Some things in football defy satisfactory explanation. Top of that list is Alex McLeish’s Rangers winning a treble against Martin O’Neill’s Celtic in 2002-03. I know they were financially doped, as Michel Platini would put it, and I know we had the whole Seville thing going on that season, but Celtic were clearly the stronger side.
A gulf between the sides opened the following season, wider-still than the enormous talent of The Swede, but we were left to ponder what went wrong in the final weeks of season 2004-05 as Celtic an unfit looking Celtic were pipped, again, by McLeish.
During that period, he won everything he got close to.
Subsequent years have not been kind to the reputation of either McLeish or O’Neill. But whereas Martin got Ireland to Euro 2016, McLeish bumped around from one Birmingham failure to another. He had to go to Egypt to get a job, but was sacked after two months of dismal failure. Surely a gig in the amateur game would follow?
Exactly! Where else is more amateur than the SFA. What was not good enough for Zamalek SC was perfect for the Scotland national team. We all knew McLeish was a busted flush, but the sheer level of amateurism at the SFA led to Michael O’Neill being courted, then publicly rebuffing the SFA due to their (cough) amateurism.
The problem with all of this is when people at the top stop caring, the apathy percolates down to you and me. We are no longer engaged with international football as fans. That ship has sailed and may never return. I love the World Cup and the Euros, but I don’t support anyone. I plan things to do during the autumn and spring international breaks, they are a welcome space in the calendar.
None of this is Alex McLeish’ fault. He’s just a coach caught miles out of his depth, who built a career on figuring out that playing three up against Celtic’s tanker-ship back three was the way to go.
I would shutter the SFA and Hampden in a minute. They played an important role for a century but neither is fit for the purposes of the game in Scotland. The SFA only came into being because of geography. Rail travel was not good enough for Queens Park to fulfil fixtures. If the transport routes between Glasgow and the East Midlands were better, Queens would never have taken the initiative to form a local association.
Football is now a pan-national sport and business. If you were to re-imagine appropriate structures from scratch, they would not look anything like the SFA. We have jets and the M74. Admit we have moved on and join the FA.
181 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
CQN Saturday Naps Competition : WEEK 25 results (Feb 9th)
WINNERS:
Zihuatanejo (Eviscerating) @10/1
Gweedore Celt (Roaring Bull) @7/1
twists n turns (Emily Moon) @ 4/1
LOSERS:
16 roads (Konitho)
21-5-79 (Glendaars Warrior)
BMCUWP (No Selection)
Bull67 (Nellie Pledge)
Cathal (No Selection)
Cosy Corner Bhoy (No Selection)
Fastbhoy (All for Joy)
fleagle1888 (No Selection)
GFTB (No Selection)
Graffitionthewall (No Selection)
green T (Coko Beach)
leftclicktic (Cappuccino Man)
Nye Bevans RS (Fauguernon)
Onemalloy (No Selection)
Rockon (No Selection)
Som mes que un club (Zambezir)
voguepunter (No Selection)
Hyperlinks to Week 25 selections:
https://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/celtic-train-rolls-on-as-january-signings-shine-again/comment-page-7/#comments
Cheers, fleagle1888
CQN Saturday Naps Competition : WEEK 26 results (Feb 16th)
WINNERS:
Som mes que un club (Always a Drama) @6/1
Fastbhoy (Star Max) @5/2
LOSERS:
16 roads (Trixster)
21-5-79 (Blue Rambler)
BMCUWP (No Selection)
Bull67 (Christopher Robin)
