Delighted for Martin O’Neill on taking Ireland into the last 16 of the Euros. Since his salad days ended at Celtic, Martin’s had more downs than ups as a manager. I felt the game had moved on from him, even during his five years at Celtic, the game tactically moved away from him, but he’s one of a number of managers of small nations who have overachieved.
I’m not buying Roy Keane’s tears, though. Reaching the last 16 of the Euros is a great achievement, but he disparaged Mick McCarthy’s achievement with Ireland in going out of the 2002 World Cup in the last 16 to Spain on penalties. Maybe it’s time for some humility from Roy.
If anything, Michael O’Neill’s achievements with the north has been even greater. Michael was mentioned as a possible Celtic manager before Brendan’s appointment, but the point was made to me, whatever he achieved in qualifying, he could be embarrassed in all three Euros games. Now he needs to beat Wales for a place in the quarter finals.
The group stages have been a delight. Some big tactical lessons for underdogs, and for teams who face 10 men behind the ball every week. If you don’t make defensive mistakes you can win any game, possession and territorial advantage is a mirage of influence.
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According to Wikipedia, Jamie Yeates aged 15 years, born 2nd March 2001 is the CEO of Glasgow Celtic !!
I blame the schools. Fair play to the boy:))
HH
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Lawwell
Possesion Italy 52 ROI 48, yeah Ireland under seige and scoring against the run of play.
Do you think Scotland in the same position would have won that game? Of course they wouldn’t.
Mighty Tim
Mark was a former pupil of mine as was your son Sean when they were at Primary school. My daughter told me of his passing earlier in the week. He was a great lad and a really good player. My condolences to his family.
RIP Mark.
I’m off down to that very same school just now to cast my vote.
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on 23RD JUNE 2016 12:17 PM
Off to work,wee drive around Wiltshire,knocking down any oul’ sods who look suspiciously Out-types.
My experiences there tell me you’ll be busy
Mmmm-
Work done for the day -way down south .
32 degrees and a pitch black sky . . End of the world style thunder and lightning . Dogs whimpering with fear and hiding in the basement . Big storm time !.
Bada Bing
Just saw that. He’s looking really well in the pics. Great news.
BOABYEVANS@12:43
One does wonder where the money is coming from – however on the strategy, I must say it is a sendible one for a club in their position.
It appears to me that by bringing in the QPR trio, they are looking to a reliable ‘core’ to solidify the team. They are looking no further than next season – it is essential to them to ‘make a fist of it’ in order to re-establish the ‘Rangers’ name.
Obviously they will be paying, Accrington excepted, no upfront transfer fees and there everything will be bundled into running costs. Season ticket money will only last so long and it seems likely that additional loans will be needed to see them through the season.
There is no doubt that they will still be running a substantial loss.
To borrow a phrase from Elaine in Seinfeld ” they are an enigma..a mystery wrapped in a riddle”
Mighty Tim
Prayers and thoughts with the Ritchie family. My best mate lost his 21 year old son to a knife-wielding thug a few years ago and the pain is still with us all to lose one so young so I know something of how they must be feeling.
The support they will get from people on here could only be a help.
Seems we are being linked with an awful lot of EPL/ English Championship players. I hope this is just lazy journalism given where our new manager comes from, as there are bargains to be had further afield.
I always love when we sign a player that the hacks had no inclination we were even after.
Mighty Tim
Sad news,God rest your friend
HH
Must confess to a little de-mob happiness, this being Thursday afternoon, the week’s work all but completed, and a wee trip to look forward to come Saturday.
Saw SoT’s post there, and decided to check the weather forecast…
We’re heading to the Atlas mountains in southern Morocco, a week’s climbing and whatnot, then a week recovering in Spain. Plan is to be topping out Toubkal next Tuesday, and that’s as far as the weather forecast stretches. (notwithstanding that the mountain weather defeats all forecasting)
Currently, heatwave material at low levels, 40C in Marrakech, cooler at 25C at 2000m, dropping to 11C at the +4000m summits.
Until Monday… front moving in, rain, gale force winds, 5C on the tops. It’ll be just like home!
