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. masty

     

     

    21:10 on 13 January, 2015

     

     

    scullybhoy

     

     

    why give it oxygen?

     

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

     

     

    Delaneys Dunky

     

     

    21:21 on 13 January, 2015

     

     

    Scullybhoy

     

     

    Please try to ignore their songs.

     

    Be safe if going. That mob will be team handy & tooled up.

     

    I have been told by several loyalist gangsters I grew up with.

     

    My family will be no where near Glasgow on Feb 1st.

     

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

     

     

    I just thought that there will be an outcry after the game, yet all the do gooders will have heard nothing. But if people feel that we should just accept it then who am I to suggest otherwise. I just wish the game was not taking place and I really fear for Celtic fans and for the reputation of the club.

  2. Talk of Aberdeen home game after Inter game being moved to the Monday night

     

     

    ST holders getting mucked about again if true…

  3. A Ceiler Gonof Rust on

    TET, you have mail bud.

     

     

    For once my mail doesn’t mention bulldozing ibrox into the Clyde. Friday night would be a good time though. Two for the price of one.

     

     

    Glad to hear things are looking so positive for the lovely Mrs TET.

     

     

    Give her a big kiss from me and Mrs acgr………………………….X

     

     

    Love to you both.

     

     

     

    Hail Hail my hun free mountain, cave dwelling, Spanish sclaffbaw friend.

  4. marrakesh express

     

     

    I read about this years ago, I’m sure most of the wood was used by the Royal Navy to build ships.

  5. Delaneys Dunky on

    Pobhoy

     

     

    Good to see you post. I would take Stuart Armstrong. Good player, great attitude and lifestyle. A professional who would love to improve himself at Celtic. I think we have better in our U20s than the others you mentioned.

  6. blantyretim is praying for the Knox family on

    Pod I

     

    See later message

     

     

     

    PCS

     

    Remember lines across 18 yard box that’s what Dryburgh cup was famous for

  7. Dallas Dallas where the heck is Dallas on

    Mike in toronto, you’re welcome.

     

     

    After i tasted algonquin lager brewed by the upper canada brewing company ( i think), i knew i would like canada. Lol

     

     

    Also the canadian soldiers done a lot to defeat the nazis in world war two and in my mind, havenot received the proper recognition for it. They seemed to be montgomery’s choice for being at the forefront of attacks.

  8. Tontine Tim

     

     

    The Drybourough’s final we lost 5-3 to a fine Hibs side was perhaps the most entertaining gave I ever saw in the flesh. We fought back from 0-3 down to level, but were eventually beaten a.e.t.

  9. Bada bing

     

     

    Great deal for Leicester,Shaun and Scotland

     

     

    Leicester desperately need a greater, Shaun needs a league where flair is applauded not clugged, and Scotland get a great player at his sharpest.

     

     

    Always liked Shaun

  10. glendalystonsils on

    The Famine song? Is that the one that Kenny McCaskill thinks helps to create a fantastic atmosphere befitting of this joyous, celebration of football?

  11. Dallas Dallas where the heck is Dallas on

    Blantyre, i’m sure thr lineswere an experiment regarding offside.

     

     

    A player could only be offside if they were within the penalty area or the extended eighteen yard line.

  12. Just caught the last 15 mins of W.Ham v Everton. Extra time now on, and a great game. 2-1 Everton now, despite Aiden being sent off after about 55 mins.

     

    HH

  13. Many thanks bhoys.

     

     

    Unbelievable care she has had, in a unit, 4 beds, only one other occupied, a bloke in a coma, a Dr, 2 nurses, an aux nurse and a couple of floating nurses, could have paid a fortune and not got better care, the most amazing thing was, they made sure at least one nurse on duty could speak english, they actually switched rotas for this to happen.

     

     

    Thanks again bhoys, it really means a lot.

     

     

    HH

  14. Delaneys Dunky on

    Marty

     

     

    How’s life buddy?

     

    All good? Need to catch a pint wi you soon. Been too long. :))

  15. TET dont know how I missed the post your wife was unwell

     

     

    really glad to hear she is on the mend, will include her in my prayers tonight

     

     

    HH

  16. glendalystonsils- there is no doubt that the upcoming LCSF will eclipse the 2011 final for sheer naked bigotry from them, 3 years of built up poison will flood out like one giant plook being squeezed, not one for the faint hearted.

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