The phrase Poisoned Chalice could have been written with the Scotland national team manager’s job in mind. Even in the 80s when we had great players, and the likes of Stein and Ferguson in charge, a sense of under-achievement followed Scotland in tournament football.
In Gordon Strachan’s favour as he takes over at Hampden today, is the 14 years in the wilderness which has reset expectations to ‘Incredibly Modest’. This contrasts with his arrival at Celtic Park seven and a half years ago, a few weeks after the messianic Martin O’Neill left the premises. Then expectations were huge, but Gordon had to achieve put a winning team on the field while curtailing expenditure against rapidly increasing budgets in the English game.
The result was not always pretty but it was effective. He became only the third manager in our history to win three-in-a-row and took us to the knock out stages of the Champions League twice, eclipsing O’Neill’s achievement in Europe’s top tournament. Few could have measured up so well.
In 2006, when he won the league at the earliest date in the history of Scottish football, he took his players, backroom and support staff onto the field in a moving movement of triumph. The stoicism with which he clung onto the league campaign in 2008, when all seemed lost, was remarkable. There can be few more enjoyable ways to win the league than from a 15 point deficit in April – one of the great times to be a Celtic supporter. When his team ran out of steam in 2009 he left the scene with much less fanfare than he deserved.
Of all the former Celts working in the media Gordon is truest to the club. Celtic is his team and the joy he gets as a supporter is evident. Such comment will be tempered now he is Scotland manager, but we wish him every success.
[calameo code=000390171cc0c3617c8cc lang=en page=74 hidelinks=1 width=100% height=500]
1,117 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- ...
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- 12
- 13
- ...
- 30
- »
sammi, commons, broonie, mulgrew on
Back to the action the guy in the Celtic studio said.
He must be switching channels.
Burley is a Luddite. Why am I not surprised?
Bamboo
Is the pay any good ?
Stevia just past post
HT report;
Aw Naw – ESPN on BT Vision (non HD)
Aw Naw – the Black strip
Aw Naw – FFS Craig Fudley!!!
Aw Naw Zaluska! 0-1
er… that’s about it!
Come On You Bhoys In Black….Get on the ATTACK!!!!
seem to have gone to a back 3 with Dylan & Izzy wing backs
Commentary again lagging behind pictures
Evening bhoys from a cold hun free mountain.
Hopefully the 2 nd haf is more productive, couldn’t resist a wee punt @ 13/2, meaningless game, so a bet is ok !!!
Is Sevconia a neigbouring principality?
Sammmmiiiiiii
Goal
SAMMI
Samaras scores away in Europe again.
Ooooh Ahhh Samaras…
Regards the Gowf………
……………….apparently when it became clear the choice was between Monty ( the living embodiment of the ‘game’ of Golf) and PMcG………….Big Peter made one call………
………..Sorted!
;)
Sami scores away in Europe again….must be a world record
Another away goal in Europe far Sammi!
Commons instigated that move down the left
1-1 sammi
bankiebhoy1
19:24 on 15 January, 2013
Burley can’t even get our keepers name right – keeps referring to him as Zalukas……
That’s absolutely nothing like “Forster”!
We’re on the road again
That goal was down to Kris Commons, has shown up nicely since he came on.
well it is a European away game
WeefratheTim
19:30 on
15 January, 2013
The BBC headline is “Horsemeat found in Irish burgers”
The reality is that the horse DNA (and pig DNA) has been found in burgers produced in Ireland and Yorkshire.
It was the Irish food safety orgasation (FSAI) who discovered it.
Goal or disallowed?
My son 4 years old dressed himself today! What did he wear? The hoops! God bless wee Aiden love you son xxx
Off topic but I see Sevco are planning a beam back of the united game at the cesspit.
So they boycott united, still want half the gate. Then broadcast the game to a full house from which they will presumably keep every penny.
If this is allowed to stand it will be a scandal.
bangooooooora
THe BOUNCE
banguraaaa
Would u believe it. Mo Mo SuperMo
ola Bangura scores, no kidding………..
Ha ha mo mo super mo lol lol !
Bangura 2-1
Sammi again down the wing
Then we see replay of goal.
Commons to Izzy who crossed low to back post
BANGURA SCORES
Bouncy, bouncy B! Haha
We are all celts who cares about anyone else! HH