BACK in the 1960s and 1970s, when there really was an Old Firm, Jock Stein used to delight in upstaging Rangers in the papers. Knowing the Ibrox club had the mainstream media in their pockets and would generally be assured of the back-page splash, the Big Man used to love it when he could put one over on the Blues.
Today, of course, Ronnie Deila doesn't need to compete with the Rangers Tribute Act for column centimetres. There are no good stories coming out of Ibrox or Murray Park these days, so, no need for Celtic to compete for exposure. In fact, I am surprised the RTA's friends in the media aren't placing Celtic stories in the papers, in an effort to divert attention away from the constant stream of doom and gloom coming out of Ibrox.
Take the current situation, with Kenny McDowall handing in his notice. Now, I have a lot of time for wee "Koj", he is a terrific coach, he is Rangers to the core. He probably never expected to be manager, so, for him to chuck it so soon after taking over, clearly something is seriously wrong in the bear pit.
Then there are the off-field shenanigans regarding share-holding, power blocs, coalitions and so on. Never mind, apparently, once Ibrox becomes a Kingdom, all will be well!!!!!
Aye Right.
I see Chuck Green is threatening a come-back. What next, the return of Sir David Murray, now he has time on his hands? I reckon the shade of Bill Struth has been birlin' so much these past two years, he must have drilled himself a tunnel out of Craigton Cemetry, and must, by now, be about ready to drop into the Clyde.
JOHN McGlynn's appointment as Celtic's First Team Scout did get some exposure. A good appointment in my opinion, John certainly knows a promising player when he sees one. A good appointment I think.
ABERDEEN'S fight-back to grab a share of the points at Dens Park at the weekend indicated to me - the Dons' challenge to Celtic is a real one. All-too-often, contenders have managed to pull-off good results at Ibrox and Parkhead, only to immediately drop points to another of the "diddy" teams.
Dundee, away, was a potential banana skin for Derek McInnes and his men, yeah, they slipped, but they didn't fall, which was a good sign for all their fans. This title race could yet run and run, but, you still have to fancy Celtic to triumph.
BIG Danny Malloy died last week. That name might not be generally known these days, but, back in the 1950s, Danny - a centre-half with Dundee, then Cardiff City, was seen as the heir apparent to big Geordie Young, as Scotland centre-half.
He captained Scotland B, played in the Scottish League v English League game, which was just about a final trial for the big battle with the Auld Enemy back then; he played in umpteen unofficial Scotland games, but, he never got his cap.
For instance, in late 1954, to help prepare for the visit of the legendary Hungarians captained by Ferenc Puskas, to Hampden, the SFA arranged a series of trial games, between "A Scotland XI and Kilmarnock, Hibs and Falkirk.
For the games at Easter Road and Brockville, the Scotland back six was: Fred Martin of Aberdeen, Willie Cunningham of Preston North End, Harry Haddock of Clyde, tommy Docherty, then with Preston, Malloy and John Cumming of Hearts.
The final Scotland team, which took on the best team in the world at Hampden included five of the six - Malloy wasn't picked, instead Partick Thistle's Jimmy Davidson got the number five shirt. Choosing the Bluebirds over Tottenham and Newcastle maybe wasn't the best move for Malloy, while, Rangers were still pondering whether a Daniel Malloy would be acceptable to the Ibrox fans - and was be even a Protestant? But, Malloy was newly-married and the £500 signing-on fee Cardiff offered was too-good to refuse.
While Malloy was the seeming heir up here, down in England, Birmingham's Trevor Smith was in a similar situation as regards succeeding Billy Wright in the England team. At least, Smith did get a couple of caps, there was no such consolation for Malloy.
But, he had a good career with Cardiff, including becoming just about the only guy ever to shut Brian Clough up. Fed-up with "Ole Big 'Ead's" constant verbals in a Cardiff v Middlesbrough game, Malloy laid him our with one punch, for which he was warmly congratulated by the rest of the 'Boro team!!!
He could play a bit, and was as hard as nails, and ever so unlucky never to be capped. His career ended badly too. He came back to Clyde, where a new manager, a former Rangers' player, was not prepared to frorgive some perceived slight delivered by Malloy, when with Dundee. His career was over.
As I said, all but forgotten today, but, a player who deserved more recognition than he got.
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