Today’s confirmation that Ronny Deila will part ways with
Celtic at the end of the season, comes as no surprise to anyone with an interest
in Scottish football. Defeat at Hampden was the final nail in the coffin for
Ronny Deila’s reign. Yet, while Sunday was unacceptable in both result and
performance, my overriding emotion is one of sadness at what might have been
for Celtic under Ronny Deila’s guidance.
We’ve come to a stage where this decision; whether Deila’s or
the board’s, had to happen. There is no trust in Ronny’s capability to take the
club forward. But how have we found ourselves here?
As an unknown entity to most outside of Scandinavia, Ronny Deila
was always going to be under intense scrutiny when he arrived at Celtic Park.
It was important he got off to a good start, making an impression on his new
side.
A successful team depends on its relationships. Quality is,
of course, vital; but a unified, determined squad can far exceed its potential on
paper. Without meaning to be clichéd, we can look to the remarkable tale of
Leicester City as an example of the whole being greater than the sum of its
parts. Why is this relevant? Because relationships are built on respect. Before
Ronny Deila had even been confirmed as Celtic manager he was undermined.
"He was going to be brought in as number two when Johan
Mjallby left… I don't know if it's confirmed with Celtic yet, but I know from
contacts in the game that he is well respected as a coach.”
To be public knowledge that Ronny Deila was not the first choice
appointment to be Celtic manager is one thing, but, for our then recently
departed manager to declare that Deila was, in fact, intended to come in as his
assistant showed a complete lack of respect to the incoming boss trying to
forge his own reputation in Scotland.
They say football in Glasgow is like a goldfish bowl; something
you will never fully understand until you have lived it. As a stranger entering
the fray of Scottish football, it would be essential to have a strong support
network in place. Step forward Johns: Collins and Kennedy. The decision by the
club to assign (perhaps ‘inflict’ would be more fitting) their coaching staff on
the new boss wasn’t unique to Ronny. It was a determining factor to their
preferred option Roy Keane turning down the job, “They’d already picked the man
who’d be my assistant… It wasn’t an ideal start. Were they doubting me already?”
When business men are dictating fundamental footballing decisions before you’ve
even accepted the role alarm bells should start ringing. They did for Roy,
unfortunately they did not for Ronny.
Perhaps Ronny Deila was overwhelmed to be offered such a
high profile role at an early stage in his career, but these initial decisions
set the tone for his reign and ultimately, his demise.
Ronny’s first few months in charge should have been his
chance to implement his ideas on his new team, bringing in new signings with
the qualities he felt the squad lacked. In an early interview he stated, “Loans
are a possibility but they're not ideal. You don't want to develop other clubs
talent and not get any money for it.” From that moment until the closing of the
transfer window we signed 5 players on loan. Was there a very sudden and very
drastic change of heart? I suspect not. Ronny was entering unprecedented
territory with unknown backroom staff and a playing squad assembled above his
head.
In terms of implementing his own ideas on the team we heard of
the importance of “fitness”, “high-tempo football”, and the need to be “24-hour
athletes”. How do you get fitter? Personally, I had believed an important factor
was to eat correctly and train well. Apparently not in Scottish football. Ronny
Deila was mocked in the media, and indeed accused of being disrespectful, for
banning fizzy drinks and “demanding” players ate lunch together. The irony of
it.
As the season progressed Celtic began to find a bit of form,
starting with a rallying late win away at title rivals Aberdeen. The scenes at
the final whistle were befitting of a galvanised group, with the manager
leading the impromptu celebrations; the Ronny Roar was born.
With performances now improving, the loaded questions about
the possibility of a domestic treble (our first since 2001) were consistently put
to the manager. Ever-honest, Ronny admitted that the goal was to win every
domestic competition available. The inevitable defeat in the Scottish Cup semi-final
was deemed a failure by Ronny to achieve his targets. The success of a league
and cup double was belittled by those gleefully willing to stick in the knife.
As this season has progressed it has been clear for some
time that Ronny Deila is unable to inspire these players. Passive performances
have highlighted the lack of character within the side. Deila’s Celtic became incapable
of overcoming adversity. In the biggest games we consistently failed. The Roar,
though rarely performed, had (apparently) become “embarrassing” (god forbid a
manager trying to connect with his supporters), and the silence from the club
as every out-of-work manager in Britain touted themselves for the Celtic job,
was deafening.
For some time Ronny Deila has looked a broken man; an
isolated figure sold down the river by a club more focused on keeping an eye on
their rivals in the division below, than on progressing on their own accord.
Am I angry at Ronny? No. My anger is placed firmly at the
door of those who have been downsizing our club for the past few years. I am,
however disappointed in him.
A rare man of integrity and honesty in football, he should
have lived and died by his own sword. Numerous players have not performed for
months; they don’t appear to have ever came close to buying into Ronny’s
philosophy on football. They have shown no desire to fight for their manager or
follow his instructions. Yet he has continually stuck by them. The insistence
on using a formation that wasn’t suitable to the players at his disposal has
been infuriating. We’ve played the season with an exposed defence, an overrun midfield,
and an isolated striker. In terms of the
playing squad, any slight affection I held for them has waned (barring a few).
But only Ronny has himself to blame for continuing to stand by the players who
do not care for him.
Young, clever footballers have had to watch from the stands
as their ‘seniors’ have continually failed. It has appeared to have all become
too much for Ronny, his fear of failure overcame him and he became petrified of
change. At home to Inverness we witnessed the talented trio of Patrick Roberts,
Ryan Christie and Scott Allan on the field together for a mere 8 minutes. Although
a short amount of time, it was the best spell of football of the season, but
they haven’t played together since. With Allan and Christie vanishing into the
wilderness. Only Ronny knows why.
Another cliché is that you regret the things you don’t do in
life more than those you do, and I sense this will apply to Ronny Deila when he
looks back on his time at Celtic. He accepted the influence of the board in deciding
his playing and non-playing staff, he accepted the media’s ridicule of his
footballing beliefs, and he accepted being undermined by his senior players
without punishment.
A man of charisma and character, Ronny Deila has never truly
allowed his personality to flourish in Glasgow. While the blame for
consistently disappointing team selections, the lack of progression in style of
football, and the inability to motivate the team, must lay at Ronny’s door, it
is those who have undermined him since his arrival at Celtic Park who bear the
brunt of my frustrations.
Let’s win the league and give Ronny a roaring send off. The
decision makers who have failed Celtic and treated the fans like fools should
not be able to escape from this situation by hanging their manager out to dry.
Best of luck in the future Ronny, you’ve made mistakes, but
you can hold your head high.
