Last night Manchester City became the ninth UK club to reach the European Cup/Champions League final, where they will face either Real Madrid or Chelsea. Of those who have reached this stage before them, only Leeds United and Arsenal are without a win in the tournament.
European football was more interesting in the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s. Each of those decades saw four (90s), five (60s, 70s) or six (80s) clubs win their very their first European Cup. That trend of variety has stopped. Since Paul Lambert lifted the trophy with Borussia Dortmund in 1997 only Chelsea’s name has been added to the new winners’ list. The football peak seems to have effectively closed to new entrants.
City and last night’s losers, Paris Saint-Germain are the obvious omissions from the list. The petrodollars pouring into both of them, as well as Chelsea, makes their ascent to the top only a matter of time. If City do not win this season, they will continue to spend until they do. The same goes for PSG, both will win this decade.
Then, unless Uefa or the European Club Association can find some mettle, the door will finally close on new entrants. The European Super League may have died but its ghost will live on to haunt aspiring European clubs.
Can you name all 9 European clubs?
A note on the comments’ section. CQN is not the best place for anyone to demonstrate their inability to be respectful to others. I have a ton of email (yet to respond, sorry) on this subject, if you cannot leave off the personal abuse, your account will be pulled.
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AN TEARMANN on 5TH MAY 2021 5:53 PM
Thanks.
As for Eddie (NCTim) he & I would have been yakking & laughing our way thro the dregs of this season.
People like Eddie & others we have lost over the last year deserve so much better.
Take Care
Nice strike and goal from Barry Coffey’s freekick for Cliftonville.
MARSPAPA on 5TH MAY 2021 7:03
Yeah, Dubai was not our finest hour.
HH.
Still don’t know why I was deleted yesterday 🤷🏽♂️
SQUIRE DANAHER on 5TH MAY 2021 4:52 PM
Thank you. pot cierto
FB
Like me the day before. I commented in a discussion thread which was deemed to be deleted – nothing wrong with my post it’s just the way it is.
Molly Forbes rip
Trump is a liar
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/may/05/molly-forbes-obituary?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other
hh
GENE-if I said something out of order,I would like to apologise.But without knowing what I said 🤷🏽♂️
Reading comments here at times i’m sat here thinking if we were playing
the Huns and Madden gave the Huns 6 pens in the first 5 mins quite a
few on CQN would be shouting don’t blame madden (or ref of your choice)
“we’re not good enough” they would say, i really dispair of this once very
good blog i discovered many years ago sad to say that
FB
You probably didn’t – that’s the point – but it referenced the SS and Onil thread being deleted.
Chelski not slow on hacking down any Madrid player that threatens to go past them.
GENE-maybe SS or onil could fill us in .😉
Balderdash
@notDcfcBoss
·
20h
Born on this day 1818: Philosopher Karl Marx.
https://twitter.com/notDcfcBoss/status/1389716691366580227/photo/1
FAIRHILL BHOY
I was deleted the other night for saying I didny like Neymar because he was a cheat.
Nothing to do with his colour.
He’s just the most objectionable human being who plays fitba’, in spite of being genius at it!
Hope you are good!
Ramos looked pumped up before the game started.
I expect he will be shown a red in the 2nd half.
Real Madrid wearing black socks?
Rest in Peace Bobby Sands.
I feel a wee bit sorry for Bolingoli . His ostracism I feel , was as much prompted by wee Nicola getting our 2 games postponed , thereby punishing Celtic rather than just the player himself .
Quite draconian compared to other transgressors . Not that I’m excusing what he did , but I don’t think we are in possession of the full facts .
SFTB
Sorry, just seen your comments re the 404 error. I’ve seen them now. Nothing there that’s needing any expansion. Wonder why they’ve been released, can’t see why. Thanks, por cierto
GLENDALYSTONSILS
I’m pretty sure Bolingoli was aware of covid restrictions when he decided to screw them.
He “brought it on himself”.
Now where have I heard that before?
up the bow
PictureThis Scotland
@74frankfurt
View of Greenock from Tay Street area. (1983) Pic: University of Edinburgh.
https://twitter.com/74frankfurt/status/1389852046745014272/photo/1
Is there any reason why after logging in on my iPad I get a half page advert at the bottom. CQN has more adverts than STV now.
ST STIVS
Reminds me of Rekjavik!
Only warmer!
Greenpinta,
Boli has not played this year in Turkey.He was injured,so who knows.Was well received at the start.Turkish fans nearly as fickle as Celtic fans.
