So where did it all go wrong for Ronny Delia? First of all, it didn’t all go wrong. He won two leagues, and if you think it was impossible to lose those, just think back to a team in last season’s Championship, who enjoyed an equally superior income over their competitors, but lost the league to Hearts by the length of the M8.
It was just as possible for Aberdeen to win the league this season or last, as it was Hearts (reeling only months after going into administration) to win the Championship last season. Ronny delivered the primary requirement each season – the league title, but he failed on the second tier requirement – qualify for the Champions League.
Soon after the Legia Warsaw debacles Ronny reflected on the question about whether it was right to ask his new team to adopt his tactics, instead of waiting until he’d recruited players to fit his system.
Two years on we are still remarkably short of players to play his system. Innumerable wide midfield players have come and gone, with many still lingering in the stands. We have an enviable list of creative mids in the squad, yet none have been able to dislodge Stefan Johansen, who by his own admission is having a disappointing season.
Then there’s the striker roles. Leigh Griffiths has been a significant reason why we’ll be crowned champions again over the next few weeks, but he’s pretty much on his own. No one has been able to put pressure on him. For a while Leigh had to wait until John Guidetti and Stefan Scepovic dropped out of the picture, but you’ll struggle to recall this season’s striker arrivals, Carlton Cole and Colin Kazim-Richards, three years from now.
For these reasons, we can say recruitment is where it all went wrong for Ronny. It’s not about 4-2-3-1, half the top teams in Europe play with that formation, nor is it (the now abandoned) zonal marking system, also the dominant top-level defensive system.
We’ve simply recruited the wrong players for creative midfield and striker positions. It’s also subtler than to just say we’ve not recruited good enough players. Some who have escaped Celtic Park after arriving in the last 22 months have done pretty well elsewhere. Guidetti and Scepovic are La Liga strikers, while Jo Inge Berget also made it to the Bernabeu this season.
None of them are great, but I suspect we made them look poorer than they are. Kazim-Richards is unlikely to trouble Sergio Ramos next season, but there’s more to him that what we’ve seen, or will see. We’ve been a place careers diminish disproportionately.
On the positive side, Ronny brought the best out of Leigh Griffiths. He moved the disintegrating Emilio Izaguirre aside for 18-year-old sensation, Kieran Tierney, (the biggest winner on Sunday). And he finally resolved some of the least-organised set-piece defending known to man with the recruitment of Erik Sviatchenko (on this point, you cannot over-estimate the value of adding one good player to a team).
One thought crossed my mind several times this season: If he hadn’t spent so much money fruitlessly trying to make one system work, would he have acknowledge he was on the wrong road and changed tactics?
He backed himself into a corner so stuck with the same faltering policy at Celtic, but surely, surely, if he walks into another job soon, unhindered by that wasteful use of budget, he’d not follow the same tactical strategy which failed him?
624 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- ...
- 17
- »
Sadie … @ 1.37
From memory it was 5 points ahead with 4 games to go.
Hard work was done against the TFOD at Ibrox and then we collapsed.
Never looked comfortable during any of the remaining 4 games.
macjay1 @ 13:25, disingenuous, even for a tory. Ronny says YES! Indeed!
The Celtic signing policy as directed by Lawwell, Park, et al, from 17:00 to 19:15, or thereabouts
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbjzw_jkRW0
The four word trick…, still has it applications, even today :) or :( , more to the point, in its applied sense over at Kerrydale St, or at the former Lennoxtown Hospital.
Interesting (ambiguous) statement from Ronny. Sounds like he was offered a list of players and picked the ones he wanted from the list, as opposed to identifying his own targets.
Might be lost in translation, but it does rather reinforce his image as a bit of a pawn. Also could be a clever way of him saying “look at the crud they forced me to choose from!”
On the credibility of this blog: Once upon a time CQN presented the story the MSM would not tell, and shone a sober, analytical light on the football finances of Celtic and Rangers (IL). In this sense the blog was quite fearless and different.
Since Ronny left (and indeed, for some time before) most Celtic fans I know have been increasingly concerned at the role played by the PLC in our decline. This is a conversation which is simply not reflected in Paul’s leaders. And whilst he can write what he wants (it’s his blog!), it does rather remind me of the Celtic View, in the dying days of the Whites and Kellys…
Davidopoulos
Well spank me hard, how could I forget him, he is practically part of the furnishings at the club :-)
HH
He hasn’t won 2 league titles let’s not get ahead of ourselves
A stubborn manager becomes an unemployed manager
MM
Would you prefer to have a hypothesis based on something no one said, or we think might have been said, or we know he would have said if he had been given the opportunity?
Or would you think that a foundation for the inevitable discussion just might have a slightly firmer starting point as in ‘what was actually said.’
