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

CELTIC MATCH REPORT:  

 CELTIC 2  RANGERS  0 (aet)

PRE-MATCH COMMENT:Found myself sitting in the North Stand for the first time since I watched 'Big Bad John' miss a penalty against Rangers in another Cup Final. Not feeling great about the co-incidence but brightened up when Alan Thompson took his seat in front of me to a very good reception from the fans.

Delighted that GS was going with 'Skippy' up front on his own but surprised that Loovens was drafted in and Hartley was being played out on the right wing.

BORUC ….……....7  Apart from a little scare when being asked to deal with a poor pass back by the Captain, Artur was back to his best and pulled off a couple of very good saves and showed a safe pair of hands when dealing with the cross balls. 

HINKEL..... ……..7  Mad a couple of his usual bizarre defensive decisions but overall was very effective in nullifying the opposition and showed some very good composure and ball skills.

LOOVENS......... 7  MOM He hasn't impressed me since coming to Celtic but to-day he was rock solid in his defensive work and was a constant threat at corner kicks, etc. Was unlucky not to score the opener when his shot was blocked on the line.

McMANUS…. … ..6  Steady enough but continues to disappoint with his lack of confidence when he has the ball at his feet.

O'DEA...….……....7 So pleased for the guy! He has waited so long for the chance and he caps a very good display playing out of position with a sublime header for the opening goal.

CALDWELL......... 5   Played in a midfield role he struggled to come to grips with the game and his distribution was woeful.

BROWN…..…...... 7    Once he found out how to retain his footing on a difficult surface he put on a great display of 'one minute defending, the next minute attacking' display.

NAKA.... ……........7  At the game I would not have marked him so high but after watching the game again on t.v. I realised how much effort he put in. He was always making himself available to take the pass and of course he sent over the delightful free kick for the goal. I doubt if there was anyone who covered more ground than he did.

McGEADY.........7  There were times when Joe McBride's comment re. Aiden being too selfish on occasion seemed to be accurate but Aiden kept fighting, he kept being a problem to the Ranger's defence and his lung bursting run at the end, tempting Broadfoot into the penalty, and his subsequent coolly taken penalty brought such a smile to his face.

HARTLEY................5  He was wasted out on the right wing and his mind set was one of a defensive nature which nearly cost us dearly.

McDONALD....... ....6  Didn't score but never gave up in his lone fight up front.

SUBS:

SAMARAS.......... 6   Came on just at the right time. Rangers were tiring and his movement and aerial involvement brought a different dimension to the game. Of course he should have scored at least twice!

WILSON .............6   Replaced O'Dea for the last 15 mins and looked sharp. Was confident on the ball.

REF…………...... (McDonald) 8  A very good performance from not only him but also his assistants.

THE GAME ……6 The pitch and the tactical formations used by the two managers meant that it was never going to be a classic but Celtic's performance in extra time made it all worthwhile.

GOALS ……….   1. A great free kick and a cleverly engineered header by O'Dea.

                                2. McGeady was exhausted but he still found some energy to leave Broadfoot in his wake as he powered his way into the box. He just loved scoring with the penalty.

                               

COMMENTS ….. 1. GS won the Manager's battle. 'Walter' took off Lafferty when he was causing us some problems, he then put on Dailly shortly afterwards (it was then that I knew we had won!). GS put on Sammi in place of the ineffective Hartley.   

                                     2. It was great sitting/standing as part of a Celtic support who only wanted to give support to the team. They out sang, out jibed,out cheered the opposition fans for most of the game and then took great delight at yelling at a completely empty Ranger's end before the game had finished.

                                     3. My main concern was that Rangers might have put on a display that would have dented my confidence in winning 4iar, the opposite was the case. Their so called skillful players were invisible. Celtic have Flood, Robson and Maloney to look forward to using for the final push..........it will make a big difference.

                                    4.  It was just great to be there and win the Cup. Rangers might go on and win the other Cup but their supporters will not have the satifaction and enjoyment of doing so by beating their great rivals.

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CELTIC MATCH REPORT:  ST MIRREN  1  CELTIC 0

PRE-MATCH COMMENT: Globespan's change of flight departure at least meant that I could sit down and watch The Bhoys after missing the last 2 games.

BORUC ….……....5  Had no chance with the penalty and had nothing else to do apart from delay the game by tying his shoelaces and fixing his gloves (this was when Celtic were trying to equalise)

HINKEL..... ……..4  After a good run of consistent performances he chose this game to produce an abysmal show of poor passing, eye off the ball and no surging runs.

CALDWELL......... 5  He wasn't to blame for the goal and would probably have prevented Dargo getting his shot away.

McMANUS…. … ..4  Celtic do not require the "I'll run through a brick wall" type of player if that is he has to offer. His tackle for the penalty was typical McManus but what was worse was the fact that as Captain of Celtic FC he was not seen raging and cajoling the players after his team went one down!

O'DEA...….……4  I thought that the penalty incident highlighted the main reason why he will not make it as a Celtic regular. Watch the way he "strolls" after Dargo before McManus is skinned. he just does not have the pace that is required for top level football.

CROSAS......... 5   Just did not influence the game in the way I expected.

BROWN…..…...... 5   MOM  Tried hard but was another who could not make the vital pass or run.

NAKA.... ……....4  Even early in the game as you watched him make the most unlike Naka type of pass you knew that this was not going to be his game but who would have expected the type of miss-pass that led to the goal?

McGEADY.........4  Had no impact at all although to be fair he had no overlapping partner and was coming deeper and deeper for the ball.

JVOH................4  At least he had a couple of efforts on target but what weak efforts. Has only scored in one game this season and yet he is an automatic pick.

McDONALD....... 4  Could do nothing right.

SUBS:

SAMARASS.......... 3   Where has he gone?

CONROY .............  4   This guy is a winger who GS is trying to do a 'Wallace' with. Why did he not go on as an outright winger and played a back 3?   There is a very good strong, fast, skillful left back playing for the reserves called Lafferty who would do a better job than either Naylor or O'Dea.

REF…………...... (Richmond) 6  To book JVOH was ridiculous but at least he correctly only gave a yello card to McManus.

THE GAME ……5 There was once again no football of the type a Celtic team should produce. 

GOALS ……….   1. A absolutely, definite penalty.

                               

COMMENTS ….. 1. Further evidence that "G.S. should not renew his contract". He picked the right team but failed to galvanise them in any way after the penalty. He must be ruing the decision to send Caddis out for the rest of the season. 

GS will leave at the end of the season and I sincerely hope it is as a title winning Manager. The interesting part will be who replaces him.

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