You remember Celtic manager, Gordon Stachan, third manager in our history to win three-in-a-row? Took us to the Champions League knock out stages for the first time, did much of this while comparative economics were moving against us, remember him? Is he the same Gordon Strachan who has transformed the Scotland national team’s results?
Gordon is unequivocally a successful manager but his Scotland team is performing far better than I thought possible when he took over what looked like a poisoned chalice. The most stunning fact of his record there is that they have not conceded a goal in three successive away games. Gordon’s Celtic covered 15 months, across two championship winning seasons, without keeping a single clean sheet away from home, no matter how lowly or distressed the opponent. Even good, experienced, managers learn, especially from their earlier troubles.
Jock Stein is viewed mostly through the prism of 1967 but during his final season as Celtic manager, 1977-78, the sentiment among many in the support was decidedly downbeat. Rangers (remember them, played in blue, I think?) would win their third title in four seasons, with two trebles thrown in for good measure. Celtic finished fifth in the league, Jock’s judgement was widely called into question.
At the time Leeds United were a top club in England and after Celtic sacked Jock they moved to secure him. Leeds had no doubts as to his abilities. A little over a month later the SFA offered him the Scotland job, which he took and excelled at, twice succeeding in World Cup qualifying campaigns. His talents were without question but stood in sharp contrast to how many in the support viewed him a few years earlier.
I don’t know if Jock was a better manager in 1982 and beyond than he was in 1978 but there’s a decent chance his football education didn’t stop when the trophies dried up at Celtic. Gordon Strachan is, like Jock was until the end, a student of the game. Neil Lennon is too, he is also receiving some of the reviews his illustrious predecessors would recognise. Gordon was an excellent Celtic manager but he’s better now, perhaps as a result of life’s experiences along the way.
It’ll be really interesting to see how Euro qualifiers reflect on the comparative progress of Gordon and Martin O’Neill, who for my money was a better manager than Mourinho when the latter deployed some of the best players in the world against Celtic in Seville, and needed to deploy every underhand trick in the book to come out on top.
I was blown away by the stunning contributions to our Mary’s Meals campaign yesterday. First in was an incredible £200 + £50 gift aid donation, followed by others, large and small, every one appreciated. Ignore those who would tell you society is dead. You can get involved here.
Seville, The Celtic Movement, launches this month.
“Porto were favourites and would go on to prove how good a team they were by winning the Champions League 12 months later. Their players would demonstrate their prowess across the world for the next decade. They had fabulous talent, so much so, that they should have aspired to better than the gamesmanship used during their run to the UEFA Cup and Champions League wins.”
Order yours below:
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Murdochauld&Hay,
I don’t know if you had the privilege of watching the Quality Street Kids. I did. One was better than another: 3 World Class players, George Connelly, Kenny Dalglish and the one and only Danny McGrain.
Joe fillippis haircut.
Sorry to hear about your mum in law.
Condolences to you and your family.
May she rest in peace Amen.
30 seconds ……
Evening Celts …….. BMCUW cool it amigo you are better ✊
I’m at the playhouse in Manchester for a 34 yr wedding anniversary……. The band brings many emotions …… Pablophanque was the Beatles greatest fans IMO lol.
Let it be was one of my greatest memories at a Celtic game, the day before I had my balls snipped and the next day I was on my brothers shoulders at a celts v them game lol and lol HH
Answer Q1
Us !!!
Henrik’s first and last goals at Celtic Park were an OG for FC Tirol Innsbruck in August 1998 and Barca in 2004.
Bcw
“30 seconds”
Sally McCoist out for lunch?
Q2
Name the former Celt (s) who currently has/have a son playing in the SPFL’ s Premiership division ?
3 points for the correct answer and a bonus of 2 points for the first correct answer.
Christie of ICT
Stanton at hibs
eddieinkirkmichael
There is no good news going that way. The absolute pinnacle of that club might be beating Albion Rovers in a cup.
Christie at ICT as 2nd
Christie
och Kayal!
Jackie MacNamara?
Charlie Christies son.
Big Cup Winners….
Can we have a multiple choice type quiz?
Otherwise Kayal dominates the quiz like big Jock did Scottish fitba.
Kayal is one bang on dude because he loves Police and Thieves cover by the best band ever ever ever…….Da Clash
Impossible to beat him in these quizzes though!!
Can you introduce a handicapping system?
KayalwillwineasytonightagainCSC
BTW
there could be a signed and framed strip of your namesake up for grabs at the CQTen dinner next week if you’re interested.
HAIL! HAIL!
Token
BIG-CUP-WINNERS
21:14 on
Don’t know
Stanton at Hibs
ryecatcher
I could deduct points for spelling errors……
Kayal 33 ;-)
Charlie Christie
&
Zeus
Strange really, Davie Wilson, a wee diving Hun bassa…. Willie Henderson I detested for two reasons, the first self-evident, the second how he robbed the wee man of caps.
Reality? Have now met both. They both simply adored wee Jinky, and it seemed genuine in both cases but especially wee Willie who seems a cracking guy…too much to say would be proud to have him as a tim but he really does seem a smashing bloke; no airs or graces….would stand him a pint any night of the week ( not that he’s looking for that). Davie Wilson really surprised me. Came across as a really nice fellow and one I don’t think the bears nowadays would like too much. He’s too appreciative of our lions.
Just goes to show….. Maybe just me mellowing in my older years but shows your perspective can and does change.
Anyone ever felt the same confusion of emotions?
Naw it’s no’ Stanton. He isn’related.
Is it wan o Griffiths brood or is it too soon for that?
Damn! That’s Kayal33 beat me already!
Lostinbonnybridge
You answering mate ?
eddieinkirkmichael
21:02 on
7 March, 2014
Just off the phone to a mate who is a friend of the Easedales. If the huns thought what went before was bad they better get used to Armageddon as it’s about to descend on Govan.
…………………………….
an interesting post…Huntertainment is always welcome ……
do you think the Brothers Grimm have acquired the remote…. (like Mrs eddieinkirkmichael did)…………with skill and deception or was it a grab and stare ?
hahaha either way ….braw
Q2 Answer:
Charlie Christie, the former Inverness player, coach and manager’s, son Ryan plays for ICT and made his debut against Celtic earlier in the season. Christie senior was with Celtic in the late 1980’s.
Q3
Geography question: in European competition, name the five island’s (not the opponents) Celtic have played fixtures on:
2 points for each.
Neustadt-Braw
21:24 on
It will be braw for us just braw
iceland, ireland, madeira, cyprus, malta
Uk
Ireland
Malta
Iceland
Cyprus
UK, Ireland, Cyprus, Malta, Iceland
Ireland Britain iceland cyprus malta
Iceland Ireland Malta uk cyprus
hahaha how did i forget UK???
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.aye ok HT/PF/whomever i know what you’re gonny say….
Iceland, Ireland, Great Britain,
Mainland Britain
Emerald island
Iceland
Malta
Rokall
Struggling noo……
Madeira????!!!!
Have you been drinking it??? :-) x
FFS
I was kidding with UK and Eire!