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McCann, Miller and sacking managers

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By on CQN BLOG & Comments

If we are going to be fair to Neil McCann (I realise this is not a necessity), he produced a remarkable turnaround when appointed manager at Dundee in April last year.  Paul Hartley had them heading for relegation before the then Sky Sports panellist turned escapologist.

Eight games into the new season and Dundee are bottom on three points, 12 adrift of newly promoted Livingston, whom they face on Saturday.  Dundee United are suffering in the Championship but the appointment of Robbie Neilson brought a win on his first game at the weekend, raising the spectre that United could go up and Dundee down this season.

There are good reasons to change a manager during a campaign, but poor results alone is not one of them.  We have been here in the past.  Before you jump off a cliff, you need a good idea where you are going to land and that that place is more appropriate than the cliff edge.

There is a chance the Dundee board have agreement with a replacement they are confident in, but there’s also a chance they spent the international break squabbling and now decided to act out of fatigue.

Livingston sacked player-manager Kenny Miller two league games into his tenure, when it was plain to all at Celtic Park on the opening day of the season that his body language to team mates could be interpreted as uniquely challenging.  Since sacking MIller, Gary Holt has been a revelation.  One very wrong decision quickly followed by two very good decisions.

Miller was not sacked for poor results, his only league loss was at Celtic Park, Livingston clearly had other reasons.  Unless Dundee can point to a critical weakness in McCann, and assure themselves that his replacement will be able to avoid this scenario, the sacking will not affect their current trajectory.  Place your bets.

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  2. prestonpans bhoys on

    Back home to find my semifinal awaits me, includes the size of bags allowed inside Murrayfield; 8 depth, 21 width and 15 height, very precise ?

  3. Almore on

    Gene: you mentioned carved out pumpkins which are very common in North America at this time of year.

     

     

    Carved out turnips were common in Ireland and Britain in the 18th & 19th centuries and a candle was usually inserted into the hollowed heart and the outer skin would have holes cut out of it so it acted like a lantern.

     

     

    The practice was especially common at ‘Halloween’ where funny/scary faces were cut into the outer skin.

     

     

    With huge numbers leaving Ireland for North America in the 19th century (during and after the Famine) people brought their customs with them. Halloween was one of these.

     

     

    Large turnips weren’t widely available but pumpkins were. With their softer core they were easy to hollow out and so they replaced the turnip as a lantern.

     

     

    The celebration of Halloween was adopted by other ethnic groups and it is now observed throughout North America, although most don’t understand its Celtic origins.

     

     

    “Help the Halloween Party” was replaced with “Trick or Treat” as the mantra of children as they knocked on neighbors’ doors. Fruit and nuts were the usual gifts given to children although this changed to sweets and money in the ‘80s as a result of some psychos inserting flat blades and poisons into the fruits.

     

     

    Halloween replaced Oíche Shamhna as Christianity gained a foothold in Ireland. Oíche Shamhna (31st Oct.) heralded the end of one year and the beginning of a new one in Celtic culture. On Oíche Shamhna people lit bonfires and remembered loved ones who had died. Christians ‘supplanted’ the Celtic festival with All Souls (Saints) Day on November 1st.

     

     

    It is interesting to see how the original Celtic festival changed over the centuries, how it migrated to North America and how Halloween is growing as a popular custom throughout Europe as a result of tv exposure and more frequent travel.

  7. Jobo Baldie on

    Saw someone asking the other day about “that Maths programme that someone recommended”. It wasn’t me. But I watched the first episode on iPlayer and see that Episode 2 is on tonight, BBC4 at 9pm – “Magic Numbers”.

     

     

    Meanwhile in Barcelona, Glasgow City are unfortunately – really doing a great job clinging on down. Lost an early-ish goal but kept it to 1 till about 25 minutes when they then lost 2 in quick succession. 65 minutes played. I think City would gladly settle for 0 – 3 right now. Barcelona’s full time players are likely to finish much stronger.

  8. jamesgang on

    FRITZSONG on 17TH OCTOBER 2018 4:33 PM

     

    As I understand it, Neil McCann was quite desperate to join Celtic. He was certainly good enough at that time but Celtic didn’t fancy him enough. Eventually, he made the pragmatic decision to join the foe malign. This was an unpopular choice with many, especially in his home town and apparently those affected made their disappointment clear and personal.

