The Ross Wallace Deployment

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I’ve never treated the Ballon d’Or seriously, but would you be alarmed if your manager overlooked two of the most outstanding footballers of all time, to vote for one of the poor relations in an outstanding, if waning, Barcelona team.

England manager, Roy Hodgson, is entitled to his opinion but in nominating Javier Mascherano, he’s started a debate which will not reflect kindly on him.

I remember when Martin O’Neill was in charge of Celtic, he could do or say anything and no matter how incongruous it seemed, we all looked for hidden wisdom.  Martin knew much more about the game than all of us but this authority was uniquely evident.  I don’t remember any other Celtic manager being regarded with such awe, and I go back to the latter Stein days.

Whether Mascherano is fit to pass the ball to Leonel Messi is beside the point, Roy’s opinion is a prisoner of fortune.  He’s dead meat to his critics.

For all of Martin’s brilliance he wasn’t one for cutting edge tactics.  He knew what worked for him and stuck to it.  So when Gordon Strachan came along with some new, ‘ideas’, the reaction was not appreciative.

Gordon’s early days (years) were remarkably hostile but it’s what I’ve regarded as The Ross Wallace Deployment which remains in the mind as an unfinished debate.

Ross was a left winger.  But, five goals down after a first leg capitulation in Bratislava, Gordon deployed him on the right.  The outcry was palpable.  We’d never heard of playing a left footed player ‘out of position’ like this.  What is now commonplace – to mix a left and fight footed full back and winger on the same side – was both new and proof positive that Gordon Strachan was a deluded simpleton.

There’s value in the opinions of the outliers, so my vote for the Ballon d’Or would have gone to Efe Ambrose. Gordon Strachan was a better manager than any of us knew at the time.

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  1. murdochauldandhay

     

     

    Interesting, but you’ll notice, he was deeper than the rest of our players. …….

  2. .

     

     

    If Celtic sign Gary Mackay Stevens I sincerely Hope He is a Success at Celtic..

     

     

    Otherwise Ole SydneyTim will Bust my Knitting going on about the Gary Mackay Stevens Window..【ツ】

     

     

    Whatever happened to the Willo Flood Money..?

     

     

    Summa of SydneyTimCSC

  3. Wakaso is definitely not the answer. He scored a great goal on his debut and as Tims we all thought for a moment, “Oh ya dancer, we’ve got a player!”

     

     

    Every time I’ve watched him since he lacks discipline, he has little idea of keeping the shape of the team, he runs about like a hun avoiding holy water and his decision making is schoolboyesque in its naivety.

     

     

    That apart, he’s a smashin’ player.

  4. Good evening all.

     

     

    Lots of snow falling in ML10 tonight. I hope everyone is safe. :-))

     

     

    Many happy returns Favourite Uncle. I hope you enjoy the rest of your day.

     

     

    Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.

  5. Frantic07

     

     

    KTF buddy, I sincerely hope the treatment is successful. YNWA.

     

     

    Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.

  6. What is wrong with Charlie Mulgrew , Mik Lustig, they should be near fitness by now, CM as a left sided Centre half nothing else and ML as a right back.

     

    Boeriggter has another 18 month on his contract I imagine he will cost us a relative fortune to get rid.

  7. mike in toronto on

    HT … no ‘pleading the 5th’ … only for americans! we dont even do that in Canada!

     

     

    up over the goal … would be interested to hear what you think of the film…. saw it a month ago, and still haven’t (i) really figured out what the director was trying to say, and (ii) whether I really liked it or thought it was just okay. Think one thing one day, and then the complete opposite the next day …

  8. mike in toronto

     

     

    I’ll be at the semi final mate. I’m going to watch Celtic it’s that simple for me.

  9. .

     

     

    The Alternative Ross Wallace Deployment..

     

     

    When Wee Rossco Emigrated from Tayside he was Found Digs in the ML4 Rivera where he Raised His Profile by Nippin ma Neice..

     

     

    Now Faither didn’t care if he was a Left or Right Fitter which at the Time was Unheard of..

     

     

    But He did Care when Wee Rossco Nipped a Hairdresser fae Bothwell..

     

     

    Dinnae trust a Right Fitted Arab springs to Mind..

     

     

    Summa of TheAlternativeFewCSC

  10. glendalystonsils on

    Berget, Berget, so easy to Ferget.

     

     

    As for wee Jamesie, what sane football club would be silly enough to sign a sicknote like him?

     

     

    Derk csc

  11. Brilliant caller ( Eddie ) just been on SSB describing the likely switcheroo scenario . Guidi didn’t utter a cheap .

  12. Rowley Birkin QC on

    Just a thought. May be we should pay for a advert on Radio Clyde and tell fans what we think of the Old Firm tag!

     

     

    HH

  13. .

     

     

    WeefratheTim

     

    19:35 on

     

    13 January, 2015

     

    summa

     

     

    You nicked it back???

     

     

    Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.

     

     

    ..

     

     

    Aye and then Some..

     

     

    l thought that Double 6 Inch Hem you put on it might help me get Noticed..even if it was just from the Knees down..

     

     

    Hope Yir Guid..

     

     

    KTF

     

     

    Summa

  14. mike in toronto on

    HT … was just joking about the ‘5th’ … sadly, it is what passes for humour in my business.

     

     

    I wont be there in person, and may watch the game on Celtic TV (although, I usually hated watching games against the zombies… although the feeling of beating them was magic!). There is still a chance that I will boycott that one …

     

     

    But, I certainly understand, and would not criticize, either side on this issue … can understand both sides and cant really say either is wrong. Just different views.

     

     

    Anyways, was just joking about the 5th …. apologies if it didn’t come across that way.

     

     

    HH

  15. blantyretim is praying for the Knox family on

    Barclay has a reputation for going down to easily

     

    Not good for such a young player

  16. since his dignified resignation to protest against guys losing their jobs Sally has cost sevco 66332.

  17. BB and HT

     

     

    I’m also on the home ticket scheme but have not a letter.

     

    Looks like I’m not getting one in the ballot. A first for many a year if so.

     

     

    EC67

  18. mild mannered Pedro delgado on

    Fred colon

     

    D

     

    “Deed of novation” guy.I’ve heard that guy before.seems to know what he’s talking about.they let him speak tonight

  19. summa

     

     

    Lol, yes indeed. We are all fine here, albeit a bitty cold outside. :-)) i hope you are enjoying your summer and not affected by those horrific forest fires. And, of course, I hope you and the family are well.

     

     

    Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.

  20. Eurochamps67

     

    19:50 on

     

    13 January, 2015

     

    BB and HT

     

     

    I’m also on the home ticket scheme but have not a letter.

     

    Looks like I’m not getting one in the ballot. A first for many a year if so.

     

     

    EC67

     

    I thought the same mate,no letter {yet…},logged on and ticket was there mate

  21. Pedro Delgado

     

     

    Yes , very articulate and suggesting that the deed of novation could have contained the truth re t he contingent liability

  22. summa

     

     

    Believe it or not, sitting here watching Nothing to Declare : Australia. Sad, or what. Hahaha

     

     

    Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.

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