There is something curious about the England national team. While pretty much every other country around England’s calibre select players, on merit, from clubs large and small, for decades England appear caught emperor role, seldom selecting players outside a top clutch of clubs.
This made Southampton striker Rickie Lambert’s recent selection memorable, despite the fact that his club sit comfortably above several of England’s heavyweights, significantly as a consequence of Lambert’s play.
Fraser Forster has been the best goalkeeper in Britain for a year, but he is English, and he plays domestic football for the Scottish champions, so despite his Champions League credentials, England Roy Hodgson has not capped him.
With the incumbent “England’s number 1” producing ample material to have most national team managers hide their eyes, no matter what Hodgson thinks of his preferred keeper, today’s news coverage suggests he has been boxed into a corner. If he plays Joe Hart in Brazil, and the keeper performs to his current level, Hodgson will carry the can for being the last man in England to see the obvious. England managers have a long record of having to deal with strong media sentiment coming to bear on their selections.
I’d like to see Fraser get the recognition he deserves. It would also be good for Celtic to be able to offer not only Champions League football, but also the chance to gain international recognition, at an ever-higher level. Holding onto him is another story, but all of those who were so upset when we passed on Stipe Pletikosa to take Newcastle’s third choice will not be too upset at that.
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Is it starting to sink in with some of them…taken from the BBC :
“It is the first time a team in Rangers colours will be in a national final since 2010”
Lymbhoy,
Great news.
Gives us an extra days rest before our group decider :)
The SFA has today confirmed that this season’s Scottish Cup final will take place at Celtic Park on Saturday, May 17, 2014.
Semi finals at death trap ibrokes. What happens when ibrokes is closed and sold by the Spivs?
Zombie…..We are gonna win a trophy you’ve never won!!
Good ghuy….. We have already won a trophy you’ll never win. In Fact we have won three that you will never win.
Stupid stupid zombies
Are we spending Christmas in the frozen north..o (
Ffs, they don’t half love sending us up north during the festive season, or is it my imagination ?
Roberttressel
I agree with your comments, but I think getting other Scottish teams to do well in Europe is the big challenge. I’m sure the SFA are at work on the problem as we speak..
Good ol Roy & Phil
Great article
http://www.theguardian.com/media/greenslade/2013/oct/29/daily-record-rangers
RobertTressell
11:22 on 30 October, 2013
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Fine post sir
cirenbhoy
11:29 on 30 October, 2013Is it starting to sink in with some of them…taken from the BBC :“It is the first time a team in Rangers colours will be in a national final since 2010″
A national final?? Bless…..they do try hard the ole lapdogs.
blantyretim is praying for the Knox family
11:42 on 30 October, 2013
You coming to Canada? :)
HH
gsu
desertbhoy
The Lab is on the other side of Buchanan Street. There is a pub on the corner of Mitchell Street/Lane which I think was called Ross’s
http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/spl/aberdeen/golf-shop-in-lane-is-back-on-course-1.784129
As prof. Farnsworth would say:
“Good news everyone” GCT’s got the all-clear!
Tom McLaughlin
Excellent news
YorkBhoy – what? The SFA haven’t already made it a priority? Take yer point!
Sheik Yerbouti – thanks. In all honesty I’d watch Celtic if they were playing non-league football. It gets on my thruppenys when I hear other ‘supporters’ telling me they aren’t going back until the football improves. Faithful through and through eh? To be honest I don’t really believe them anyway. The ones I know anyway, I think it has more to do with the stage they are at in life – kids, mortgages…… skint! But they should be honest.
Celtic are in our DNA. I can’t not support them. I might have periods in time when I go less because of money, weans, wife, whatever. There might be times I think – this is not as good a team as a few years ago, this player is poor, that player isn’t much better, but I don’t understand not going on that basis. If that were the case everyone would have chucked it when the Lions were split up or when Henke left us….. no one has been fit to lace his boots up front since he departed but what highs we have had since….
Sitting in a freezing cold Celtic Park watching a lifeless drawn match against ICT or Dundee might not be my preferred choice but I always take something from being at the home of the club built for and maybe even by my forefathers, in the company of tens of thousands of like minded people where generations of my family have been before me and the next generation sitting beside me…….. the football becomes a bonus. Whatever else Celtic are they are a place of belonging and social cohesion. As for standards – well, I’m 41 years old, I’ve never known a time when Celtic have competed so consistently well at the top level of European football against the very best Europe has to offer. And I wonder if I will know it again when this fantastic run of the last 10 years or so comes to an end as it may well do one day? So I’m just enjoying it.
The ‘Celtic’ gene is strong in me today! Must be the spirits of the past coming out at Halloween!!
Hail Hail I’m off oot for the afternoon.
NuRangers in a National Final?
Well done to the plucky newcomers in only their second full season.
Jeez, the begrudgery on here……..
Roberttressell
Thank you for two very readable posts
So the Sovvy Cup Final in Embra, that should go down well with the people in the Capital, I predict a riot.
BillyBhoy05 – nae bother – just riffing as they say. Or is it rifting? Glad you liked them. Anyway, I’m defo awa this time………
Keep the Faith Bhoys and Ghirls.
I know some of the younger players have been up with the first team, but are the fringe type players getting enough football since the reserves were scrapped?
If we were to get the young team, under 19’s playing friendly matches against Championship sides or League One sides in England on a regular basis it would further player development and expand the brand more
HH
gsu
new article posted.
richie #teamoscar
……
Cheers, said I was no good at names, apparently applicable to locations also.
Higher geography of no use whatsoever.
While the MSM salivate over the ole galacto-diddies reachin’ a Cup Final it will have overlooked them that Ireland won the final of ‘One Man and His Dog’ on Countryfile.
It was tremendous entertainment, like playin’ billiards with sheep.
DBBIA/TiocfaidhArLassieCSC