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You are at:»»Joy from Inverness rekindles memories of 10 years ago today

Joy from Inverness rekindles memories of 10 years ago today

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By on CQN BLOG & Comments

News this morning that Uefa president, Michel Platini told newspaper, Quest-France, that the governing body are considering dispensing with the Europa League and broadening the Champions League from 23 to 64 teams is far from welcome.

Celtic fans have grown to love the Champions League since our early exploits in the group stage in 2001 but while national TV market values continue to determine who has a chance of winning the tournament there will continue to be a need for a second competition.

10 years ago today Henrik Larsson scored the only goal of the game as Celtic beat Celta Vigo 1-0 in the Uefa Cup on their way to an away goals victory which ensured they were in European competition for the first Christmas since 1979.  That was a huge tie for us and an unlikely victory, given 23 years of failure experienced without exception at that level.

The excitement rolled on, Stuttgart, Liverpool and Boavista were eliminated at Celtic reached the final in Seville but all this happened after we’d lost to Basel in the Champions League play-off round.  I remember looking at the quarter finalists of the Champions League that year, Real Madrid, Manchester United, Milan, Inter, Valencia, Juventus, Barcelona and only Ajax from outside the then top three leagues in Europe, all of them tier-one clubs.

It’s difficult to imagine our progress in the Uefa Cup meaning any more to us if we had been Champions League but the other quarter finalists were Besiktas, Lazio, Boavista, Malaga, Liverpool, Porto and Panathinaikos.  I was really glad Real Madrid & co were not in the same competition; we needed more mortal opponents to stand a chance.  For me, it’s infinitely better to beat Boavista than lose to Milan.

Compare this scenario with the SPL, which currently have five teams within a point at the top, a truly magnificent competition.  St Johnstone, in sixth place, could go clear at the top if they beat Hibs tonight and Celtic stumble at Tynecastle.

We are the only fly in the ointment.  It doesn’t really matter how well Inverness or Motherwell prepare, Celtic have vastly more resources than all other challengers combined.  For that reason and that reason only, they will win the league, probably by some margin as their stronger squad allows them to ease through the injuries and suspensions which will have a disproportionality sever effect on others.

CQN Annual – perfect Christmas present

I read some joyous tweets from an Inverness Caley supporters’ account last night, including, “This has to be one of the most exciting spl seasons yet! Very close and all to play for. Who needs Rangers?!”

Who needs Rangers?  Certainly not Inverness Caley.  I wonder if they realise they don’t need Celtic either.  Together these two clubs have robbed Scottish football of what it has a wee taste of right now, genuine competition.  Those running the game here are still concerned with squeezing more life out of the broken model instead of giving fans what you and I got a taste of 10 years ago tonight – a sporting chance to compete and win a tournament against a group of our peers.

It’s time to tell Celtic to stop talking and go find themselves another league to play in, they are not needed in Scotland.

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  1. Summa of Sammi.... on

    .

     

     

    philvisreturns

     

    14:06 on

     

    28 November, 2012

     

    Top ten French people of all time:

     

     

    Eric Cantona

     

    Stephane Mahe

     

    Charles Martel

     

    Brigitte Bardot

     

    Jacques Cousteau

     

    Marie Curie

     

    Rene Descartes

     

    Captain Picard

     

    The chef from “The Little Mermaid”

     

    Daft Punk

     

     

    (thumbsup)

     

     

    ..

     

     

    Phiv..

     

     

    How could You Miss Betty Blue..???????

     

     

    Summa of MyFirstWifeCSC

  4. miki67 on

    Can you imagine the pretentious t’rankers in their gendarmerie attire : “..’allo ‘allo, ‘ow do yew doo..” as they mince, moustachioed, en masse down the boulevards of Ibrox towards their Dôme de Merde.

     

    Hahahahaha!……allez oops!

  5. Summa of Sammi.... on

    .

     

     

    kikinthenakas

     

    14:31 on

     

    28 November, 2012

     

    Apology accepted philvis, and a quote to leave you with………

     

     

    Insp. Jacques Clouseau: at times like this, I wish I was but a simple peasant.

     

     

    .

     

     

    Sorry KikinThe..

     

     

    Jacques Cousteau was Canadian French..Diver

     

     

    Summa of DyslexicFrogsCSC

  8. Ntassoolla on

    When in doubt Celtic AND Rangers fans take refuge in that faux patriotism that SoS refers to. “Ah’m only thinking abit whit’s good fur Scottish fitba.” Aye. Right.

