MATCH REPORT:   CELTIC  2  VILLAREAL  0

PRE-MATCH COMMENT: Can't remember having so little enthusiasm for a C.L. game at home. However, the knowledge that 500e, co-eff points and allowing Rangers to hang on their title of the worst performing Scottish team in C.L. history (only achieved 3pts one season) did ad a little spice for the walk to the stadium.

BORUC ….……....7  Whatever he was asked to do he did with his old, confident style and it was great to hear the support he got from the fans.

HINKEL...... ……7 Really enjoyed the freedom he was given to attack and used the opportunity to show how comfortable he can be on the ball.

CALDWELL......... 7  Back where he performs best (central defence), he used his physique and ball playing ability to show that he is the commanding force of the two man defence.

McMANUS…. … ..5 It's in games like these when he is up against fast, quick thinking players that you realise that 'Big Mick' is at his best in the rough and tumble of the SPL.

WILSON...…. ……6  Had a good game and supplied the cross for the first goal but he was starved of the ball for most of the second half.

HARTLEY........... 7 His performance could have gone unnoticed but he played a very important part in the teams' performance by closing down the opposition and niggling away for the whole game.

BROWN…..…......8  He was outstanding in the areas he excels in (strength, harrying, quick feet and surging runs) and just kept on the right side of not getting himself booked. It is no co-incidence that he was playing in a central midfield role.

NAKA....... ……..8  MOM  It may well be his last appearance in the Hoops as far as European football is concerned but how he grabbed the opportunity to show us all how much he will be missed. He played mostly in the middle of the park but obviously had the freedom to where he wished and some of his touches were just superb. He also turned in a performance which included some great defensive work.

MALONEY............. 7 Scored the opening goal with a header! Supplied a great ball which Samaras should have scored from and gave a fully committed display.

McGEADY..............7  His first half display was top class and just highlighted how much we have missed his talent. Scored a great goal but his lack of fitness told in the second half.

SAMARAS..........4   He's unfortunately back to the old faint hearted displays of last season. His casualness was in danger of turning the crowd against him and he must re-discover his early form soon.

SUBS 

McGOWAN………....5  Replaced McGeady and had a golden chance to score with a header but missed the target. I think he's a talented young player but will succeed somewhere else.

McDONALD........…. 4 Once again good Celtic moves came to nothing because of his inability to stay onside.

REF…………...... (Swiss) 6  A pernickety ref but overall good. It was one of the softest sending offs I've seen.

THE GAME ……7  In the first half our central defence were too often unsettled by the quick moving opposition but the longer the game went on the more solid they became. Villareal were up for the game and they showed how talented they are but Celtic matched them and with their determination it all made for a good game.

GOALS ………. 1.A series of quick one touch passing allowed Wilson to surge forward and pick the ball near the bye-line before sending over a hard cross which the keeper spilled and Maloney 'rose' above the defence to score with a header.

                                 2. A move that started off in our penalty box involving a lovely touch by Naka saw McGeady surge forward from the half way line in a very determined run in which he had only one thing in mind, i.e. score! This he did with a hard accurate shot into the corner of the net.

COMMENTS ….. 1. My earlier disinterest vanished when I saw the team line up. This is what the Celtic support look for, an attack minded formation including all of our talented footballers and they served up a treat. If Samaras had played his part it would have been an absolutely wonderful night. Will GS be brave enough to play the same team against Hearts?

2. Just the tonic the Celtic support needed before the difficult December games.

3. http://villarreal.theoffside.com/villarreal-team-news/celtic-fc-2-villarreal-0.html

4. CELTIC are ready to make a cut-price £5million move for West Ham striker Craig Bellamy. 

"Gordon Strachan has been eyeing the player since the Londoners’ current cash problems developed. 
And the Hoops boss means to be first in the queue as a host of clubs cast their eyes over the Hammers’ prize assets. 
Bellamy, who spent four months on loan at Celtic Park under Martin O’Neill in 2005, is likely to be released in the New Year because of the Hammers’ financial difficulties. 
And he would jump at the chance of a return to the Scottish champions, where he became a crowd hero during his loan spell. 
Bellamy, 29, has cost £31m in transfer fees since Strachan took him to Coventry from Norwich for £6.5m in August 2000. But the player’s reputation is not a worry. 
A Celtic source revealed: “Gordon is desperate to land him. He isn’t concerned by his reputation, having handled the younger version and others like Noel Whelan. 
“Bellers was a huge hit when he was on loan up here and, at around £5m, the signing would be good business.”

5. We will have the opportunity to be involved in the European stage after all! With the 2009/10 Scottish Champions requiring Scotalnd to hold onto their 12th place to ensure automatic Group qualification we must hope that both the Greek teams lose every game and similar for Belgium and Denmark.

2	Scotland	4.750	4.250	6.750	10.250	1.875	27.875	4
13	Greece	6.166	3.333	4.666	7.500	5.750	27.415	2/ 4
14	Switzerland	2.625	9.375	4.100	6.250	2.900	25.250	5
15	Belgium	6.125	5.500	4.700	4.500	4.250	25.075	2/ 4
16	Denmark	1.500	3.500	6.125	5.125	6.400	22.650	2/ 5