‘Well-Celtic: The Frozen Tundra of Fir Park

By: JT | January 30th, 2008

Celtic travel to Fir Park today to take on Motherwell, in their first visit to face the Steelmen since Phil O’Donnell, a hero for both clubs, passed away after an on-the-pitch collapse. It should be an emotional day for all those at Celtic, in particular Scott McDonald who moved from ‘Well to Celtic just this summer and was a great friend of O’Donnell’s.

Besides Celtic’s sorry play of late, the state of the pitch is the big story. Two matches at Fir Park, which Motherwell share with last place Gretna, have been called off in the last week after awful weather made the surface unplayable. There will be a 3 pm inspection of the turf, and severe rain is anticipated in the afternoon. There is a distinct possibility this match won’t be played, or will take place in extreme conditions.

Fullback Jim Paterson is the only ‘Well player who won’t be available, as former Celt and stand up guy Mark McGhee has a full squad to choose from otherwise.

Paul Hartley has recovered from the thigh strain that forced him out of Sunday’s miserable win over Falkirk, and will continue at right-back. Gary Caldwell and Stephen McManus will be in the center of defense, while Lee Naylor will be at left-back. The Celts will be shooting for their sixth straight clean sheet against a ‘Well squad that has scored eleven goals in their last four home matches.

Aiden McGeady, Shunsuke Nakamura, and Massimo Donati will comprise three-quarters of the midfield, with Scott Brown being the fourth. Recent reports have claimed that Brown is unhappy at Celtic and looking for a move, which the club has vehemently denied.

It seems there are some nasty rabble rousers in the press, to no one’s great surprise. Really, Brown isn’t going anywhere anytime soon, and its pretty silly to suggest otherwise, even if his play hasn’t been exemplary of late.

The intrigue this week is up front. The disappointing target-man duo of Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink and Chris Killen are being challenged by the arrival of Greek international Georgios Samaras on loan from English Premier League outfit Manchester City. The diminutive Aussie McDonald will take his normal place beside one of them.

Its unlikely that Samaras will get the starting nod, but his presence will undoubtedly light a fire under the collective butts of Big Jan and Killen. The Greek will probably get a twenty minute run out towards the end of the match to get him acclimated.

Celtic coach and failed Scotland managerial candidate Tommy Burns has already reminded Samaras publicly of what’s expected at Celtic. He said, “Samaras is a player from a good level. He’s been in the English Premiership and he’s done reasonably well there.

He’ll find that this club is different, and the demands are different. You have to be a winner at Celtic – it’s not an every week thing, it’s an every day thing.”

Now that my friends, is a straight up challenge.

And a challenge is what this whole team needs right now. As I’ve pointed out twice (here and here) in the last week or so, Celtic’s play has been lackluster at best, and they need to rev it up as the room for error grows smaller and smaller with each passing Hun victory.

The injection of Samaras into the strike force should motivate the guys up front, and against a team that likes to get after it at home like Motherwell, the opportunity to play some good attacking football again presents itself.

This has all the hallmarks of a tough match, with the weather, the emotion, the way ‘Well play at home, and the way Celtic haven’t been playing lately.

A reinvigorated JVoH gets the Bhoys on the board first, with McDonald picking up another scrappy goal before the intermission. ‘Well will get one back in the second half, and Artur Boruc will be the hero yet again, fending off a late Motherwell assault on his net. 2-1 to the Celts, by the skin of their teeth.

OTHER NEWS

Wee Gordon Strachan has been awarded a four match ban for his actions at Pittodrie in August. WGS got into it with a stadium steward and was sent to the stands, though the little man proclaimed his innocence immediately afterward. He’s appealing, so don’t expect him to actually to serve the ban.

Boruc thinks the SPL should reinstitute a winter break, and with all the pitch calamities the last few weeks, that suggestion is making a whole lot of sense. Besides that, international and club commitments wear these players down, and some time to rest their bodies rather than play in Arctic temperatures on frozen pitches is only fair.

Straight from the loosely sourced category, Celtic are in for Sparta Prague left-back Michal Kadlec, who they were close to bringing in a few seasons back.

Follically challenged former Celtic hero John Hartson has been released by West Brom. Maybe he’s the solution up front. I’m kidding of course. A little. Still joking a bit. It isn’t that bad yet, is it?