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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Brilliant. http://t.co/OvMY8vMezw
Franny
Alf Garnet got my mammy angrier than anything I had seen. She took him for a real bigot who wisnae acting. And he had evil satanic eyes! :)
!!Bada Bing!!
:-))
HH
!!bada bing!!
Why are you so cynical? don’t you believe our board :))
coneyboy
Most of the 1st team got to top up their tan-))
Did anyone see the Celtic game earlier? Tired man needs info!
Sipsini-same tedious stuff every Window now for me…HH
Delaneys Dunky
22:41 on 13 January, 2015
Petec
My ticket for Oz Pink Floyd never arrived. Checked my bank account, no £38 to Ticketmaster. Wont let me log on the site? Lookin grim? :(
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TICKETMASTER TSNI , BELFAST BT1 GB 38.75 is on my bank account info,
I’d get on to them pronto. I used Visa Debit.
Ticket will arrive a week before the event apparently.
Thanks Martybhoy.
Succinct but probably comprehensive!
Glad we scored.
Always see us as unique in Europe in that we never try in friendlies
Sign Stephanie Roche, her team play up the road from me
Bada Bing
If there is any truth in the rumour that the Aberdeen game is now going to be the Monday night after the Milan trip not the Sunday then as a celtic supporter I will be delighted as my team will have a greater chance of recovering from travel and a big European tie.
Celtic games at a fullish Celtic Park are always an intimidating event for opposition.
One of my favourite games ever was a Monday night game v Aberdeen when the delayed entrance of George Cadette helped lift the roof. The night when our new stadium came to life for the first time IMO.
I was flying or driving up from London for our games back then. I remember the energised feeling driving back down the road. At that point I thought we might just beat that lot to the league. Sadly it was not to be. But we were back as a club.
Funny as a celtic fan you see it so bad and I see it as a positive.
I hope malcontents and whinging celtic consumers can combine with those of a more positive disposition and get behind the team for a huge match whenever it is.
Must admit two cracking games in two nights…one with millionaires playing, the other with guys playing for their livelihoods.
I couldn’t split what I enjoyed the most.
Coneybhoy,
Friendly kickabout on a bumpy pitch. Lots of young lhads, none stood out except Liam H.
Some seniors added in second half. ( money making?) exercise, not much else.
The Exiled Tim,
Delighted with your wife’s progress.
EC67
Delaneys Dunky
22:44 on 13 January, 2015
Marty
We are, but we need to want it more than the opposition. That is my doubt about this Celtic team, at times. Anyway I fancy a 3 goal victory! :))
_______________________________________________________
Dinnae Speak like that ;))
Hopefully the Crowds are massive for the end of the Season. Sundays are no use to me because of my Sons fitba, Ronny, CL next season please.
!!Bada Bing!!
22:50 on 13 January, 2015
Brilliant. http://t.co/OvMY8vMezw
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Respect.
!!bada bing”
If we extend kris’s contract, sign up Guidetti, bring in a forward passing midfielder, back up for a left back…carlingesque….then again.
Pukki has 11 app/5 g for Brondby.
His rate for us is not bad compared to many we have kept.
If he had not burned his Viking boat, he could be back
I expect the sell in clause will be taken but I thought he was good
Another to add to the Coneybhoy contrarian striker list
Melrose
Slater
McInally
Danny Crainie
I hope my admiration for Scepovic does not curse him too
Petec
You going if Ronny leads us to Warsaw? ;)
Petec
You can get a return flight from Glasgow to Warsaw at the time of the final for £43 just now. Just got that pop up on advert. I view it as an omen and about to book 2 seats. :)
Burnley78
23:01 on
13 January, 2015
That was a great game indeed when the 5th goal blew the radio off air, totally amazing from Jorge! I could not make it and listened to it on radio as I lived at the time 180 miles away and could not get time off work for the Monday night game.
However, I do feel for the supporters that fallout of a reasonable travel zone. I have to question the impact of this on attendance and indeed season ticket renewals for those further afield and whether we as a club, we benefit from it and treat our support reasonably. I appreciate it is not always under our control, but it will be a factor in our supporters view on STs renewal and attendance IMO.
HH
CRC
Delaneys Dunky
23:11 on 13 January, 2015
Petec
You going if Ronny leads us to Warsaw? ;)
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I hope so.
Thanks Eurochamps
I do wonder why we see these are training games while our opponents get stuck in.
Proof in the pudding will be the game this weekend.
Just heard… “I’m John McKay… Celtic make official approach to sign Mackay Stevens….” What’s the latest guys??
p s, think he would give us a bit of added quality.
DD
:):):):):):)
Sipsini –
What is really funny is that our board said nothing and he doesn’t believe them.
Unbelievable.
TET… delighted to hear the good news of your wife’s recovery. Prayed for her at Mass this evening.
What you say about the staff will certainly help as I know my recovery was also greatly due to the wonderful care I received from medical and nursing staff here.
Delaneys Dunky
23:16 on 13 January, 2015
Petec
You can get a return flight from Glasgow to Warsaw at the time of the final for £43 just now. Just got that pop up on advert. I view it as an omen and about to book 2 seats. :)
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I’ll maybe look at that in 8 days time.
burnley78
Funny as a celtic fan you see it so bad and I see it as a positive.
I hope malcontents and whinging celtic consumers can combine with those of a more positive disposition and get behind the team for a huge match whenever it is.
——–
In my experience often those who are most critical away from the stadium are the biggest supporters inside it.
B78-the Aberdeen game is due on a Sunday post EL game on the Thursday.Most guys at this stage who travel from afar,will have made plans (inc 100 Feyenoord fans i believe)I can make a game at CP at anytime on any day.Other ST holders might not be as lucky.Games such as the weekend past, will be played midweek now.When the begging letters go out for renewals,some will chase them,as they are being done over for TV and Club holidays.I take it the last few lines of your post ,your tongue was firmly in your cheek.HH
Anybody see the ‘Maspalomas Cup’ tonite?.. We had a good opening 10 mins, very mediocre next 35.. but encouragingly, I thought, a really good second 45 with some decent performances from our development players.
Connaire
I’ve looked at your email and will finish it tomorrow night sir.
Night Timdom
Remember Bhoys n Ghirls, always respect nuns…..even blue nuns.
HH jamesgang
Back in again for a wee bit….
TET
Great news on your mrs, will keep the prayers going. :-)
Loada snow out there tonight. Brrrrrrrrrr. Stars out now, mega ice in the morning. :-((((.
Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.
Jamesgang
You’re twisted :-)
So far this season only 3 out of 10 home league games have been on a Saturday at 3pm. In the 6 home games before the split only 1 is a Saturday 3pm game. Given most post split games are not Saturday 3pm then by the end of the season we could have played only 4 out of 19 home league games on a Saturday at 3pm.
Here is an audio for the Fine Celt macjay1 to listen to and contemplate, maybe with a fine Malt or with a frown.
What has been going on?
tom mclaughlin
23:22 on 13 January, 2015Sipsini -What is really funny is that our board said nothing and he doesn’t believe them.Unbelievable.
Was that for me?
Gary67
23:30 on
13 January, 2015
Gary67
23:30 on
13 January, 2015
Aye that posted well :-)
think post split, we will be away to Aberdeen, Dundee Utd and Hamilton
HH
CRC