You and I have seen some special Celtic teams. For me, the double winning team in 1977, the Centenary team and, of course, the Martin O’Neill team, were without doubt above anything we’ve had since the 60s.
I am in no way disparaging Gordon Strachan’s remarkable achievement of twice reaching the knock out stages of the Champions League. This was down to Gordon’s superior ability as a manager; the wee man didn’t have a squad to compare to the others on the list.
By contrast, this team, in its embryonic state, finished fourth in the Champions League group, but that was then. Now, they are within touching distance of winning an undefeated treble. This is the finest Celtic team I’ve seen.
The ’77 team wasn’t so much a team as a support act for Kenny Dalglish. A season later, without King Kenny, they finished fifth, without even a Uefa Cup spot as compensation.
It was sheer force of Billy McNeill’s personality which drove the Centenary team on, but they returned for preseason without their elixir.
It was like going to school watching Martin O’Neill’s team. We learned so much about the game that we’d never seen at Celtic. This was a guy who knew how to get results. But without another King, we discovered that team too was built on a single foundation.
There are no Kings in this Celtic team. They are a team in the true sense of the word. Last night, without Dembele, Armstrong, Tierney, Lustig, Simunovic and Sinclair they rolled around the Firhill surface like a machine from the 22nd century.
It was breathtaking. This is the greatest Celtic team since the one which walked off the Hampden pitch in front of 136,000 fans in 1970.
I saw a preview of the BBC documentary film, Glasgow 1967: The Lisbon Lions, which airs across the UK on Wednesday 24th May. It was heartfelt, entertaining and inspiring. I intended to review it today, but I was so annoyed at the coverage some in the media gave it, I thought I better step back to do the job justice.
They had some of the Lions, of course, and some wives too, but they sat a microphone in front of a few of our more experienced CQN’ers Some of the best things you have read on this site come to life on the screen. We’ll talk about it again next week.
Stunned and humbled at the support for the marathon, which takes place on Sunday morning, to benefit the Celtic Foundation. I just don’t know what to say. There are spectacular donations (here) there – a simple thank you does not seem appropriate, but I know every donation, large or small, means someone has taken the trouble to spend hard earned money.
It is appreciated, thank you.
If you’d like to get an historic week off to a unique start I hear there’s a projector screening of the original live broadcast and whole 90 minutes from Lisbon in a Govan warehouse tonight (Friday, 19th), it’ll run from around 6.30 till 9. If interested drop an email to cqnopen@gmail.com
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Magnificentseven on 20th May 2017 8:17 pm
Thanks for that. I will call first thing on Monday
saving the best for last
https://youtu.be/jpBTgmPgFxs
Check for sure….
I think that, the BBC Alba are showing…..
the, Women’s Ladies Cup Final the morra….
at 4 pm between…..
Celtic Ladies vs Hibernian Ladies….
………off-oot.
I hope Dundee Utd can beat Hamilton. One less plastic pitch to risk injuring our thoroughbreds.
Tomorrow, if the unbeaten league season is achieved, I might just get a little bit emotional. I might just be welling up right now…
Yes, I’ve been drinking gin. What’s that got to do with anything???
David
just enjoying an Opihr
DavidO 8.48pm
Enjoy your gin, your a tonic for the blog :-)
GLENDALYSTONSILS
I agree. Televised games with on a plastic pitch with three stands are just embarrassing to our game. Not quite as embarrassing as having a bent game for two decades but still pretty embarrassing…
Davidopolous
This is a man’s game. No time for cry babies
For those in the Rutherglen area the Lisbon Lions game is being shown in St Marks hall on Thursday night. Byob. Hh
Going to see the magnificent Nick Cave and his bad seeds in September.
Hope they play this one.
https://youtu.be/4sfhvxTZ0wo
Mary Black was on the LATE LATE SHOW last night when her thirty plus years in the music industry was marked. I am a huge fan of hers and rugularly attended her concerts.
Anachie Gordon isprobably the song that brought her initial recognition:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dN2tAU5J0mg
GENE
Lot’s of people have been telling me about Opihr but I’ve not tried it yet – is it good? I’m working my way through an Adnams Copper House Gin I got for my birthday. S’awright…
GENE on 20TH MAY 2017 8:50 PM
David
just enjoying an Opihr
Is that an Opihr you can’t refuse?
GERRYFAETHEBRIG
Thanks mate! :)
Whisper it….but I hate tonic ;)
Hope you are having a good Saturday night!
GLENDALYSTONSILS
Feck, should have thought of that one…
Almore
Mary Black was very good last night. Enjoyed her story about meeting Linda Ronstadt, in the Meeting Place, Dorset Street.
Were you ever there
By the way, I used to play football with her brother. Lovely fella
Tannadice was always one of favourite away days so I hope Utd come up:))
Cracking place on a sunny day for a game of football.
I have a feeling there won’t be much sleeping done tonight..
I also have the feeling we will hammer Hearts tomorrow!
Mon The Hoops
HJ
Thankyou for the kind words.
Provided I get my stomach in order Lisbon will be a blast –I genuinely believe from the bottom of my soul that it is just one of those things that are meant to be.
Unfortunately, my recent affliction might mean it is short of one or two wee items that might just have been icing on the cake but God willing with the aid of a few herbal remedies to get me back on my feet there might just be time to pull some of them off yet.
