These pages have seen Gordon Strachan written off many times since those four days in August 2005 when Celtic conceded nine goals to Artmedia and Motherwell. Last night, as Scotland manager, he got the breaks. First, at the most ridiculous dive for a penalty ever perpetrated by a player on a yellow card (and I have seen Steven Naismith), then, when tired defensive limbs contrived to concede a late winner for Scotland.
If he gets a result away to Slovenia on Sunday, he will have earned whatever grudging appreciation goes his way. A generation of adults have never seen Scotland at an international tournament. They don’t know the joys of losing 3-0 to Morocco, watching a defensive wall shirk at a free kick, or celebrating as an Iranian scored an own goal to deliver a point. It’s time they learned.
Little about Scotland’s success is good news for Celtic. Should we win the league, our first qualification round will start two weeks after the tournament kicks off. Although that round is unlikely to provide a particularly stiff challenge, consider what happened to Newco when they arrived unprepared against Luxembourg semi-professionals.
Even if Scotland don’t reach the finals in Russia, a second place finish in the group for Scotland would see the players face two play-off games in the middle of our Champions League group games, and the possibility of a League Cup final.
Brendan Rodgers will wish his players every success, but he would surely not be too distressed to share hard luck stories with them when they return to training next week. The club-v-country debate has kicked around for decades, but I doubt if any club/country combo has seen it as acute as it is for Celtic and Scotland right now.
Catch up with this CQN Podcast from last month when we interviewed Celtic star from the Centenary season, full back Chris Morris. It’s a great listen…
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Celtic by Numbers.
Read your latest piece earlier. Thank you.
It’s good to get an informed view on things instead of reading the usual rabble on here ;-))))
Has big Jimmy flounced? Huvny seen him post in a while. Or should I say, HUVNY seen him POST!!!
I think I saw MACJAY flounce in a rather low key manner a few nights ago.
Flouncing should be banned during International breaks. They put everyone a’ wrong.
Gerry , he does. I phoned him when I was in the queue to let him know.
He might not be able to go as he is down to work 3 -11 on the 21st. He is trying to get someone to do the first two hours of that shift , with him starting at 5.
GERRYFAETHEBRIG where is the caps lock. lol.
okay tony i know you lurk on this blog. i apolligise about the act of settlement.
France one up on Bulgaria in under four minutes.
Big Packy :-)
I enjoyed your shouting the other day while reading at work
Dallas
Not sure about the Dundee Utd scorer but Inverness goalscorer today Joe Chalmers formerly with us & Motherwell think his dad or other family members post on here, delighted another ex-celt doing well, also young Josh down at Brighton , Jude’s grandson, even wearing the hoops must be special love to see ex-players with a connection to us doing well
Trying to watch football on my iPad, but the wi-fi in the wee cottage in the Western Isles izny up tae fancy dan stuff like “streamin'”
BIG PACKY
Sorry you lost your mate
Church going Catholics are devout
That other mob are staunch ;)))
HH
There has been a bit of a debate over the pros and cons of the national side making the WC in Russia. Personally I’m neither here or there over it as like a huge percentage of my generation the country’s football side does nothing for me, however, I do realise that most of the players want to represent their country if nothing more than playing on the world stage.
So as I approach my 8th decade here’s my take on WC’s in which Scotland took part.
Scotland has only appeared at 8 WCs and hasn’t exactly set the proverbial heather on fire. The first which even I have no memory of was in Switzerland 1954where there seemed to be more dignitaries and their WAGs than players, while a 22 man squad was permitted by FIFA Scotland only travelled with 13.
Only 2 games were played, a respectable 0-1 loss tae war torn Austria (I say that with tongue in cheek as the fatherland were the eventual winners) and a shocking 0-7 loss tae the holders Uruguay where prior tae this game the manager Andy Beatie resigned in protest allegedly tae the poor preparations for the tournament.
Andy incidentally was a relatively successful manager down south and while on holiday in Aberdeen spotted a skinny wee bespectacled puny 14 year old playing on the beach, he invited him down tae Huddersfield for trials and after signing him sent him for an operation to correct his squint. That wee laddie would eventually feature in a couple of record transfers and be one of the first uk players to move tae Italy – Denis Law.
BTW Scotland had quite a good squad of players; even if only 13 of them, for this tournament including Bobby Evans, Neilly Mochan and Willie Fernie, nae deidco players as they were exempted tae allow them a money spinning tour of the US.
Sweden 1958 was my first WC and the 1st televised. Brazil had embarrassed themselves also in Switzerland with the “Battle of Berne” in a quarter final against Hungary where 42 free kicks and 2 penalties were awarded, with 4 bookings and 3 players sent off.
The ill-temper continued after the game, with the Brazilian players invading the Hungarian dressing room and continuing the on-pitch fighting. Despite evidence from independent witnesses of violent conduct from both sides, football’s governing body FIFA did nothing, leaving discipline to the respective countries, nothing seems to have changed there.
