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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521 Comments

  1. Ah, a can of Stella opened at 9:50pm on a Sunday!

     

     

    Been run ragged all afternoon/night by my 3 year old nephew. Now sleeping soundly :-)

     

     

    Honestly, how do they get the energy? I think Ronny needs to forget Lennoxtown and study 3 year olds!! :-))

     

     

    Slainte

  2. Gerryfaethebrig on

    squire danaher

     

     

    21:55 on 28 June, 2015

     

     

    Hail Hail

     

     

    (Like any bad gambler I only remember the winning lines)

  3. tinytim

     

     

    Last time I agreed with someone on here, was accused of siding with a troll, had nae idea what a troll was or what they looked like, never mind.

     

    Just googled Jamie T , have to say I have heard some of his stuff on the radio and he is pretty good, especially the Rabbit Hole number.

     

    As for where we are heading as a club….I take comfort in the fact we will always be Celtic. No matter where we play, who we play or what form our team takes you cannot give up on them, unconditional love and support is exactly that, unconditional .

     

    Would live to see us in CL every season, in my opinion it will never happen again, makes me sad but not bitter.

     

    Circles of concern, circles of influence….always a good starting point.

  4. Dallas Dallas where the heck is Dallas on

    Cloghercelt at 21.42, you’re welcome.

     

     

    I’m sure those going to Dublin next year, I’m not going unfortunately, will appreciate all the work yourself, Almore and others are putting in, getting things arranged.

  5. Delaneys Dunky on

    AR

     

     

    Was great to realise that I knew who your dad was through your posts. Your dad is a legend in Clydebank. :)

  6. Tinytim @21.47hrs.

     

     

    I have a similar viewpoint, however while we remain in Scottish football we must be initiative in how we maximise our potential in getting people into Parkhead.

     

    That should be our main focus and ways and means of watching our home games away from Celtic park should be soooooooooo much a secondary consideration.

     

     

    HH.

  7. skyisalandfill on

    Just hear that Chris Squire, bass player with YES has died of a Rae type of lukeimia.

     

     

    For me, sad sad news.

     

     

    Not everyone’s cuppa tho.

     

     

    Here is an early YES cover of a well known song

     

     

    http://youtu.be/QYRM3BN6Mkg

     

     

    HH

  8. Lighting flares at Glastonbury tut tut get House down there.

     

     

    Gawd I love Sheila

  9. Auldheid

     

     

    15:24 on 28 June, 2015

     

     

    Petec

     

     

    I speak from my experience and base my opinion on it.

     

     

    Everyone does, but it is in sharing that experience we can enlighten each other.

     

     

    I spoke of the good I observed coming from the ladies game in terms of the personal development and the many friendships my daughter made.

     

     

    One of the girls, who might still play for Rangers Ladies now, came from Bridgeton and I sometimes gave her and her dad a lift. Lovely folk whom I would never have met but for the ladies game.

     

     

    Stereo type barriers broken on both sides. A good thing surely?

     

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

     

     

    Apologies for not replying earlier as I was, off oot.

     

     

    Anyway, I’m talking strictly about the football, I just don’t have any interest in watching the Ladies kicking a ball. IMO, they won’t ever be worth watching but there is goodness in it as you say but that is external from the actual football on display, the very best of luck to all the Ladies that participate in the Beautiful game btw. ;))

  10. ClogherCelt: do I feel sorry for Meath? Not at all. Like the other thirty counties in Ireland, they are our arch rivals:-)

  11. Last time I saw Meath was in the Leinster Final against Louth…where the Meath fella threw the ball into the net.

     

     

    That said, bet it is quiet in Navan tonight.

  12. delaneys dunky

     

     

    Ah well, was looking forward to it as well. Glasgow for tapas tomorrow and Lancashire for seafood on Tuesday will have to be enough..

  13. clogher celt: Meath were a successful team in Leinster for quite a while and gave Dublin many problems. Unfortunately, the gulf in class between Dublin and the other Leinster teams is massive. Having said that, well done Westmeath and hopefully the final will be a good contest. I usually support the underdog but I’ll be a true blue in a fortnight.

  14. Delaneys Dunky on

    JMcCormick

     

     

    Enjoy. I will be eating tapas in Barcelona in a fortnight. Canny wait! :)))

  15. Delaneys Dunky

     

     

    22:20 on 28 June, 2015

     

     

    The Huddle

     

     

    ZOMBIE!

     

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

     

     

    You wanting this little ditty….. ZombiE ;))

  16. Delaneys Dunky on

    Almore

     

     

    Looking forward to spending more time in your company this season.

     

    Hail HaiL

  17. Just popped in to say…….

     

     

    I know my monicker is Weefra, and some on here have come across my presence and know my vertical challenge. To my horror, I was informed by my elders that for the first two years of my life I was on a charm bracelet. :-((( Byeeeeeee

     

     

    Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.

  18. Delaneys Dunky: Likewise. Ten matches is the target this season.

     

     

    Just watching David Attenburgh on BBC1 now. Love his programmes.

  19. skyisalandfill on

    Ach well. No other prog dinosaur nuts oot there. Cest la vie

     

     

    Just got round to reading the article too.

     

     

    I presume Paul means Tony Stokes.and maybe Adam Mathews. Certainly Boriggtuer (sp) , Balde, Wakasso if we own him.

     

     

    Took my dog, Holly to Findhorn this afternoon for a walk. Seriously beatiful village, bay and beach. Couldn’t resist going for. A pint at the Kimberley, overlooking the bay and went inside as the rain had just started.

     

    I got speaking to couple and noting the woman’s strong Yorkshire accent asked if they were on holiday to which she replied” no we’ve been working up here and only have. A week left so we’re going back to all our favourite places for the last time. Turnes out she’s been working on a documenttary about a year at Gordonston. gonna be on SKY1 apparently.

     

    I’m sure I recognised here. Can’t unforunately put a name to her.

     

    Never mind.

     

     

    I told her that I didn’t do sky and she said that she didn’t either.

  20. Clashcitybhoy on

    Dallas,

     

    Hope you are well,

     

     

    As far back as I care to remember, our youth teams have consistently won youth cups / youth leagues, yet the number of youngsters getting regular playing time is less now than it was 10 years ago, and much less than 20 years ago.

     

     

    Maybe we should focus less on the team and more on individual players.

     

    If we were to never win the a youth league or cup ever again, but produce a good quality SPFL player every year, and a CL standard player every 2/3 years that would be progress.

     

    My hope is that in 5/6 seasons hence, the make up of our team would be something like

     

    5/6 SPFL standard homegrown players

     

    2 bought in SPFL standard players

     

    2 homegrown CL standard players

     

    2 bought in CL standard players

     

     

    The topic was raised at this year’s AGM, and comments from PL and IB suggest they recognise our youth development system isnt working.