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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celticrollercoaster supporting shay,our bhoy wonder along the way
23:36 on 13 January, 2015
And home to ICT and probably St Johnstone
HT
The ‘twisted’ feeling you refer to is your guilt gnawing away at the very marrow of your soul……or a wee touch heartburn from those chips n curry sauce you ate at half 9!
;-)
Night Weefra. Proper snow in dunblane tonight. We almost lost the westie!
HH jamesgang
Sipsini
I think the quest for a forward passing MF is a myth
Most MF can pass forward if given the time and space.
If you have a lethargic MF and static forwards then you seek a platini.
If all your MF and forwards move and pass, it all gets easier.
Most teams that beat us do NOT have a Platini.
They run their arse off up front and pass/move in midfield.
They are not stars, hence are not signed by star clubs
We have sideways lethargy and RD has called it out.
Look at Legia, Partisan. Average players but they move.
Biton can’t move
Kayal can’t move
Mulgrew can’t move
Commons can’ move
Henderson can’t move
Stokes can’t move
Ledley could
Ki couldn’t
Brown can
Johansen can
Forrest can
Very few mobile midfielders
Up front
Scepovic moved
Guidetti moves
Griffiths moves
But we only ever get 1!
Bring back the pass move philosophy and we have a great chance.
BUT we nerd another mobile MF
Ronnie gets it
Pass and move and no Platini needed
Big George’s fan club..
Celtic Friendly car parking in ma driveway, (no, ‘Watch yer motur mister’s fur 10 bob’).. 30 seconds from ‘100 Acre’ pub, and 15 mins walk from hampden. Let me know.. HAIL HAIL.
Jamesgang
My conscience and heartburn are clear. I ate at half 8 :-)
Night all.
UTLR
Jamesgang
My great aunt Sister Mary Veronica was a cheery nun.
She said there were more Catholics destined for down rather than up, the way we are living our lives today. :(
andyr53,
Great gesture, think there might be a queue now :)
Night all.
Looks like only 8 seats left for the Inter game.
No sure about the Lisnon Lions upper tier though.
Click Here
Hail Hail.
Delaney’s
It’s the vino variety I was talking about so hopefully you’re auntie wouldn’t be chastising me on this occasion.
My granny was a wee free from up in the highlands. Probably made your auntie look like a rep on a Club 18-30 tour!!!
It was like breathing was sinning!
Night!
HH jamesgang
coneybhoy,
I’ll digest your post tomorrow mate, knackered.HH
Goodnight Timland
stay safe
HH
Jamesgang
I am from a family of Priests, Nuns and Teachers. I have a guilt complex at every family do.
An hubristic bedtime story….
http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-26927245
And they should all live happily ever after…..in the pokey.
Perhaps. One day.
HH jamesgang
Night Dena!
‘stay safe’ – was that for delaney’s @ 23.50!
HH jamesgang
Coneybhoy
From what I have seen, Henderson can move.
James
GNGB :))
Delaney’s
No wonder you hing oot with CQN.
All of a sudden you’re an angel by comparison!
Good night our little angel. Hope Christmas wasn’t too uncomfortable for you – 2 weeks perched on a bl00dy tree!
HH jamesgang
First time posting for ages.
I haven’t read all replies to Paul’s post so apologies if I am stating the obvious or repeating any common comments.
However a few notes from me;
– Yes I underestimated Strachan and he was better than I gave him for. However he was/is not as good as some people believe.
– He has a good understanding of tactics and all other things relating to football and I would suggest he could predict football results/activity (both short term and long term) as good as anyone.
– However his personality (trying to be cleverer than everyone else – and thinking he is) is his achilles heel.
– He often stated that non-footballers didn’t have the right to discuss the game with any conviction due to the fact they hadn’t played the game. What bollocks!! He talks about Stats all the time but does he have the necessary mathematics qualifications to do so?
– He thought he was smarter than everyone else and he predictably tried to be unpredictable for every game against the dead mob. Willo Flood straight in yet didn’t feature many games after. Nonesense decision and there were many more.
– The worst of all was watching the dead mob win the league while our best player was left out of both games against them at their ground. One due to disciplinary reasons and he should have managed that situation differently to avoid the omission. Then when he was available for selection had him on the bench. Thought he was clever and stood by his decisions while the dead mob won the league.
– Left wingers on the right is no new phenomenon. The dead mob did it with Davie Cooper. Strachan himself did it with Southampton.
