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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Watching Ireland,I find myself shouting at the telly.They infuriate me,but they should not.Their first touch is regularly terrible,they give away possession far too easily,they hoof the ball aimlessly very regularly,they look out of their league nearly every game.What they have got in over abundance is desire.They would run through brick walls for the manager and that support.When the full time whistle went last night I was knackered.Yes,they will get gubbed on occasionsbecause sometimes class does tell,but a fantastic trip for their great fans whatever happens now.
I think we should be aware that Barton and Krankjar are a step up from the normal Spl player.For a team in their position they are two good signings.A strong suspicion that “Arry,the Spiv”is lurking somewhere in the shadows with these 3 signings.
Charleston Battery wont know whats hit them.
“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.”
Sid,
Paul said SINCE Celtic. Leicester and Wycombe were before.
5 titles in a row?? Probably should have been mindya.
HH
Calling all Mr Pastry fans – he is appearing @3:15 on Freeview Channel 81 in “Time Of His Life”
‘Fill your boots’
DUBLINBHOY (or was that Dublinbhoy?) on 23RD JUNE 2016 2:30 PM
Sounded like sour raisin’s to me too
Catman is usually on the button with regard to transfers. So, does anyone know anything about Duffy and Dembele?
beatbhoy on 23rd June 2016 1:52 pm
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.
===================================================
beatbhoy – thanks, although I do believe I was correct that Germany were not guaranteed to finish at least 2nd as at the start of that day the points were…
Germany – 19
Poland – 17
Ireland – 15
If Poland had beaten Scotland (playing at the same time as the IRE v GER game) and Ireland beat Germany it would have been…
Poland – 20
Germany – 19
Ireland – 18
So a German loss in the last game (however unlikely at home to Georgia) and an Ireland win in Poland would have put it..
Ireland – 21
Poland – 20
Germany – 19
And the Germans in the playoffs! So no guarantees of qualification…although it was always quite likely! :-)
Dublinbhoy eile – noted, haha! :-)
Astonishing attack on Saint Martin (again) – IMO the best Celtic manager since Big Jock.
Peter Lawwell presides over years of abject mediocrity and has never had a word of criticism from you Paul67, yet Saint Martin is regularly belittled.
I’ve had this discussion with you before and yet again I am astounded of forehead that you choose to criticize Saint Martin – do you remember Ajax away, Seville, a (lesser sighted) treble, 6-2, Henrik getting 50 at Ibrox, 4-3 v Juve, beating the huns 7 times in a season (with a manager who had apparently sussed out St Martin’s tactics) etc etc
It’s no wonder many regulars have deserted this site…
I hope Ireland keep the Martin haters choking for a few more games…
P.S. The constant pop up ads on this site are intolerable.
Sorry, nearly forgot to sign off with the secret CQN chant “All hail king Lawwell!”
Cloghert
Fine letter :-)
Shines a light on brand association wi toxictyfc
Its also might make them tense
Dave ‘the squint” king appears to be intent on ending associations with other sponsors namely shirt makers and other sponsors.who provide income to the new ckub:-)
where they are gettin money from? is a questionable topic imo. :-)
HH
Geordie
Applying the same sanction as Dundee United suffered this season for an improperly registered player being in a match day squad, namely, a 3 point deduction, with a nice wee asterisk beside the team’s name in the League table to highlight this, it should indeed have been 5-in-a-row for MO’N, minimalist punishment though that would have been.
Enough registration infringements to have relegated them that and other seasons,I’d imagine, though Rangers (1872-2012) never experienced that fate.
And seeing as the game’s ‘governors’ won’t apply their own rules, I will, so, like Sid, I’ m having the third 5-in-a-row in our unbroken history for Martin!
Four now, of course.
Geordie
Even taking in to account since Celtic, it’s still nonsense.
Upon joining Villa he took them from 16- 11
He then had three consecutive 6th place finishes qualifying for Europe and an FA cup final, which he was cheated out of by Man Utd.
He took Sunderland from relegation trouble to finish 13th, then struggled the following season, but Sunderland have consistently struggled since.
He has now achieved a record achievement with his Country.
That strikes me as someone who has had far more success than failures, I have seen this before with Paul, down play Martins achievement and the opposite with WGS.
