I sat beside Stevie Chalmers and Bobby Lennox on Friday night at the excellent Irvine Celtic Supporters’ Club. The conversation eventually got around to Inter Milan. It’s hard to over-estimate the Inter team they faced in Lisbon. Going for their third European Cup in four years, and their fourth Italian title in five, they were the most imperious team Europe had ever seen, and arguably remain so. Real Madrid won five successive European Cups, but that consistency was not repeated domestically.
Despite this, Bobby and Stevie made it clear: Inter didn’t stand a chance. They were going to win that game, no matter what, there was not a single shred of doubt in their minds. It was a confidence which belied external reasoning and could only have existed within the team structure.
Talking about it 48 years later, the sense of purpose remains just as strong. That team believed they could do anything. I’ve heard contrasts. Gordon Strachan’s Celtic never came close to winning the Champions League, but I once heard him break off from a press conference to ask the room, “Who seriously thinks we have a chance of winning this?” Gordon’s lack of confidence was well grounded, but it didn’t feel right hearing him declare in this way. I prefer Ronny’s “We can win everything’ approach.
The Inter of 2015 are not in the same class as the Inter of ’67 but they remain formidable. Like Celtic, they are a team who appear to be progressing after a period of decline, but like La Grande Inter of Sarti, Facchetti and Mazzola, they don’t have a clue what to expect from Celtic.
Thanks for all the ticket requests for CQN11 St Pat’s Dinner over the last few days. It’s at the Kerrydale Suite on Friday 13 March, Cup Final weekend. Email me if you would like a ticket, celticquicknews@gmail.com
367 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
Tiny Tim
Hopes and dreams are a wonderful thing…………………why not tonight?
I believe…….I believe…………….
C’MON THE CELTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
philbhoy
Totally agree with that philosophy. Never left a game early , there’s something comforting about being at the game amongst friends .
Just not the same on TV , especially as I always mute the commentators.
Philboy
After the 5-1 drubbing at Aybrokes ,I made sure I was the very last person to leave the stands.
I waited until every Zombie and Tim had left.
I made a promise that I would be the last fan to leave it we ever beat them 5-1.
Dr Jo and Lubo allowed me to fulfil that vow.
TT
2-1 Celtic ;-)
MON!
I should add that I leave almost every match early.( if the match is won)
Especially at home in a mide week match.
It makes a 90 min difference to my journey home sometimes.
TT
Philbhoy.
Indeed.
Why Not.
TT
My first time watching BT sport…WTF:)))
Tiny Tim
One of the finest performances I can remember.
Definitely in my top 10 ever!
I hope we can similarly reminisce (is that a word?) about tonight’s game.
We had dreams and songs to sing.
TT
I would never criticise guys like you who have to leave early ,especially when some of us can walk it back.
Pedro
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O71S-6WAoQ0&sns=em
HH
C’mon the Hoops!
For all you bhoys and ghirls at the game raise the roof and show the world what Celtic is all about.
Kojo – no offence but I hope you have to eat your negative words come the end of the match.
I have already made my preddoes for tonight.
Mon the hoops …je ne sais regret
HH
Paul Posted that the Live thread would be posted at 7:30 Celtic Park Time
COYBIG
Just stuck on my MP3 player, to calm the nerves and this was the first song up, so for no better reason, I said I’d post it and have a cyber sing song. Coz I’m sitting here all alone, not a mouse in the house but me.
As down the glen one Easter morn to a city fair rode I
There Armed lines of marching men in squadrons passed me by
No fife did hum nor battle drum did sound it’s dread tatoo
But the Angelus bell o’er the Liffey swell rang out through the foggy dew
Right proudly high over Dublin Town they hung out the flag of war
‘Twas better to die ‘neath an Irish sky than at Sulva or Sud El Bar
And from the plains of Royal Meath strong men came hurrying through
While Britannia’s Huns, with their long range guns sailed in through the foggy dew
‘Twas Britannia bade our Wild Geese go that small nations might be free
But their lonely graves are by Sulva’s waves or the shore of the Great North Sea
Oh, had they died by Pearse’s side or fought with Cathal Brugha
Their names we will keep where the fenians sleep ‘neath the shroud of the foggy dew
But the bravest fell, and the requiem bell rang mournfully and clear
For those who died that Eastertide in the springing of the year
And the world did gaze, in deep amaze, at those fearless men, but few
Who bore the fight that freedom’s light might shine through the foggy dew
Ah, back through the glen I rode again and my heart with grief was sore
For I parted then with valiant men whom I never shall see more
But to and fro in my dreams I go and I’d kneel and pray for you,
For slavery fled, O glorious dead, When you fell in the foggy dew.
With a four leaf clover on my chest!
Respect due to the Celtic massive who have made the pilgrimage to Paradise tonight.
Let’s hear yer voices…
COYBIG.
HH.
One goal more than them, odd goal in three for hoops.
It was enough for our best team of fond living memory
Even if yon 18 goal Argentinian wunderkid gets a yard and deflates us for a while
We can win the game and we can win the tie
This is what supporting Celtic is all about- cannot wait!!
HH
Just heading out to the pub.
The Rosevale is nearest, emdae know if they are showing the game?
Volcanic eruption in Celtic Park tonight Vesuvius mark 2
CELTIC CELTIC CELTIC CELTIC CELTIC CELTIC CELTIC CELTIC CELTIC CELTIC CELTIC CELTIC CELTIC CELTIC CELTIC CELTIC CELTIC CELTIC
Soz cannae contain my excitement….these are the nights legends are made…..however…..1 each I think ;-))
H.H.
Weefra,
did you get yer good lady wife’s results bak yet?
H.H.
PS condolances to midfield maestro
Congrats to Sean Thorntons bro Mike
‘Mon the Hoops
HH
Big cheers of “There’s only one Craig Gordon!” at the end of the first half! He absolutely deserves that! :-)
A Big HAIL HAIL to Bournesouprecipe and his mate Dennis! Thanks again mate! :-)
Yours in Celtic,
TB&F.
First post on CQN….great night tonight great atmosphere love European nights.