Glad to hear that yourself and the boy are going to the Hydro. Excellent.
Bateen Bhoy ya muppet.
You just don’t get this cowboy thingy at all do ya?
If you wait till after the watershed so to speak I will help you out with a little something but in the interim I will just leave you with this.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Tbq6HokdCg
What is it with Gin these days
Feckin hipsters, beards, gin, craft beers, avocados
Are there any real working class people left.
WINNING CAPTAINS on 20TH MAY 2017 8:34 PM
E-mailed you, a medium T-shirt if you have one?
Had I thought I could have got you to bring it last night.
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
WHAT IS THE STARS
As a 12 year old when I witnessed the Bhoys stopping the 10, I learned that even real men cry :D
My missus complains that I’m heartless and has never seen me cry – I’ve told her to watch out for treble day next Saturday :)
Mary started out with a group called General Humbert.
Here she is singing Crazy Man Michael with them:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdohe3nBLT0
Davidopolous
I listened to stopping the ten on the radio in my kitchen and cried like a baby. …and I was a lot older than 12. ..
BRTH, did mad Frankie get hold of you today?
Wits I luv the old Gin amigo. HipstersCSC Hh
This is my favourite Mary Black song – Katie:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_srUnTbXuwc
WITS: I was disappointed with last night’s tribute, I thought she deserved better, tbh. I was in the Meeting Place on several occasions, in the ’80s & ’90s.
David
It has a distinct spice taste – lovely
Muppet, eh ?
https://youtu.be/N1WjSQpN1Fk
What is the Stars on 20th May 2017 8:56 pm
Such a tragedy that both Mary B and Linda R have lost their voices.
Linda, in particular, is a very sorry tale with Parkinson’s effectively taking her ability to sing.
When the clip below was filmed she was already battling illness and other than the voice – such a big powerful voice – it is hard to recognise the once absolutely vibrant Rondstadt.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gddxdsDzaIs
Brogan Rogan Trevino and Hogan on 20th May 2017 8:42 pm
Magnificentseven on 20th May 2017 8:17 pm
Thanks for that. I will call first thing on Monday
I work from home most days at the moment there is not a lot planned for next week so should be able to help.
I know the Company mentioned, a couple of Asian gentlemen who have always been very helpful in the past, not sure that they do too much on site though, quick turnaround may be an issue
WITS
going back to the Gin House days
Parkroad67 and Jimmynotpaul , an interesting week for your respective Junior sides.
Clydebank have came from about fourth place to current league leaders in two months especially after their terrible result against ten man Maryhill . Beating Girvan and Kilsyth Rangers was a real boost for the Bankies.
As I posted last night , I take my hat off to Junior players at this time of the season , playing so many games over a short period of time with no public moaning about fixture congestion,
Bateen Bhoy
Right I have work to do.
But just for you — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eh2PjkzW20w
Outwith Lisbon wining the league in 98 was arguably the most important result in our history. Hh
ACGR No
But I am up and working so I might try and get hold of him once I have got a few essentials out the way.
What life was really like for the Lisbon Lions, according to Jim Craig.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-4525112/Celtic-s-Jim-Craig-content-long-Lisbon-Lions-silence.html#ixzz4heS5GfWK
The article contains these stanzas:
‘We felt under-appreciated at Celtic for a long time,’ admits Craig. ‘It wasn’t as if we were pushy or anything like that. Not at all.’
By the 1990s, Celtic’s greatest team felt unloved and unwanted. Persona non grata within the club they propelled into the ranks of Europe’s elite.
Vocal critics of the ruling families who carried the club to the brink of administration, the Lions became an embarrassing reminder of how far standards had fallen.
‘I was broadcasting for the BBC when the club wasn’t doing particularly well,’ explains Craig. ‘And I felt there was no point in broadcasting if you are going to be biased.
‘If somebody asks me how the team have played, I will give them an honest answer. But that didn’t always go down well. I was critical of the way the club was being run.
‘We embarrassed them because we were a reminder of how far the club had fallen. We were not ostracised exactly, but neither were we regarded as highly as we might have been.’
In one interview, a former director described the Lions as ‘mercenaries’. The accusation was, in every sense, laughable.
and
In 1992, celebrations to mark the 25th anniversary of Lisbon were derisory, cheap and grudging.
‘There was a thoughtlessness on the part of former Celtic regimes,’ adds Craig. ‘It’s fair to say the Lions may not have gained the recognition or assistance we probably deserved.’
Tommy Burns brokered the rapprochement. Martin O’Neill and major shareholder Dermot Desmond continued building bridges.
and
In the end, Craig felt strongly enough about the situation to act. Assisting with a family house clearance in the early ’90s, he was struck on the side of the head by a box file falling from a shelf. It contained a list of Celtic shareholders.
‘I started phoning them and saying: ‘You have three shares, I know someone else with four or six. If you have ten, you get one vote at an AGM’.
‘I put them in touch with others to give people a vote against the old regime. That was another reason I was bombed out.
‘Thankfully, Fergus McCann came in and that was a real game-changer.’
Hrvatski Jim is angry.
Here’s another Mary Black favourite of mine – Bright Blue Rose
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-vlb9w8SSY