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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Corkcelt
Thanks. I am on the Dryathlon for cancer research but I might justice sn exception tonight!
Jimbo
Gled Mo, wull be oan Show…
Gotta see.. Mo’ o’ Him.. afore , Ah wull pass judgment..
Ah hiv A SNEAKING.. feelin’ that
There is Mo’ tae Mo..than meets the eye, though.
Yep.. He MAY be a Fine Addition tae Celtic’s Fire Power..
jist waitin tae burst forth.
Ah awe fur gien the guy a fair do..
n
So far .. Ah dinna think he goat wan..
He goat aff oan the wrang Fit..
Injured.. that set him back..nae doot..
Yeah..
Let’s see a Wee bit Mair o Mo…We may be in fur a Pleasant surprise..
Kojo
Still, Laughin.
My Dear Kojo….
Whits This….?
Ye’re Tellin’ Us That The American Striker We Are Linked With…
Is Bettah Than Your Numero Uno Fair-Heided Tyro…..
SuperMegaWattie…..??
Wash Yer Mooth Out Wi’ Lysol..Palomine!
Good To See That Oor Ginger Helmsman Hiz Found A Wee Part-Time Job Tae Keep Him Interested….
Before He Return To Take The Reins At Parkheid….
When NL(Inevitably),Moves Oan…
Shouldn’t Be A Hard Act…To Follow Leveine….
Probably The Most Abysmal Performance As A Scotland Manager….
Given The Resources Available To Him…
Yep…Smartest Thing Aboot Leveine Were His Designer Glasses….
And They Were Nuthin’ Tae Shout Aboot..
Yet Oan Here,Back In The Day…
Oor Self-Appointed Football ‘Gurus’….
Settin’ Free The Bares….
An’ Ol’ Moonbeams Wet Dreams….
Were Shoutin’ The Odds…..
Insistin’ That The Badger-Eater Was A ‘Shoe-In’ For Mowbray….
While We Were Both Insisting That NFL Was The ONLY Realistic Option Who Was Available To Celtic…
At That Time……
But What Do THEY Know….??
Anyways…I Observe That You Have Not Yet Apologised For Churchill’s Scandalous Behaviour,When He Inspired The Gallant RAF…….
To Victory Over The Luftwaffe….
In The Battle Of Britain……
Or The Triumph Of The Eighth Army Over Rommel’s Africa Korps..At El Alamein…
Better Make Amends…..Or The Jibbering Lefties Wull Be Oan Yer Tail AGAIN The Nicht ….
Yer Pal…Who Thinks Ye’re Cookin’ Wi Gaz….
SSN……………………………….LeCoist prays Greggs don’t become the next High St victim
Many congrats Henr1k, wonderful moments to be cherished and of course first of the new year is a Tim! Just when we thought last year was great…………
Methinks somebody on here has 2 computers
Like a said..
Toro, is No gonna Play ,the day.
Kojo
Still, Laughin…
johhnyquest
Feel less deflated. No other team won the Big Cup with a team of players so close to the Team`s ground. These other team`s players came from all over their respective countries. We had ten from Glasgow and one from Saltcoats (although I accept I might now be corrected!),
JJ
Amazing co-incidence ok greengray1967
Scroll by option always utilised here and has been for a few years CC, I hear enough drivel from an ex wife!
Kojo
I really am the most positive of thinkers when it comes to Celtic so don`t become over elated when I say that I, too, think there might just be a player hiding in Mo Bangura`s psyche somewhere.
JJ
Never mind aboot fitba,did Bada Bing get his £50 voucher honoured in HMV.
I’m worried sick:O(
VP-Naw.
My dear,dear,dear,friend… The Singing Detective..
Hiya, Pal.. nice tae Greet ye..
Neil, wiz always in oor Hert..pal..
Yep.bait of us…. We knew that he wiz The Promised Wan..
and Noo..
He his Morphed intae..
“The Anointed Wan”
Hard tae believe.. Ah know..
But, accordin tae collies , Relatives .in Situ..
Agudelo ..is a Bettah Player… at this Time..in his Development.. than
Tony.
