Ronny’s luxury denied to his predecessors

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I remember writing with anticipation 10 years ago as many of Martin O’Neill’s benchwarmers came to the end of their contracts.  Martin was not a squad rotator, so those not entrusted with his confidence found themselves on the bench or in the stand on match day, there was little scope to play your way back into the squad, and the wages spent unproductively inhibited our chances of bringing in fresh talent.

Ronny Deila spoke to the media on Friday about the same issue, moving on those who are already well out of the picture, as well as some who played their part last season but who are unlikely to see much in the way of game time in the season ahead.

There’s going to be a bit of churn in the squad, we’re still likely to add three or four players, but it’s been 20 years since a Celtic manager’s talked about creating space in the squad for youth players to fill.  This isn’t a criticism of the managers we’ve had since then, more a reflection of the pressure they worked under.

Tommy Burns had to drive us from mid-table mediocrity to genuine contenders.  Wim, Dr Jo and John Barnes weren’t here long enough to concern themselves about development, which Martin made it clear from day one that his interest extended only as far as the first team squad.

I doubt any Celtic manager worked under the intensity Gordon Strachan experienced during his four years.  Every point dropped delivered a greater trauma than at any time I can remember.  Neil Lennon managed through the transition, from competing head-to-head with three-in-a-row winners Rangers, to getting used to life as the last surviving superpower.

This is Ronny’s luxury.  It doesn’t matter if we win the league by a record tally, or match the defensive records created in each of the last two seasons.  Better to lose more games while giving a chance to young talent, than ask hoary pros to grind through the same gears one more time.

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  1. South Of Tunis on

    Proper , real thing scorchio – way down south.Sky a pale and shimmering metallic blue.

     

     

    Good 15 minute thing on Italian tele re Sporting’s William Carvahlo.Fabulous – all the hype looks to be merited.

  2. Gerryfaethebrig on

    ***** Oldtim ******

     

     

    Celtic Fixtures now saying Starjan game is Wednesday 15th at 19.45pm not sure when this was changed as previously had stated it was the 14th

  3. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    PARKHEADCUMSALFORD

     

     

    Foot ball talk,is it? You missed it.

     

     

    paisley bhoy

     

     

    00:24 on 29 June, 2015

     

    Current league situation.

     

     

    PD GD PTS

     

    1 Aberdeen 0 0 0

     

    2 Celtic 0 0 0

     

    3 Dundee 0 0 0

     

    4 Dundee Utd 0 0 0

     

    5 Hamilton 0 0 0

     

    6 Hearts 0 0 0

     

    7 Inverness CT 0 0 0

     

    8 Kilmarnock 0 0 0

     

    9 Motherwell 0 0 0

     

    10 Partick Thistle 0 0 0

     

    11 Ross County 0 0 0

     

    12 St Johnstone 0 0 0

     

     

    Pathetic. Lawwell has to go.

  4. dull and heavy……………..

     

     

    ……..(and so’s the weather!)

     

     

     

    ;)

  5. Read a few posts yesterday mentioning Boca 10 t-shirts,Today I will be mostly wearing the

     

    lovely LEOES DE LISBOA shirt in the algarve sunshine.HH

  6. Jungle Jim Hot Smoked on

    ” Lawwell has to go.”

     

     

    That is a bit harsh. Look at our defensive record…..and what must St J fans be feeling?

     

     

    JJ

  7. travellerbhoy…

     

     

    You sure know how to put your heart into words and it’s with my eyes wide open when I read your posts.

     

     

    Personally, I’ve never had the misfortune to experience the horrors that you haveand my heart goes out to.

     

     

    The bigotry!

     

     

    Yep, dealt with it every day since I left school over thirty years ago. A nieve 16 year old and not a clue about how much I was hated by young and old in a factory full of bigots just because I was a Catholic.

     

     

    Btw, it still goes on and no one will tell me different.

     

     

    Hope you’re well TB. Are you making the meet up in Dublin in March?

  8. Burgas Hoops on

    Jeep in ‘Limp Mode’ this morning …………………oh the joys !!!!!!

     

     

    Dash lighting up like a crimbo tree.

     

     

    Fingers crossed it’s only low transmission fluid.

  9. The Green Man on

    C,mon the hoops

     

    I cant stand this football lull.

     

    Tried to watch some of the Womens World Cup….but I must say, those English Women commentators are just as insufferable as their male counterparts.

     

    Apparently….the England CF is a “mini-messi”…..Seriously.

     

    Half of them cant kick the ball straight…..but believe they are world class.

     

    I might be an old grump….but give me a break, it was like watching sevco:)

     

     

     

    HH

  10. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    JUNGLE JIM HS

     

     

    Aye,Jason not missed as much as we feared(!)

  11. saltires en sevilla on

    Skyislandfill

     

     

    Liked you tribute to Chris Squire last night. The Yes version of America was an inspired choice – had forgotten the impact of Squire’s bass on the song.

     

     

    That lovely Rickenbacker sound and his vocal backing to Jon Anderson helped launch Rush on their path and the distinctive Geddy Lee bass sound was kinda borrowed from Chris Squire. Not that he woul mind.

