The best thing – BEST THING – to come out of our Champions League opener, for me, was the appearance of Fletch. Now, I’ve learned not to get too excited by these moments from what happened with Hargo … but damn it, I’m excited. I forget he was playing through it last year, so he’s by no means got the all clear … but damn it, I’m excited. I’m just going to relax and enjoy him being back … but damn it, I’m excited!!!
As for the game itself, my flippant remarks, in my prediction, about Galatasaray’s personnel predictably came back to slap me in the face and they looked fairly decent (in the few bits I saw through a terrible stream). I meant what I said though; if we’re taking this tournament seriously then the Galatasarays of the world have to be beaten – no excuses.
The p-e-n-a-l-t-y was with hindsight (with result in the bag) amusing, but also begs the question, do we have anyone who can score a penalty? A couple of things Nani might consider next time he stutters and faints: to go the other way to the way the keeper was headed before you stuttered and fainted AND to go the opposite way to the way you were going before you stuttered and fainted.
It was one of those games where we just weren’t on it enough. Their main threat seemed to come from our little mistakes but a win is a win is a win; especially at this early stage. We still showed those glimpses of the possibilities and I love it when Carrick scores – where did he get those snake hips?
We’ve not quite shaken off our European hangover from last year, but it’ll do for now.
MOTM: Carrick (has left the building).
