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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Nite nite Timland tet thanks for that.
Weefra HH
All the best to WGS.
He will ultimately be remembered as a very successful manager who got the best out of what was a very limited group of players. Celtic on the whole were terrible to watch a disjointed team with many weaknesses. A back four of Telfer McManus Caldwell & Naylor was lacking in pace and physical presence although at the time I always rated Caldwell and has throughout his career been first pick for every manager he has played for at the highest level. A midfield of Mcgeady Brown Donati & Nakamura not a ball winner between them meant Celtic only regained possesion in their back four with the whole pitch in front of them. Two strikers VofH and skippy who did a decent job but lacked pace meaning Celtic were easy to play against. This was highlited a number of times with Dundee Clyde and most SPL sides throughout the season outplaying Celtic.
Where WGS came good was man management he had a limited squad ready to bust a gut and win for their manager. Fitness levels were high with training brutal at times. He never criticised his players in public a trait that if BTM had used might have kept him in a job. After Celtic were knocked out of Arsenal in CL BTM slated certain players and the same players who bust a gut for WGS did not try a leg for BTM.
Winning three titles out of four a Scottish cup and league cup was excellent although it has to be said he was up against a really poor Rangers team. Good luck wee man.
I sincerely hope that no-one E-V-E-R tries to slag off us moonhowlers after tonight’s performance.
Admittedly,we needed a wee break from the heavy-duty stuff of last night,but relentless horse jokes?
Geezabrek,fellas-I post one every Saturday morning,and that’s enough for me………
bmcuw
Well said that man.
Weefra HH
sid
You were doing well till your last sentance……
We got done bt the cheats with the whistles, nothing more, nothing less.
HH
TET
Yes i agree hopefully that will be proven shortly and highlights the years we were successful inspite of this.
Quite a dramatic arrest just off Crow Rd tonight.
I was sauntering home when a guy came running across Crow Rd holding his trousers up, passing about ten yards in front of me.
Now he might have been spotted doing a shit somewhere, but he matched the description of the Crow Road rapist perfectly.
He ran up the side street then fell over.
Then four police cars screamed to a halt in Crow Rd, and I pointed to where the guy was.
They grabbed him, and I could see he was the same height, age, complexion, and had the same accent as the suspect.
So fingers crossed they’ve got the rapist.
The police circled about after, and as I watched from my window they asked an apparently confused girl in Sainsburys car park if she was okay.
They let her walk away, so I suppose she was fine.
Welcome to the Celtic family young Thomas Rogic. The coming days and hopefully years will now be the most magical of your life.
About time we had an another aussie hitman in hoops.
Did someone mention a horse joke?
What made the hearse horse hoarse?
The coffin.
It’s not the coughin’ that carries you off, but the coffin they carry you off in.
Hardy-har-har-har!
“I’m sure Tom watched the games against Barcelona and realised playing for Celtic in the Champions League is second to none.
“It is great for him, too, as Celtic is a team full of young talents who are looking to improve and have great careers. Celtic is a great place for Tom to start in European football.”
Johan Mjallby
Celtic Legend and another in the making.
miki67, I remember my dear old granny coming out with that one.
Thanks:-)
What’s the fuss around pony watts comment on not knowing anything about his opponents last night?
Ach well, dont talk. I’m away to play stable tennis oan ma own…………wi a long face.
For anyone who missed the game today
The first half was terrible.
The highlights were the obtrusive adverts which appeared down the side and at the bottom of the screen.
All three goals from Alanmac.
WARNING
The following clip contains a goal from Mo Bangura. Persons with heart issues should view with caution.
http://youtu.be/AYJboa2rFRA
GG, I completely disagree, the highlight was Mo Bangura’s hair do, I thought he’d stolen a bunnet from a drug crazed student. I hope it catches on, I’m getting mine done just like that on Friday so I look good oan saturday at paradise.
Smoke me a kipper.
a ceiler gonof rust
As one of the follicly challenged hair is not something I value much.
Mo’s hair will probably appearing in Scandinavia come February.
GG, I suspect you may be correct. But for one week only ACGR will salute the hairdo and the man.
We may never see his like again, wi a noggin like that.
Dont worry about being bald, they say i’ts a sure sign of a massive
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scalp
HH Bruv (and hair hair)
As they say in Naka’s village:-))
The movie adaptation of Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina opens in Australia 14 February. Have any CQNers back in the old country seen it, and if so, what are your thoughts?
Herald say Rogic headed to Glasgow to agree personal terms.
I hope he doesn’t expect sunshine
http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/football/rogic-will-return-to-scotland-with-celtic-as-deal-nears-completion.19933847
So will he be a bench warmer or a regular?
One hour on and I see no posts.
Peace in Timland.
The healing powers of an away win in Europe?
Good morning Timland from a wintry Gorlitz , home of Michael Ballack. If young Rogic can be another MB that will do for me.
Heading back to cool Berlin in a few hours ; need to pick the restaurant for tonight for the guys , so Cheerio for now.
Happy we are getting rogic and id be 99% sure he would have got more money at qpr. Fair play to the young lad.
Do we look like bringing anymore players in ? Or we gonna make do with rami and rogic .. I still like to see us spend on a striker.
Would let bangura ad murphy go for very little to get them off wage bill.
Good morning friends from a dry and slightly frosty East Kilbride.
good morning jobo
ticketbus – so it didn’t snow yesterday after all ;-)
Off to work, have fun y’all!
Good morning. Feeling good about the game last night. I know it was a kick about but our bhoys just seemed so good at it. Hope this new Aussie signs he seems to be the goods.
Morning,
CENTRAL Coast Mariners FC wish to officially advise that terms have been agreed for the transfer of Tomas Rogic to Celtic FC.
Rogic will now travel to Glasgow from Spain with ‘The Bhoys’, and will discuss personal terms with the Scottish giants over the coming days.
The Herald has Chuckles as the second most important man in Scottish Football. If that is the case, we might as well close down Scottish Football right now.
I will not subject CQN to their ridiculous reasoning.
According to reports Celtic beat QPR, Fulham, Reading, Bruges, Rayo Vallecano and Celta Vigo to Rogic’s signature.
Well done Celtic for showing that we can sign young players in front of EPL clubs, Welcome young Rogic to one of Britain’s biggest clubs, next up the Minis..
A balmy -5 in the valley…brrrrric
Top of the morning to you all from a freeeeeeeeezing Fife where the sky is lit by the most beautiful shades of crimson to pink from the East.
Just dropped in to say…….
I’m not on to cause any bother or that but
Were the culprits – bigging-up – Miku/Lassad/Bangura
the same fholk who are now doing the same to – Rogic ?
Only asking like…..
HH
See the tabloid posters on again
Stop reading hype and sensationalism, or bigging up
Paul67 had an article on kissing frogs
Lets hope Rami and maybe soon to be signed Rogic will be frogs with great potential
Good morning from a very frosty and slightly foggy North East Fife.
All these terrible puns last night; I can only suspect people saw their mane chance and took it.
Morning all
It was good to see the mighty Celtics in action again last night, even if it was all a bit rubbish. But at least I can say I saw Mo Bangura score the winner against European opposition.
Happy Wednesday everyone :-)