The LOTW Diary- Hoops 0 Milan 0
Setting the scene.
Well. It’s set for a humdinger winner takes the lot toe to toe in the San Siro. It’s an Italian job for the hoops and there won’t be a place for mini’s, Michael Caine or a bus full of gold. Just a few thousand hoops wie hope in their hearts hoping that the bhoys can up their game and nick a goal.
It was another hair standing up on the back of the neck night at CP. The walk on was spectacular. The corner of CP that held the tifosi and the boys from the “brigate” seemed overfull and was buyout aboot it. Once again CP under the lights was alive, bouncing and full of anticipation. This was not lost on the Milano players as Maldini and Gourcoff told the Milano website
This a great environment to play in, even if you are the opponent.
It’s difficult playing here, it's an extraordinary atmosphere
The game turned oot to be one for the pureist. Seemed to be a lot of them at CP last night judging by the way the Milan team was applauded from the field. After such a frenzied build up there was always going to be a sense of disappointment after a 0-0. The muted walk from the staduim to the bus was strange, an air of a missed opportunity hung over us but some were maybe just like me quietly impressed at a European quality display from a quality team.
Bottomline is, no matter what missed opertunities, no matter what tactical errors were made we still have to do what we laways were going to have to do anyway. Score in the San Siro and put an end to oor travel sickness. Last night proved it will be difficult but we are still in the tie and thatw as always the aim.
Out-foxed and Out Thought
Watching the Rossoneri on Tv disnae do them justice. Last night all their European experience came to the fore. In truth it was like watching a road runner cartoon. We were the cayote, trying to snare the beast in ever increasing desperate measures. No matter what we done the roadrunner was always one step ahead last night. Blocked of at every pass and turn.
We were outdone both on and off the park. We all never saw them sticking an extra man in the midfield this nulifying oor creative threat doon the wings. On the park it was like watching an old boxer spar wie a young pretender. The youngsters enthusiasm curtailed and harnessed wie a display of cunning and the ability to know that they could deliver a knock oot blow.
Their midfield was a hive of industry. Pirlo was just a joy. I have never seen a player who moves so little but does so much. Did he run? Did he break sweat? Short passes, long passes he was like a quarter back. For a player that seems to move so little he found space easily. As they say great players make the game look easy and he certainly did last night.
Thought Paul Scohles against us was a joy, but Pirlo was a further step above and that’s some going.
Tactical Naivety?
The pairing of Sno and Lenny in the midfield was the main cause of much murmerings. While both played well they lacked the creative bit needed as the wings were congested and Naka thought he was playing for Reggina again. The italians had the measure of the man from Japan, which disnae bode well for the return.
Aiden apart from flashes done nothing against the tag team of Oddo and Rino- who I think I have developed a grudging respect for- and again it could be said froze on the big stage. The lack of space to work made oor creative weapons a blunted force something GS picked up on
Our attitude was ten out of ten, but the technical side of our game was only five out of ten. If we can improve that side of things a little, then we can really give Milan a game over there.
Big improvement needed from oor baw players and maybe a slight tinkering wie formation and system. The Kenny Miller- taxi to the toon?- and JVOH is never going to work no matter how many times Scott Booth says it will.
Miller didnae even produce his usual annoying-ness display and once never trouble the rarely troubled Milano centre backs. JVOH never really troubled them either as 1) the supply to him was terrible and 2) he was playing on one leg.
If we are to get anything from the game in Milan then we must have more striking options. There was nothing on the bench that could have changed the game as the bringing on of Jaro proved. Fit again Magic, Beats and Riordan must all be ready and must be in GS thoughts for the return game.
The lack of movement also ensured oor fullbacks both had their worst games in their short Celtic careers. Long aimless punts to naebodyand rushed crosses were the order of the day from Lee and Mark.
Overall, our display had guts but lacked creativity, intelligence and pace. But I’m not going to be to hard on them. Sometimes a toothless display has a lot to do with the ability of the team yer facing. Yes, we can do better and will need to, but we all would have took a 0-0 before a baw had been kicked last night.
