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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this playing without a left back isn’t working
Sorry bhoys,Bangura as bad a Celtic player we have had in a long time.
Is NegAnon on yet.
For anyone wondering…….nothing worthwhile is going on
Bankiebhoy
I’m just wondering when the Romanian watershed is……in case we get some of those chat line ads..:-))
lol. gg
KLV
Vic bowls a guy over, some man is our Vic.
Kayal33
That’s what it looks like
Victor having a face to face with a Steua player
Corner Steua
BSR
Noooooo way … Burleys the expert ex celt
Rogne blocks shot for a corner
……….talking of laughs, did anyone see the Haralds run down of the most influential scoddish fooooball……peepil.
Dermot’s write-up epitomised damned by feint praise while a certain controversial bold– as-brass “Great Administrator” was lauded with great regard and all due deference……
An AWOL LB, goalie tries to save the shot while on his bum and up front the guys who own the cars behind Steaua’s goal look out their insurance policies once they notice Bangura’s playng :o)
Johan’s hair is standing on end. Mine would also if I had any
Ole Mo the Bounce Bangura has had one kick of the ball it was a heeder, and he missed it.
This is woeful – but I’m still not switching over to the one show
Burley’s contribution to this game is appalling.
Seems to have done no preparation, keeps asking Derek Rae banal questions , and only stops short of asking ‘who is playing’?
An arrogant , complacent attitude towards customers / subscribers is not particularly clever.
PF
;)
I was hopeful of something a tad fruity masel….but I think espn have stumped up the money and got a proper feed now……pity.
…a wee bit of Burlesque would have taken my mind off the banal Burley…..
hope the 2nd half team better than this one
Anadalucia CSC banner on display..
From CFC twitter account…… Apparently FF is in goal…
8 A moment of hesitancy there in the Celtic defence but Forster eventually races out his box and clears the danger.
6:38pm – 15 Jan 13
V
Snapshot from Steua hits bar I think. Camera work not great. Cannot blame the crew as its only a single Brownie
Great saving tackle by Kelvin
Mo Bangura,quite possibly the worst footballer we have ever signed.
Can’t we get him back to Scandinavia?
Big Vic and Wilson doing ok rest are pretty dire.
Sliding challenge by Kelvin Wilson……….cooooooolllllllllll
I see steaua have parked the bus
Right behind the goal
FF not looking himself tonight.
I’m not sure these commentators know the names of any of the Steaua players.
Good to see Ledley back fit …
What exactly is Burley’s role in this?
Bankiebhoy
Annoy the feck out of Celtic fans …..
SonsofErin
I don’t think they know the names of the Celtic players :-)
aye PF you know a player when you see one…
This is like watching a league game at CP!
Hitting F5 on here is more exciting than the game.
hmmm…. with a puzzled frown on face.
PF…
Surely anyone watching fitba’ would expect more insight than this clown provides…………not just our fans??
BT
Kent you’d have a comment on that :-))