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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Cheers Mickbhoy
Lunchtime browse of Google Maps brought me to Celtic Park.
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Celtic+Park/@55.8494579,-4.2068115,229m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0xf1778c849701d24!8m2!3d55.849696!4d-4.2055428
I was particularly perturbed to find this comment amongst the reviews of Celtic park:
Celtic Park – 1 star
“I was racially abused here as I brought my black boyfriend Beale to a game.
Won’t be back.”
Posted by Tina Reilly.
I looked at Tina Reilly’s other posts and found the following:
Ibrox Stadium – 5 stars
“Wonderful stadia (sic) full of history and dignity. Staff were wonderful and supporters very welcoming,”
I am no longer perturbed.
Jinkyredstar
Most of the boozers in the resorts have multiple screens and multiple boxes so I imagine most of them will be showing both games at the same time. If you manage to find your way to Flamingos though it will be like walking into the old jungle …….oh and there is a Subway next door for your half time snack…….executive facilities Mallorca style
See the The Record right on the ball with Golum.Highlighting his mistakes in games this season.
Do you think,if it had been Thompson,they would have highlighted his Dundee disgrace,or stopping LG when clean through on goal.
Whatever could be the problem with Willie ?.
Its a real mystery.
All going as it should , we should win and win well . Despite the MIBS , who will without question play a part on their behalf , and you can take that to the bank . 7 points in front after just 5 games , can’t see it being allowed to happen . I also have grave concerns with regards our slight midfield . We all saw the semi final . And we will be starting with the same bhoys . I have no fears regards our players being superior to newco,s . But tougher they are not , if I am proved wrong ,which I sincerely hope I am . Then the result will be in no doubt . But for me it’s a concern .
The other assistants on Saturday will raise a few eyebrows over Ibrox way.
We have an ex Celtic trainer,and I think,very brief manager,and the other is the son of a member of an Irish Folk Band,world famous for belting out the occasional “Rebel tune”
I think !!!!!!!
Beeb already getting into “OF” hypefest mode. Really convenient for the MSM, the way the fixtures were randomly generated, coming after an international week with no midweek games to get in the way…..
Not wanting to wish my life away, but can it just be Sunday already…?
“…….an’ when she saw his willie, she began to weep an’ cry….”
Turkeybhoy
Told this story before……….managed one year to find my way to a so called Celtic Bar in Cork,walked in and the five big screens were each showing a different English game….the Celtic game WA relegated to a small computer screen in the corner of the bar with half a dozen bhoys huddled round it. Likewise walked into a bar in Macroom where they were showing aChelsea game asked the to switch it over to Celtic game and was told no can do because all the llhads were more Interested in watching Chelsea
So the Dubs aren’t the only Irish that have a preference for the EPL
JIMTIM on 6TH SEPTEMBER 2016 1:21 PM
All going as it should , we should win and win well . Despite the MIBS , who will without question play a part on their behalf
H,mmmm,
Willie Collum,we all know what he is.
Kevin Clancy,we all know what he is
Frank Connor,we dont know what he is,but I bet Walter Smith would have a stab at it.
If you are thinking conspiracy theory,I would hate to look on the Hun websites.
I will anyway.
I searched this under ECA from which Sevco were a founding member. The process is all pretty clear and all Governing bodies concur……the facts are laid out below.
European clubs body downgrades Rangers’ status but recognises history.
Rangers continue to hold membership of the European Club Association as a founder member of the organisation.
The European Club Association has confirmed that Rangers remain as members of the organisation but that their status has been downgraded following the transfer of ownership.
Following administration and the subsequent transfer of assets to a newco owned by Charles Green’s consortium, Rangers lost their place in the Scottish Premier League and were later admitted to the third tier of the Scottish Football League.
The ECA is the sole independent body recognised by UEFA and FIFA as representing clubs at European level. Ordinary members of the group are required to be playing in their domestic top division and be licensed to play European football.
