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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Inter score
Inter score in last minute of ET to win 3-2 – good cup-tie.
At least we’re not saddled with a replay
My dear,dear,dear,friend.. Jungle Jim
Well , Palomlne..
Our Faith in Mo.. wiz somewhit vindicated. Mo, showed that there is a loat mair
tae come fae, him..and he wiz lively..and speedy ,tae.
which is guid.
He is no jist anither…”No Hoper”….like..well.
Murphy or.. Miku.. Yep.. Miku ,Is a no Hoper…awright.
Lassad, has promise.. He may come good.. but.. Murphy and Miku, should be shown the quickest way oota the Premises.
Mo’s Goal.. wull Buck up the Youngster, no end.
Kojo
Yer pal..who likes ye aloater.
Still, Laughin’
I backed a horse called Hovis the other day. The big ootsider won it.
Inter win it in last minute of extra time.
Kirk Broadhoof having a ‘mare.
Gonny gie up the horsey jokes….ya bunch a saddles….
Emu
was that Inter Milanda
i`m feeling a bit giddy
Charlie, Jabba & Swally suffer yet another slap in the coupon from the SFA at the appointment of WGS!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mw0riLqQBj0
Bada Bing & voguepunter
Cheers for the reply.
I should trust to the system but I find it difficult to understand why they are posted out so late. In the event of their going missing, it will be too late to join the “additional tickets” sale on the same day.
Did Regi Blinkers no used to own horses?
Ah`ve had ma filly this for tonight
Next big match on ESPN Peterhead v Sevco
sftb-I agree,if your ticket doesn’t arrive by a set date,you would have time to rectify it before non ST holders/public sale.
Did Paddock McCourt play tonight?
Whinny ye gonny stop the horse jokes?
That Scottish 3rd Division is a two horse race.
Hopefully the horse ‘puns’ won’t be furlong.
You wouldn`t get this on a Spurs blog….
Meanwhile in the SPL ,Celtic are home and hosed.
Spurs?…..or Jodpurs….cockney rhyming slang
31003
I’m sorry I started it :(((
Weefra HH
Great to see Mo Bangura scoring tonight and celebrating in a bridled joy fashion.
The CQN neigh-sayers will have bolted.
A wee bit off track maybe but remember Celtic v deid orcs in eighties ! Roddy Mc Donald game ! Queueing up outside the four turnstiles at Celtic end some equine mounted peeler lady was trying to keep order but causing havoc as usual ! She was getting pelters so she threatened arrests in an aggressive angry way then a shout came up causing the queue to errupt in laughter ‘ that’s the first time av seen a cow oan tap ae a hoarse !! Old timers will register the humour !
Some here choose to stirrup the pot.
My jacket’s on already
The horsey jokes are poor….no matter how ye dressage it up…
31003
was there not a talking horse with a name incredibly similar to your good self?
Punched Craig Burley after the commentary tonight, high on adrenalin, stable now!
Long time since I had a fish supper from Equi’s
WeefratheTim
Quite a lot all things considered.
That clock thing I posted is mind numbing, still no too many horses getting the cull tho.
Bobbyrussell…..me old palomino …yer dead right
H T
You got another job as well as this one?
That sandwich I had earlier wiz made wi a thorough bread
BobbyRussell
22:41 on15 January, 2013
You wouldn`t get this on a Spurs blog….
No………. but you might get in on the Bolton Wanderers blog (Trotters)!
Hear Celtic won at a canter