     

     

    Older CQN dudes (everyone here…right?!) will recall sitting down to crispy pancakes, crinkle cut chips, frozen peas and broon sauce and listening to the news opening to this toon…was it with John Toye???

     

     

    https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Vd4jeeu90Rk

  12. squire danaher on

    proudbhoy

     

     

    08:28 on 29 June, 2015

     

     

    A heartfelt and powerful comment.

     

     

    The issue is however what exactly any of its content has, or should have, to Celtic Football Club.

  13. The Green Man on

    BMCUWP

     

     

    Get a listen to those commentators….one ex player/commentator, the posh scouse one.

     

    Has got to be the worst ive ever heard….in fact I now believe that these women invented football…..men had nothing to do with it.

     

    As for the Womens England team…..they are in a Shakespearean fantasy of their own making….I expect them all to be dressed like Elizabeth I before the game.

     

    Talk about warped nationalism.

     

    They have truly lost the plot.

     

    Im hoping they get beat….because if they win, we will never hear the end of it.

     

    The team of course….will be knighted.

     

     

     

    HH

  14. South Of Tunis on

    Off oot to a beach. A day for avoiding media hysteria”.Financial experts “queuing up on Italian tele to pontificate things like.-

     

     

    ” Greece could turn out to be modern Europe’ s Sarajevo “

  15. The Green Man on

    sipsini

     

     

    I refuse to watch anymore….the only thing bouncing, is the ball:)

     

     

     

    HH

  16. skyisalandfill on

    Saltires en Sevilla

     

     

    Totally agree.

     

     

    Thanks for posting YIND.

     

     

    Wonderful performance.

     

     

    It’s easy to sneer at the dress sense and lyrical sensibilities of some of the Prog from the seventies and to see it all as pompous nonsense.

     

     

    Musicianship par excellence for me trumps all that snobbery though

     

     

    HH

  17. Deila seems the smartest manager since Venglos. He wants to restructure the team and make it lean, fast and nimble. We will not sign players over the age of about 25 and our scouting system is first class. I’m sure they will have watched every game of the under 20 World Cup and spotted some great talent.

  18. Football Talk

     

     

    Worst away ground?

     

     

    I liked going to Tynecastle apart from the bus parking somewhere near Harthill but I’ll plump for Killie…

  19. Morning Timland from a very hot hun free mountain valley.

     

     

    Reading back………Deare Me.

     

     

    …………………………………..

     

     

    fisiani

     

     

    Our scouting system is first class…..Another Dearie Me :-)

     

     

    HH

  20. The Green Man on

    yorkbhoy

     

     

    Falkirk, Hamilton……like going back in time 50 years, in 90 minutes.

     

    Almost croaked it in a crazy freak storm at Hamilton….took me 3 days to dry out.

     

     

     

    HH

  21. South Of Tunis on

    ” I don’ t watch lower league football – it isnt good enough to interest me.I feel the same about Womens football.”

     

     

    Andrea Pirlo.

  22. saltires en sevilla on

    Skyislandfill

     

     

    That musak was my entry into so many other forms and genre.

     

     

    Lots of fun and, as you say, wonderful musicians.

     

     

    Andyou&ICSC

  23. Scrolled back and saw Clogher extend an invite to macjay for Dublin 1916, that’s me ooot then.

  24. Burgas Hoops

     

    09:21 on

     

    29 June, 2015

     

    Jeep in ‘Limp Mode’ this morning …………………oh the joys !!!!!!

     

     

    Dash lighting up like a crimbo tree.

     

     

    Fingers crossed it’s only low transmission fluid.

     

     

    What have you got?.I have a restored 1977 ,4 Litre,Jeep.Had the same problems before.

     

    Its LPG converted.Transmission fluid,problems with the LPG pump/lines,will light it up.

     

    I have a great mechanic,who slabbers over it every time he gets to fix it.Never any great problems.Metallic red,with red/cream leather.Fekin posing machine.

     

    No chance to run something like it back in the UK.Luv it.

  25. South Of Tunis on

    squire danaher

     

     

    Snap – indeed !

     

     

    Maybe they have an agenda..Inter supporting old codger from down the valley told me he no longer had to watch guff like NCIS for that reasons to be scared thing – just watch the news.

  26. saltires en sevilla on

    Yorkbhoy

     

     

    Liked going to Easter Road

     

     

    Despite long walk and that wee bridge and getting ambushed by guys with green&white scarves

     

     

    Many happy wins and heading out to songs echoing along the tenement walls..

  27. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    BURGAS HOOPS

     

     

    Check the water levels in your cooling system too. That’s what causes it in Fords sometimes.

  28. Had a wee look at Hun Media this morning to see their reaction to their “Signings”and “Targets”.Good God.They are putting on some brave coupons there.Most giving it “Cant wait for the season to start to see these new guys play”.An 9 times loanee,and a CH so far,a non league kid,and a kid on loan from Spurs being mooted.Now a guy released from Bradford,is being hailed because he is related to Mark Walters.

     

    Same team,aye right.

     

    This will not end well.

  29. BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS

     

    10:09 on

     

    29 June, 2015

     

    BURGAS HOOPS

     

     

    Check the water levels in your cooling system too. That’s what causes it in Fords sometimes

     

     

     

    Forgot the most frequent problem.Bang on.

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