Those who ‘clapp’ may indeed continue to clapp, those who groan will also probably still voice their disapproval, but at least the theoretical ladder to the truth will have at least one rung that all persuasions can plank their foot on.
Who knows, maybe the answers were scripted…maybe they are part of any contract gagging agreement….maybe they are true….maybe they are wishful thinking….I sure as hell don’t know.
But they’ve been said and so let battle commence.
Hail Hail
Matt
Seriously…if this carry on continues.
I will have no option but to phone the Vatican and try to get a word with the top man himself.
This cant go on.
God wont be happy that Celtic are not doing well.
But…shhhhhh
I know im an atheist, but the pope said that was cool.
So…i will try to have a word.
Let you bhoys know how i get on later.
HH
ITALIABHOY on 21ST APRIL 2016 1:44 PM
Since Ronny left (and indeed, for some time before) most Celtic fans I know have been increasingly concerned at the role played by the PLC in our decline. This is a conversation which is simply not reflected in Paul’s leaders
Paul67 doesn’t write his blog to reflect the thoughts of the celtic support.
“We’ve been a place careers diminish disproportionately.”
Never a truer thing said. That’s been the tale for a few years now, going back a few managers. Such a waste of money.
bankiebhoy1 on 21st April 2016 9:12 am
The same practitioners of spin conditioned us to believe over the years we were paranoid to contemplate the prospect of official cheating and ither hun chicanery………drip, drip drip, – every day another snyde story and headline written by a hun supporter with a typewriter and latterly laptop……..
*Billy Connolly once labelled them as freemasons with keyboards.
The Scep still has 2 years on his original deal at Celtic. I see he’s scored as many in La Liga in 19 appearances as he did last year in the SPFL in the same number of games. Not a convincing set of metrics.
Nadir Ciftci has 3 years remaining on his Celtic deal, his 3 league goals in 7 for Eskişehirspor a little better (in a small sample) than his 4 in 11 for Celtic.
Meanwhile Colin Kazim-Richards has a full 2 years left on his deal, sufficient time I would think for him to bag his first league goal for the club… Doubtless he treasures the memory of his debut goal v East Kilbride in the Cup a couple of months ago.
Parkheadcumsalford, this is a great blog but will only remain so if other opinions are allowed.
Massive failings at Celtic and you are not allowed to question it.
The debate is – has the manager failed or are other people at fault. It has been put to us that Ronny failed to adjust the system for the players signed for him. I’ve responded to that saying surely the scouts and Peter Lawwell should be signing players the manager can fit to his system rather than changing it.
Ronny can’t stay. Boy have we botched up our period of dominance. The players will chuck it. Shame on them.
Incredibly generous assessment of the clown car that we now are.
I don’t care if half the teams in Europe play that system , it hasn’t worked for us for two years, it should have been ditched long ago.
He simply wasn’t up to the job and because of him we have taken massive strides backwards.
So will the people who hired him be allowed to chose the replacement?
To carry on as though it was all great?
Will the bonuses be paid this year because a league win (if it happens) means its all good?
The club needs a complete re-think at corporate level because our performance levels have dropped, but we continue to pay top dollar.
Whoever is in charge of scouting needs replaced. Since Hooper arrived, with the exception of Griffiths, our striking purchases have been horrific.
Meanwhile I feel the credibility of the this blog is now seriously up for question because you seem to be indulging in your little bout of cognitive dissonance regarding the performance of the suits.
They have BADLY failed over the past couple of years.
celtic40me on 21st April 2016 1:47 pm
i think you have hit on the nub of it…
Would be better and more honest if the purpose of CQN was re stated.
At one point it was something like – ‘not lazy journalism’..?
This I interpreted as being objective and honest.
It now reads as a mouthpiece for CFC – which if it is is Paul’s perogative… but his fellow posters should not be labouring under false assumptions…?
Blaming the media or masons or refs or mason/refs is just embarassing. They didn’t sign Cifci, Bangura and the other chumps.
CELTIC40ME on 21ST APRIL 2016 1:47 PM
Paul67 doesn’t write his blog to reflect the thoughts of the celtic support.
Hmmm.. this may be true, but I fear you aren’t quite getting my point. The blog loses value if it appears to be ignoring or completely missing the most important reason for the club’s (relative) decline, especially when everyone else is talking about it.
As I said, Paul is free to write what he wants, and many of his articles are informative and interesting. But given where we are right now, it kind of beggars belief that the senior management of the club have escaped – not just criticism – but any analysis at all.
If buying the odd duff striker was all we had to worry about, we’d be laughing.
I said yes to all the players we signed is not the same as I signed all the players we signed as I felt they were the most suitable for the positions I required and the team and the way I wanted my team to play!
The irony of laughing at Level5 PR on here is hilarious. Honestly.
