Safe hands

708

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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  1. As much as I would hate to see the Big Man go, a move to Barcelona would be absolutely out of this world for him, and dare I say, a real feather in our cap, and a fortune in our coffers.

  2. golfers

     

    these were given to me years ago by an elderly neighbour.

     

    Are they of any significance ?

     

     

    a) True Line rustless putter special – warranted hand forged, Made in Scotland

     

     

    b) ‘Lightning’ Australian hand forged Will Corry Special gooseneck putter

     

     

    c) D &W Auchterlonie ‘L’ putter hand forged special (cast-iron)

  3. desertbhoy

     

    If everyone bought new clubs after a horrendous round, there would be an iron/graphite world shortage 0:-). I had a 77 (net 67) on Saturday having three putted four greens so my irons are fine again.

     

    Of course I will mention them to anyone I know ( wouldn`t postage costs be restrictive?) but, in the meantime , just shout it out on here:

     

     

    300 QUID FOR A SET (4-PW) CLEVELAND 588 ALTITUDE IRONS, GRAPHITE !!!

  4. 16 roads - Wee Oscar the Celtic warrior. on

    We are capable of beating any club side in the world,on any given day.

     

     

    Why?

     

     

    Because we have a myriad of world class footballers in our team,and we have got one of the finest young managers in the world leading them.

  5. WDH

     

    I cannot give you any information on those clubs but I don`t want you to feel ignored.

     

    I`ll Google.

     

    JJ

  6. 16 roads - Wee Oscar the Celtic warrior. on

    Not forgetting the redoubtable Celtic support.

     

     

    It’s like a magic formula.

  7. Speaking of Barcelona and Fraser. See if we qualify for the group stages next year and see if we get Barcelona again, then, when you think of the times we’ve played them in the 21st century, can we start to call it a derby?

  8. WDH

     

    From what I can gather (from Google) , each club would go for between £5 and £70 . As always with items like these, ithe price is alway about how much someone wants one. They are not common but neither are they particularly rare.

     

     

    JJ Finished for the day.

  9. Hamiltontim is praying for Oscar on

    Bada

     

     

    I’d agree with pretty much all of your reply. I was delighted that the Maestro stayed but would loved to have seen him shine at a top European side, which he undoubtably had the talent to do.

     

     

    However, I can’t agree that, even in a roundabout way, McKay was meaning what you and I feel.

  10. JJ…

     

     

    4 x 3 putts!! That’s why I bought the new irons; can’t rely on my 24 putts per round anymore.

     

     

    .. You might just need to visit specsavers!

  11. Pleased about the Stoksie news – I think he’s a smashing player.

     

     

    Time to get the other bhoys signed too (Super Joe and the Greek Ghod).

  12. HT-Hope you guys are well,i’m sure we will catch up at a Christmas pis…..get together.

  13. JJ thanks. I’ll wrap and gift them as a suprise christmas present to Noel a real lover and student of the noble game.

  14. CultsBhoy loves being 1st forever & ever on

    McStay is my no1 fav Celtic player. He carried a team when he could have gone to better things on bigger money. His love of Celtic was genuine unlike many modern day badge kissers

  15. Hamiltontim is praying for Oscar on

    Bada

     

     

    No doubt big fella. Think there’s a get together in Nov but when I checked the date I had something on. Hope you and yours are well pal.

  16. Stokes 53 goals in 120 games,pretty good,a few assists too.Certainly looks fitter and more focused this season.

  17. Re FF being capped by Engurlund. Can’t say I am over enthused at the prospect but well done big man if you are picked. However I sincerely hope that England are metaphorically pumped in a Deliverance styleeee “squeal like a pig Englander”

  18. blantyretim is praying for the Knox family on

    Lennybhoy.

     

    Day after agm and think a few of us already going for wee drink apres agm..

  19. The Battered Bunnet on

    I bought my current irons from the wee shop that used to sit in the (now gone) Mitchell Arcade off Mitchell St. Crowley’s I think they were called.

     

     

    Browning Automatic blades. Second hand. £20 as I recall in 1992, one afternoon after a wee lunchtime scoop in the Horseshoe. Never seen the same brand of clubs since.

     

     

    Been re-gripped umpteen times. Sometimes the ball flies off the face so sweetly you can’t feel it. Mostly though, when I do play, I play pretty poorly, but it’s me that’s playing badly, not the clubs. The clubs are just waiting for the next sweet spot to come along.

     

     

    Probably long overdue I buy a set of them Mizuno MP thingmybobs. Saying that, would be just as well getting the faces reset and the grooves recut on the ole Brownings for all the difference it would make to my scoring.

     

     

    Reckon they must now be worth, oh, let me see, at least what I paid for them…

  20. blantyretim is praying for the Knox family on

    Any ideas how to get powerpoint downloaed sharpish?

     

    Mini needs it urgently.

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