Battle at Celtic

Celtic 1-1 United
UEFA Champions League; attendance 58,903
A goal down after 13 minutes, don't think that was in the script. It reminded me of Hull's first goal the previous Saturday. The keeper, this time Ben Foster, is too far out as the defence is caught off guard. A deft lob over his head into the net. Again on the left side of play.

After that it was a massive defending job by Celtic, and though the commentator kept saying surely the equaliser is imminent it wasn't. It's hard to work a ball through 11 men defending deep. Celtic had an interesting strategy defending from corners. None of that man marking you get in Premiership games. A person on the back post, four or five on the six yard line, and the rest of the team scattered in front of them. It worked. Great headed goal by Giggs from a rebound, unfortunate miss by Berbatov in the last kick of the game.

As the other game between Aarlborg and Villarreal ended in a draw the table remains the same. I think United are through 'cos Celtic & Aarlborg can only get 8 points maximum now. A win away at Villarreal, is it too much to ask for? Top of the group?

Earlier in the day Celtic Reserves drew 0-0 with United Reserves at Airdrie. Couldn't find the result until the next day, and the first to publish was The Daily Record. Even in the age of t'internet obscure cup and friendly results don't show up well after the event. Celtic TV are showing thirty minute highlights. See Setanta TV Listing if you're interested.

Slumped in Monaco

Zenit St.Petersburg 2-1 United
UEFA Super Cup in Monaco
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is quoted below, and it sums up my view of the match. This was not exhibition football but played as a tough European knock-out tie the sort of matches I relish. Pity Scholes got himself sent off for a silly handball in front of the ref.

"I think we played our best football at 2-0, unfortunately. It was a warm night and so I think my players did OK under the circumstances.

"I thought Tevez was outstanding - probably the best player on the park - and I thought we had the chances to do something in the game.

"But Zenit are a very good team and they have exceptional movement. They'll be a force in the Champions League playing like that."

Monaco oh Super

The UEFA Super Cup is not the biggest fixture in the year. I'm sure it was originally called something without 'super' in the title, but come Friday night it'll be feet up watching ITV1 (1945h BST) for the United v. Zenit St.Petersburg game.


So get your story ready...
a) don't win - never mind it's meaningless
b) win - quietly smug, always good to get another trophy
c) draw - is it another penalty shoot-out ?

Whilst it's grey, overcast and threatening rain here in Manchester it's still a bright 30 degrees in Monaco. Fortunately it's an evening match. Went to Monaco a few years ago and went to the stadium which is an interesting building. The pitch is on the 5th floor roof and underneath there was university offices and some shops selling pizza and haircuts. It was so long ago that Fabian Barthez played for them before he came to United.

Prediction : 1-0 to United. Previous history lost to Lazio 0-1 in 1999, beat Red Star Belgrade 1-0 in 1991. Photo are some postage stamps from Djibouti (population 496,374) and I think they are pretty spiffy.

Rangers to invade Manchester

Enjoyed the Fiorentina v. Rangers game tonight on the Tv. Good attacking football, and as a neutral absolutely no tension and stress. Well you know the result, it went to penalties, and that'll mean about 40,000 Rangers fans in Manchester.

Wednesday 14th May - UEFA Cup Final: Zenit St.Petersburg v. Rangers at Man' City's ground.

It's always interesting when any of the big two Glasgow teams pitch up in the city. You find them everywhere, usually walking between pubs. Even the quietest suburbs has a detachment.

Possibly the Council will put something on in the centre. They had entertainment in the squares for the Champions League final back in 2003. Spent that day in town picking up a stupid free hat, other free souvenir tat, and enjoying the atmosphere. Pity the final tie Milan v. Juventus was pretty dull.

UEFA knocks us back

"Dear Football Supporter,
Thank you for your application for tickets to the UEFA Cup Final 2008 to be held at City of Manchester Stadium, Manchester.

Due to demand for tickets exceeding the number available for sale, a ballot took place to ensure the tickets were allocated in a fair and consistent manner.

On this occasion, we regret to advise you that your application for tickets was unsuccessful.

We can confirm however that you have been placed on a waitlist."

Oh well I tried in the ballot for tickets but there you go. Don't think of all those corporate types who'll be there for the hospitality and not the football, don't think of the touts flogging spares on the night....

Cultured Football at the Council House

Full marks to UEFA over the arrangements for the UEFA Cup Final in Manchester this May. A ballot for tickets for neutrals like myself. Don't expect to win but if you're not in it you're at home watching the box. We Mancunians love a big sports event so we want to be there. They've got Dennis Law involved doing the ambassador bit. Plus one of my favourite artists Liam Spencer (a Burnley fan) to knock out some paintings for the ticket design and logo uses. There is an interview and the pictures with Liam at All About Manchester

Gibraltar

One in the eye for Spain...a country that has two territories on Moroccan soil, and an island or two off Morocco as well...

"UEFA has admitted the Gibraltar Football Association (GFA) as a provisional member of the European football governing body. A final decision on Gibraltar will be delivered at the XXXI Ordinary Congress in Dusseldorf on 25 and 26 January 2007, when the member associations will be asked to vote on whether both Gibraltar and Montenegro should gain full membership."