Gordon Strachan claimed in the aftermath of Celtic's 5–0 defeat to Artmedia Bratislava four years ago that his new club could still win the tie by virtue of an astonishing second-leg reversal. "Maybe you'll want to put a dunce's hat on my head, but that's what I believe," said the manager. "Happy to oblige, Gordon" read the sub-headline in a Scottish tabloid; Strachan had briskly realised, as he later and colourfully acknowledged, that judgments move on to a different level where the Old Firm are concerned.
It would be absurd to make rash predictions about how Tony Mowbray will fare as Strachan's successor on account of his first competitive 90 minutes, a 1–0 defeat in the third qualifying round of the Champions League to a fine – no better than that – Dynamo Moscow team at Parkhead on Wednesday night. It was plain to any onlooker that it was the Russians, and not Celtic, who were midway through their domestic campaign. Yet Mowbray's approach when linked, crucially, to his time in charge of Hibernian and West Bromwich Albion, prompts pertinent questions.
Hibs travelled east to face Dnipro in September 2005, still confident after a scoreless draw in the Uefa Cup first round, first leg, at Easter Road. Mowbray, who had gained a positive reputation in Scotland on account of Hibs' attacking brand of football, made the fatal mistake of trying the same in Europe. The result? A 5–1 victory to Dnipro. Commentators were left to rue Mowbray's naivety against continental opposition.
West Bromwich's Championship success two years ago remains the high point of Mowbray's career. A dismal performance in the Premier League can be readily explained by financial constraints and, again, Mowbray received widespread plaudits for adopting a positive approach. On Wednesday, though, that proved Celtic's very downfall.
Dynamo could, and probably should, have taken a bigger lead home. Watching them break at such pace – Mowbray had spoken before the tie about this being the Russians' likely tactic – was alarming for anyone whose sympathies lie with Celtic. Aiden McGeady and Shaun Maloney, while potent attacking threats in their own right, carry a risk when deployed on either wing. There was no lack of effort from the duo; they are simply not cut out for defending.
Strachan, it seems, was right when constantly alluding to the defensive talents and support offered by Shunsuke Nakamura, now at Espanyol. Landry N'Guemo, the Nancy midfield loanee who already looks like a genuine coup for Celtic, was the only man offering legitimate support to his defenders.
Maloney was more of a danger to Dynamo on the night than McGeady, supplying a glorious cross which Marc-Antoine Fortuné contrived to miss completely when just three yards from goal. That, plus a late Georgios Samaras header, were Celtic's only two clear opportunities. Therefore, Mowbray's effusive post-match analysis was a tad worrying.
While the new manager claimed "we can create chances in Russia", the key point that Dynamo are capable of creating even more if this bullish philosophy is maintained seemed lost on him. But not on Maloney, who said of the first leg: "It was a bit too open at times out there."
Mowbray seems unlikely to change his style at this juncture, but he has the personnel to do so. Danny Fox, signed last week from Coventry City, is a viable option as a more defensive left-sided midfielder. McGeady must remain in the team but, if handed the free role which seems probable under the Mowbray regime, Andreas Hinkel could be slotted into the right side of midfield. As it stands, Hinkel lacks the aggression to perform as a right-back against high-quality opposition.
Strachan tasted home defeat only once in Europe, against Barcelona. Rangers, meanwhile, despite collecting criticism for being stubborn rather than pleasing on the eye, are a streetwise team. Mowbray has plenty to ponder as he seeks to emulate that with his own players.
That said, there are always those worse off. While Motherwell's 3–0 defeat to Steaua Bucharest was partly understandable – Motherwell, basically, are not too hot and the new manager, Jim Gannon, is in the process of rebuilding a team which has lost its best players – Sigma Olomouc's 5–1 demolition of Aberdeen at Pittodrie was a staggering result. Mark McGhee, the new Dons manager, appreciates that, conceding he has gone from "legend to idiot" after his first game in charge. McGhee, after all, was part of Alex Ferguson's all-conquering Aberdeen side.
Scottish football, surely, is at a ridiculously low ebb and not an SPL ball has been kicked in anger. Falkirk's Europa League elimination at the hands of FC Vaduz did not receive the criticism it was due: no team from a country ranked as low as Lichtenstein had ever before defeated a Scottish club over two legs. Olomouc are superior to Vaduz, of that there is no doubt, but their win at Pittodrie must send alarm bells ringing at a club which, while never likely to reach the heights of the Ferguson era, should at least be spared such embarrassment.