Rangers do not hold a UEFA club licence as a result of a break in their accounts and, having lost their top-flight status, are no longer ordinary members of the ECA, the organisation confirmed.
“Rangers FC held ordinary membership with the ECA before entering into administration and later into liquidation,” an ECA spokesperson confirmed to STV.
“Meanwhile Rangers FC, owned by the Rangers Football Club Plc, transferred all its assets, including its goodwill, to Sevco Ltd (Sevco Ltd later changing its name to the Rangers Football Club Ltd)
“Alike at Scottish FA level, this ‘new entity’ had to re-apply for membership with ECA as according to Swiss law, membership of an association is neither heritable nor transferable (article 70.3 of the Swiss Civil Code).
“In dealing with these re-application, ECA applied the terms and provisions of our membership policy and statutes.
“According to the prerequisites set out in the membership policy, Rangers FC did not meet the requirements to be granted ordinary membership (top division and European licence).
However, Rangers are permitted to hold associate membership, which holds no voting rights, as they are one of the founder members of the ECA. The organisation considers the club’s history to be continuous regardless of the change of company.
“With regards to associated membership, the membership policy states amongst others that founding members are granted automatic membership,” the spokesperson explained.
“Taking into account that the ‘new entity’ also acquired the goodwill of the ‘old entity’, it was held by the ECA executive board that the goodwill, taking into account legal and practical arguments, also included the history of the ‘old company’.
“Consequently it was concluded that Rangers FC was entitled to associated membership of ECA as considered to be a founding member.”
I think i am right n saying that they have dominated possession in every competitive game they have played under Warburton. Including against us. We have since added 2/3 first teamers. Our midfield is largely the same.
Therefore i suspect they may edge us in possession terms.
However, we had 33 shots in the semi and were wasteful in front of goals. We should have scored 4 or 5 on the day.
If they have any sense they will press us high to prevent us getting the ball from DDV to our defenders. When teams do this and upset our rhythm they will cause us problems as when we go long it comes straight back to us.
I’m hopeful we will win but should we lose the first goal or even find it difficult to retain possession early on then i think they will grow in confidence whilst we will (as is our way) struggle to impose ourselves.
Tallybhoy
So Gollum it is then!
Arguably the most useless and clueless ref in Christendom.
And possibly outside Christendom as well.
————————————————————————————
Aye, there you have it; terrible referee inside his RE class, and a terrible ref ootside it too ;)
Once again thank you Mickbhoy – I’m in Andratx and there is only one bar which is as English as f. I doubt if they have multiple any thing but old Tory immigrants ( or ‘ex Pats’ as they insist on being called)
Might just seek out Flamingos
I don’t see any glaringly bad decisions (although I certainly wouldn’t rule it out!). It’s more likely it will be constant stoppages, time-wasting (un-punished), lots of free-kicks, players being spoken to but no time added on. Anything to stop us getting into a flow. Hoping they manage to scrape a draw. Keeps them near the top and “relevant”.
MICKBHOY1888 on 6TH SEPTEMBER 2016 1:29 PM
Turkeybhoy
I know that fine well,did not mean to pick out just Dubs,but they are bad for it.
Over here there is a very nice Estate,soley built for Irish folk.Very beautiful it is too.Around 100 Villas.I have met quite a few,and to a man,they are all Chelsea fans.Chelsea,FFS.
Can never get my head around it.
Turkeybhoy 1.30pm
H,mmmm,
Willie Collum,we all know what he is.
Kevin Clancy,we all know what he is
Frank Connor,we dont know what he is,but I bet Walter Smith would have a stab at it.
If you are thinking conspiracy theory,I would hate to look on the Hun websites.
I will anyway.
@@@@@@@@@@
What were they in past Celtic games .
H,mmmmm
Warburton is not a magician either by the way – his teams dominate possession because of the bizarre shape / formation they play (fullbacks in and around central midfield when the ball is on the opposite side, centre forwards on the wing etc) which ensures players always have lots of options. It also means they are caught in incorrect positions on the counter and struggle to get bodies in the box.
