As the footballing merry-go-round known as the close season continues, players come and go and others try to stake their claim. This is the time for misfits to start trying to prove themselves on the pitch and not disgrace themselves off it.
One such player is Derek Riordan. There is no doubt about it that Deek is a talented player. Blessed with a great first touch, vision and a keen eye for goal he should have no problem making an impact during his first season and being relatively happy to have made the step up to a bigger club and made as many appearances as possible.
This however is the case and it would appear that this is not good enough for the young wannabe. It would appear that he is happier to register his disgust at lack of first team opportunities with the media, a move that is not likely to be well received by the man who picks the team.
Speaking to The Scotsman Deek said, "Last season wasn't quite what I had hoped. Obviously, I looked to play a lot more games than I did but I've just got to try and get in there for this season. I always seem to be saying these things but the manager picks the team and it's up to me to take the chance to be a part of it when it comes." Which is the standard line trotted out by players in his position.
He continues "You can only put up with it for a certain amount of time, I don't think I'll have another season like last season. I've just got to do well in pre-season, because I missed a few weeks of that last season and that is what the manager kept saying. So we will have to see. If I do well in pre-season we'll see what the answer is. I don't have a deadline, but at the start of the season I want to see how the games are going and see where I am in the manager's plans. He said to me last season that I missed the start of pre-season with a calf injury and I was out because of that," explains Riordan. "I never really got a chance last season, I thought I did all right in the games I played in but we'll see how it turns out this season."
A few sinister comments creeping in they’re "only put up with it for a certain amount of time" and "I never really got a chance last season"
Strachan refused to be drawn on the topic too and great extent, but their where signs that impatience with Derek’s willingness to drag this issue through the press are starting to show. "There are a lot of good players here," stated Strachan, when quizzed yet again on Riordan's projected involvement. "Nobody here needs to convince me they are a good player. It wasn't me that gave Derek a calf strain last season which kept him out. He has ability and talent. But it was Gary Player who said that he did a thousand press ups a day and ran up hills. When he was a kid he had talent but he enhanced it. There are people like that with talent and there are people who enhance it. There are a lot of good players here and that's why everyone needs to prepare properly and do everything right and take no chances."
I like many Celtic fans have a certain amount of sympathy for Riordan, seven goals in 11 starts is a decent return, especially when players like Miller only manage to find the net 8 times in twice as many starts. Having said that, the way to break into the team is to keep oneself in good condition by not letting ones social life interfere and to do ones talking on the training ground, not via the press. It is issues like this that Erroneous of Keevins et al jump on as internal strife, and is hardly going to endear the player to the manager any further.
Other quotes from our manager lead us to believe that a certain MrGravesen may not be allowed to stay and fight for his place. Critical comments from the manager have again threw the spotlight of scrutiny upon the positionally challenged midfielder. Speaking from the clubs Swiss training camp Strachan said "I won't work with him any more than I'll work with any of my players, It's quite simple - Marcello Lippi always said if you tell a player four times where to be and what to do and they don't get it, then forget it.
"He got the same time as everyone else last year and it'll be the same again."
Who knows how this saga may end, all I hope for is that whatever the outcome, the best interests of the club are preserved.
Yours in Celtic
Clydebuilt