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. Dallas Dallas where the heck is Dallas on

    Mike in Toronto, further to your post last night about Toronto not being as clean or friendly as it was.

     

     

    That’s sad to hear.

     

     

    We were very impressed at how mannerly and courteous the locals were plus it being relatively litter free.

     

     

    It was only on our return, I realised how much a problem we had with litter here.

  2. glendalystonsils on

    kdc

     

    20:06 on

     

    13 January, 2015

     

    Any news of Centre half, a right back, playmaker or strikers coming in (guidetti would count)?

     

     

     

    Eh, no, no, no, and, er. no. You are 18 days too early for such questions.

  3. Just a thought

     

     

    We have had a Flash Fund for the Advert in the Herald – Yes :-)

     

     

    Could something similar be repeated, by going to court and putting an injunction on the Media, to STOP them using the term Old Firm ?

     

    With regards any game we may play against any team refers to themselves as The Rangers

     

    Make the media then prove against such ?

     

     

    Winning Captains you about and thoughts ?

     

     

    Hail Hail

  4. glendalystonsils on

    Whit’s aw this aboot Sevco directors and a Novena? Jist wait tae the hordes get wind o’ that!

  5. Sipsini

     

     

    Exactly … and this is what Eddie speculated on Clyde ie that the sell and lease back may have been enacted via the deed of novation .

     

     

    He suggests that this is the critical document but apparently it’s gone missing .

     

     

    Sorry … i need to stop … i’m beginning to sound like Bomber

  6. HT, Bada, jc2

     

     

    Yes, got an online account and now have a ticket.

     

    Thank you very much for the advice.

     

     

    EC67

  7. mild mannered Pedro delgado on

    67heaven

     

     

    Was reading your post ;suddenly realised I was doing it in style of the bloke introducing

     

    The next episode of “soap”

  8. mild mannered pedro delgado

     

     

    19:50 on 13 January, 2015

     

    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

     

     

    He has been on before and as before there is no debate with him.

     

     

    He put his point across very well, articulate too.

     

     

    Is there more to this??

     

     

    P

  9. !!bada bing!!

     

     

    20:28 on 13 January, 2015

     

     

    I heard earlier precontract but who knows we might throw in a Player to sway it now.

     

     

    Keep the Faith!

     

     

    Hail Hail!

  10. Delaneys Dunky on

    Weefra

     

     

    G81 thick wi the white stuff noo!

     

    Could you no have kept it in Lanarkshire? ;))

  11. D.D.

     

    Hopefully not, he’s at his work.

     

    If he is lurking then I am getting probably from H.T and Paddy.

  12. pedrocaravanachio67 on

    Saltires en Sevilla

     

     

    Non Celtic question, have you heard any arrangements for Barry’s funeral? I know it’s at St Aidens, but father David didn’t have the date yet.

     

    Any info on this would be appreciated.

     

     

    HH PC67

  13. jc2

     

     

    If someone you know has an account they can check to see if you’ve got a ticket by assigning a ticket to your client code.

     

     

    Lennybhoy

     

     

    Collected them today.

  14. lennybhoy-we could be doing with getting a few off the wage bill.I got ticket online,no letter yet…

  15. 67Heaven .. CHALLENGING THE LIE ..I am wee Oscar / Neil Lennon.. Ipox belongs to the creditors on

    !!bada bing!!

     

     

    20:01 on 13 January, 2015

     

     

    Fred Colon-the idea that Craigy Bhoy and/or Challs still have the keys to the big hoose,might be too much for the hun hordes.

     

    >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

     

    It will be too much for me also…..I’ll need to lie down, and get the sedatives out…..

  16. The King and I on

    glendalystonsils

     

     

    Was on SSB tonight, so they know………More sleepless nights :-)

  17. 67Heaven .. CHALLENGING THE LIE ..I am wee Oscar / Neil Lennon.. Ipox belongs to the creditors on

    mild mannered pedro delgado

     

     

    20:28 on 13 January, 2015

     

     

    Hahahahahahaha …. Brilliant….I do get a bit excited as all this shoite unfolds….

  18. bournesouprecipe on

    The West Ham v Everton game spoiled by the pink ball

     

     

    I remember they used to be orange.

  19. Delaneys,

     

    just seen your weather report,had a keek out the window,

     

    street covered and still falling quite heavily

  20. PR firm level 5.

     

    Launch today. Murdo Macleod has a go at Guidetti for his statement about hat trick against Sevco. Which Guidetti has already said was taken out of context. Sign of things to come. Thanks Murdo. Not.

  21. bournesouprecipe

     

     

    20:40 on 13 January, 2015

     

    The West Ham v Everton game spoiled by the pink ball

     

     

    I remember they used to be orange.

     

    __________

     

     

    Naismith said he would refuse to kick an orange ball.

  22. H.T.

     

    He must have got your number of someone else possibly D.G. Seriously, he came down last night to get all the numbers I had. He said he didn’t have yours. Oh well that’s my chance of fun with him gone. D.D. was probably right in that Paddy’s lurking anyway.

  23. glendalystonsils on

    O.G.Rafferty

     

     

    We will need the power of prayer if we are to come out this window stronger than we went in

  24. evening guys,

     

    probably been asked a few times today, but are we to expect letters for humpdump?

  25. HT

     

     

    Emailed my mate we are in a group and usually all get them.

     

     

    All in home tkt scheme.

     

     

    But would like to confirm as they usually offer

     

    kids cheapo tkts that we dont take as 3 rows from front

     

     

    Usually pay full whack to get decent seats.

     

     

    thanks again

  26. Dallas Dallas where the heck is Dallas on

    Bada bing, video celts have an article up about dallas the younger’s appointment to the fifa list.

     

     

    It mentions the kenny shiels incident when dallas the younger was the fourth official.

     

     

    The article also states how dallas the younger is a member of the lanarkshire refs association like most of our high profile officials.

     

     

    Paul larkin has also mentioned the influence the lanarkshire refs association has.

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