Celtic v Basle

Decent enough game and a good performance from Celtic. As the commentators kept reminding us Basle are much further along their pre-season preparations than Celtic so to win out there was encouraging.

Thoughts on individual performances that spring to mind:

  • Mark Brown was very good. Alert to through balls and long shots and dealt with the shots that came his way. A more than capable deputy
  • Not much else to say about the back 4 other than Kennedy and Naylor looked good, Balde looked a bit ragged, Pressley was ok, wouldn’t judge McManus or Virgo on their full back roles.
  • Donati was very good in the first half I thought. Picked the ball up from the full backs and showed a cracking range of passing with some switches to the far side. Looked decent on the ball. Caught out twice but not through dallying the way Gravesen was - one was a hospital throw-in and I can’t remember the other instance other than the fact that it happened
  • Tommy G needs to improve his concentration
  • Aiden was very good. Enthusiastic and purposeful with the ball - he caused their right back (who was their best player I thought) a lot of problems
  • Not much happening for Bjarnasson out wide but he came in and played some nice passes
  • Magic looked dangerous
  • Miller was quiet but took his goal well
  • Scotty Brown came on and was excellent. Defended well, kept possession, passed well and ran excellently. If he continues to play like that he’ll be a superstar. Extremely impressed with that performance. Head and shoulders above everyone else.
  • McDonald and VoH didn’t hit it off as well as I hoped they might
  • Jarsoik was ok, Riordan the same.