Deila’s signing disasters
Ronny Deila’s return to the spotlight this week has stirred up a lot of debate among Celtic supporters.
Some fans still believe that the Norwegian was a football visionary, others say thanks and time to let go while others are a little more hostile to the new manager of Valerenga.
Football fans will always discuss and debate matters but it goes without saying that Celtic supporters are far happier today than they were at any stage during Deila’s two years in charge.
Sure two titles were delivered, a refereeing outrage denied him a treble but in between there wasn’t much signs of success or progress.
Europe will always be the benchmark for any Celtic team, player or manager. In that arena Deila failed.
On twitter this morning someone reminded me that Brendan Rodgers has won three out of 12 games in Europe. As they say there are stats and there are stats.
Rodgers has kept signings to a minimum, as a manager he works with what he has, improves players and improves the team. He makes the business look simple by putting in the hours and having a grasp of what is needed.
One key area for managers is the transfer market when their judgement is put on the line.
It’s easy to be selective but in that area Deila failed miserably, only Stuart Armstrong and Craig Gordon have made any impact on Rodgers side.
Deila’s dealings don’t make for pleasant viewing, click on the panel below to be reminded of some of those signings that you’d rather forget.
SAIDY JANKO
After winning the title in his first season it was time to strengthen and build a side ready for the Champions League.
Signing a Swiss youth internationalist from Manchester United seemed a wise move, fitting in neatly to the profile of emerging talent.
Unfortunately it just never happened for Janko, an injury early in the season ruled him out for six months that he never recovered from.
Rodgers gave him a chance, he had a nightmare away to Hapoel Beer Sheva and was on his way to Barnsley before the week was over
TYLER BLACKETT
He had played first team football at Manchester United the previous season and was billed as a central defender or left-back.
It never worked out in either position with the emerging Kieran Tierney nailing down the left-back slot for as long as he wants it.
By January time there was talk of a return to Old Trafford but he saw the season out and is now doing well at Reading.
CARLTON COLE
He needed game time to get close to fitness but was never likely to rival Leigh Griffiths.
A goal at Stranraer and a great chant was as good as it gets as things quietly petered out for his Celtic career followed by moves to the USA and Indonesia.
An unlikely signing but with predictable results.
NADIR CIFTCI
There are strengths to Ciftci’s game but a decent scoring run at Tannadice is likely to be as good as it gets.
A biting incident towards the end of his United days earned him a six match domestic ban but he was played ahead of Griffiths in the early Champions League matches.
Loan spells to Turkey and Poland haven’t worked out but he still has a bit more than two years to run on his Celtic contract.
STEFAN SCEPOVIC
He did show some promise but always looked as if he’d be at his best in a two man strike partnership.
Europa League goals against Astra and Dinamo Zagreb showed his quality but the system that Deila insisted on was never going to suit his game.
Last season on loan he managed a respectable six goals as Getafe were relegated from La Liga, after making the move permanent he has managed just one goal this term.
COLIN KAZIM-RICHARDS
Bizarre, puzzling and desperate. As the January 2016 transfer window was closing the journeyman striker was brought in from Feyenoord.
He avoided a red card on his debut as a substitute at Aberdeen, scored against East Kilbride and Hearts then left for Brazil almost as soon as Brendan Rodgers took over.
No one ever had any expectations from this signing, if Richards is the solution you have serious problems.