Hamilton Preview: Where’s Waldo? Edition

By: Matt | October 3rd, 2008

So, it seems that Waldo of “Where’s Waldo?” fame is a Hamilton supporter. How else could you explain the outfit, unless he is trying to be a barber shop pole. No, Waldo is an Accies supporter and you would not have had trouble finding him the first part of the SPL season, as we would have have been at New Douglas Park watching the Accies start off the season on a roll. The Accies won their first three games and certainly were not looking to be this year’s Gretna (on the playing field at least) Their hot start might have been enough to keep them in the SPL next year, but Waldo’s club has seemed to come back to earth, losing their last four SPL matches including a 4-1 gubbing by the previous SPL whipping boy of the season, Falkirk, last week. After yet another away European disappointment, Celtic look to continue putting the new boy in the SPL school in their place.

One Celtic player who has not been lost in the crowd has been Georgios Samaras. Norn politician’s favorite Greek striker is the SPL’s leading goal scorer, already netting seven goals and four goals in September. Samaras was recognized for his efforts by being named the SPL Player of the Month for September. Gordon Strachan also picked up a Manager of the Month award for Celtic’s three wins this past month. With Samaras, people are already comparing him to a certain Swedish striker, with breath taking runs like this in Motherwell and Kilmarnock. While I am not ready to make Henke comparisons yet, there is no doubt that Samaras has been a vital part of Celtic’s season so far and has the skills to be great. If he continues to score goals at this rate and quality, he will be a legend in no time and a legend that cost Celtic 3 million quid.

Onto the September’s Manager of the Month. Gordon Strachan admits that Celtic have a hill to climb to qualify for the last 16 of the Champions League, but he believes that Celtic’s quality will shine through and that Celtic can at least make a push for the quarter finals. Um, which quality is that again? Celtic have yet to score in their two Champions League matches and there is that whole “not winning away from home” thing. To qualify, it seems that Celtic will need to take points not only in Denmark, but also at Old Trafford. While Man U might have struggled a bit early this season, it is still fucking Man U and it is still Old Trafford. Not an easy task, but I suppose it would not be a bad place to break this losing streak thing. Being realistic, Celtic might be looking at a UEFA Cup decider on the last match day in Denmark.

With our European dreams going from Big Ears to a Vase, Celtic’s main focus returns to their domestic duty. Waldo and the rest of the Accies might have been hard to spot in the beginning of the season, their three wins on the trot had the rest of the SPL take notice and there past four results show the rest of the league taking them more seriously now. The Accies are hoping that the return of captain Alex Neil will help the side, but the side is certainly reeling. Besides Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink continued crushing of the greater Aberdeenshire area’s dreams, Celtic looked dominant in their SPL matches in September. Andy Hinkel will still be out of Saturday’s match with a thigh strain, but Detroit Cop by day, midfield tackling machine by night Barry “Robo Cop” Robson seems to be healthy after appearing as a substitute in Spain midweek. Celtic will probably see a slow first half, suffering from a case of the “Tuesdays”, but the Accies will not be able to capitalize and a second half Georgios Samaras double gets Celtic the three points.