Aberdeen are on the kind of downward spiral which is difficult to arrest, but there’s more going on that we know about publicly. I would be amazed if their recent run, four defeats and a draw in five games, after winning their opening eight league games, was all to do with matters on the park.
They are a team who look to be in schism. If so, Celtic Park is the perfect venue to pull together. You raise your game at Celtic Park in a way which isn’t likely in Dingwall. Whatever differences that exist will be set aside, we’ll need to be on our game to win.
Craig Whyte’s bankrupt, unable to pay Ticketus the £18m damages they won against him. Craig’s financial strength was plain for all to see, as he made regular trips north on Easyjet in his worn-out attire, owning up to the fact he couldn’t fund the bank repayment, until a clever knight put him onto Ticketus.
Charles Green was equally transparent. Relying on shares-for-backing deals with pliable ‘legends’. Now we have Dave King, overwhelmingly dependent on PR and a compliant media, while the rest of the world is sticking dates in the calendar. The most common question I’m asked these days is “When’s it going to happen?” It’s no longer a matter of “if” it’s going to happen.
The re-writing of history, evident today, will be rolled out again in due course. “We told you about him”, they will scream. Aye, sure you did. You also made it all possible, just as you did with Green, Whyte and Murray.
The trade in favours, exclusive stories, substances and team-handed loose-limbed 60 minute acquaintances, deployed to sustain the project and corral the message over the years is legend. Truly legend. Fraternity on this level takes more than money, a business lunch or a game of golf. If that’s how you think the game is played, these guys will leave you standing. Shed tears for none of them.
The books which will be written when the guilty are dead will sell millions.
Ghirls for Good
Ladies, sign up for this year’s Celtic Foundation Ghirls for Good Christmas lunch. I’m told it’s a riot and one of the best days of the year at Celtic Park…… More here.
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Awe_Naw
At least he’s moved on from IE
up_over_goal
Charlie Mulgrew hasn’t kicked a ball for months, how can he be a key player against Aberdeen.
Your view of the game is special I’ll give you that..
SuperSutton
In the Hearts game, it looked like Simunovic couldn’t make a decent pass all game. Tough stuff – he’s made of it, but didn’t come out on top during a good few challenges.
Think a bit too much has been made of the way we played against Hearts, due to the exceptional goals. Leave them out, and we were pretty poor for long patches. I thought we’d scrape a narrow win, and that’s how it turned out, but the goals put a gloss on it.
Not worried about the result tomorrow so much as the performance ahead of Molde.
And the thought of Brown being out …. *shudder*
starry plough
Why, thank you! Always nice to get good feedback.
Mulgrew would be key if he was fit, as he has consistently played well v the Dons at Celtic Park. Check back and you’ll find that’s the case.
up_over
I agree, Scott Brown’s injury means Stefan might play deeper as he did on Wednesday, and also took Bitton’s role against Utd. * I’ve noticed you don’t like him anywhere *
Jozo Simunovic was immaculate in both games.
I’m surprised you appear to have failed to grasp, the single ‘out and out’ single striker role.
My biggest concern with Sumonovic on Wednesday at Tynecastle was how often he was beaten in aerial challenges.
He needs to learn that if you’re in opposition to Celtic you’ll be afforded special privileges from the referee.
Fair play to Ronny. The same things are no doubt being said in the dressing room. Thought he would have waited till we smash Aberdeen out of the park tomorrow then given it to them but good effort anyway.
Slight concern to lose Brown tomorrow. Would imagine it will be pretty much the same team tomorrow as Wednesday. Maybe Rogic coming in for Forrest. Think Izzy will just get the nod over Tierney. Would imagine it’s an area Aberdeen will look to target as Hayes has caused us problems in the past. Also a wee bit worried about Jozo as he missed a few headers the other night. He’ll need to be on his gave tomorrow and not let Rooney boss him around.
sex awe naw? I’m going to wrong church
The radio and papers could be interesting when commenting on Ronny Deila’s press conference with the SMSM this afternoon.
