(by BobbyPeru of the KStreet forum, March 08)
I genuinely believe that much of the anti-Strachan feeling is down to him not being Celtic Minded, but before anyone jumps down my throat i need to point out that this whole "Celtic minded" argument is based on a misunderstanding (wilfull or otherwise) of what the term actually means.
Gordon Strachan to me is not Celtic Minded, this has nothing to do with his religion or his nationality, it is to do with the way he carries himself, it's to do with his style of football it's to do with his lack of understanding about how the people who pay his wages actually feel about the club.
You will be hard pushed to ever find a more Celtic minded man than Jock Stein, and he was a Scottish Protestant who was brought up a Rangers fan, it's clear in every quote ever attributed to him about the club and it's supporters
"I enjoy being manager here, because I like the people who support us."
"Celtic jerseys are not for second best, they don't shrink to fit inferior players"
“I'd far rather talk about players, they are the people who make things happen. “
"I think it is important to win a match, but I think what is even more important is the manner in which you win."
"I'm happy where I am, I like the people I work with, I like the players and the directors of this club but most of all I like the fans and to see them happy makes me happy,so I'm very happy here."
(When asked about Man Utd showing interest in getting him to manage at Old Trafford in early 70's)
There is a humility and a wiseness in these soundbites which is absent from much of what GS says. Of course GS doesn't have to be popular, he just has to be successful but what he is finding now is that the minute his team loses the league he will be done for. There is no reservoir of good will for him to use up. Lose the league and he is finished.
Pragmatists like myself have stuck by GS, not because of his great signings, not because of any great tactical awareness, not for the great quality of football on the pitch, not because we like him but purely and simply because the results on the pitch have kept us top of the pile and we can remember what it was like to be 2nd best.
Take away the success and what are you left with?