Heart of a Lion, the autobiography of Lisbon Lion, Willie Wallace, went to print this morning and will be out the day before the Cup Final. It is a joy.
Willie starts with a remarkable 17 days in April 1967 when the takes us through five games, Dukla Prague, home and away, in the semi-final of the European Cup, England v Scotland at Wembley, a tense league encounter with Aberdeen and the Scottish Cup final. Before you get into the substance which made the man, or his more famous achievements which were to follow the next month, you are immersed in sense of possibility, of sheer wonder, and of incredibly hard games of football, that encapsulated these times.
His story is genuinely unique, being the only Lisbon Lion Jock Stein went out of his way to buy, for good reason. His pace was unparalleled in the game. His scoring rate at Hearts was excellent but at Celtic he outperformed his peers – and that was an incredible team of peers.
We learn a valuable insight into how a team who had won nothing in seven years before Jock Stein’s arrival were transformed and swept all before them. Willie gets right into the detail of tactics and preparation.
The Great Event is there in all its intricate detail. Neil Lennon should make every player in the squad read it before Champions League duty commences next season. It would inspire the most desolate soul.
Willie asked CQN to publish the book, which we did. There are contributions from our own Brogan Rogan Trevino and Hogan, who believe me, does not disappoint. Close friend of Jock Stein, and the most influential broadcaster in Scottish football history, Archie MacPherson, wrote a chapter giving historical context to this extraordinary career. Archie’s range and insight is priceless.
We tentatively asked our very own A-lister, Rod Stewart, if he would write the foreward. Willie has been away from Scotland for a long time, a lot of football has been played since, and Rod’s been busy in the intervening years, but he was delighted to be asked. Rod explains his father’s Hibernian roots and through his “star-struck eyes” tells us Willie “might as well have had a four-leaf clover as a heart”.
Rod finished by saying “Bless you, Mr Wallace”, which I’ll echo. I can’t tell you the sheer joy it’s been in participating in this project. My enormous thanks, Willie.
You can order online NOW by clicking below. Willie is coming over this month and we’re getting a pile of books signed by him, so fill your boots.
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Robinbboy.
I probably wont be ….
Ten Men,
They’ll lose Baines to Man U. Not sure about Fellani to Man U though.
Think Moyes may take 1 or 2 with him, so don’t see Everton’s squad maintaining current standard.
Everton may be reluctant to take a (successful) manager from the SPL after their experience with Sir Walter Cardigan.
WGS
I say Lenny will be at Celtic next season.
Want a bet?(:-)
TT
Ten Men,
Ayway we should be concentrating in getting new blood in ourselves.
Raul Jiminez
Eduardo Vargas
Jurat Bullit
Henry Forrester
Liam Bridcutt
So does the quote now become this is the beginning of the end?
cadizzy named that tune in one, who with any intellegence would sabotage their own hand before walking into negotiations.
Shrewd mhan our Lenny
TT,
So do I as i think Everton will plump for someone else
I don’t think the Everton job is a terribly attractive proposition. Firstly taking over from a long standing and popular manager won’t be easy.
And secondly the EPL is a very predictable league. Would anyone be surprised the see the two Manchester clubs at the top next season? With three London clubs (Chelsea, Arsenal and Spurs) chasing them? For Everton to break into that CL chasing group will be very difficult.
Bhuns raving about possible signing, nicky clark, QoS ….. petals…!!
BT
It’ll be – “GIRUY and GTF Lenny”
* long before the ole moonhowlers come on *
I have just bought the book – I always liked Wallace, and never forget he led the line when Scotland beat the world champions on their home ground. My word, Ramsey was very fed up that day – he hated Scotland.
My memory of Willie Wallace is of him missing an easy chance against Rangers and hearing murmurs reflecting on his commitment to the cause. The irony was, he’d scored every Celtic goal v Rangers that season.
It must have been difficult for him to join that group of players in 1966, most of whom had been together for such a long time. What a good manager we had then!
Neil canamalar Lennon hunskelper extrordinaire ,
What negos? He knows by now what Celtic are all about and how they work. They won’t diviate from their stragedy.
What is their to negoaite? More money on a contract? Don’t think Celtics stragedy on buying players will change
I think we should wait until the very last minute before swooping for Nicky Clark; even if we have no intention of playing him [we could send him to the Horribles on loan]; their unbridled gnashing at being gazumped would be joyous to behold.
Isn’t Nicky Clark a hairdresser/shampoo salesman? I may have got that wrong. Not too up on hair product related people
DBBIA
Send him on loan to the team most likely to be competing with the horribles for the 2nd Div title.
That would be even sweeter!
Oh right! The Nicky Clark who said this. Good luck with the gazumping
“Rangers are the best club in Scotland in my eyes so I’d find it hard to say no to them.
“There are a few clubs down south interested so I need to weigh up my options but if Rangers say they want to sign you, you can’t get much better than that.”
As the season is all but over, I would imagine that Lenny’s salary will be reviewed at the seasons end.
He will also want assurances that there will be a few bob to spend for the assault on the CL.
Of course he won’t show his hand.
It worked for PL when Arsenal were trying to poach him.
