The moment Scott Brown threw himself into a challenge on the edge of his own penalty area, laser-like in precision, to dispossess Barry Robson, brought the memories flooding back. Barry was regarded by many as a journeyman when he signed for Celtic alongside Georgios Samaras in January 2008. A month later he scored against Barcelona in the Champions League knock out stage and was well on the way to convincing the Celtic support of his ability.
At the time, Scott Brown’s fortunes were different. He’d arrived the previous summer, a £4m buy from Hibs, but had yet to acclimatise to the central midfield role at Celtic. In the spring of 2008, Celtic were well behind in the title race, and playing poorly. Robson was on the bench with Brown given midfield responsibility.
The script for that season was written by a gifted hand. As the season reached a climax, Scott was suspended for three games, punishment for a rash of misjudged tackles throughout the season. Gordon Strachan turned to Barry, who was made for the moment.
Seven years ago Barry Robson could tackle, in fact, he could foul, without being noticed. He brought determination and menace to a team which was questioned in the CQN comments section for an apparent lack of leadership.
Two of our last five league games that season were at Celtic Park against Rangers. Rangers had a games in hand but the effective gap was 10 points, Celtic needed five wins, and even then their chances of winning the league were regarded as remote. Towels were thrown everywhere.
The first, a midweek game, memorably started with Barry Robson putting a thumping challenge into Christian Dailly in the opening minutes. The tone was set, Celtic were there to fight for everything. Rangers thought they had the point they needed, their manager offering high-fives in the technical area as they cleared the ball late into added time.
I still can’t quite believe what happened next. In the 95th minute Gary Caldwell threw a long ball into the Rangers box, which was won in the air by Scott McDonald, the smallest player on the field. McDonald headed across the face of goal for Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink to head into the net. Celtic survived to fight another day.
11 days later Celtic Park saw an equally dramatic game. Scott McDonald (scorer of incredibly important goals) put Celtic ahead but the season looked to be in tatters as Rangers struck back with two goals direct from corner kicks.
1-2 down in a must-win game it was an uphill struggle, but McDonald struck again two minutes from the break to level the game with the assistance of a deflection. The second half was a tense affair, so much was invested in one game of football, but one man was made for the moment.
McDonald broke free inside the box and was hauled down by Broadfoot. Barry Robson stepped forward to take the penalty, it was the defining moment of his career. If you’re in Celtic Park early enough before kick-off these days you can still hear the echo of the roar that went up when his penalty hit the net. His celebration was unforgettable.
It’s remarkable that Barry is still performing at this level so many years after his peak but yesterday’s decisive challenge by Scott Brown demonstrated the enormous leaps our captain has made since becoming a Celtic player. We need players with that fight and craft.
Many of us are still telling stories of the 1985 Scottish Cup Final. A goal down, Celtic roared back to beat Dundee United with a Frank McGarvey diving header. Frank’s offering the jersey he wore that day for auction to raise funds for Maryhill Foodbank. It’s a genuinely unique piece of Celtic history, for a very worthy cause. Check it out here.
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Francis Hughes 1956 – 12th May 1981.
http://youtu.be/yGI7rGfDiDg
Strachan and, PL etc, got away with putting an inferior, in terms of quality side onto the pitch for 2 years, then the crowds started to fall despite fans having already paid.
In Strachan’s 3rd season, Walter Smith returned to the huns and, aided by mibbery, it took Strachan almost a year to win against he ‘parked-bus’ and, it was through accident rather than design. Scott Brown had been signed from H for £4 million and, was not as effective in the Celtic midfield and, was a part of the teams fluctuating form when, in March 2008, Celtic were defeated at home by Mark McGhee’s Motherwell and, the fans wanted Strachan sacked. Strachan’s team were also knocked out of the Scottish Cup at home to, Aberdeen and again, the fans wanted Strachan out.
Then, Celtic went to Livingston to play, Gretna FC in a game that had the shameful scenes of, Celtic supporters waving £10 notes to Gretna supporters as it was announced that, Gretna were on the verge of liquidation. In this game, Scott Brown was booked for another cheap / clumsy tackle, meaning he would be suspended for the title run-in wich featured, 2 games at home v’s the huns.
This setback turned out to be a blessing in disguise for Strachan as he would then play, the much more mature and cute, Barry Robson in midfield, a move that led to Robson and, Paul Hartley driving Celtic to win their last seven league games and, clinching 3 in a row.
A shrewd director would have gotten rid of Strachan at the end of that season as, the writing was on the wall but, Celtic’s rudderless ship operandi prevailed and, the huns stopped 4 in a row or….rather, Celtic shot themselves in the foot by ‘not’ managing the issue of having a manager who’d been foud out.
H=Hibs
The silent scream
Well said, and remember that the club had sold Viduka for £6 million to Leeds, which covers one of the ‘blue-chip’ signings you refer to.
