Today was another one of those days. Another day of uninspiring football. Another day when this team looked decidedly ordinary.
We started without Griffiths and Commons, both of whom are injured.
Bad enough.
Throw in injuries to two players in the first half – introducing Ambrose to the mix – and the recipe for disaster is bubbling away nicely.
Disaster was everted here.
Two points were dropped instead of three.
Aberdeen’s failure yesterday means it cost us nothing … but that’s part of the problem, isn’t it?
We get away with so many days like today, because our rivals are just as bad.
Woe betide us when someone can string together a run of wins against us.
Cause at times we are awful, with a shocking suicidal tendency that is woven into this side like red through a stick of rock.
Add to that some baffling decision making … and wow.
Today’s big moment; the substitution of Rogic, shortly after he had fired us into the lead, to bring on a third attacking midfield player, Gary Mackay Steven.
What was the objective? What was the purpose?
Not to hold onto the lead, because in those circumstances it makes no sense at all.
To chase a third goal? With ten minutes left?
There are times you wonder if Ronny Deila is playing with a full deck.
Cause to me that looked like a change for changes sake.
It fulfilled no purpose other than to put Callum McGregor’s round peg back in the square hole that infuriated so many of us last weekend … and it invited Hearts to come at us.
Their equaliser was a wicked shot from distance, from the set piece … but the set piece itself was a dire consequence of midfield failure, particularly that of Forrest and the game’s invisible man, Stefan Johansen, who, if you were looking to take off a central midfielder at all would have been the sterling candidate any day of the week.
And then there’s Scott Allan, who must be getting sick of the sight of the subs bench.
What that guy has to do to get in our team I do not know.
Today he watched as the injured Armstrong came off and the typically ineffectual Forrest came on; that one we let the manager off with because he was playing Armstrong out wide (not his natural position; this is the kind of thing that drives me nuts) and so it was a like for like swap.
But then there was the Rogic decision that scunnered most of us late in the game.
We have serious problems in the composition of this squad of ours.
Two of Ronny’s most vaunted signings are Armstrong, who sure as Hell he didn’t sign as a winger, and Allan himself.
Those are good players, but they are midfielders, signed for covering an area of the pitch where we didn’t need any further players!
Rogic, Brown, Johansen and Biton were already in the squad.
He signed Mackay Steven to play as a winger, but that has proved so successful that he’s now trying to jam other players into the role.
I’m beyond the point where I’m going to try and work out Deila’s decision making process.
It can be summed up best, I think, by the guy who’s in danger of becoming his benchmark signing, Nadir Ciftci, who may well have been a different player in a two up front system or played out wide (where I actually thought we’d signed him to play) but as a single forward … useless is being kind.
This guy, quite frankly, does not look like a Celtic player in his life.
When he scored a double a few weeks ago, I had hoped he’d crack on and show us something.
Today he was dire.
If he’s been signed to toil as a lone striker he was a waste of money because he’s lost up there on his own.
The manager throws him to the wolves every time he selects him in that position, and it’s becoming painful to watch him there.
Whatever he has, we’re never going to see it if this is where he’s going to play.
The worst thing about this, of course, is that it wasn’t an absolutely dire team performance.
Oh we struggled to pass the ball at times, but that’s become so par for the course I barely even muster the enthusiasm to complain about it any longer.
But we controlled the middle of the park.
Our defence wasn’t exactly put through the ringer (although there was at least one heart-in-the-mouth moment from Efe) although our keeper made some good saves.
Yet even he doesn’t escape the criticism.
The late game equaliser was a fine strike … but he didn’t even move for it, which is either stunning complacency or simply an acknowledgement that he was positioned so far from the post he’d left an acre of room.
The overall feeling after this one isn’t anger; it’s frustration.
This is a team that inflicts punishment on itself, due to slackness and lack of focus.
Today was turgid and unimaginative.
Our only two moments of genuine inspiration came from the midfielders, and they both ended with fantastic goals.
Despite holding the lead twice we’ve dropped points.
A bad day at the office, then?
We have too many, we have way too many, of those these days.
Everyone is going on about Ronny yes rogic was wrong sub if not hurt how many times will lustig let us down by not reading the game at first goal twice against molde once against malmo again today and forrest silly tackle today we are beginning to sound like sevco fans support team through good and bad 60yrs I followed them and seen worse teams HH
Support the team yes but need Ronny replaced so voices need to be heard or we will keep getting the same old
All we can do is make it known to the board ,am not in the belief that a petition is the right way to go,only way is not to turn up to games,but as fans that is a hard thing to do !!!
