This blog was conceived after the Scottish Cup Final of 2004 when Celtic played Dunfermline. The idea was discussed in The Last Post pub in Paisley late at night as a means of allowing us to share news, opinions and post links of mutual interest. The date of the Final was 22 May.
No comment on the Euro Championships, I'm still basking in the afterglow of 3 in a row. I attach an email I received which claims to know what Strachan said in the Championship huddle just after the final whistle at Tannadice. If true, it certainly cast him in a new light.
************** Subject: Huddle Comments Can't comment on its accuracy, but the source works at CP. -
Strachan's speech (as described by a lip reader) to the players in the huddle after the game at Tannadice which Hartley recently described as being 'inspirational'.
'...that lot with their pens and notepads, their exclusives, and their match reports saying we had no chance of retaining this title, we proved they know nothing about us, our fans or our club...that lot standing there singing, with their scarves up above their heads, chanting the name of a special man who everybody connected with this club loves, that's who we won this title for..for our supporters, for ourselves, but most of all for Tommy, so be proud of yourselves, hold your heads high, look up to the heavens and shout loud and proud,,, look what we did Tommy, we did the 3 in a row'
I have a bet on Romania each way at 40/1 and no I wasn't drunk at the time. Best to put a small amount I can afford (£6 to be precise) on a long shot than a wedge on one of the favourites. The Euros have a track record of a smaller team springing a surprise (Greece '04, Czech Rep '96, Denmark '92). Romania took 4 points out of 6 off Holland in qualifying, France lost twice to some diddy team in qualifying and Italy... well 2nd place is good enough!
Germany would be my pick if my life depended on it (please no!). The way the draw is structured, teams from Groups A & B can't meet any of the teams from Groups B & C until the final. So Germany need to prevail over Austria, Croatia, Poland, Portugal, Czech Rep, Turkey and Switzerland. Not easy but easier than Italy, France, Holland, Spain, Romania, Sweden, Russia and Greece.
Now I come to think about it, I might go out and put a wee each way bet on Russia before their first game.
I am really enjoying watching the Euros after the most stressful month/6 weeks supporting Celtic since 1998 [i.e. the last time one of our historical records was in jeapordy. 2003 was stressful but Seville was a magical journey and there was as much stress watching the huns stumble through to Manchester this season as there was worrying about whether Celtic were going to win the league - a double dose!]
Great speech by WGS if true. I can't see how he can be sacked despite mistakes this season. Hopefully he will have learned from these. We are not Chelsea, we don't treat people like that. Especially after Gordon showed the huns the meaning of the word 'dignity' after TB's death.
When I said "please no" re Germany winning Euro 2008, I meant having my life depend on predicting the winner, not that I have a particular axe to grind with the Germans. They are just Germans and not all nazis like the mob from Kinning Park ;0)
Was never in favour of sacking Strachan - although he made plenty of mistakes (it's no coincidence that the last time we dropped points was the last time Donati played). I hope he stays. But, if he does, there needs to be a big improvement and he needs to learn how to sign decent players. We seem to have a talent for scouring Europe to find players that appear to be no better than those who would find at Love Street.
No comment on the Euro Championships, I'm still basking in the afterglow of 3 in a row. I attach an email I received which claims to know what Strachan said in the Championship huddle just after the final whistle at Tannadice. If true, it certainly cast him in a new light.
ReplyDelete**************
Subject: Huddle Comments
Can't comment on its accuracy, but the source works at CP. -
Strachan's speech (as described by a lip reader) to the players in the
huddle after the game at Tannadice which Hartley recently described as
being 'inspirational'.
'...that lot with their pens and notepads, their exclusives, and their match reports saying we had no chance of retaining this title, we proved they know nothing about us, our fans or our club...that lot standing there singing, with their scarves up above their heads, chanting the name of a special man who everybody connected with this club loves, that's who we won this title for..for our supporters, for ourselves, but most of all for Tommy, so be proud of yourselves, hold your heads high, look up to the heavens and shout loud and proud,,, look what we did Tommy, we did the 3 in a row'
Would you still sack him John? I can feel an argument coming on, on the 20th :-)
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to it.
I have a bet on Romania each way at 40/1 and no I wasn't drunk at the time. Best to put a small amount I can afford (£6 to be precise) on a long shot than a wedge on one of the favourites. The Euros have a track record of a smaller team springing a surprise (Greece '04, Czech Rep '96, Denmark '92). Romania took 4 points out of 6 off Holland in qualifying, France lost twice to some diddy team in qualifying and Italy... well 2nd place is good enough!
ReplyDeleteGermany would be my pick if my life depended on it (please no!). The way the draw is structured, teams from Groups A & B can't meet any of the teams from Groups B & C until the final. So Germany need to prevail over Austria, Croatia, Poland, Portugal, Czech Rep, Turkey and Switzerland. Not easy but easier than Italy, France, Holland, Spain, Romania, Sweden, Russia and Greece.
Now I come to think about it, I might go out and put a wee each way bet on Russia before their first game.
I am really enjoying watching the Euros after the most stressful month/6 weeks supporting Celtic since 1998 [i.e. the last time one of our historical records was in jeapordy. 2003 was stressful but Seville was a magical journey and there was as much stress watching the huns stumble through to Manchester this season as there was worrying about whether Celtic were going to win the league - a double dose!]
Great speech by WGS if true. I can't see how he can be sacked despite mistakes this season. Hopefully he will have learned from these. We are not Chelsea, we don't treat people like that. Especially after Gordon showed the huns the meaning of the word 'dignity' after TB's death.
ReplyDeleteWhen I said "please no" re Germany winning Euro 2008, I meant having my life depend on predicting the winner, not that I have a particular axe to grind with the Germans. They are just Germans and not all nazis like the mob from Kinning Park ;0)
ReplyDeleteWas never in favour of sacking Strachan - although he made plenty of mistakes (it's no coincidence that the last time we dropped points was the last time Donati played). I hope he stays. But, if he does, there needs to be a big improvement and he needs to learn how to sign decent players. We seem to have a talent for scouring Europe to find players that appear to be no better than those who would find at Love Street.
ReplyDeleteOh you mean like Boruc, Bobby?
ReplyDeleteCamara
ReplyDeleteNaylor
Mark Brown
Perrier-Doumbe
Wilson
Caldwell
Graveson
Jarosik
Donati
Sno
Aliadiere
Killen
Zurawski
JVOH
Ah! By Europe you really mean Europe.
ReplyDeleteCamara - England
Naylor - England
Mark Brown - Scotland
Wilson - Scotland
Caldwell - Scotland
Jarosik - England
Aliadiere - England
Killen - Wales
Killen is from New Zealand so he doesn't count!
ReplyDeleteOn my website you'll see similar texts, write what you think. 100 usd to cad
ReplyDelete