing a very valid viewpoint. Maybe a bit of a party pooper as most of us are buzzing after yesterday but valid & reasonable none the less.
P.S. I’m not trying to ingratiate myself to Tiny Tim, just in case their is another Pool competition and he might pick me for a doubles game.
Philbhoy @1438
There’s pills for that pal. (thumbsup)
Geordie…..
….a meant in the heid!
McCourt For 7
13:21 on
10 November, 2014
dr ramesh and the love potion
http://www.spreaker.com/user/homebhoys/homebhoys-139-ready-guidetti-go
http://www.hailhailmedia.com/
Thanks. Great stuff. At 40mins they talk about the meeting and at 58mins they start talking about Ronny. Really worth listening too.
Sir Paul
Don’t be Huffed,pal..
Ah luv ye like…… an Unexpected..
Income Tax Refund..
But…
Ah must Voice a Disagreement wit ye..
Thusly:
“Broonie,is a Hasher n a Basher.”( Besides, being No much of a Mid Fielder,eethur)
Who said That?
Me… Ah jist did~
He is a Menace.. a Loose Cannon…
Again..Ah know, well…
Not a Popular Appellation.. But.. an .. Accurate Wan.
Broonie, is not the Guy that ye wish is oan yer team
When..
Ye hiv a Stuffy Opponent..
In th C.L. His Presence kin be a Worry.
He never performs well agin Top European Opposition.. eethur..
Yes.. Broonie, is Not the Man fur us.. if we hiv any European Ambitions.
fur..
Who knows when he wull “Go Rambo”???
Ah Dinnae.. Dae YOU?
Usually.. n.. Especially.. In Europe..
the old Canard..
“Lose a Man.. Lose the Game”…is..a well respected One.
as well it should.
Yesterday.. the Exception. Proved the Rule.
Howevahhhhhhhhhh…….
We hiv the chance tae Ditch this Guy.. coming up, soon.
n.. We Should Take it.
There hiv bin Rumbles, coming frum England..that Broonie is a Wanted Man..
n..there hiv bin Mention of a FIVE MILLION FEE..for his Services( Ye jest!..ed)
Na! Ah Dinnae!
Grab it, Celtic.. Take the Fee n… Laugh all the way tae the Bank~
Kojo
Still,Laughin’
Keeping in mind that two decent games and kojo swears he was a life long devotee of broone
Lawells…
Yeah…imagine going to war against that nice man Herr Hitler.
Lifted from my Facebook Page.
Tweet to Nigel Farage
“You have been described as a Cult. What are your plans for adult illiteracy?.
Justafan,
Remind us all exactly when did brining the armistice day silence to sporting events begin ?
So we can all appreciates exactly how old this tradition has been traditional.
We can cancel one game per season. Make it this weekend. Donate the £10k to Poppyscotland as they have done in recent years and the club line can be as a mark of respect Celtic will not play this weekend.
Sick of this garbage every year.
LB
LiviBhoy
15:17 on 10 November, 2014
We can cancel one game per season. Make it this weekend. Donate the £10k to Poppyscotland as they have done in recent years and the club line can be as a mark of respect Celtic will not play this weekend.
Sick of this garbage every year.
LB
——————————————
It’s sad that this seems like a good idea…
Not a bad suggestion LiviBhoy but unfortunately it won’t catch on. Agreed I too am sick of this annual garbage.
p.s. Its plainly & painfully obvious that lawellsacountant is a troll, why anyone responds to any of his posts is beyond me.
mullet and co 2
13:50 on
10 November, 2014
Point of order on your point that Celtic only need a point Paul67.
If Zagreb win their next two games and Celtic get only a point v Salzburg we would need to avoid defeat by more than 1 goal in Zagreb.
Celtic Park needs the big crowd on the 27th. The match should be a well out.
————-
Technically, we only need a point. However that point needs to be against Zagreb.
Livibhoy…..take it a step further,cancel all sporting events that weekend,show proper respect…..just wonder how many would get outta their beds to go to a memorial service?
Correct SuperSutton, alternatively we may not need any more points. If Zagreb fail to win in Romania, we can afford to lose our last 2 games.
BGX
You better speak to the wee fat ginger pieman first.
Paul67,
It would seem your blog,and the views of the majority of posters is at odds with that supreme soup taker Andy Walker!,having just caught his summation on Sky of yesterdays game and result,it seems the massive uplift in Celtic`s fortune is down to drawing Sevco in a cup game 3 months down the line. Who am I to believe?:)).
HH
corkcelt
14:43 on
10 November, 2014
Again,it was one load of greetin faced,morose,whingeing,crap.Feel free to disagree,just as I have done with that load of manure that Tiny Tim wrote.By the way I like Tiny Tims posts normally.Not this one though.Nae offence.
I really think we can do Salzburg .Have watched 3-4 of their games on Austrian Sky,and they have two key players.The wee striker,and the blond midfielder.They have been made to look very ordinary by some lowly Austrian teams,not least the weekend when humped 4-1.They have many weaknesses in defence.
Not a team to be getting the jitters over.Easily doable at Celtic Park.
Neil…
Ah that’s a different question.