     

     

    Back to splitting gate money on a formula to be devised by me. In the best interests of Scottish football. Likesy.

  9. sixtaeseven: CQN, antidote to deceptive, selective journalism on

    How could we leave out

     

     

    PAIL LEGUEN ???

     

     

    sacré bleu!!!

  10. winning captains on

    Summa of Sammi….

     

     

    No Charles de Gaulle on your list?

     

     

    Not long before he died he gave a speech in Dublin in support of a united Ireland. Strangely under reported in the UK media.

  12. Ntassoolla on

    I’m away to work on that secret formula. And to do some situps.

     

     

    Actually I’m going to hang out the washing.

     

    BTW bhoys don’t ever buy a 10kg load washing machine. By the time you’ve emptied, folded, hung oot to dry etc … you’ll be entertaining dangerous thought s of remarriage.

  14. ST.AndrewsBhoy on

    Andrew67…..bonjour!

     

    If u refer to my post on the last thread at 12.09 you may get a bit on insight into ticket availability…self preservation and control required if you do it the hard way.HH

     

    Good Luck,

     

    ST.A’sBhoy.

  16. Doctor Whatfor on

    Philvis

     

     

    Rene Descartes? Yah think?

     

     

    Re the chip shop in Cumbernauld. It was probably owned by an Italian.

  18. Summa of Sammi.... on

    .

     

     

    Just read the Article..Sorry Re-Read..”o)

     

     

    From the Man who told You Bruce Rioch would replace BTM..

     

     

    I Have been saying for Year..We wont go to EPL..

     

     

    There will be No Atlantic Ocean League..

     

     

    Awwwe The Wee Daft Countries Benelux..Celtic..Etc..

     

     

    The Champions League..Will become a League (Oh Wait) and l Predicted 3 Divisions of 18-20 Teams Yes 60 Teams all in..

     

     

    And here is the Best Bit..

     

     

    There will Still be a SPL..and We will Play in it..Our Reserves..

     

     

    The CL Will become a Fri..Sat..Sunday League and Teams will still Compete in Own leagues with Reserves and Youths..

     

     

    Look forward to All the Great Idea SoS..Posts..

     

     

    Summa of WeekendsAwayInEuropeCSC

     

     

    Ps..Bruce Rioch is Half French..:O)

  21. neveralone on

    ….PFayr

     

     

    You are absolutely right.

     

     

    Its a pity.

     

     

    But, perhaps, Plattini’s comments reflects a concern as to where we are and the possible consequences of the financial pressures faced now by many European Assocations. Suggests to me there is a belated recognition that not is all well on Planet Fitba, despite the Fat Cats!

  22. Dontbrattbakkinanger on

    It’s a little known, but made up fact, that Charles de Gaulle made several appearances for Celtic as a guest during wartime football.

     

     

    He was an effective, if rustic, centre-half.

  23. The Battered Bunnet on

    Ntassoolla

     

     

    Splitting gate money – gate sharing – in the current SPL, would work to diminish the revenue of Hearts, Aberdeen and Hibs in addition to Celtic, these clubs having a gate higher than the average, thus a downward settling occurs for them.

     

     

    Unless of course splitting the gate money is code for taking a slice of the Celtic Park gate money alone. In which case, you’ll be in a rather exclusive CQN group. A league of your own perhaps.

     

     

    TBB

  25. as_i_thought on

    Im in the same boat as Andrew67, if anyone hears of a couple spares for tonight please let me know.

     

     

    HH

  31. stevo on

    The Battered Bunnet

     

    15:20 on

     

    28 November, 2012

     

    Ntassoolla

     

     

    Splitting gate money – gate sharing – in the current SPL, would work to diminish the revenue of Hearts, Aberdeen and Hibs in addition to Celtic, these clubs having a gate higher than the average, thus a downward settling occurs for them.

     

     

    —————————————————————-

     

    I imagine what they would gain via stealing from Celtic would cancel that loss out and leave them pretty much where they are.

     

    Cant imagine that Caeltic would not take this to a higher authority (potentially even outwith football since that now seems to be okay) and it would not stand.

     

    As I said before FINANCIAL FAIR PLAY is the way ahead. You spend what you earn and no more and you pay tax where and when it’s due. Simple eh!?

     

    what financial fair play does not include is spending someone else’s money ….. FFS what kind of model is that????

