Back in the 80s I had a soft spot for Porto. Their 2-1 1987 European Cup final win over Bayern Munich, coming from behind in the last 15 minutes and scoring with a back-heel, against a vastly better resourced opponent, was something Celtic fans could relate to.
A decade later I followed Porto’s tribulations as they tried to recapture those heights in the Champions League with a new team. They remained an engaging team but when it came to the big clubs there was always one who would wipe the floor with them. Manchester United scored four without reply in the 1997 quarter finals. The following season Real Madrid hit six over two games without conceding as Porto exited at the group stage.
It was a group stage exit the next season, before Bayern Munich took them in the 2000 quarter final. Then what looked like a significant reversal as they failed to qualify for Europe’s top tournament, settling for Uefa Cup football instead in season 2000-01. They eliminated Celtic from the group stage in 2001-02 but were taken home and away by Real Madrid in the last sixteen.
All this time they were fine-tuning player development and recruitment strategy; buying marginally better players and selling for ever-increasing money. Real Madrid may have wiped the floor with them but Porto’s business model was fine-tuned by 2002. Real won their last European trophy that season but the gap with Porto was closed in an instant.
Celtic are less than two years into their current strategy and we’re miles ahead of where we should be. It will be extremely difficult to match this season’s on-field achievements next season, but the stage you exit the Champions League is only one yardstick available. It took Porto years of slow and meandering progress to learn what it took to reach the highest level. This is our task.
On Friday 1 March the Lisbon Lions will be at the Kerrydale Suite providing commentary and answering questions on their magnificent European Cup final win in 1967. This has never happened in 46 years since that game, to say it is a unique opportunity fails to tell the whole story.
The event is part of our 125 4 125 campaign – central to reinvigorating the charitable spirit which is part of the club we love. It will be a family occasions, tickets are available at £10 for adults and £5 for children. The night has been organised by several fans working in conjunction with the people at Celtic Charity, so please do your best to support this great occasion. Individual tickets or tables are available, details here.
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Googsybhoy,
Very moved by your description of Maria.
Big ‘Wummin’, big heart, big spirit.
May she rest in peace.
BRTH,
Remember Joe Gallagher with great affection.
He played with fellow Bankies Tommy Logue ( lovely footballer) & Andy Kane ( big, strong defender).
I was at both semi finals of the Scottish Cup ( Dens Park, replay at Celtic Park) when they went so close in 1953( ?). Think Joe played in them, but the old memory is getting a wee bit blurred.
Rest in Peace, Joe.
25 May 67,
I have great memories of Fr. Joe.
What a character. Remember one particular night of rebel singing at my mother’s house in Linnvale.
Fr.Joe used to play in the kickabouts on OHR school park & shared the ‘carry-oot’ with the local worthies behind the Celtic goal at Paradise on a regular basis.
A legend.
GrannyMacsBhoy
They are all hurting and it’s great to witness. In my work football used to be the No1 topic of discussion Not any more it hurts them too much. Even the more rational (eh !) ones are in total denial.
Scotland Tonight coming on……I will paraphrase what is going to happen……we are no died….we were lucky to survive….the supporters are magic….we’ll be back…..yeez better aw watch ya bassas….we are still ra peepul…….
fanadpatriot
22:23 on
14 February, 2013
Just came in,my wife said Whytie Bhoy was on TV,what was it about,anyone knows.?
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Haven’t seen it but been told told white ask craig whyte …
Do you sleep well at night?
Craigy… yes Jim i sleep very well.lol
A year today the news was a must,
All about Rangers and would they go bust,
Administration, they said would never be,
The big hoose must stay open, was the cry from thee.
As the news sank in, that they had no money,
All The Celtic fans laughed as it was so funny,
The cheats were finally caught with their trousers down,
Shafted by Craigy for the price of a pound.
Hector was adamant that administration would not last,
Liquidation was looming and coming fast,
No way said the huns A CVA will be done,
For we cannot let our History crash and burn.
On the 14th of June, their fate was sealed,
Oh how the bluenoses everywhere squealed,
We are the people, they cried and cried,
But the plug was pulled and they later died.
Now a year later on, they say sevco 5088 are the same,
Even if they did have to change their name
But we all know better, as we know the truth,
Deep down so do the Huns, and even the Zombie Bill Struth.
So dry your eyes zombies, and get on with life,
And maybe the beatings will stop on your wife,
Give up, Give up for the old Club is dead and gone,
For the war is over, the Rhebels have won.
In Memory of RFC1872IL
Hail Hail
bigot Graham on STV again ffs
STV ..on and C Graham …bigot …on panel …disgrace
Sipsini
Thanks for that,I was beginning to think she had been at my Poitin.HH
Pogmathonyahun
Hilarious that they are hamstrung into supporting TFPLG
He’s damned awful …but as he’s one peeepil ….they cannae sack him …long may he remain
Father Cairns (Wee Joe) what a man. Appeared at our door one Saturday at lunchtime and insisted that it was part of my Easter Duties to take him to Tannadice. Lost him in Auchterarder finally found him in the 4th pub and missed the best part of the first half!
