This Champions League malarkey is becoming about as self-important as sport can get, but Celtic and Barcelona produced two incredible football games in the modest Uefa Cup in 2004.
Barcelona were on the cusp of the greatness which followed. After five years without a league or cup win, they won nine consecutive games, then a club record, before travelling to Celtic Park. Starting the following year, they won eight of the 12 La Liga titles available since, collecting four Champions Leagues along the way.
Celtic won the game 1-0 thanks to an Alan Thompson goal on 59 minutes, but this tells little of the drama which unfolded that night.
Two players were sent off as the teams walked up the tunnel at halftime, Celtic goalkeeper, Rab Douglas, who was by all accounts trying to break-up a fight, and Barcelona’s Motta. Suggestions are that Bobo Balde was the Celtic player involved, but the referee didn’t have the wherewithal to face down Bobo.
At the game, we knew something had happened, but none of us had any details. Then 19-year-old David Marshall emerged for the second half in the goalkeeper’s jersey, a player who had only made one previous professional appearance, in the Scottish Cup against then-lower league St Johnstone.
Four minutes into the second half Saviola was red carded, leaving us with a 10-9 game on a pitch which Barca legend, Hristo Stoichkov referred to as a potato field (it has been a very wet winter).
We have seen many great players at Celtic Park, more than a few from Barcelona, but none have performed as well as Ronaldinho did that night. He put on a performance which was utterly sublime, but despite carving Celtic open repeatedly, neither he nor his team-mates could find a way past the teenage keeper.
A confident performance even saw Marshall leave his area to chip an opponent to find a team-mate with a pass.
Rab was suspended for the return so Martin O’Neill took the opportunity to give David Marshall some game time before heading to the Camp Nou with his novice keeper, hoping to defend a one goal lead. I remember Martin saying “I’ve every confidence David Marshall will be up to the job” at a media conference. “Based on what?”, I thought.
30 seconds into the return leg Marshall dived full length to stop a shot creeping inside the post, as Celtic fans braced themselves for what was clearly going to be 90 minutes of tension.
If Marshall’s first leg performance was full of remarkable calmness and maturity, his performance in the Camp Nou was one of the finest displays by any player in a Celtic shirt. Ever. He simply would not be beaten. Barcelona threw everything in their considerably armoury at him from first to last, to be met by a series of remarkable saves.
Everything we know about football suggests David Marshall’s performances against Barcelona shouldn’t have happened. He was completely unprepared to walk onto Celtic Park at halftime in the first leg, and had little chance to acclimatise for the rigors of Ronaldinho and Co. at the Camp Nou two weeks later, but the episode is now a chapter in our illustrious European history.
So what’s the contemporary relevance for this tale? A week from tonight Brendan Rodgers will choose between Craig Gordon and Dorus de Vries to play at the Camp Nou against three of the finest strikers in modern times, de Vries having played one game for the club, Gordon performing below the peak he achieved when he broke into the team two years ago.
This will be Brendan’s biggest call in the months ahead. It’s not an ideal situation, but he should call it early. Just as Martin did 12 years ago, tell the world that whoever is getting the nod he’s going to be perfectly at home at the Camp Nou.
397 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- »
*FOOTBALL RELATED POST KLAXON*
Mikael Lustig played the full 90 mins in a tough match against Holland last night. Given that the common consensus is that his legs are shadows of their former selves, can he handle another 90 mins at right back on Saturday then play again in Barcelona?
Now, the other option at right back, Gamboa, has just arrived after not playing much for 2 years – would it be wise to chuck him in? Maybe not, but maybe his pace would be just the ticket to keep the overrated but speedy McKay quiet and provide a threat on the overlap that would keep grass on the Sevco half of the pitch.
I think the safe pair of hands (legs?) would be Lustig and I’m guessing BR will go with him.
TD
Find me one post where I’ve ever said to someone else that I’ve been on CQN longer than them,other than the one in reply to yours about tranquility.
And even that was only to point out what it was like before you registered,nothing about me in it.
Go on,betcha you can’t. Because as well as a thick ignorant troll,yer a liar. As has been proven on here frequently.
Davidpolous,
On a connected note…
Our new rb didn’t play at all last night/this morning for Costa Rica.
He played the full 90 at the weekend.
Returning fresh or small injury? Embdy know?
