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.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-18769781
Who are the Orangemen?
The Orange Order has its origins in the 18th century Protestant rural vigilantes, like the ‘Peep O’Day Boys’, who were set up to fight their Catholic equivalent, the Defenders.
The Order itself was founded after the so-called Battle of the Diamond, a skirmish that took place in County Armagh in 1795.
“The message went out about this organisation they would set up to defend Protestants,” says Clifford Smyth, a historian of the Orange Order.
“Its most important feature was that it brought together people who didn’t necessarily get on together, like Presbyterians and Methodists, so it unified the Protestant community.”
By the 20th century, the Order had pervaded the highest echelons of society. Every prime minister of Northern Ireland, from Partition in 1921 to the return of direct rule in 1972, was an Orangeman, as are a number of current ministers in the Northern Ireland Executive.
The Order still sees itself as a unifying force among Protestants, and as such the lodges and their marches throw together people from very different parts of the social and political spectrum.
BMCUWP
And therein lies the a TROLLs basic personality trait\s in his reply to you.
Sad little boy!
MWD
It was down the glen one Easter morn
To a city fair rode I
Putting the shoe on the other foot. If Senderos was about to play his first match for us at Poundland I would be a tad worried to say the least. He hasn’t played a competitive match for months, nobody else wanted him, he’s slow, he doesn’t know his team mates etc etc.
The puff peices in the SMSM have thems thinking it’s problem solved. We shall see??!!
LIONROARS67
Martin Meehan summed them up in “Two Words” :-)))
TAURANGABHOY on 7TH SEPTEMBER 2016 10:27 AM
Macjay whit North Brits are you not fighting with tonight.
==================================================
The enlightened Pict.
LionRoars67
I have been reading about the Freemasonry in the Met Police in the late 19th Century.
Sir Charles Warren…Sir Robert Anderson etc.
Anderson was a warped bigot, Warren was top cop, but also an authority on the history of Freemasonry, and totally obsessed.
Between them they managed to do quite a bit of damage….and cover more than a few crimes.
There are connections to your post.
Dig a bit…you will be astonished.
HH
Lionroars67
Particularly relating to the government plot against Parnell.
HH
THE GREEN MAN SAYS SACK THE BOARD on 7TH SEPTEMBER 2016 11:58 AM
My posts were to counteract the political trolling blaming SNP for all evils particularly sectarianism in Scotland, a remarkable achievement for a political party formed in the 1930’s and who first held any political power in Scotland in 2007
BTW I’m not an SNP member
As to your references with masonic membership and the Police force unfortunately that doesnt just happen in Scotland either
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/freemasons-hillsborough-police-coverup-ipcc-liverpool-sheffield-a7211906.html
I see that TD is manning the barricades again today.
Amongst other things, his admitted educational limitations are getting tossed at him, in an insulting and cruel manner.
If his blog persona is being attacked on those grounds, what excuse do his protagonists have for the abusive, often vile comments that come his way?
Over education, perhaps?
Lionroars67
Ive no party preference.
I have contempt for the whole scenario.
Historical interest.
HH
I rarely come on here much these days, a scroll through the last page or two reminds my why. Children would not post in the manner some of (you know who you are) do.
Give us all peace………..keep your opinions of other posters to yourself……….please!
THOMTHETHIM
With the greatest respect,he comes on here and lies and lies about whatever takes his fancy. When it is pointed out to him,when proof is asked for,he thumbs his nose and repeats it.
I don’t like being accused of things I have not done. I’ll fight back however I see fit when it happens. But I won’t resort to untruths.
Wait till it happens to you,see how well your high horse does you then.
Btw,he referred to us getting off our crucifix earlier. Did you miss that when you were looking for fault in others?
Thom The Tim
TD67 gets what he gives.
Simple as that.
If you think anything said on CQN gets to him…think again.
He thrives on it.
And…a few jokes been passed un-noticed.
TD67 called me a cabbage….I call him one.
I dont think he will be too bothered.
HH
new article posted.
Very poor blog today ( with the obvious exceptions). Those attacking Tony Donnelly are using the very same style as that which they apparently abhor in Tony`s posts.
What about the team for Saturday?
?
Lustig Toure Svietchenko Tierney
Roberts Brown Rogic Armstrong Sinclair
Griffiths.
Hello this WEE BGFC. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
iVE HAD IT WITH THE CELTIC TICKET OFFICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! TOOK EVERY TICKET THEY OFFERED US LAST YEAR AND SO FAR THIS YEAR – NOTHING FOR HEARTS, NOTHING FOR INVERNESS – AAAARRRRGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH