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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Surely the bulk of the electorate is made up of working people and retired people.
So a bit ridiculous to say it was students that elected the SNP, no?
Seriously? Then why would the bulk of the yes vote blame “old people” for being scared when the no vote won?
Annnnnyyyywaaaaays…
A wee bit of humour for y’all.
Apologies if it’s a repost.
https://twitter.com/delbhoy007/status/773269335586529280?s=08
HH
EVEN PENSIONERS! Wow how gratifying should we be with that invite.
Oh to be a non tax paying Canadian
It entitles one to highlight their ignorabce.
——————————————
Ernie unionist
Defend your union.it actively encouraged sectarianism for 300 years
Divide and rule
Its what the union does
Handy wee uk establishment tool
2 sides of one coin
HH
It seems the Stickies are becoming more and more confident as the match edges closer.
It’s amazing what puff peice propaganda in the SMSM does for your confidence.
And another one to laugh at…
‘OUR OBSESSION’…http://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/?p=27561
CORKCELT
Of course the act is redicules ffs that I get, awe I’m saying is why Celtic again? I’v done more for the act in the last hour with my post with people debating on it, of that they should be happy, no such thing as bad publicity they say, so take from that what it’s meant, if we awe agreed on everything posted, what boring place this wold be right?
Would*
Having read the comments from others on our resident troll’s posts,I’m gonna play The Godwin Card.
Go to 23:45 and listen for thirty seconds. Spooky…
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=dSjkpaXlXIE
By the way,those who mentioned how tranquil things had been on here in the last few days,yet are responding to him-you’ve partaken of the forbidden fruit. Put there to tempt you but best ignored.
Phylis,
Notice that as well….according to the Herald the charge is not to the OB one…..was it stated somewhere it WAS?
Reminded of an Italian Tv documentary re an event in late 1960’s Dresden ..
3 female hospital technicians caught using old X Ray emulsion plates( taken from a bin in the hospital) to produce bootlegs( from a bootleg ) of The Beatles -Revolver Lp – .
Beaten up, arrested , beaten up, tortured , , convicted of anti DDR behaviour / being enemies of the people . Sentenced to forced labour and re education . .
Documentary featured an ex Stasi man talking about his role in the event —
” We regarded those woman as rats , rats with a contagious disease .. The Party decided what was appropriate culture , not them . “
So it was the students, who are all Celtic supporters, who are all members of The Celtic Trust, who are all members of The Green Brigaide, who all voted in The SNP.
Pretty powerful group this lot.
The rest of society should be more scared of his lot than they are of SS police Scotland, The SNP, MI6, NSA, The CIA and ISIS.
Or maybe it’s just the ill educated making stuff up. Guys who are yet to pass age 5 group in the University of Life exams.
MWD
TONYDONNELLY67 on 7TH SEPTEMBER 2016 9:51 AM
MACJAY
I’v no time for the SNP or the state police (let’s not be conned by the lovely name police Scotland) those who voted in the SNP need to deal with it they’r membership went up 150,000 I think I read somewhere, so go to the source the students who voted for them who are now being arrested,.
=======================================================
No reason to dispute anything you say there , Tony.
Tranquil?
Try the library, p67 doesent like tranquil, no blogger does, as long as it’s kept within the COC it’s open season on all posts, even your boring buzz word troll is allowed.
AN TEARMANN on 7TH SEPTEMBER 2016 10:02 AM
‘Defend your union.it actively encouraged sectarianism for 300 years’
##
I would question that assertion.
I think the roots of sectarianism lie within the particular nature of the Protestant Reformation in Scotland and the fact that until the 18th Century Scotland was a nation, if it was in fact a nation, (depending on how you define the term) that was divided against itself.
Those two factors combined meant that Scotland was unable to absorb and assimilate the influx of Irish Catholics in the 19th Century in the way that England was. We are still dealing with the residue of that today.
It’s a complicated subject but it’s a Scottish issue arising from particular aspects of Scottish history.
Of course it’s easier just to blame the English. Saves you having to think.
Guardiola looking forward to his first visit to celtic park.
Had to check that butbits true…he managed to miss sll those nou firm derby matches pver the years
Tim Reaper
Thats what meeja do Iin this country
Its a. Sort of der der to their wholly owned self harming dignity from the Scottish press.
No insight into themselves.
We have and we learn
:-)
Pretty sure my views of the SNP are weel-kent,if not that widely shared on here.
But in the 2015 General Election,they won 50% of the votes. It canny all be down to students.
Of course,that’s on opinion voiced only by the hard of thinking,the type that says on a blog-that’s a place for discussion of views,btw-that it’s “his opinion and you canny tell me different.”
A truly democratic way of influencing others,that.
Macjay whit North Brits are you not fighting with tonight.
TONY DONNELLY
Since I knew you wouldn’t be able to ignore my points,I decided to read yours until you threw something in my direction.
FYI,PAUL67 created a blog which survived pretty well,thank you very much,on tranquil. Because when you argued,you knew you were only arguing amongst “friends” Few of whom you had met,or ever expected to.
The discussions could be heated,but rarely were grudges borne.
As for the word troll,yes,it is allowed. It is particularly so when directed at someone so described by PAUL 67 himself.
