CELTIC MATCH REPORT:  

 DUNDEE U  2  CELTIC 2  

PRE-MATCH COMMENT:   Happy to see Boruc in the team after some papers comments re. a virus. Surprised that Loovens was dropped, surprised that Hartley was playing rather than Flood.

BORUC ….……....5  He did not bring the composure that was needed to an untested central defence and his distribution was so poor.

HINKEL..... ……..5  Always has problems against Conway and he too played his part in a nervous defence.

CALDWELL......... 6   Was steady enough but never influential. Missed a great chance to score late in the second half.

O'DEA...…. … ..6  Was in the position he prefers but might regret being moved as he had a better opportunity of retaining his left back position rather than displace McManus.

NAYLOR...….……....7 MOM  Doesn't score many goals but this, as his only other one, was a beauty. He also linked up very well with McGeady.

HARTLEY......... 5   He is not creative enough for me in games we would like to win. Would have preferred Flood on from the start. Did send over a lovely corner for the first goal.

BROWN…..…...... 6    A shadow of thy player we saw at Hampden. No surging runs, no penalty box bursts, no Player of The Year performance.

NAKA.... ……........5  Was correctly subbed as he had made no real impact on the game.

McGEADY.........6  Again he tried manfully to have a big impact but he was well marked by the opposition.

JVOH................3  Why oh why was he selected? The decision to give him the Captain's armband was just a joke!

McDONALD....... ....6  Scored the first and caused the Dundee defence all sorts of problems but our 'reserve' goalkeeper pulled off a good save to stop the double.

SUBS:

SAMARAS.......... 5   Replaced JVOH and at least he brought something to the attack.

FLOOD .............5   After praying for his introduction I was disappointed by his lack of input. I have always seen as a 'real pest' type of player but that was not evident to-day.....I wonder why?

REF…………...... (Conroy) 7  Had no bearing on the result.

THE GAME ……7  A good game in terms of excitement and goals but still not seeing Celtic play the way we play best, i.e. ball retention, quick movement, snappy passing.

GOALS ……….   1.  Good Hartley corner finished off by a poachers goal from McDonald.

                                2. A poor bit of defending by JVOH allowed a good header from Sandaza to float over the head of the smallest Celtic player (Skippy) who was guarding the far post.

                    3. A terrible display of slack defensive work allowed United to take a quick free kick, pass the ball to the unmarked Sandaza who put the ball beyond Boruc's reach.

              4. A ball dropping out of the sky was met by Naylor on the volley and just rocketed into the net. 

                               

COMMENTS ….. 1. I'm not sure if GS won the tactical battle this time. I think Loovens might well have produced a tighter defence. I think Flood or Crosas would have given us that little bit of class which the midfield was missing.

                                     2. I would have settled for the status quo before the weekend but Rangers slipped up first, we should not have followed.

               4. A good set of figures:

 

PS Coronation and Exhibition Cups intentionally excluded

                 5. Sorry about this but my son has asked me to put this comment in (he is under the impression that someof my statements in the past have not stood the test of time): "Federer will not win another Major title." He does accept that 3 yrs is probably the maximum time he has left.

http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=pSwcU-4OOGmHIcms6D7RIHg&pli=1