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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Aff oot. Literally as opposed to the huffing with the forum!
But before I go, want to tip my hat to Brian O’Driscoll who will become the world’s most capped rugby player today. The Henrik Larsson of rugby….
C’monYouOtherBhoysInGreenCSC
HH jamesgang
Was Jock Wallace from Wallyford?
I always thought that he was born in the Wankdorf stadium in Germany.
Arsenal 1-1
John O’Neil……Classy place is Wallyford……,
A Wallyford woman who challenged her own daughter to fight has had her sentence deferred for her to be of good behaviour.
Jane Moffat challenged her 19-year-old daughter during an argument last year.
Moffat (41) also threw stones at her mother’s windows during the incident.
Moffat, of 1 Drummohr Gardens, pleaded guilty to behaving in an offensive or abusive manner by shouting, swearing, challenging others to fight and throwing stones at the windows of 56 Albert Place, Wallyford, on August 21 when she appeared at Haddington Sheriff Court on Wednesday last week.
Full story in this week’s Musselburgh News and East Lothian News, on sale now.
hen1rik
12:01 on 8 March, 2014
Read that earlier mate, the Huns have become land experts and have a degree in land valuation all of a sudden, there obsetion with all things Celtic knows no bounds. The hurt they must feel after dying is driving them on to find the smallest detail of wrong doing by our club whilst ignoring the spivs plundering there own club/company or what ever it is this week. They are finished and they no it and want to take us with them, afraid not stupid Huns to clever for that game HH
Agony is managing to miss Man Utd’s goal and Everton’s equaliser by trying to watch two games at once.
Jist consumed a lovely cheese ham and onion omelette made with 2 eggs.I know its not on the W W diet sheet but am off crisps for Lent. So its a balanced diet in my eyes!!
Ps
2 wee link sausages sneeked on to the plate as well.
Ps 2
Oops for got the tattie scone.
I hope the GB stay well away from the bigotdome tomorrow,
I know Albion have sold their entire allocation 1500. I will be there with my wife hoping my bhoy gets on from the bench.
Was hoping there won’t be any bother ( Brecin bus getting stoned) you never know what this manky mob will turn to.
Considering the avg home attendance is 450 makes you wonder where the other thousand are coming from.
Oh well tin helmet defo on, ah wis takin it anyhow just in case the roof cladding falls off. That reminds me better take two face masks the wife disnae know anything about the asbestos.
Offer up prayers for our safe return.
HH PB 1888. PS defo no takin ma beanie hahaha
Hunskelper……
I can never quite understand a scorched earth policy other than for reasons of sheer hatred.
The Dead Huns seem to have this as their last available weapon.
I hope we have no contingent liabilities in the accounts that The Finlay Farquharsons of this world can use as ammunition.
Have seen these establishment bassas in action when their backs are against the wall (or lying in Dracula’s coffin,waiting for dark,in this case).It is not a pretty sight when they start turning on each other.
Time will tell…..
2 Di-gees and a cuppa T as well.
Fixed Odds time.
Chelsea have great home record v Spurs, losing 1 in 27.
Birmingham have lost 1 in 20 at home to QPR.
Queens Park have very good record v Clyde.
Albion Rovers have never lost during Lent to Sevco or old Rankers.
I will take Stevenage at 5/4 today at home to Tranmere, and double with Derby.
Throw in Q.Park in wee list of draws including Barnsley.
Invest my winnings on the mighty Rovers tomorrow at 16s.
HH
paddybhoy1888 –
GIves me a real excuse for tuning in tomorrow – what position does your Bhoy play?
I am another in hoping the GB stay the feck sway from mordor the morra, the gutter press will jump all over it, dont think/hopevthey are that daft, anything and I meam anything
Happens and they will be to blame, then again they get the blamebfor everything else.
A very close relative of mine coached young Rae at Hamilton. Just saying like!!
jude2005 is neil lennon \o/
12:57 on 8 March, 2014
File under bullshit mate HH
How good is that Ross Barkley ?
What a player HH
Bsr-shanks himself said he was the only one who bothered to go
BMCUW
The Delta in Irvine?
I think I was barred from there round about 1972/73. A few of us were – mainly bampots from Kilwinning, the three toons and me from ‘posh’ Troon!
…but I was born in Greenock remember!
Ps – just back from the supermarket. Another food bank collection today. Was glad to make a small contribution as I always try to do.
‘There but for the grace of God.’
HH!!
2,15pm kick off
St Johnstone do a Charlie Mulgrew. Raith might well do the deid team in their Cup Final.
Were sevco’s accounts not due at the end of Feb..?
Lunchtime live updates –
Raith Rivers 1 St Johnstone 3 (80 mins)
Arsenal 1 Everton 1 (50 Mins)
West Brom 0 Man Utd 1 (49 mins)
or Rovers even ;-)
Aff oot for beer and Salted peanuts……
Jobo…..keep me posted if any sudden changes in East Kilbride weather…..only 300 miles away so might need the Mrs. Rye to bring me a jacket to the pub later.
Eddie……keep me posted if there are any sensational penalty box stramashes at Irvine Meadow game.And if there are any half time fisticuffs in the car park.
Afternoon Timland from a warm hun free mountain valley.
Spring is here, mid 20s in the valley today.
I see fat salary is watching his next opponents, I would bet anything they get ST J, unless Dumbatron beat the dons that is >}
HH
Minx
She said thanks again, and glad you like it, aye, she is funny all right, wit like a razor and fast with it, tis the Irish blood >}
HH
paddybhoy1888
13:27 on 8 March, 2014,
Hope your bhoy gets a game and bursts the hun net…do they have nets or rolled up jerseys? HH
Bhoys
Paddybhoys Bhoys objective would be making sure that manky mob don’t burst any net :-)
Very best of luck Paddybhoy junior :-)
Hail Hail
67heaven … i am neil lennon, supporting wee oscar..!!.. ibrox belongs to the creditors
13:53 on 8 March, 2014
Hahahahahahaha SEVCO ACCOUNTS hahahahahahaha there a myth they don’t exist mate :-) HH
ryecatcher –
Pretty sure that God currently has the EK weather on ‘shuffle’ as we’ve had pretty much everything over the last 48 hours. At the moment it’s dry and very windy. Enjoy the pub.
jealousCSC
2-0 Man Utd………….
and pen to the Arsenal.
67H
Yes. But the year has still to be decided .
new article posted.
Can’t argue with any of this – Tom English on BBC site about half an hour ago…
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/26459395
Jobo
scored – retake and scored again 2-1 Arsenal
Arsenal 2-1 up. Arteta penalty retaken
God Bless this man a true gent & stands up to the bullies not like the cowards at the MSM.
From Etims
T’bull Hutton “How could I support the rule book being ripped up for Rangers? I stood on steps of Hampden & told it like it bloody well was”
Turnbull ‘You put your head above the parapet & you’re all over the bloody internet. I became Turnbull The Tim, which I found quite amusing”
Turnbull “But pro-Celtic – or anti-Rangers – had nothing to do with me taking the stand I did.”
Turnbull “‘I got some charming personal emails. One said: I hope you die of cancer & The only slow lingering death I want is yours, Hutton”.
Turnbull “There were far more supportive emails. I tried to answer them all but it got too much. I’ve still got them (on my computer”.
Turnbull Hutton ‘Looking back, would I play it different if it started today? I don’t think I could and I don’t think I would.”
Siesta time zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
My donation to the bookies this week.
Blackpool, Middlesboro,Oldham and Stevenage all over 1.5 goals with Derby, Gillingham, Notts County and Oxford over 2.5 goals.
Peas