What a weekend!
What can you say about Hearts? The football team every Celtic fan hates almost as much as (or in my case more than) Rangers. Why do I hate Hearts more than Rangers? Because they opt-in to Rangers' 'heritage'. They have no direction of their own!
This has been shown in the past for the many incidents to take place over the years and was underlined at the weekend by their celebrations of Paedophilia and flags that were removed from the vile end during the game.
That is why the final scoreline is made more sweeter, cause getting it right up these contemptible ****s is a full time occupation, a vocation if you will!
And what a scoreline it was, Hearts were not beaten so much as demoralised by a rampant Celtic team that appears to be clicking after a slighty shakey start into a formidable outfit. I started thinking after the game that Hearts were long overdue a bleaching from us; so much so that the last time we really turned them over in was when we trumped them 6-1 a few years back.
It was starkly obvious from the first whistle that Celtic looked up for this and that was underlined as Hearts huffed and puffed around Celtic Park chasing shadows. By the time that classy Donati had doubled Celtic's lead it was game over for the self-imploding Jambo's.
Some of the link up play between Brown, McDonald and Nakamura was a joy to watch! With Donati supplying them with the ball effortlessly they terrorised the Tynecastle side in every position. It would appear that Naka is flourishing alongside his new partners in crime. Long may this continue.
The impact that Scott Brown has had on this side is immeasurable! Brown may have produced his finest display in a Celtic shirt to date but, of even greater significance, he and Massimo Donati, the elegant Italian, were fused to often wondrous effect. If Celtic retain their title for a second successive season, it is a triumph likely be borne out of their midfield mastery.
Brown is an all-rounder of boundless energy. A ubiquitous presence, he has the uncanny instinct for the thick of the action and his abrasive style and endeavour has instantly endeared him to the support. He has become a fans favourite overnight and anyone who claims that he isn't worth his transfer fee obviously does not have the slightest idea what they are talking about!
The only down side to this is the continued underperformance by our two full backs. I like both of the players and feel they have made contributions to our successes over the past two seasons but as the team grows all parts must grow with it. The first team currently resembles a side that could go places if it only had two more than competent full backs.
A drastic improvement is needed in this area.
Meanwhile Stephen McManus has shown he can cope admirable with the Captains role by highlighting that although we had a good result more is required from a Celtic team. McManus said: "We're only four or so games into the season, we've got a million miles to go and we are looking to improve the whole time."
"But I think we need to go up a gear against Moscow. It's important when you go into a Champions League game you go up a level, because if you don't you'll get punished."
"We did all right in Russia and gave ourselves a chance. But one thing is for sure, they will be coming here with the attitude that they can win.
"I think it's important that you get a fast start and get right into them. Then we'll see how it goes. The good thing is we know we're more than capable of going to that next level."
One can only assume that the performances of his colleagues on the flank are cause for as much concern for Stephen as they are for us!
Get them sorted out Mick!
Yours in Celtic
Clydebuilt