Better pack a mac…
ThomTheThim 12:20
Spot on. Move the ball quick – don’t give the defence time to get set.
As you say Callum can do this. Patrick needs to improve his right foot so he can go down the outside now and again. Wouldn’t mind seeing him go on the left wing at times too – mix things up a bit. Rogic can also pick a pass. Hope he signs up.
GORDON_J on 23RD JUNE 2016 1:08 PM
I always love when we sign a player that the hacks had no inclination we were even after.
What I love is when we make a signing that the hacks would have sneered & sniggered at as though the person in question is out of our depth. Ya know like……Brendan Rodgers.
JoeAllenCSC
Therein lies the problem.
No one knows where their money comes from.
It is unaccountable.
Scottish football is regulated like a frontier town in the ol’ Wild West.
The only law at Ibrox was called Nicky…..and he left on the last stage out of town!
Clogher Celt
Barton was at QPR – think it was when ‘arry was there. This will be Krankjar’s first British club WITHOUT ‘arry apparently.
72 games in four years – no doubt the SMSM will find a way of spinning this positively. It will have kept him fresh or some guff like that!
Emdy got Cadizzy’s number? Need a cagoulle…
OMG! Gutted as contract talks with big time Charlie Mulgrew have broken down. Or os it a cause for celebration.
TheLatterCSC
Mighty Tim –
Heard about Mark’s tragic death last Sunday afternoon from a mutual friend whom I was with when he got the message. My friend was visibly stunned and very upset.
Mark Ritchie RIP.
Text from my young nephew delighted that he’s gotten a job on the oil rigs.
Says there could be more in the pipeline.
Glasstwothirdsfull,
Do you speak Croatian?
http://arhiv.slobodnadalmacija.hr/20060928/crnakronika01.asp
TBB
“emdy got Cadizzy’s number. . Need a cagoulle”
*****
Well, if you need a cagoulle, best go to an anorak, right enough!
Opening can on phone. Top advert brexit with a fluttering union flag.
Gggrrrr
Disgraceful dig at Roy Keane
From a man who for 2 years refused to admit that the King had no clothes.
Petty
Ah but sure Rangers are in great financial difficulty lets give Celtic fans the 2 fingers and appoint some clown PE teach from Norway and not a peep from the Skibbereen Eagle
Signed
Disgusted in Dublin
From Previous….
The Battered Bunnet on 23rd June 2016 11:19 am
Better a lucky General, than a good one, and MON has proven it yet again.
Despite losing 4 points from 6 to Scotland, his team got into the play offs for the tourney by virtue of beating Germany in the final qualifying match, Germany already having qualified; a 1-0 win achieved with just 28% possession.
MON’s luck runs on in the tourney proper: with only 1 point from 2 matches, his team meet Italy in the final match, who like the Germans previously, had already qualified. Italy’s coach makes 8 changes, has the majority of possession, but MON’s team wins 1-0 to progress.
His team now meets a France team sans the hand of Henry. How lucky can you get?
==========================================================================
TBB – playing down MON’s (& ROI’s) achievements?
Ireland played Germany in the 2nd last qualifier, not the last game as you say. Germany HAD NOT already qualified, they needed to take something from the game to guarantee qualification so they had a full side out trying to win the game, not as you state.
You also claim his “luck” runs into the tournament?
Far better side against Sweden and UNLUCKY not to win, conceding an OG.
2nd game – at 0-0 v Belgium (although being outplayed) MON’s Ireland side denied a definite penalty, and possible Belgian red card. 1-0 Ireland v 10 men it would have been a very different game.
Against an Italian side made up of players who play for better sides than Ireland’s starting XI, they are denied 3 1st half penalties (2 stonewallers!) but still pull through for the win.
That’s what you call “luck”?! :-)
In qualifying Ireland drew 1-1 in Germany with the World Champions, beat them fair and square in Dublin against a full strength side who needed something from the game and then overcome some ‘questionable’ refereeing decisions to qualify from a very tough group in the Finals – maximum respect to MON and the players!