  32. Ntassoolla on

    stevo states ”

     

    15:11 on 28 November, 2012 –

     

    Ntassoolla – that’s a maid you are thinking of ….”

     

     

    I’d like to see you call your wife that :-)

  33. winning captains on

    Cathedral House Hotel is going to host a wee pre match gathering for CQNers before the Spartak game next week. They will also have a mini bus there to take people to the ground. There’s already plenty of the out of town CQN guys booked into the hotel. The hotel is under new management and the bar is now being run as just that and wants to be regarded as a Celtic bar. Everyone welcome!

  34. The Battered Bunnet on

    Stevo

     

     

    I believe it’s what known as the Crowd Sourced Sugar Daddy model. All you need is 60,000 dumbass Celtic fans willing to buy in to the idea.

     

     

    It’s a well known, if made up, fact that the Crowd Sourced Sugar Daddies never payed the ol Burns Howff, but if they had, the first 200 folk at the gig would doubtless have chipped in to let the rest in for free.

  35. greenmaestro on

    I’m getting very confused. Again I listened into the BBC coverage of the football last night which was being excitedly presented by an Aberdeen Fan and a Dundee United Fan, this diametrically opposed the feeling I had on Saturday listening to the build up for the weekend matches, when one after another the usual suspects are rolled out to say how bad the SPL is.

     

     

    I believe this is known as institutional schizophrenia.

     

     

    BBC Radio Scotland bending with the wind since 1978.

  36. Kojo on

    Sir Paul

     

     

    Seldom, dae Ah..or..anybuddy else,fur that matter..

     

     

     

    DISAGREE wi ye…

     

     

    But..THIS time… is… Wan o’ They… “Seldoms”!

     

     

    Beware,ye..Oh Beware…well… Ye..

     

     

    Oh…

     

     

    Exuberant Sanguinity.

     

     

    fur..

     

     

    In MA Opinion..

     

     

    The Haun…whit Hauds the Cup o’ Success..tae the Celtic Lips…

     

     

    Is.. Behavin’..

     

     

    Gey..

     

     

    PALSIED..

     

     

    in..

     

     

    The Last Few Games!

     

     

    This Hearts Hurdle ..could Turn oot

     

     

    Tae Be a..

     

     

    Beech..o’.. A Bechers… fur Us!

     

     

    Ah Hope No..

     

     

    But..

     

     

    Ah am Keepin Ma Judgment Reserved..

     

     

    Until, Ah see..

     

     

    Tonight’s, Team Selection.

     

     

    Kojo

     

     

    Still, Laughin’… of Course.

  40. Parkheadcumsalford on

    Paul67 is right. We need to move, and the sooner the better. If it is to England, I would expect us to improve over some 4 or 5 years to be challenging the top 4. We would have the finance and the international recognition to make that quite feasible, imo. In the meantime, we would be more regularly entertained by competitive games than what passes for football matches in the SPL. Besides, we would be playing on (what for now remains the mythical) level playing field.

  42. The Singing Detective Demands The Resignation Of Campbell Ogilvie on

    My Dear Kojo…..

     

     

    Ah Soitenly Hope That Oor Fledglin’ Ginger Helmsman…..

     

     

    Disnae Field The Team That Ye Suggested…..

     

     

    Only Last Night…..

     

     

    Most Noteable By The Absence Of Wanyama….

     

     

    Either In Defense Or Midfield….

     

     

    Disnae Mak Sense Tae Me….

     

     

    Especially Since Wanyama Is Already Suspended Agin’ Spartak.

     

     

     

    So We Might As Well Play Him Versus The Gorgie Road Hackers….

     

     

    Never Mind Playin’ McGeouch And Ibrahim In The Same Midfield…..

     

     

    And Now Ye’re Wantin’ Us Tae Sign This Ghanian Midget Messi…..

     

     

    Tae Go Along Wi’ Oor Nigerian Midget,Ibrahim..

     

     

    Whit’s The Score….?

     

     

    Anither Five Such Signings …..

     

     

    And We’ll Hiv Oor Ain ‘Seven Dwarfs’…..

     

     

    Which Could Dae Quite A Joab For Us……

     

     

    Oan The Wards O’ The Childrens’ Hospital……

     

     

    At Christmas-Time….

     

     

    But Wullnae Cut The Mustard In The SPL…..

     

     

    Tell Me Ah’m Wrang…

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