Samaras gives some Gordon Smith good advice
By: Cham |
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In the morning’s Daily Record, Greek boy Georgios Samaras, whose country will be traveling to hallowed South Africa this next summer, has offered his expertise as to how Scotland’s national side can improve: get a better manager.
“The key to success for us in Greece has been a strong manager, that’s 100 per cent the case.”
Well, thanks for that. Look forward to a call from Gordon Smith; he wants you on the national manager selection committee.
But there’s more:
“[German Otto Rehhagel] operates in a country where there’s only an average league championship and the clubs in Greece don’t do enough to help the national side… The national team is still three levels higher than any club side in the country and that’s partly because a lot of the squad play their football in other parts of Europe. We bring a better mentality to the national set-up.”
That’s an idea – torpedo the Scottish Premier and the greater Scottish Football League system so it’s down-right horrid, and then put all the remaining eggs in a Tartan basket. Then get a German manager. Heck, the Scots could have themselves a European Championship by 2016.
Or is the league already average enough to qualify for the type of success the Greeks have garnered?
Category: Hair of the Dog
Match Preview: Dundee United v Celtic
By: Cham | Add Comments
For those of y’all who still aren’t ready to return to the ongoing dreadful saga of Scottish football, MK Dons visit visit Southend this evening. The Dons sit fourth in English League One, tied with third position Colchester on points. Southend have won three, lost three and drawn two at home. Should be a tasty treat.
But, if that distraction doesn’t keep you from the re-ignition of the Scottish Premier this weekend, then here we go. [Deep breath]
The only solace I can give offer this match is this:
Craig Levein’s mind is on the wonder as he is the bookie’s favorite for Scotland managerial post. Having said that, Dundee United have won two tough away match against Killie and Aberdeen (0-2 both) (Damian Casalinuovo netted three goals of those four). United were bounced out of the League Cup by a spirited Saints side, due to a spirited Darren Dods’ own goal, not unlike another under-achieving League Cup side…
Notwithstanding, the terrors have no reason not to beat Celtic this weekend [Points for a triple negative?].
In the Press : Steven Fletcher Moves Masses to Tears
By: Cham | 1 Comment
Every so often, you come across that one story that just sends your heart soaring into the stratisphere, a real moment when you absolutely walk on sunshine and everything’s gonna be alright. Or something to this effect.
A recent article in The Daily Record – Steven Fletcher: Moving to England has made a man of me – now I want to prove it with Scotland.
Now this is the stuff dreams are made.
STEVEN FLETCHER felt like the boy who’d just had his Christmas stolen the day Hibs chairman Rod Petrie refused to sell him to Celtic… Less than a year on he looks back on that crushing disappointment as the decision that finally made a man of him.
Yes, Fletcher has been busy growing up. And he owes it all to Petrie’s stubborn refusal to let him go to Parkhead for a cut-price fee.
But Burnley snatched him up for £3million, and just look at him now!
“I got back to concentrating on my game and scoring goals and maybe it worked out better for me… Burnley must have seen enough to want to take me to the Premiership and you can’t play at a much higher level than that.”
“Since then we’ve been to places like Anfield, Stamford Bridge and White Hart Lane and even though the results haven’t been great the experience has and it’s all helping us adjust to life in the top flight.”
“We’re making progress bit by bit. People were putting pressure on us about our away record but now we’ve gone to a big club like Man City, drawn 3-3 and probably should have won.”
Maybe we should abandon this Celtic sinking ship and become Burnley supporters; they’re made of winners. And they’re in the Premier League.
Presumptuous Old Firm gets faced by pretentious English Prem
By: Cham | 1 Comment
The news is clear on this one. The Guardian and The Times Online are giving the business to Celtic and Rangers upon the outright rejection of a Old Firm inclusion into the English Football League. From the Daily Record: “The clubs welcomed the additional input into an ongoing process, however, they were of the opinion that bringing Celtic and Rangers into any form of Premier League set-up was not desirable or viable… We have made a clear and unequivocal statement. No means no – Celtic and Rangers are not coming in.” Oof, mikey.
Even effin’ Forbes is in on the action:
“One of Gartside’s more radicial proposals was flatly rejected. He wants the new clubs to include Celtic and Rangers, two top Scottish clubs that now play in the Scottish Premier League… The big boys don’t want further competition for the already limited number of places available to EPL clubs in the lucrative UEFA Champions League competition.”
This all off the heals of the relatively warm reception English club managers Harry Redknapp and David Moyes had to the inclusion idea.
So, no jailbreak tonight for the Teddies and the Bhoys. Oh well…
Here’s Thin Lizzy anyway.
Aiden McGeady has man-crush on Irish boss Trapattoni
By: Cham | Add Comments
It seems Aido is quite excited about this brief break from club duty for the Republic. In talking about Itallian-born/Ireland boss Johnny Trapattoni, “He tells me I have the ability to score and take a shot, because if I take a shot and even if I don’t score, it might take a deflection and it might drop into someone else’s path… The manager is very good that way, he always gives you advice and the way he gets his point across, he makes sure you listen.” And later in the interview – “Thankfully the manager was good enough to put me in for that game.”
All this while away from his main squeeze Celtic, “For me this is a nice change from the situation back home. We have been taking a bit of stick at Celtic … We’re looking forward to the game and it’s good to be away from Glasgow.”
The winger has yet to score in his 28 previous caps.
A Look Back – January 28, 2006
By: Cham | 1 Comment
The date: January 28, 2006
Celtic v Dundee United.
A Celtic starting eleven of Artur Boruc, Mark Wilson, Adam Virgo, Stanislav Varga, Ross Wallace, Shunsuke Nakamura, Neil Lennon, Stiliyan Petrov, Shaun Maloney, Magic Zurawski, and Welshman John Hartson.
