The game went pretty much as predicted. In fact, that was the disappointing thing - that we expected to get hammered... and we were ("3-0" a friend predicted, "4-1" I replied). It's on nights like this that the ultra cautious approach of the Celtic Board is painfully obvious.
It's just a pity that the fans (3000 in the ground and another 3000 outside) don't behave like the fans of a "wee team" -- or 5,000 of those fans and another 100,000 watching on TV could have saved themselves a lot of time and money. Game report.
I was at Old Trafford and it was painful.
ReplyDeleteI began to have doubts about the wisdom of going on Saturday after I'd watched us against ICT and them against West Brom, but I had committed to going and didn't want to let the guy, who had got me the ticket (Man Utd ticket and £45), down.
At least I didn't need to worry about cheering when we scored.
This was a really bad performance with no fight, no way of retaining possession and no threat to them.
I also had a great view of Gordon Strachan and Neil Lennon attempting to change things at left back throughout the game, but that was too late. It should have been sorted in the Summer.
I still think a 1-1 draw in Aalborg is our only hope.
The stadium looks good. I've only ever seen it from the outside I think it would be worth visiting. Agree with you both completely. How we never managed to get a better left back is a bit beyond belief. Could we not have got someone for a year from Liverpool, Arsenal, Man U or Chelsea reserves? Even as a stop gap. I see Rioch has left Aalborg. In theory that should help us.
ReplyDeleteGerry, the stadium is pretty good. I went for a walk around it at about 6 o'clock. They have a good set of displays about the Munich crash in the "Munich Tunnel".
ReplyDeleteI then went across to Salford Quays - Manchester City Council has done a great job transforming their docks and they put Glasgow in the shade. The waterfront is heavily used for watersports and the views across the water to the stadium at that time of day are fantastic.
Getting into and out of the stadium was fast and easy (a big change from the last time I was there - Celtic v Rapid Vienna) but the atmosphere lets it down. You would never realise that there was 74000 in the ground. Maybe the lack of atmosphere was due to the fact that Celtic didn't make a contest of it. It certainly doesn't compare to Parkhead on a European night.
Celtic are now the only of 32 clubs in the Champions League not to have scored a goal. It might be worth a decent price betting on that statistic to remain after 6 games.
ReplyDeleteNot sure that Rioch getting the sack is a boost as a new manager often induces an at least temporary improvement in form for most teams.