We’re close enough to the English psyche to intimately understand their hopes and fears ahead of a tournament like the World Cup, but the M74 provides enough space for those of us based within a short distance of Celtic Park to have the kind of perspective that’s not possible for most fans immersed in the moment.
For long enough, England, along with Spain and France, were the perennial underachievers of European international football, which was dominated by “skilful” Italians and “efficient” Germans, while even the Dutch and Czechs have managed vastly more major final appearances than England.
France, then Spain, got the monkey off their backs, but England still relive their regular tournament nightmare, although this time it looks likely they will bow out before troubling any of their players in a penalty kick competition.
So cut England open and what bleeds out? After the game last night Danny Murphy on BBC Radio 5Live tried to offer objective resistance to the idea that England lacked passion from a tidal wave of calls, asking “Where is the Terry Butcher with a blood soaked bandage around his head?”, “Where is the crying Gascoigne?”
Fans often confuse sporting defeat with a lack of will to win. This notion was expressed last August when Celtic lost to Shakhter Karagandy, aided and abetted by an ITV commentator who proposed the notion during live broadcast. I’m pretty sure upwards of 95% of us have played the game at some level, but time seems to remove the memories of what it’s like to be losing in a team sport, and importantly, just how difficult it can be to reverse momentum.
Suggesting professional footballers don’t try during some of the most important games of their season is an embarrassing failure to think from another’s perspective.
Listening to the radio last night and again this morning, there was no dispute to the claim that what England needed was a manager who could lose his temper in the dressing room.
Even Murphy didn’t feel comfortable enough to take on the nation on this one, instead assuring listeners that Roy Hodgson was capable of losing his temper. This was mean to be supportive. It was surely viewed as such by many. This morning, Kevin Phillips trotted out the hoary old “lacked passion” line.
Is there any other field of human endeavour where losing control of your emotions is viewed as an attribute? Football managers exist in a highly competitive, technically exacting environment. At the top level they have to communicate subtle instructions to highly skilled professionals who have heard it all before from lippy managers. By the 30th rant they are all immune and it’s highly unlikely that intimidation led to an increase in performance first time out.
Despite this, managers are supposed to demonstrate a primitive human weakness to an audience who can often scarcely tell the difference between a football match and a pantomime.
We have to be different. We have to be cleverer; let the rest satisfy their need for an alpha-male role model – because make no mistake about it – this is what they’re really craving, while Celtic show uncompromising adherence to getting the best people for the job. On a side, note, can you imagine what appointing Roy Keane would have said about our strategy?
Roy Hodgson has done enough in the game to prove he’s a good manager but he’s more Euro-sophisticate than an archetypal alpha-male. Best of luck to him.
The Celtic Graves Society are having a fundraising raffle to generate funds. 50% will go towards their excellent work and 50% will go to the Northern Ireland Childrens’ Hospice, who looked after Wee Oscar recently. For the cost of a £5 raffle ticket, you can win a singed boot from Scott Brown or from Virgil van Dijk.
To buy your ticket go to Paypal and send £5 to donate@celticgraves.com
Don’t worry if you don’t have a Paypal account, you can still work through Paypal with a debit or credit card. Please add the phrase “Boots Raffle” to the Paypal subject line, and they have asked if you could alert them to which site you picked the message up from, so “CQN” will do.
Good luck
Visit the CQN Bookstore to get Tommy Gemmell to sign your personal copy of his book, All the Best.
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Call up had been Collar, until spell check, got its paws on it
William Ernest Henley. 1849–1903
844. England, My England
WHAT have I done for you,
England, my England?
What is there I would not do,
England, my own?
With your glorious eyes austere, 5
As the Lord were walking near,
Whispering terrible things and dear
As the Song on your bugles blown,
England—
Round the world on your bugles blown! 10
Where shall the watchful sun,
England, my England,
Match the master-work you’ve done,
England, my own?
When shall he rejoice agen 15
Such a breed of mighty men
As come forward, one to ten,
To the Song on your bugles blown,
England—
Down the years on your bugles blown? 20
Ever the faith endures,
England, my England:—
‘Take and break us: we are yours,
England, my own!
Life is good, and joy runs high 25
Between English earth and sky:
Death is death; but we shall die
To the Song on your bugles blown,
England—
To the stars on your bugles blown!’ 30
They call you proud and hard,
England, my England:
You with worlds to watch and ward,
England, my own!
You whose mail’d hand keeps the keys 35
Of such teeming destinies,
You could know nor dread nor ease
Were the Song on your bugles blown,
England,
Round the Pit on your bugles blown! 40
Mother of Ships whose might,
England, my England,
Is the fierce old Sea’s delight,
England, my own,
Chosen daughter of the Lord, 45
Spouse-in-Chief of the ancient Sword,
There ‘s the menace of the Word
In the Song on your bugles blown,
England—
Out of heaven on your bugles blown!
……………………………………….
I’m gutted. The experiment has failed. “We’re” oot! I’m away to take an overdose of cornflakes:-))
Fair’s fair. I thought Ingerlund played like Brazilians: that is to say a bunch of barely concealed f@nnies.
Frankreich looking very strong.
67Heaven –
Iran 0 v Nigeria 0 being the only one for me.
