Boavista v Celtic, 24 April 2003, was one of the most frustrating games of football I’ve sat through. Needing to score, for 78 minutes Celtic were moribund; they made not a single attempt on goal. Instead, they did what most teams do away from home, condensed midfield and defended, while Boavista, who would qualify for the Uefa Cup final if the game ended goalless, did much the same.
The goal appeared to take place in slow motion. Henrik Larsson moved forward to the end of the D and tried to pass to John Hartson, but a defender intercepted. Unfortunately for Boavista the ball was returned from the interception to an unmarked Larsson on the edge of the box.
It spun from his preferred right foot onto his left but the shot gently arced inches away from the goalkeeper’s grasp. The goal was a deflection, although we didn’t see it at the time. The keeper was moving his weight from right to left as the ball drifted to his left.
It may have been a turgid game of football decided by a deflection but it was also one of the most intense sporting occasions in our 125 year history. The sheer release of tension when the goal went in was incredible. 15 minutes, and one generous refereeing decision later, Celtic were in a European final.
Since then we have become accustomed to our position as a credible European team but it was very different in season 2002-03. This was the first Christmas Celtic were in Europe since 1979; each milestone along the way, Blackburn Rovers (a far more credible team at the time), Celta Vigo, Stuttgart and Liverpool, was celebrated with something close to astonishment.
The triumphs of this season, qualifying for the Champions League group stage instead of losing to Basel, then progressing to the knock out rounds, are greater than the achievements of April 2003, but they will never feel that way. That game, that season, trophy-less though it was, changed our entire landscape. Nothing would ever be the same again.
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So 124 to SFTB posts again.
Looking forward to the words of wisdom, which I will disagree with and will be no doubt kicked on the 5s pitch on a Saturday as a result.:-)
The Friday night quiz will now be easier for a few
Time flys
HH
CRC
Boavitsa night.
Watched it in the Masonic Arms Antruther as we did every other round before that….
After that I took a week off and watched the game elsewhere, not Seville.
Blame me for what happened. Im sorry.
Imagine if Sheik Mohammed owned The Rangers. They wouldn’t be playing for some time irrespective of the SFA?
Just listened to Bomber ripping English a new aerosol, which was fun – English whimpering by the end of the session.
I must say, despite all of the previous fun to be had slagging him off, I was relatively impressed by Bomber for most the program. Fairly straightforward and uncomplicated guy – right down to walking out on his job at Sevco (or was it still old Rangers(IA) at that point, I can’t remember) after Challs made it clear what was afoot. Perhaps the only sign of anything approaching ‘dignity’ that has been seen from any of them.
I can’t bring myself to like him (still harbor grudges from his playing days against us) , but it was fairly refreshing to hear someone from a Rangers background speaking openly.
He sounded as if he knows where the both the deeds and the £22M are, and was resigned to the fact that Rangers, in any guise, are no more.
Which is really good !!!!
Hail, Hail
PS Get Big George on a new long-term contract right now.
BGFC
There is a thread on rankers media,the gist of it being,what can super sally
learn from the Dortmund line up tonight,seems they didnae cost too much,
sally must be looking for the keys to the warchest now
no player is irreplaceable, we lost henki and the show went on fgs. hooper is a good striker but Russell would score as many goals for us and links up well, at 23 years old he also has a lot of years in him.
victor is a quality midfielder, but your no telling me we could not replace him, I would restore kayal to defensive midfield were victor to leave, no doubt in my mind kayal’s game has suffered because he has been asked to play a different role since returning from injury and we are well covered in the centre of the park.
the loss of victor and hooper can be lessoned by the introduction of a creative mid, goal scorer and powerful centre back and with good scouting and early identification we should be able to get those players in for a total spend of about 5 – 7 million.
3 million for Russell and stevens from united and 3 to 4 million on a quality centre back.
imho the introduction of a quality centre back and creative mid would improve our team more than the loss of hooper or victor
Scrub that last comment – substitute with -if someone with the Sheik’s views on fair play owned them. If Mohammed owned them then even they couldn’t have got into the state they have, could they?
