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.
[calameo code=00039017193b8a8bbd612 lang=en page=126 hidelinks=1 width=100% height=500]
1,238 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- ...
- 26
- 27
- 28
- 29
- 30
- 31
- 32
- 33
- »
Canamalar
Something constructive must be done,or we are going to see a lot of supporters being victimised unfairly,Is the man in the stand pointing the finger,and I don’t mean PL,though I suspect he will be aware of his presence.
Kayal
No Sammi?
TMWTL
Not sure about the crowd size, – it’s beginning to feel alot like Christmas. Lennon v Lennon
is 20-0 so after today I’ll be happy with 21-0.
thomthethim
Charlie was gifted and he could weight a cross or a pass unlike lots of modern players.
He helped win the Big Cup with his corner for Billy McNeill’s winning header against Vojvodina
fanadpatriot a number of senior QC’s in Scotland have spoken out against the politicisation of the L.A. role and the assumption by this and the the previous office holder that they can make laws.
Neither Mulholland nor Angiolini were good enough to be QC’s. Salmond likes them. They’re second tier and do as they are told, so dazzled are they by the glamour of the office and a seat at the top table.
Ntassoolla
Astonishing comment. That is a CQN “circular” – how’s your share issue going?
In more sombre news –
Minute’s silence at Celtic Park
By: Newsroom Staff on 15 Dec, 2012 11:13
THERE will be a minute´s silence before the game at Celtic Park today in memory of all the victims of the shootings in Connecticut, United States.
Twenty young children and seven adults were killed in the terrible tragedy. The thoughts and prayers of everyone at Celtic are with the families of the victims, and the community of Newtown, Connecticut at this desperately sad time.
I don’t have a share issue.
Do you have an issue?
Ntass…,
Poor polis got a bad rap at Hillsborough eh
BSR
He did indeed.
He was unfortunate that it was Bertie who was first choice.
Nevertheless, whenever he came into the team, he gave us something different.
I remember seeing him at Hampden in a LC semi-final. He was with Dumbarton then and he nearly destroyed us that night.
He ran the show.
I may be mistaken, but I think a round, fresh faced Kenny Dalglish made one of his earliest first team appearances that night.
kitalba
50p a day in a jar from the 1st of Jan from me.
Tell me where to send it in May :))
No – I am loving our Party in the Champions League. Enjoy Montrose.
bournesouprecipe
11:36 on 15 December, 2012
Sammi in European games is first pick, Sammi in away games is first pick but home domestic games against packed defences doesn’t suit his style IMO. Needs space behind defences to gallop into. Since we are struggling to score at home (7 goals in 7 league games) try something different. We desparately need an attacking midfielder who can open up a defence (especially as we have no wingers at the moment) so before the January window, give young Dylan a shot in his best position. Sammi can come on later in game if required.
The three finest passers of a ball in the great Celtic sides of the late 60s/early 70s were, imo, Bobby Murdoch, Charlie Gallagher and George Connelly.
HH!!
anyone in need of a stocking filler… this superb book is a must for all Celts:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OcQf–gmRPg
WC have I hurt your sensitivities?
Calling me a Rangers supporter is hardly clever or original. But if that’s your level.
It was put to bed the other night in my exchange with toscanabhoy and NatKnow.
Go read.
Kayal33,
Wouldn’t mind seeing him given centre mid roll
Thanks to all the lhads who remember Charlie Gallagher as I do. Thank Ghod he played for the Celtic and we got the chance to see football as it should be played by an artist. He was a combination of Xavi and Iniesta (I kid you not, young Tims), to me anyway.
Ntassoolla,
Liverpool supporters caused the hillsborough disaster, I take it you stand by that claim ?
Come on, why the reluctance to make your position clear ?
Let people know what wants to chat to them, go on
I think we’re a wee bit fed with the dashing runs down the wings which come to naught.
More incisive play in the old fashioned inside forward role will be need to be added for next year in Europe.
Our opponents will have watched all our games in Europe and will be ready for us. another dimension is required.
Away for a walk. Still rankles with me every time I see the sign in my local park which says “Rangers House.”
NTASSOOLLA
Rangers House?
Give it time-the bailiffs will be round shortly……
Ntassoolla,
Liverpool supporters caused the hillsborough disaster, I take it you stand by that claim ?
Surely your no avoiding the question hoping it will go away eh
You know your going to have to change your blog name again don’t you
A poster on here (sorry,can’t remember who) referred to Bobby Lennox’s statement that the low hard drive into the 6 yard box was the best kind of cross. Mikael Lustig has that one mastered.
bsr
According to the online ticket map on the official website, the only tickets still left number circa 4k. Everywhere else is sold out
Ntassoolla,
Liverpool supporters caused the hillsborough disaster, I take it you stand by that claim ?
Are you a polis or retired polis ?
Was going to go for lunch, but this is time better spent
I don’t know any Celtic supporter who would call anyone a Rangers supporter. That club died. They are Sevcovians or Zombies – never Rangers supporters.
BMCUW I kid you not. It’s next to the remnants of Queen Anne’s house. The old trollop had a bath the size of a small swimming pool.
Aye right NilCan. Ye wurnae invited.
But it’s good you recognise that time spent on here is edifying in your case.
BTW don’t walk into Coia’s and ask “Do you do lunch?” You’ll be sussed straight away.
Ntassoolla,
Liverpool supporters caused the hillsborough disaster, I take it you stand by that claim ?
Outing scum is much more productive
WC you’re resorting to technical obscurity to duck the issue.
You can easily fool yourself. But not the board.
The Ghood will prevail
Good wee Video that
Kayal
You’ve got evidence, and NFL knows he must change the formula in home games, due to our results. Samaras is a stylist alright, and he’s the perfect ‘outball’ in tough games like the CL, but if we resort to the home game failing cavalry charges he suddenly becomes ineffectual.
McGeouch is certainly next in line to be played reading between the injury reports so he may feature at some point.
Kitalba
I made it home safely thank you unfortunately didn’t make it to night zoo but did get to Raffles
No 1 son is home now too the job in Melbourne fell through
I hope you and all the family are well and have a great Christmas
Ten Men
That’s good news, – but do we not have the problem of season ticket holders being otherwise occupied.
NTASSOOLLA
Got a meal planned in COIA’S next month,so thanks for the advice-the only words I’ll be saying are “where’s the toilets” when I see the bill coming over!
I’m practicing for when I take my parents to a Michelin-starred restaurant in Dalry (aye,the one in Ayrshire……)
Thanks for the heads-up on that one,WHITEDOGHUNCH.
Lurching in The East. Lurching in The West. The Zombie Hunapocalypse Virus is Vectoring Exponentially. Action Must be Taken.
They will end up hurting themselves.
: > )
Talk about ducking issues eh
Wants to come across as reasonable but blames the support for the Hillsborough disaster, scum of the lowest order has only one motive create division
I’m currently otherwise occupied cooking sausage and onion
A Michelin starred restaurant…..in….Dalry? My, how times have changed.
StrangerInAstrangeLand CSC
Could the Loyalists sympathisers not have planned their demo in Glasgow for next Saturday?
When the trains are on strike?
After all,those bassas walk everywhere…..