Now they had a reputation to repair and by God they did. All 4 home countries made this tourney with Scotland being the poorest. Once again we had Bobby Evans and Willie Fernie in the squad along with Bobby Collins, but there were 4 deidco players including sammy baird !!!!!. 6 of the squad were 30+ including Eddie Turnbull at 35, contrast that with Brazil having a smattering of 20 year olds as well as Altafini aka Mazzola 19 and Pele 18.
Matt Busby had been retained as manager but the Munich air disaster put paid to that so Clyde trainer Dawson Walker ??? got the gig, must have been because of his 2 surnames. Meanwhile Wales appointed Matt’s assistant manager at Old Trafford, James Patrick Murphy whose main responsibility was to bring on the future “Busby Babes”, which included Duncan Edwards and Bobby Charlton, as their manager.
Scotland were home again before the postcards following a credible 1-1 draw with Yugoslavia, but 2 losses to Paraguay 2-3 (who are they we all asked) and France 1-2 who had already gubbed the South Americans 7-3 and would top the section on goal average while Scotland finished bottom.
If my memory serves me well no Scottish games were shown on the tele, there must have been some teuchter or junior games on at the same time.
England could only tie all their group matches so the like Scotland was home early. Meanwhile both NI and Wales made it through tae the quarters.
France were a very good side, with Marrakech born Just Fontaine and Raymond Kopaszewski aka Kopa of Real Madrid in their ranks, and gubbed the black north 4-0 in the quarters. While a Pele goal took care of Wales.
The same player scored a hat trick in the 5-2 semi humphin of France and 2 more in a similar victory over the host nation in the Final.
Next up was the 1974 WC and I must admit to being quite excited about this one mainly as a result of the huge Celtic connection in the squad but once again the sfa effed it up when the wee mhan, much tae the delight of the Slavic squad especially their left back, was left out completely for the final and decisive sectional match.
1978 and I’m over here now and it’s the only WC since they were first televised that I never saw, lucky me, seemingly the country was running around with “see you Jimmy” hats and singing of “Ally’s Tartan Army, until another shameful display with a 1-3 loss tae Peru and a dreadful 1-1 tie with Iran but hey they did beat the dikeplugers in their final game with what has been described as one of the greatest ever WC goals, so what hame again before the postcards.
1982 rolls around and the Big Mhan is in charge, IMHO the game which eliminated them was not the 1-4 loss tae Brazil but the 2-2 draw with Russia when Jock for some inexplicable reason played 3 left side defenders with 2 of them running intae each other which allowed the Ruskies tae score. What I couldnae understand then was why Jock left out the best young centre half in the country at the time, a player who had BFDJ in his pocket that season – Mr. 132 years of unsurpassed dignity.
My only real memories of the 1986 WC are being in a pub in Balloch when the Big Mhan passed away and sir furious petrified tae play the new deidco player/manager in the final game against Uruguay.
And so we move ontae the 1990 one in Italy where the highlight for me was Packie Bonnar’s penalty save, a player that I reckon was a better one for his country than his club. Apart from that there was the humiliation of the country I still call hame losing tae Costa Rica. Once again home early this time before the faxes.
Now it’s 1998 and we have stopped the tainted 10, won the LC as well and have 10 players in France, 8 for the national side plus big Morten and the Grim Reiper for Denmark while the much lauded deidco have the token hun durie and the second best player in his family in the aforementioned squads, the latter was for the joe the toff tae Chelsea that summer. That would be the difference between success and failure for our wee club the following season.
As apart fae a tired squad and the losing of our manager we also lost big Marc tae injury, that was a huge blow tae us. Ironically in a season that promised so much and which deidco won the treble our wee talisman, now turned intae a striker by our new manager who gave us Lubo and big Dolph, was voted POTY for both the players and the sportswriters.
Oh and once again Scotland suffered another embarrassing defeat 0-3 tae Morocco and are hame again before the e-mails this time.
Looking back I would caution those that hope a team full of Celts Progrès tae Russia next summer.
I think Scotland stopped making world cups & european championships around the same time as employee benefit trusts were introduced …
coincendence ?
I hope Scotland, wgs, Mark McGhee and all the Celtic players get a chance to get to a play-off then hopefully Russia, I also think Brendan Rodgers would love his players to also achieve this
Celtic will benefit in my opinion
Gerry , I forgot Joe Chalmers was at Caley after being released by Motherwell.
Its a pity Josh didnt play for Brighton reserves when they beat the Sevco development team, last month .
TT
Jinky not getting a game in 74 was pure unadulterated hunnery
However I will still be ageing quitly tomorrow afternoon as the thought of 7 Celts in a Scotland team at a World Cup vilifies our forebears who where pished on.
Doctors, Teachers, Trademen of high order, entrepreneur’s, oh and Lawyers
Now ‘the unseen feinan hand’ finally gives the ‘Jinkys’ of this world their place at the top table
HH
WEET WEET WEET. thanks but he might come round knowing i was wrong about the act of settlement hail hail.
