Less Than Convincing

If ever a Celtic team owed a result and good performance to the paying fans, this was it, especially after the dismal performance mid-week.

The only good points to come from this game were the three points we got for winning the game and the fact that we have managed to ship out more dead wood in the shape of Fortune, who flew back to West Brom just after the Europa League game, we deserve a refund for the performances he has put in since joining the Bhoys.

It was nice to see Izaguirre come in at left back and he looked pretty comfortable on the ball and defending, but I will reserve judgment until I see him against stronger opposition.

Loovens can in for Hooiveld and on occasion looked a bit suspect, especially in the air, we have to sort this back line once and for all, I don't care if players take the huff, we must have a strong back four.

Midfield did nothing for me today and against a better team we will suffer, Ledley is finding it difficult making the step up and lacked pace and drive today, Brown was his usual self, headless chicken who just wants to kick players who get passed him or take the ball away from him.

We have three much better players in Juarez, Ki & Kayal sitting on the bench, all have pace and vision on the ball and can go forward, why Lennon persists in playing Brown is beyond me.

Our new keeper, Fraser Forster, didn't have much to do but Loovens will vouch for his right jab which nearly knocked the big defender for six when Forster decided to come and clear a cross.

What can I say about our attackers, Samaras just isn't going to make the grade I'm afraid and must be offloaded to the first club we can pay to take him, Murphy is slower than a week in the jail and won't get a look in against a class side.

Maloney was our only player today who looked as if he might cause Motherwell problems.

I sincerely hope there is a re-think about our midfield and that Lennon bites the bullet and drops Brown & Ledley before it's too late, all we have to look forward to is the SPL and cups and with lifting SFA last season we need some sort of indication that we have a better team than under Mowbray and that all the signings are better players than we had.

Game Rating: 3/10

My man of the match - Shaun Maloney

Utter Disgrace

A lesson in how a team can go from one extreme to the other in a matter of days.

How a team can go into a Europa League qualifying game 2-0 up from the first leg and lose 4-0 in the second leg is beyond me, the annoying fact is that it wasn't until the 81st minute that we had any attempt on goal and this was a weak miss hit by Fortune and our only attempt on goal in the whole 94 minutes.

Far too many players in this team just can't turn it on when needed and after praising Scott Brown for his performance in the St Mirren game, I feel his lack of control in the midfield had much to do with the result tonight.

The lack of control, the lack of pace, loss of possession, the inability to break through a totally average defence and the inability to create chances led to our downfall.

Too many ups and downs Neil, we've got to get an established eleven on the park and let the others fight to get into the team, please don't buy any more average players, if the ones you are after are not much better than what we have now just forget them.

Time is slowly running out for Scottish football in Europe and we have to sort it out by putting together a team to be proud of, can't see this team bringing back the fans.

As I have said before, I think there are still players at Celtic who would never have been in a Celtic squad under Martin O'Neill, never mind in the team.

I don't even care any more if anyone wants Samaras, Fortune, Brown & Zaluska, we couldn't even give them away just now, the four musketeers shouldn't be anywhere near this Celtic side, I would rather Lennon put in young bhoys from the reserves than watch, Samaras who can't control a ball, Fortune who has done practically nothing since he came, Zaluska lose more goals each game and Brown run about like a headless chicken telling players, who are ten times better than he is, what to do, replace them all.

Game Rating: 0/10

My man of the match - None

Saints No Match For The New Bhoys

I must admit I did think twice as to whether to go to this game or not due to work commitments but I am glad I didn't miss one of the best performances I have seen in years, 4-0 was the final score but it could have easily been seven or eight.

I saw everything that has been lacking in previous season, movement, invention, fast precise passing, determination, class, skill, goals, new talent, playing as a team, in fact it would be difficult to say any one of the Celtic players on the pitch had a bad game.

Scott Brown, who I have had a few words to say about in the past, had a great game, Samaras also had a good game, hard to fault any of them.

Beram Kayal is a class player and will add a lot to this Celtic team with his energy and passing ability, Efrain Juarez was outstanding, although Neil Lennon played him at Right back in place of Cha Du-Ri, who I suspect was rested, due to a slight injury, for the European game on Thursday,

A fantastic display by all the team today saw four well deserved goals, first by Joe Ledley, when Samaras played the ball perfectly into his path when he made the run into the box, the second by Maloney was a typical Fortune ball across the front of the defence in the six yard box to find Shaun at the back post.

The next two goals were special and not to be missed, another Fortune pass to the right to let James Forrest run in an slot the ball between keeper and post for Celtic's third, the fourth was the goal of the game, the ball was cleared by the saint's defence but fell to Ki about 25 yards out who duly obliged with a class strike in the postage stamp corner which left the keeper wondering where the ball had went.

Four goals to nil flattered St Mirren a bit, with strikes from three Celtic players coming off the woodwork or this could have been a rugby score.

Game Rating: 6/10

My man of the match - Scott Brown

Premier League Season Starts

It would be silly to think that Neil Lennon could bring together so many new players without needing time to make this new look team gel, but it has been evident for weeks that there are still positions to be filled in this Celtic side.

Celtic were really slow out of the blocks and Inverness had most of the possession for the first twenty minutes, the rest of the first half was pretty even with no end product from either team, it was 0-0 at the break.

It would have been easy for Lennon to go right through the team in his half time talk and pick out each and every fault but I can't imagine that would be his style.

It looked all the way light a draw until a piece of pure genius from Paddy McCourt as he drifted passed four defenders and finished like a top class striker to give Celtic the lead and winner in this game.

Other chances came and went in this game, with Maloney & Forrest both hitting the woodwork and the Inverness keeper having two or three good saves, or it could have been more.

Don't misunderstand me, this was no vintage performance by any means and Celtic's slack passing at times could have been punished by a better side.

It's plain for all to see that we still need a top class striker or two, although Maloney did impress me, looking as if he's getting back to his best and was man of the match for me by a mile.

I know it is only the start of the season but in my opinion we still have at least three players who need replaced, I know some supporters may not agree with me but here they are, Brown, Zaluska and Samaras.

Zaluska has looked shakey since Boruc left and nearly fumbled an easy take today which could have fallen kindly for an Inverness player and caused Celtic two points.

Brown has never looked like the player we thought he was going to be when he was at Hibs and I think this is his top level, his control is not good enough to be running a midfield never mind being captain and his aggressive nature will see him get more booking than goals this season.

Samaras was a mistake and should never have been given a contract at Parkhead, for a man his size he is too easily pushed off the ball, his lack of control means he loses the ball more often than not, he turns back most of the time instead of going forward as he can't take on a defender and beat them.

I sincerely hope these three players prove me wrong and have the best season they have ever had but with no silverware last season, the first time this has happened in seven years, there is even more pressure on Neil Lennon to produce a trophy winning team.

Game Rating: 4/10

My man of the match - Shaun Maloney