Celtic got off to the perfect start in very warm conditions, against Armenian side Alashkert FC in their first Champions League qualifying game on Tuesday night.
Goals from Odsonne Edouard, James Forrest and Calum McGregor has made Brendan Rodgers’ job a lot easier, for now, but not everyone performed to their best on Tuesday.
Midfielder Olivier Ntcham made a lot of Celtic fans angry, especially with his poor delivery from set pieces, and the Frenchman was eventually subbed off in the second half after 68 minutes.
However, while critical, some Celtic fans were willing to cut him some slack because of the heat and because the 3-0 win had put them in a good mood.
Here are the best reactions from Celtic fans after a successful first game in their quest towards the Champions League group stage:
Ntcham needs to find his passing weight again and stop taking free kicks and corners. Morgan looked good so did jozo TBF
— JB (@jamesandjools) July 10, 2018
Ntcham is shocking here
— Brian Fitzpatrick (@Brian10PeleFitz) July 10, 2018
Our Best set piece taker is Griff. Love Ntcham as a player but his Set pieces r horrible
— Macfearghais (@macfearghais1) July 10, 2018
https://twitter.com/BowlsTm/status/1016743946695868416
https://twitter.com/inmyeyes7/status/1016737553091825666
Surprised moussa don’t hit more free kicks from surrounding penalty box he’s normally France free kick taker , also Armstrong was the guy , ntcham seems to be the replacement even from last season he took most deadballs and was quiet poor
— Sean (@huntsey1967) July 10, 2018
https://twitter.com/Johnny_TooBad2/status/1016736187522920449
Hope he improves but Ntcham's free taking is woeful
— OneTeam (@BG1954) July 10, 2018
https://twitter.com/DecRob94/status/1016734884595949570
https://twitter.com/Danboo67/status/1016734551383707649
OPINION
This was a solid performance from Celtic in testing conditions, but the set pieces and crossing from Ntcham were not good. Some fans were willing to cut him some slack but most simply do not want to see him on set pieces again this season. One fan said that he needed to find his passing weight, and not take corners and free kicks again. Another simply said his deliver was horrible. Another said that he loved Ntcham as a player but hared his set pieces. That seemed to be the consensus from the first round of the Champions League qualifying game.