Scotland returned to their Glorious Failure nation status last night after completing their final five games of the World Cup qualifiers with three wins and two draws, a decade high-water mark. Glorious Failure being a status well ahead of the recently-discarded Pathetic Failure nation status.
We can now compete with decent sides, like Slovenia, Slovakia and England, and win comfortably away from home against Lithuania, who we were unable to beat at Hampden one year ago yesterday.
Problem is, I have a niggling feeling that this recent success has more to do with Brendan Rodgers than anyone else. In delivering an Invincible season and two Champions League group stage qualifications with overwhelmingly Scottish players, Brendan has effectively said: “Gordon, check out the really good players you have here”.
It is not all Gordon Strachan’s fault that he didn’t pick any Celtic players in the 1-1 home draw with Lithuania, whereas he selected six Celts in the recent 0-3 away win. Scott Brown was temporarily retired from international football then, and Stuart Armstrong and Callum McGregor were struggling to get into the Celtic team. But the omission of Gordon, Tierney, Griffiths and Forrest for large parts of the early campaign, in retrospect, looks unforgivable.
The reason Scotland didn’t qualify for the World Cup has less to do with our genetics, than the fact that we didn’t select our best players for the home game against Lithuania (for example). The fact that Gordon didn’t pick so many Celtic players early in the campaign, as he did later, reflects the corresponding appreciation in Celtic players’ stock over the period. But picking the right players is a big part of the job. We have a relatively small pool of talent and the manager missed a lot of value.
For you and I there is a compensation. We will not have the stress of worrying about having to play Champions League qualifiers with up to a dozen players on World Cup duty. The bulk of the squad will go through a preseason routine designed for Celtic’s needs. The Scottish players will also not have to compete in a play-off round amid Champions League games against Bayern Munich and the final stages of the League Cup.
The rest of the country will have no compensation, only disappointment that they are unable to participate in a Celtic dividend.
Fancy yourself as a collector of Celtic memorabilia? James Forrest’s match-worn National Famine Memorial Day shirt is available for raffle later today. These shirts are go for incredible sums at auction, but this one is open to the wider community.
Oh! And if you know your history, you will know what good you will do by participating. Laters…………
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NEW CQN PODCAST – A CELTIC STATE OF MIND OUT NOW!
A NEW CQN Podcast is out now featuring interviews with Celtic legends Bobby Lennox, John Fallon, Tommy Callaghan and Kenny Dalglish.
This week, ‘A Celtic State of Mind’ pays tribute to The Quality Street Gang.
In the second of a two-part series, Paul John Dykes interviews:
Bobby Lennox, John Fallon, Tommy Callaghan and Kenny Dalglish!
The discussion is all about one of the finest crops of youngsters ever to emerge from Celtic Park…
And we finally reveal just where that nickname came from.
Enjoy the new podcast…
The new Invincibles treble disc DVD is now available from CQN Bookstore HERE. It is quite simply unmissable. What a season that was!
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Aye he dreams aboot drams……
Smiley carnoustiegolferthing…
Braw.
CALTONTONGUES,
I have agree with you. I really hope he doesn’t sign for Celtic.
CaltonTongues
A bit harsh on James McClean. He has been the main man for the Republic in this tournament so far. I do agree with the football points you make about him however.
If Pedro had come away with the comments Strachan made he’d have been crucified. A pair of arses.
Caltontongues
Points make prizes…..
Smiley brucieforsyth thing …
Braw.
Cuddlytoy?
Yogi,
Brendan ain’t daft.
No harm to the bhoy, and Congrats for tonight but, really….
Hi All,
My name is Niamh,
Corkcelt is my Dad & he is the best Dad ever.
He always talks about the Celtic Family, I never really understood what he was talking about but after reading back all the posts tonight, it just felt I was reading stuff written by my extended family.
I cannot thank you all enough, you are wonderful, .
Great Night for Ireland & ye all have made it a great night for me.
Once more Thank You All from the bottom of my Heart.
I hope there is room in the Family for a new Celt because I have been converted.
Hail Hail
Niamh
Braw Bhoy & TOSB,
Good luck to him but seen better playing for Fauldhouse Utd, who in their day, were very good.
That might bring Awe Naw and Mags Back…:))))
Corkcelt
Good Luck to your daughter Vote in.
Welcome Niamh.
HH
Niamh…have to ask the question…are you a ***?
Too polite to write the word but your dad will explain to you…
Hope you win btw…
NIAMH
Your not a Hun, are you?
;-)
Niamh…..
You are an awfy braw lass….your dad will forever smile ….I hope he keeps us informed on what you might need …
Smiley goforitlassie things..
Braw
Niamh ,there is always room in our family,best of luck to you .
God bless hh.
Welcome to the Celtic Family Niamh. Your Dad’s a star on here.
NIAMH your’e very welcome HH !
This is Corkcelt reclaiming his moniker.
Calton & Johnbay. Thanks a million.
Ah lads maybe a Honey but never a Hun.
I feel a bit guilty by hogging the blog all night, so I’ll sign off to give ye all a break.
I’ll check back in the morning & pick up any posts.
A million thanks to everyone.
Niamh.
You have the support of the CQN roasters and cliques you deserve a Nobel prize in my eyes.
god bless.
Really hope you win.
HH
Bhoys supporting Corky’s Niamh
Remember to check your emails and confirm the vote or it will not count, could be in your spam folder too
CORKCELT
Two votes cast-though still to be verified. Will do so in the morning when I get back in.
Got another two dormant mail accounts,I’ll use them tomorrow too.
NIAMH
Good luck,and Welcome to Celtic!!!
Corkie and Niamh
Up the Dubs
Corky….
Been the best of nights….
Smiley regards from Germany….
Braw.
Congratulations to ROI. Still in wi a shout of an interest during the summer.
Commiserations to Wales and to SIPSINI’s better half.
Feel sorry for Wales now. Chris Coleman spoke well after the game. Dad’s from Dublin so good luck to him.
Martin keeps pulling these performances out of the hat
Corkcelt
Infrequent poster, just voted for Niamh, best of luck to her and Ireland. Have always enjoyed your posts. Just back last weekend from a wedding in the Kingdom.Trust you will forgive me. Well it’s nearly Cork!
HH
Niamh
Join yer auld man on his next trip to Celtic Park and you will understand. I have met your da in Glasgow. I agree wi you that he is the best of company. Look forward to seeing you at a Celtic match. Good luck in your business venture.
Hail Hail
Re Mclean
He made a huge contribution to getting Ireland into a playoff position.
McClean scored his fourth goal of this qualification campaign, finishing as the Republic’s top goalscorer.
McClean scored the winning goal in three times – without his goals the Republic would have been six points worse off.
HH
Niamh
What a name. One of the best names ever.
Voted and verified.
HH all, especially my Irish brothers and sisters.
CT
Cannae agree wi you about James McClean.
His four away goals got Eire to the play offs. He is rough as a badgers arse but effective component of a MON team.
James
See you in München in a week.
Bring on the Bayern!
Hail Hail
DD
Cant wait brother.
HH
Corkcelt .
Congrats to the other Bhoy in Green tonight . Two votes cast . Hopefully catch up again when we play Bayern at the end of the month .
Niamh .
Welcome to the madhoose . HH
James
Reckon there will be 20,000 Tims in München next week. Every Tim I meet is going, ticket or not. We will have a Bavarian party to remember. Win, lose or draw.
HH
DD
I’ll be flying in early Wednesday morning from London. I’ve booked a hotel near the airport as I need to fly out quite early the next day (just as well I’m not the pilot!!!)
I’ll be going in from, and back to, London.
Just let me know where and when to meet.
Suggestions for a thank you gift for Maddes?
Sp?
HH jamesgang
Had to dive in here on this night of nights. Incredible performance by the team in (green) white. Little uisce beatha in hand, medicinal purposes and all that. Can’t have the educators berating us on a school night. Ádh mór le Niamh, vote cast. Leaba time or one for the road? mmmmmm . . .
James McLean hasn’t pleased everyone then, ffs, you’ve got to laugh.
Magwai…….dive in again….
Slainte
Braw.
TTR
He might be a bit too Feniany for some on here.
That west Brit WITS need a watching!!
;-)
HH jamesgang