     

     

     

    Given the circumstances, maybe he’s entitled to a bit of slack.

     

     

    ———

     

     

    NawHeDisnae!!

  10. Saint Stivs on

    FRITZSONG on 17TH OCTOBER 2018 4:33 PM

     

    As I understand it, Neil McCann was quite desperate to join Celtic. He was certainly good enough at that time but Celtic didn’t fancy him enough. Eventually, he made the pragmatic decision to join the foe malign. This was an unpopular choice with many, especially in his home town and apparently those affected made their disappointment clear and personal.

     

     

     

    Given the circumstances, maybe he’s entitled to a bit of slack.

     

     

    ————-

     

     

    your at the wind up aint you ?

     

     

    pragmatic decision to join the foe ? 12k a week he was on, the same number as offered by 2 english top division clubs at the same time . so what made him go to ibrox, bare filthy lucre, money, thats it.

     

     

    his family members did not want him to go there, he did it anyway. he went from signing rebel songs on the shammy team mini bus to up to his knees in fenian blood.

     

     

    give him some slack,

     

     

    naw.

  11. mike in toronto on

    Sipsini

     

     

    Why do I think that TAL, Torontony and I are all of a sudden going to be getting lots of visitors?

     

     

    I might need a bigger house!

     

     

    I hate to disappoint anyone, but the only weed in my garden is, in fact, weeds.

     

     

    :)

  12. Colour Blind Bhoy on

    LEFTCLICK from earlier, delighted to hear Daniel is home and I hope he continues to improve day by day.

     

    I echo your sentiments re the team at the children’s hospital, having had to depend on their brilliance to looks after our daughter for the last 3 years they are absolutely exceptional human beings.

     

    I was very proud and delighted to raise some money for the hospital charity in the Great Scottish Run last month. A small token of appreciation but one I hope benefits children and families in their time of need.

     

    HH

  13. Saint Stivs on

    ebt mccann, and nobody should ever forget or forgive, 3 league titles, 4 scottish cups, 2 league cups, his huddle at parkhead when they won 9.

     

     

    that was all ours, he cheated, he went there and couldnt give 2 flumps about his beloved celtic,

     

     

    makes me sick to this day.

     

     

    a property portfolio in mid-lothian, how long till he declares bankrupcy , EBT MCCANN.

     

     

    celtic minded until the huns offer all that tax free money.

  14. thomthethim for Oscar OK on

    I always understood that the International rule governing players obligation to their country was, that if an International match was in an official competition, then the player must turn up, if selected.

     

     

    The same doesn’t apply for friendlies.

     

    But, if the manager releases the player, then he is free to play for his club.

     

     

    Griff was released, Laff wasn’t. He deserted.

  19. Jobo Baldie on

    THOMTHETIM –

     

     

    Isn’t it also relevant that Scotland played on Sunday. So if the SFA invoked the 5-day rule it would only mean that players couldn’t play before tomorrow, so Saturday would be OK anyway? Thinking Tierney more than Griff here.

  20. 50 shades of green on

    SAINT STIVS on 17TH OCTOBER 2018 7:31 PM

     

    lost bhoy 1966, recognise anyone..

     

     

    @@@@@

     

     

    Was expecting a picture of Neil McCann there ???

  21. big packy 1 on

    someone posted before, mcann wanted to play for celtic but got rejected, could that be the reason he crossed over to the bigots and cheats, to say a big giruy to us, just a suggestion.hh

  22. Bhoyjoebelfast on

    One hundred per cent sure his granda Jim McCann marched up the Falls with Brian Boru ( pipe ?? ) band late 1970s on St. Patrick’s Day.I think,could be wrong,the band was from Port Glasgow.He knew the score when he joined ‘them’,he hurt his family and betrayed those close to him.Sorry but not one ounce of sympathy.

     

    On a much brighter note Daniel is on the mend.

     

    HEAL!! HEAL!! See what I did there.???????

  26. An Tearmann on

    Hobo 6.52

     

     

    ‘re maths prog

     

    It was me my friend.

