Celtic v Hibs
Bank Of Scotland SPL
Saturday 4th December 2004
Celtic Park
Kick Off 3pm
After our disappointing draw with Dundee on Sunday, Celtic have had a welcome free week. Hibs are the visitors tomorrow, in a game where Celtic can, for at least a day, return to the top of the league.
Hibs were the first team to take points off of us in the SPL this season, in a 2-2 draw at Easter Road. Tony Mowbray has installed a decent group of youngsters who play well together, and Hibs are certainly one of the most impressive teams in the league.
Tomorrow is going to be tricky. I can see it being a frustrating day if we don’t bang in an early goal to settle things. Too many of our fans are impatient and will jump at the opportunity to get on the team’s back. Let’s not make this happen tomorrow.
We need more fight from the players. Some of the effort has not been as good as we expect it to be – this was evident at Dundee last week. Also, if we go a goal ahead, we should not sit back and mess about, we should be going for another goal to kill the game off. This was also apparent last week, and at Ibrox in the CIS Cup when we went a goal ahead. All it takes is one mistake, isn’t that right Mr Thompson?
Thompson and Sutton will both return and as you probably know, Shaun Maloney scored for the Under 21’s on Tuesday. It is probably still too early for the wee man to find a start in the team but hopefully we will see him on the bench. It is still unknown whether Stan Varga will return from injury.
Once again, we are faced with the question between Juninho and McGeady. McGeady played the full game last week, and done okay. He assisted a goal and looked one of our best players. Juninho was warming up at the side of the park, and didn’t seem to be bothering his arse.
Martin O’Neill now has to make a decision with Juninho. If he is to become something at this football club, he has to play him on a run of five or six games. He has not yet adapted to the Scottish game and I feel there is still a chance if he gets a decent run in the side. If he is not playing well, keep playing him and see what he can do. There is plenty of time to play Aiden McGeady, his time will come. At the moment, we need to have a look at the Brazillian and see if he does have anything to offer.
Tomorrow is a day where I hope the Celtic fans join in the We Support Neil Lennon Campaign, let's show him we are behind him 100%.
As I said, I am hoping for an early goal which will hopefully settle everyone down. Big John is still playing for a contract and I’ll stick him in for first goalscorer, with The Bhoys returning to the top, for at least a day.
Come On The Hoops!
Prediction: Celtic 2-0 Hibs