The Devil In Me

Talking to the Hoops fans I found it interesting to discover how many of them really don’t rate ‘the Strach’. They think ‘hees not a troo huup’ and probably a ‘proddy’, but they are not entirely sure.

In this instance I don’t think I can blame them (not on the religious aspect of course). Celtic played United in the same stage of the same competition just two years ago and nearly frightened the life out of us, indeed, they nicked a victory at Parkhead with an absolute peach of goal from Nakamura.

Apart from having the most politically incorrect chant on the isles (“he eats chow mein he votes sinn fein”), Nakamura is also a mighty handy player. He also started last night. So when ‘the Strach’ came out to the papers the day before and announced that playing United at Old Trafford is ‘daunting’ and a ‘near impossible task’ I for one, might have been less than pleased with the boss getting his excuses in early.

Yes, Vennegor of Impossiblylongsurnamelink was out injured and a few others but isn’t this exactly the kind of match where form is supposed to go out of the window? England v Scotland, blood and guts players plunging boots into each other, impossible running and Roy of the Rovers type stuff?

Well, none of that happened and instead we had an accomplished United beat a surrendering Celtic. Berbatov seems to have discovered running and with him and Rooney scoring we can only hope that Ronaldo becomes so jealous that he tries to catch up.

Form is being hit now and we should, with all fingers crossed, pick up the next nine points in the league. By the time those three games are done we will have a much clearer vision of how our domestic campaign is going to look.

Europe is too anomalous to call at the moment, but I do wish this game had had more bite to it.