I am not sick of the the sevco crisis it is better every day.
also wait until its outed that donald muir via minty introduced whyte to ticketus
that is becoming clearer by the day minty been awful quiet the last few weeks
when bdo unravel this there will be no place to hide wonder if the sfa will wait until then or grow a set and launch there own investigation … or did maybe they have an inkling about the smoke and mirrior
Settling down to the Brown vs English replay.
stephbhoy
23:55
never will they spend 3/4 million to dundee utd and i am not saying they are not worth that but our board will not spend that on a Scottish clubs players .
Jonny Russel is not up to Dylan McGeogh standards, our Dylan would be a Dundee Utd superstar if he played for Dundee Utd.
Loan Dylan and Watt out.
off to bed take care celtic
hail hail
Yous still talking about sevco?
Aye?
F sakes?
Why do you care about this wee daft division 3 club?
Why?
Old Firm fans.
Only got one response earlier (surprising) considering I was listening into sevco gaffer in boozer earlier.
Anyway, I’ll repeat what I heard him say several times…
‘We’re fu**ed’
No laughs, no smiles. Even tho he was with his mate. Meeting at 11am tomo. Doom & gloom.
Hail hail !!
EN
You talking to yourself again?
HH
CRC
Is Victor going to sign a new contract or is it a rumour?
From SFA to SFO and back to SFA.
More in the next few days
BOB 00:04 on 25 April, 2013
3 million for 2 players (Russell and stevens) is not a lot, but your most likely right
3/4 million on a quality centre back would make a huge difference to the team imo
Estadio Nacional
Dylan and Russell are so different in terms of playing styles its hard to compare, i’d bet my wages russell would score more goals every season, Dylan looks good but he’s done nothing yet, lets not get carried away
John Brown might be a Billy Bully and a Thug but he has got to be the most honest ‘Rangers Man’ in Scotland. I salute you Sir ! (although I still don’t forgive you for booting TC into the net)
Estadio Nacional,
do you think McKay Stephens would be worth a punt
if we could get him for about 1.5 million
G64
Im being discharged tomorrow thanks for offering assistance.
Good very early morning CQN
Hope you are all well. Time for bed. Night night Timland. :)))
Weefra HH
blantyretim
00:19 on
25 April, 2013
Good luck BT, and I hope they manage to get you home safely to Haddows :-)
HH
CRC
BT
Great news, I hope for a speedy recovery. Chin up. KTF
Weefra HH
So far, (22 mins in) Bomber Brown has impressed me. He’s not as fancy of speech as a journalist but he’s staying remarkably calm and controlled and holding his own.
Chedrs wee fra
Crc
I go to agnews coz there’s always change at agnews
blantyretim,
good to hear you are getting out,hope the recuperation period aint too long,
although I guess being off work will be ok,for a while
O.G.Rafferty
00:16 on
25 April, 2013
From SFA to SFO and back to SFA.
More in the next few days
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Is this what you hinted at for the tail end of the week?
Hope something breaks tomorrow – off to Ballbriggan on Friday for a Communion – CQN access will be restricted!!!
At last we may be moving on from the quasi-legal investigations / panels / commissions / tribunals into the jurisdiction of legal system – it has taken a fair amount of time, but hopefully there will now be proper legal consideration (including Upper Tier Tribunal) of the Murry / Whyte / Green / Ogilvie arrangements.
BGFC
•-:¦:-•** -:¦:- sparkleghirl :¦:-.•**• -:¦:-•
Good, isn’t it? Very revealing – he doesn’t miss Jabba and hit the wall.
BGFC
G64
Not be in the office but available via email as too many government cuts to fight snd appeal s to prepare
blantyretim – I’m presuming you are from Blantyre, and are a Tim (no sh!t Sherlock) – do you know any of the Donnelly’s from High BT?
BGFC
Bgfc
Was at school with matt and know kaureen and josie on my fb friends. If same ones?
Maureen even
BT
I widnae bet on that wi’ the snp minimum pricing. Haha.
Weefra HH
Right off now. Nighty.
Weefra HH
Weefra
Aye suppose so. Off it for a few weeks anyway as not advisable to drink and shuffle on crutches whilst recuperating
Big Georges Fan Club,
No, it’s all brand new stuff. I can hardly keep up