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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On the subject of sportsman’s dinners attended one at bowling club ( sorry its my hun mate) nr shettleston pre – Xmas. Tosh McK was great that night he gave it to the masons tight. Attended same night one year previous Murdo was on the bill had high hopes but he was a disgrace lowered himself to laughing at Danny McGrain via speech impediment jokes more than once that night (ive since heard thats his thing). Headline that night was ex – ‘Well failure/old ned John Geohaghan Who? – exactly ). Typical hun jokes re nuns etc you know the rest. As for Murdo was a hero of mine – sadly no more.
TinyTim
Ask Phil and Alex.
Is it true Rangers will use next seasons ticket sales to pay off the Laxey loan .
..well once all them Keane’s look alike to me….
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/england/10682082/England-Under-21-gaffe-as-FA-registers-wrong-Keane-twin.html
Looks like Southgate’s ballooned another one over the bar, then.
marspapa
How else could they pay it off?
Anybody know Billy no’well
Could you ask him to finish off
Wake up Sally
I think I’ve got something to say to you
It’s late season and you’re playing ‘s poo
I thought they were trading for shares !
marspapa
http://sport.stv.tv/football/clubs/rangers/266490-rangers-shareholder-loan-deal-to-be-repaid-using-season-ticket-money/
marspapa
not quite with you there?
Sorry that last post was for
Notthebus
Its a bit of a non story given their income is largely dependant on season tickets.
“man pays car loan with wages!”
Joe FH
Sincere condolences on your loss. May the soul of Mary RIP.
Il Padrino,
never seen Murdo so cant comment, but have seen John Gahagan on several occasions and he has been very good. Excellent the last time in fact.Id recommend him any time and indeed have done to others for their sportsmans dinner’s.
Not sure where the “old ned” part comes from in relation to him though. Never came across like that to me, and he certainly wasnt that type as a player!
HAIL! HAIL!
Token
Marsappa
I think you are getting confused with the interest portion (£150k) of the loan which has been reported as being turned into shares
Notthebus i picked up the story wrong , nothing unusual for me , i thought they (Rangers ) got the money and in return Laxey partners would receive shares
Notthebus
Thanks for clarifying that for me , btw i need at least 5 mins between posts ha ha :))
IP
Went to school with John Gahagan.
Good tim and a gentleman. Old ned??
Jackie Mac
Naebdy laughs at yer jokes
God knows who taught you to coach
Oh Sally I can’t watch any moooorrre
You lured players in with dosh
And you reeeealy love your nosh
You blew a 15pt lead and that must reeeeaaly hurt.
Ip
I’m with the others here. Been at a few good nights with murdo and jg.
I’d try Peter Kaye next bud ;)
Murdochaulandhay
Cheers , i just found it weird they mentioned it ontv outwith the news .. Again guys thanks for putting me to the wise .
Delaney,
Well you’ve just backed up his ‘old’ claim. ;)
TET if you’re about here my very “safe” low odds 9 fold
Basel
Ankaraspor
Vaduz
Wil
Real Madrid
Real Sociedad
Cliftonville
Westerlo
Derby County
And my picks from the leagues:
Orduspor
MERSIN İDMANYURDU
KARŞIYAKA
Bursaspor
Servette
Barcelona
TRENČÍN
PSV
Ajax
Atromitos
Panathinaikos
Dortmund
PSG
Monaco
St Etienne
Standard liege
Lokeren
Salzburg
Wolves
Brentford
Braintree Town
Juventus
Left the cup games out as league form easier to predict but stand outs are:
Aberdeen
Man City
Sheffield United
and the mighty
Albion Rovers
HH
IP
Tosh McKinlay went to my school too. He was a good guy too, like JG.
GM
Hahaha, 50 isnae auld.
DD,
aye it is
:-)
HAIL! HAIL!
Token
Apparently Albion Rovers have sold their allocation of 1,400 for Ibrox Tesco on Sunday.
I’d imagine there’ll be a few floating supporters amongst them!
TTT
Am 48, T Mc is 49, JG is 50.:)
dd, course it’s no. Just a cheeky wee jibe pal.
HT,
Oh I hope there isn’t. ;)
If 10 CQNr’s give me your season ticket money, I promise you I will pay your season ticket money not only this season but if you give me it again, next season, I promise you the same deal.
T’s & D’s apply.
HT
Maybe a few uni types?
Terms & Donditions ? naaww
DD
I’d be surprised if that happened but I’m sure the odd green, white and orange flag will make an appearance :-)
il Padrino
That’s the second bit of bad chat I’ve heard about Murdo in the last few days.
Rapidly descending my hero list.
Listened to Jock Brown on Harry Brady’s show. He blamed Murdo for unsettling Wim, always agitating and after more cash. He said that although he rated Murdo as a coach, he didn’t as a man.
Now his bad patter about Danny.
Very very poor all round
Burghbhoy
Ach it’ll be the appendage and surgeon joke.
Nothing to get het up about.
HT
Where have you been hiding? :-)))
Weefra HH supporting Wee Oscar
HT
For sure, Republican Clydebank will be supporting Republican Coatbridge on Sunday ;)
DD,
Im 43.
Ya auld bassa ;-)
HAIL! HAIL!
Token
I’m Padrino
Geohagan was a ‘speaker’ at Tommy Boyd’ s testimonial dinner some years ago. His and all the other contributions were a master-class in bad taste – it was like a degenerates’ night out. To top it all I saw MON ambushed in the Thistle toilet at the end of the night by aggressive drunks instructing him on strategy.
Even worse was last year at the Port Glasgow Town Hall. Cowan vomited out foul mouthed filth and just in case that wasn’t enough he put the icing on the cake with a funny about vegetables and the paraplegic athletes at the London Olympics.