His Transfer Record Is Absolutely Scandalous
You could argue all day and all night about whether or not Ronny Deila has been properly backed in the transfer market; I would suggest he’s been hung out to try in terms of the money he’s been given. Neil Lennon is widely believed to have left because he saw the writing on the wall in that regard, because he could not stomach further downsizing.
Right or wrong, the austerity that’s been forced on Ronny Deila is quite real, which made it all the more important that he got it right when it came to bringing in players.
Unfortunately, this is his most shocking failing.
He has squandered almost every single penny, either wasting it on absolute dreck or spending it on players he has no idea how to utilise properly. Those who would argue he’s not actually in charge of transfer policy might be onto something; this makes it even worse, because if true he’s clearly not strong enough to impose his will on the scouting and signing team, even to the point where it’s cost him his job.
Bad judgement, or just astoundingly weak?
It matters not.
The result is the same.
During his time in charge, a mere two seasons and four transfer windows, Celtic have brought in an astonishing 23 players, including loanees.
For the record, here are their names:
Carlton Cole; Erik Sviatchenko; Stuart Armstrong; Scott Allan; Ryan Christie; Josef Simunovic; Tyler Blackett; Nadir Ciftci; Logan Bailly; Saidy Janko; Dedryk Boyata; Gary Mackay-Steven; John Guidetti; Stefan Scepovic; Mubarak Wakaso; Jason Denayer; Jo Inge Berget; Colin Kazim-Richards; Aleksander Tonev; Craig Gordon; Patrick Roberts and Michael Duffy. Kristoffer Ajar is on his way.
How many successes in there?
How many first team players, who’ve made a position their own?
There are two full teams there, and yet there’s a gross imbalance in our squad.
We have one goal scoring striker. We have zero cover at right back, and but for the emergence of Kiernan Tierney we’d have no cover on the left either. Our wide players are so ineffectual Deila has played numerous players out of position in order to fit his ridiculous system. We have no holding midfielder to speak of except Brown, who’s not a natural in that position. We have more central midfielders, on the other hand, than any club needs … and none of them capable of that killer pass, that skill that can open up a packed defence and feed a lone striker.
Not only is his tactical system incoherent, but he’s made no real effort to sign players to fit it.
No-one can figure out why he signed players like Allan and Christie just to let them rot.
The regression of obvious talent like Stuart Armstrong is terrifying.
What money Deila’s had he’s squandered on junk. Ciftci and Scepovic are glaring examples, players he signed apparently without understanding where they fit into his own system … if he signed them at all. Either way, we’ve wasted millions on “his” players.
Managers have been sacked for less.
