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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Stein……….
:)))))
Nope, brothel piano-player (ret’d)
Telluzabootkeef CSC
Beedie-beedie-bare-bum!
Last train to Wimbledon Station
an tearmann
09:57 on 22 June, 2014
It was indeed a great day with a great spread of food and drink, oldtim you did us proud.
Made 09:30 okay mate, great to meet you at last.
Thanks very much to Mrs. BT for the lift home.
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
srs
That’s reassuring but, unfortunately, no guarantee that he would actually get to the station on time!
:-)
HH!!
DBBIA
Everybody in the Wimbers pic has a EuroChamps67 moustache, the ole style guru that he is.
bankiebhoy1 11:33 on 22 June, 2014
Embdy that retires fae that job has lost a lust for life.
Re: Jacksie. Very disturbing claim from someone who knows him regarding his favourite team.
I refuse to believe the claim, but this boy insists Jacksie is not a Hun/Zombie/Orc/decent journalist.
Well, I agreed with him, on the last point.
Wee Lindsay Wagner * The Bionic Woman * is 65 years young today.
Howolddoesthatmakeyoufeel CSC
My friends in Celtic,
We have discussed Craig Gordon to death.
Last few words from myself on this subject.
He has been without a club for 2 years for a reason.
I thought the appointments of RD & JC was a chance for a new dawn and a fresh approach.
Not the same old policies of resurrecting “has beens” careers and providing them with a last pay day.
Ambition : I’m reserving my judgement.
HH.
They don’t make moustaches like they used to.
Modern day moustaches are rubbish!
Except the great Desmondo of course.
HH!!
Ole style guru #1
Ole style guru #1
Tallybhoy 11:36 on 22 June, 2014
True. He was travelling from South Wimbledon to Paddington. That involves a couple of changes. The possibility of hazards, distractions, adventures are endless.
If, as JC is reportedly saying I today’s chip wrappers is true, and we will be looking to buy Scottish, who is available and good enough?
Whilst there are some decent prospects coming through in SPFL premiership I would be more inclined to play more of our own youngsters. Henderson, Fisher, Fraser, Twarzyck, Herron etc. should be given a chance to prove themselves good enough for the first team.
The only Scottish based player I would sign at the moment is Stuart Armstrong
Greenpinata 11:46 on 22 June, 2014
Who was the last ‘has been’ to come to Celtic?
Stein……………
I still do some pro-bono work, just to keep my hand in………
……re yer pal……..
I bet he thinks Chic supports St Mirren as well?
;)
( I’m still none-the-wiser)
Srs…. Probly Freddie
bankiebhoy1 11:59 on 22 June, 2014
Think of the most ludicrous claim regarding where Jacksie’s allegiance supposedly lies.
I got the ole “I swear on my life” chestnut, from Jacksie’s pal, when I suggested he had been sniffing glue this morning.
SRS- Roy Keane?
G67- I like McGinn at St Mirren, looks like he has a lot of improvement in him,good pace, awareness,and deceptively strong.
desertbhoy 12:04 on 22 June, 2014
Srs…. Probly Freddie
———
Sounds about right. I’d forgotten about him.
HARALD BRATTBAKK is on his way back to Celtic – for one game only.
The Norwegian striker, who cost £2million when he signed from Rosenborg in 1997, has agreed to play in Paul McStay’s Maestro Charity game at Parkhead on Sunday, September 7.
Brattbakk, who spent three years at the Hoops and helped prevent Rangers from racking up 10 titles in a row, was quick to agree to play in the encounter which will raise money for both the Celtic FC Foundation and the Rio Ferdinand Foundation.
The 43-year-old said: “My first thought was that it would be very nice to return to Glasgow again because I don’t really get the chance to get back much.
“I feel really grateful about it because just the thought of someone wanting to call me to ask me to play makes me very proud.
“I’m really looking forward to seeing all my old friends.
“We know the game is for charity, but I’m sure we’ll try and do our best once we start playing. You never lose your competitive edge.
“The main focus is the charity, but as long as I’m as fit as I can be then I’m going to do my best to not disappoint.
“We should try to do our best to give the people in the stands a good match and try to play some good football. We want to please the crowd.
“I think the most important thing is to show everyone around the club, the supporters, and even people who don’t support the club or those who are not football fans, that this is something we are going to go through with, especially with the history of Celtic.
“Everyone knows how it started and the main thing is to carry on that tradition.”
Brattbakk accepts he could be facing some of the biggest names in football on Rio Ferdinand’s side, such is the lure of the England and Manchester United legend.
He added: “I have never played against Rio, but I know a lot about him.
“Rio is well-known to all the players in Norway and made a huge impact on Manchester United. Anyone who does that has to be a good player.
“I’m sure I’ll be fine once I pull on that top and walk out the tunnel again. I’m really looking forward to it.”
!!bada bing
I like McGinn as well. Would like to see him get another season as St Mirren first team player before thinking about any move for him.
G67- Craig Bryson has a 650k buy out in his current contract,he would get goals from midfield
Stein……………
………Your pal’s name is Leonard Zelig
and I claim my £5!
;)
HansChristianAndersonQuay CSC……..
Steinreignedsupreme @ 11.52 hrs.
What I am suggesting is that by signing Craig Gordon ( On any deal ) is a throwback to the old failed policies that gave us. e.g..
Dion Dublin.
Roy Keane.
Ian Wright.
etc, etc.
Craig Gordon is not a signing for ambition, potential and a fresh approach which the managerial team offer.
HH.
!!bada bing!!
Another good player who would be a good signing but too many EPL clubs sniffing around him. He’ll end up at Burnley or QPR or some other bottom half team.
Armstrong, whilst more expensive than Bryson, is a similar type player who would score as many goals. He is also younger and has the potential sell on value factor in his favour.
steinreignedsupreme
11:52 on 22 June, 2014
Greenpinata 11:46 on 22 June, 2014
Who was the last ‘has been’ to come to Celtic?
________________
Not the last but one that is happy to still make money off the Celtic name….Charlie nick…no pun intended.
sipsini
Got your mail.
Will reply later today.
Off oot to visit my two auld aunties -combined age of 167.
HH!!
It would be great to get the greatest living Norwegian for a Q and A on the bhlog.
I’d like to ask him if he’s flown the Boeing 787 yet.
dbbia
Surely Harald B is the second greatest living Norwegian now after Ronny D?
I’d like to ask him if he has flown the new Airbus 380.
HH!!
Tallybhoy- Ronny D has some big shoes to fill.
I’ll be delighted if he overtakes V.Riseth and wee Anna-Frid Lyngstad on the ole Podium du Norvege.
Greenpinata 12:16 on 22 June, 2014
If Celtic sign Gordon I agree it is not a positive move.
I tend not to get too worked up about transfer rumours, managerial rumours, ect, ect.
I prefer ludicrous claims about Jackson supporting Celtic…
HH
Charlie Nicholas scored 28 in one of the seasons when he came back I’m sure? Not too shabby, Freddie L was a waste of money
Stein…………
stoppit.
……my sides……..!
Steinreignedsupreme
Thank-you for your reply.
I suppose in the close season transfer speculation is understandably rife.
HH.
bankiebhoy1 12:47 on 22 June, 2014
I’m just waiting on this guy falling off his chair. He did swear on his life…
…keep an eye on him as before your very eyes he metamorphoses into a……….
……….craic pipe!
;)
Massive thanks to oldtim for the wonderful food and drink at the ole Grangemouth gala.
Just returned from Celtic park where I discovered Mini BT has graduated into adut sized football tops..
O well, more money for the hoops.
Kev jungle
that after I went to mass at St Marys Calton