MWD
Reading some of the comments today made me realise something. There are a few here that you would be afraid to invite into your own home. There is every possibility that they would piss on your carpet.
Where did it go wrong for Ronny?
On the pitch.
Truly depressing that we are lumbered with Scepovic, Cifti & Kazim Richards for another 2/3 years
Hello…is that the Holy Father.
PF: What huv ah telt ye aboot using this number.
TGM: Listen your Holiness….your secret is safe, ahm the only wan that knows that you were really born in Maryhill…cracks me up when i see the Argentinians claim you as one their own.
PF: Shhhh…careful…..anyway, whits this aw aboot
TGM: You said you wur gonny look into this irish raj and peter the magnifico carry on.
PF: Canny say much aboot that the noo.
TGM: Whit…you clamming up noo anaw
PF: Listen, ive spoke tae the lot ah thum…..They are saying its aw your fault.
TGM: Right thats it…ahm gonny lead a one man rebellion wi a sling an a crash-helmet….ur ye in, aye or naw?
PF: Calm doon…take it easy….we will smash the Huns next season….NL will bring back the thunder
TGM: Bring back the thunder….Gi ye the boak mer like.
PF: Listen, ah got to go….ahv got feet to waaash….and they wull no waaash theirsels…laters
TGM…Aye, whatever….but ahm no letting this go.
PF: See ye later…ya headcase.
HH
Madmitch 1:07
Wouldn’t completely disagree with your summary. I just felt it was a tough hurdle to clear on the way to the title.
We had just came back from Milan, playing Inter with ten men yet seemed to be fitter than Aberdeen as the game progressed.
Gave me optimism that Ronny’s fitness regime was paying off.
Looking at the transfer list provided earlier, I now know where it all STARTED to go wrong.
Paolo Di Canio PLUS £3m for Regi Blinker???
Jesus wept.
There is no point shouting who signed who and who decided what.
It failed and it needs changed. Hopefully that will be addressed in the summer along with ticket prices.
The Green Man says SACK THE Board on 21st April 2016 1:32 pm
What if i shout…’Down with this sort of thing’….will that work:)
==============
I’d say that’d be no less effective than what you’re currently doing, because its hard to be any less effective than a timewaster happy to throw out all his accusations via the anonymity of CQN and do hee haw else
Paul67,
On Celtics collapse in the last 2 years in particular and general decline
Attempt 1 : the Media did it all
Attempt 2 : Ronny is to blame
Attempt 3 : SFA ?
I will give you a clue….look behind you…..Lawwell.
Hi Paul hope your well ..
Surely a more appropriate article would be ..
“Where did it all go wrong for Peter”
I look forward to reading that one soon ..
Hail Hail ..
Steve Evans pretty much ruling himself out….
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXF-GNaH_Xw
this is turning in to a ”rubbishing Peter to plague Paul” blog…
—–
Who Endorsed The Player Signings..?
“Runny-Runny-Ronny…..
Catch Him Afore He SPILLS..”
—-
MWD…
Wee Morag @ Hebriddean FM 1888
DISNAE Send Her Regards.. :-(
~~~~
if only there was some bad financial news relating to SEVCO….?
Imagine RD finds a job at a decent level and takes LG with him, leaving us with Scepo, CKR and Ciftci.
That’d be sweet revenge.
Ask yourself this.
If Ronny or Lenny for that matter signed all them players………
Why didn’t they play them ?
CULTSBHOY CAN NOT RELATE TO CELTIC BOARD AMBITIONS ON OR OFF THE PARK on 21ST APRIL 2016 1:53 PM
Would be better and more honest if the purpose of CQN was re stated.
Jesus wept, a startling lack of self-awareness there. Why would Paul67 do that, why should he? You come on here, stink his blog up with the same stuff all day every day, and you have the front to tell him what he should do to make his blog better for you. Quite a sense of entitlement there, I’d suggest making a more positive contribution to the blog before you start giving out advice or requests.
I apologise to Paul for doing this, it ruins the blog for everyone else, I did it yesterday and felt bad for doing it afterwards so I’ll try and not make any further comment on it.
Cultsbhoy, do us all a favour, and for the good of the blog, answer my post once then stop.
Paul’s first paragraph reference to championship side smacks of THEM and US diversion.
Much of what is currently wrong with Celtic stems from four years of paying attention to them instead of minding our own deficiencies.
TRAD88
I dont think you understand…that this is a blog…nothing more.
Its not a parliamentary committee.
Give yourself a shake.
Its random gags, slagging, and moaning.
What dont you understand about that?
If you want to be serious and superior….start your own blog Napoleon.
If you dont like working-class type banter….do something about it:)
HH
THE EXILED TIM on 21ST APRIL 2016 2:08 PM
Ask yourself this.
If Ronny or Lenny for that matter signed all them players………
Why didn’t they play them ?
That just about says it all.