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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TET @10:52 I agree there is a suppression of debate on the tax issue.
But I don’t think it’s a masonic conspiracy. Celtic fans tend to overestimate that lot.
I’m personally acquainted with members of the consultanate down here in London who average £250k a year and pay about £5k in tax and insurance. Some of these guys are decidedly not masons, and I don’t know any who are.
The core of professionals who now run this country have a lot to lose if tax law is “enforced ruthlessly, relentlessly and without fear or favour.” The refusal to discuss this issue is a reflection of the collective fear of these individuals. Grandstanding on an anti-American platform is a smokescreen. (Amazon, Starbucks …)
Beermats in pubs aimed at the new crop of self-employed fools no-one.
It’s estimated that if the tax were collected the national debt would be gone in 2 yrs and ironically much less tax would then have to be levied.
The dichotomy is that the UK cannot borrow forever The problem will have to be addressed. Not least by senior civil servants who look at their pensioned off counterparts in Greece living in penury and shudder.
The current sale of public assets, mainly land, will only stem the flow.
I was involved with the recent protest over the closures at Lewisham hospital. £20m needed. Yet no-one in the council, unions or professions was paying any mind to the sale of hospital buildings in the area for roughly the same sum – earmarked for “future capital invesment.” Sceptical I am.
Recent madcap proposals like privatising the police force (or is it service) show how little understanding the current incumbents at Westminster have of what a State is.
Gordon Brown had the tax evaders on the run 10 years ago and I’ve never been able to find out why he eased off.
In the meantime the two things which cannot be shifted or hidden from view will be the target of increased taxation. Energy consumption and property.
Conspiracies by their very nature are not susceptible to enquiry. They’re about belief. Masons I’ve known in London have been near the bottom of the pile.
BTW I cannot process your TLA ,”TET”, without thinking of the 1968 Vietnamese Uprising.
No amount of sabre rattling ,jingoistic rhetoric or media connivance will change the fact that the Huns in their new guise are any better of than the old co
They say they have money in the bank ..even if believed ..It wouldn’t be enough to buy a decent midfield never mind a team
They have insufficient revenue to meet their expenses ….in short ..unless they secure fantastic sponsorship deals they’re stuffed ….even with their money in the bank …
They are desperate , deluded and stupid
Adonofdan
Forsyth…hells teeth …where ?
Re Hun threats
Bank was threatened …HMRC were threatened
D&P …threatened
Every Scottish club …threatened
In fact every beggar …they just BS merchants …all wind and pish
They…they are ..
Haydock 405 Cloudy Too.
Good luck everyone
Take it naps comp on ere today?
Well done Rockon,beaten by a nose.
Above The Stars 2.15 Lingfield
COYBIG
Going for ‘Across the bay’ 2.20 Haydock,good luck.
CUE CARD 3:50 ASCOT
Good luck everyone.
Finian’s Rainbow Ascot 3.50 good luck
Lads, naps here today please…
apologies for the last few weeks, have been struggling with internet access on the weekends !
I’ll update all of the outstanding results today…
Cheers, fleagle1888
DIAMONDS RETURN
4:15 wincanton
Hail hail
Good luck
Canning ton brook 255 haddock.
All the best
Haydock 14.55……………..
Well Refreshed
get on it
BigjoeTHEoracle
I’ll go for Saint Are in the 14:40 at Ascot.
What’s with the bold text?!
T4
Cue Card in the 3.50 at Ascot please, be lucky bhoys
TTTT
That was my fault,but it fekn looks good ,so leave it.:O)
QUARTZ DE THAIX 4:40 haydock
Lads, brace yourselves… winners from the last few weeks…
Week 25 – 19th Jan (Mariners confirm Rogic deal)
Bada Bing Valdaw 10/11
BULL67 Gertrude Versed 4/5
Glen Big Sylv 11/4
leftclicktic Welsh Inlet 5/1
Valentine’s Day Morning Assembly 10/11
Week 26 – 26th Jan (What did Juve learn from Tuesday?)
Magnificentsev Reve de Sivola 15/8
MHARK67 Katenko 4/1
Week 27 – 2nd Feb (January strategy and short-term cover)
bobbymurdoch’s…Singing Ridge 5/2
Glen Speak the Truth 9/2
Week 28 – 9th Feb (Financial Fair Play, Winding Up Orders, new CQN Magazine)
bobbymurdoch’s…Tarooq 7/2
Magnificentsev Ma Filleule 7/4
MHARK67 My Tent or Yours 5/1
Rockon Neil L My Tent or Yours 5/1
voguepunter Master of the Sea 8/1
fleagle1888
In The Post last race Wincanton
What’s with the posts all in bold?
Hopefully bring a change of luck…
The Rainbow Hunter 2.40 Ascot please.
Best of Luck!
CQN Saturday Naps Competition – Week 25-28 Standings
+£13.35 green T (9)
+£11.00 Rockon Neil Lennon (9)
+£ 5.50 What is the Stars (5)
+£ 4.00 voguepunter (3)
+£ 2.50 Che (3)
+£ 2.41 Bada Bing (4)
+£ 1.50 BULL67 (6)
+£ 1.50 Magnificentseven (6)
-£ 2.88 Sixteen roads to Golgotha (4)
-£ 5.09 Valentine’s Day (4)
-£ 8.50 fleagle1888 (3)
-£ 9.50 MHARK67 (4)
-£14.00 Cathal (2)
-£15.38 leftclicktic (3)
-£15.75.00 Glen (3)
-£17.50 Som mes que un club (2)
-£18.80 TheBarcaMole (2)
-£19.00 tommytwisttommyturns (2)
-£19.97 hunza rugli (2)
-£20.00 bobbymurdoch’s winklepickers (2)
-£23.00 gerry_bhoy (1)
-£28.00 gourockbhoy
-£28.00 Raymac
*No selections (wk 25) – gerry_bhoy, gourockbhoy, Raymac, Sixteen roads to Golgotha, TheBarcaMole
*No selections (wk 26) – Raymac, Sixteen roads to Golgotha, TheBarcaMole
*No selections (wk 27) – hunza rugli, Raymac, TheBarcaMole
*No selections (wk 28) – gourockbhoy, Raymac, TheBarcaMole
Cheers, fleagle1888
Sadler’s Rock in the Ascot 3.15 please.
Should say Sadler’s Risk.
Lads,
my nap is Giles Cross (Haydock 2.55)
Happy punting !
fleagle1888
some BOLD selections today. good luck all.
I will go for : vino griego 2.40 ascot
Solar Deity 4.00 Lingfield today – good luck all.
Well Refreshed 2.55 Haydock
Neptune Equester
1455
All the best!
Unbelievable… 3 bets – so far – this afternoon…
Alder Mairi (won @ 4/1), Billy Red (won @ 16/1), Across the Bay (won @ 9/1)
All singles, no doubles or trebles… and none of them were my CQN nap…
Giles Cross better do the business !
Anyhows, off to count my winnings…
:o)
fleagle1888
Bourne – 3.15 @ Ascot
to show supremacy…..
…I’ll get ma coat
TEAFORTHREE 255 H
15:15 @ Ascot – Queens Grove – NAP!