Spiers on Sport: Winning hearts and minds, Ronny Deila leads Celtic to another Champions League play-off test
Ronny came (just before the season started) with a determination to play a certain style which would only be successful if he had the players who could deliver it and to convince the squad that changes had to be made to every aspect of their lives if they were to be successful.
A pretty tall order and it would have been a miracle if he had been successful immediately but he certainly is having the last laugh now.
All the players seem fitter, we had more players running than Qarabag in the last 15 minutes yesterday, and some, Griffiths, have improved overall since buying into his methods.
The performance yesterday was excellent, a real team performance and a lot of the credit must go to the manager. Celtic will be fitter, stronger and ready for whoever we get. There are no minnows any more, but hopefully it won’t involve too much travel.
John Graham
On The Move: Rangers and Rotherham battle for Allan, Bannan in limbo and Maloney wanted by Hull
That Rotherham’s first bid is greater than Rangers’ last one and they’re about to increase it to almost half a million shows just how much money there is in English football.
Eddy Cavin
I seem to remember Scott Allan being quoted as saying he would like to have another go at making the grade in England. At 23 that doesn’t give him a lot of time to impress so maybe the right time to try. Good luck to him anyway, he’s a good footballer.
Bobby McGonagle
Leaving all other considerations aside, if Allan wishes to develop as a footballer and has international aspirations, he has far more chance of achieving that under Mark Warburton, or Alan Stubbs, than Steve Evans.
Chris Rogers
I suspect that if a decent team came in for him - and he believed he might get a game for them - Allan’s love of the Rangers would evaporate quite quickly. But then again, maybe he already knows he’s not good enough to play at Championship level in England.
Jason Beckett
McInnes urges sensible heads
It’s a tough one all right & patience will be important. Above all is keeping the back door closed so 0-0 at half time would suit me fine. Get half way through second half & introduce pace.
The virtual full house will lend a lot of noise to proceedings. This can be done but effort & concentration must be top notch.
Robert Wilson
Scottish football ‘finances in order’
This is good news glad to see Scottish football is doing ok. Scottish Football supporters can easily tell Sky and BT Sport that they are cancelling their sports packages. If enough of them did this I’m sure that they would very quickly increase their revenues to Scottish clubs. The BBC, that bastion of fairness and integrity, they are another story.
David Lafferty
The return of Hearts to the top league is a positive, as is an improving Aberdeen team. The Dons take a big support to every ground that they visit. It is possible that Rangers will return to the Premiership next year and that will increase the attractiveness of the overall brand. Celtic v Rangers will be back on the fixture list and the TV deals will improve accordingly. Celtic are now 180 minutes away from the CL Group Stages and the cash generated will move them even further away from the rest of Scottish football.
James White
Summer football HAS to happen if, as suggested in the report, we are to be serious about our attempts at improving our European exploits. Every July/August fans, players, managers & chairmen bemoan the rustiness of our teams. Let’s do something about it.
Alan Stuart
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