It didn’t occur to me until I read the CQN this morning that today sees a return on active duty to Bratislava for Gordon Strachan and David Marshall. 11 years ago Gordon started his competitive career as Celtic manager against previously unheard of Slovak minnows, Artmedia. The scouting had been done and Gordon was privately confident of progressing but the evening turned into his worst 90 minutes in football.
Six days later Celtic came close to overcoming a 5-0 first leg deficit, but could not add to the scoring after going 4-0 up with 20 minutes remaining.
Gordon went on to win three consecutive titles and took Celtic to the knock-out stage of the Champions League twice, no manager had previously done this once, but he never really shook-off the baggage from that night.
David Marshall wasn’t to blame for what happened on the field but Artur Boruc had signed a few weeks earlier and would soon supplant Marshall as first choice.
Chris Sutton picked up an injury away to Artmedia but I’m not convinced he really took to Gordon Strachan’s attempts to improve training ground habits. The last days of the Martin O’Neill era will never be recalled as a time of intense work. Gordon’s first job was to change this. It didn’t go down well with some senior players.
11 years later you can see the echoes of that time, as Chris wrongly tells the nation Gordon has lost interest in the Scotland job. I’m not a footballer, or manager, so don’t know if it’s possible for someone to lose interest in a job. It’s got me wondering, though, did Chris ever lose interest in a job?
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VFR800A8
I will take a horse and jockey for your race night.
I wont be able to get over but I will give the £20 to Almore who is heading over for the League Cup Semi
Maybe he can meet you then
Bring back Walter
What we need is a Real Rangers Man in the job.
Said no-one outwit the MSM.
He’d have trouble picking his nose.
Some of the minnows doing well tonight,Armenia San Marino and Malta all still drawing,
Aye that’s Eck in a job next week then.
Got to hope Lithuania draw
Surely WGS will chuck it after this embarrassment.
GORDYBHOY64 on 11TH OCTOBER 2016 9:13 PM
Some of the minnows doing well tonight,Armenia San Marino and Malta all still drawing,
However, the Scottish minnows are not doing so well.
Should never have dropped the outstanding Martin! What a shambles
Total Rubbish
Binned Sky some time ago so only seen England and their opponents, all garbage. So I have to assume Scotland are atrocious….
MALT WHISKY PROG ON BBC2 BYE
Gerrybhoy
Sounds like WGS has created his own embarrassment these last 2 games with his team selections.
No sympathy. Lost any sympathy for him when watching his turgid dross in last year and half with us. Aye he won some trophies and took us to last 16 but also managed to clear out some spectators.
MWD
It’s gone stale under WGS but the reality is he has nout to work with, most of this lot are rotten.
DALLAS DALLAS WHERE THE HECK IS DALLAS on 11TH OCTOBER 2016 9:08 PM
VFR, many a fine person came from the Drum. I have loads of great memories growing up there.
I’m proud to say that’s where I come from.
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Wholeheartedly agree!
FAC the Act
KTF
Just as well Hamsik hasn’t got Higuain playing in front of him……
it could be double figures!
Unlucky wee man.
WHAT IS THE STARS on 11TH OCTOBER 2016 9:12 PM
Thank you WITS; I’ll be in touch to organise it with you!
FAC the Act
KTF
Feel sorry Strachan
Really thought he was going to do well for Scotland when he took over,was unlucky not to make the Euros.
Not picking Griffiths is bizarre though
Watching Scotland on TV is a depressing pursuit.
Strachan. Bad team selections and awful awful football.
Oh dear.
VFR
You have met Almore already havent you ?
He’s the crazy cafe guy !!
Well, enough for me. I’m pouring a 15 year old malt and aff tae bed to continue reading Celtic – The Early Years. Brilliant stuff!
FAC the Act
KTF
Watching Scotland. Think it’s time for WGS to go.Picked wrong team again.Why Fletcher(both of them)Ritchie,Bannan etc.continue to feature is beyond me.The jury may be out as for who the better Celtic manager was.I would argue Martin as he was up against a much stronger Rangers However there is only one winner at international level and it ain’t Gordon
Griffiths would have been better setting in The Village with his Pal Broony tonight.
MWD
VFR, thank you.
Even John ‘polaris’ Macdonald was a quite a nice guy. My brother knew him and met him a few times
As for Andy Grey,he is not included in one of the fine people who came from Drumchapel.
WHAT IS THE STARS on 11TH OCTOBER 2016 9:24 PM
VFR
You have met Almore already havent you ?
He’s the crazy
cafeguy !!Yes, I have met him (see above)!
FAC the Act
KTF
Play your best players Gordon…same at Celtic
Spoke too soon for the minnows
DALLAS DALLAS WHERE THE HECK IS DALLAS on 11TH OCTOBER 2016 9:25 PM
VFR, thank you.
Even John ‘polaris’ Macdonald was a quite a nice guy. My brother knew him and met him a few times
As for Andy Grey,he is not included in one of the fine people who came from Drumchapel.
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But Daniel Fergus is!
FAC the Act
KTF
Not arf commentator, what was Gordy thinking leaving out griff
WGS will probably do a Warbs and say that it was never a 0-3 and that was NOT Scotland out there……
The Scottish players should be looking to deliver a few dull yins to the Slovaks who were dirty in the first half and targeted Snodgrass in particular.
Its Peter Lawells fault
Kestrel tonight for the Tartan army
Can’t believe there isn’t a better Scottish midfielder than Barry Bannon.
I hope Kieran doesn’t put himself in harm’s way for these duds. Griff too.