HH
DAVIDOPOULOS on 7TH SEPTEMBER 2016 11:10 AM
*FOOTBALL RELATED POST KLAXON*
_________________________________________
Don’t agree mate. For me, Lustig has been a liability this season; it’s a season too far I’m afraid.
I would go with Gamboa in a back 4 or go with a back 3 (preferably without Mikael and bring back O’Connell). However I am sure that for his £45K a week Brendan will have a plan up his sleeve!
FAC the Act
KTF
DAVIDOPOULOS
Shades of Efe after The African Nations,mibbe. But if Brendan wants him to play on Tuesday,he needs game time.
I see our pet numbskull is on again, disturbing the serenity of the blog, and getting bites from those who should know better.
Ghuys, don’t wind up the troll.
Ernie says that the Reformation in Scotland was “complicated”, and this absolves him from explaining his ludicrous assertion that Irish Nationalism is “good” but Scottish Nationalism is “bad”.
Please explain, Ernie.
Geordie Munro
I’m not sure. I didn’t know he had played at the weekend. If we was just simply rested for the second game then I could be convinced he should start.
VFR800A8
I would agree that Lustig has been poor and is definitely on the downward curve, however I’m wary of chucking a player in that has barely played for 2 years…into any game I must add – nothing to do with the opposition. GM says Gamboa played at the weekend, so I might be a little more comfortable with that then. If BR is prepared to chuck him in then I’ll be happy to go along with that.
Good afternoon Hoops, just been watching the clips of Celtic the musical on CTV there.
Looks like a very good night out for you lucky people in Glasgow, Dublin, and Free Derry.
Anyone booked up for the show, and if you are could you update us on here as to how it went.
We often see the words: “my posts are my opinion”
Yes, yes, yes, but as I have said before; opinions are like guns – there are too many of them about and not everyone can be trusted with one…
Would you trust some of our trolls…i mean posters…with a gun???
TONYDONNELLY67 on 7TH SEPTEMBER 2016 10:47 AM
MWD
Now I see why P67 told you your services where no longer required on here as a moderator, in his place, I’d a done the very same thing.
======================
Paul67, did not tell me that. But you can misrepresent away little boy.
:-)
MWD
AN TEARMANN on 7TH SEPTEMBER 2016 10:59 AM
Absolutely.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zaJPOVGlEPs
DAVIDOPOULOS
Depends were they were aiming. In a certain circumstance I might advise them to pull the trigger. :-)
MWD
Morning Celts
Dont waste your time bhoys.
The troll is determined to show how ignorant he is.
Let him waffle on…..Its merely the ravings of a fool.
HH
Bmcw
well as a thick ignorant troll,yer a liar. As has been proven on here frequently.
Aweeee I’v upset you, let’s keep the tranquility please, no need for that sort of rant on here, you should know better than that you’ve been on here longer than most in here as you keep telling us, behave yourself for the love of God, what an outburst?
where they were even
MWD
DAVIDOPOULOS on 7TH SEPTEMBER 2016 11:22 AM
___________________________________________
Gamboa played a full 90 minutes on Saturday. He also played a good few matches for Costa Rica in the Copa America so has had some game time fairly recently.
I’d be happier with him than Lustig!..
FAC the Act
KTF
THE GREEN MAN SAYS SACK THE BOARD on 7TH SEPTEMBER 2016 11:30 AM
Morning Celts
Dont waste your time bhoys.
The troll is determined to show how ignorant he is.
Let him waffle on…..Its merely the ravings of a fool.
HH
Lol, ironically put.
vfr800a8
Well then, consider yourself responsible for his performance ;)
TD
Find the post to prove your point,or be a proven liar yet again.
Till then
LIARLIARSOILEDUNDERPANTSONFIRE!!!!!
Does anyone get the feeling that a certain EGO was feeling the pain at not being missed or worse mentioned in his absence. Diddums!
Poor wee boy.
MWD
MoonbeamsWD ‘Stand up on 15 for the GB’
Would they not just do the opposite to spite you?
;)
Looks like newco are going to be fresher than us on Saturday . I didn,t realise we had so many players away all over the world . Can’t see it being the stroll many on here think . Although hope I’m wrong .
Turkeybhoy . Sorry mate , miss read your post yesterday . .
GER57 on 7TH SEPTEMBER 2016 11:21 AM
In terms you can understand:
Ireland: subjugated nation.
