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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I could do with winning the treble every other year :)
One year for the first team one year for the youth, if the youth do well then they keep their place in first team for league cup competition.
Lest we not forget, if not already covered.
Neil Frances Lennon and his family dealt with what can only described as a campaign of terror during his stewardship.
It’s pointless going into the details as we are all aware of the events at the time.
What strikes me even now is the scum who were responsible for this diatribe of hated were aided and abetted by the gutter SMSM, with even certain corduroy troosered folk declaring “Well, he does bring a certain amount of it on himself”.
Now that’s pressure.
TCR
Their very existence is red hand, shake yer hand and underhand.
Fekkum.
P
Agreed, I know the league Cup is part of a Treble, I think the top 6 in the SPfL should be playing youth and 1st team squad players in this competition is now
Winners do not get Europe, so time to give exposure to these players
Personally a treble no longer matters to me
Would rather a Double, League and Scottish Cup, with a decent run in Europe, preferably Champions league group, and worst case dropping into Europa Cup for finishing 3rd in this, last 16 in European Cup would be a bonus ? Last 8 a dream
Point I find European competition more important than League Cup, so gear our teams around this ?
Hail Hail
San Diego bhoy,
Bigger issue IMO was the police keeping it all hush hush and the board allowing that to happen. Scotland buried it in silence to protect its rampant sectarian racism.
the exiled tim
17:54 on 28 June, 2015
Scottish football was a real hotbed of talent till souness arrived, he virtually killed scottish football overnight.
HH
—————————
Hit the nail on the head there.
A topic you won’t find discussed in the media’s talk shows.
canamalar
18:29 on 28 June, 2015
Aye, the entire affair was, let’s shall we say…”mishandled”.
Being an Ayrshire Tim myself, it wouldn’t be wise to discuss on public forum my inner feelings over the issue.
san diego bhoy
18:26 on 28 June, 2015
Selfishly I wanted Neil to stay with us forever, obviously unrealistic, but when I see him on match of the day or itv4 he looks so relaxed, a lot of people forget Neil took a drop in wages to follow Martin to Celtic park, Neil is a Celtic legend and a lot of people “scroll” by the fact he was a brilliant holding midfielder and actually could kick a ball
As far as I am concerned Neil Lennon too me is like Tommy Burns & Paul McStay, funnily enough my 3 favourite Celts (that I witnessed donning the hoops) Henrik & Lubo were joint 4th with big Sutton holding onto their coat tails
San Diego bhoy
Written after a 3-3 draw with Killie, When a few of us were losing their minds
Teuchter ár lá
00:34 on
16 October, 2011
When the board eventually hangs our manager out to dry, they will have achieved what no-one else in our great wee country has been able to do.
It will be a great day for a bigoted society to see the last of Neil Lennon…….our Neil Lennon.
TAL…PontiousPilateCSC
================================
NEIL LENNON……..CELTIC LEGEND.
TRICOLOUREDRIBBON
Not to mention the likes of Francis,Wilkins,Hateley arriving from high-wage countries.
The giveaway being Hateley. He signed from Monaco. Tax-free. I assume he was given good financial advice at the time.
teuchter ár lá
18:38 on 28 June, 2015
Brilliant
teuchter ár lá
18:26 on 28 June, 2015
TCR
Their very existence is red hand, shake yer hand and underhand.
Fekkum.
…..
And with that dear comrade I am away tae the pub!
boaby,
Under the table.The lot of them.
Away now.Valuable swally time wasted!
TCR Have wan for me
Chris Squire R.I.P
Irishman’s reaction at the news of oldco’ liquidation…….
http://bit.ly/1Lw5r1W
Awe naw…sad news.
Ach! I’m a’wa oot for a beer TOCSC – I’ve got 5 hours more than TCR :-)
markiebhoy
15:52 on 28 June, 2015
Youth development is fine but our priorities are always 1. Win the league. 2. Qualify for the champions League group stages. Get there how you can, you will always be judged on these 2 things. I was very critical of Deila at the start of last season, He has had pre-season cut down as requested and now needs to push on in the CL. we could get unlucky but we must get to the final play off round, preferably without tankings on route.
