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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petec
23:55 on
14 February, 2013
The wee mhan still has a long way to go, but your right Inspirational.
Worth every single minute or pound donated.
HH
CRC
“@georgegalloway: I called on Glasgow Rangers to pay the tax they owe to the country. Was that edited out of tonight’s show @bbcqt?”
I guess it must have been going by the lack of reaction on here!
Googybhoy
Put your wife right this not a site it’s a family forum.. Where we meet u to bicker and argue…and when required support.
Tough times – stay strong!
stringer bell,
Kimmage was a rider in the Roche/Kelly era.
I remember when he gave up cycling, because of what he knew to be going on.
He started writing for The Sunday Tribune and he was damn good.
Wouldnd’t like to get on the wrong side of his and Denis Walsh’s pen.
Brth
Checking that out, Had occasion to listen to Kimmage discuss the LA situation and how it affected his life.
Professional sport sold its soul with the Black Sox scandal and cheating continues in most sports to a greater or lesser degree.
Don’t get me wrong i still love sport but this old cynic can’t really look at any game without a hint of cynicism.
Kimmage chased Armstrong with such conviction, I have sat up and taken notice of this one.
Thanks!
Just popping in with a quick post before retiring for the night, onbe I just spotted that others might be interested in (if it hasn’t already been posted)…
The official ticketing process for the Champions League Final is now open.
Applications can be made for up to two tickets through the link below up to 18:00CET on March 15th. Tickets will be allocated by a lottery drawn from all those applications received by the closing date. Tickets are priced at £330, £230, £140 and £60, plus £8 per successful application (from the UK, more from elsewhere).
I’ve no idea exactly what a category 4 (£60) seat offers, but that is all I can afford, unless Celtic perform a miracle in Turin… in which case my pockets may become rather deeper!
https://ticketing.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/default.aspx
“@georgegalloway: Nothing I have ever said @bbcqt has been edited out. EVER. Why was Rangers tax dodge censored? And by whom? #bbcqt”
celticrollercoaster
5 goals I heard you scored tonight?
If Hoops does leave, you fancy it? ;))
That wee guy with his attitude to everything epitomises what a Celtic fan really is.
Juventus 1 Celtic 4 :)
CRC
You scored 5!
Seriously!!
Take it you Bhoys are playing at a decent level?
:-)
MWD
Those utter clowns calling their mockumentary, ‘ The Rising ‘ ?
Shoulda called it ‘ The Razing ‘
@georgegalloway: Nothing I have ever said @bbcqt has been edited out. EVER. Why was Rangers tax dodge censored? And by whom? #bbcqt
miki67
They should have called it Rising Damp with Sally as Rigsby!!
petec
00:05 on 15 February, 2013
C’mon be sensible! Juventus 0 Celtic 3 and we win on penalties.
art of war
23:38 on 14 February, 2013
Noticed of late some of the huns in work are getting cocky again.
The thicker ones,the delude and the i believe in chuckles party.
The smarter ones still avoid getting
into a discussion about green.
They no as we do admin 2 is on the cards the way it’s panning out.
CRC,
5 goals?? Was the keepers blind dog injured :))) ( hamstring :)))
Hail? Hail!
5 goals at any level not to be sniffed at
#ineverscoregoals
So, if I’m reading the last page of the blog correctly its ok for our politicians and learned bumbling masonic halfwits to sit on a panel on national tv and debate matters of national importance but the subject of tax dodging cheating bastard fc is off limits?
Is that a correct summation of tonights edition of QT?
They still have a long reach.
Napoli 0 – 3 Viktoria Plzen is a real shock.
Napoli had out a strong team.
Miracles do happen and I’ve not given up this tie yet.
We worked our boll***s off to get to this stage, so we will take the game to them over there, and they will hopefully think the tie is done and dusted.
The Global spotlight on their aggressive defensive tactics will mean we will be awarded a penalty if they still persist in Turin.
A good bet is for Celtic to win in Turin, I never take on those bets, win,lose or draw but I will this time, I’m sure the odds will be decent. We have young guys who can really play good football at this level and they know they have been wronged by the officials, AGAIN, only this time on an International stage.
