Celtic v UNITED - 21st Nov, 19.45

[schmeichelstarjump!]

mufcadz said:

I think all this talk about tactics and so on are wrong, we do function better with a 442, but with the players out there and the way we were playing we should have won this game. I don't think you put fault at Fergie's door with this result.

The ref's free kick decision, Jarosik's diving and the player's are at fault.

you say that but why was one of our most effective players rooney not in the game at all really because the tactics were not right.

[Stew]

mufcadz said:

I think all this talk about tactics and so on are wrong, we do function better with a 442, but with the players out there and the way we were playing we should have won this game. I don't think you put fault at Fergie's door with this result.

The ref's free kick decision, Jarosik's diving and the player's are at fault.

Playing our best player, one of the best players in the world, out of position did nothing to help win this game. It wasn't the only reason we lost, of course, but it certainly didn't help us.

[keano16]

I thought we were great in the first half. How many times have Celtic been kept in their half for the majority of the first 45?

God knows what Strachan said to his players at half time, but they were a totally different team in the second half.

I'm not going to grumble about our formation, we played some great football, just unlucky not to get the ball in the back of the net.

It was a fantastic free-kick by Nakamura. Beckhamesque. But they should never have had it in the first place. Vidic didn't even touch him.

I wasn't confident that Saha was going to score his penalty. His confidence was clearly shook after missing his chance earlier on. Was Scholes on the field when we were awarded the pen? I'd like us to make Scholes our regular pen taker.

[Sky Sports 1]

They have the perfect opportunity to redeem themselves against Chelsea and Benfica, if they don't take it, suddenly our season starts to turn around again.

Lack of experience in attack shone through tonight, Saha has been useless with one on one's all season, some of Ronaldo's finishing bad and Giggs was out of it in the 2nd half when Fergie put him up top.

Attacking subsitution when United go behind, Evra and O'Shea on! Doesn't it just fill you with confidence.

[Stew]

Is the Benfica next week or the week after?

[7even]

stewart1971 said:

Is the Benfica next week or the week after?

Wednesday the 6th of December mate. All of our matches can be found on the forum calender.

[missunited]

[url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/manchesterunited/s/228/228858_celtic_1_united_0.html]Celtic 1 United 0[/url]

UNITED'S Champions League hopes remain in the balance after defeat against Celtic at Parkhead.

The Reds needed only a point to gain qualification to the knock-out phase of the competition, but despite dominating the game for long periods they were undone by Shunsuke Nakamura’s sublime free-kick.

United had a chance to hit back when Thomas Gravesen was penalised for handling in the box, but Artur Boruc saved Louis Saha's late penalty.

The result means Celtic have qualified for the next stage, while United must gain at least a point against Benfica on December 6.

Sir Alex Ferguson started with arguably his strongest 11, with Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville both used despite speculation they would be rested ahead of Sunday’s showdown with Chelsea.

Gabriel Heinze got the nod at left-back, while Michael Carrick and Paul Scholes established midfield superiority early on.

Giggs was unlucky to be called back for offside with just after quarter of an hour gone when he was clean through, and the Welsh winger then miscontrolled to squander a potential scoring chance.

Neville and Heinze were getting forward to good effect as Celtic struggled to impose themselves on the game, although the Hoops defence were coping with the movement of Saha and Wayne Rooney.

Bobo Balde felled Scholes with a reckless challenge just outside the box, but Giggs’ effort was deflected over the bar. From the resulting corner, Rooney fizzed a volley wide.

Control

Celtic simply could not get hold of the ball and Giggs and Scholes were dictating play in the home side’s half.

Balde’s slip then let in Ronaldo, but the Portuguese winger never quite got the ball under control and Boruc made the save for Celtic.

Celtic had their best chance of the first half in the 38th minute, but Gravesen’s header fizzed across goal when the slightest of touches would have diverted the ball in.

Celtic made two changes at the break with Jarosik and Shaun Maloney coming on in place of Evander Sno and Maciej Zurawski.

And Gordon Strachan’s men showed more intent immediately with Gravesen unleashing a stinging shot that was saved by Edwin van der Sar.

Ronaldo was looking dangerous however, and a couple of weaving runs served a reminder to Celtic of just how dangerous the winger can be.

Celtic hit back and Van der Sar had to be alert to stop Nakamura’s bouncing shot, while at the other end Rooney fired a shot over from distance.

With game heading towards a stalemate, Celtic were awarded a controversial free-kick for Nemanja Vidic’s challenge on Jarosik.

And just like he did at Old Trafford, Nakamura sent another sublime free-kick into the top corner to give Celtic the lead.

United almost hit back straight away when Saha found himself in on goal, but he hesitated and allowed Boruc to smother his effort.

Saha then missed the penalty after Gravesen had been deemed to have handled Ronaldo’s free-kick, with Boruc saving well down to his right-hand side.