What I couldnae understand then was why Jock left out the best young centre half in the country at the time, a player who had BFDJ in his pocket that season – Mr. 132 years of unsurpassed dignity.
who was that tt ?
Big Packy
Yes the act of Settlement does not apply.
I think there is another mechanism which prevents a Catholic becoming Prime Ministers- there is every possibility that I am wrong, however Mr Blair did not converted until he left No 10
SAINT STIVS on 7TH OCTOBER 2017 8:22 PM
What I couldnae understand then was why Jock left out the best young centre half in the country at the time, a player who had BFDJ in his pocket that season – Mr. 132 years of unsurpassed dignity.
who was that tt ?
*mcleish, who big Billy wanted tae take tae Parkheid
JINKYREDSTAR you starman.i knew there was something preventing a catholic becoming pm.
Less than 12 months ago the calls for Gordon Strachan to be sacked from the Scotland job were deafening. Since the defeat at Wembley Scotland have won 13 points out of 15. There is no coincidence that the improvement in Scotland’s performance coincided with WGSs decision to go with the core of Celtic players in his team. Gordon Strachan who so many have derided won 3 league titles in 4 seasons with Celtic and reached the last 16 of the CL twice. A feat BR would do well to equal. Hh.
Gordon64 8.32pm
Spot on, and Leigh Griffiths being a massive difference (as well as Broony & co)
Even more more impressive as we all know how stubborn our Gordon (Strachan) is :-)
Gordon64
Yip
But scottish media have go their before you.
But yer right
TT – what a very informative and comprehensive post, really enjoyed reading that. On another note and not just because of his performance the other night, but I’d love to see Skirtel in the hoops….always liked him when I watched him at Lpool
Their is no legal impediment to a Catholic becoming Prime Minister.
CORKCELT now im confused thanks for the info. know your a big tim i give up ktf.
Tontine Tim at 8.01, tremendous post.
I agree with you , the losing Marc Reiper was a huge blow. He was a huge influence in the stop the ten squad.
McLeish would have been a good signing for us at the time . I had a grudging respect for him asca player.
Now , I cant stand him . Another who became a joke and horrible hun apologist.
Two Motherwell fas I know absolutely detest him for footballing and non footballing reasons .
Big Packy, I’m absolutely certain of it, the reason the Monarch can’t be Catholic is that they are the automatic Supreme Governer of the Church of England.
So as the Titular head of the Church of England, they can’t be Catholic, there is nothing like that applying to the Prime Minister.
Big Packy
Corkcelt is right – Ian Duncan Smith is a Catholic and led the tories – as is Jacob Rees- Mogg who may be in the running.
CORKCELT yes thats why i got confused cyber pint to you see you in the temple bar. hail hail
Didn’t realise Macjay had flounced. :-))) That’s funny. What happened? Did he get found out again?
Big Jimmy too. He can be intense but decent poster.
MWD
Dallas 8.55pm
Not sure if one of the Motherwell fans you refer too, is our mutual Motherwell fan fellow workmate, but the one I know doesn’t rate McLeish he refers to him as being able to “destroy a team” not build one :-)
Talking of Marc Reiper, I have seen both him and Morten Weighorst sitting in the South Stand at some of our games over the past ten years.
Gerry, its not Mr P.
Its two brothers I know. One used to work in our place , the other still does.
Both had a connection to a Motherwell director so had good info about McLeish.
They would both agree with the coment made with the Well fan you know.
Gordon64
And as well as some fine qualifying for CL and league champs it was all boring as feck to watch.
MWD
No Moonbeams, he had a post deleted as the Moderator said he was implying that other posters were Bigots.
He took issue with the Moderator’s decision & thanked Paul & the team for the service he HAD enjoyed.
Must say he was a guy I could never get on with even though when he stuck to football, we had plenty in common.
However he did leave with dignity and to be honest if something similar happened to me I would in all probability have done the same,
Corkcelt
We seem to lose a lot of posters when certain subjects which polarise opinions are raised. Gives the moderators a thankless job trying to unpick the threads to decide who broke the blog rules.
Now where’s my poppy? :))
BUL v FRA – not a lot happening
Corkcelt 9.09pm
I understand some of the grief Macjay got and probably some might say deserved but face to face he is as much a Celtic fan as the next Celtic fan sometimes words written down seem a lot worse when even uttered in a conversation, I know for a fact I treat Macjay as the person not the poster, anyhow fellow Celtic fans we live in great Celtic times logging off to cheer on wee Ricky Burns
Good night & God bless
Mon the Scotland the morra :-)
There is no impediment re a Catholic becoming Prime Minister -but,,-there would be impediments re a Catholic PM and certain statutory stuff re the Church of England and the Church of Scotland..That would be circumvented by someone else (a non Catholic) doing that part of the job