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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Sky
I will watch on a tv somewhere. No that bothered about a 2 year old minor league team against THE MIGHTY GLASGOW CELTIC
Provan, Aitken, McAdam, goal, 2-2, Celtic back in the game. (Great Arthur Montford commentary).
Charlie Nick scored 53 goals that year. The dead mob scored 52.
DD
Quite right
I loved the old Celtic/Rangers and dare I say it(no!)
Non denominational (sic) vs catholic school rivalry!
Football needs to be fun again
There will always be nutters but why are we worrying about the Huns?
They are the same lads as before and they are not killers; bring it on
Sky
Hope to see you at Hamilton on Saturday. Will have a special prepared. ;)
DD
Not sure what kick off time is but I think I’ll be on a plane from Turin to Glasgow. Will Nae doubt find out the score and hopefully not trouble on the streets eventually. I have a bad feeling.
HH
My favourites
Murdo 3-3 away
Naka away 2008
Mcluskey 1-0 cup final 80
Coneybhoy…..no such thing as a Non denominational school
Sorry, 4-4away
Toneybhoy
Hence the (sic)
DD.
I’ll have my CQN beanie on and my lips puckered. 8@0. How shall I know you.
Coneybhoy……my bad
Coney
The McAdam brothers were from the Kingsway flats Scotstoun. Love/hated each other. Colin admitted that he would never have done what Tam did and jump the dyke. :)
Tonybhoy
You are right there, everyone in ayrshire went to services by CoS if not at a Catholic school. No mosque or temple or humanist gathering
We did all religions at my Catholic school
Sky
You no remember meeting me?
Was a good number I rolled. ;))
DD
I love that we got Tom. Remember the televised spat
Night night
DD
My memory of Celtic nights is famously terrible. Much apologies. Where were we and I might have a clue.
I may have a problem.
HH
Sky
Bar67. You were with ACGR. I was with blue cheddar. ;)
Tonybhoy
No probs, I just us to to have fun as rivals and opponents again. We have become soft and we need to be cocky and strong when they reappear
They never really were and should be disabused from the possibility that they ever can be ‘the peepul’
Since I started school.
Lawyers
Judges
Captains of industry (my dad apparently)
Union leaders
Financial controllers
UK ministers
Scotland ministers (I know)
We are all over the bigoted landscape that was the 80s of my childhood
I love being me
I love being a Tim
I love Scotland
But I left
….oops
Toneybhoy
The clumsy point is that education wins and in the last 30 years….we won
Coney
Your physical being left Scottish land.
Your heart and soul remains here.
That’s what I told myself when I lived in England. :)
DD
Ok. I sort of remember.
that ACGR is a bad influence.
Where will we meet at Hamilton?
That glen Campbell fella is a decent guitarist.
BTW I think I really need help.
HH
Blue Cheddar is what has made me so wobbly tonight so I will remember nothing of this conversation tomorrow.
GMS let’s give the bhoy a chance.
HH
Sky
Get my moby no fae ACGR. See you in Hamilton wi a reefer reward. ;)
DD
I may have to reciprocate buddy.
Biftas at dawn or 1215.
The beat on BBC4.
Chilin man
HH
Sky
Public Enemy even better.
DD
Absolutely, you sense my homesickness Yoda
Home for Inter game. Cannae wait
Coney
I am taking a half day for the Inter game. Would like to meet for pre match food and drink with you and any Tim.
The best bit about BMCUWP Hootenanay’s is – you can’t remember who you met….so we need another one!
Coney
Do you remember us speaking outside McChuills?
DD
The bhoy is the hip hop/ rap officialdom around here. Can’t help my massive uncool ness when it comes to that. Gimme Chaka Khan any day
http://youtu.be/vphSSRJS7kk
I’ll give ACGR and get your number.
Until sunny Hamilton.
Is two defeats in two friendly games against credible European opposition alright. Haven’t watched Ronnies crit of the whole affair. Hope it was helpful in some way.
We have a serious league challenge.
Time to start a winning run..
HH
I’ve broke the blog.
Happens all the time.
CONEYBHOY. 0252
Thank God it’s not just me!
DD
I remember inside with you and all the rest, outside about 10 of us Scooted off to Bar67 etc. (morissey, bmcuwp, ger57, Thunder road etc)
Did I embarrass myself outside McChuills? It is not uncommon
If I didn’t then definitely will meet you if I can
Probably getting the 4pm out of Dublin so can be in McChuills by about 6pm. Only time for a couple but look forward to it
Bmcuwp
I am reading the biography of the Stone Roses currently and their manager had a laid back view that if he booked a big venue , the people would come and it would work out in the end.
Sounds like the Belfast anti Valentines Hootenanny!!!!
CONEYBHOY
I confess I was concerned about numbers,given the date.
That was soon put to rest!
Looks like a healthy turnout on the cards.
Just off the phone to DELANEYS DUNKY there.
Absolute madman,I’ll not be able to get the grin on my face through my van door!
BMCUW
Aw us Scots in Belfast is gonnae be mental. In a good way. :)
DELANEYSDUNKY
Not necessarily!
But,aye,it should be fun. Especially when everyone does a mad dash from the airport to the nearest pub wi the game on.