Of that line-up, John Hartson (now retired), Zurawski (now playing in Cyprus) and Petrov (now playing for Aston Villa) netted for Celtic, giving the league-leaders the go ahead. But two goals in the 82′ and 86′ by late sub Lee Miller (now playing with the Dons, and made some interesting news by his lonesome this weekend) and David Fernández (now playing with Killie) drew the Terrors back level to split the points.
And so it was, Celtic 3 – 3 Dundee United – the last time time Celtic drew or lost in a match scoring three or more goals.
Until this last Sunday, when Celtic drew three goals apiece with bottom o’ the table Falkirk. Celtic had the opportunity to return the lead over Rangers to four points, but a gritty Falkirk, still searching for there first league win, deserved the points, if not the win.
Hooligans on Film – Typical Ranger Behavior
By: Cham | 3 Comments
In college, my Greek professor would often tell a story about about how, during the American Civil War, Union troops came on to our (Hampden-Sydney) College campus in rural south-central Virginia. They searched (for who knows what)throughout the grounds, harassing students and faculty alike, and even busted down the college’s Presbyterian church door, what my professor deemed, “typical yankee behavior.”
An so it is, during Rangers Champions League fixture with their dreaded and age-old rival, the Romanian super power/footballing juggernaut Unirea Urziceni, Rangers fans make a mockery of themselves and their ability to travel in Europe yet again. (And to think of all the goodwill Motherwell generated as the Fair Play professionals of the Scottish Premier League.)
Perhaps this is not on the scale of the streets of Manchester following their Uefa Cup final loss to Zenit St Petersburg, but still this incident paints Rangers supporters with brush of poor losing hooligans.
Or, as I might by inclined to say, typical Ranger behavior. Typical of Scotland’s Shame.
[Update : Rangers have been fined £18,000 and ordered to pay the cost of damage.]
Category: Hooligans on FilmHair of the Dog – Hamburger (and Benny) Hill
By: Cham | 3 Comments
I feel we can skip the typical match report on this one. It would look something like this:
Hamburger SV nil, Celtic nil…
According to The Herald, both Scot McDonald and the keeper, who still isn’t Artur Boruc, say Celtic can still qualify out of the Europa Cup Group Stage.
Scotty Mac, a beacon of light and optimism here, said, “There is plenty to build on and more goals would be helpful for everyone. We’d like a few more, but it’s not for the want of trying. We’ve had chances in Europe and we’ve been unfortunate, but we’ll look forward to the two games we have left.”
Because no one in the press pool believed him, or that they just wanted a(nother) good laugh, they brought in Lukasz Zaluska (who, by some token, made some real top-class saves this evening). Zaluska said, “We know this is a very difficult aim, but we had a few good chances and we have to win the last two games now.”
All this coming after what is becoming Tony Mowbray anger-after-a-win, hope-after-a-loss song and dance: “We will try and get the points which are in front of us, and what will be will be … [R]egarding the group, we have two matches left and we have to take maximum points. That has got to be our focus at the moment.”
I don’t know about all that. I’m sure saving the European campaign might look something like this:
Because I generally love European nights, let’s hope I eat these words and Celtic take full spoils at Celtic Park and in Vienna.
Don’t forget to cheer on your fellow Scottish club tonight
By: Cham | 3 Comments
Rangers play Unirea Urziceni this evening in Romania’s Steaua Stadium. They already played two weeks ago, and I complete forgot to come on the ‘gers that night. I think I had yoga or something.
Of course, a Scottish side should cheer on another Scottish side, as the folks from BBC Scotland suggested at the beginning of the European competitions. And, now that I remember it, I forgot to cheer for Rangers in their Uefa Cup Final last year.
And I also forgot to cheer for Rangers two years ago when they faced Lyon, when all they needed was a draw to join Celtic in the Final Sixteen.
So brush off those Jean-Claude Darcheville replicas, which I know you’ve got stored away (behind your Manchester United kits that you’re so oft to wear whenever they’re playing), and support the other Scottish club still in Europe. I, however, don’t want you to go out of your way or anything. If cheering on Rangers tonight is not on your to-do list, please, please, please not feel to obliged. I have a few better things myself and just don’t think I’ll be able to fit it in. Hold yer breath and we’ll see. I may have yoga again tonight instead.
Just remember: if Celtic fans or any other Scottish footballing club fans don’t cheer for Rangers tonight, then who will? Rangers Supporters may have other things to do as well, and I don’t blame them.
Category: CelticHair of the Dog – The Sunday Morning Report
By: Cham | Add Comments
The Sunday Morning Report
In the Scottish Premier League :
Celtic 3 – 0 Kilmarnock
- Two wins in a row find Celtic atop the Scottish Premier league. Two loses out of three find Killie ninth, tied on points with St Johnstone and Hearts.
Hibernian 2 – 0 Aberdeen
- With the best 6-game form in the league – 4 wins and 2 draws – the Hibees are second to Celtic. Two points from four matches sit the Dons seventh in the table.
Motherwell 1 – 0 Hearts
- With nine points out of the last possible eighteen, Motherwell move to fourth. Despite recent League Cup success, Hearts have only two league wins on the campaign, sitting ninth.
St Johnstone 3 – 1 Falkirk
– The Saints find another decisive win to go tenth, five clear of Falkirk, who have yet to claim full points this season.
St Mirren 0 – 2 Hamilton
- Hamilton get their first away win of the campaign, but still linger second from the bottom. St Mirren have twelve of a possible thirty and sit sixth behind United.
And, due to rain, the Dundee United v Rangers match has been abandoned. Rangers lead 1-nil – Steven Davis in the 29′.
Now, back to bed.
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