MATCH REPORT: ST MIRREN 0 CELTIC 2

PRE – MATCH COMMENT: A surge of excitement with the realisation that Paddy was playing and a sense of agreement the 19k Caldwell had been dropped.

CORRESPONDING GAME L.Y.

RESULT: 3 - 1 WIN. SCORERS: Naka & Sammi....... MOM: Hinkel.........

BORUC....................7 Had one save to make but is still looking very professional in everything he does. Only his 2nd clean sheet this season.

HINKEL...................5 MOM last year but his poorest game this season. His distribution was just awful!

McMANUS..............6 Settled in very well with no attempts to do anything other than solid, safe play.

LOOVENS...............6 Had a shaky opening few minutes but settled well after that. Vital interception in 2nd half.

FOX........................5 Not his best game and had little involvement in any dangerous moves.

BROWN................ 6 He still rushes around but to-day he hassled well. He will have to start showing that he is a player rather than just a bruiser.

N’GUEMO..............7 MOM Nothing outstanding but he was always there when needed and showed some nice touches.

McCOURT............. 7 What A second great consecutive individual goal and he lasted 10 mins longer than I expected. He really does struggle to maintain an acceptable fitness level but he is immensely talented.

MALONEY......... ..5 Thought he was completely invisible until his superb goal.

McDONALD......... 4 If he doesn’t score he does very little.

KILLEN...............5 He tried but showed little of the level of skill required for a Celtic striker..

SUBS..................

SAMARAS..........5 Replaced Killen and brought a little bit more skill to the front line.

McGINN............5 Replaced McCourt and did alright. Did not rec the service from Hinkel.

CROSAS............5 Replaced Brown and brought a composure to the game.

REF (Richmond)........7 Could have awarded a penalty and could have rules the 2nd goal offside.

GOALS.............. 1. Paddy picks up the ball, meanders past 5 opposition players and fires in a great shot.

2. Maloney picks the ball up just on the edge of the box, moves inside and sends a lovely curler past the goalkeeper. Thought the goal should have been disallowed because of McDonalds involvement.

RATING: Quality: 5.6 (l.y. 5.64)

POSSESSION: 62% (l.y. 52%)

COMMENTS:

1. 1 Not a great display by Celtic with too many missed passes, particularly the final ball. Pleased to hear TM admit as much.

2 Two big games coming up and I will enjoy venting my angst against a team who cheated their way to victory last time Celtic played (it's Rapid I'm talking about!).

MATCH REPORT: CELTIC 2 HEARTS 1

BORUC.................... 6 Thought he was a bit slow going down at the Hearts goal but after that he pulled off some important saves. He had a wee pushing match with our Captain after 'The Heid' made one of not uncommon mistakes.............think most of the crowd were on his side.

HINKEL....................8 MOM He was my worry considering how Driver terrorised him during the corresponding game last season but to-day Driver was hardly seen and Hinkel gave everything in both an attacking and defensive role. Sent a great ball to McDonald but he failed to control it.

CALDWELL.............5 It's not that he doesn't produce some good football during games, he does, but it's the nervousness that he creates when he's given time to clear his area. Was very lucky that Artur spared his blushes after a typical blunder allowed Driver a great chance.

LOOVENS................ 6 Was caught up in the general indecision, particularly in the first half, steadied a little in the second but he did score the winning goal.

FOX...........................7 I like the way he doesn't shirk tackles and I like the way he continued to attack the Hearts defence even when it looked as though the winning goal wasn't coming. Again good deliveries.

BROWN.............. ..5 His poor passing led to the Hearts goal. His 'losing the heid' nearly cost us a goal and resulted in a yellow card. Thought he was fortunate not to be subbed.

N’GUEMO.............7 It was good to see him back to his earlier form but he does tire in the last 20 mins..

McGEADY............8 Tried everything in his locker to help Celtic win the game and supplied several great balls into the penalty box which weren't taken. Also put in a great deal of work.

MALONEY........... 5 Had a great free kick hit the bar but that apart did not really use his skills to produce chances.

KILLEN................6 Scored a great equalising goal with a powerful header and did succeed occassionaly in causing problems to the Hearts defence but I don't think that his basic skills/qualities are good enough for Celtic.

McDONALD..........5 Made a couple of good scoring opportunities but failed to take them also had a couple given to him and again failed.

SUBS..................

McGINN............5 Was pleased to see him given more experience and it was his persistence which which led to THE corner that was.

REF....(McDonald).......6 Allowed himself to be conned when bringing the game to a stop because of a 'head injury' which turned out to be a leg injury. Should have awarded a penalty to Celtic.

GOALS.............. 1. Another slack pass from Brown allowed Satanta to run 20 yds before hitting the target from all of 25 yds.

2. Perseverance by Maloney, after Baloch had made a good save from a Killen shot, the ball looked as though it was going for a corner, allowed him to send over a great cross which was bulleted into the net by Killen.

3. The impressive Hearts full back inexplicably allowed a ball to go out for a corner. A good corner by Fox was only partly punched away, McGeady just lobbed a header to the far post and there was Loovens header the ball into the net.

COMMENTS: 1. At half time I wasn't despondent and felt that an early goal and the full backing of the support would lead to a victory. I thought that Celtic had shown enough of their early season form to give me hope.

