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:
[calameo code=0003901714cb03d5d5808 lang=en page=114 hidelinks=1 width=100% height=500]
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That was a good psychological experiment wi that question. Hun question, so we all skip read it. :)
Billy Bhoy
even if it was (partly) wrong..
Right, bhoys in bed, missus kicked tae bed, when’s the quiz…
HH
eddieinkirkmichael
can i change 2 for dave king?
They are only worth £1……..why you offering double ?
BCW
That’s OK
I enjoyed typing it anyway :-)
Praecepta, that would be roasted cheese, remember Worcestershire sauce, onion and white pepper.
Answer Q8
A) Craigy-Bhoy the Motherwell born billionaire
B) Old Glib and Shameless himself, Dave King
C) Minty Moonbeams during Jabba’s succulent lamb interview.
BIG-CUP-WINNERS
22:45 on
lol, had to explaine that to isobel
whyte
king
murray
am i too late to join in?
Billy Bhoy
made me laugh out loud……
…too late
Are my ears burning???
TTT I will be having a word with Mrs TTT next week just glad no one on here is buying the I would have got that one if it wisnae for the Mrs :-)
Tom molach
Think u just beat my score for the whole quiz !
Aw feck!!!!!!
Tom Molach
That’s it finished……
Go back to the start at 9pm ?
HT your in trouble now :p
HH
HT, good luck mhate, yer gonnae need it.
BB
MOI??? :-)
This place is full a grasses!!!!!
HT yeah u :p
HT, so should I keep quite about you buying the beer then?
Oops.
BCW
Gonny ask who’s got ra deeds…..cos I’m DYIN to know!
Doc
I no likey you any mair :-(
HT
OG bud. Grassed yerself up :))
HT buy beer? Has minxy gave him pocket money ;-)
Doc
22:52 on
7 March, 2014
HT, so should I keep quite about you buying the beer then?
Oops.
—
Doc I can’t take you serious you roast cheese?? All normal folk toast their cheese!
CRC can I get a badge pls?
HT, I’ll buy the first buddy.
Looking forward to this now.
A lot.
BB/DD
Oh chortle chortle!!! :-)
Minx im with u… TOASTED not roasted lol ;-)
Roasted cheese
HT,
you’re like the huns……
.
.
.
.
.
DEID!
:-)
HAIL! HAIL!
Token
Minx, please email, makes our life easier.
cqnbadges@gmail.com
How many, which ones, £5 each, proceeds to Mary’s Meals.
http://twitpic.com/dxmg06
You TOAST cheese, you ROAST chickens…..amongst other things :-)
Minx
Is Doc a roaster??
Credibiliy issue! Defo toasted cheese! :))
HT
I’m staying out of this, but can I just say, keep Minx away from mrsweefra, then you’ll know what ARMAGEDDON is all about. Ghod help us. :-)))
Weefra HH supporting Wee Oscar.
Oh and Minx, I know it’s toasted, but look at the ructions!!!
like to cause a wee ruckus now and again.
Hehehehe.
Tonight’s scores:
Kayal33 -43 points
Hamiltontim – 41 points – ….might have won it if it hadn’t been for Minx………………..
Tokentim – 36 points
Burghbhoy – 35 points
Billy Bhoy – 34 points
Delaney’s Dunky – 33 points
Eddieinkirkmichael – 31 points
Congratulations to Kayal33 for another great performance. Great knowledge on display, well done !
It was a lot closer tonight maybe if you ply Kayal33 with lots of drink ……….
Hope everyone enjoyed tonight’s quiz.
I’m going to “leave” the quiz next week, cause the game is on and of course the CQN10 event.
DD, you been talking to CowieBhoy?
He’s the only roaster in town!