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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johann murdoch
09:49 on
16 January, 2013
oh and please nae mare horse puns!
I see what you did there.
:>}
Johann murdoch
How about a philippic then? Would that be allowed?
JudeTheVERYObscure.csc
Kev Jungle,
I was bored the last day in work and wrote out a list of Lennys signings.
I think I had the tally as 12 players signed for money and 21 players signed in total (i.e. 9 free transfers). By my reckoning 9/12 signed for money have been successes (Kayal, Hooper, Izaguirre, Forster, Ambrose, Wanyama, Commons, Stokes and Watt). 3 out of the twelve have been failures (Juarez, Murphy and Bangura (so far)).
Of the 9 free transfers we have managed to sign players such as Lustig, Matthews, Mulgrew, Wilson and Ledley. Granted some of them haven’t worked out (Ljunberg, Cha, Majstorovic, Ibrahim). However, I can’t see how you or anyone else for that matter, can complain about Lennys transfer record. He has about a 75% success rate and the majority of players he has signed have dramatically increased in value since they came to the club!!! There are few, if any, clubs who have been as successful in the transfer market as us in the last 3 years!!
The Pantaloon Duck
I think you’ve provided poultry evidence of your identity
Manure v West Ham tonight on ITV down here tonight live.
Should be a good game.
Kev why don’t you move to Germany and watch yer fitbaw, you’d be much happier and I’m sure Bremenquicknews would be glad to add you to their poster, you could even stand in their Tschungle and have some Big Helmut pee down the back of your leg…
EveryonesawinnerbabyCSC
Bt ..no ..was going to phone him tonight re saturday..sorry to hear he isnt in top form hh
niallo83 10:00 on 16 January, 2013
He complains because he is looking for a reaction. He only comes on the stir it.
Maybe if you could prove you have world wide webbed feet, I would change my mind?
Eider way, I’m really not all that bothered; I’m down with it.
Summa yooz are just waaaaay too clever for me. So no one feels left out.
http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/philippic
Oldtim.. hi…good phone you later re pick up in glasgow
Crap weather [ thunder /lightning and big hailstones–the pit bull was bawling like a teething wean ] meant that my Romanian stream was buffering big style .
Watched Inter 3 ——- Bologna 2 instead . A great game . 2 great playmakers —- Cassano and Diamanti . A treat to watch .
Pouring with rain -way down south.
Dharma
Such wit. I canardly contain myself.
Darma
yes definetly…I see what you did there..do you watch QI?
especially against you know who!!!
This’ll always brighten the day.
http://m.youtube.com/#/celticfc?uid=BN-bb-hE7jYlcp4exwXRsQ&desktop_uri=%2Fcelticfc&gl=GB
A white horse walks into a pub and asks for a whisky.
The landlord says: “Hey, we’ve got a whisky named after you.”
The horse replies: “What, George?”
A horse trudges slowly into a pub and orders a drink.
“Evenin’” says the barman, “why the long face?”
A horse walks into a smart cocktail bar.
The doorman says: “Wait you can’t come in here without a tie.”
The horse goes out to his car, looks in the boot and gets a set of jump leads, which he ties around his neck.
He goes back in and says to the barman: “This alright?”
The barman says: “Hmm, ok… but don’t be starting anything.”
A poorly-looking horse limps into a bar with a bandage round his head. He orders a glass of champagne, a vintage brandy and two pints of Guinness.
He downs the lot and says to the barman: “I shouldn’t really be drinking this with what I’ve got?”
“Why, what have you got?”
“About £2 and a carrot.”
Which side of a horse has more hair?
The outside
What’s a horse’s favourite TV show?
Neighbours
A racehorse owner takes his horse to the vet. “Will I be able to race this horse again?,” he asks
The vet replies: “Of course you will, and you’ll probably win!”
Did you hear about the depressed horse?
He told a tale of whoa!
A dead horse walks into a bar and orders a whisky.
“I’m sorry, sir,” says the barman. “We don’t serve spirits.
I’ll get my coat…………..
Black Beauty, she’s a dark horse.
Re philippic
You can always rely on me to lob in an inappropriate conversation killer
niallo83
10:00 on 16 January, 2013
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Good stuff m8.
But….Lustig/Matthews(competing to see who can be injured the longest ?)