Sno Dea
GS picks up on something I noticed early doors last night
It was a good lesson for us as we had a young team. Our back four in particular were all young and it was the first time they've played together in a big game. When compared with the experience of the Milan team, I'm very satisfied with my players' display.
We have a very young side oot there and also one that in CL terms is still in pampers and it showed. This is no disgrace. Mialn have done this to better teams than us during the years.
Two outstanding players were two of the youngest. Sno and O’Dea done well, better than expected. Faced wie the might of Gilardino, O’Dea never onced flinched from his task while the Sno man done his job with aplomb against a midfield he shouldn’t be getting a sniff from.
Both are unspectacular, Sno is a fetcher and carrying type midfielder and O’Dea reads the game well and knows when to wellie the baw and when to play. Everyone will have learned lessons from last night. You learn more after defeats or disappointing results- I think beating Man U disguised the fact that we were ootplayed for long spells in that game- and young players learn.
The hard part is ensuring they heed the warning fired last night.
My name is Joe
Anyone seen him?
Forza The Hoops who are now looking forward to Milano.
Well. It’s set for a humdinger winner takes the lot toe to toe in the San Siro. It’s an Italian job for the hoops and there won’t be a place for mini’s, Michael Caine or a bus full of gold. Just a few thousand hoops wie hope in their hearts hoping that the bhoys can up their game and nick a goal.
It was another hair standing up on the back of the neck night at CP. The walk on was spectacular. The corner of CP that held the tifosi and the boys from the “brigate” seemed overfull and was buyout aboot it. Once again CP under the lights was alive, bouncing and full of anticipation. This was not lost on the Milano players as Maldini and Gourcoff told the Milano website
This a great environment to play in, even if you are the opponent.
It’s difficult playing here, it's an extraordinary atmosphere
The game turned oot to be one for the pureist. Seemed to be a lot of them at CP last night judging by the way the Milan team was applauded from the field. After such a frenzied build up there was always going to be a sense of disappointment after a 0-0. The muted walk from the staduim to the bus was strange, an air of a missed opportunity hung over us but some were maybe just like me quietly impressed at a European quality display from a quality team.
Bottomline is, no matter what missed opertunities, no matter what tactical errors were made we still have to do what we laways were going to have to do anyway. Score in the San Siro and put an end to oor travel sickness. Last night proved it will be difficult but we are still in the tie and thatw as always the aim.
Out-foxed and Out Thought
Watching the Rossoneri on Tv disnae do them justice. Last night all their European experience came to the fore. In truth it was like watching a road runner cartoon. We were the cayote, trying to snare the beast in ever increasing desperate measures. No matter what we done the roadrunner was always one step ahead last night. Blocked of at every pass and turn.
We were outdone both on and off the park. We all never saw them sticking an extra man in the midfield this nulifying oor creative threat doon the wings. On the park it was like watching an old boxer spar wie a young pretender. The youngsters enthusiasm curtailed and harnessed wie a display of cunning and the ability to know that they could deliver a knock oot blow.
Their midfield was a hive of industry. Pirlo was just a joy. I have never seen a player who moves so little but does so much. Did he run? Did he break sweat? Short passes, long passes he was like a quarter back. For a player that seems to move so little he found space easily. As they say great players make the game look easy and he certainly did last night.
Thought Paul Scohles against us was a joy, but Pirlo was a further step above and that’s some going.
Tactical Naivety?
The pairing of Sno and Lenny in the midfield was the main cause of much murmerings. While both played well they lacked the creative bit needed as the wings were congested and Naka thought he was playing for Reggina again. The italians had the measure of the man from Japan, which disnae bode well for the return.
Aiden apart from flashes done nothing against the tag team of Oddo and Rino- who I think I have developed a grudging respect for- and again it could be said froze on the big stage. The lack of space to work made oor creative weapons a blunted force something GS picked up on
Our attitude was ten out of ten, but the technical side of our game was only five out of ten. If we can improve that side of things a little, then we can really give Milan a game over there.