36 point turnaround and a treble,only the third in the club’s history, in his first season, with a club that had managed only one league title in 12 years.
Cheated out of the two’ last day’ titles he lost.
Seville, the Green and whitewash, etc.
He’s some Martin!
What have the Romans ever done for us?, right enough.
Morning Bhoys.
Does anyone have the ticket office phone number as I need to phone to relocate me and the Bhoys season ticket
Burghbhoy,
I don’t think they are doing any relocations till after deadline neebs
HH
Ok Geordie thanks
Morning all. Very wild and windy but quite brightish down here. Doubt if we’ll have too many visitors today. We had wall to wall sunshine yesterday but a stiff breeze and there wasn’t a soul down at the front. Let’s hope things improve.
Aberdeen keeper Jamie Langfield in today’s Record comments on THE burning issue in Scottish fitba.
Celtic are deserving champions? No.
Aberdeen chased them all the way? No.
The premiership needs a strong The Rangers? No.
Andy Walker “is a bellend”. YES!!
If anybody sets up a fund to help pay the fine that is coming Langfield’s way, I am in for a quid.
The Silent Scream
Great points re MON…why he is regularly traduced by CFC fans is beyond me
BMCUWP
It would be interesting to see a breakdown of figures for wages between admin and football ….imagine the football figure reduced by 47% yet the total wage bill remained constant ….
beatbhoy
_________
Hail Hail
PFayr
_____
Hail Hail
Yes, it seems like a lot of fans didn’t know they were living during O’Neill’s spell in charge.
I hope he and, Gordon Strachan do well in their International management careers, both those guys gave us grand olde days.
The Silent Scream
Another day, another sign in name, Kev.
Today’s post, playing the old tune of defend MON (from an imagined attack) and slag WGS to the hilt seems to have resonance with a few.
Me, I think it’s the same ol, same old, but slightly better written today.
I’m aff oot now
TOSB,
I’ll take you home again, Kathleen was my uncle Eddie’s song. Lovely voice he had too.
setting free the bears
_________________
Ha :)
Drop the paranoia and, you might just find what your looking for…:)
Hail Hail
birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football…
Came across a reminder of what we’re up against.
Last week we had the nonsense that a vote for ‘blah’ is a vote for a ‘different blah’.
This week we have praise for WGS and his achievements is an attack on MON.
I still haven’t found what I’m looking for
I’ll try again later.
Oh there it is :)
Found it
Geordie Munro
____________
If it was in the DR, you’d be one of the 1st ones on hear pointing out that it was another ‘slanted’ article, designed to slate the achievements of Martin O’Neill.
As it wasn’t in the DR and was, posted on here by one of your, ahem, colleagues, it will indeed be ‘slanted’ and, will probably lead to a circling of clique wagons IMHO.
marrakesh express
Here you go
@Eurowinners1967: Aston Villa: Unseen photos of Villa Park’s worst ever violence in Rangers friendly 38 years ago today – Birm Mail http://t.co/eLGgKLVDRz
HH
Another huge earthquake has struck Nepal. 7.1 magnitude. Those poor poor people, I hope there aren’t many casualties.
God bless them.
HH
Kev,
I don’t read the record. I don’t usually read you Tb.
And secondly who played along side Broony in midfield the day he picked up his booking that ruled him out of the first of the rangers games?
Roads to paint – laters
murdochbhoy
07:24 on 12 May, 2015
Good morning CQNers,
Chris Torey @ 05.22
This it would appear, like so many of these conspiracy theories emanates from the good old US of A, I’ll bet you also believe man didn’t land on the moon, ha ha……
There’s doubt on the moom landing and if i was not a coward I would go for NO.
One question how did they get through the Van Allen belt with an Aluminium covered space module OK another question How did the transport the Landing vehicle.
All conspiracy theories don’t come from USA do you know the phrase was invented by the CIA just months after the JFK assassination. I suppose you believe in the “magic Bullet” fired by a lone marksman Ol Lee Harvey. HA HA HA …
There are 4 masonic lodges in Vatican City. All the important cardinals are members.
That’s a conspiracy fact.
You’ ll learn.
The Truth is first laughed at, then ridiculed, but eventually believed. As the Truth will out.
“Toto, we aint in the Catholic Church, no more”
viva cristo rey
The MSM trying to sell big VVD this morning for the lowly sum of 10 Million if there are as many clubs after him as they say we should hold out to get a Celtic record fee of 15 Million.Mind you I would much rather that he stayed. H.H.
….PFayr supports WeeOscar
08:10 on
12 May, 2015
I think it’s fair enough to point out that the cumulative losses during MON’s time in charge were £40M, when folk say he wasn’t supported by the board. I’m pretty certain that given his huge success and the fact that we all loved him and what he brought to the club that had the board felt it was able to support him it would have.
