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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BCW
Just realised I’ve only put down 10 can I add McGinley in centre mid I can post a pic of the formation on my scrap piece of envelope?! :-)
Rough
Sneddon Stanton Caldwell McGinlay
Brown Raerdon Collins Mcleod
Stokes Griffiths
Naebudys got Killen – even me!
Del Monte Bhoy best of luck in the champions league semi, how I ever got to the quarters will never know ,could be worse could be a new team playing the Albion, roll on Tuesday to get back onshore .
TTT
Aye but you lose points for describing a fine Celt, as “That guy with the blonde hair and porn star tache!” :-)
Rough
Agathe Stanton Laursen Caldwell
Collins Brown Hartley Mcginley
Stokes Griffiths
BHOYS BHOYS it’s a trick question it’s the first CELTIC TEAM to play.!!!!!!!
Parkheadcumsalford
21:11 on
7 March, 2014
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.
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I remember watching all to well what a side that would have been if they had managed to stay together, almost as good as the lions I suspect, we could have been at the top in Europe for far longer than we did.Just a pity that we did not get that chance
Never live down that I forgot my childhood pal Pat McGinley. Doh
MAH,
it would appear you have the dubious pleasure/distinction of my company next Fri night!
talking of next Fri night, Big Cup Winners, you doing a quiz during the interval? Could be a table team event!
HAIL! HAIL!
Token
HT,
but you have to admit it was a superlative description :-)
HAIL! HAIL!
Token
BCW
I just ASSUMED it excluded current players like Stokes and Griffiths…
Slinks away……..
TTT
Indeed but I worry about the type of films you’ve been watching on those long haul flights to Thailand :-)
Q5Answer:
List from:
Goalkeeper Ronnie Simpson or Alan Rough.
Defenders from: Didier Agathe, Ulrik Laursen John Hughes, Pat Stanton, Gary Caldwell
Midfielders: John Collins Pat McGinlay, Paul Hartley, Scott Brown, Darren Jackson and Derek Riordan
Forwards: Chris Killen and Leigh Griffiths Kenny Miller Tony Stokes.
The last question was EX-HIBS players…….
FAVOURITE UNCLE
from the 1960’s……
BCW
Just realised why the Hibbies HATE us!
Q6:
Name Celtic’s scorers in the following European defeats
a) Partizan Belgrade 2 Celtic 1
b) Neuchâtel Xamax 5 Celtic 1
c) Arsenal 3 Celtic 1
Mike Galloway
Brian o’neil
Massimo donati
Galloway
O’Neill
Donati
BCW,
aye Sneddon is an ex-hibbee…..
Ffs Kayal!!!!!!!!!!!!! :-)
Jackie, B O’Neil, M Donati
Collins, O’Neill , Donatti
Damn!
Too busy having a wee moan!
anyway, Galloway, O’Neill and Donati
HAIL! HAIL!
Token
Galloway
O’Neil
Donatiti
The Token Tim
He went to Hibs from Celtic……..
T3, MAH, Blane Valley, 4pm, don’t be late, you’ll miss your tickets!!
galloway
o’neil
dont know
TTT
Didn’t he play for Hibs AFTER Celtic?
Mickey Galloway
Brian O’Neill
Donati
Q7
Who scored OG’s in
A) The 1979 Partizan Tirana 4-1 victory at Celtic Park?
B) The 1979 “10 MEN WON THE LEAGUE” 4-2 win?
C) The 2-0 League Cup win in 2005 over Rangers ?
The Token Tim
22:08 on
7 March, 2014
MAH,
it would appear you have the dubious pleasure/distinction of my company next Fri night!
===================================
Delighted to hear that TTT
Should be a great night looking forward to it
You first on the ding dong mate? make mine a bru ta:)
leftclicktic We are all Neil Lennon
16:09 on
7 March, 2014
macjay1 for Neil Lennon
14:28 on 7 March, 2014
Leigh is ours.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZeaF7DXByU4
So the next time he just done this :)))
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0-_MPKiCiA
Leigh will be a sensation with us..
———-
What a cracker.
Thanks,pal.
2 points for each correct answer
Alan Snedden, Colin Jackson, McGregor
Kayal
Will you be my foneafriend if a get on Millionaire please? :)
BCW/HT
I know lads, just pointing out a possible ambiguity as it just stated ex-hibs players
And technically he is an ex-Hibs player.
Nothing to do with me losing apoint at all…..
;-)
HAIL! HAIL!