I can see us getting to 2-0 up and scaring them a few times but ultimately win the game 2-1. As Paul says, gradual and logical progression is the name of the game when we are where we are.
celt55
00:15 on 15 February, 2013
A win on penalties, now your taking miracles to the extreme given our spotkick records last few years… But ye never know. ;))
Haud oan a minute petec. Didn’t we beat dundee utd 113 to 112 on penalties a few years back. I think I scored number 92 that night. If the GB get to take the penalties we will win.
Have some faith brother:-)
This song was shared on CQN a wee while back.
I think it is a fantastic track. It is growing and growing.
I could be…..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zN-GGeNPQEg
A Ceiler Gonof Rust
Artur’s penalty, although it nestled in the top corner, was the worst penalty I have seen by a Celt. :D from a technical viewpoint.
I’m guessing it was the Holy Goalie factor that mean’t it ended up in the top corner. :))
a ceiler gonof rust
Petec
That goal was a belter and won the supporters goal of the season!!
corkcelt – These monkeys on here will test you,they will try everything in their power to insult you,to pour scorn on everything that you hold dear and believe in.They are as cutting as they are treacherous.
I mean,you get British subjects on here,and these cretins are not even English,sitting there trying to lecture and brow beat Irishmen about terrorism ffs!
WTF is that all about? What concern is it of these comedians?
I choose not to engage with the vast majority of them,i suggest that you do the same.
kikinthenakas
If only we had an Artur Boruc to take penalties today. :)
kikinthenakas, I work with a few southampton fans and they were unaware of the “holy goalie” monker of the legend Artur Boruc.
They know now.
I still have nightmares about that penalty of his though, if he’d slipped on his arse on the run up he’d have tucked it in the bottom left corner. The man was blessed and I dont just mean at the dome de la bigot.
Artur B, a much loved and well remembered polish legend in hoops.
Their very own so-called “Scottish” regiments walked the streets outside my front door,on behalf of their English pay-masters.And they murdered…men,women & children.These cretins declared war on this wee area and my people,but my people paid them back,along with their pay-masters,and my people paid them back with interest.
Then they cry,”terrorists!”,”terrorism!”
It begins with F and it ends with F.
Our man on mastermind tomorrow.
Mon ya hoopster
http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/…d-so-Ill-finish.html
.
I Remember asking a Mate why The Green Brigade had their Banner upside Down at a Match..?
He thought it was Because Celtic were going to Tour Australia..
I told Him l heard they Send out Secret messages In there Banners..
Met Him @ The Juve game the other Morning.. He said.. He thought at first I was Winding Him up..
And asked me if I thought they Really knew about the Tesco scandal on the Last Old Firm Derby..?
Summa of OnlyFools&HorsesCSC
16 roads what are you on?
Asserting that Celtic are a Scottish team does not equate to condoning all to which the tag Scottish is attached.
Questioniong the posting of a pro-IRA song on here does not imply being anti-Irish or pro-British.
It was the moderator who deleted the post. Perhaps you could take up the cudgels with him.
16 roads, an admirable post but what has it to do with our club?
Oota good evening. That link isn’t working for me.
Best penalty taker I ever saw was nicknamed Joe the Toe.
16 roads the war is over.
If you’re not careful you’ll finish up like one of those Japanese soldiers they used to find half crazed and marooned on some Pacific island, but still ready to mollicate any American who came near him.
16 roads – Neil Lennon walks on water.
I hope to talk with you at the next BMCUWP “moonhowlers” gathering.
Ye are familiar with the olde Bible and that is excellent.
I am really looking forward to breaking bread and talking about stuff that is uber important with yer guid self.
It is getting late, after all.
summa, there were only four horses in that banner. Tesco have sold more than a decades worth of grand national burgers. The chinese were right to bury their warrior horses, to keep them safe from the supermarketeers.
Tipota, try this
http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/news/4794374/Bhoyve-started-so-Ill-finish.html
I see, you’re being pusued by celtic huns.
Hail Hail Brother.
The last big horsmeat scandal did for Kennomeat and Kattomeat and for a lot of jobs in Barrhead and Belfast.
Curried Kennomeat – a dish anyone could cook. But not everyone could eat.
ACGR it all started with me asking the same question of a pro-IRA song posted on here as you did in your 01:16 post. You can look after yourself I know but I don’t want you being subjected to the horrific accusation that you’re me.
Horrific for me that is.