MATCH REPORT: CELTIC 2 Rangers 4

PRE-MATCH COMMENT:. Funny how even though you can dissect the strengths/weaknesses of both team and rightly come to the conclusion that Celtic hold all the aces, the nervousness increases with that confidence. The knowledge that that the team which has actually lost the first Glasgow derby in three of the last four seasons has gone on to be crowned SPL champions come May left me with slightly mixed emotions but I fancy a 3-0 victory for The Champions.
Hoping that JVOH is only 95% fit and is on the bench.


BORUC ….…….4 The omens were not good after watching his first few attempts at distribution and I would like to have thought that not all 3 goals would have beaten him last season. Hope his recent troubles are not being brought onto the park!

HINKEL.... ….. 4 I’ve waited almost a season to see the worth of this German internationalist but I’m afraid that his recent performances indicate that he is not of the quality that Celtic require.

CALDWELL….…. 6 He was the only defender who made a real attempt at trying not to allow the physicality of Cousin to affect him.

McMANUS…. …4 Has had problems in the past with the physical aspect of Cousins’ play and to-day was no exception. He was rightly yellow carded and struggled throughout but the most infuriating aspect is his inability to direct a clearing header to a teamate.

WILSON …….….5 Until he was out muscled by Cousin he was having a very good game but his performance dropped after that goal and he struggled in the second half (he was the only Celtic player who had a proper attempt at scoring).

McGEADY …. …..5 When I saw that he was up against Broadfoot I thought he would run riot but it was not the case. He did produce some magic to set up the first goal but that apart he was pretty ordinary.

BROWN. ………… 6 Did his bit in midfield but his main weakness is his inability to be an attacking midfielder in terms of shooting,

HARTLEY ……. 6 Solid enough but had no real influence on the game.

NAKA…….. … 6 He was up for the game and, as usual, he showed some delightful touches but his crossing was not up to his normal high standards. Did score a good consolation goal with a free kick.

SAMARAS.... ….. 6 Scored the goal and won his fair share of balls in the air. Just did not present a real goal threat.

MALONEY……..5 Was played as a direct striker, which is not his best position, and found it difficult to best the, rather average, Rangers defence. His best position is playing just in front of the midfield and using his great distribution to set up his other teamates.


SUBS

JVOH …… 1 An act of stupidity on his part meant that he only spent about 5 mins on the park. Rangers had just gone down to 10 men and there was a slight chance that we may be able to do something if he had stayed on the pitch.

ROBSON………5 Tried hard but could have shown more composure when given a couple of chances.

HUTCHINSON ………. 5 Wasn’t on long enough to make any impact.



REF…………. (McDonald) 8 Would not agree with any of his main decisions and thought he did well.

THE GAME ……7 The first half was a very good illustration of a Celtic v Rangers game and the second half had its thrills and spills.

GOALS ………. 1. A great goal scored by Cousin who used his physical strengths to brush off Wilson’s challenge and beat Boruc with a near post shot.
2. Good play by McGeady who beat Broadfoot and sent over a good cross which was coolly turned in by Samaras.
3. A weak piece of defending by Hinkel saw Cousin put over a cross to Millar who scored with a top class shot.
4. Mendes is known for his long range shooting and Celtic should have been more aware of his threat when the corner was being taken. A very good strike.
5. A horrible fumble by Boruc left Millar with a tap in.
6. A well taken free kick by Naka.


COMMENTS ….. 1. Well, I did not see that coming but at the end of it all Rangers deserved to win, by courtesy of two very good strikes. I fully expect an ‘over the top’ reaction but if the two teams were to play next week I would have my money on Celtic (although perhaps not 3-0!).
2. The most worrying aspect of the w/end is the fact that with little more than 36 hours left Celtic have not signed a left back. I do not buy the suggestion that they have tried and have just been unsuccessful. What I do suspect is that the desire went from the Celtic Board after Rangers lost to Kaunas and the general feeling was “that’s us in the Group stages again next year”. The Board seem over concerned with having an ever improving balance sheet rather than an ever improving team!.
3. I do think that the decision by Smith to play Cousin was the match winning move.

MATCH REPORT: CELTIC 3 Falkirk 0

PRE-MATCH COMMENT:. The early news was exciting………McDonald was injured and Maloney was taking his place but the reality was that Samaras was the man to play up front, with Maloney on the bench. Caldwell was injured, so it was our first chance to see Loovens.

The corresponding game last season saw Celtic win 4-1 with McGeady scoring a hat-trick

BORUC ….…….7 Had a busy day having to save 5 shots and some of those saves were top class.

HINKEL.... ….. 6 A better performance than of late but I still feel that his confidence levels are low and his defensive weaknesses are still all too clear to see.

LOOVENS….…. 6 The type of debut I prefer. Loovens put in a very solid, if unspectacular, performance and settled very easily alongside McManus. He is comfortable on the ball and I couldn’t really tell if he was a right or left footed player.