– That night at home v Bratislava was a disgrace. I understood the Wallace deployment at the start of the game. We had signed Naka that week prior to the game and Naka played wide right before coming. Strachan had landed his man and it was time to implement his system.
– However his smart arse decision making him happy that he surprised everyone overtook the tactics required to win the game. Anyone at the game that night could easily see that mob were there for the taking (taking meaning 6). The worst organisation of any team I had seen at Celtic Park and the game was screaming, bawling, shouting out for width.
– In all of Strachan’s career it was the one game more than any that we SHOULDN’T have played a left footer on the right……………………but it was the one game Strachan could surprise the fans more than most and be a smart arse.
– Re Hodgson then maybe he was just going for an outsider to recognise someone he believes is underrated (someone who had an excellent World Cup).
jamesgang
Yer still a nutter, in the nicest possible way. :-))
Cot time,
Night Night Timland.
Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.
@TheDailyArab83
I’ve been told GMS has already signed pre-contract with Celtic. 2nd hand info but no reason to disbelieve it. Don’t shoot the messenger.
James
You’re losing the plot big yin!
Love your ramblings and sharp humour though.
Langmayyerlumreek.
Trodonakeech
The Daily Arab @TheDailyArab83 3m3 minutes ago
@bbcjimspence @RitchieReview Jim, I’ve been told pre-contract was signed earlier this evening. Celtic working on offer to get him in Jan.
G67-had a few texts saying the same re GMS, if so Thompson’s bluff has been called, might come back cap in hand before Window closes.Can see similar deal with John McGinn too, hope we can get rid of a few.
jamesgang
23:52 on
13 January, 2015
Night Dena!
‘stay safe’ – was that for delaney’s @ 23.50!
HH jamesgang
No for everyone of you who are having to deal with the horrible weather, we seem to have missed the worst of it thank God
HH
G67
Heard different. Red herring to disguise SA signing soon. Maybe summer now. My word from Tannadice. SA wants to become a Tim!
Definitely Goodnight from me
play nice Bhoys
Jamesgang dont twist too many nuns :-))))
HH
the exiled tim
21:32 on 13 January, 2015
No been on much the past few days, are the corrupt ones still stumbling along, stupid question, of course they are.
HH
PS
Mrs TET is out of intensive care, tests in the morn to decide what next, never been so happy, relieved….. you name it in ma puff, and it was puffin that put her in there.
Thanks mucho for all your positive thots and good wishes, we were both overwhelmed seriously.
Wimin Eh, needed a feckin heart attack to give the fags
₩₩₩₩₩₩₩₩₩₩₩₩₩₩₩₩₩₩
Best wishes and a speedy recovery
HH
dena29
Lucky you mob. :-))) You want tae look out oor windae. Lapland. Hahahaha. Night kiddo. KTF.
Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.
Love to see GMS. Watched him at pitch level st Hampden at the semi in 2013
Great player. Head up and confident. We don’t have that in our quiver
TET
Delighted to hear the good news
=======================
The Daily Arab @TheDailyArab83 3m3 minutes ago
@bbcjimspence @RitchieReview Jim, I’ve been told pre-contract was signed earlier this evening. Celtic working on offer to get him in Jan.
David Murray has robbed pensioners to the tune of 22million.Utter disgrace of a man.
He has called in the Liquidator on his numerous businesses.More innocent people swinging for millions.
Hope to god Craig Whyte has the scumbag on a tape recording,planning the liquidation of the now deceased Rangers,Probably still won’t open the eyes of the deluded Huns.
WeefratheTim
00:11 on
14 January, 2015
dena29
Goodnight Weefra
stay safe
Hope you and Mrs Weefra are ok
KTF (always)
HH
dena29
:-)))))
Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.
Not sure if GMS is made of the right stuff for us, but the squad needs an overhaul, he has ran the huns ragged in the past though :))
I might as well state just now that I consider the ‘Advert’ a folly.
And I can’t truly express why.
When you know, you know.
Validation in our marketplace is such a risky business.
U
Weefra
I feel like driving to my mammys. Get my skis and head for the Kilpatrick Hills. Looking at the Hills wi my blinds open the now. Spectacular. :)
dena29
We are bith tickety boo. Hope you and the family are well also. Night. KTF.
Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.
Great news re: Mrs TET. All nurses should be paid double they are now (and it still wouldn’t be enough!)