Why?
Well done to MON and Ireland last night,the question begs though,is there any correlation between a successful Euro 16 campaign for EVERY country in these Islands except Scotland and the SFA’s management of Scottish football leading to the death of Glasgow Rangers and the subsequent legal aftermath for all concerned?
Dublinbhoy1888
Good stuff!
Glad I qualified my assertion then, with an ‘unsure’.
Makes the 2 leg ‘lucky’ aggregate victory over die Weltmeister even more impressive for MO’N and the team.
Was Henrik playing?
” I have seen this before with Paul, down play Martins achievement and the opposite with WGS.
Why?”
Sid,
One creates an excitement on cqn.
The other, not so much ;)
HH
Don’t you mean Gretna????????
Didn’t Annan get their license for league……………..
WGS doesn’t carry the same luck as MON, obviously
TTB,
You are determined to see the sales of keyboards rise eh?;))
Joking aside, a wee bit luck for Scotland regarding group draws wouldn’t go amiss.
HH
The Battered Bunnet on 23rd June 2016 3:29 pm
WGS doesn’t carry the same luck as MON, obviously
===========
Although you could say MON not qualifying with 9ts from the CL group stage not to mention the events in Turin where we were the victims of blatant cheating was a tad unlucky!
HH
TTB is the battered bunnets cousin, tattered. :)
HH
bit touchy
Battered, tattered, flattered and ratarsed.
Well mibbee not the last one:-))
Today’s CQN theme tune is. . . .
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8QsFNqL8eSc
A Song by The Verve.
” CATMAN on 23RD JUNE 2016 12:54 PM
First post of the BR era so here goes.
Shane Duffy from Blackburn and Moussa Dembele from Fulham are both on the radar
HH”
Catman has a better record than most ( if my memory serves me well) so that post becomes meaninful.
WheelsonfireCSC
Geordie Munro replied:
” 5 titles in a row?? Probably should have been mindya.”
What an excellent riposte, Geordie!
JJ
HOT SMOKED on 23RD JUNE 2016 3:40 PM
” CATMAN on 23RD JUNE 2016 12:54 PM
dembele very early went to spurs in the january window, there was something about a loan deal scuppering it, he’s very highly thought of
not in the same league as joey barton of course
– early + nearly
Talking of lucky draws, Belgium consistently get lucky draws everywhere they go.
Take World Cup 2018 European Qualifier Group H for example . . .
Belgium
Bosnia Herzegovina
Cyprus
Estonia
Gibraltar
Greece
Whit’s that aw aboot?
When the tune should be one from a slim Fatbhoy, of course.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=4ULVQOneeZE
And none of the faint variety, thanks.
Really thought Strachan would get Scotland to a tournament or two but wouldn’t bet on it now. Don’t see a lot of quality coming through outwith Lennoxtown. Pointless exercises in those pre Euros friendlies too.
All about the Celts anyway :)
HH
Shane Duffy and Moussa Dembele would be great signings. Dembele may be free on a bosman
GARY67 on 23RD JUNE 2016 3:48 PM
he is, he’ll probably end up at spurs or arsenal
Don’t worry, that’s the last. I know it’s not Friday night.
Be gettin’ a row off RC, now!
Celtic40me
Thanks for that.
Has Joey Barton ever been nick-named ` Budgie ?
Budgie Barton seems so appropriate inasmuch as millions of budgies have been called Joey, the name is alliterative , he`s been before the beak and he does chirp on a bit.
JJ
Is Fulhams Dembele and Spurs’ Dembele the same guy?
HH
Dembele
YespleaseCSC
Sincere condolences to the Richie family and friends
fair play to vary for staying at leicester, i know he’s not going to starve on his new contract there but i like the idea of him staying at the club who gave him his big chance
and he won’t have to get a new coloured michael jackson arm cast for his permanently damaged wrist
Sevco are taking a huge gamble. They are paying no transfer fees as they haven’t the money to do so but are hiring fairly established freebies and what must be a huge weekly whack.
If the gamble comes unstuck they are deep in the smelly stuff but we should not get too complacent or dismissive.
Some of those signings are fairly decent players.