McMANUS…. …6 In the opening few minutes he hit 2 very good crossfield, long balls and then put his defence under pressure with a dangerous crossfield pass! Has always found Higdon a difficult opponent and so it proved again.

WILSON …….….7 Did not reach the same heights as last week but still put in a very sound performance and might just be making the left back his own.

McGEADY …. …..7 Was a constant thorn to the Falkirk defence, particularly in the second half. Thoroughly enjoyed linking up with Maloney again and some of the moves were top class.

BROWN. ………… 7 Another player who benefited as soon as Maloney came on and, as he is another player with quick feet, the linking play was top class. Was rightly subbed after picking up a booking which no-one, other than the ref, knew why.

HARTLEY ……… 7 Although he started off in his usual holding role as the game moved Celtic’s way, he became more of the attacking midfielder we remember from Hearts. Has a great sense of anticipation and often ‘knicks’ the ball from the toes of his opponents.

NAKA…….. …….. 7 I just love the amazing ability he has when it comes to controlling, passing and linking. Will love the fact that Maloney is back.

SAMARAS.... ….. 7 He’s not a natural leader of the line but he does have good movement and made a couple of great runs, one of which set up his first goal. Another member of the Maloney fan club.

JVOH………………5 Was doing alright until a nasty clash ended his participation.


SUBS

MALONEY …….. MOM 8 Was given a very warm welcome as he ran on to take over from JVOH and then went on to remind us that he is a very talented footballer, full of running and a very quick brain. Set up the 2 goals for Samaras with delightful passes/flicks.

KILLEN…………. 5 Was our poorest player last year and although he was a little better he will never make it at C.P.

CROSAS ………. 6 Only on for about 15 mins but never wasted a pass and looked very composed.




REF…………. (Brines) 5 The ‘wheel of decisions’ that I referred to last week turned a little quicker this weekend, not at C.P., but at Pittodrie. At C.P. Brines as usual continued to baffle the supporters with some strange non-decisions.

THE GAME ……8 After the substitution, Celtic played the type of football I pay my money for. It was kept on the ground and it was fast and positive.

GOALS ………. 1. Don’t know which part of McManus’s body it came off but the ball ended up in the net!
2. A lovely flowing move ended with Maloney spotting Samaras’s great run and slipping through a lovely pass.
3. A quick piece of great close passing set up Samaras to slot the ball past the goalkeeper.


COMMENTS ….. 1. There was a moment late in the second half when Naka got the ball near the corner flag and, with some bewildering footwork, nutmegged the defender and then, tight on the byline, bamboozled him again. It’s what I pay my money for………just great.

2. Sno has gone, Robson might have been injured but what about Donati?
3. The Rangers game next week is an intriguing situation for those of us who like to take on the Manager’s role.
Does Loovens stay in the team? (probably not).
Does he bring the bite of Robson back to the midfield and if he does who drops out?
Will Maloney retain his place if both McDonald and JVOH are fit? (I hope so).
4. Remember, on Thurs the draw is made for the C.L. proper and the possibilities are as follows: (* not qualified yet)

Pot A: Chelsea…….Liverpool ***..FC Barcelona ***…. Arsenal *** Manchester United..Olympique Lyon..Inter..Real Madrid

Pot B: Bayern München, PSV,Villarreal AS Roma Porto Werder Bremen Sporting CP Lisbon

Pot D: Olympiakos Piraeus ***… Fenerbahçe **.. Shakhtar Donetsk ***.. Fiorentina ***.. Spartak Moscow ***.. CFR Cluj.. FBK Kaunas *.. BATE Borisov *

My preference

MATCH REPORT: DUNDEE U 1 CELTIC 1

PRE-MATCH COMMENT:. An early onset of senile dementia (I thought the game was on Sat!) meant that I had to forgo Tannadice for long term engagement.

BORUC ….…….6 Had a god block in the second half and had no chance with the goal.

HINKEL.... ….. 4 Any good little signs of skill he displayed were cancelled out by his too many lax passes/tackles. It was his weakness in defensive play that led to Dundee U equalizing. Perhaps it is now time to give Caddis a run in this position.

CALDWELL…. 7 Is really putting in a series of good sound displays which will make it unlikely that he will be displaced by Loovens unless he’s moved into midfield to replace Hartley?

McMANUS…. …6 A sound, steady display.

WILSON …….….8 MOM Another opportunity for Wilson to make a real claim to replace Naylor and how well he started the match showing skill and composure. His overall display of skill, link up play and attack minded runs were a joy to watch. His contribution for the first goal started off in his own half and a superb delivery from the byeline was the icing on the cake.

McGEADY …. …..6 Has definitely improved in terms of link up play but is finding it very difficult to cope with the 2/3 man marking. Will enjoy the partnership with Wilson if it’s given a decent run.

