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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Did Wilson from the Herald say when ‘we’ come back?
SPF
Angelgabriel
All 3
Wee Oscar looks fantastic. God bless him.
SPF
Not watching it…..but wouldn’t be surprised …
art of war
23:11 on
14 February, 2013
Abercrombie… a bear in a crombie.
Ned!!!
CRC
GREAT PIC.
Sure brought one heck of a smile to my coupon today when I first saw it.
Jamsie..
and they said we were paranoid..
How many times can you say the word “back” as in “SPL” or “at the top” in 4 minutes, it must have been nearly twenty. If they win the SPL 80 times in the next 100 years they will never be back in the SPL. This is the BBC in Scotland, flagship news program and it is nothing more than blatant propaganda.
Say what you like about Gorgeous George, he certainly knows how to work an audience. I dont agree with all of his politics, but I think he’s one smart cookie, and is able for all those Eton-educated Tories! ………and Lib-Dems!
CRC
I had Stoksey donating via twitter tonight after he praised Gareth Bale pre his goals. I asked him to txt give a £5 for each goal Bale scored, he agreed and came through with donations +. However I did agree that I’d donate a £5 for each goal he scores in the next game he starts.
MWD
2 debates on the last 12 months of Rangers/Sevco saga,not 1 mention of the ordinary creditors, i.e. those who have lost the most.
Shameful.
Aber crombie……..dufflecoat
Watched Stv where Am John Mackay asked Tom English where will sevco be in a years time,oh how I laughed when he said “I don’t know,I just don’t know” you should have seen Chris bigot Graham’s face. Th e thing is his fellow sevconians are sleepwalking into another disaster with chuckles at the helm,they have fell for his rhetoric but don’t disturb them they are disturbed enough, let them rot….HH
Cultsbhoy everybody hate them but they don’t care. Oh yes they do and it is a brilliant laugh:-)))))))))
G G is a class act. Hope he brings up Remploy scandal.
Did not realise I had mis-spelled your name. Googybhoy.
Apologies.
Who’s that owl baroness??
thomthethim
22:37 on 14 February, 2013
19lisbonbhoy67
22:05 on 14 February, 2013
So what happened to the breaking story today that was due to break today?
********
It was fixed!
PFayr,
See my reply to che above.
………..
Thanks for that.
I guess the nxt big story will b LNS. Or maybe the WUO will b issued in the next few days.
Interesting times ahead!
Watched the album show the other night on the Beeb.
R’n’B this week.
This was Bilbo Baggins choice
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7-NFw9Mja4&playnext=1&list=PLD4437D0492AB9B41&feature=results_main
Moonbeams WD. Kano 1000 \o/ Supporting Neil Lennon 100%. Champions. C’mon Wee Oscar.
23:26 on
14 February, 2013
You should have had £5 a goal on me tonight at CQN 5s. I scored 5 and we still got beat and we had an extra man :-)
HH
CRC
jonny the tim
23:25 on
14 February, 2013
How’s your man flu?
I met gg once he is as sharp as a tack.
kikinthenakas-As soon as any on field matters ,or questioning Sallys tactics etc,the hundits immediately blank it and start on about the “remarkable” attendances.Not mentioning the 10,000 free tickets of course.Pravda stuff.
Googybhoy,
Sincere condolences my friend.
Stay off the road for a few days, Manchester can survive without you at this time, take care of the family and your good self. Look forward to a gab in the future.
Take care
VFTW
mea culpa/sipsini :-)
Had Wed booked off and the 3 plamphs tried to give it big licks today.
When I explained that I wasn’t hiding but back at Celtic Park doing a keep fit programme one said…
“ffs how much does Liewell charge you tims for that?”
“Nothing!” says I. “it’s paid for with some of our Champions League money.”
Silence.
For clarity, its not paid for with CL cash. That wiz just to wind them up!;-)
Over the last couple of weeks, Paul Kimmage has been asking some very awkward questions about Team Sky, Sir Dave Brailsford and Bradley Wiggins on Twitter.
Another writer has written that to suggest that the sport is now cleaner than ever is ludicrous.
This could get interesting.
viewfaethewindae
23:38 on
14 February, 2013
Googybhoy,
Sincere condolences my friend.
Stay off the road for a few days, Manchester can survive without you at this time, take care of the family and your good self. Look forward to a gab in the future.
Take care
VFTW
Thank you. Sometimes work takes your mind off things.
Brth
Thanks for sharing that. Will have a look.
Kimmage’s output over the past 5-7 years has been some of the best journalism in the history of that profession, in my humble opinion. The man walks the walk.
I would advise anyone with a spare half hour to google some of his old articles.
Sipsini
I’m operating at about 50% capacity. Hope to be back to work tomorrow/
HH
Ok Bhoys thank you.
My wife now appreciates this site.
She thanks you all.
Hail Hail.
googybhoy ♥ celtic
20:33 on
14 February, 2013
…………
Sorry to hear of your mother in laws passing, thoughts and prayers to you and the family.
Vinny
!!bada
You are right….as soon as its mentioned….it’s “shiny shiny” it’s brilliant….boastful braggarts at the start of the season…..now “the league is the only thing that counts”, forgetting of course they could have mad extra income byt hey they don’t need it with their £22m!
Hahahaha
googybhoy ♥ celtic- sorry to hear your loss, a tough few months lie ahead for your wife, look after her.
HH
googybhoy ♥ Celtic
Yes it does and I guess you’ll know best.
Take care of Mrs googybhoy
Catch you later
VFTW
Thank you all again,
Goodnight and God Bless.
Night bhoys
celticrollercoaster loves Wee Oscar, our Celtic Warrior
23:19 on 14 February, 2013
That is a remarkable picture. That wee laddie is amazing in his determination and he is just a very small child. Inspirational.
googybhoy ♥ Celtic
Sorry to hear of your loss. God Bless.
googybhoy ♥ celtic.
Sad days for your family, your good lady will need all your support.
condolences to yourself and family.
Hail Hail Wee Oscar!!!! Legend.