     

    I think twas JJHS was suggesting it originally

     

    Cheers

     

    HH

  27. Saint Stivs on

    Ive told this story before, but the timing is just rIght to share again.

     

     

    My catholic granny and mccanns granny were real close friends all their lifes, From the 1920’s at st johns school , the parochial halls, communions, weddings, the birth of the families, it was a friendship for life.

     

     

    Grannies Higholm top floor living room window looked up the hill to old friends house, I think she was called Maisie, maybe she was a Doherty, and she would watch for her coming down, to go to morning mass, to go shopping at harry murrays, to go to the bingo to go to the gunners club.

     

     

    If she was a Doherty, they might even have been related in the 1880’s Port as these families came into the town at the exact same time.

     

     

    Anyways, my granny talked a lot, in her kitchen , waiting on soup, a gentle interigation , how was school, what vestments for the mass, are you going to see celtic, question after question.

     

     

    One day I go in, Granny is quite, she dishes up her soup, the amazing soup, still quiet.

     

     

    I saig, granny whats wrong,

     

     

    Its terrible she says, filling up, apron to her eyes, a sob “Its Maisie”

     

     

    thinking the worse I thought she had passed on,

     

     

    what is it granny, i am sorry, whats happened to maise.

     

     

    its terrible so terrible, that grandson of hers has signed for rangers.

  33. Hot Smoked on

    An Tearmann

     

    It was indeed my good self who spoke of that Maths programme and I will be watching tonight`s episode in 31 minutes.

     

    In the meantime, who, if any , of our international players will not be available for Saturday (owing to travel) ?

     

     

    JJ

  34. FAVOURITE UNCLE on

    SAINT STIVS on 17TH OCTOBER 2018 7:31 PM

     

     

    was that wee bhoy arrested for being lost??????

  35. bournesouprecipe on

    Dedryck Boyata is a better and more valuable Centre Back than

     

     

    Josh Thompson

     

    Thomas Rogne

     

    Marvin Compper

     

    Dan Majstorovic

     

    Jozo Simunovic

     

    Erik Sviachenko

     

    Darren O’Dea

     

    Eoghann O’Connell

     

    Efe Ambrose

     

    Tyler Blackett

     

    Jack Hendry

     

    Steven Mouyokolo

     

    Jos Hooiveld

     

    Milan Misun

     

    Glenn Loovens

     

    Adam Virgo

     

    Stephane Henchoz

     

    Stan Varga

     

    Rafael Scheidt

     

    Du Wei

     

     

    just for starters, whether he’s our favourite due to being caught up in a transfer wrangle with Celtic, is another matter.

     

     

    I think we’ll sell in January should events of the summer pan out we will attempt to win eight in a row with the enigma Simunovic and the untested Benkovic.

     

     

    Not the way things should have been and a Saturday home game against Hibs has never been such an indicator of how our season shapes up.

     

     

    Routine wins have gone with the invincibles, Brendan Rodgers shuffles his squad searching for the intensity of performance. Tall order to go in again and repeat the same never entered without winning formula.

     

     

    Recruiting or not, didn’t help but we’ll never know all water under the bridge and maybe Celtic jam tomorrow, but has BR the squad?

     

     

    Answers begin again on Saturday.

  38. celticrollercoaster on

    Happy 18th BIrthday to the young Caityrollercoaster, growing up very fast and becoming a lovely young lady in her own right. She is home from Dundee on Friday to buy her Dad her first legal pint. Also has her priorities right! :-)

     

     

    HH

     

     

    CRC

  40. Fritzsong on

    James Gang and St Stivs

     

     

    I wasn’t there but I’m reliably informed that Jesus taught us to forgive seventy times seven times. On balance, I’m with Jesus on this.

  41. mike in toronto on

    Fritzong

     

     

    The seventy times seven bit comes from Matthew’s gospel … but, in Luike’s version, it is said that you should forgive “if there is repentance”

     

     

    I dont see any remorse or repentance from any of them….

     

     

    So, as a moral theologianin a prior life, I am pretty comfortable in thinking that Jesus would say ‘to hell with the lot of them”

     

     

    :)

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