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.
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HT
Coal fire blazing and minus 6 at the front door, but the cottage is toastie hot.
Weefra HH
67Heaven
Here was me thinking you were pasture prime
HH
Back on after a 2-hour gap and yies are awe aff yer heids!
Sleep well all after another great European night!
jobo
do you sleep standing up? o))
jobo
It’s definitely better than the political arguments of last night. :))
Weefra HH
Horsey nags ,I mean gags.
A bookie once offered me 100/1 that I could catch a fish from the water jump at aintree.
I stuck a pound on -within half an hour I caught a whopper !!
On collecting my winnings he handed me £25, “whats this , should be a £100? ” I queried.
No,No said the bookie “A 1/4 of the odds for a plaice “.
Sorry ! HH.
I’m away to hit the hay…
night bhoys..
Don’t eat horse meat full stop as it gives you the trotts
BT
Ye never answered me, do you like duck eggs? Their due to start laying again in February.
Weefra HH
67Heaven-We’re related through drink,but he gets ratty on the Red Rum.
weefra
sorry mate, never tried them before..
There’s only one Neighl Lennon!
Full time score from Marbella;
CELTIC 2
STALL BUCHAREST 1
HH.
WeefratheTim
22:04 on
15 January, 2013- Right on the nose with that one HH
I have no idea how many horses are slaughterd in the USA, but this site is eyeopening.
http://www.baba-mail.com/Content.aspx?emailid=2386&memberid=758432
Weefra, don’t be starting the duck egg debate at this time of the night, we’ve just finished our horses doofers ;-)
big g
22:00 on
15 January, 2013
67Heaven
Here was me thinking you were pasture prime
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Cheekie pastured….
I’m with Weefra ,horses should not be eaten ,beautiful animals.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzYzVMcgWhg
pogmathonyahun aka laird of the smiles
22:11 on 15 January, 2013
Weefra, don’t be starting the duck egg debate at this time of the night, we’ve just finished our horses doofers ;-)
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
Haven’t read back.
Has anyone received their Juve ticket through the post yet?
I am still waiting and would like to know it is definitely coming the same way I got my group stage tickets.
How farrier are we going to go with these…..?
sftb-Nothing here so far re ticket.
voguepunter
22:13 on 15 January, 2013
I’m with Weefra ,horses should not be eaten ,beautiful animals.
absolutely brilliant video……!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SFTB
If you’re on ‘home ticket scheme’ tickets should be posted out around 17th Jan.
BT
If ye like eggs, you will love them. As soon as they start laying I’ll give ye a couple to try them. I also have hens that lay green shelled eggs, seriously, high in protein and low in cholesterol. Obviously a cherished breed. :))
BT
Sorry
Weefra HH
Weefra
thanks mate, looking forward to them..
!!bada bing!!
22:06 on 15 January, 2013
67Heaven-We’re related through drink,but he gets ratty on the Red Rum.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
is “red rum” no cockny for bum ?
Zanetti hits the post
BT
You are very welcome.
Weefra HH
Since I posted 10 mins ago, according to the clock 25 horses have been slaughtered, and over half a million chickens in the same time…..sobering thought
67Heaven
Are you wanting to (accidently) fall down them apples n pears.
67Heaven
LOL!!
HH
Celtic_First 21:59 on 15 January, 2013
Kirk Broadfoot just missed a sitter in the FA Cup.
If they go out he’ll have egg on his face.
Kirk Broadfoot own goal may sink Blackpool. They were on the brink of winning 1-0 in 90 minutes. Fulham equalised with the last kick of normal time and now lead 1-2. Three minutes to go.
Poor old Kirk.
Hoofed up the park by Aliadi
celtic_first
21:59 on
15 January, 2013
Kirk Broadfoot just missed a sitter in the FA Cup.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
what’s a horse doing playing in the FA Cup…??
tet
Before I retired, I was doing some H&S work in the Vion Foods factory in Broxburn, and was gobsmacked to learn that 4,800 pigs were slaughtered every day in their abattoir. Such is the UKs demand for bacon and pork products. And I just love smoked bacon.
Weefra HH