Ten reasons why Ronny Deila hasn't cut it as Celtic manager

These are strange times indeed but the Norwegian is deserving of criticism and a lot of it. He’s made mistakes, both big and small, from the start of his time to now as he is nearing the end.

This most likeable man has not been given much help but it is he who carries the can, as is the way with every manager. Here we look at the top (or bottom) ten reasons why it has gone so wrong.

1. HE DIDN'T PICK HIS OWN COACHING STAFF

When Roy Keane was approached to become Celtic manager two years he was told that he had to take some guy called Ronny Deila as his assistant. According to his most recent book, the Irishman felt having a stranger foisted on him was a deal breaker.

Deila was then given the job on the premise that John Collins and John Kennedy, two men he did not know, were to be his most trusted lieutenants. It was asking a lot for all three to share the exact same philosophy.

Deila needed his own people around him plus an experienced Celtic man who he could turn to in times of need. That should have been one of his first demands.

2. PLAYERS IMMEDIATELY HAD CHIPS ON THEIR SHOULDERS

Criticising the previous manager’s fitness regime was a massive error, especially as Neil Lennon’s side were fitter than the one we have watched over the past two seasons.

Deila made a big meal,-get it - out of banning chips from the Lennoxtown canteen. Now that is all well and good but what he basically did was accuse players already at the club that they were not fit when in fact they were.

3. SPEAKING TOO OPENLY

Deila should not have talked about winning the domestic treble and reaching the Champions League last summer. Achieving one of those things was difficult enough with the players at his disposal and he made a rod for his own back.

4. PLAYING ONE STRIKER AT HOME

The 4-2-3-1 system is not only unpopular with supporters, it is also not liked and does not suit the actual players themselves.

What Celtic supporter thought they would live to see the day their day their team began with one striker against a team from the bottom of the league. He did change it against the might of Stranraer and East Kilbride and also when it didn’t work, which was often.

The new man has to realise Celtic do not play with one striker. Not now, not next season, not ever.

5. RELUCTANCE TO START SEASON WITH LEIGH GRIFFITHS

Now the striker hardly had the reputation for being a model professional and to a degree Deila deserves credit for giving him a much-needed boot in the backside.

However, Griffiths has been the only natural goalscorer at the club for the past two seasons and yet had a club come in from him last January in all likelihood he would have been off, and when this season began it was the immobile Nadir Ciftci who was preferred by the manager.

Griffiths can be a handful but it takes all sorts to make up a good team. Deila appeared not to trust him for so long when the guy is his best player.

6. CERTAIN PLAYERS APPEAR TO BE BOMBPROOF

Or perhaps a better question would be; is the manager of Celtic scared of his captain?

Scott Brown plays no matter what. Who cares if he is fit, out or form or simply injured? The skipper is patched up and thrown into the middle of it all, as he was on Sunday, when he was at best 50 per cent ready for such a game.

Strong managers make big decisions. Stefan Johansen, seeming untouchable, should be nowhere close to the team, Dedryck Boyata isn’t up to it but the likes of Charlie Mulgrew get dropped after playing well.

7. IF DEILA WAS PART OF THE SIGNING POLICY, WHAT WAS HE THINKING?

It is debatable how much input he has, did he have any say in the Scott Allan deal, but the transfers into the club have been mostly appalling.

Was it he who thoughts adding three from Dundee United would help in Europe? Who scouted Tyler Blackett? And why is Carlton Cole even a Celtic player? If Deila had a big say in such matters then he has failed. If he allowed others above him to make these calls then he’s weak.

8. HE LOST TOO MANY BIG GAMES

Two defeats at Pittodrie this season, three semi-finals losses, far too many European matches against modest opposition and losing to Rangers when they are not even in the Premiership.

Add in draws against Hearts, home and away, and a pattern is not as much developing as that it hits you in the face.

Deila has lost more big matches than he has won, and to be honest he hasn’t really had that many you could call big. At times bad luck has played its part, but mostly it’s been bad football.

9. LEAVING OUT KRIS COMMONS

The man who has been Celtic’s most effective midfielder in terms of scoring and creating goals since the great Shunsuke Nakamura has been so often a periphery figure. Deila clearly doesn’t rate him and goes out of his way not to pick someone with 91 Celtic goals, nine from this season.

Commons should have started against Rangers or at least been given extra-time. The fact he did not showed that their relationship is non-existent.

And the decision to substitute Commons in Molde, the player’s emotions got the better off him as he was playing well and scored, sent out a clear message.

But ask any supporter whether they would rather have Commons or Johansen. There is only one answer

10. MALMO AT HOME

Celtic were 3-1 up and had one foot in the Champions League. They had to see out the game at Parkhead having played well and taken a two-goal lead.

The message from the sideline should have been keep it tight and keep men back. Instead they went looking for a fourth, Malmo broke near the end and scored late on and, which meant the second leg was theirs to win – and they did.

So many bad choices were made and it cost Celtic £16million. He should have gone after the second leg.