Celtic 4-Hamilton 0

By: Matt | April 5th, 2009

An relatively easy victory for the Bhoys yesterday over the Accies. Rather than do a full match recap, I figured most of you have seen the match or at least the highlights (though I’ll try and provide those as well). So I’ll just give some bullet point type thoughts from the match. If you like/do not like this match recap format, let me know and I’ll keep doing it/go back to the old style. Anyways away we go.
-Boy, scoring a penalty for Greece and taking on Hamilton at home was just what the doctor ordered for Georgios Samaras. I watched Sammy’s game for Greece midweek and it looked exactly like the old Samaras. Lost possession way too easily, seemed to dribble into corners, and looked unimpressive. However, he clinically took a penalty for Greece. I don’t know why, but it seems like once struggling strikers find the net, they can’t miss. It was a good step for Samaras to find the net twice Saturday. I am a little disturbed by the fact that Scott McDonald cannot seem to work well with Samaras. The Australian seemed lost and confused most of the match and was rightfully subbed out.
-Speaking of struggling strikers, Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink found himself somewhere where he has not been recently, the score sheet. Big Jan subbed in for Scott McDonald in the 71st minute and was at the end of Andreas Hinkel’s brillant run to put Celtic up 4-0. JVOH just had to put his foot out to put in the perfectly placed ball, but as I said before, sometimes a bit of luck is all a striker needs.

-While it has pushed them to 8th place in the league, it is a shame for neutral fans and fans of attractive football that Hamilton switched to a defensive mindset midway through the season. It’s a pretty easy statement for me to make, not in a relegation fight or trying to keep my job like Hamilton coach Billy Reid. However, with James McCarthy and company, the Accies have some decent offensive talent. This is likely the last season that McCarthy will be in Scotland, so it is a shame that he has been restricted by this system.
-Dear Bayern Munich: Piss off. You better have your checkbooks open wide if you are planning on taking Aiden McGeady out of the Hoops. McGeady had another great game, including his wonderful goal in the second half. Low ball offers will not be tolerated, because the alternative is to watch McGeady play for many years to come, since he is well under contract.
-Hey look at that, Stephen McManus had a good game. The Celtic Captain has been caught out a bit this season, but he played well today. Solid in defense and led the team well. Keep it up, Captain Caveman (you heard it here first).

Highlights, thanks to Eighteen88.com:

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