Ledley = Invisible man. imo(probably cause I was spoiled by Murdo ?:o)
Ambrose = will be ruined if continues to be used in MF. imo
Commons = 1 season wonder. imo
Stokes = Hot & Cold. imo
Kayal = always injured. imo
Izzy = Will never be the player of his 1st season/how much is he worth ?
Mulgrew = Has to be played in MF(where he’s Magnificent). imo
The rest I’d pretty much agree with.
Points to ponder….
1. Why does Paddy get picked before Dylan ?
2. Where’s the width in the team when JF is oot injured ?
3. Why does Sammi get away with performing for what – 10/15 mins a season ?
All the best m8
HH
All these puns are making me Dewey eyed.
Hughie are you referring to?
starry plough
10:03 on 16 January, 2013
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Heeh, heeh :o)
Lots of LLloooollllll m8
But – knickers in a twist at the same time :o)
Only saying….
HH
kevjungle – murdo’s 30 yds title winning boots 1979
—–
Sammi performs for 10/15mins a season ?
You should give up. But you wont
This is where you get the attention you crave.
Off ott would ye
A truly minging day has just been brightened by hearing a Lazio supporter [on the radio] refer to our Champions League opponents thus —–Rubentus .
From the verb ———-rubare ——to steal.
Maybe the Green Brigade fancy a large tifo..
Biblical rain -way down south.
I know Lewey the 14th was what some people would call a frog but for our purposes I think he fits the bill.
I’d love to know the future of Celtic, however life has decided; no peking!
Getting a headache now.
In fairness it only takes a second to score a goal so the 5 seconds in Europe where Samaras has scored have been worth a hell of a lot.
The running at teams and making goals for others must be worthless.
Kev jungle
as you say, you are entitled to your opinion with regard to DD and the bored (sic)…..problem for other bloggers though is that you insist on ramming that opinion down everyones throat DAY & DAILY
KevJungle,
Lustig and Matthews are both very impressive right backs!! they’ve both had some injuries but I’m happy to keep both at the club. They are a big improvement on Cha and Wilson!!
Stokes/ Kayal and Izaguirre have been very successful for Celtic over the last three years. I agree with you though I would sell all three and try and improve those positions. If they do go I reckon that we will get more money than we signed them for (Kayal alone would get 3-5m). Overall if they gave so a few good seasons and we’re able to make a profit on them they have to be seen as successes!!
I agree with your points on Paddy (time to go) and needing another winger. Lenny admitted as much in an interview last week and the only other signing I think we’ll make in this window will be a left winger!! Spammy has been sensational this season….can’t see your point there and I reckon Rogic will be a cracker. Not often you see such a big guy have such quick feet:-)
proudbhoy
10:25 on 16 January, 2013
______________________________
Admittedly – those 10/15 mins are invaluable but
he’s one frustrating fecker(just like me :o)
Only saying….
HH
Have we signed young Rogic then?
Dharma – hoisin what you did there!
Rogic is an anagram of corgi.
Dog puns?
niallo83
10:33 on 16 January, 2013
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Fair-play to you m8.
You come across as a – guid/reasoned/balanced/savvy
Celtic supporter – not a hint of – happy-clapping.
Loads a guid-stuff aboot ye m8
KTF
P.S. Nobody will talk to you now after yer chat wi me :o)
I think I am onto plums now.
On a down(ie)
31003
10:32 on 16 January, 2013
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Aye – and it joost comes oot the other end !
Only saying…
Barking up the wrong tree there, I’m afraid. Reference to walks would be out, for starters.
Bet that gave you paws for thought.
Nevertheless, I will follow the lead of the blog.
I find it odd on here when we have many clever folk who can see right through the MSM and talk radio shows yet they come on the blog and get wound up by certain folk who are clearly just at it.
Either the people doing the winding up are Huns or just eejits who like to be centre of attention.
Not a great lover of this show but this wee sketch applies here I think.
http://youtu.be/tr5EvZDjUFY
Generally I tend to just scroll past these types but this is just getting stupid now and ruining the blog.
HH
/Bishop B
JambosKickback@jamb0skickback
So a Sevco fan turns up for a chat & Doc Rob clears up a few myths with this terrific post. Well worth a read: http://bit.ly/SInCZL
A Hertz fan giving a few home truths out
Haha Kev have to admit to being a bit of a happy clapper:-) Sorry!! Good chatting to you buddy…..hopefully I won’t be excommunicated for it!!