I can remember the last time that United beat Celtic some ten years ago. The manager at the time was John Barnes and this was the result that saw the affable Barnes’ Celtic bubble start to burst. This time around however it would appear that the bubble had already burst some time ago.
United probably did not deserve to get all three points on the balance of play, however neither did Celtic and I can only applaud United for the manner in which they got their win. The tactical switches by manager Craig Levein undid a Celtic that was at times bereft of a play A, never mind a plan B!
It was about time that United got a result against us, and the manner that they did so was strangely reminiscent of the score lines in the many victories that we have had against them coming from behind to win 2-1. Apart from the obvious ones in the 85 and 88 Scottish Cup finals I can remember a few other times when we have come from a single goal deficit to win the game 2-1 at the death, such as a cup tie in the 90’s which saw Andy Thom score the winner and indeed Henrik Larsson’s first game back after that horrific leg break in a match that saw Regi Blinker play a blinder.
Much has been said in the Celtic forums since this result drawing parallels with the previous manager’s tenure and what the result would have been had the diminutive Ginger been at the helm. I for one will draw no parallels between managers as this is, in my opinion rampant ‘whataboutery’, however one comparison would have to be in the managers post match interview.
Whilst I can fully agree with Tony in that Celtic did control the match for large portions of the game I cannot see where he gets this massive “gulf in class” appraisal of the two teams? Further to that, stating that his team cannot defend against players who have greater physicality does not ‘defend’ the fact that no Celtic player was near enough to either john Daly nor Darren Dodd’s to even challenge for the crosses that led to their two goals.
There were positives however; Aiden McGeady had arguably his best game in a hooped jersey all season. He was a constant thorn in Utds side with his probing and further to this his fancy footwork resulted in that rarest of sights – a through ball from Aiden! However when he did miraculously find a team mate in space rather than run down a blind alley that team mate was either off side or wanted the ball into space rather than into feet. Marc Antoine Fortune probably expected the ball into space so that he could strike it first time however a good forward is capable of improvising, unfortunately it would appear that Marc is either not a good forward or he is incapable of improvising. I am not sure which of those two options is the worst?
Andreas Hinkel continues to impress with his all round play, as dogged in the tackle as he is going forward the German has been one of the few shining lights this season. I do fear though that I am not the only one who is looking on Andreas with admiring eyes and I fully expect the offers to come flooding in for him once the New Year is upon us. As I type that I realise just how low things have come when the best thing I can say about a Celtic team is that the right back is a class act!
There were many other players who had decent games yesterday, and there were many other villains. In the midfield Landry N’Guemo had a good game wilfully snapping at everyone’s heels in a tireless shift, as did Barry “it’s my penalty” Robson, however what has become of Marc Crosas? Could it be that Mowbray’s system does not afford the player the same space he enjoyed previously or has he regressed to a shadow of his former self? What too has happened to Danny Fox? His early season promise has seemed to all but dissipate and he now looks like Lee Naylor with tattoos! Oh and ps, when will we see this much vaunted great left peg delivery?
All in all these are worrying times to be a Celtic fan, however Tony Mowbray seems to be getting afforded a lot more patience than his predecessor ever enjoyed. Indeed had WGS came out with a press conference like that after such a defeat and capitulation his name would have been cyber mud!
Get it sorted Tony, and don’t allow yourself to be continually drawn on what may happen in January because all you are doing is offering false hope to the supporters and not only that but you are de-motivating the players that you have at your disposal.
Yours in Celtic
Clydebuilt