CELTIC 2 HAMILTON 0

PRE – MATCH COMMENT: A clean sheet and 4 goals ................not a lot to ask!

BORUC................6 Only had one save to make and he made it, ergo, a clean sheet.

HINKEL..................5 Had a couple of good attacking runs but he still makes me nervous when a good bit of defending is required.

LOOVENS.............. 6 What a sweetly struck goal, if only he would strike his passes just as sweetly.

McMANUS............. 6 The sharpest I've seen him this season but I would still transfer him due to his lack of composure on the ball.

FOX......................... 5 A couple of good free crosses and a well struck free kick are not enough to make up for his defensive frailties.

N'GUEMO...............7 MOM Was constantly breaking up moves and surging forward. A little bit more composure when he's near the penalty area would be an important addition to his all round game.

CROSAS.................6 Quietly effective in the way he makes himself available to take a pass and then clinically dispatches it.

McGEADY..............7 He's rediscovered that burst of pace and although he did not get a goal or an assist he was still our most talented player.

ROBSON...............5 Can't fault his effort but his lack of composure on the ball was best highlighted when he sclaffed a shot when in a very good scoring position.

McDONALD............6 A better first touch was in evidence and he took up some good scoring positions but was not rewarded with a pass.

SAMARAS............... 5 His full repetoire of skills were on view but unfortunately so was his ego and selfishness.

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

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FORTUNE........ 6 Would like to see him start up front with Sammi.

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McGINN........... 6 He's fast, he's direct and he scored a great goal.

ZING................. 5 Not on for long but showed one delightful bit of skill which should have brought him a goal.

REF ..................() 6

RATING: Quality: 5.8 (l.y. 5.3 ICT)

POSSESSION: 56%

COMMENTS:1. Once again the supporters were nervous wrecks in a game they dominated until the second goal.

2. Once again Celtic come up against a goalkeeper who plays out of his skin whilst rangers come up against one who has his worst game of the season.

3. Celtic play Kilmarnock on Wed. and in the corresponding game l.y. the score was 3 - 1 in Celtic's favour with McGeady scoring and winning MOM. Let's hope for a repeat.

4. The crowd was possibly the lowest I've seen at a SPL game since Fergus arrived.

5. The transfer season will soon be on us and I hope the powers that be realise that the number on the first team squad need to be culled or that the quality needs improving. This is what I would do:

BORUC.......................... Sell or no less than 6m

BROWN ....................... If only on loan at Killie I would sell for .5m

CALDWELL................ Sell for 1m

CONROY .................... Sell for 250k

FLOOD .......................... Sell for 300k

KILLEN ......................... Sell for 1m (playing in World Cup)

McDONALD ................. Sell for 3m+

McGOWAN .................. Sell for 300k+

McMANUS .................. Sell for 1.5m+

MIZUNO ...................... Sell for 500k

NAYLOR .................... Sell for 500k+

WILSON .................... Sell for 750k

There you have it! 12 players off the books realising approx 15m and saving approx 25m in wages. Bring in a good quality big striker, a quality big central defender and a quality left back and add in Zheng Zhi, Brown, Maloney, O'Dea and Ki Sung Yueng for a better quality squad for less money...........................you know it makes sense!

Hope you all had a very Happy Christmas.

HEARTS 2 CELTIC 1

PRE – MATCH COMMENT: Last year Celtic secured a 2 - 0 victory with an encouraging performance and t.y. it's important to repeat the feat. Rangers have found a new determination and 3pts are very important.

BORUC................6 Had no chance with either goal but his distribution was poor to-day. I don't feel he's come back in top form. Another game, another no clean sheet.

HINKEL..................5 Felt his lack of defending awareness was again highlighted for Hearts winning goal.

LOOVENS................4 What he was thinking about when he failed to clear his lines instead of letting the ball into the penalty box, heaven only knows. I doubt if he made a composed pass out of defence.

CALDWELL............. 4 He was always going to be dicing with death when he decided to make a tackle from behind in the box. I think he might have been unlucky but it was rash.

FOX......................... 6 Steady enough and did try to force forward whenever he could.

N'GUEMO...............7 Played well both in an attacking sense and after Celtic went down to 10 men when the defensive side of his game came into play.

CROSAS...................6 Was substituted after Caldwell was sent off but up until then he was showing his ability in the constructive aspect of the game.

McGEADY..............8 MOM He never allowed the threat of a yellow card to put him off his game. was a constant threat to Hearts with his aggressive attacking drives and was unlucky not to score with a great run and shot.

ROBSON............. ....6 He brings a physical side to the team and that has it worth but his lack of creativity will, I think, relegate him to the bench when the Korean arrives (also McGinn, Zeng, Brown).

McDONALD..............7 Was unlucky not to score when his header came off the post and then set up Samaras with a glorious chance.

SAMARAS................. 7 Missed a great chance to score in the second half but he did keep his goal a game run going. Thought he showed a lot of skill and commitment.