Cathal (No Selection)
Cosy Corner Bhoy (No Selection)
fleagle1888 (Laskadine)
GFTB (Vieux Lion Rouge)
Graffitionthewall (Miss Bar Beach)
green T (Peak to Peak)
Gweedore Celt (The Two Amigos)
leftclicktic (Roman Spinner)
Nye Bevans RS (Yala Enki)
Onemalloy (Mon des Avaloirs)
Rockon (Getaway Trump)
twists n turns (Silva Eclipse)
voguepunter (Lunar Baby)
Zihuatanejo (Bishops Road)
Hyperlinks to Week 26 selections:
https://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/celtic-v-valencia-live-updates/comment-page-17/#comments
https://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/celtic-v-valencia-live-updates/comment-page-18/#comments
Cheers, fleagle1888
CQN Saturday Naps Competition : Week 26 standings (Feb 16th)
https://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/celtic-v-valencia-live-updates/comment-page-18/#comment-3343410
Cheers, fleagle1888
CQN Saturday Naps Competition : WEEK 27 results (Feb 23rd)
WINNERS:
green T (Southfield Stone) @6/1
leftclicktic (Oneovdem) @7/2
LOSERS:
16 roads (Sybil Grand)
21-5-79 (The Big Lense)
BMCUWP (No Selection)
Bull67 (Adrien du Pont)
Cathal (No Selection)
Cosy Corner Bhoy (No Selection)
Fastbhoy (Halsafari)
fleagle1888 (No Selection)
GFTB (Emily Square)
Graffitionthewall (Jack of Diamonds)
Gweedore Celt (Romain de Senam)
Nye Bevans RS (Petit Palais)
Onemalloy (Double Shuffle)
Rockon (No Selection)
Som mes que un club (Kilkishen)
twists n turns (Kimberlite Candy)
voguepunter (Oscar Wilde)
Zihuatanejo (Master Burbridge)
Hyperlinks to Week 27 selections:
https://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/valencia-v-celtic-live-updates/comment-page-15/#comments
https://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/valencia-v-celtic-live-updates/comment-page-16/#comments
Cheers, fleagle1888
CQN Saturday Naps Competition : WEEK 28 results (Mar 2nd)
WINNERS:
Bull67 (San Benedetto) @11/1
Fastbhoy (Royal Birth) @6/5
LOSERS:
16 roads (Mustadun)
21-5-79 (Joe Farrell)
BMCUWP (No Selection)
Cathal (No Selection)
Cosy Corner Bhoy (No Selection)
fleagle1888 (Foreign Legion)
GFTB (Sosian)
Graffitionthewall (Gembari)
green T (Rockys Treasure)
Gweedore Celt (Outlaw Torn)
leftclicktic (Le Torrent)
Nye Bevans RS (War Sound)
Onemalloy (Abolitionist)
Rockon (Brian Boranha)
Som mes que un club (Looking Well)
twists n turns (Dustin de Motte)
voguepunter (Pharoh Jake)
Zihuatanejo (Dolos)
Hyperlinks to Week 28 selections:
https://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/levein-culpable-for-hearts-red-card-keeping-toljan-on-his-toes/comment-page-10/#comments
Cheers, fleagle1888
CQN Saturday Naps Competition : WEEK 29 results (Mar 9th)
WINNERS:
Gweedore Celt (Malaya) @7/1
voguepunter (Commodore) @3/1
Fastbhoy (Ex Patriot) @9/4
LOSERS:
16 roads (Hackbridge)
21-5-79 (Vinnie Lewis)
BMCUWP (No Selection)
Bull67 (Saint Leo)
Cathal (No Selection)
Cosy Corner Bhoy (No Selection)
fleagle1888 (Favorito Bucks)
GFTB (One for Rosie)
Graffitionthewall (No Selection)
green T (Silver Forever)
leftclicktic (Choice Encounter)
Nye Bevans RS (Extra Mag)
Onemalloy (Smackwater Jack)
Rockon (Before Midnight)
Som mes que un club (Saintemillion)
twists n turns (Russian Hawk)
Zihuatanejo (Speredek)
Hyperlinks to Week 29 selections:
https://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/derek-mcinnes-gave-neil-lennon-anticlimactic-end-to-first-tenure/comment-page-5/#comments
Cheers, fleagle1888
CQN Saturday Naps Competition : WEEK 30 results (Mar 16th)
WINNERS:
Gweedore Celt (Fabriana) @7/4
Fastbhoy (Burning Ambition) @10/11
LOSERS:
16 roads (Treasure Me)
21-5-79 (Folsom Blue)
BMCUWP (No Selection)
Bull67 (Arthurs Gift)