Gerry123
You mention sevco being hypothetically awarded 6 pens in the first 5 minutes.
Now, obviously, that never happened in reality.
In reality, we are 23 points and 27 goals behind.
So, in the real world, can I ask you – do you think we’re good enough?
Petec.
Bobby Sands.
What is his connection to Celtic?
PHILBHOY on 5TH MAY 2021 9:08 PM
ST STIVS
Reminds me of Rekjavik!
Only warmer!
———————
aye Rekjavik i would guess is warmer with all the underground thermals.
Growing up in Inverclyde I never paid any attention what so ever to the views, nowadays With the industry all gone and the housing much changed you get clear views everywhere.
I have a picture from the top of the clune brae looking down to boglestone that is framed by the mountains away over at the back of Dunoon, it is incredible. Need to go find it.
Bolingoli is mad as a structured fitba player – He’d end up @ right wing from left back.
PHILBHOY on 5TH MAY 2021 8:36 PM
FAIRHILL BHOY
I was deleted the other night for saying I didny like Neymar because he was a cheat.
Nothing to do with his colour.
He’s just the most objectionable human being who plays fitba’, in spite of being genius at it!
===========================
i Think Philbhoy by stating
‘nothing to do with colour’
asks me as a reader why introduce it?.colour.
its nowt to do wi his genius as a player.
i recall him Suarez and Messi carve us pingin cross field balls .great viewing gettin gubbed tho.
HH
Hope you are good
Looking due west from outside the top gate at Saint Stephens.
https://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/02/23/30/2233097_252c9153.jpg
SAINT STIVS on 5TH MAY 2021 8:30 PM
Balderdash
Born on this day 1818: Philosopher Karl Marx.
https://twitter.com/notDcfcBoss/status/1389716691366580227/photo/1
==================
…and shares a birthday with Tammy Wynette – both never seen in the same room at the same time – hmmmm……
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=912DKxD0H1U&ab_channel=TammyWynettemusic
My big sister sung D-I-V-O-R-C-E when going around the pubs in The Plains around 45 years ago collecting money in her chanty po for her hen night :-))
Song was recorded on my 2nd birthday – hmmmm again
HH
BGFC
Interesting that the Chekski centerbacks scream at their teammates for even allowing a cross into the box.
Looks as if both European Finals will be comprised solely of EPL teams. Just tragic.
Chelsea finally get a 2nd goal. They have. Carved Madrid open 5-6 times without scoring.
Madrid a pale shadow of their former self.
AN TEARMANN
I thought I was deleted as post was construed to be racist.
Wasn’t meant to be.
All well here and hope you are good too!
So Golf, sponsored by Arab money, is the latest sport looking to seek insulation from the harsh realities of pure competition by ring-fencing all the top players in the world for an elite Super Tour.
Those with a great deal of money to invest realise that future pandemics represent the biggest threat to sport world-wide. A comparison might be drawn from the rise of internet sports betting companies like Bet 365 & Paddy Power. They know that shops on high streets packed full of punters are becoming a thing of the past.
The major football leagues, the Champions League and The Masters have all managed to carry on without crowds. It is not beyond the realms of possibility that mega-rich banks & corporations may see world-wide streaming of elite sporting events as feasible, if not desirable, without fans in attendance – after all they represent only a minuscule fraction of the overall audience.
Football, Golf, Tennis, F1…etc are ripe for this kind of treatment. The ESL has been thwarted meantime – but I’m sure it is still simmering on the back-burner.
WESTCRAIGS on 5TH MAY 2021 9:16 PM
Petec.
Bobby Sands.
What is his connection to Celtic?
================================
westcraigs,if i may.anwer :-)
He is a historical figure in Ireland then,now and in the future
ireland since time began has exported its people,its word,its music its song,its diaspora have taken that and stepped out and bettered themselves in search of a freedom. denied at home.
Celtic are the finest, example of that diaspora at work,bar none,and an ongoing success on the planet.
hh
Philbhoy
You at Aberdour goffin? this year
westcraigs on 5th May 2021 9:16 pm
Petec.
Bobby Sands.
What is his connection to Celtic?
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
I am not sure there is one – Do you know of one?
Respecting what he sacrificed should not be forgotten.
Jhb
coral,ladrokes,hills,dafabet, dont just mention dd competitors lol
ps on a serious note George has done it,he has convinced me……. he is an Elvis Costello lookalike? go on check it out.youll laugh.he does!
https://youtu.be/FCoDLlvd9UE
hh