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.
Ordered the CQN Annual yet? Get it here in time for Christmas!
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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jimky/vmhan
are you charlie Gallagher?
i used to be charlie Gallagher..
if parkheadcumsalford met this man it would make his day..
we need to arrange that for PCS.. it shall be done..
mini sozing..(not snoring or dozing)
Happy Birthday Kano – Vince from Sydney, will keep you in my prayers.
Vmhan
Up there with
Don’t go back to Brockvile
sipsini
Just something I was told one day ….not that I ever have a look see mind you, it would just depress me !!!!!
Oh to be young again :<(((
KK
I said something similar but I was ignored so it didn’t happen then..
as I said he didn’t do a hard man but took a liberty..
The Spirit of Arthur Lee
He is playing it on PC, apparently last week he wasn’t playing the full game when he was here.
He spent £15 of his spending money on that game. When I think back to me spending money like that to get some awesome games like Jet Set Willy, Knight Lore and many other engrossing games I have to be over the Moon he is spending it on things like that, than other things that are available to kids.
He definitely liked this selection, the guitar stuff is amazing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTP2RUD_cL0
Going to the game expecting us to hammer the saints tomorrow, it may not happen that way but as I head to my cot its good to look forward to :))
betterthanfearingtheworstcsc.
HOOOOOOOOOOOOOPY BIRTHDAY Kano
“Oscar Knox celtic warrior YNWA”
BT
Will sort him out with his favourite brandy shandy…..
TET
Knowing the Mrs is the key to a happy life and enjoying yours along the way…..much respect amigo….
Kikinthenakas
On the odd occasion the howling gets a tad ott, but that’s as far as it goes…..
I understand a couple of the howlers will be meeting up for a few beers soon, I wish I could join them…..
leftclicktic
think santa lennon should be on the board tomorrow for our bhoys to rub it into him….
Bt
Classic from charlie G … ( how many charlie gs can i mention in one night btw)
Gotta say the quip a few weeks ago was as good when oldtim and i met him in the forge before the game.
” dont tell big JF where i am ;) ”
Obviously we did
nakas
I may ask him to take a lift to the match tomorrow..
BT
Might not be a bad idea, heading to the tavern at 11 for the warm up, then number7 for the game and then back to the tavern for the warm down….
Blantyretim.
I am sorry that I did not see your earlier post.
It might have saved me from being dubbed the bearer of bad news to some of our more monoptic & selective brethern.
Good luck.
KK
I have to this day never seen the incidend you talk of, so I can’t comment on it.
Maybes Bertie had had enough of the treatment that was getting dished out, who knows.
Tet.
As someone said earlier your only as young as who you feel.
That’s why rod looks so young for his age.
I’ve just got an old portrait.
I’m scared to look at it just incase its actually a mirror :-))
TeT
Bertie should have done Greig not Provan who I remember being akin to Bambi on ice when wee jinkt ran him round and around..
Provan was an honest pro who didn’t take liberties..
Leftclick
I predict a hard fought home win tomorrow. 0-0 half time… 2-0 with ten left… Lose a goal and hang on.
Hope im wrong … Hope its the rugby parkers … Formation and players
corkcelt 17:1
i’e got that book it was a christmas gift from my son and daughter about 6 years ago ,first page celtic 5 thems 0 cup semi final 1925 ,as you say great reading right up to 2006
TET,
I was NOT making any judgements on Bertie’s motives, but only giving my eye-witness testimony on something to which I had a close-up view.
Good luck.
BT
I remember reading about the incident, just never saw it.
Billy McNeil told me once about how badly our players were treated, and the total lack of protection from the referees we were afforded, that’s why I said that maybes Bertie was just exacting some revenge, probably on the wrong person, but….who knows.
Kilbowie Kelt
I love wee 10-30 but also recall a similar incident; I’m sure it was against Hearts – (Miller I think) when wee Bertie stepped over a challenge and dropped his foot. I actually recall hearing the snap in the really old jungle – that that leaked all over the place. A truly dreadful challenge that sickened a then 16 year old.
that said, I still adore Bertie and have fantastic memories of the wee man; a real Celtic great.
Kilbowie Kelt
22:38 on 14 December, 2012
I didn’t have the privilege of watching those Great players, it was an even harder game back then, we needed the right mixture to do what we done.
I am loving this 3-5-2 where Efe strolls from the back with exquisite skill to negate the very negative tactics that most teams deploy against us. There is a plan afoot, could it be implemented later on in Europe?
Wow, exciting times.
I think it is no accident that Tambourine Man was next on the list, I swear to God. ;))
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KE_hDWMftgc
KK
I didn’t think you were :>)
Great Bond thingy on Beeb4 the noo!
Bond music.
As a lover of the 80’s I have to say that A-Ha and Duran Duran were gash.
Tom J on just now singing Thunderball and that is the pits.
Wife says that Bond needs a diva to give it gravitas! Have to agree!!!
I banjoe’d my ribs last Friday, after I got home from the works’ night-out sober! (I banjoed em cause i tanned too much in celebration of a clean exit) Been lying in bed in one position! flat on back all week, any rolling, itching, stretching, standing is sending me into gasps of agony!
HH
Goodnight from a sad but ever hopeful
Celtic supporter.
HH
I remember the incident when Bertie broke Provan’s leg and I was close to the action.
It happened close to the Celtic end at Ibrox and my recollection was that Provan tried to do Bertie, but the bold ten therty got his retaliation in first.
I never like to see players even huns getting seriously injured but Provan should have known better taking on the hardest and cutest player I have ever seen on a football pitch.
TeT
I am only saying that it is cowardly to do it to someone who would not dish it out..
talking from experiance my football career(for what it was) was ended by a dirty tackle by a coward..18 year old and finished..
green lantern
you know better as I wasnt there so can’t argue..
I wasnt having a go at 10.30 just arguing the point that you take out the hard men, did anyone every do greig?
Aw naw……Paul McCartney followed by Sheena Easton ……not my all-time favourites.
Does Sheena not hail from Jobo Balde land?
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/A-Gw3YOCEAAizZz.jpg:large
Unbelievable, I know this is not typical of Americans but…..
THE EXILED TIM
22:46 on 14 December, 2012
On the odd occasion the howling gets a tad ott, but that’s as far as it goes…..
I understand a couple of the howlers will be meeting up for a few beers soon, I wish I could join them…..
_____________________________________________________________________
It would be good if you could make it. You never know you might win the lottery in the next few weeks. Never ever say never, unless you are a buffon like Paisley.
Conspiracy central is where it is at, I’m a bit worried we will end up spending hours drinking as we go deeper into conspiracies. ;(
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYH8DsU2WCk
BT
I wouldn’t go along with Provan not dishing it out, I have seen him quite a few times dishing it out.
Not to extent of the likes of greig and a few others, in them days, it was all relative, as it is today, but Provan was no angel.
AoW
how very dare you..
as much as I dislike EK sheena was from North Lanarkshire.. sos land o)
TeT
as I said I am too young but nobody ever done greig…
BT- Haha my apologies. At least she met her prince!
petec
I would have to win the lotto, would be the only way I could make it.
Can’t be up late tonight, things to do early doors, but soon enough I hope, I hope to make it over before the season end.