Good news.
A Celtic fan arrested during disorder in Amsterdam in November has been awarded about £3,000 by Dutch courts.
John Quigley, 49, was detained when trouble broke out before the champions league match against Ajax.
He was later acquitted of violence against police. The compensation includes money for time spent in custody and the cost of his ticket.
Five other Celtic fans were given jail sentences but were released pending an appeal.
During the disorder, police made 44 arrests, 28 of them Celtic supporters.
Most were later freed, either without charge or after paying a fine.
Oo et all the pies aye aye. Fat Sallee that’s oo. You will LOVE it!
here he is …
Mathieu Valbuena
Footballer
Mathieu Valbuena is a French international footballer who plays for Marseille in Ligue 1. He plays as an attacking midfielder and a winger and is known for his pace, technical ability, and tenacious style of play.
Born: September 28, 1984 (age 29), Bruges, France
Height: 1.67 m
Weight: 58 kg
Salary: 3 million EUR (2012)
Current teams: Olympique de Marseille (#28 / Midfielder), France national football team (#8 / Midfielder)
10 cm taller than Jinky !
67Heaven … I am Neil Lennon ….The angels are with Wee Oscar in Heaven.. Ibrox belongs to the creditors
20:45 on 20 June, 2014
I’m trying to recall a really disappointing game in this World Cup, but can’t …!!!!
Good point……nearly……Japan-Greece yesterday……would rather watch grass growing!
Generally though, your point is very valid ;-)
67Heaven … I am Neil Lennon ….The angels are with Wee Oscar in Heaven.. Ibrox belongs to the creditors
I’m trying to recall a really disappointing game in this World Cup, but can’t …!!!!
———–
You didn’t stay up last night watching the awful Greece Japan game, despite predicting nil nil before kickoff not putting a bet on it and still watching it all, getting drunker and drunker and making work torture today
This is turning into possibly the best world cup for many a year.
Have classic memories of certain games in previous tournaments but this has had many good games already and only a few poor ones.
Jobo,
Is there odds on the Swiss turning this around to 4 – 3 :-)
Oh, and Well Done John Quigley
Cowiebhoy – can’t see any odds for that but Switzerland are 10/3 to win the 2nd half. Stranger things have happened. But I’m not touching it. Just 1 more goal for anybody will cover my other losses for today ;-)
Nice to see France playing football again.
Lichtsteiner ( cheating ba$$a) and his mates getting a doing from the French :-)) did I ever tell you that he’s on my grudge list after his appalling behaviour with Juventus against Garry Hooper?
Cowiebhoy
There’s a Bosman heading to bellshill very shortly … Miss Raleigh ;)
She worships the Kung fu panda
Sadie’s bhoy
Apparently he’s a fully fledged Swiss banker
Don’t know if this has been posted, but good on Tommo…………
@rsmorrow1964: Good 2c top bhoy back in the game http://t.co/bmcrvJLDOY
Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.
Oops. Should have said ai’m watching a recording of the game and the Swissm sre 2-0 down. I hope it sysys that way.
Evening Timland from a warm hun free mountain valley.
Many thanks to ACGR and his Mrs for a crackin day, I was pure pish at the golf as usual, still a great day.
Oh and 4-3 to the Swiss is 200/1
HH
Yes like the look of Valbuena but out of our league as regards wages. Maybe John Collins has some dirt on him he could use to negotiate with ;-)
see Goodwillie is a free agent ….any interest from oor new Mgt duo…?
I reckon an england win is a cert next week, Costa Rica will play their 2nd team, round about evens, free money >}}}
HH
Neustadt-Braw
Hope no:))))))
TET
Was thinking similar. If CR lose 2-0 and Italy win 2-0 (or any 4 goal combination swing) then Italy top group @ 11/1 (currently).
must have had a hard time oh it a school with that surname … braw
Big Cup Winners
If your about mate, any chance of resurrecting the Celtic quiz ?
Friday night ain’t quite the same without it!!!
Plus I’ve got withdrawal symptoms !!
P
Only 8/1 with bet365, feckin cheapskates.
Still think they will win tho, but I thought they would win last night as well >}
HH
the exiled tim
21:10 on 20 June, 2014
I reckon an england win is a cert next week, Costa Rica will play their 2nd team, round about evens, free money >}}}
——
Have Costa Rica won the group? Thinking they might have something to play for if not…
England will go with all their weans plus Lampard I think. Would back the young English to make an impact and, as you say, at evens is a good bet.
watching this No 8 is driving me nuts …lookingforpointsofreferencecfc…
Stringer Bell
4 goal swing +/- and Italy would win Group.
the exiled tim
21:10 on 20 June, 2014
I reckon an england win is a cert next week, Costa Rica will play their 2nd team, round about evens, free money >}}}
HH
——
In the interests of international relations, I hope England win next week by the second largest winning margin of the Finals so far… :)
a braw Pogba ba through …4.0
Sugar! Only took France @-1!
Senderos = Liability
Benzer does the business again.
A good team are Les Francais. National anthem aired.
som mes que un club
20:49 on 20 June, 2014
As you say good news for the bloke, I’m sure it will be reported in the rags tomorrow…then again!
and its 5