Looking back it’s easy to spot; that moment when an imperious manager peaks before tumbling over the edge, but at the time this moment is almost impossible to see. The moment Jock Stein peered over the mountain was absolutely impossible to identify at the time.
Celtic qualified for the 1970 European Cup final by beating English champions, Leeds United, home and away, and were hot favourites to lift the trophy for the second time in four seasons. They were about to win their fifth consecutive league title and would go on to make record a world record nine-in-a-row, meaning there was a mountain of ‘evidence’ obscuring the peak from view.
We were the most feared side in football in April 1970 but that team’s time as a European heavyweight was over. Stein remained a further eight seasons but he never beat another team from one of the large European leagues. A 1975 win over a relatively obscure Boavista was his best result* in the period before he was replaced in 1978.
The reverence Jock is rightly held in by all Celtic fans now was tested during the 70s when I remember tactics and even minor decisions, like substitutions, were being questioned by large sections of the support. It all ended in ignominy in 1978, fifth in the league and sacked in a clumsy and misleading fashion.
Jock was still a good manager and did well with Scotland but he should have moved on from Celtic years earlier.
Fans of other clubs will always see the moment of inflection before those too close to the event, but even Arsenal fans are now politely making the case that their once-supreme manager is no longer suitable for purpose. Anyone suggesting that Arsene Wenger was finished in 2004 would have been certified. His team had just won the league undefeated, the first team to do so since the 19th century. They won the FA Cup on penalties the following season and reached the Champions League final a year after that, but they have not lifted a trophy since 2005. Wenger was a fine 2004 vintage but has disappointed since.
After a slow start at Manchester United, Alex Ferguson has managed to remain at the top for 20 years. His most important ability appears to be to know when to change coaches, players and tactics. It has long been said that the best managers were not great players as they needed to acquire a conscious insight on the game which gifted players inherently knew. Perhaps enduringly great managers are not even tactical geniuses, it’s more important that they can just spot a few.
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Remember being a teenager?** The excitement of waiting for news of the latest pop charts was big news for some. You can relive your youth buy BUYING ROD STEWART’S single before Sunday.
* In European competition, between beating Leeds and when Jock left in 1978, Celtic eliminated Kokkola, Waterford, B1903 Copenhagen, Sliema Wanderers, Ujpest Doza, Rosenborg, Turku, Vejle, Basel, Valur, Boavista and Jeunesse d’Esch. They lost to Ajax, Inter Milan, Ujpest Doza, Atletico Madrid, Olympiakos, Sachsenring Zwickau and Wisla Krakow. And Feyenoord, of course.
** CQN demographics suggest for most of you, your teenage years are now a distant memory.
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Caught a couple minutes of the One Show with Gerry Butler.
That man was pished.
BSR,
I seem to recall five consecutive games against them when Bobby had a goal chalked off in each.
His positional play and speed off the mark was every bit as potent as Messi.
i hope to ghod NFL enjoys half the success jock did. jock was a great manager and with the right investment he would have been able to build another team fitting of the lions, that simply did not happen.
clubs are always to quick to sack managers, man united have been rewarded for sticking with AF and have given him the money to compete.
i hope to ghod celtic give NFL the time and money (relative) to go on to be a long serving great manager. NFL was given more time than most to win the league and done so last season, he has been manager for 3 years now and i would like to think he’ll be our manager in another 7 years time all being well, i would be truly pissed off if he jumps ship in a couple of years time, as has recently been suggested after we gave him his chance, gave him a platform and stood by him in the bad times.
i want NFL to have a legacy like af does at man u
hail hail
KevJungle
Going like a Buzz Bomb – we shall not be moved
Pre Quiz – Quiz Question
Who was Celtic’s first ever substitute?
Sipsini
I could tell you a few tales of charlie G … You know who i mean ;)
En
Hows the desert this weather mate …
Bt … You working saturday
Discussion earlier today about great players coming in to take up the mantle of The Lions and Brian McLaughlin was highlighted. The tackle that effectively finished his career, in his early 20’s, committed by Clyde’s Wullie McVie, was one of the worst tackles I’ve ever seen. I can’t remember if he even got booked, but he certainly didn’t get sent off. Not much changed, then, eh Herr Hinkel?