In the semi, our players were much further apart so we countered well when we could get the ball to our forwards but struggled to keep consistent possession.
JIMTIM on 6TH SEPTEMBER 2016 1:37 PM
Turkeybhoy 1.30pm
H,mmmm,
Willie Collum,we all know what he is.
Kevin Clancy,we all know what he is
Frank Connor,we dont know what he is,but I bet Walter Smith would have a stab at it.
If you are thinking conspiracy theory,I would hate to look on the Hun websites.
I will anyway.
@@@@@@@@@@
What were they in past Celtic games .
Eh,you do actually know I am joking,right?
I worked in St Annes , close to Blackpool, for a short time.p
I got to know a guy from Derry, one of the best people I have known, who was a Chelsea and Celtic fan but strictly in that order.
He started supporting Chelsea in the early seventies because they had players like Osgood and Alan Hudson playing for them and match of the day and the ITV equivalent , showed highlights of their games. There was very little of our games shown on BBC non iron or Ulster TV.
When he was still in St Annes, he would come up to our games in the Blackpool Shamrock bus and even got to his first Glasgow Derby game against the now defunct club, courtesy of using my season ticket.
He told me he saw more of Chelsea than Celtic on the telly when he was growing up that’s why chelsea got priorty.
In the video for my perfect cousin by the Undertones, Damian O’Neill is wearing a Chelsea top.
..
Anyone know of a Seance in Melbourne on Saturday Night..?
I have a Mate Who wants to go Watch Rangers that Night..
Thanks in Advance..
Summa of OuijaDerbyCSC
GUERNICA on 6TH SEPTEMBER 2016 1:32 PM
You are forgetting one big difference, Brendan Rodgers.
Chin up mate. Don’t worry.
I fear we will indeed struggle against Sevco on Saturday.
Struggle to suppress the laughter, that is.
Embramike –
Thanks for your answer to my Albania question (is that like the West Lothian question?).
Only just noticed it.
Summa of Sammi….
Not sure about a seance mate, but this is may be of use…just not this weekend unfortunately…
http://www.thatsmelbourne.com.au/Whatson/FortheKids/Films/Pages/8f344617-a844-494f-b60c-fd1b1045239a.aspx
Hi all,
Struggling for a ticket at Nou Camp without season book and not sure how works when get to Barcelona. Anyone got any details on how easy it is to buy ticket on day when get there or am I on to plums?
Hail Hail
GUERNICA on 6th September 2016 1:32 pm
This is a windup, right? Have you actually watched Celtic playing under Brendan Rodgers and the pace that they play at? Also the amount of possession we have had during these games (especially SPL)?
They will be too busy trying to get 5 or 6 at the back to take care of our front 3 and wingbacks to being pushing forward to help their attacking players. If Rogic plays he will swamp the area that Rossiter will be expected to be playing in; that leaves Barton plus A N Other to try and break down and create. Brown and Bitton will take care of that; Barton’s lack of speed will catch him out.
I cannot see them being in a position to press us high up when they are constantly on the back foot.
That’s without the tactical surprises and switching during the game that Rodgers will deploy to out think the not-so-Magic Hat.
FAC the Act
KTF
Jinkyredstar –
In all my decades following football, I have never heard of the 75 minutes rule.
In the early 70s, Celtic faced Hibs at home. Hibs were a point in front of us at the top of the league with about 6 games to play.
Early second half, Hibs went 2-0 up. Then the fog began to descend. Minute-by-minute the fog got worse. By the 70th minute 50,000 Celtic fans were screaming for the referee – a certain Bobby Davidson – to abandon the game.
I was in the west terrace and by 75 minutes, couldn’t see the opposite goals. On 80 minutes, the calls for the game to be stopped reached a crescendo and we couldn’t see the half-way line. I actually feared a pitch invasion. In the 84th minute, with Hibs still 2-0 in front, Davidson had no choice but to call a halt. Hibs players and officials were going absolutely apeshit.