BROWN. ………… 6 Another sound display which gives me optimism that a good season from him beckons. Kept his temper when on previous occasions he might have been carded.

HARTLEY ……… 7 Although I don’t feel that a holding midfielder is necessary in games like this, I do recognise the professional performance that Hartley puts in most weeks. Made a lot of attacking runs and one of these produced the goal.

NAKA…….. …….. 7 Good to see him back and some of touches showed what a class player he is. The best one touch passing phases usually involved him and he supplied the pass for Hartley’s goal. Understandably had to be replace after 65mins.

McDONALD.. ….. 4 It’s not the fact that he hasn’t scored yet, although he won’t have an easier chance than the header he missed just at the end, it is his apparent lack of sharpness and his ongoing inability to control or pass the ball.

JVOH………………5 Although he led the line well he sis main role is to score goals and he spurned a glorious opportunity to kill off the game when he only had the goalkeeper to beat.


SUBS

SAMARAS …….. 5 Only had 5 mins to do something

ROBSON………… 4 Replaced Naka but was raely involved.




REF…………. (Richmond) 6 I’m beginning to feel that the wheel of decisions re. dodgy ref’s decisions is beginning to turn Celtic’s way (I’m excluding any games involving the Rev Mike or S. Dougal). The tackle by Caldwell should have been penalised.

THE GAME ……6 A better all round performance by Celtic and lots more attacking moves. There will be a few teams who will find taking any points from Tannadice difficult.

GOALS ………. 1. A great flowing move from our own half involving Wilson, McGeady, Wilson supplying the cross, Naka making the pass and Hartley finishing it off.
2. Weakness by Hinkel in allowing a ball over his head was the reason for the goal.


COMMENTS ….. 1. The corresponding game last year resulted in a 2-1 victory with both strikers scoring (something that should have been repeated this year!).

2. A much better display of one touch, fast moving football that should reap benefits as the games go bye.

MATCH REPORT: CELTIC 1 ST MIRREN 0

PRE-MATCH COMMENT:. Great to be back and I was fervently hoping that the Flag raising ceremony would go off without any moronic booing (it was my most embarrassing time as a Celtic supporter when Fergus was booed).
Only once in the past six seasons has the team who have claimed the championship won their opening encounter so there was going to be a certain logic applied if Celtic didn’t pick up all 3 points, however I was looking for at least 3 goals.
Last years corresponding game against St Mirren ended in a very nervy 1-1 draw with Riordan scoring the late equaliser.

BORUC ….…….6 Had very little to do but took the crosses well.

HINKEL.... ….. 5 I was hoping to see the form one would expect from a German international but again he failed to reach those standards.

CALDWELL…. 8 MON I think he won every aerial challenge and also managed to execute some very good passes.

McMANUS…. …7 Made some very good hard tackles and was only caught out once by a fast moving attack.

NAYLOR …….….6 If he could just stop his erratic distribution his performance would be so much influential. His overall contribution was better than his average of last year.

McGEADY …. …..6 For a player of such talent I think he would have been a bit disappointed with his overall performance. Was well marked by the right back and when he got past him there was always another one or two to beat. He is thinking more about releasing the ball more often and that can only improve his overall game.

ROBSON. ……….6 We will not see the best of him whilst he is played wide on the right but the guy gives 100% and he did score with a penalty.

HARTLEY ……… 7 He is really settling into the holding midfield role and I think it will come into his own in the away European games.

BROWN…….. …….. 8 I watched the warm up and it was very noticeable that he was the player giving 100%. He took that onto the game and gave a very impressive performance. He even managed to avoid being carded!

McDONALD.. ….. 5 The question of the moment must be “Does he have a worse first touch than Millar?”. Needs a goal to bring the swagger back to his game.

JVOH………………6 Won a lot of good ball in the air but his lack of pace and skill on the floor were painful to watch on occasion,


SUBS

SAMARAS …….. 3 Did nothing

WILSON ………. 5 Played at left back and the longer he was on the more effective he became.

CADDIS ………… 4 Will be disappointed that he did not make much of a contribution after replacing Robson.




REF…………. (Smith) 6 Should have awarded a penalty to Celtic when JVOH was pulled down by the goalkeeper but I’m not sure about the one he did award (haven’t seen it on t.v. yet). The North Stan linesman was the real problem.

THE GAME ……5 A disappointing performance by Celtic but St Mirren played some nice football.

GOALS ………. 1. A bad mistake by the two central defenders allowed JVOH to burst into the box but he was being pulled by the defenders and Robson managed to get the penalty past the keeper eventually!


COMMENTS ….. 1. The improvement in the P.R./Media side of our club was highlighted by the tribute to Tommy Burns and the professional way that the Championship flag was handled.


2. I’m sure our possession % was quite high but the old problem of not breaking quickly was all too evident.

3. The dilemma for GS is how does he change the midfield when Naka comes back? Who does he drop?

4. Well at least we are 2 points better off than the opening game last year.