——–
Disagree with your priorities. Here’s mine:
1. Play good football
2. Win games
3. Win League
4. Win domestic cup or cups
5. Bring through youth , one or two at a time to minimise disruption, maximise their chance and still attain the previous goals
6. Europe. Any kind of good showing. CL or EL. I don’t mind. This is a Brucie bonus as far as I’m concerned.
Billy bhoy…
Enjoy the concert. Not my cup of tea mate. HH
Amazing the number of players we have brought in the last few years who were never going to be anything more than squad fillers. How many could this apply to that we knew, before they kicked a ball, not only were they no better than we already had but a good deal worse.
“Good back up” we claim.
“Use him in the cups”
“He’ll put pressure on so and so”.
Then the magic formula is applied.
3 years ,1 and half appearances, 36 monthly wage packets (plus a nice signing on fee) and ZERO contribution later and what do we say about these no- hopers?
“We’ve got him off the wage bill”
“That”ll free up funds for….the next crop of no-hopers!
On Butcher et al two things need to be remembered-
1. English teams were barred from Europe as a result of Heysel and it was nowhere near as common then for them to go abroad so coming to Scotland allowed them to play in Europe.
2. IIRC it was , and may still be , common for clubs to pay their players an agreed weekly sum, net of tax. Accordingly the tax arrangements would not really have been a big consideration for the players per se. They would , in all likelihood , just have been paid an agreed amount (obviously far more than would have been the case had EBT’s and the like not been prevalent) and told to sign the EBT documents as part of a contract. Not saying that’s an excuse , given they would all have had advisors, but what Rangers did in those days is not radically different , I believe , from most of the top English clubs. I had understood it was those clubs, particularly Liverpool and Arsenal that HMRC are/ were really after and that’s why they won’t give up on pursuing Rangers (In Liquidation ).
Open to correction on point 2 , btw if anyone knows differently.
Huns liquidated ?
https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=8WgXPBDrd8s
Hello – is it me you’re looking for?
td67
until the holders of power needed the tale re-jigged and appointed Annianus sp Regan
Just read a whole lot of manure about Henrik on a site called the Daisy Cutter.
The guy who wrote it looks like he wants that clown Aidrian Durham’s gig on Talkmince,
It says Henrik was overrated and was over hyped.
Don’t give the guy any satisfaction by clicking on the link in newsnow Celtic.
TONY WATTS CAREER WENT PEAR SHAPED because of Deila ,the talk of bringing on youth is just rubbish , most scottish players are rubbish,the only reason the norweigian nobody is manager because Lawwell wanted the cheapest option and did not want to spend money on proper players
Great night, last night at the AICSC dinner in Dublin.
All the players that attended were a credit to the club.
Jay Beattie, stole the show.
RD spoke really well. A friend of mine asked him, “Are you ready for the season?”
He replied “You better believe it.”
Thanks to Almore for the invite and organising the FAC petition. Plenty signed, queuing up at times.
Great night, thanks to the organisers.
Clogher
oneofthe70percent
19:49 on
28 June, 2015
TONY WATTS CAREER WENT PEAR SHAPED because of Deila
do you actually watch Celtic???
oneofthe70percent
On your last post, crystal meth taken at any point? I’m serious?
Evening all
In an attempt to escape Lionel I log into this esteemed blog and read the stupidest post I have ever read on it. At 19.49 and not by Dallas!Dallas!
Back to Richtea
Jimbo67
im no pancake maker….
but i know a tosser when i see one…
dallas dallas where the heck is dallas
19:49 on 28 June, 2015
Henrik left us then played with Man Utd & Barcelona, any eijit that tries to ridicule Henrik is a clown, but as you say we know how good he was
clogher celt
19:51
Sounds like a great night, wee Jay is a credit to his family
Jimbo67, you had me worried there lol.
My sense of timing when I post was wrong again.
Dallas !Dallas!
Sorry to cause some brief alarm there. Lionel dunnit!
Jimbo67
As well as the financial doping instigated by Murray and Souness – the Bosman ruling caused a hell of a lot of problems for youth development in Scotland.
Was is Steve Archibald who fielded an entire Airdrie side full of fourth rate Spaniards?
Things look like they could be improving – fingers crossed.
Gerry,
Great to concentrate on the positive.
He led the Ronnie Roar, Jay had the whole place on their feet.
Ronnie did it twice as well.
Great night!
jimbo67
Hello was it a Lionel Ritchtea you were looking for ?