Today we have a guest writer, Archie Macpherson, Scotland’s most celebrated broadcaster. Archie started broadcasting for the BBC in the 1960s and was the authoritative voice of football commentaries, and comment, for decades thereafter. He was co-commentator for our first European Cup win and remains a regular newspaper columnist and TV contributor.
I had a brief conversation with Archie last month when he categorically stated that Jock Stein was best manager Scotland has ever produced was. Pleased, though I was, to hear this, in the light of accolades earned by Sir Alex Ferguson, I asked him if he could substantiate his claim.
These questions are enormously subjective but few have the breadth of perspective, not to mention the analytical capacity, to tackle this one properly. This is the article he offered to write for us on the subject:
Jock and Fergie, by Archie Macpherson
If there had been no Jock Stein there would have been no Sir Alex Ferguson. It may sound a contentious statement to make but even though it is tempting to play around with history according to your own beliefs and perceptions I would stand by that as a sound interpretation of the way the respective merits of these men can be set against each other.
It helps in this matter if you can lay aside the achievements of those men from the record books and instead consider their personalities and the context in which they plied their trade.
When Jock came to Celtic as manager in 9th March 1965, he fully understood from his past experience there as a player and coach that he would find a club desperate to achieve a commanding status in Scottish football. The frustration they felt only reflected that which their massive support similarly endured around that period. They were massive underachievers.
He also knew from his own background that his task would not simply be about selecting a team, then motivating them, but about radically overhauling the perception the public in general had about the club and which stemmed mainly from the constructs of the media.
It may be difficult for a current generation to fully comprehend this but Celtic then were simply perceived as bit players in a drama where the lead actor came from Govan and always took the curtain-calls. Stein changed all that. He took on the press-pack like he had been sent in from the city’s sanitation department to fumigate.
If you didn’t turn up on the dot for his press conferences then the door was slammed on your face no matter the size of your ego. His television interviews, unlike the passive posture of that likeable man his predecessor Jimmy McGrory, were often truculent and challenging. All of this concentrated the mind of those who wrote and spoke about Celtic. They would think twice about saying anything that might offend the big man. He was strengthening Celtic’s image and, as a by-product of that, securing the self-esteem within the playing staff which previously had been sadly lacking.
And where was Sir Alec at this time? He was watching, observing. I saw him sitting in the lounge of Malpensa Airport Milan in 1970, in the aftermath of the European Cup Final there, amidst thousands of Celtic supporters, which given his Rangers connections only indicated his deep interest in what Jock was doing.
Fergie to his credit was a learner. When he went to Old Trafford it was not to a club about which there was lack of public respect. It was initial lack of respect for himself which made him take up arms against his detractors. To go to a Fergie press-conference was to see a recreation of Jock at the height of his powers. And from being beside Jock in the dressing-room, and on the bench at Scotland games, he absorbed Jock’s handling of men which could range from wrath to wit. The so-called ‘hairdryer’ treatment Fergie handed out only simulated what Jock could do to make the walls of a dressing-room bulge when it got up his hump.
Where they differed enormously as men was that Jock did not harbour grudges in quite the same way as Fergie. Jock did have his difficulties with the BBC initially but never refused to deal with them. Fergie barred them for over a decade, then got an award from the same people. So I am suggesting that although you cannot compare the achievements made in entirely different footballing environments, Fergie served his apprenticeship in the Stein era by consequently adopting much of the big man’s methodology. Jock was the ice-breaker. Fergie was the follow up.
In that sense, as the one was indispensable to the success of the other, I rate Jock as the master of the two.
My thanks to Archie for his contribution.
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doc
21:07 on 10 January, 2014
That’s not going to happen…..it would reap havoc on the financial fair play rules…….usual load of old shoite to camouflage reality……..The LL and SFA / sevco are adhering tp parallel universe rules…..fantasy football…….bless them (but not with the sign of the cross, FGS)
No, I on;y got 5………………
Hins, Sunderland, Toulouse?, Chelsea, Distillery
Also got the wrong Balde, not having a good night.
Hibs
http://www.thefootballlife.co.uk/post/72902521139/up
On what happens if Rangers enter administration but still get promoted: Chaos.
viewfaethewindae
But you didn’t answer Q2 at all ?
Doc you having a go at q3 ?
Auldheid, even given a relegation, that seems a very attractive way to get out of severe trouble.
Does the Phoenix club retain their history?
If so that’s plain wrong, unless a CVA is agreed, it should be Deadco, now that’s regrettable, but if a club has lived on the Hog for years, the price has to be paid.
1% could be an agreed sum! but not a generally acceptable one.
I don’t see any continuation of a football history after liquidation as laudable.
I may be being uncharitable, but to try to gain a sporting advantage without an ultimate sanction makes that risk one worth taking to the risk takers in life. Some
will feel that is a risk worth taking.
Working my way through this as I write, so forgive if this is disjointed.
BCW, apologies, this caught my attention.
Naw, I got engrossed in the Aberdeen game!
BCW I am a terrible speller and hibs to me is obviously meant to be Orlando Lions ;)
Thanks for the welcome guys. Was watching the Aberdeen game, smashing goal from wee Willo. Thought Barry Robson was good, great attitude. Healthy crowd as well. I prefer Friday night games to Sunday mornings, although nothing beats the traditional Saturday 3.00 kick off Anyway, sorry to interrupt the quiz.
burnley78
21:43 on 10 January, 2014
The cretin has no manners, morals or character…….
ANSWER Q 3
Alan Rough – Orlando lions
Stan Varga – Sunderland
Anton Rogan – Distillery
Tommy Boyd – Chelsea
Bobo Balde -Toulouse
Where did we sign them from: Alan Rough, Stan Varga, Anton Rogan, Tommy Boyd
And Big Bad Bobo Balde.
Hibs
?
Mill wall
Chelsea
Nice
Ok, sorry mate.
Will try harder.
the bookworm
21:50 on
ack don’t be daft, the quiz is just a distraction for us dafties
Q 4 (3 points for the correct answer)
In European competition we have played in some far off and exotic places. Who were our most southerly based opponents ?
Had about ten seconds to answer 3, back on it.
Karagandy
Valencia
Hapeol Tel Aviv
Hapoel tel Aviv
Kayal33
Good shout ya bassa
Tasmania United.
https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/16103_10151111924421371_475835148_n.jpg
thought this was funny
Sftb- re tony watt and finnbogasson – how about having both in a kinda 2 for 1 type of deal ? :)
Hh
Happoel
Big cup winners
Annan?
Hapoel Tel Aviv?
the bookworm
Welcome bud,are you ?
HH
A wee take off of the only an Excuse programme from e-Tims and, surprise, surprise, it is much funnier than the real show.
E-Tims Only Nae Excuse
johann m
How many scoring forwards do you want??? :-)
Tough one – Hapoel Tel Aviv?
Hapoel Tel-Aviv 3-0?
Jeg er Neil Lennon-Greeninbingley
Tic-Toc
BCW, am I allowed to change my mind? Karagandy was just a joke, I really knew it was that Apartheid supporting team fae Isreal
Antartic Thistle