Barely a week ago,in case you’ve forgotten.
PS-if you have forgotten,not a problem. It’s not done you too much harm thus far. You’ll be used to it. But someone sent me it in an e-mail. It’s all yours if you want a refresher.
Just a Wee thought, these are the people you go to when the cops are causing it with other students not here, they’r own kind being arrested on the streets of Scotland, they’ll sort that out in a heartbeat what’s the problem here, they’r awe members, he’s a student! Problem solved right?
http://www.snpstudents.com/
Tony
Even pensioners are being treated as criminals at matches both home and away…
That was my point…..but you knew that anyway…
TonyDonnelly67
It is obvious from your postings that your jealousy of educated people is something that really grinds with you. I understand your difficulty. It must have been hard all those years of failure at school.
The failures to learn basic skills that would enable you to engage in reasonable, informed debate and disagreement without the need to turn to name calling and lowering the tone of the discussion is apparent to all. But don’t worry. I don’t blame you. We are aware that it is your natural capacity to understand, educate yourself and debate that is lacking. However none the less you are a TROLL. And an irrelevant one at that.
Your one saving grace though is that unlike some you at least don’t just turn to wiki and copy and paste the bits that back up your baseless opinions.
Now have a nice day.
MWD
ERNIELYNCH
Pretty much agree with your view of our separate reasons for breaking with Rome.
An oversimplification,of course,but England broke mainly for political reasons and Scotland for religious reasons.
Both of which were down to the absolute power of The Church.
England founded their own version,in effect of Catholicism,Scotland was much more fundamental in its Biblical interpretation.
I think they ignored the parts about hospitality to strangers too.
Ernie,
Quite liked your last post – until you ruined it with your final sentence.
I didn’t post the word troll wasent allowed, I said its you and your pals in here’s buzz word, I’v no problem with it.
You have grudges? Not my problem.
I ignore many of your posts and others too, I’v upset you by that?
Oh and the pulling the old “AV been in here longer than you” soooo predictable.
Sorry to have upset you by the way, pphhhffffttttttt.
It is worth noting that the criteria re claiming Political Asylum include being a national of a state where it is a crime to publicly criticize the Police and The Law.
Bars in Lisbon for the game on Saturday ?
And any other things worth doing… Or nice places to eat and drink
Pop in later
Up the tic
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.
TD
I didn’t make the point that I’ve been on here longer than you. Interpretation and comprehension were probably classes held while you were out the back of the bicycle sheds.
I pointed out,in reply to your suggestion that PAUL67 doesn’t like tranquility,that you were-and get this-WRONG.
If you want to sow discord,go elsewhere. It’s a discussion forum. No-one can have a discussion with the likes of you,because there is no grey area between the black-and-white certainty of your life,and no grey matter between your ears.
I dunno how long you were absent,but you’ve taken about an hour to wreck the recent Joie-de-vivre.
Definitely trolling by any standards.
SOUTHOFTUNIS
You got a spare room or two?
We’re on our way!
BLANTYRETIM IS PRAYING FOR THE KNOX FAMILY on 7TH SEPTEMBER 2016 10:32 AM
Tony
Even pensioners are being treated as criminals at matches both home and away…
That was my point…..but you knew that anyway…
I’v no doubt in my my mind they do, anything connected to Celtic is an easy target, the track is! Don’t get caught, be smart because they’r not to bright (cops that is) thick as s….
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on 7TH SEPTEMBER 2016 10:48 AM
‘but you’ve taken about an hour to wreck the recent Joie-de-vivre.’
##
Only because people took the bait.
A typical unionist riposte
Incorrect its a british issue
Wholly owned, wheelezd out as and when your union is in danger.
Blame the english is easy to says you
Bit like a hun sayin nana yir a rangers hater.not much thinking there.
I would rather blame incompetent policians of all persuasions.like yer ex livi member and the whole raft of masons of all parties.
a little bigotry suits the union.
Always has done and will do.
Wholly owned by those in power in london
Aye a complicated matter indeed
but I am content my faith has a 1400 year history regardless of the whatever trauma visited it,and delighted at its continual growth In a union addicted to eentitlement Without merit
HH
“Only because people took the bait.”
Ernie,
Plus 1.
HH
ERNIE
Aye,I know.
I tried,and probably most of us did.
Most of us succeeded,btw,since the blog has been relatively quiet since.
But…
How much absolute garbage can you put up with before you draw a line?
I remember a few lines from a song,Bill Withers Mibbe,about the garbagemen strike in New York in the 70s. It was piled storeys-high. And at night it moved,because all the vermin came out and had their fun,and anyone with any sense stayed indoors.
Maybe Tony’s scared of the dark.
Bmcw
You do get off on my self confessed low education I had, nice run for the moral high ground, shows you up for what you are.
And your opinion of what P67 likes and doesent like, and mine was mine.
You didn’t make the point that you’ve been here longer than me? Awe aye you did, you do it to many in here who are not in your clique, in a McCoist way.
And your right my posts are my opinion, no grey areas, as for me leaving and going somewhere else? I mean, honestly who the …. Do you think you are in the janny, or does it rym with that?
Eeeeeentitlemeny
Jeez sound like him on Bullseye
HH