After writing a piece on our European season for the forthcoming CQN Magazine I read the excellent contribution from SFTB this morning. It is only natural that we live in the moment but for the last 70 years of the 20th century Celtic fans, more than anyone else, viewed each day in its historical context.
Older generations would have had little choice but to keep their history alive during the lost decades between the mid-20s and mid-60s. 7-1 and the Coronation Cup, each magnificent and modest in their own way, were the highlights, while the legend of Jimmy McGrory more than anyone established what was known as the Celtic Way.
Then came Lisbon. In an instant, all that history was eclipsed. New heroes, one of whom recalled to me he was told Celtic would amount to nothing with him in the team by a ‘fan’ a few years earlier, changed everything, but for this most historical of clubs, the inheritance was not all positive.
If Jimmy McGrory established Celtic as a remarkable goal-scoring team, the incessant attacking that afternoon in Lisbon cast an unattainable shadow. It proved Celtic could win the European Cup by playing fabulous football but set a template we were cursed to attempt to follow.
The rules of the off-field game have changed often since those days, no more so than this season, when Celtic grew from a team who were penned into their own penalty box by HJK Helsinki, who needed a goal to knock us out of Europe in August, from a team the Turin media were joyous when Juventus beat home and away. Thoughts of ‘Maybe we could win this” have since emerged in Turin.
I’ve loved every minute of this season, from the last minute header in Moscow to the last minute header in Dingwall. Adding context to it is a joy for one of our tomorrows.
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WOW…..NEARLY AS GOOD AS OURS……LLLLOOOOLLLL…!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Cheeky wee tip for those who want to watch Barca v Milan via the medium of itv player on the iPad/ iPhone/ iWhatever . If your trying to watch in Scotland you cant cos stv are rrrrrubbish. However, you can if you tell the itvplayer a wee fib about your post code.
I am sure I am preaching to the tech savvy converted here.
Mon the Barca
Can’t believe they’re showing fekin adverts
Sipsini-I think Mourinho in the semi with Inter a couple of years ago was the first to frustrate Barca,another Italian team tonight so could happen again.Watch Milan get plenty of yellows tonight,win at all costs football.Mon Barca.
Game is on smartfone app TV Catchup for free.
tremendous article sftb
We should be forgetting about 12-12-18 with 8-8-8 splits, or 12-12-10-10 with colt teams or a 16 team top league or an 18 team top league. The first thing that should be addressed when reconstructing leagues (after the complete removal of all current SFA/SPL/SFL officials to be replaced by people who’s sole purpose is to look after the interest of one new team) is to reduce the number of professional teams in this country. 42 is far too many, 44 is madness, 2 professional leagues of 12 with a pyramid structure that encourages and rewards ambitious semi-professional clubs to make the step up.
Barca’s pitch is in slightly better condition than Ross County’s. Fact!
Hendr1k
More likely English should have added that Longmuir was looking for a job at ZFC at the SFA!
GGGGGOOOOOOOAAAAAALLLLLLLL ……YYYEEEESSSS….!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
1-0 barca, brilliant goal by messi
Brilliant Messi again
Goooooolllllllllllllll! Unbelievable!
Vamos Barca!!
An amazing player
Game on now, some goal
5 defenders round him, and he still scores. Genius!
52 goals in 42 club games for messi this season. Replacement if hooper leaves??
!!bada bing!!
Game on.
that was astonishingly brilliant, and simple as well
The control with the outstep of his left foot, utter genius, great goal MESSI!!!!
Great I can’t see the first 15 mins of the Barca game because of Eastenders on one telly and British menu is on the other, bummer!
Go Barca
Goalie fixed to the spot……
Barca denied a stonewaller
Makes you proud to think how we went toe to toe with Barca and and more than held our own.
Right got a telly free I’m off…………….
Penalty?
That tackle from Abate gets you a red in American Football nevermind normal football, definitely worth one here too.
sandman
Lovely post, tinged with sadness.
If only!
HH!!
WTF do these AR s do behind the goal? Stonewall pen
That was a stonewall penalty.Abate takes Pedro out. Awful refereeing.
Huh! he (Messi) only beat 4 of them there!
CL rules, Italian defenders are allowed to do what they want
Milan keeper keeping Milan in it!!
Guys,
I never knowingly watch sky or bbc for football, however I have always wondered about the level of anti-pat nevin criticism on here. Just saw a BBC football focus with Nevin and could understand where the criticism was coming from. He is gay as they come. Has he ever outed himself?
That wee Messi is always crap against the big teams….US
That boy iniesta is no a bad player, I imagine ally is looking to see his contract situation at the end of the season