Deila answered their questions very directly and in a measured manner in my view but he did not miss them and all their negativity.
I would bet 1/10 his comments will be labelled a rant when it clearly wasn’t, and that he’s deflecting his own failings. He wasn’t. He was very, very clear that all at Celtic had to continually improve, himself included and skewered those outside the club for their negative comments ( wonder if he was thinking of McLeish’s widely quoted comments that a treble without a European success was not good enough to keep him in post.)
He compared the Ajax selling model to Celtic’s, Fenerbahce’s buying model to Celtic’s and commented on lack of media negativity on other clubs and indeed on our national team. He also said the club would not spend money they did not have.
All in all a pretty impressive and measured response to the loaded questions he was asked.
this was one of the most thoughtful and reflective conferences I’ve seen from a Celtic manager.
However I can just imagine the knives being sharpened even as I write this. Our press certainly don’t enjoy being shredded.
Well done, Ronny. Now, how about a few wins in the remainder of the Europa campaign. Good on you, Ronny. Keep it up and keep telling it as it is. They’ll be hating you now for taking them to task.
I Feel much the same about Ronny today, after his press conference, as I did after his motivational lecture earlier this year.
Delighted, absolutely delighted.
We have a strong, intelligent, emotionally resilient man in charge of our team.
Not a neanderthal, knee jerk reactionary throughback to the 70’s.
He is a modern day, realistic, pragmatic strategist. ( The players he is working with and the economic environment the club has to operate in complicate matters greatly). However,
I cannot think of many football managers who are as capable as ours is, in so many ways, certainly none that can articulate as well as he.
We are fortunate to have him, but deservedly so.
EC67
bournesouprecipe
Guilty as charged re. Johansen, but one tries to be fair, and, to be fair, he was as good as anybody on Thursday bar Boyata, who had to cover for the hapless Jozo, who was anything but immaculate – luckily, the Hearts players weren’t composed enough to take advantage.
I’m surprised you appear to have failed to grasp, the single ‘out and out’ single striker role.
Maybe you’re right, bourne. It is true I like players to contribute more than goals. That Griffiths can’t manage that well in Europe, though, raises the question of how many chances should an out and out striker need?
Big banana-skin tomorrow. Equally, big chance for us to give the Sheep a proper shearing.
Head says narrow win, heart says a 4 or 5 drubbing. Usually go with heart.
Paul 67
Don’t know where I would be without budget airlines and worn-out attire.
And in my one functioning pocket I have a pound coin squirrelled away, in case a toxic brand should come up for sale soon.
My wealth is off the radar. Mainly because I don’y have any.
And as if my Friday couldn’t get any better with going to see Christy, my youngest has text to ask if she can go to Parkhead tomorrow!
Thank God a Celtic Manager has told it as it is in this wee country. Well done, Ronny Deila. I’ve waited a long time to hear what you said today.
up_over_goal
You’re welcome and I must say I have always admired your consistency in ploughing a lone furrow as far as team selections have been concerned.
I had some head shaking moments in there too I must say but as with many of us Tims you are either a Rouge Genius or yer as a mad a s a box of snakes:))
Hail Hail
Bring on The Sheep
My friends in Celtic,
Hopefully we are now witnessing a new hard, confident and self assured manager that will stand up for Celtic and his own managerial beliefs. Both internal and external.
HH.
I just watched Ronny Deila’s interview and I have some thoughts –
It is the first time I have seen him genuinely angry and passionate about the club and his vision for it.
He makes good points about selling good players and that making it harder to stay at the same level every year. He is correct on this point and his comparison with Ajax I think is appropriate in this instance.
He is correct that negative headlines and chat is more energizing than positive.
He is correct when he says we are the only Scottish club there – I would remind him that we are there as a consolation prize through the back door but if those are the rules then they must be followed by all clubs.
He is correct when he cites no other clubs and the national team’s failure to get to the Euros.
But it is not the whole picture.
I have said I do not rate the manager as highly as some people. I do not think winning this league given his advantages is a proper gauge. How do we know he is any good when he has no real opposition?
