Premier League 2008-9 Preview: Celtic: Pressure Still On Strachan

Scotland on Sunday › August 04, 2008

Linked as:

Summary

AN INEBRIATED Celtic supporter in the De Kuip main stand provided an unwelcome distraction from his club's encounter with Tottenham Hotspur on Friday. Choosing to spectate by turning his back to the pitch, for the early part of the action he gleefully gestured he was ready to take on all-comers, and did indeed repel any challengers. Until a steward reined him in. Still, he ended the evening with feet up and illicitly puffing on a cigarette, untroubled by the deficiencies of his team exposed in a 2-0 defeat. Under Gordon Strachan, whole seasons have undulated in such fashion for the club's followers. And there is no reason to suspect the forthcoming campaign will be any different.

It is becoming a summer tradition for Celtic fans to bask in title success and convince themselves a couple of real marquee signings are about to make Strachan's team, rather than their successes, something to get giddy over.

See the full content of this document

Extract

Premier League 2008-9 Preview: Celtic: Pressure Still On Strachan

Such an assessment is the kind to have Strachan feeling more put- upon than Gordon Brown. As he does regularly, because he believes judges of his efforts with the three-in-a-row Scottish Premierleague winners can appear about as gracious as he proved in failing to show for Thursday's press conference to preview the Jubileum Tournament, which today will see his men play h...

See the full content of this document