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

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FORTUNE........ 6 Was involved after replacing McDonald and was unlucky not to score.

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McGINN........... 5 Was not on for long enough

McMANUS........... 6 Came on when Caldwell was redcarded and played steadily but he has lost his confidence in his own ability and so have the fans.

REF ..................(Tumilty) 6 Cannot criticise him for the penalty award but he should certainly have booked Concalves for his retribution on Samaras.

RATING: Quality: 5.8 (l.y. 5.7)

POSSESSION: 46% I get these figs from the BBC site but I have my doubts about their accuracy.

COMMENTS:1. We lost and that's a big blow but this was a good performance by Celtic both before the sending off and certainly after it. Celtic had 9 shots on target whilst Hearts had only 3!

2. I don't know of another team in the SPL which makes so many defensive mistakes that are punished as they are.

3. Celtic are now 3pts worse off than l.y. in the corresponding games.

RAPID VIENNA 3 CELTIC 3

PRE – MATCH COMMENT: For a supposedly "nothing" game I was keen to see some co-eff points, a continuance of our recent unbeaten run, a few goals, a clean sheet and some fringe players!

BORUC................5 Haven't felt that our goal is a much safer place since Artur replaced Zaluska. Felt he could have prevented at least one of the goals.

CADDIS..................5 Think he'll be a bit disappointed that he did not use this opportunity to stamp a real claim for a 1st team spot. He is another good attacking wing back who has a weakness in his defensive game.

LOOVENS..............4 For one of our experienced players I thought he was awful! His distribution was woeful and his marking lax.

McMANUS............. 4 Was responsible for their first goal and played like a player who realises that he has no future at C.P.

WILSON................. 4 Another who did not do his case any good. I cannot see him ever being a regular first team player.

N'GUEMO............... 6 Steady

CROSAS...................6 He's not a player you notice much but his ability and calmness on the ball make him an important cog in the midfield. A great pass to set up the winning goal.

McGINN..................8 MOM He was the player who showed that the Rapid defence could be got at with his direct running and he was a thorn in their side during the time he was on the field. Great pace and directness, just wish he would "put his laces through the ball" more.

FLOOD............. ....4 He tried but to no avail.

McGOWAN..........6 Had very few opportunities to show what he can do until injury time and then he was brilliant.

FORTUNE..............7 3 goals in 2 games and he hasn't played a full 90mins in either of them ............. what a striker!

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

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KILLEN........ 4 No impact......only on for a few minutes.

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CAREY........... 4 Good experience.

REF ..................() 7

RATING: Quality: 5.1

POSSESSION: 38%

COMMENTS:1. Well at least one of the Glasgow teams managed to stay off the bottom of their section.

2. If only we had a defence!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

3. The great fightback should ensure that there will be no drop in confidence in Edinburgh on Sunday. It was a game Celtic should have won but then that's the story of the season so far.

CELTIC 3 ABERDEEN 0

PRE – MATCH COMMENT: l.Y. Celtic won the corresponding game 3 - 2 with JVOH and McDonald (sub) scoring the goals. Whilst a repeat score would not be bad I would like a victory and a clean sheet.

BORUC................5 Felt sorry for Zaluska but Artur is no 1although he will rarely have a quieter afternoon.

HINKEL..................7 It was a game that allowed his attacking side to blossom and his involvement in setting up the first goal was superb. Had a couple of good chances in the second half to score but the composure wasn't there.

LOOVENS................6 A much steadier performance.

CALDWELL............. 7 Didn't put a foot wrong and coped with the aerial threat of Millar so well.

FOX......................... 6 This was more like it. A display in which he showed confidence and even managed a great 60 yd run which beat three men and was unlucky not to score.

N'GUEMO............... 8 How he enjoyed the second half in which he displayed some great attacking, skillful football.

CROSAS...................8 What a pass he made to Hinkel to set up the first goal and with N;Guemo dominated the midfield.

McGEADY..............9 He must be enjoying this new role of being the country's top assister. His two little dinks to set up Sammi's goals were just top class. It would have to be 10m plus for the Board to consider letting him go.

ROBSON............. ....7 Another very good performance and one which makes him being a first pick more likely.

McDONALD..............7 His best performance for some time.

SAMARAS.................9 MOM Absolutely superb! His pace, his control, his work ethic and his goals had the fans chanting his name. Could easily have had a hat-trick. He becomes the first Celtic player to score in 3 consecutive games since he performed the same feat early last season.

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

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FORTUNE........ 4 No impact.

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McGINN........... 5 Was very unlucky not to score.

ZHI... .............. 5 Should have scored but made himself available for the ball.

REF ..................(Tumilty) 7

RATING: Quality: 6.4 (l.y. 5.7)

POSSESSION: 55% (l.y. 61%)

COMMENTS:1. There's a certain smugness you're allowed when you've been at one of the best Celtic performances for a long time and look around at the empty seats of the 'supporters' who had lost faith in the team.

2. A top performance with many great moves. It could and should have been at least 6 goals.

3.