28 May 2025 17:27:57
I noticed Celtic will go to Portugal as part of our pre-season to play Sporting Lisbon, which will take place in Faro.
A few days after we stopped 10 IAR in 1998,
Celtic travelled to Lisbon to play Sporting in a game which was part of the Jorge Cadette transfer deal.
Word had got about that Cadette would be receiving a percentage of the gate money and only about 500 fans appeared in their huge capacity stadium.
Sporting scored a late winner in our 2-1 defeat.
Wim Jansen had confirmed the day before the match that he would be leaving Celtic.
Cadette had previously forced a transfer before our crucial 1997/ 98 campaign started because he failed to show for pre-season training complaining of mental health problems.
Celtic finally agreed to sell him to a Spanish Club.
I didn't know until recently that Cadette joined Sportings rivals Benfica in January 1999 to once again partner Pierre Van Hooijdonk.
28 May 2025 18:33:33
I'm sure it was his then partner that wanted him closer to home. I also believe he stated he regretted leaving Celtic. One of the best natural finishers we have had.
28 May 2025 23:09:53
Always remember his debut against Aberdeen as we had waited ages to see him after the Jim Farey fiasco. He came on as a sub and scored with what seemed his first touch and Celtic Park went mental. It was one of the loudest nights I recall.
Loved when he scored and he would twirl his finger around. Him and Di Canio were my favourite players of that time.
29 May 2025 07:09:17
My favourite player was the 3rd Amigo Big Pierre.
29 May 2025 07:48:53
He put the ball in the netty.
29 May 2025 07:36:54
Some team we had at that time! That team would wipe the floor with the current SPFL. The stuff we played was magical at times.
29 May 2025 14:17:01
Bhoy 88 we had the makings of a really good team over that period
van hooijdonk cadete di canio thom mcstay Collins Boyd McKinley Jackie Mac bulked out by guys like grant Donnelly O'Donnell
wieghorst but throughout Tommy burns tenure our GK and two centre Half's where at best very average to absolute piss poor . was Stubbs there then? Memory might have missed some players out. (buzz could back fill for me) Addition of one really good goalie and one really good centre back it might all have ended differently for tb . . I think we're in a better position now but at the same sort crossroads we have core of a good team but awaiting the outcome of the next transfer window to see if we stand still or bring in better quality to push ahead.
29 May 2025 14:49:31
Stubbs was signed by Tommy Burns from Bolton but I never rated him that highly as a defender. If memory serves me correct it was him and John Hughes at CB. As you rightly pointed out middle to front we had some team but our defence was guff. It obviously did not help that we were so attack minded so the defence often got left exposed.
{Ed007's Note - I thought Stubbs was a brilliant player and both him & Marc Rieper were an immense partnership under Wim Jansen.}
29 May 2025 16:17:35
I agree that him and rieper were good together.
{Ed007's Note - ??
29 May 2025 17:21:33
I may be wrong but I have a recollection of Stubbs rieper and annoni playing together as well, possibly against Liverpool.
{Ed007's Note - Going by The Celtic Wiki when we played Liverpool in the 1997/98 UEFA Cup 1st round for some reason Rieper was ineligible to play in the tie - we drew 2-2 at Celtic Park & 0-0 at Anfield, going out on away goals - and Annoni took Rieper's place, maybe Buzz will know more about it?}
29 May 2025 19:48:14
Stubbs, Reiper and Annoni were in the 97/ 98 squad. Sure Stubbs got sent off in his first league game at Pittodrie in the opening game of the 96/ 97 season. 2-2 it finished.
{Ed007's Note - What a day out that was! To this day me & my now brother-in-law don't know how we were allowed in the ground.}
29 May 2025 19:57:30
I know that all 3 started against St. Johnstone in 1998 to win the league.
29 May 2025 21:09:19
I remember my dad sending me to the shop to get the papers, beautiful morning it was, I remember the feeling of butterflies I had in my stomach as it was plastered all over the papers how it was title d-day. Didn't believe it was certain until McNamara squared it for King Harold then it was party time!
29 May 2025 21:45:41
Going back to discussing the team Boyd88 stated would wipe the floor of the current SPFL . I think they would, if they played together as a whole team with a. high pressure game preventing opponents from opening up our defence.