THE MATCHDAY THREAD Discuss ICT & other games in this thread as they happen FC Astra Giurgiu -V- Inverness CT PREVIEW 23rd July @ 7:00PM (UK) [9:00PM local] Marin Anastasovici Stadium, Giurgiu Follow us on Twitter Follow us on Facebook Go to the Chatroom Media Coverage AUDIO NO live coverage that we are aware of but Radio Scotland will be broadcasting the Aberdeen game and providing updates to ours on the normal MW link HERE   ICTFC indicated they may broadcast live if internet connections allow for it. No confirmation either way at time of posting. If they do broadcast, you will find it HERE   TEXT ESPN BBC SKY Sporting Life   VIDEO SPFL YouTube Channel ICT Official YouTube Channel     TEAM LINEUPS Tweets by @ICTFC Tweets by @ICTFC

Edited July 23, 201510 yr by Scotty

Can't say I've been impressed with Lopez with the one game I've seen him play in the flesh and the other via a dodgy feed on TSNYs laptop. However I don't think he's a striker and he's merely filling a space until we get one (or two) proper strikers in. Hopefully soon. Anyone fancy giving Ofere another call?

Has anyone managed to find the official attendance for this game?

3067

3067

Really?  I would never have thought many.

Found this video on youtube:

seems to have come from here along with this commentary ..... translation courtesy of Google !

http://www.giurgiuveanul.ro/stiri/video-suporterii-echipei-scotiene-inverness-ct-au-sosit-la-giurgiu/

Astra Giurgiu team plays tonight at home, second leg match of the second round of the UEFA Europa League preliminary. From 21.00, Astra will play the match against Inverness CT Scottish team. Giurgiuveanul band boundary to victory in the first match. 500 Scots have reached Giurgiu inaround 19.

Most supporters came in this afternoon Otopeni Airport and around 19 at Giurgiu.

The first movement in Europe in club history Inverness so Scottish fans were advised to take great care, especially in Bucharest thieves.

West Ham currently beating Astra 2-1 but down to 10 men...  Astra were no mugs

2-2

Now 2-2 away to West Ham.  Perhaps puts our performance in perspective.

Ft 2-2

We did well not conceding a goal to them in 'open play' over two games. They're a very decent side. After reading a West Ham forum, to me it appeared they assumed just turning up would see them through - and 34,000 did - but Astra are street-wise and capable.

Astra will be disappointed to only draw against a side who were taken to penalties by the no-hopers from Malta

Seriously though, it is dreadful that the side that qualified through the fair play rule have had a player sent off in each of the last 3 Europa league qualifiers.  If big Sam was still there they would have sailed through no problem.

I hope those who were saying Astra were a poor side and we should have beaten them take note. They are a well organised team with some dangerous players, and with European experience. That we came within a whisker of getting something out of the away game does us a huge amount of credit, imho.

Less a case of us underrating Astra, more a case of us vastly overrating the 'best league in the world'. Aye right Thierry.

I hope those who were saying Astra were a poor side and we should have beaten them take note. They are a well organised team with some dangerous players, and with European experience. That we came within a whisker of getting something out of the away game does us a huge amount of credit, imho.

The West Ham result doesn't say anything to me about Astra. I thought they were utter gang against us over two legs and only poor finishing from ICT stopped us going through. As Alex Jones says it's more down to the amount of garbage in the most over hyped league in the world. Outwith the top 6 - 8 teams in the Premiership pretty much all of the other sides are much of a muchness.

I hope those who were saying Astra were a poor side and we should have beaten them take note. They are a well organised team with some dangerous players, and with European experience. That we came within a whisker of getting something out of the away game does us a huge amount of credit, imho.

The West Ham result doesn't say anything to me about Astra. I thought they were utter gang against us over two legs and only poor finishing from ICT stopped us going through. As Alex Jones says it's more down to the amount of garbage in the most over hyped league in the world. Outwith the top 6 - 8 teams in the Premiership pretty much all of the other sides are much of a muchness.

Harsh in the extreme.. very difficult to argue Astra's pedigree given their recent history in Europa League.  To label them as an "utter gang" given the fact they beat us with only a handful of half chances going our way shows disrespect and gives us no credit which we do deserve for managing a respectable draw in their backyard. 

Like or not the EPL is as strong and competitive league you will find in Europe.

Regardless of their recent history we made them look gang by dominating them over the two legs. We just couldn't score. We were by far the better team over the tie but a lack of composure in front of goal saw us fall at the first hurdle. Astra were lucky to get through the tie. I think that gives us enormous credit. 

The top of the EPL is strong. I'm not debating that. But out with the Big Four, and others like Spurs and Liverpool, the likes of Hull, Sunderland, Aston Villa etc. are distinctly average bordering on very poor indeed.

 

 

 

Just before we start planning for next year's trip, and very belatedly (I haven't unpacked yet either), many thanks to everyone for making the Romania trip such a great few days.

 

Alison

Found this video on youtube:

Good to see Graham Bayne has found a profession outside football. A fine piper indeed. 

Apologies to anyone who this actually is for the comparison  

Still cheers me up a little to know we'd have beaten a team that drew with a mid table EPL side who can afford to splash millions on players, if we had a goal scorer. 

FT Astra 2-1 W Ham (4-3 agg)

FT Astra 2-1 W Ham (4-3 agg)

Perhaps this result puts our defeat into perspective.  They are not a bad side and we performed fairly well over both games. 

Although West Ham did have a reserve side out, consisting of players mainly under the age of 22 Astra did do well in the bits I watched. Not a bad team at all.

Makes you wonder. Where would last seasons ICT have finished in the Premiership?

Well Shinnie would walk into that Chelsea side. Hence why he signed for Aberdeen. 

Astra have been drawn against AZ Alkmaar in the play-off round. AZ finished 3rd in the Dutch league last season.

Makes you wonder. Where would last seasons ICT have finished in the Premiership?

Bottom.... I afraid, we'd have been lucky to get even a win, I mean who would have scored the goals??