Willie O’Neill?
condolences to the families of those innocent children murdered in connecticut.
lets not forget the people of:
1948 – 2012 Internal conflict in Burma Burma 701,000
1964 – 2012 Colombian conflict (1964–present) Colombia 250,000+
1978 – 2012 War in Afghanistan 1978–present 3,000,000+
1991- 2012 Somali Civil War Somalia and Somaliland 300,000–400,000
2001 – 2012 Al-Qaeda insurgency in Yemen 2,181+
2004 – 2012 War in North-West Pakistan Pakistan 44,127+
2006 – 2012 Mexican Drug War Mexico 83,191+
2009 – 2012 Sudanese nomadic conflicts South Sudan and Sudan 5,641+
2011 – 2012 Sudan internal conflict (2011–present) South Sudan and Sudan 1,500+
2011 – 2012 Syrian civil war Syria 30,000–35,000
2011 – 2012 Iraqi insurgency (post U.S. withdrawal) Iraq 4,618+
2011 – 2012 2011–present Libyan factional fighting Libya 1,371–1,397
2012 2012 Northern Mali conflict Mali 1,000–1,500
1942 – 2012 Communist insurgency in the Philippines 50,000+
1948 – 2012 Balochistan conflict Middle East, South Asia Iran and Pakistan 16,762–25,000
1948 – 2012 Israeli–Palestinian conflict Middle East Israel and Palestine 20,000
1949 – 2012 Korean War Asia East North Korea and South Korea 4,770,000+
1953 – 2012 Nigerian Sharia conflict Africa Nigeria 10,000+
1963 – 2012 Papua conflict Asia Southeast Indonesia and Papua New Guinea 400,000
1964 – 2012 Insurgency in Northeast India Asia South India 25,000
1967 – 2012 Naxalite–Maoist insurgency Asia South India 11,454
1969 2012 Islamic insurgency in the Philippines Asia Southeas Philippines 120,000
1973 – 2012 Western Sahara conflict North Africa Morocco and Western Sahara 14,000–21,000
1975 – 2012 Insurgency in Laos Asia Southeast Laos 100,000+
1980 – 2012 Internal conflict in Peru South America Peru 70,000+
1982 – 2012 Casamance conflict Africa The Gambia and Senegal 5,000
1984 – 2012 Kurdish–Turkish conflict Middle East Turkey 45,000–100,000
1987 – 2012 Lord’s Resistance Army insurgency Africa Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Sudan and Uganda 30,000+
1989 – 2012 Insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir Asia South India 43,293–68,000
1994 – 2012 Cabinda Conflict Africa Angola 1,000–1,500
1995 – 2012 Insurgency in Ogaden Africa Ethiopia 8,500+
2002 – 2012 Insurgency in the Maghreb North Africa Algeria, Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Tunisia, and Western Sahara 6,000+
2004 – 2012 Kivu conflict Africa Democratic Republic of the Congo 304+
2004 – 2012 Iran–PJAK conflict Middle East Iran 429–673
2004 – 2012 Conflict in the Niger Delta Africa Nigeria 4,000–10,000
2004 – 2012 South Thailand insurgency Asia Southeast Thailand 5,469+
2004 – 2012 Shia insurgency in Yemen Middle East Yemen 25,000
2008 – 2012 Cambodian–Thai border dispute Asia Southeast Cambodia and Thailand 41–211
2009 – 2012 Insurgency in the North Caucasus Europe Russia 2,198+
2009 – 2012 South Yemen insurgency Middle East Yemen 1,554+
2011 – 2012 Bahraini uprising (2011–present) Middle East Bahrain 98
2011 – 2012 Sinai insurgency Middle East Egypt 94–102
2011 – 2012 conflict in Lebanon Middle East Lebanon 98–99
BSR
used or on the bench? o))
Guidi talking pash re the goal that never was.
bournesouprecipe
19:36 on 14 December, 2012
__________________________________
One of the reasons why I wanted us to sign – Kevin Gallacher
KG was the fastest player I had seen since the – Buzz-Bomb.
bsr
Stevie Chalmers?
Bourne
I saw a poll on a celtic fb page last week. Greatest celtic 11.