We don’t.
We can only go by how the team plays in each match and how we do in European football.
Most domestic games are slogs when they should not be given our resources in what many people concur is a poor league.
Results in Europe are the be all and end all at this stage and they simply have not been there in great enough number from this team on the park or off it.
We may win one two or all three domestic trophies this season.
That will be great. No one is denying that and we like a party but we also want to see progress in the standard of what we see on the park in domestic football AND get better results in European football.
I simply have not seen it and I don’t see it changing.
The game in Molde was beyond shocking in how the management set us up to play against a counter attacking team away from home in Europe and as we know it is not the first time. That’s his fault. Not Chris Sutton, John Hartson, Davie Provan, Packie Bonner or Murdo Macleod’s – it is his responsibility.
Slagging these guys off directly or indirectly doesn’t change the fact that his tactics and management in a number of European ties has left Celtic badly exposed and on the end of some VERY embarrassing defeats which had alternative tactics been implemented we might have done better.
He has signed players who have had varying degrees of success and who may or may not actually be any good in his system. They ain’t capable of playing to his vision in European football especially. He needs to address that.
His inability or unwillingness (whichever it is) to change the team’s shape and formation and tactics in must win games is a problem.
While it may be commendable to have a football philosophy and want to play that way sometimes you have to play horses for courses.
I’ve seen little evidence that such practicality is in his thinking.
I want Celtic to go out and batter the Sheep tomorrow.
I want that badly and as badly as any fan.
I maintain my belief that the manager is not making progress and we are not running over the top of teams unless they come from Dundee.
If the style of football gets me off my chair and excites me then I’ll say I was wrong.
If we go out and beat Molde, Ajax and Fenerbache to qualify – I’ll say there is a sign of progress.
His interview was interesting but he cannot get a free pass because he stuck it to the media and ex-players who give him stick.
He talks the talk.
He needs to walk the walk.
Stand up for the Champions
Stand up for Ronny Roaring
http://sport.stv.tv/football/clubs/celtic/1331717-everyone-around-celtic-wants-to-hurt-us-claims-boss-ronny-deila/
Link courtesy of James Forrest
It’s not before time.
Who this team they call Glasgow?
http://www.toffs.com/retro-football-shirts/scottish-teams/glasgow
HT
Great news buddy. I hope you both have a great day along with the minx and make sure the wee yin isny a jinx.
MWD
Good Evening.
Well fancy that. The reports of Ronny ‘ranting’ at his press conference today turned out to be utter garbage. I thought he was great and had some really interesting things to say. Here are my further thoughts!
https://theclumpany.wordpress.com/2015/10/30/call-the-men-in-white-coats/
And if anyone would like to vote for me in the Football Blogging Awards 2015 as ‘Best New Blog’ before the vote closes at midnight, the details are here. It is very quick to do!
https://theclumpany.wordpress.com/2015/10/30/polite-request-or-desperate-pleading/
Many thanks
MWD
Cheers D you know why.
Just had a skim back…turkeybhoy, my pleasure mate.
Nasal hair seems the topic of the day! Wtf… For the baldies on here, grow it and come it back then twirl…works for me:)
If Janko is fit, I’d start him & wrap Lustig in cotton wool for the Molde game. Rogic in for Brooney and give Scott Allan a run at some stage, hopefully when we go 3 up.
Now that was a proper Ronny Roar!
Brilliant
Good evening, friends.
Snake – I have been on and off the bus re Ronny more than most.
However, if you are talking style of play then I would say Ronny has us playing as good a style of play in terms of entertainment as any Celtic team in recent years.
There were periods against Malmo and Fenebahce where we played expansive passing football. The goals in those games were great.
But we can’t do it for 90 mins yet and, of course, we leak goals.
In the SPL, the opposition often sit so deep that good, quick passing is hard. In midweek I watched LG and KC try and find space to receive passes and there was none.
Under previous gaffers we have gone long and played off a striker or Sammy.
