The Bhoys Are Back!

By: JT | February 4th, 2008

Celtic thoroughly dominated Kilmarnock in a Scottish Cup fifth-rounder at Rugby Park, and in doing so offered a glimpse of the kind of squad they can be the rest of the season. The 5-1 thrashing was not even as close as the scoreline indicated. Celtic were superior in every aspect of the game, and that’s no small feat considering the Bhoys’ results lately against Killie, and how tough Killie normally play Celtic at home.

Shunsuke Nakamura was at his majestic best, which we haven’t seen for some time, creating three of the five goals, and showcasing his fine array of passing skill in the process.

In setting up the opener, Naka entranced a Killie defender for a moment, then laid the ball off to the onrushing Paul Caddis (more on the youngster here), who was making his full debut at right-back. Caddis rifled a low cross towards the near post, and Scott McDonald met it perfectly for his 20th goal of the season in all competitions. Celtic went into the dressing room at halftime only up 1-0, but in full control of proceedings.

Naka’s corner to the near post was flicked on stylishly by Massimo Donati, and the charging Gary Caldwell was the first to meet it, putting the Bhoys up 2-0 after 52 minutes of play. Donati did splendidly to make something of a corner that was a little short, and if the Italian can add that kind of awareness to his all-around game, what a player he could be for Celtic.

Six minutes later, Aiden McGeady rampaged down the middle of the park on the counter, with Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink on his right and McDonald on his left to choose from. He went with the Dutchman, and after a soft first touch, the big man smashed a left footed strike between the keeper and the post as he was going to ground. The relief on Big Jan’s face was evident, since the arrival of Georgios Samaras has put extra pressure on him to perform.

After Killie ended Celtic’s clean sheet streak at six matches, McDonald grabbed his second as Samaras was preparing to replace him.

A surgical ball from Nakamura sliced the Killie defense open, but the angle was too difficult for Big Jan to get a good shot on net, and the Killie keeper deflected the ball right back to him. He looked up and found an open McDonald who clinically dispatched #21 beyond Alan Combe who was struggling to get back into position.

This must have been what WGS had in mind when he brought in Samaras. The competition for a place in the First XI is going to make everyone better, and it showed in this match. Big Jan was active, moving all the time, and looked like the player he was supposed to be when he signed in the summer of 2006. McDonald kept his unbelievable season going as well, and the starting duo had to be feeling confident about keeping their jobs when Samaras trotted on to replace McDonald after 67 minutes.

Wearing fairly ridiculous orange boots, Samaras initially looked out of sorts, nearly tripping over the glowing leather on his feet. But when you see the solo goal he concocted, you’ll be amazed at how graceful the lanky Greek international can be.

After receiving a long ball from Donati, Samaras cut to his left, leaving the Killie “defender” for dead. He cruised through the box parallel to the goal, and calmly placed his shot into the side netting near the left post with the greatest of ease. I haven’t seen too many goals like that from Celtic’s current crop of strikers.

The infusion of new blood in the January transfer window has clearly done the squad some good. There will be competition for every position, and if a player isn’t holding his own on the pitch, someone else will be in their spot, plain and simple.

Aberdeen is next, both in the Cup and in the league. The Bhoys travel to Pittodrie during the second weekend of March to contest a Scottish Cup quarterfinal, and also make the trip to visit the Dons next weekend after the brief international break.

The fire is back in the Bhoys’ bellies, and for that I’m tremendously thankful. I was getting worried.

Enjoy…