The buzz bomb didnt get a menshi … Alan thomson on the left of mid … Seriously
Moonbeams WD. Kano 1000 \o/ Supporting Neil Lennon 100%. Champions. C’mon Wee Oscar.
19:26 on
14 December, 2012
Wee trip down memory lane.
Bringing Martin Home Race Night Pics
they are good, did mrs crc give him a black eye ?
jinkster
yip
hoping to meet the Kirkcaldy bhoys tomorrow morning before the match
to all dr dodds team wishaw general FRIDAY have agreat christmas party in carrigans hamilton tonight
Think Willie came on for Jinky.
EmeraldBee\o/ proud to be an internet bampot
19:38 on 14 December, 2012
______________________________________
All too true m8.
What to do ?
HH
thomthethim
He was fast alright, would you put him in the Celtic all time hall of fame? – and did you ever
introduce yourself and show him the Donegal Stole?
guidi has turned into a bully.
nae answers or honesty, jusy bullying.
————————–
in the mantra its boring asking if rangers are still the same club, i wish someone who is owed money would phone up and ask where they can post the bill ?
maybe
“rangers then , rangers now”
co
ibrox, playing in blue, with the same managers, same support and the same history.
lot of bullox
Lennox allways makes it into my alltime 11.
2nd best ever goalscorer, off course he makes it.
If that Kenny Shiels story is true then it should be dynamite – SFA and their officials proven yet again as not fit for purpose. How can this be allowed to continue?
Ole Bada Bing was nearly as fast with the right answer.
Willie O’Neil came off the bench for Jinky Johnstone no less.
May Martin Kane be able to enjoy his special day in the knowledge that Celtic people all over the world are right there with him.
God Bless you, Martin.
Snoop Dogg
@ SnoopDogg
Congrats 2 the Celtic on makin it
to the last 16 of tha Champion
League! We doin it big this year!
#lightersup
#lightersup is now trending…
The Boy Jinky
Must be age thing of the voters, I reckon more senior CQN’rs who saw him anyway would have him right up there IMHO.
I remember one freezing night at ibrokes when Joe Craig scored the goal that won the game 0-1 for us.
But, I recall John Greig tackling the Buzz-Bomb in the box and – the mib pointed to the spot !
Then…..as BL was being stretchered off…the mib changed his mind and…gave a free kick to the huns ?(Is my memory playing tricks?)
HH
davie on classic line
i agree its boring now i wont call it old co or new co anymore, instead i will refer to them as
old rangers,
and
new rangers.
hehehheheheh
Tragic massacre in an elementary school in America.
A masked gunman has killed one of his parents, and then shot a further 26 people.
Around 20 children aged between 5 & 9 have been slaughtered.
The gunman is dead also.
A67
Bourne
Younguns picking packy bonner. !!!
Bobo balde….
And … Crash helmet on… Neil lennon as midfielder
Bobby Lennox in my greatest ever Celtic team!
“If I had had Bobby Lennox in my team I could have played for ever. He was one of the best strikers I have ever seen.”
Bobby Charlton
HH!!
Kilbowie Kelt
19:46 on 14 December, 2012
___________________________
From a gentleman like yer ghood self
those words carry a lot of weight.
Hear, hear m8.
Have a Great Day Martin and God Bless.
Davie totally masters Clyde Pundits..in fairness Guidi recommending Ryan Fraser…I’ve been saying it for a while now. Buy RF for 250k .. Sell him for 10 times that in 2 years imo
Bt
Coulda got you a free ticket as one of the bhoys is working all day …
KevJungle
To his eternal credit Bobby Lennox with typical Celtic panache whether you agree or not exonerated Greig, as soon as he was interviewed the next day.
CultsBhoy loves being 1st forever & ever
19:51 on
14 December, 2012
Davie totally masters Clyde Pundits..in fairness Guidi recommending Ryan Fraser…I’ve been saying it for a while now. Buy RF for 250k .. Sell him for 10 times that in 2 years imo
its magic how totally condescending he it to guidi
“are you still there mark, are you listening, “
The Boy Jinky
Ha – Mind you ole Bobo Balde was the best Chief Executive I ever saw playing for Celtic.