Cathal (No Selection)
Cosy Corner Bhoy (Back to the Thatch)
fleagle1888 (Kayf Moss)
GFTB (Jammin Masters)
Graffitionthewall (No Selection)
green T (Hill Sixteen)
leftclicktic (Aqua Libre)
Nye Bevans RS (Tara Flow)
Onemalloy (No Selection)
Rockon (No Selection)
Som mes que un club (Dali Mail)
twists n turns (Ballydine)
voguepunter (Arthurs Gift)
Zihuatanejo (Buckthorn Timothy)
Hyperlinks to Week 30 selections:
https://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/appoint-another-mercenary-who-wins-all-before-him/comment-page-6/#comments
Cheers, fleagle1888
CQN Saturday Naps Competition : WEEK 31 results (Mar 23rd)
WINNERS:
21-5-79 (Annie Mc) @8/1
fleagle1888 (Soldiers Minute) @5/1
Gweedore Celt (Themanbehindtheman) @11/4
LOSERS:
16 roads (Sixties Belle)
BMCUWP (No Selection)
Bull67 (No Selection)
Cathal (No Selection)
Cosy Corner Bhoy (No Selection)
Fastbhoy (Tigeralley)
GFTB (Oscar Rose)
Graffitionthewall (No Selection)
green T (Worthy Farm)
leftclicktic (Eye of the Water)
Nye Bevans RS (Sixties Belle)
Onemalloy (Saint Leo)
Rockon (Worthy Farm)
Som mes que un club (Ingleby Hollow)
twists n turns (Aristo du Plessis)
voguepunter (Elysses)
Zihuatanejo (Elisezmoi)
Hyperlinks to Week 31 selections:
https://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/callum-mcgregor-football-stats-and-professional-arrogance/comment-page-9/#comments
Cheers, fleagle1888
CQN Saturday Naps Competition : WEEK 32 results (Mar 30th)
WINNERS:
Bull67 (Petrus) @7/1
twists n turns (Auxerre) @5/2
LOSERS:
16 roads (Uncle Jerry)
21-5-79 (Kynren)
BMCUWP (No Selection)
Cathal (No Selection)
Cosy Corner Bhoy (No Selection)
Fastbhoy (Kynren)
fleagle1888 (Beringer)
GFTB (Consultant)
Graffitionthewall (No Selection)
green T (Matterhorn)
Gweedore Celt (Mokarris)
leftclicktic (Fire Fighting)
Nye Bevans RS (Beringer)
Onemalloy (No Selection)
Rockon (Soldier Minute)
Som mes que un club (Aquarian)
voguepunter (Defi Sacre)
Zihuatanejo (South Seas)
Hyperlinks to Week 32 selections:
https://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/lennon-master-of-sporting-conflict-deserves-sunday/comment-page-4/#comments
Cheers, fleagle1888
CQN Saturday Naps Competition : Week 32 standings (Mar 30th)
Naps Table – Week 32:
+33.88 > twists n turns (8)
+7.50 > Som mes que un club (5)
+1.50 > Rockon (6)
+1.00 > Gweedore Celt (6)
-1.30 > fleagle1888 (5)
-2.63 > Bull67 (5)
-3.44 > Fastbhoy (9)
-5.88 > green T (6)
-9.67 > voguepunter (4)
-11.00 > 21-5-79 (2)
-11.00 > Cathal (2)
-12.00 > Zihuatanejo (2)
-15.00 > leftclicktic (4)
-17.00 > Nye Bevans RS (2)
-21.00 > Graffitionthewall (1)
-26.59 > BMCUWP (2)
-27.00 > 16 roads (1)
-27.00 > Onemalloy (1)
-32.00 > Cosy Corner Bhoy (0)
-32.00 > GFTB (0)
Cheers, fleagle1888
CQN Saturday Naps Competition : WEEK 33 results (Apr 6th)
WINNERS:
leftclicktic (Percy Alexander) @7/1
LOSERS:
16 roads (No Selection)
21-5-79 (Captain Redbeard)
BMCUWP (No Selection)
Bull67 (Pleasant Company)
Cathal (No Selection)
Cosy Corner Bhoy (No Selection)
Fastbhoy (Vintage Clouds)
fleagle1888 (Up for Review)
GFTB (Pleasant Company)
Graffitionthewall (No Selection)
green T (Rathvinden)
Gweedore Celt (Ultragold)
Nye Bevans RS (Walk in the Mill)
Onemalloy (Another Approach)
Rockon (Mala Beach)
Som mes que un club (Joe Farrell)
twists n turns (Walk in the Mill)
voguepunter (Ramses de Teillee)
Zihuatanejo (Valtor)
Hyperlinks to Week 33 selections:
https://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/scott-brown-defence-pyro-problems-the-joy-of-ryan-christie/comment-page-7/#comments
Cheers, fleagle1888
CQN Saturday Naps Competition : WEEK 34 results (Apr 13th)
WINNERS:
NONE !!!