---

Celtic v United: Player ratings

Van der Sar - Had no chance with the goal and had little else to do 6

Neville - Solid defensively and got forward to good effect 7

Ferdinand - A calm presence at the back and his distribution was solid 6

Vidic - Harshly penalised for free-kick which led to goal and otherwise solid 6

Heinze - His usual combative self without causing many problems going forward 6

Carrick - Knitted United's dominant midfield play together 7

Scholes - Started brightly but faded 6

Giggs - Looked dangerous in the first half but went missing after the break 6

Ronaldo - A constant threat down the right and his direct running, especially in the second half, was dangerous 7

Rooney - A couple of useful efforts and put Saha through for a good chance late on 7

Saha - Missed one good chance and then the penalty 5

Substitutes

Evra - No time to make an impact

O'Shea - No time to make an impact

[Stew]

7even said:

stewart1971 said:

Is the Benfica next week or the week after?

Wednesday the 6th of December mate. All of our matches can be found on the forum calender.

Cheers! Just saw that thats a few days after an away game to Boro. Marvellous...

[Sky Sports 1]

Fergie:

Sir Alex Ferguson was still in shock when he addressed the media following United's 1-0 defeat at Celtic.

The manager admitted he was slightly thrown by the home side's tactical reshuffle at half-time, but said the Reds still enjoyed enough control of the match to get a result and go through on the night, instead of going down to the wire with Benfica.

Here are Sir Alex's quotes from the post-match press conference:

"We enjoyed the challenge of keeping the ball and passing, and making good movements. We did that really well, particularly in the first half.

"At the start of the second half, Celtic changed their system with (Thomas) Gravesen playing further up the pitch. It caught us off balance to begin with but once we got into our rhythm again, we started to control the game again.

"It's just the shock of losing, it's hard to take. Copenhagen was another game just like tonight, we had complete control of the match there and lost 1-0, which just tells you, you have to score.

"We had some terrific chances in Copenhagen and didn't take them. Tonight we didn't have as many clearcut chances but we had good openings. If you don't take your chances, then you're left with egg on your face as we were tonight."

[moxdevil]

Ok i am high and pissed so this post could be complete bollocks or inspired. But despite bei9ng embarrassed by the fact we lost to a Scottish team that should be playing in the fizzy pop league i'm not to dis-heartened by losing. It was a freak; the only way they were ever going to score was via a set piece, still lets hope it doesn't fuck up morale for the weekkend. To be honest i'm more pissed by the fact i choked on two blacks at pool than united losing tonight.

[Busby Boy]

Well one thing's for sure, it makes the Benfica game something to look forward too. Rather than playing a second string side for the fuck of it, of course I'd like to be through already but it makes the 80 mile journey there and back all the more worthwhile. I'll be roaring on the boys as usual, whether it's a friendly or Champions League I will let's hope the rest of those who turn up do as well.

[Red Yank]

mufcadz said:

Well one thing's for sure, it makes the Benfica game something to look forward too. Rather than playing a second string side for the fuck of it, of course I'd like to be through already but it makes the 80 mile journey there and back all the more worthwhile. I'll be roaring on the boys as usual, whether it's a friendly or Champions League I will let's hope the rest of those who turn up do as well.

yeah but it would have been nice to have won it in Celtic Park. When I saw someone drop a banner that read "Man Who?" and a leprechaun stabbing a red devil with its pitchfork it really set in that we dropped this one and may possibly not win the group. Some may say it's more important going through than winning the group but we'll face stiffer opposition in the next round if we don't. Let's hope Celtic's bad away record will bite them at Copenhagen and we get the result against Benfica at home.

silly leprechaun...

[danishred]

I hope we give Chelsea the "game after defeat in the champions league" treatment

[vuliek]

My biggest problem with us playing away in the Champions League is that we just do not seem to have any clue whatsoever what tempo to play at! It's all well and good playing in a more "restrained" fashion against the Giants of European football but ffs, FC Copenhagen should've been blown away by playing a much higher tempo! And with ALL due respect to Celtic, they are not AC Milan, Lyon, Madrid, Barcelona! Can you imagine us going to the Nou Camp and handing the intiaitive over to Barca? WE WOULD GET AN ABSOLUTE HAMMERING! If we are as good as we think we are, let's get back to overwhelming the opposition with our game. I really think this comes out of complicating a really simple scenario=We are better than Benfica/Celtic/Copenhagen, so lets play like we believe that!

Too many players underperformed last night! Where were Giggsy and Wayne? A lot has been said of Wayne occupying the space down the left, and it begs the question, does that then limit Giggsys effectiveness? Particularly when you take the forward runs and effectiveness of Evra who has been superb for us in recent weeks! A lot is made of CR7's lack of end product, but too many times when he did get into a crossing/passing position, Saha was the only one making a run into the box, Giggs, Rooney, Scholes, Carrick were all too far away to be effective!

Looking forward to Chelsea, solid though Gabby may be, and I reckon he is our best left back, Evra has the better form at the moment, and he MUST start! Rooney needs to get off that left flank, and get into the box more regularly!

Last night just was n't good enough!!!

[Scott]

Just read Fergie's comments about Saha's late chance. I thought it was a very assuming for the commentators to accuse Saha of arrogance. When have we ever seen him be arrogant before? It's just not his style. He told Fergie he thought he heard a whistle. That makes a lot more sense than him being arrogant.