James I like and enjoy most of your posts apart from post match analysis. Comsidering injuries both before and during the game the players on the field competed with an energetic Hearts squad well. However it appear that the curse of Sevco is alive among many of the contributers. Comments like we should be winning every game easily and be out of sight makes our league a complete sham and totally unattractive to anyone. We do have a serious challenge this year and basically a new team in place so there will be difficulties at times. Again Celtic have no right to win the league every year but how are we ever to develop if we are changing managers and players after every set back. I believe we do have good players who can develop given the chance. HH
It seems since the demise of Rangers, the sense of superiority and entitlement has seeped into the minds of some Celtic supporters. God, a lot of you are really fucking miserable. You do know that there were two teams out there today. Hearts are not going to lie down and give another team a free pass. Ronny stays
http://youtu.be/sSS34o9WjpU
Deila,Collins and Kennedy have no idea how to set up a defence.The goalkeeper and back four cannot be expected to defend every attack.The midfield must be expected to play their part but none of them are sharp enough in the mind to defend or strong or quick enough in the tackle when they remember to get back and help out.James Forrest and Johansen gave away free kicks late on.one resulted in a goal and the other put us in real danger.Lawell will not replace any of the coaching staff until we are behind in the league and/or when the crowds start dwindling.The goals against tally this season is an embarrassment.
shifty & Forrest what a waste of space mind you Forrest is played out of position like a lot of players
Both Hearts Goals were deflections. Absolutely no luck whatsoever there. I really thought Cifci did a job in rumbling up the Heart’s defence for 90 minutes. A thankless task but he DID stick with it, However Why Forest even gets a game is beyond me. Didn’t set up one chance.. didn’t have a shot on net (though the usual pathetic finishing weve seen for years was there for all to see) THEN he commits TWO useless fouls resulting in the late equalizer. Hes not match fit, foe sure. Boyata’s injury and possibly Rogic’s … makes you look at their training … I feel they are actually OVER trained, and these injuries would back that up. Ronnie??? … Substitutions are beyond logic, definitely time to say Goodbye.
Bullshit,get behind our great club instead of criticising them HH
James I’m a big fan off you’re work but this piece lacks balance. Efe was absolutely magnificent today, held the defence together, clearing everything. Does he only merit a mention when he makes a mistake?
Think you were correct to say Efe had a good game. He does get it in the neck too often and that can’t be good for his confidence. Not sure Centre half is a good position for him. He is a bit too panic stricken when under pressure either looking for a pass or when the crowd expect him to blunder. Having said that though not the kind of personality suited to playing at PArkhead under scrutiny. Defoe need a proper international level highly experienced defender with a loud voice to help keep the defence in shape and keep a vocal authoritative communications with midfield when support is lacking form that area.
Some valid comments … others … holy shit.
Some of you would accept any old mediocrity. Did the team play with passion today? In patches, but for the most part Hell no.
Was the manager right with his tactics? Hell, no.
Have his signings worked? God, no.
All this back the team come what may nonsense … it’s just that. Nonsense. When the team deserves praise I’ll praise them. Blowing the lead twice today in such pitiful fashion … not a chance in Hell.