Its funny how folk who fought in the wars, my gfather in the great war, my father WW2, didn’t feel that such a type of dedication was appropriate. Indeed much as the British Legion get an excellent press and no doubt they do good things, the former servicemen in my family and wider circle thought they were silly for going round wearing their medals (another issue) and their berets living in the past. In fact they thought it in some ways disrespectful!
I can’t recall when it was all upgraded, I’d say when we started getting involved in modern wars,Falklands, Afghanistan, Iraq etc and body bags started arriving. I think a campaign started to have the 11/11 rememberence as a general minutes silence. That is more than at local war memorials but at shopping centres etc. Frankly if they’d left it at that, no problem.
It seems to have mushroomed since then. Its a great pity as all that has happened is a politicisation of a simple and profound quiet moment. I suppose the increased militarisation of our civic life (including policing) has had direct consequences.
So I think I appreciate the dilemma and contradictions and I am far from happy at what has developed. Personally I USUALLY buy a poppy but its not something I obsess about.
I suppose people honour the ‘day’ in the way intended being either unaware of or choosing to ignore the recent add-ons.
Personally I hate the modern sentimentality of these things where everyone is supposed to join in with a national or international commemoration. I wonder how few minutes silences I was at in CP in the first 35 years of my support and how many in the past 15. The Pope? Lady Diana? Even Dunblane? I mean really!
That a home club honours a deceased player is fine (and I’d be appalled if it were disrupted). Let’s face it a football ground is just that.
Neil, bet you wished you’d never asked…I was at a loose end lol.
Justafan
I seem to remember that we had to endure 3 separate minutes silence for Jim Baxter, the way the fixtures fell.
I remained respectfully silent.
Turkeybhoy,
I agree we shouldn’t be feart of them buy they are a good side and Altach aren’t exactly lowly.
Celtic during the summer believed they’d pulled off something of a coup when they secured John Guidetti until the end of the season on loan from his parent club Manchester City. There had been plenty of interest from elsewhere and clubs in the Eredivisie were looking into the prospect of taking Guidetti to The Netherlands.
The most interested of those, explains Dutch outlet SoccerNews, was Feyenoord. Guidetti had played for Feyenoord previously in the 2011/12 season. Again on loan from Manchester City, Guidetti found the back of the net regularly for the Rotterdam club but was struck down by illness and that wiped out the forward’s next season.
Feyenoord wanted him back and would have retained an interest to sign the player permanently but they couldn’t get as close to his salary as Celtic did. SoccerNews says that Guidetti is paid four times the average salary at the Rotterdam club and this time around Manchester City, struggling to stay on the right side of FFP, weren’t prepared to subsidise the player’s wages as much as they had done before.
It’s good news for Celtic for the summer too. Regardless of Guidetti saying that money isn’t so important for him, it obviously is and Celtic have an advantage over Dutch clubs in that regard. Of course Guidetti could get more money in England but also uncertainty over whether he could excel there, Celtic offers the balance of both.
Good news .What TET and myself have been spouting for a long time.Compared to many parts of Europe,Celtic pay more moneyThere are midfielders,playmaker ones that would come to us in a minute,if only that Park had the savvy to spot one.He is as good in this department as he is with strikers.
Sammy Wilson died at the week-end. Some of the younger guys on here may never have heard of him. He scored the opening goal in one of our greatest victories – 7-1 in a League Cup Final against another Glasgow team – from a great cross by Neilly Mochan, a headed knock down by Billy McPhail and a first-time volley by Sammy. He was a much under-rated player. May he rest in peace!
BGX
What the rest of the UK does is irrelvant to me. I only care about Celtic. We could take the week to recharge our batteries after a punishing schedule. I’m not sure the game being cancelled at the start of the season actually does us much good. We all know Europe is the priority at that time but even a team of Youths or squad players should be more than able to compete with whoever we face in the first game or 2nd match of the season. If we drop a couple of points does it matter in the grand scheme of things? Not really. This weekend becomes a side show every year and is very tiresome. It is an excuse for all the haters of Celtic to stoke the flames. I would rather the club took the moral high ground to a different level by postponing the fixture.
I think it is sad it is come to this but I don;t want Celtic to ever look bad and I’m afraid that even if one eejit shouts out we are all tarred by the same brush by some. I said I wouldn;t comment on the minutes silence in an earlier post but maybe we should use this weekend to cancel our match and let the rest of them get on with it.
Is it sad that we have to? Yes. Would it make things easier for the club? Maybe. I don;t know about anyone else but poppy facism has gone through the roof the last few years and it doesn;t seem to be letting up anytime soon. If it was that important to me I wouldn;t be at any sporting event on the day I would be outraged if my team had to play on that day. Sadly that is not the way and people seem to revel in playing on a sombre day. I don;t get their reasons for that and will never understand it. I would have expected they would wnat to attend a memorial service and then have some quite reflection time not shout their heid aff at a football match.
Maybe it’s something that could be mooted to the Celtic board at some point through these meetings that take place and if the majority of fans want our game to be postponed that weekend we should go ahead with it. We have one game each season and I would be all for giving this weekend a miss each year.
LB