Scotland: not subjugated nation.
More complicated version. I’ve never said that Irish nationalism, or any form of nationalism, is good.
Even more complicated version. There’s a difference between anti- colonialism/ anti imperialism and nationalism.
TD67
GOOGOO GAGA….WIBBLE, DRIBBLE…SLABBER,SLABBER
AWAY YE GO YA CABBAGE
I’m booked up for the Celtic Musical Friday week, looking forward to it too.
Jim Tim,
I think we only had one player on duty last night who has previously played for us.
Providing no-one has picked up an injury I’m sure they’ll all be relatively fresh.
HH
Pugh, Pugh, Barney McGrew, Cuthbert, Dibble, Grubb
irony
noun
the expression of one’s meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite, typically for humorous or emphatic effect.
=================
dishonest
adjective
behaving or prone to behave in an untrustworthy, deceitful, or insincere way.
====================
I’ll go with the later in relation to the certain posters attempt at misdirection an honest post as irony.
Happy to educate the uneducated.
MWD
Geordie Munro
Tam Rogic played against UAE yesterday – fortunately the game was in UAE so less travel time to get back.
Reflections on the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Easter Rising
by C. Desmond Greaves (1966)
Origins of sectaranism
Ireland likewise had no “dark ages” but was the recipient of scribes and scholars who inaugurated a golden age of learning after the fall of Gaul. Private property in land did not exist until Henry II tried to implant Norman feudalism in the late eleventh century. The struggle for the land thence-forth continued uninterruptedly for over seven centuries, and was far from finished in 1916.
The bourgeois revolution in England was indissolubly linked with the Reformation. The internal enemies were the landlords (compromised with), the feudal monarchy (transformed) and the landowning Church (taken over, land and all). The external enemy was feudal mercantile Catholic Spain. These were the preoccupations amid which English democracy was born. But as Shakespeare’s treatment of MacBeth, Owen Glyndwr and MacMorris (the half-Gaelicised Norman) shows, the English bourgeoisie had its eyes not only on all the “precious stone set in a silver sea” but on the sister isle as well. In their efforts to make one market in these islands began the chauvinistic element in English nationalism.
The Cromwellian and Williamite confiscations introduced religious sectarianism into Ireland. This phenomenon is widely believed in England to be peculiarly Irish. It was made in England. Ireland accepted the Huguenots when Mary’s England would have been a very unhealthy place for them. Cromwell and his successors carried out systematic despoliation under the slogan of forbidding Catholics to be the owners of land. Thus if Protestantism in England was the badge of the merchant seeking freedom of trade, in Ireland Catholicism was the immediately recognisable title to the soil the foreigner had filched.
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on 7TH SEPTEMBER 2016 11:33 AM
TD
Find the post to prove your point,or be a proven liar yet again.
Till then
LIARLIARSOILEDUNDERPANTSONFIRE!!!!!
Lol, as I said in my post, it’s the sleekit McCoist way you come out with it, it’s there you know it’s there, and so do I , next time I see it if I remember as I mostly scroll by yours when you clique is in and your impressing each other on how many books you’ve read, I’ll bring it to your attention, now I’m done with you and your pals for the day. GIRFUYs
P67 if your looking in at all today you really need to get the moderators back on board.
Most come on here for a chat about all things Celtic, or, just to read other members opinions of our team
All you get now is “yir a liar”
“yir a troll”
“yir a cabbage”
Why dont you ALL grow up !!!!
DAVIDOPOULOS on 7TH SEPTEMBER 2016 11:32 AM
vfr800a8
Well then, consider yourself responsible for his performance ;)
_______________________________
Rather his than Lustig’s! :>)
FAC the Act
KTF
Never could understand why McGrew was dinstinguished with his first name, while neither of the Pughs were.
TD67
Away and read a book a give the blog a break.
You are a boring auld right-wing eejit
With feck all interesting to say.
Resign….you are a disgrace to the blog.
You are like an auld crabbit Hun
GIRFUY x1000:)
HH
Davidpolous,
Aye so he did. I checked the score annaw. Doh.
HH
Newco won’t be fresher than us, only Lustig played a full international 90 minutes from our starting 11. Rogic and Biton played approx 60 minutes.
TBB
Barney McGrew…..is a fenian:)
HH