Also the posting of wages showing they didn’t go down over 10 years is a little false too. Yes the actual figures were more or less the same but you really need to look at the a) relative to our income and b) relative to what was happening elsewhere.
For all the took of how poor our board are, I actually think their record with managerial appointments is pretty good – 10 titles from 15 since MON arrived isn’t a bad return.
Hello team, would be looking for your help to spread the word about campaign;
“The 8th May 2015 will mark the first anniversary of our friend’s child, Oscar James Knox, gaining his Angel wings. To celebrate Oscar’s short but memorable life, we’ve organised a 223 mile bike ride over three days.
We’re using this opportunity to help another young child who desperately needs support: and fast. Eileidh Paterson needs £100K by June in order to receive specialised DFMO cancer treatment in the USA. That treatment is not currently available in the UK.
On Saturday 16th May 2015, the cyclists will leave Forres, Eileidh’s home town, bound for Inverness. There, they will take in the SPFL match between Caley Thistle and Dundee United, raising awareness of neuroblastoma, and in particular Eileidh’s plight, before setting off south to Glasgow, and Celtic Park, home of Wee Oscar’s favourite team.
We have set up this team page to raise awareness and much needed funds. Our team have a common goal to raise money for the Neuroblastoma Childrens Cancer Alliance (NCCA UK). The team are Steve Taylor, Kevan Lawler, Iain McGovern, Robert Campbell and Paul Muldoon.
We are football fans of different teams with a common goal: to make a difference for Eileidh in wee Oscar’s name.
We would like to ask for your help by donating to Eileidh’s campaign.
https://www.justgiving.com/HighlandbikerideforEileidhPaterson
OR
Text EPAT50 £1-10 to 70070
The Highland Cycle Team.”
Thankyou Mouldy 67
Goooooooooooood morning
just catching up.
Congratulations to The black cat in LMS:)))
———
Hello team, would be looking for your help to spread the word about campaign;
“The 8th May 2015 will mark the first anniversary of our friend’s child, Oscar James Knox, gaining his Angel wings. To celebrate Oscar’s short but memorable life, we’ve organised a 223 mile bike ride over three days.
We’re using this opportunity to help another young child who desperately needs support: and fast. Eileidh Paterson needs £100K by June in order to receive specialised DFMO cancer treatment in the USA. That treatment is not currently available in the UK.
On Saturday 16th May 2015, the cyclists will leave Forres, Eileidh’s home town, bound for Inverness. There, they will take in the SPFL match between Caley Thistle and Dundee United, raising awareness of neuroblastoma, and in particular Eileidh’s plight, before setting off south to Glasgow, and Celtic Park, home of Wee Oscar’s favourite team.
We have set up this team page to raise awareness and much needed funds. Our team have a common goal to raise money for the Neuroblastoma Childrens Cancer Alliance (NCCA UK). The team are Steve Taylor, Kevan Lawler, Iain McGovern, Robert Campbell and Paul Muldoon.
We are football fans of different teams with a common goal: to make a difference for Eileidh in wee Oscar’s name.
We would like to ask for your help by donating to Eileidh’s campaign.
https://www.justgiving.com/HighlandbikerideforEileidhPaterson
OR
Text EPAT50 £1-10 to 70070
The Highland Cycle Team.”
Thanks Mouldy 67
————
I know this will have been posted a few times in this article
but it is up there in my top list of Celtic memories
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zy5XsLLIb0U
Geordie Munro
____________
Robson and Hartley, couldn’t gel by the presence of Brown in the midfield, look what happened when he was removed.
Who’s Kev?
Also…having stumbled across the formula to defeat Walters huns, having Robson and, Hartley in the middle of the field, two players who knew how to look after themselves and, crucially….they knew how to tackle – without – fouling, that was the secret, the formula provided by these two players was – mysteriously – or maybe not, dismantled for the next encounter with, Walters huns, again at CP and, I still to this day can’t fathom out why, Strachan, dropped Robson out the team for the visit of the huns, brought Brown back an, we were gubbed 2-4!
HH
took? talk.
ooooooops Celtic 2-1 R*ng*rs, 16/04/2008
Lymmbhoy
From the article.
“Scores of Rangers fans” traveled down on the overnight sleeper from Glasgow, but there was so much bother on the train that “some fans were thrown off at Wigan”.
Talk about punishing the innocent!
Kev,
Not what I asked.
Who played alongside brown in the middle when he picked up his booking that ruled him out of one of the hun games?
PF AYR 0810
BLANTYRE TIM 0655
Yes indeed.
12th May 1916 Dublin. James Connolly was executed by British firing squad.
James Connolly voted one of the 100 greatest ever Britons, one of Scotland’s greatest sons. If only we had someone of his worth today.
Worth a watch given the contribution by a number of Scots.
James Connolly A working class hero.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=-X7rSvTl290