Absolutely delighted the Dutch injected some swagger into the World Cup last night. Diego Costa continued the pattern this week of Brazilian born players profiting from a tumble inside the box, gifting Spain an early lead from the penalty spot, but the Dutch were irresistible.
Exactly how they managed to improve their performance against Spain, four years after losing the World Cup Final with the imperious Edson Braafheid, is a mystery of the modern game.
Netherlands scored all those goals and created even more chances with a meagre 36% possession. If they were German, we would be reverting to the national stereotype that they were the epitome of ‘efficiency’.
Speaking of the Germans, I’ve always had a lot of time for Franz Beckenbauer, but to find himself banned from football for coming up short in a matter with the words “Fifa” and “ethics” in it, must make him the most notorious German since, erm, well, in quite a long time. With his former Bayern Munich teammate Uli Honess due to be jailed this month for financial maleficence, it’s better to assume no one in the game is above sticking his snout in the trough.
The soul of football depends on the outcome of this Fifa investigation; no one should be above its reach. Beckenbauer’s provisional ban should be verified. Kick him out the game.
Fantastic stuff on the blog yesterday from Bertie Auld; what an honour to have these great guys among us. I’m heading to the Celtic Shop on Argyle St today where Bertie, Tommy Gemmell and John Hughes will be signing books between 13:00 and 16:00. If you’re in town I’ll see you there.
The Big Cup’s going to be there, so bring a camera.
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BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS
11:45 on 16 June, 2014
___________________
Ah, and there was me thinking it was the huns who were paranoid these days.
setting free the bears supports Res. 12 & Oscar Knox
11:48 on 16 June, 2014
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Brilliantly put as usual sir.
Hail Hail
I see West Brom have appointed Alan Irvine as their new manager.
55 years old, 2 previous stints as a manager – both underwhelming, both in lower divisions – and little to indicate he has the experience or knowledge to run an EPL team.
Curious. Good luck to him.
On Assistant Managers, I remember posting about Lenny’s choices back in the day.
Johan had no experience to speak of, had been doing the odd pundit spot on Swedish TV, and was heading for a haircut when Lenny called him to offer him the job. Johan figured No2 at Celtic was preferable to No2 to the sides and back.
Garry Parker was running his own clothes peg business, doing the odd bit of scouting here and there, and had been caretaker of Leicester for one game – a 6-0 pumping by Leeds – 10 years previously. Presumably Lenny needed someone to hang up the shirts and Garry was the very man.
Thommo was the only one of Lenny’s backroom team that was working in football when he joined us, being an Academy coach at Newcastle at the time. As I recall, he was in charge of the U15s before getting the U19s the following year.
Clearly Lenny valued personal relationships more than coaching credentials when he put his key management staff together.
Equally clearly, previous experience is not a prerequisite to being an Assistant Manager, at least in the Neil Lennon school of thought.
If Ronny Deila gets on with John Collins at the personal level, and Collins buys into Deila’s plan for the club, the rest is largely irrelevant.
It’s just two intelligent guys getting on with the job.
Kev J
“The ‘same’ guy had plenty of experience when he – wheeled and dealed – us to
the Centenary double.”
The centenary season was wonderful and Big Billy is a force of nature as a player and a man.
However, we need to evaluate his worth as a manager on how effective his wheeling and dealing was. Paying over the odds, whether for a Hayes or a Cascarino or a Pukki or a Balde, is worthy of criticism. You must then be fair in measuring out your praise for all the good things he did.
Billy as a manager has a mixed record. He was manager of 2 relegated EPL teams in one season but he won us 4 championships , 3 SCs and a League Cup in his 2 spwells with us and won promotion with Man City. He was still sacked 4 times. 5 , if you count his caretaker spell at Hibs.
Sackings. That’s what we do to our managers, even our legends.
Later, CQN.
setting free the bears supports Res. 12 & Oscar Knox
11:56 on 16 June, 2014
___________________
Didny even know ‘I’ was on there?
Anyhow, Big Billy’s achievements?
There isny enough room on the blog to cover them.
But, ye know what?
I’d say that Billy McNeill’s ‘greatest’ ever achievement was,
signing – Murdo ‘The Real Highlander’ Macleod.
I’ll also say that, Mr McNeill’s biggest ‘letdown’ wasn’t down to,
any signing but, his acting like a hun-ned when he assaulted
Gerry McNee!!!
Desmond White should have sacked him for that. imho
Only saying.
Going off oot afore the pitchforkers arrive, bye.
The Battered Bunnet
11:54 on 16 June, 2014
If Ronny Deila gets on with John Collins at the personal level, and Collins buys into Deila’s plan for the club, the rest is largely irrelevant.
It’s just two intelligent guys getting on with the job.
yip
What has John Collins been up to the last couple of years? Does he have a decent knowledge of the current Scottish game?
How about the ex England captain Terrence Butcher as number 2 to Ronny Deila ;)
Some people learn from mistakes.
The other day, on the radio, I heard Stuart Pearce being asked about how the current England squad would be preparing for the prospect of a penalty shoot out.
You might think that Stuart Pearce would be the last man, outwith Chris Waddle, David Batty and Gareth Southgate, to seek advice on this topic but it was fascinating listening to him.
Despite having a fairly undistinguished club management career, Pearce has been a driven and successful Youth coach for the England for 6 years before going back to Notts Forest recently.