I agree with you James that the team is mediocre as a team at the moment. I think we have some really talented players who aren’t really getting a chance to shine through mostly having too many similar style players in the same team. Why have we got so many attack minded midfielders and why are we supposedly loikng for more option in that area as if thats some weak area of the team. Defensive players, experienced older head and leaders are badly missing from the side even when they are fit. I was happy to keep giving diela benefit of doubt in first season. When we brought in the Dundee UTd players at Christmas last year I was really excited that they had added an attacking dimension to the team and was optimistic with our squad that we could reach Champions league if we got a decent bit of luck in qualifiers. Im not sure if Im the only one who thinks that Biton and Johansen on park at same time is not a good combination for midfield. Both lack any kind of dig consistently. Both like to get forward and abandon the midfield. Which leaves our inexperienced centre halfs with no out ball or support in times of counter. Neither drop deep for pass inside from fullbacks when they are under pressure but instead often run forward expecting pin point perfect passes to them on the charge. Which invariably leads to wayward passes and counter attack upon counter attack. Ronnie either can’t see that or he cant get the players to follow his instructions. I tend to think the players do follow his instructions since most of our players are out of their natural areas of expertise. So if they are following the plan. Then Ronnie need to go. Because the plan sucks. If they aren’t following the plan then they need to go. Either way something needs to give. We are wasting valuable resources on players who aren’t getting games and wasting valuable resources playing players in positions that they aren’t very comfortable. And the old score more than them only works if you score more than them. On the odd occasion its acceptable if you are rivetted by intense attacking dynamism like when Burns was manager. Im sure Ronnie will win the league this year if he stays. But can he learn enough to get that team up to scratch for European assault. He has burned a hole in the check book. He can’t really say he wasn’t given a good run at getting his idea across. either his idea sucks or he isn’t up to the job. Either way he is on a shaky peg at moment. I really don’t think it would matter what manager we had as long as they had some sort of football team management at Scottish premier league level. I still think we would win the league. Therefore I think Ronnie actually got luxury other managers don’t. He can often make duff tactics win by having better resources. I think even in our premier league there are more tactically aware managers at the moment. Is Ronnie due for sack on back of a draw away to a decent hearts side. No. Is he progressing as manager? Are the players developing as we were told? Are the players as valuable as they were when we bought them. Are we running at a big lose financially each year since he arrived. Are we bringing through the youth as we were promised. Are we a feared force in Europe. Are we a feared force in Scotland? The fact that we seem to have gone significantly backwards with all our major signing is a big alarm. We are top of the table. We are in both cups. Its hard to justify sacking the man on that respect. But crowds are getting smaller. Entertainment is lacking a times. The defence is a joke. The players look knackered after 20 minutes every game. We concede leads to easily when we are winning. As much as my heart would like to say give him till end of season at least and one more try in Europe, my head is telling me he isn’t going to turn it around. And my gut tells me we probably won’t win either cup with those strange weak tactics he persists with. When your head heart and gut are all telling you something different, it usually means something needs to change. Conclusion I think Ronnie will be sacked at some point this season. Will it be early enough for a new manager to fix things for Europe. The worst results for me were against Molde. A team that he should know inside out. But he couldn’t even get close to beating them with superior resources and better players. Did he change it then? No its still the same oft times hard to work out system. And thats a crucial point. It must be so complicated that after year and half nobody actually looks comfortable in it.
Lustig is more deserving of criticism than Ambrose he reacted far too slowly at Hearts first.
Amazing how people see a different game for others, then again bloggers know every thing, and coach too.
I agree 100%.
Every time Celtic drop points we get the same rants.
The way I see it we don’t have a very diversified set of options with Diela. He has stubbornness about his own system which can be criticised when it doesn’t work. Personally I believe our squad has too many similar type players where they all want to be the creative force. Lack serious bite in midfield even when Brown is on park. We lack a proper link from defence to midfield which forces the defence to louder the ball about till they make a doo-doo. Our wide players with winger skills are being utilised as inside forward almost perpetually. Our lone striker is often stranded without a partner to create regular threat. Johansen was really playing the role Biton has this year. Boyata and simunovic are both relatively inexperienced and need a old head with lotta experience beside them to help coordinate the defence. Thats single signing of a proper defensive experienced leader in Centre back would hep keep our defence in shape and shouting abuse at the supposed defensive midfielder when he isn’t available to support the defence and get the best our of whatever centre back he has as partner would fix the ailing defence and help Gordon. For all the faults I see in the goal scoring department Diela does score goals against most defences. Having 2 centre mids who like to attack on park is high risk at very least. Having 3 attacking centre mids who don’t do anything but attack is just folly without proper defensive structure behind them. But the one thing I can’t understand about Diela above all else is the lack of a proper target man on the park with so many runners from attacking midfield. Our lone striker often needs to drift into non treat areas to even get a sniff of the ball. In truth I think we need a Experienced centre back asap I think we need proper biting holding midfield anchor with either bitton, brown, Rogic, Allan, Armstrong or johansen as his creative aid and hard working box to box midfielder. We either play with cole as target man or Commons as Hole playing false nine. If Cole plays the two wide mids play as wingers. If Commons plays then they play as inside forwards with overlapping fullbacks. We aren’t playing as a proper team. Just lots of individuals which isn’t much more valuable than the sum of its parts. We have some top players but lack a strong spine in our team. Have flexibility but don’t rally utilise it effectively without coordination from leadership on park. So priority is 30+ year old centre half with lotta international experience and leadership skills with a personality like roy keane. And a Roy Keane type barking at times brutal midfielder to get the team back into shape when it gets laxidazical. 2 players in could ship out 3 of our non performing midfielders. And a little bit of variation in the system would transform that team into a proper european force. 2 players in 3 out. Youth and development are excellent ways forward but team needs balance of older and young and we desperately need proper leadership on the park toehold some kinda of shape and build the knowledge of the less experienced players we have.