That was sometimes effective even in Europe but under Ronny is the first time I can ever remember opposition managers in Europe call us a passing team. Going back to MON it has always been a powerful traditional British team.
I want Ronny to succeed rather than go back to that
Evening Timland from a cooler hun free mountain valley.
I have no idea if we have progressed from last season, and I doubt anyone can give a difinitive answer.
When your central defence is taken away and replaced with an untried defence, it disrupts everything.
And I very much doubt RD is buying players that doesn’t fit into his system, that would be foolish, unless he is not buying them, now that makes sense.
And those of you who are thinking about punting on the hun getting a points deduction and losing the league, the bookies will NOT pay out, I checked with bet365, they will not pay out, don’t waste your money.
Snake Plissken
I caught some of ‘Class of ’92’ last night – a surprisingly good prog about the Nevilles, Giggs, Scholes purchase of Salford FC. Try and catch it if you can.
At one point, as their team was succumbing to yet another miserable defeat, one (Neville P?) said “We shouldn’t be losing to these teams – we’re massively outspending them. What’s going on?”
I thought of Molde, Maribor, Malmo…
Em…
Where was I?
Ronny needs to start beating teams that outspend us, but if we could start by beating the team at 7th in the Norwegian league, I’d be happy.
up_over_
We can only hump the teams put in front of us. (cliché warning – too late)
I’m on record as saying RD”s system isn’t a Euro winning format, but overall it’ll blow away all of Scotland including his developing understanding, of living and working in Sevconia,, and what Irish and Scottish managers suffer, Viking, Catholic, Protestant or whatever before him.
He will include his regimentation to – one ‘out and out’ striker ( He’s got the title on his CV *and he knows it, maybe for his next big club? )
One up front is ‘the moderne’ and he’s assembled, other players to accommodate that system.
He might stick a double act up front, with twenty to go, to keep the dinosaurs alive, on a dour day in Paradise, or elsewhere.
You or I, haven’t seen enough of Jozo to stick ‘the dodgy label’, and well you know it?
Boyata is £1.3m better than anything else that pulls on a CB jersey in
SPL Hell, , and he gets better, everytime I see him
So is Efe Ambrose and he fair cops his whack, – just like wee Shaun Maloney?
Hail Hail
O.G.RAFFERTY,
Could this be Ashley starting to make his presence felt?
Would love to hear Alex McEBT’s take on this …
http://www.philmacgiollabhain.ie/a-thwarted-emissary/
And surely id the ‘same club’ was short of cash, the EBT LOANS (as they assure us they are) could be called in to cover cash flow issues ???
Jozo is not dodgy! Jozo is not dodgy! Jozo is not dodgy!
FACT
EC67
guernica
Trying to play the right way is commendable.
If it is losing you games, you change it.
I missed the first Malmo game because I was in a mountain with no WIFI.
Against Fenerbache for 43 minutes Celtic were excellent.
I don’t think that’s enough.
When it comes down to style of play there is an acid test –
Show me 10 matches where Celtic were outstanding under Ronny Deila in domestic and/or European football.
I’ll give you 3 –
Celtic 6 Dundee United 1
Celtic 6 Dundee 0
Celtic 4 Aberdeen 0 (albeit after a sticky start but that was coming back from Inter Milan away)
I don’t mean a game where you win 4-0 and it’s mechanical. I’m not counting that 5-0 last weekend because the Dundee United team we beat there was the poorest I have seen in YEARS.
I think we need more games where we blow away the opposition.
Taken from the Ronny Roars back article
Provan, MacLeod, Bonner and for different reasons Mark Wilson you have all this week opened your mouths and did nothing but harm to your reputation with the Celtic support. – See more at: http://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/ronny-roars-back/?
Well done Ronny telling it as it is for Celtic in Scotland
well done RONNIE
that was fantastic,
EC67
I agree but he was overpowered several times in the air on Wednesday night.
I think it’ll take him a few weeks to appreciate how much the opposing players will be permitted to demonstrate their agricultural nature.
Catching wee clips of what Ronnie said in his interview today…anyone got a link to the full interview?