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
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Joe
i cant think of many remaining domestic games that will be bigger than this tie
My two bobs worth on the 2-legs v Inter, FWIW!
I will take any result where we keep a clean sheet tonight. I think we can score over there, so, my prediction is:
Celtic 1 Inter 0
Inter 2 Celtic 1 Celtic through on away goals.
HH
In response to the Huns, we should offer Alloa the use of Lennoxtown the next time they’re due to fight at Mordor (I emphasise ‘fight’ over ‘play’ as it’s not really football on show there with big village brick-chewer Elbows on the park).
JJ
See, that’s the difference between you and me: You apply discretion :¬)
Hoping for a good result tonight,
But please no Ronnie roar if it is as its only half time in the tie to trot out an old truism
Good result then over to milan for a stoater of a roar hopefully!
News from the Gazebo…………..wee Jamesie unbridled.
* If you don’t know any rumours start one *
Possibly the greatest own goal I have seen.
Dundee – Partici Thistle from Development League earlier this week at Gayfield.
http://dundee.stv.tv/210805/
for me it has to be Griffiths up front
and the rest of the team behind the ball!
I have seen us losing enough cavalry charge type BIG european games when we attacked from the off, conceded a breakaway goal in 20 minutes and fell away to nothing
i think over the last 15 years we have grown up a little and played to our strengths and tried to nullify the opponents
Pundits on the radio discussing possible Inter line ups.One pundit is adamant that Kovacic will play – ” their style of play leaves a huge space between the full backs and the 2 centre halves.He is the man to profit from that.”
Gordon
adam vvd denayer izzy
………brown..bitton
gms…jo hansen…armstrong
………….the griff
Thatll be the team lhads
Kdc
bognorbhoy
13:05 on
19 February, 2015
Gatwick Guinness and met the bhoy
Could be a good day
Inter fans are happy too
How r u pal enjoy the game
sorry i cant meet up with you tonight .
HH
south of tunis
13:44 on 19 February, 2015
Pundits on the radio discussing possible Inter line ups.One pundit is adamant that Kovacic will play – ” their style of play leaves a huge space between the full backs and the 2 centre halves.He is the man to profit from that.”
——
Hes right yon pundit, fancy that, a pundit talking sense. Never catch on here…
Tonight will tell us a lot about ronny.
Let’s hope it will be positive
WITS OOT! ;)
bournesouprecipe
13:43 on
19 February, 2015
News from the Gazebo…………..wee Jamesie unbridled.
* If you don’t know any rumours start one *
=========
*He will be kept on bench for at least an hour and if he remains uninjured may get on after that.*
Sandman, where is the away game being played?
Jobo Baldie,
The Straw Hoose (which is what the Fiveways will always be to me) is where I had to wait for my Dad before the games when I was a wee bhoy. My uncle Eddie, God rest him, used to work in there and he and the other men, including Charlie the charge hand, would gather at the undead end during matches and leave about 15 minutes to go to get ready for the supporters streaming out after the game. I think I have only once had a pint in the place.
prestonpans”
“if I was a hun I would be raging at the consequence i.e.”
Any particular reason for adding ` at the consequence i.e.`?
TBB
Even so, you will have noticed I had a wee sneaky kick at your failure to so do 0:-)
I am not all sainted in my ways.
Just found a fiver I thought I had lost.
I am taking that as a good omEn
Jimbo67
Delaneys
Just trying to calm down all the ronny acolytes
One more meeting for the day then off to get ready for the match.
Going for a 1-1 prediction……….
Hail Hail, and all enjoy tonight. First post on here in what seems an age. Come on you Bhoys in Green.
” The atmosphere can work both ways – I loved scoring in big away games.The sound of disappointment was music to my ears ”
Hernan Crespo.
Safe journey to the hoops all heading towards paradise from all directions.
Few mates from back home heading over to it.. jealous as hell.
Up at 3.45am here and i cant wait.. couple of the bhoys coming over to watch it. Think i’ll do a couple of ronnie roars to wake meself up before the game.
Sing loud everyone and back the bhoys to the hilt.. ronnie and the players have worked their socks off to improve. No matter what they deserve positive backing.
WITS
Oh Ronny, Ronny.
Ronny, Ronny, Ronny, Ronny Deila.
JJ
I’m glad you’re completely sainted. Cos It makes you more fun.
And cos it means you’re no deid!
RickyFultonCSC
HH jamesgang
Wee bit of money on a celtic 2-1 victory aswel.
burgas hoops
12:26 on 19 February, 2015
thomthethim for Oscar OK
10:31 on
19 February, 2015
REQUEST
Edit———————————————-
Think it’s called Deen’s/Dean’s (spelling) it’s situated on the Strada Republici which is simple to find.
*****
Thank you. Just read back and saw your reply.
Have passed on the info.
Right. That`s me finished on the Blog for the day. I hope the next time I am on we are talking of an excellent performance and a result reflecting that.
Cheerio,
JJ
PS If there is a funny smell near your seat tonight, you will know which scarf West End has decided on 0:-))
How am I supposed to do any work this afternoon?
Has JJ left yet?
Safetopost csc
SoT
Surprised and pleased that the Italian pundits have taken the time to look at Celtic sufficiently to understand the style and weaknesses of our team.
Over here in Old Firmland, our pundits use an entirely improvised approach to opinion-making, aspiring to the apogee of the trade: entirely made up guff, which is considered a local specialty.
No Scots pundit worth his opinion would stoop to actually researching the topic at hand.
Good lord no.
10/1 for celtic 2-1 victory
Afternoon bhoys and ghirls. Won’t be at the game tonight working till 10.30 pm so looking for updates on CQN for me. Hope and pray everyone going enjoys a good Celtic performance and a clean sheet. Keep the tie alive for 2nd leg.
1-0 the hoops.
HH
KTF
UTLR
Team and subs (assuming no injuries)
Gordon
Mathews (Ambrose)
VVD
Denayer
Izzy
Brown
Biton
Johansen
GMS (Stokes)
Armstrong
Guidetti (Griffiths)
Inter will score – Celtic MUST score.
Unlike matches in Scotland, an early goal for us will have no effect on the Inter set up, or, indeed, how they play. An early goal for them probably will have an effect on how we play.
We must not ‘chase the game’ – 0-0 at half-time may be the right platform for us – it looks so tight.
Whatever the outcome of the tie, barring a ‘good hiding’, a game of this stature, with a full house at CP, is bound to help the development of this squad and help us to ‘kick-on’ for the treble this season – it will also be a ‘taster’ of what we may be having more of, if we really ‘gear-up’ and get through the CL qualifiers.
I don’t really regret the losing out of CL games this season – we were not ready and a few bad defeats would have done great damage to confidence, and Ronny’s prospects.
He has needed the time, however this could be a wonderful first season for him.
Macnabh & beatbhoy
Great you are both sorted, I have other interest in the ticket, so no worries? The other will confirm at 3 ishave
Kick off in 6 hrs :-) you all ready for this
Co mom you Bhoys in Green
Looking for one additional ticket for tonight if anyone has a spare
hh
bjmac
Cowiebhoy – you got a spare?