2. A positive was the fact that the majority of the support (there will always be the small minority who want to criticise and boo at the slightest mistake) got behind the support and helped create the atmosphere that has won so many lost causes in the past.

3. Pity Robson did not get some much needed match practice.

4. Even if it had ended in a draw Celtic played much better than they did in the corresponding game last year.

5.. At least Celtic are back on top and some easier teams coming up..

MATCH REPORT:HAPOEL TEL AVIV 2 CELTIC 1

PRE – MATCH COMMENT: Not expecting much so will take a draw.

BORUC.................... 6 Was carrying his duties with so much aplomb then once again, bang goes the clean sheet!

HINKEL...................5 For an attacking full back to be seen so little in attack speaks volumes for the tactics.

McMANUS.............4 Didn't expect to see him back and on this form it should be some time before I see him again. Slow of pace, slow of thought.

LOOVENS...............4 Was caught out so badly at the second goal.

FOX..........................5 Another natural attacker who hardly attacked.

BROWN.............. ..5 This was the type of game that he should have been showing his quality. 9m...........your having a laugh!

N’GUEMO............4 What has gone wrong with this player?

CALDWELL........4 Played in midfield and the longer the game went on the more futile he became. Just replay the second half and see how slow and ponderous he became.

McGEADY............5 He did try but how many times did he release the pass that might have resulted in a goal?

MALONEY......... 4 Another player who should have been excelling in these situations but he didn't.

SAMARAS......... 6 MOM Was the only outfield player who showed some semblance of form. He took up some great positions before being rewarded with a very good goal.

SUBS..................

KILLEN.............4 Replaced the injured Samaras but did nothing.

McDONALD.....4 Only given a few minutes.

McGINN............4 Sent over a couple of crosses but no impact.

REF................... 6

GOALS.............. 1. A great ball from Caldwell found Samaras on the edge of the box just onside. He finished it off with an accurate shot into the bottom corner.

2. A shot on goal which either Boruc or Loovens could have dealt with but neither did.

3. A completely unfit Celtic defence were torn apart down the right wing and then could not defend the cross ball.

COMMENTS: 1. Never at any stage of this game did I ever feel that Celtic were playing well, in control, yes but that was only in the first half. I do not know what was said in the dressing room but what ever it was, I would tear up the script! The complete opposite approach to Rangers approach last night.................they were over run but in the second half at least they came out with a bit more passion and a plan to attack.

2. Things have not looked good for several games and TM is fast approaching the Rubicon and if he is to cross it he will have to rediscover the fast, attacking play which excited me at the beginning.

3. Unless Robson was injured he should have played.

3. Don't think we are firing on all cylinders so would accept a draw on Thurs.

MATCH REPORT:CELTIC 1 DUN U 1

PRE – MATCH COMMENT: Didn't realise that McGeady would miss this match but I suppose it's six and 1/2 dozen between this and the Hearts game.

BORUC.................... 6 He just cannot keep enough clean sheets but again he wasn't to blame for the goal. Did notice that he was back to kicking out more balls.

HINKEL...................7 Thought he had a very good game even though I felt he had 'lost' his man in the build up to the goal.

CALDWELL............5 I cannot believe that his contract situ is not affecting his game. He is just not as dominant as he was and if only he had supplied McGinn/Mizuno with a pass rather than try the delicate chip into the center of the action. Thought he also could have been more ruthless when tackling the Dun U player in the lead up to the goal.

LOOVENS...............5 He found the physical battle a little bit unnerving. He to could have done better at the goal.

FOX.......................7 Sent over a great cross which led to the goal and made a great tackle to prevent a possible goal.

BROWN.............. 5 Did not think he should have been played up front and certainly disagreed that he should have lasted the full 90 mins after his efforts at the w/end.

N’GUEMO............4 I just hope we do not have another Graveson situ. Glad to read that TM is well aware of the situ.

CROSAS.............6 He will need to perform better than this if he has to have a future at C.P. Unfortunately he will not add the extra pace which is needed.

McGINN............... 7 MOM He will be very pleased at his first outing. Pacy, direct and a good eye for seeing the through ball.

MALONEY......... 6 Was really trying to unlock the United defence and showed some good skills but he also tired.

McDONALD......... 5 He scored the goal which is what he is there for but there are times when he successfully links up play you think "he could be quite good" and then there are the other times when you just shake your head and think "he'll never be quite good"!

SUBS..................

SAMARAS...........4 Was surprised that he was played out on the wing and as a result he fiddled around instead of being more direct.

MIZUNO..............4 Must now be behind McGinn in the pecking order.

CADDIS............5 Played in a midfield position and did well.

REF................... 6 I'm afraid that the contentious decisions by him or the North stand lines man will prove to have been correct apart from the penalty claim.

GOALS.............. 1. Dun U player left unmarked out on the left wing and as a result Caldwell had to come over to block but he didn't do that and the ball ricocheted off him, went into the box where it did the same against Loovens and then smashed into the net.

2. A great free kick by Fox and a good header by McDonald.

COMMENTS: 1. The internationals certainly took their toll and was disappointed with some of TM's decisions with that in mind.

2. Missed Fortune.

3. Don't think we are firing on all cylinders so would accept a draw on Thurs.

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