even though i want change I dont expect to win every game I just want the hope of entertainment and a celtic side who can play decent attacking footbal and occassionally keep it tight at the back. I will always be at games no matter what but i reserve the right to praise and criticise when I see fit without being told I’m either blinkered or disloyal dependanr on my comments.
we all love the tic and just want the best but this side are very poor as is managers tactics and lack of ability to change during games. hearts played ok but they changed formation after our opening blitz and then took over from us in 1st half, we should be able to make formation changes to occassionally change course of games we may be struggling in, not a lot to ask. hope you all have great new year HH.
Agree with everything you said JP,except Gordon.The keeper saved Ronnies bacon yesterday with a few great stops or Hearts would have had all three points.
I also think there are a few non Celtic replies on the blog,but hey you can spot them a mile off.
Owen total nonsense All through 60s & 70s we were winning & not moaning are you having a laugh 1st 5 years of 6os we were a lot worse than we are now finishing 4th in the league FFS
Good point. But didn’t we change the manager and keep most of the same players with a few alterations to the system and bam suddenly from 4th in Scotland to Champions of Europe. Sadly I can’t see us even competing very well in Champions league now that football has become a Capitalist game with all the corruption that comes with big money. Im sure early 60s the Scottish league was much more evenly balanced player wise. So coming 4th then wasn’t such a disaster as coming 2nd in a league where you dwarf the other teams with capital resources. But your point is valid in that Diela hasn’t done much wrong. He expected to win the league. he is winning the league. But can you really say your content to see such talent played in as system they either aren’t suited to or just isn’t really that impressive at best. Personally I think any manger should be given at least 3 to 4 years to build his vision. But Im unsure Ronnie if the shareholders can afford to keep losing value on their investment by devaluing more players than he is making them more valuable. Maybe he will get the players to eventually find their rhythm with the system he envisages. But week in week out Im not that impressed. Sometimes we play better than others. But mostly we rely on indivual brilliance rather than team effort to get us the points. The players are capable players. When they played in other systems they seemed so much better players than in the system that we are subjected to each week. It wins mor games than it loses. Offensively we aren’t a bad team. Defensively we are very inexperienced. And to be inexperienced at big club can be quite a traumatic experience even for a really talented player. Aberdeen aren’t a bad team. And neither are Hearts. St johnstone can be quite decent. As can Inverness. If we swapped entire playing squads with Aberdeen Im not sure we would be top of the league using Diela system. Thats because i think our players are much better than aberdeens players. Diela isn’t a bad manager. He is actually quite a decent man manager from the sounds of his interviews. He is pretty level headed and is determined soul. He thinks his system is better than other systems. And thats because he has had pretty decent success using that system both in Norway and Scotland. But he added massive value to Stormgodset or whatever the teams name is but is he adding value to Celtic. Are we more wealthy as a club or less wealthy. Is that because he is abad coach. No its probably because he has a bigger budget and he can pick and chose a bit more than he ever could in Norway. But the value hasn’t been added to many of his signing if any. And from a business point of view thats bad news. On top of that we are losing vital revenue from fans and european football as more and more people either can’t afford to come to games or don’t see good value in entertainment with current team performances. Can he turn it round. Of course its possible. Does your heart or your head or your gut say we are getting better or worse. Mine says we aren’t making much progress in key areas and deep down as much as I like the man. His system isn’t doing much for me as a fan. It isn’t doing much for the shareholders. And he doesn’t even seem to be doing that much for the players careers in recent months. Will he learn from his errors over time. Probably! But while he sticks with the same tactics week in week out as the players look more and more lacking in confidence doing what they are being asked to do and the press constantly harassing them? And now the press hysteria is getting to lot of fans. On top of that most fans aren’t really enjoying or understanding the system on show. Ronnie is good guy. He is doing his best Im sure. Im sure he wants to make his system work. Im sure it could work if the players had the correct skill set. But thats the problem. He isn’t buying players who understand his system he is buying young guys who he thinks he can mould into his system. But on this seasons performances Im not sure they are moulding fast enough. We have good players with talent in abundance. But sometimes they look really ordinary in that system.
Degsy There is no need to resort to abuse I don’t know if you go to the games but if you only want to go when we’re winning & will enjoy Aberdeen winning the League then good riddance