Celtic duly won the replayed game and went on to win 9-in-a-row.
Hi Paul67,
That’s a very good point re:GKs…
It will be a tough decision for BR but I believe he knows both Keepers, where their heads at and has probably already made his mind-up.
But this is a crucial position, are either Keeper equiped to deal with the Nou Camp?
My favourite European scalps of the modern era have been Barca and Man Utd at Celtic Park.
Both of these victories came from World Class performances.
In the Barca game it was big FF who had a sublime 90 minutes.
In the Man Utd games it was two moments…
Naka’s free kick and Boruc’s penalty save.
Are either/or both Keepers capable of such great deeds or performances… we’ll see.
I think some of our outfield players are capable of moments of brilliance – think we might need this to score.
But It’s really down to the defence… I think big Kolo will have an awesome game and with a little bit of genius up front we’ll snatch a draw.
opTIMisticCSC:)
Hail Hail
LARSSON80
You might struggle, especially anywhere near the stadium. There are ticket booths all over Las Ramblas selling Barcelona tickets so it depends on how many locals will show up.
We were honking against Hapoel and Red Imps. Rodgers is not a miracle worker.
This team will struggle in adversity.
Those expecting a cakewalk will IMO be surprised.
vfr800a8
The tactical surprises/fluidity are what I think will win the game for us. I can understand some people being cautious…this is totally new ground for us – first league meeting and all that :)
guernica
This team will struggle in adversity.
—————————————————
Could it not be argued that in adversity this team came through two CL qualifying rounds? i.e. After being pegged back against Astana they went on to win in the dying minutes of the game, and in Be’er Sheva they battled to stop Hapoel scoring enough goals despite performing poorly?
I think we will find this season that the psychological strength will be the single biggest improvement in this team.
That’s not to say I think it will be a cakewalk…
More of a spongebounce…
GUERNICA on 6TH SEPTEMBER 2016 2:41 PM
We were honking against Hapoel and Red Imps. Rodgers is not a miracle worker.
Both these games were away from home and in very hot conditions.
This team will struggle in adversity.
This being based upon 2 games I assume? Do you REALLY think Saturday will be “adversity”? Based upon what?
Those expecting a cakewalk will IMO be surprised.
Based upon the form of both teams, we have nothing to fear; they have drawn twice and won twice (by the odd goal) scoring 6 and conceding 4 against teams in the lower half of the league. We have won three games (2 away from home) against our closest rivals from last year scoring 10 goals and conceding 4. I cannot see where people are getting any real sense of concern from. They are a second rate team with a second rate manager who have relied on mibbery so far this season to get where they are! We have overcome the mibbery to get where we are.
FAC the Act
KTF
DAVIDOPOULOS on 6TH SEPTEMBER 2016 2:44 PM
vfr800a8
The tactical surprises/fluidity are what I think will win the game for us. I can understand some people being cautious…this is totally new ground for us – first league meeting and all that :)
____________________________________
I can’t. We were never this concerned playing against Ross County or Gretna; why would we show any concern against this new team? :>)
FAC the ACT
KTF
Paul67
Brendan Rodgers was being coy when he said De Vries was signed to pressure Craig Gordon. I believed him, though one or two others CQNrs saw the change, which came sooner rather than later.
Craig Gordon was dropped not swapped, BR thinks DDV is the better keeper, I hope he was right and doubt he’ll go back.
Guernica,
The huns have played just one game in which they weren’t bookies favourites to win under Warburton. It’s only natural they’ll have more possession
In that game it took a missed penalty after 120 minutes for them to win. Their opponents that day didn’t play well but still managed more than 3 times the shots on AND off target.
They only just shaded possession against 10 man killie recently.
I’m not underestimating the huns this weekend but I really can’t see them dominating possession against us.
HH