Howevahhhhh.. those guys are only… Fitba Coaches..
so…
Wida They Know???
Nice chattin..
Kojo
yer pal.. who thinks yer swelleganant.
Still, Laughin
We baith …Always insisted that
Neil, baby.. Didn’t Need No.. Stinkin… MENTOR.
!! Bada Bing!!
Kid yourself on that you were going to buy £50 worth of Spice Girls stuff and you won`t feel so disappointed at your loss.
JJ
Bada nae luck ,good job you don’t need it.hh
Good evening CQNers,
Kojo/The Singing Detective
Will you be taking your bonus on the 06/04/2013 to take advantage of the new tax rates?
Sir Mervyn is a little depressed that some would think of such a thing, but nothing from Dave Cameron as yet, – he probably keep stoum, he usually does when asked to comment on his coterie.
I don’t have much time to waste on frivolous pursuits like internet blogs but I’ll look forward to reviewing any of your comments in the morning.
Congratulations to Henr1k & family!!!
So, Marbella. Behind closed doors. Good thing I saw that before heading off out that way after work…..
corlcelt,
if Rogic playes he will have to be a Celtic player, doube we’de be allowed to play him otherwise.
Well done wgs scot future looking brighter and well done p67 for singing his praises
My dear,dear,dear,friend..JungleJim
Hiya ,Pal…Nice tae meet ya.. as usual.
Yep…
Mo’ has awe the tools..they jist need.. sharpening..
Ah remember,in wan o his fleeting appearances..
He cleverly , collected the ba.. beat his marker…
and Fired a Bullet ,that.. HIT The Post..
Wee things like that.. like the song says..
Mean A Loat..
Right??
Nice Chatting…
Kojo,
yer pal..who thinks yer swell.
we’de be we’de be we’de be
BADA BING
Was it a credit note?
If it was a gift voucher,you are on a sticky wicket,but I think a credit note is different.
Murdoch Bhoy
Ah am Domiciled..oot with the U.K…pal…
Kojo
Still, Laughin
Jackie mac – I saw your reply too late last night.
I haven’t read the one you mentioned but read one called A man of feeling and one called A heart so white. Really liked the 2nd one.
Will look out the one you mentioned, I like short stories and have a loooong plane journey coming up soon.
canamalar
Copy and Paste this:
doubt we`d be.
JJ
sparkleghirl
If you like crime novels, Alex Gray is quite a good writer. I was going to write IMO but it`s not an opinion……it`s a FACT 0:-)
JJ
Singing Detective…..
Pray tell me my son, how come you were able to pen such a long reply to Kojo’s latest ditty within 1 minute. Prepared script or what?
Think you might have outed your collective schizophrenia, in this example of literary premature ejaculation.
As I keep saying with you two…sorry one, you’re never alone with a schizophrenic.
Eat yer heart out Any Gorham.
Ho!
DBB
Courtesy poster on CM, for those without ESPN or Celtic TV, a legal stream.
http://www.laola1.tv/en/int/soccer/international-friendly/steaua-bukarest-celtic-fc-/video/267–108046.html
Macanbheatha – any more attacks last night by the British celebraters
Was a gift card given by HMV after taking something back,they dont refund.Hope somebody steps in and saves their jobs.
I am thinking of going fishing.
Can anyone recommend a nice stream ?
Must be cryptic mind you.
TT
Happy 20th Birthday to Dylan McGeouch
Plus congratulations Henr1ck as well
On the match tonight is any of our trialists getting a run out ?
Dushanbe
Shat, cracker and I’m yer man :-)
kenny mcintyre talking about the upcoming Sport sound. The fans seem to think Strachan is the man for the job…..so far. What a hurting hun this fool is.
Celtic FC Celtic team to face Steaua: Zaluska, Mathews, Rogne, Wilson, Izaguirre, McGeouch, Wanyama, Ledley, Hooper, Bangura, Watt
No mention of the subs yet Bhoys…
Mon the Hoops..
Does anyone know if the game will be on first row sports?
Ernie
Aye, it is..