….PFayr
I’m sure green would love to sack him, but he can’t afford to, a 750k pay off, then add in the other coaches, over a mill………happy days >}
Newsnight: Great debate as usual, hahahahahahahahahaha
Lets not dig up the past?
I thought you paid for it.
Utter drivel.
Isn’t it amazing how when the ‘panel member’ is a pro-Sevconian, it is not necessary to have a ‘balanced’ show.
But if the panel member is likely to say anything which the Sevconians don’t like, even though it is the truth, then the show can’t go ahead unless there is a ‘balanced’ panel.
Aye, right enough, we live in a hypocrisy.
Thot jabba wd have been on.o(( Ach well!!
TET
Pf
I love the way they gloss over the cup doings, especially the Ramsdens Cup…….canny sack them all…..”the leagues always been the priority” line….it’s hilarious…..they just asked where do you see Sevco next season on STV……hahaha….next month more like…..as for Green what happened to the big sponsor announcement last week….buffoon, ideal for that mob of zombies……bad lot….bad club….bad manager…..bad to the bone, Hell mend them all…..
BCW,
Same in my place! It’s not quite as bad as the early 80’s when they all seemed to be into golf and rugby and for one season Hearts (until Love Street) but I keep hoping that’s what is next for them.
Some late valentines for Sevco
Some flowers are red
Some flowers are puce
And Ally McCoist
Is nae bleedin use
Some flowers are red
Some flowers are green
In the Premier League
Sevco ain’t seen
Some flowers are red
Some flowers are cyan
The new fans of Sevco
They just can’t stop cryin
Some flowers are red
Some flowers are crimson
The Old Board of Rangers
Will soon be in prison
Some flowers are red
Some flowers are amber
Out of this gutter
They never will clamber
Some flowers are red
Some flowers are bronze
They’ll be liquidated
‘Fore any light dawns
Some flowers are red
Some flowers are ruby
And Wiggy Smith
Disnae huv a scooby
Some flowers are red
Some flowers are beige
And Jabba Traynor’s
In a permanent rage
Some flowers are red
Some flowers are bisque
They gambled on EBTs
A hell o’ a risk
Some flowers are red
Some flowers are umber
The rangers are Deid
Oh! what a bumber!
Some flowers are red
Some flowers are cerise
A message for Charlie
Away! Gie’s peace!
Some flowers are red
Some flowers are black
Ally McCoist’s
getting the sack
Some flowers are red
Some flowers are orange
There’s nae rhyme for that
The Zombies are deid
googybhoy very sorry to hear of your loss. The whole CQN family are thinking of you.
God bless you.
Is it just me or does Chris Graham look like a typical modern day bigoted Hun. He looks like a cone head.
Bigot Graham loves chuckles ,all is well in hunland.
He must think Tom English is off his rocker.
Why would he doubt chuckles ?
Audited accounts ?
Who needs them. £22 big ones in the bank.
Chuckles wouldnae lie tae us. He hates the tims tae.
Groundhog day ya stupid hun mug.
Mae culpa
Quite …
Angelgabriel
Don’t disturb them……it’s all going swimmingly
See if BBC can do any better?
No chance
grannymacsbhoy
23:00 on
14 February, 2013
Watch pollocks attendances rise.
It went that way in the eighties when the huns did walking away.
Tom English will tonight be on the FF banned list, if he is not already on it.
Was sick last week and on my return to work had been moved to a new area. Didn’t take long to find out that I was surrounded by 3 Sevconians.
As is my way I gave them all nicknames, except one, which I’m struggling with. Any help would be appreciated but I can’t get anything to rhyme with his surname, Abercrombie!
Cheers in advance:-D
Abercrombie IzzaZombie.
PFayr
Correct.
Finding it difficult to fathom whether they are desperate, deluded,thick
or all 3.
Is Richard Wilson of the Herald a relation of Mr Been?
“I have been around Rangers fans for 40 years I am sorry to say” Graham Spiers. Funny thing for a self confessed Rangers fan to say.
Speirs banging on about his 40 year allegience to Hunco…holy moly
WeeOscar4Life
20:52 on
14 February, 2013
Wee Oscar looking amazing!!!! Just showed Mrs CRC the pic, she was crying with delight. He needs a haircut :-)
God Bless the Celtic family and all the supporters of Wee Oscar and his family
HH
CRC
Tet.
How’s your battle with the nails going?
Hope your staying strong.
I thought English had a wry smile when talking about chuckles.
Thinking he no’s a lot more than he is prepared to say.
As miki 67 would say…he’s holding his wheesht.
googybhoy
Sorry to hear abt ur loss. Prayers for you and your wive tonight.
http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/9981/imageooer.jpg
Wee Oscar pic!
Sipsini,
Good Shout. The Shaws had a big contingent that walked away to Newlandsfield in those days, but when I bumped into them in later years they all insisted that they were one of the very few that had kept going to every game at Ibrokes. Hmmmm!
cultsbhoy loves being 1st forever & ever but he did say he was sorry to say he had been around them? Strange.
kilbowie kelt
22:38 on 14 February, 2013
Googsybhoy,
Very moved by your description of Maria.
Big ‘Wummin’, big heart, big spirit.
………… Thank you