Well, I did say “brace for impact!”
Like Yogi Junior, I hoped for a mercy killing in Estádio da Luz.
Three nil down after 36 minutes, I feared a serious thrashing.
If anything, our hosts lived up to the national stereotype.
Quite simply, the Portuguese are the nicest people in Europe.
They just are.
With the killing done, it was time for mercy.
The mismatch was a tale of two Duráns.
Asking Dane Murray to cope with the Benfica striker should be outlawed as a cruel and unusual punishment.
Not the lad’s fault.
Then the lads in the away dugout decided to play our Durán in his proper position.
Result?
Goal.
A massive hat tip to those who made the journey.
As the late Tommy Burns said, “They’re there, and they’re always there. And God bless every one of them.”
Moreover, they deserve better.
They deserve a club that doesn’t treat them as idiot customers.
Next May, I’m told the club will hold a corporate golf day in the Portuguese capital to honour the Lions.
Dear reader, that’s too contrived for a novel.
Of course, the man who became immortal that May in Estádio Nacional knew how central the fans were to the entire enterprise.
That essential empathy for those who pay to cheer on their team is entirely alien to the Grey Brigade in the boardroom and their golfing overlord.
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The Grey Brigade! Sums them up perfectly.
I think most Celtic fans were resigned to defeat before a ball was kicked in anger but, that eternal optimism would always be bubbling away under the surface.
Barely 5 minutes into the game, and it was gone for me. By half-time I feared another European annihilation. Thankfully the opposition took the foot off the gas, but the final outcome was still a comprehensive pumping. There is a big game coming up on Sunday and it will be interesting to see how the players and coaching staff respond.
Martin O’Neil found positives to speak about in his after match presser so, despite the result last night, I am fully behind the manager, for better or for worse. A good result on Sunday to remain top of the league and the Grey Brigade can eff off HH
Phil
Sack the board