Manchester United versus Celtic

Manchester United versus Celtic

This match will, in my humble opinion, be the making of a great Celtic side. Probable team selection:

1 Artur Boruc

For the first time since Pat Bonner, we have a class-act between the posts. The Polish keeper is the reason why I'm sticking my money on a Celtic win tonight. He is a shot-stopper in the Schmeikel mould.

2. Mark Wilson

Wilson has made an excellent start to his Celtic career. Energetic and thoughtful in his play, he will look to create opportunities for his team-mates rather than simply tackle and hoof. Consistent performer.

3. Lee Naylor

Impressive in his first few games. Again, consistent and thoughtful. An attack -minded overlapper. Needs support behind him when he takes off down the wing. Terrific long throw and has a reputation as a dead-ball expert. Played for nine years at Wolverhampton and seems to have been underestimated in his career. An excellent player.

4. Garry Cauldwell

I really rate this guy. Was captain of Hibernian prior to joining us. A ball-playing defender, he has had a few mixed reviews from less patient supporters. He looks like a future club, and international captain. Reminds me of Hanson in his youth. A big performance tonight may well be the making of him.

5. Stephen McManus

With a good season under his belt, McManus seems to be forging a real partnership with Cauldwell. Looks like an old fashioned stopper in the McCarthy mould. Needs a performance tonight and consistently over the CL group if he is to aspire to anything approaching McNeill status. Solid no-nonsense, player-finding (or at least non-opposition finding) clearances please!
More than capable centre-back.

6. Neil Lennon

Top player and Celtic captain. Not the fastest but quick thinker. Brilliant positional sense. When Neil plays well (which is 99% of games) Celtic win. Breaks up opposition attacks, steadies the ship with changes in tempo and intelligent passing. Calm in tight play, always available for an alternative pass.

7. Shunsuke Nakamura

Class act. A very skillful player. Small in stature, big in heart, takes a lot of physical punishment. Can drift out of the game. I therefore see him used in part tonight. Can score from free kicks and excellent passer. Needs referee protection to express his magical skills.

8. Thomas Graveson

Powerful, skilled, dominant attacking midfielder. A fantastic acquisition by the club. A real leader.
Will, without question, be a candidate for man of the match in any game he plays.

9. Kenny Miller

I highly rate this player. Has struggled to score goals in his short Celtic career. He offers much more than just goals however. He set up the winner at Aberdeen on Saturday and will run himself into the ground for the cause of Celtic and Scotland. Expect no less tonight. An excellent defending attacker!

10. Jan Venegoor Of Hesselink

Two games, two winning goals. Great start for Celtic. Strong personality. Powerful physical presence. Experienced international and CL campaigner. Expect a goal(s) from him tonight.

11. Aiden McGeady

Class act. Has improved his body strength in last year. Confident on the ball and becoming more and more a team player. Sometimes criticized for failing to beat his man. This is unmerited as he, along with nakamura will beat his man more often than not and will perservere in dribbling. An exciting and skillful player. Can be a matchwinner and has the stage at Old Trafford to show his brilliance.

Subs Stephen Pearson

May start the game. A favourite of mine (great player and real Celtic-minded guy). Powerful and direct. Another match-winner. Needs a decent run in the team. Seen as a back-up player. Can defend and is very fast. Will do a job tonight if asked.

Scot Cuthbert

Reserve team captain. Centre-back who will provide cover in in case of defensive injuries. Youthful and full of promise.

Derek Riordan

Yet to play his part since joining from Hibernian. Rumours of a bust-up with the manager. Has been injured recently. A fantastic player who could set Old Trafford on fire with his attacking skills.

Magic Zurawski

May start match. Slow start to the season . Prolific goalscorer. Great movement in the channels. Miller has the edge in terms of sheer energy. Could easily score tonight.

David Marshall

Not many starts since Artur Buruc became first choice keeper. Has failed to inspire on the few occasions called on recently.

Evander Sno

Excellent acquisition in the summer. May not have the experience for a game of this magnitude. Next year maybe. A very skilled midfield prospect.

Jiri Jarosik

May well feature as part of a five-man midfield tonight. Has skills and energy. Needs greater positional awareness, or at least awareness of his team-mates and their strengths and weaknesses. A very skillful player who may well come into his own in the CL.

Craig Beattie

Last season blighted by injury. A goal machine in the making(hamstring permitting). Fast, direct, and has the confidence to take his chances. If he gets an opportunity he will do the business for Celtic tonight.


Manchester United (probable)

Edwin Van Der Sar is an excellent keeper.

He is a bit suspect on high balls.

Gary Neville:

a hard working team captain. Can be beaten with pace and dribbling. Also can get dragged out of position, leaving defensive gaps.

Wes Brown:

poor concentration and lack of positional sense will be exploited by Celtic

Rio Ferdinand:

arrogant and lacking in concentration at times. Guilty of underestimating opponents. Seems more interested in his looks than his job on the field.


Mikail Silvestre:

average full-back. Lacks vision in attack and poor passing ability.

Michael Carrick:

big money buy. Yet to find his feet at United and midfield lacks balance. Excellent skills on the ball but can be marked out of the game. Can get lost in a battle.

Darren Fletcher:

execellent player. Has the skill, vision and sheer energy to hurt any team. Well known by his fellow Scottish internationals in the Celtic side. Will need close attention tonight.
Paul Scholes:

brilliant midfield general. Celtic will need to play close attention to this guy. Can be a match winner. Also inclined to see red. Graveson will go head to head with him.

Lous Saha:

flatters to deceive. Misses the target more often than not and can drift out of a game.

Wayne Rooney:

fantastic player. Difficult to stop when he drives with the ball at his feet. Fearless and inclined to get himself into trouble with referees. Clumsy in the tackle and can injure himself as well as others when he dives in. Is undoubtedly, with Fletcher Scholes and Giggs, a dangerous adversary.

Ryan Giggs:

brilliant winger. Must not be allowed space to run. Can be marked out of the game. Drifts out of things when he doesn't get his own way.

My prediction:

Celtic will be up for this one. Although United have four supremely gifted players, in Fletcher, Scholes, Giggs and Rooney, Celtic will use pace and passing to surprise our hosts. Celtic will attack when we have the ball and press when we don't.

Mental strength, concentration and desire are key to this game. Celtic have the TEAM to beat United's individuals. Our manager is no mug. Sir Alex might have done it all in the past. However, one can't help wondering if his United are coming to the end of an era. Strachan's Celtic are definitely at the start of something big. We also have our terrific support to drive us home!



Manchester United 0 Celtic 2