Twenty-four hours after watching a dull, lifeless draw against Motherwell Celtic fans are still in the dark about their side’s performance.
From early on in the match it was clear that there was a lack of ideas and purpose about Celtic’s play as the fans looked to the bench wondering how long it would be until Kris Commons and Scott Brown were introduced.
The team selection set the tone for the day with a baffling six changes to the team that had drawn 2-2 away to Red Bull Salzburg.
Injuries accounted for Stefan Johansen and Wakaso Mubarek but there seemed little justification for the other four changes.
Brown hasn’t played 90 minutes this season, Commons has played two matches this month, enjoying the benefit of his international retirement, Stefan Scepovic has still to play a full match for the club and Craig Gordon needs every game possible after more than two years out of the game.
After the match Deila spoke about the lack of energy and tempo in the side and the reliance on Brown and Commons.
Today, with a cup tie against Hearts that no fan is confident about winning, Deila decided to comment on how much he’d love to play Rangers blissfully unaware that the club he talked about died two years ago with the shambolic tribute act living from month to month before the inevitable visit of administration followed by liquidation.
Thirteen matches into his tenure there are only two positives to be taken from the games played- Craig Gordon is a very able replacement for Fraser Forster and Callum McGregor has lots of potential.
None of last season’s players have improved. Loan signings Jo Inge Berget and Alexsandar Tonev look well short of what’s needed, Jason Denayer and John Guidetti may go on to make an impact.
Rather than give cheap lines to fan the media frenzy for a Glasgow derby, which could just as likely be a Falkirk v Hearts quarter-final tie, Deila should be explaining to supporters what is happening in training and what areas the team is improving in.
Other than the 6-1 win over Dundee United this season has so far verged between mystery and disaster.
Celtic supporters still have fresh memories of John Barnes and Tony Mowbray in charge- neither of them lasted the season. Deila has to make things happen quickly to ensure that he doesn’t go the same way as Barnes and Mowbray.
The club website and television channel offers him a platform to discuss what direction he is taking the club in, to date supporters are mystified.
Sixty thousand attended the Champions League qualifier against Maribor, close on 40,000 turned up to watch Motherwell rather than sit at home for an appealing double-bill of English football.
With Tony Watt gone and Leigh Griffiths looking like following him out the door the mysteries of Deila’s master-plan is getting cloudier.
Four wins in the up-coming matches against Hearts, St Mirren, Dinamo Zagreb and Hamilton Accies are desperately needed- not talk that ‘Everybody is waiting for an Old Firm game and that’s what we want’.
The fans that gave up their Sunday to watch the draw with Motherwell are desperate for signs of progress- other than Gordon and McGregor there are none.
Once Celtic are playing like Celtic we can speculate on future cup-ties, no supporter is looking beyond the game against Hearts on Wednesday night. When Deila is getting results he can indulge in his wish list of a team playing at a high tempo with energy and pace- until then results will determine whether he outlives Barnes and Mowbray.