MATCH REPORT:  CELTIC  0  AALBORG  0 

 

PRE-MATCH COMMENT:

 

The first half display against M/well meant an air of excitement as the kick off drew nearer but so also did the puzzlement over what the best selection should be for the start of what was going to hopefully be another successful campaign.

 

I expect McGeady and Naka to start but would hope there could also be a place for Maloney.

 

BORUC ….…….6  I think he only had one save to make but that was not the result of the defence as they were carved open several times in the first half.

 

HINKEL.... …… 6  He wasn’t put under too much pressure by his opponent and he was given a lot of space in the second half but I just feel that we should be seeing a more composed and creative side to his game.

 

CALDWELL….…. 7  Was very sound defensively and in the second half he tried so hard to use the ball creatively as Celtic surged forward.

   

McMANUS…. …5  There were times in the first half when his lack of finesse was worrying and he will have to learn soon that some defensive headers could and should reach a teamate.

 

NAYLOR …….….6  Had a good, sound defensive performance but is it too much to ask that either of our wing backs could be more constructive in terms of attacking moves? 

 

NAKA……. …4  Maybe he’s already back home mentally as this was as poor and ineffective performance as he has produced on a ‘big’ night.

 

 

ROBSON…. …5  His penalty miss might well turn out to be a crucial factor in our quest for a last 16 place (or even an UEFA Cup place). He turned in his usual effective breaking down role (he committed more fouls than anyone else and most of those were silly ones)  but his inability to be a constructive, attacking midfield makes me wonder if his style of play is suited to a home game in the C.L.?

 

BROWN. ………… 5   The number of times he chose to make a sideways/backwards pass was incredible and he is the last player I would want to have a scoring chance as he hasn’t scored a goal this year. Drove fwd a lot in the second half but nothing came of it.

 

 

MALONEY…….. … 5  Was only a shadow of the player we saw on Sat.

 

SAMARAS.... ….. 7  MON    Wads the only attacking player who caused any problems to the Aalborg defence. Unfortunately he tried to walk the ball into the net late in the game when a first time effort might well have been a better option.

 

McDONALD……..4 I would not play McDonald until he had regained full fitness and the burst of pace which he has lost this season.

 

 

SUBS 

 

JVOH …… 4   Made no impact on the game and another player whose lack of pace is such a negative on the C.L. stage.

 

McGEADY……4 We were all crying out for him to come on but he was a shadow of the player of last season.

 

REF………….  4  He was a pernickity ref but most of his decisions were correct however he has badly sullied his reputation by incredibly sending off the right man. Was badly let down by the North Stand linesman who cancelled out Naka’s goal incorrectly.

 

THE GAME ……4 The first half was a very good illustration of a Celtic v Rangers game and the second half had its thrills and spills.

 

GOALS ………. 

 

                               

COMMENTS ….. 1.  Hindsight is a great thing! 15 mins into the game as I watched the 2 midfielders fail to show any creativity or composure I realised that these type of games would be ideal for a player of Crosas’s ability.

 

                          2. Aalborg were at best an average C.L. team but they should not have been able to withstand a Celtic team playing at anywhere near their potential.

 

                         3. A bad result in Manchester makes the visit to Villareal an absolute necessity to pick up at least one point.

 

4.      While this was AaB's first ever away point in European football's élite club competition, the draw signalled the end of Celtic's 100 per cent home group-stage record stretching back to 2005/06.

5.      Celtic had 61% possession but had only 3 shots on target and one of those was the penalty and the other 2 from free kicks. This is the most damning stat of the night.