I agree with your thoughts on Naka on Saturday. He set up opportunities but they were not cashed in. I think Naka has struggled in the past, but didn’t let Rangers bully him, though the packed it in tight in the middle and might have given him room outside. Either way, it is a positive step in getting the old Naka back.

1. With Hartley in for Donati, Scott Brown was clearly defined as the attacking half of mid-field, to wit he contributed next to nothing. As result, Nakamura had top float inside and try and complete these un-realistic, defense splitting passes, or over-the-top, soft touch balls to VOH, who has questionable first-touch to begin with.

2. Nakamura had one erreant pass in the first half. He did, however make several excellent one-touch passes, between defenders to move the ball forward through the middle of the park. Some to Brown, which he overran, but some to Samaras and VOH. Also, Nakamura, in the second half delivered three great corners (great defined as: within the width of the keepers 6-yard box and between the 6-yard line and the penalty dot) and not one Celt got a head to any of them. As well, Barry Robson delivered the final in-swinger of the match, and it too, was cleared by only a single player within five yards – Cuallar.

3. For those who feel Nakamura doesn’t show up in big games, that insinuates other players have shown up in those same “big games”. What did Aiden do against Barcelona? What did Aiden do against Manchester United last year? What did Aiden McGeady do today? He rarely got beyond his mark, and when he did, his crosses were fifty-fifty hopefulls to the back post.

My intention is not to single out particular players for blame, but to illuminate a sentiment which I believe to be dericive – the foreign players cannot cut it, and the Scots-Irish players can get on.
After watching Scotland v Croatia, as well as the balance of Scotland’s fixtures under both Walter Smith and Alex Mac, two things are clear to me…

1. Scott Brown has no idea what he is doing. He spent the Croatia game out on the wing, his natural position. He had no pace to beat his mark. His challenges were late and from behind, largely because he is rarely in the correct position – therefor late and behind. He spent the bulk of the match chasing with his head on a swivel. There is a significant difference between playing football and being a footballer. Scott Brown plays football.

2. There is nothing wrong with Caldwell and McManus. These two have paired together, with Hartley in the defensive roll, under a better system, for three different coaches, against National team competition and performed admirably against France, Italy, Ukraine, Croatia, et al.
I am not saying they are the best. i am not saying they are world class.. What I am saying is why can they battle man-up against Sheva, Voronin, Toni, Del Piero, Henry, etc., but they appear hesitant and unsure under WGS?

3. Finally, we must realize more sophisticated analysis is needed by us. Athletic Darwinism demands each player is more simuliar, therefor the difference between God-given talent and technique usually win the day.
That being said, Nakamura is as good a passer as say Jose Maria Gutierrez of Real Madrid. The significant difference is Guti’s passes fall to the feet of Raul, Van Nistlerooy, Robinho. When Guti delivers an over-the top pass, which may be a little too heavy, Raul usually gathers the ball with one foot and quickly shoot’s with his left. This makes Guti’s pass great!
When Nakamura deliver’s the same pass to VOH or McDonald or Brown, it deflects off their foot to the keeper or over the touch-line for GK. This makes Nakamura’s pass poor. But, was it?
Guti doesn’t make his team-mates technically better or have more talent – he makes them sucessfull. Nakamura should not be expected to make VOH, McDonald or Brown technically proficient or more talented.
As for service, David Beckham’s service into the box is fantastic not because he…
1. Picks an individual player and their run;
2. Anticipates where that player is going go;
3. Knows the defender and his tendencies;
4. Places the ball in exactly the correct height…
David Beckham’s service is fantastic because it is in virtually the same place with the same pace everytime. It is in the forward’s best interest to fight through defenders and get to the ball.
In my opinion, Nakamura is trying to spray the ball around the box, because Celtic rarely get there. He sends some to the near post, we don’t deflect it on, it goes wide. He sends some to the penalty dot and we are crowded out by four defenders. He sends some to the far post and Hinkle is the only one there and he loses out.
In the end we get nothing. When VOH does get a head to the ball, it does not go in often enough…see Gretna. In the Gretna match, prior to Aiden’s cross to VOH for the goal, Nakamura hit VOH in the forehead with three consecutive crosses – each put over the bar.

I don’t think WGS puts his players in the best position to succeed. I don’t think his means of communication are clear. I don’t think some of his favorites should be in the side.
However, I do think that this season will do long term damage to Celtic. I feel some of the talented foreign players are going to leave – Donati, Boruc, Nakamura – and they are going to spread the word, “Don’t go to Celtic Park. You will get pidgeon-holed into a spot that does not suit you. When you don’t work in that spot, you will be left out of the side or ransacked in the press. It’s not worth it.”
So, if anybody want’s to go back to the days of Tommy Burns managing Celtic following the departure of Di Canio, Cadete and PVH…so be it.
My hope now is that Wearside get relegated.
Hail! Hail!
Ryan

http://eurorivals.net/derbies/rangers_v_celtic_derby.html

I hope it’s a good game though! I’m look foward to it…