His wages/bonuses and war chest to buy new players will all be up for discussion. He would be a fool to officially announce he is going nowhere ahead of these negotiations. Lenny is no fool, he stated there had been no contact, that all the talk was pure speculation, that he had a good squad and was happy at Celtic and was preparing for Champions League and for bringing in new players. IMO he acted in the proper & correct manner.
cadizzy
Awwww has he not heard the news………….break it to him gently now……..Rangers are dead!
Nicky Clark
Is I believe the son of Alexander “Sandy” Clark and Celtic supporting wife Liz Clark.
I can’t believe in this day and age Lenny hasn’t got a body language coach..
Gordon_J backing Neil Lennon
15:37 on
10 May, 2013
I think in a professional capacity it’s much more of a challenge. At Celtic you get to pit your wits against a top tier team a maximum 2-6 times a season depending on European draws, then a just below top level team maybe 4 times. So basically 8 games against good quality opposition.
That’s roughly a 1/3 of what the Everton job presents in terms of match challenges, and you may get more if you make Europe.
Don’t think Lenny has a hope in hell of landing the Everton job. He is, quite simply, not good enough.
We took a punt on him when we were struggling to find someone who would take the position and, to an extent, it’s paid off.
Not impressed by his commitment ( or lack of) at today’s press conference. Then again Lennon seldom impresses when talking. His lack of grace and class lets us down all too often.
Net is I, for one, would not bat an eyelid if he left us. I happen to think there are an awful lot who would agree with me. Equally, we have many who will take a polar opposite position and can’t see past Lenny.
Tim Tanium- let’s hope he gets his looks from his mother.
And her footballing ability as well.
WGS,
I expect he will be looking for more money for himself and his coaches in line with the increased profits on the same basis that Lawwell’s performance based package. Lenny and his ghuys made more for the club than anyone else with our european adventure this year.
I also expect he will want a bit more to invest in his team, you could be right, but you could also be wrong, Lenny has to try, thats the bottom line.
Nicky is apparently a chip off of the old lump of wood that his father was.
cavansam \o/
15:49 on 10 May, 2013
“cadizzy
Awwww has he not heard the news………….break it to him gently now……..Rangers are dead!”
None of the rest of them believe/accept it. What makes you think he’s any different?@
I agree with the poster above (sorry, cant remember who) who said that you cant read too much into NL’s comments at the presser today; he will be negotiating his wages, his budget, etc. with PL, so he isn’t going to close any doors. Further, although we all know him to be a fairly passionate guy, he can be quite canny and cagey when he needs be. So, I dont think we can read too much into this statements one way or the other.
I do think, however, that if he were to be offered the Everton job, he would have a hard time turning it down. No doubt NL LOVES Celtic, but he also seems quite ambitious, and as DM has shown, Everton is a good club to develop at as a manager, and you dont necessarily need to win, in order to be considered for the biggest jobs (which I’m sure that NL, as an ambitious guy, would aspire to – at some point, if not now).
In some respects, I think the Everton job next season will be easier than the Celtic job…. here he has to win the league, and play better football…. PLUS, he HAS to guide the team into the CL group stages again …. which, although doable, is not a done deal! Whereas, if he went to Everton, there is no such pressure, and as long as they aren’t relegated, he would be given some time to get up to speed.
But… while all the gossip and speculation is fun to discuss here, that’s all it is at the moment …. speculation and gossip.
jimmci
15:52 on 10 May, 2013
Don’t think Lenny has a hope in hell of landing the Everton job. He is, quite simply, not good enough.
We took a punt on him when we were struggling to find someone who would take the position and, to an extent, it’s paid off.
Not impressed by his commitment ( or lack of) at today’s press conference. Then again Lennon seldom impresses when talking. His lack of grace and class lets us down all too often.
Net is I, for one, would not bat an eyelid if he left us. I happen to think there are an awful lot who would agree with me. Equally, we have many who will take a polar opposite position and can’t see past Lenny.
======================================================
Afternoon, Hun.
How’s the Greggs Monster workin’ out for ya?
Dontbrattbakkinanger
Liz is a fine player. So I hope he gets his ability from his father.
WGS, every year the manager will be given a football budget, that budget will be negotiated.
He also has a rolling 12 month contract, at some point in that cycle there with be a renegotiating of the terms of the contract, even if it is just wages and release clause, they will be negotiated and end of season would seem the likeliest of time for this to be done.
Neil canamalar Lennon hunskelper extrordinaire
Johan is supposedly off back to Sweden in the summer
HH
Richard Wilson, erstwhile Sevco PR fairytale writer, in today’s herald. I note he mentions the words King, vat fraud, Easdale, 18 months in jail, SFA fit & proper test, at various points in his article.
And this is his POSITIVE spin…
HH
Lack of grace & class. nice one jimmci. May not be the most elegant of speakers with his strong Lurgan accent, and maybe at times his absolute passion for the Club might upset the p.c. brigade but I’d have Lenny in my corner every time. The great SAF could also be accused of lacking social graces but there were no Man U fans complaining.
DBBIA,
Sorry I’ve been busy all afternoon so did not see your post.
The ole Gazebo’s suggested initial post match anchorage is to be Babbity Bowsers I have been reliably informed by the Entertainments committee.
All the usual suspects expected to be in attendance.
Pre match Gazebo siting as normal whereupon post match manoeuvres will no doubt be a vibrant topic for discussion.
EC67
SSN……………………………………’Gary Parker fancies a return to Painting and Decorating’