Big improvement needed from oor baw players and maybe a slight tinkering wie formation and system. The Kenny Miller- taxi to the toon?- and JVOH is never going to work no matter how many times Scott Booth says it will.
Miller didnae even produce his usual annoying-ness display and once never trouble the rarely troubled Milano centre backs. JVOH never really troubled them either as 1) the supply to him was terrible and 2) he was playing on one leg.
If we are to get anything from the game in Milan then we must have more striking options. There was nothing on the bench that could have changed the game as the bringing on of Jaro proved. Fit again Magic, Beats and Riordan must all be ready and must be in GS thoughts for the return game.
The lack of movement also ensured oor fullbacks both had their worst games in their short Celtic careers. Long aimless punts to naebodyand rushed crosses were the order of the day from Lee and Mark.
Overall, our display had guts but lacked creativity, intelligence and pace. But I’m not going to be to hard on them. Sometimes a toothless display has a lot to do with the ability of the team yer facing. Yes, we can do better and will need to, but we all would have took a 0-0 before a baw had been kicked last night.
Sno Dea
GS picks up on something I noticed early doors last night
It was a good lesson for us as we had a young team. Our back four in particular were all young and it was the first time they've played together in a big game. When compared with the experience of the Milan team, I'm very satisfied with my players' display.
We have a very young side oot there and also one that in CL terms is still in pampers and it showed. This is no disgrace. Mialn have done this to better teams than us during the years.
Two outstanding players were two of the youngest. Sno and O’Dea done well, better than expected. Faced wie the might of Gilardino, O’Dea never onced flinched from his task while the Sno man done his job with aplomb against a midfield he shouldn’t be getting a sniff from.
Both are unspectacular, Sno is a fetcher and carrying type midfielder and O’Dea reads the game well and knows when to wellie the baw and when to play. Everyone will have learned lessons from last night. You learn more after defeats or disappointing results- I think beating Man U disguised the fact that we were ootplayed for long spells in that game- and young players learn.
The hard part is ensuring they heed the warning fired last night.
My name is Joe
Anyone seen him?
Forza The Hoops who are now looking forward to Milano.
posted by Keving at Wednesday, February 21, 2007
12 Comments:
Ian- from last diary who are the players you think don't look guid at CL level?
A few had dodgy games last night but...not many i think looked well oot their depth.
KM apart.....but even then he had no service.
I though our wide players couldn`t make progress and didn`t play with confidence but they will have another chance. I hope that they take it.
"I thought we dominated but our forwards were a disgrace!" That was the verdict from Daniele from Milan. A member of their well travelled support. He`s shaking in his boots!
At last! I`ve had two previous attempts go into hyperspace!
Daniele has put a video of Celtic Park on http://letthepeoplesing.splinder.com
If you scroll down you`ll see his photos from a West Ham v Liverpool game last month. Who are the robust looking young women? Should we know? :-)
We have the bonus of having Pressley and Hartley available for the ICT match as well as some of the subs from Tuesday but too many changes would be vewry silly. Remember 2003?
Nice one! The onus is all on ICT to keep their record. Oh the pressure!
The women were the West Ham cheerleaders, `the Hammerettes`. Would I make that up?
and not one of them looked like Pauline Fowler or Pat Butcher.....it's a rouse i think...they are not eastend wimen.
Good and essential information for Celtic supporters travelling to Milan is on the www.celticfc.net site
Of course this being in Italy none of the measures may be employed. :-)
Bring on the ICT!
had a wee look Ian, disnae bode well for independant travellers like meself....
I`ll get some local advice for you but Celtic should be actively standing up for all supporters. I suppose the good thing is that Milan is a city that is used to foreign visitors and remember that Milan has many foreign students. There will be a way in! (I think)
new diary
ian ma gut reaction is that Celtic are treating us like animals.
but will find oot more over the weekend
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