No need to be bitter with all this “luck” talk and mentions of winning with 28% possession – didn’t we (Celtic) do that v Barca recently? Doesn’t make it any less of an achievement in my view!
HH, KTF!
For those who have worked out how to beat a 10 man packed defence, how did that work out for Barcelona v Celtic?
My point being that SOMETIMES it doesn’t matter how good the players and tactics are. Sometimes 10 man defences will succeed.
And it’s something that we face most weeks in the SPFL which in turn leads to the ‘turgid’ football that we have to endure.
I doubt, but I hope, that Brendan will be any more likely to produce creative, winning football against those tactics than any of his predecessors.
I’d put Roy Keane’s influence down as the extra edge Ireland needed to get through last night.
The psycopathic focus and method he displayed in the press conferences undoubtedly transferred onto the players’ game mindset – they played like the Devil was in them, with an intensity and motivation hereto missing (Shane Duffy a prime example). That’s largely down to having someone like Roy Keane in your ear and at your back; inspirational alongside MON’s heartfelt motivation.
Mats Nilloc
“To borrow a phrase from Elaine in Seinfeld ” they are an enigma..a mystery wrapped in a riddle” ”
*****
Costanza’s got one too, which would be apt for Sevco.
When being asked about his prowess in being economical with the truth, he says:
“It’s only a lie if you think it is, Jerry!”.
Mat’s nilloc 1.06 …. cheers for reply not that I am worried about the challenge from them this season just annoys me how they seemingly can do whatever they like & no one bats an an eye , anyway before I go back to lurking mode I would like to thank the res 12 team for all their hard work &commitment , also RIP mark Ritchie thoughts & prayers said for family & friends
Clogher Celt
Afraid not.
Not intentionally anyway:-)
Dublinbhoy1888
Very well said, though I think, though not entirely sure, that Germany were guaranteed to finish at least second, due to Ireland and Poland having to meet.
But they were still playing to top the group, as the strong team they put out shows.
2-1 aggregate victory over the World Champions no mean feat for MO’N and his team.
Among his many great feats, some of which I listed at the end of the previous article.
Dublinbhoy1888
I just want to make it clear to others that you and I are not the same person. You have submitted a well structured, reasoned rebuttal to TBBs dig at MO’Ns successes during the qualifications and group stages of the Euro campaign. I on the other hand, while not being as active on this site as I used to be, rarely post anything of any real interest :))
PS I agree with your post. I suspect that TBB is just hurting that Scotland is not present at the Euro party
Like MON, I’m just too damned lucky to be hurtin’
Thoughts and prayers with Mark Ritchie, his family and friends.
HH
“Martins had more downs than ups as manager”
Really, was it at Wycombe, eh no, maybe Leicester, no a hero there, it must have been Celtic, but what about 5 titles in a row a treble and UEFA cup final, my greatest moment as a Celtic supporter.
It was Villa when he consistently finished in top 8 of EPL, no no drats.
Ahh Sunderland, but didn’t he miraculously keep them up one year, then struggle the next, just like every manager since. Ok Sunderland maybe.
Now he is a success with his country where he can’t be accused of buying success, qualifying for last 16, first time in history, including beating the World Champions, all whilst the game tactically moved away from him.
So that’s five roaring successes and a maybe, I’ll file your comment under pish.
Is it because Martin wouldn’t be Lawwells puppet?
As for Michael O’ Neil being the greater achievement, I think, Ireland’s group was harder, where NI were well beaten in two games in which they parked the bus. The football was awful compared to the Republic, although I would concede the Republic have the better squad.
Well done Martin and well done Roy, I had tears in the eyes, and Martin brought back memories I’ll never forget.
Thoughts and prayers forthe Richie family.
HH
Clogher
Da. Govorim malo Hrvatski.
Celtic under 20s drawn at home to Annan Athletic in first round of Irn Bru Cup (formerly the Petrofart Cup).
HH!!
Mighty Tim –
The management and committe of St Anthony’s have arranged a benefit match v St Roch’s in memory of Mark Ritchie at Jimmy McGrory Park on 21 August.