Far from moping on his penalty miss, he researched the topic and his Under-21 sides had a marvellous record in dealing with penalty shoot outs at tournaments. The first thing he found out was the problem in his own case. He had taken that penalty because he was a gutsy guy and had put his hand up to volunteer when better candidates were shrinking away. His research led him to the conclusion that picking those who put their hands up was the worst way to select a successful bunch for shoot outs. He learned to trust to picking on the criteria of those who were successful in taking spot kicks in training and during games. He then gave ample opportunity for regular practice to all members of his squad in taking spot kicks.
He had changed his mind and overcame his own unresearched prejudices on the matter by finding out what works best.
Let’s hear it for failures.
The man who never made a mistake, never made anything.
setting free the bears supports Res. 12 & Oscar Knox
The only guy who had the bottle to step up and take another one. Respect him for that.
LB
SFTB 11.48,
Wise words.
Too many people are all too ready to prejudge JC. He would not be my own first choice for the job but I will certainly SUPPORT him, or whoever else, gets the job.
I, maybe foolishly, have always thought that was the role of a supporter.
‘ Mine is not to reason why,… ‘
Sftb
I may be mistaken but it was an honest mistook that I will learn from ;)
SFTB
If I’m not mistooken it’s a mistook to mistook a mistook for a mistook when its no a mistook, So dont be mistooken as that would be a mistook.
MWD says AYE
new article posted.
Kilbowie
I think it is more than ok to have an opinion on whether it si the right appointment or not.
I am only trying to make the simpler point that the manager of Celtic or any other post within the ground staff, should be appointed on the basis of who will do the job best and not on the basis of who will please the fans most. The only staff appointment whose job is to please the fans is Hoopy.
Now, fan reaction is one factor which should be taken into account but it is not the only one or even the prime one.
So we can continue to safely bump our gums about such matters but for a club captain’s post, it is more important that player and managers buy into the appointment, and for asst. managers, that managers, players and Board find him acceptable.
I can’t find any new article
Michael Schumacher’s manager says the former F1 champion is no longer in a coma and has left hospital iin Grenoble. More to follow.
MOONBEAMS
I once mistook a Chinook for a Sikorsky.
What a Fokker I am…
Good news on Michael Schumacher but I sadly doubt he will be much like the pre-injury version…………..I truly hope I am 100% wrong though.
New Article Posted Missing
PODIUM.
:¬)))
SETTING FREE THE BEARS
Take the hint.
Me neither,btw.
Who stole the new article? I blame the Board. It’s censorship.
PAUL67
Oooooh,yer such a tease….
Gordon_J backing Neil Lennon
12:11 on
16 June, 2014
What has John Collins been up to the last couple of years? Does he have a decent knowledge of the current Scottish game?
——————
He doesnt need a knowledge of the scottish game
He needs a knowledge of the european game and how to help set us up tactically to do well in that arena
gordon_j backing neil lennon
12:11 on 16 June, 2014
What has John Collins been up to the last couple of years? Does he have a decent knowledge of the current Scottish game?
——–
Working with the Scotland U19s and getting rave reviews from those working with him. On both a professional and personal level.
MWD
Your favourite Pizza just got better
New Ingredient
hoopy-do,
I thought the current theory was that our manager has European knowledge but not Scottish knowledge?
Must admit to a wee smile at the thought of the numpties that spoil the 1st page of this blog every day F5’ing till their thumbs bleed :-)
Gordon_J backing Neil Lennon
12:33 on
16 June, 2014
hoopy-do,
I thought the current theory was that our manager has European knowledge but not Scottish knowledge?
===============
Well if JC also has good european knowledge then thats doubly good and will increase our chances of european progression.
The more of our coaching staff that can assist in the goal the better
New article posted…
…missing.
Sack the board.
HH!!
Back in again……again?
Dear, dear.
No, this time some good positive news…..
The son of KevJungle has recieved grand ole news the day.
My son, Dominic, has gained an – A – in his ‘software development’ course.
Who’d a funk it, eh?
Hail Hail – laters…..
Here I am logged in and ready to compete for teh top spot, but the new article is MIA.
I’ll have to return to work soon..
John Park seems to have risen to a highly influential position in the club, rightly or wrongly as I don’t know the guy, but he is clearly well respected within the club and no doubt has PL’s ear.
I am sure that John Park will have intimate knowledge of JC’s situation at Hib’s, and it doesn’t seem to trouble him. Would it not be prudent of PL to contact his own club skipper for his take on JC as well? I would think there would be some form of dialogue, even if it was just out of courtesy.
As for JC, maybe he is arrogant, I’ve never met him, I doubt many of the people criticising him have in depth knowledge of his character. I know he was a great player. I know he played at the highest level. He seems to have kept himself in great shape when many ex players just let themselves go. He talks well as a pundit, and his philosophy would appear to be similar to that of our new manager.
The only issue I would have with his appointment, is if he is being forced upon RD. If RD wanted to bring his own men, and was told to pick from a select list of candidates, then there is huge potential for conflict. If he was brave enough to want to come on his own, and tap into someone with knowledge of Celtic, Scotland and England as his assistant, then more power to him. If JC has been interviewed and impressed, then why the hell would anyone have a problem with it?
The idea that JC is responsible for Celtic losing millions of pounds by choosing to live and work in Monaco is absurd. If you want villains in that episode, look to UEFA for allowing Monaco to work by a different set of rules than every other French club, not the man who wanted a better life for him and his family.
Welcome back to Celtic John.
Whit new article?
the goal = that goal