I downloaded the file from UK Nova sight unseen: the highlights of the Celtic v Rangers* 1994 New Year's Day game at Parkhead, as I was tantalised by the prospect of seeing such Celtic greats as Nicholas, Collins, McStay on view . . . plus it was canny to note that there was some bloke called O'Neil who was playing centre forward for Celtic that day, though he was only mentioned twice during the game and the second time was when he was being substituted.
What did I get for my downloading endeavour? Hateley slotting the ball past a lonesome Paddy Bonner within a minute of the start of play at the Celtic fans end then, bang, Rangers two up after only eight minutes. Cue a Celtic collapse and the half time score reading 3-0** to Rangers and the TV cameras zooming in on Lou Macari's face, who looked like he was sucking a lemon before having to go into the dressing room to dish out the half-time kool aid oranges. At this point in the video nasty, I stopped myself from googling the result, kidding myself on that whoever uploaded the game had picked one of the Auld Firm classics to put on the website, and whatever the end result, it would have involved a spirited Celtic comeback and eight or nine goals in the mix.
How wrong I was. Turns out that the someone concerned would make Donald Findlay seem like an ecumenical sort of chap. On the eve of the first Celtic Rangers game of the season, this guy must have thought he would be a Fun-Hun by letting the rest of us in, in seeing Celtic get a 4-2 mauling by a Rangers side who weren't actually that good themselves. (Don't kid yourself, the scoreline flatters Celtic.)
Granted there was a wee bit of magic from Charlie Nicholas in the second half where, with his back to the goal, he swivelled and shot a half volley that hit the woodwork and Collins's goal was the best piece of skill in the whole game, but it has to be said that the Celtic team on the field that day didn't measure up and it served as a good corrective to those nostalgia-mongers who will insist that football in all its guises was so much better in the past: from the quality of the football, the relationship between the fans and the players, and even the lyrical content of the Cup Final songs. Trust me on this one, it was dark days for Celtic in '94, what with it being bang in the middle of Rangers 9 in the row shenanigans, and however much I wince at times when I watch the highlights of the current Celtic team, I think I can say unreservedly that there is a better quality of football being played at Celtic Park today than there was back then.
Celtic to win a tight game today 2-1.
* The teams that day were as follows: CELTIC: Bonner, Gillespie, Boyd, Grant, Wdwoczyk, McGinlay, Byrne, McStay (Capt), O'Neil, Nicholas, Collins RANGERS: Maxwell, Stevens, Murray, Gough (Capt), Pressley, Brown, Steven, McCall, Durie, Hateley, Mikhailitchenko
**At 3-0, like clockwork, a drunken Celtic fan attempted to attack the Rangers goalkeeper.
3 comments:
Those were the worst of times for us Darren - I hated the 90s as it seemed we used to play them off the park in every game but always get beaten. Laudrup on the counter - we just couldn't cope with that fucker! Or any fucker, come to think of it!
Hello Reidski,
Unfortunately, I wrote that post in a bit of a rush so in all probability I didn't get to the heart of what I was trying to say.
What was I trying to say?
Basically, that the quality of football was absolutely fucking woeful. Granted there were some sparkles of magic here and there, and I fully accept that 125mph auld firm clashes throw up more heat than light but the first touches of most of players on display had me wincing on average every 45 seconds.
Couple with that a quality of passing from both midfields that occasionally verged on the Vinny Jones like, and you can imagine that it was a bit of a culture shock to see how bad some of the football was from a few years back. It actually served as gentle jolt to my good self that perhaps the quality of football on display in the SPL isn't too bad these days.
I'm looking forward to seeing the highlights of the Celtic Rangers - especially as you say that Celtic were immense, but it has to be said that the team I've really been impressed with recently is Hibs. When they are on top form - like they were against Rangers last week - it is a real pleasure to watch them.
It just seems a bit sad that they can't be more consistent.
got to say, im absolutely gutted. Currently running a little spread bet which included Rangers doing this quadruple the blue half of Glasgow have been talking about. Looks like the value of my £10 initial bet will have diminished significantly after last nights performance....
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