LOSERS:
16 roads (Impulsive Star)
21-5-79 (Chidswell)
BMCUWP (No Selection)
Bull67 (Nebo)
Cathal (No Selection)
Cosy Corner Bhoy (No Selection)
Fastbhoy (Vintage Clouds)
fleagle1888 (Chidswell)
GFTB (Skipthecuddles)
Graffitionthewall (No Selection)
green T (Bernies Boy)
Gweedore Celt (George of Hearts)
leftclicktic (Chidswell)
Nye Bevans RS (Crosshue Boy)
Onemalloy (Harbour Breeze)
Rockon (Chief of Chiefs)
Som mes que un club (Vintage Clouds)
twists n turns (Brian Boranha)
voguepunter (Beware the Bear)
Zihuatanejo (New Direction)
Hyperlinks to Week 34 selections:
https://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/pain-of-defeat-is-no-tonic/comment-page-5/#comments
Cheers, fleagle1888
CQN Saturday Naps Competition : Week 34 standings (Apr 13th)
Only 6 weeks to go, and…
twists n turns is clear by about a bl00dy furlong… he’s a 25/1 winner ahead of Som mes que un club – his nearest challenger in 2nd – and almost a 33/1 winner ahead of Rockonin 3rd!
Amazing tipping from twists… the rest of us are looking for Hail Mary selections.
Naps Table – Week 34:
+31.88 > twists n turns (8)
+5.50 > Som mes que un club (5)
-0.50 > Rockon (6)
-1.00 > Gweedore Celt (6)
-3.30 > fleagle1888 (5)
-4.63 > Bull67 (5)
-5.44 > Fastbhoy (9)
-7.88 > green T (6)
-9.00 > leftclicktic (5)
-11.67 > voguepunter (4)
-13.00 > 21-5-79 (2)
-13.00 > Cathal (2)
-14.00 > Zihuatanejo (2)
-19.00 > Nye Bevans RS (2)
-23.00 > Graffitionthewall (1)
-28.59 > BMCUWP (2)
-29.00 > 16 roads (1)
-29.00 > Onemalloy (1)
-34.00 > Cosy Corner Bhoy (0)
-34.00 > GFTB (0)
Cheers, fleagle1888
Lads,
I’ve posted a few results updates along the way… but for easier access or review, I’ve now copy and pasted all of the previous weekly results from Feb-Apr onto this thread!
:)
Cheers, fleagle1888
Today’s Nap: Lucky Deal (Musselburgh 15:35)
3.00pm Musselburgh
Royal Brave
Best of luck to all
Cheers GFTB
Thanks Fleags
RIVIERA NIGHTS 3.10 Kempton,good luck.
Mokaatil 3:00 Musselburgh.
Notts 705 Bumblekite
66/1 nap
Good luck everyone Hail Hail
Line Of Reason 3pm Musselburgh
Good luck to all
HH
Carlisle 3-25
Graystown
Gl all
13:55 @ Cork – Isotope – NAP!
Good luck everybody. ? ?
14:05 Haycock
Tim Rocco
HH.
Copper west 4.20 haydock
Amomentofmadness for me in the 3:00 at Musselburgh please. HH and thanks again for your efforts Fleagle
Mussleburgh 3.00 Line of Reason
Mahlermade 2 40. Haydock.
Perceived Nottingham
Thanks fleagle for your superb efforts on here.
19:35 Nottingham :(((