Celtic 5-0 Inverness CT/ Squad Evaluation

Celtic rounded off a successful league campaign by breaching the 90 points theshold with a stylish and comfortable home win against an under strength Inverness team.

Craig Gordon could have had his pipe and slippers out for the full 90 minutes as the ball rarely found its way into the Celtic half, far less at the feet of an Inverness player. If this is the last time we see big VVD ad Jason Denayer then it was a typically assured and confident showing from the pair, pinging the ball across the backline with assurance and snuffing out the merest hint of danger. Denayer was a player that concerned me during the early days,finding his feet at the club but once he settled in and the team grew confident he has been imperious at the back alongside VVD. Its not a coincidence that the goals against have dried up since this pairing settled into a partnership.

They will both be sorely missed if they go.

Matthews and Izaguirre worked hard up and down the flank all game yet I do think they have been suspect at times when we need them in a defensive capacity. There is no doubt in my mind that Izaguirre offers an extra dimension doing forward but I feel that we need another option for those games in which we cannot afford to be picked off in the wide areas. Graeme Shinnie is a good buy for Aberdeen and I feel like we have missed a trick there. That said, all game Izaguirre worked tirelessly down the left getting crosses into the box and putting a goal on a plate for Johansen. On the right Matthews does do a job but I miss that extra bit of quality that Lustig gives us.

In midfield we were industrious as always, a hallmark of Ronnys Celtic when playing well, our players went hunting in packs with Johansen leading from the front as per usual.

Scott Brown and Nir Biton have formed a superb combination, anchoring the midfield and complimenting each others playing style ideally. Brown brings his leadership qualities, putting in tough tackles, harrassing opponents on the ball with that incredible energy and enthusiasm to go box to box. Nir offers that composure on the ball with his intelligent passing, clever defensive positioning to support the backline and, as we have come to know in recent weeks, the technical prowess to strike a ball. This pairing are key to providing the foundation for our flair players to work their magic. I was pleased to read this week about how Nir was hungry for another contract and after his performances this year I'd like to see him dealt in. In the context of this game it was a Sunday stroll for the pair.

Armstrong didn't have the best of games yesterday in my eyes but I think both him and GMS will prove to be important players for the forthcoming season as they offer competition that is bringing out that bit extra in the likes of Forrest and Commons. In this game I thought Ronny used his subs well, ICT seemed to tire from all the work done in the first half and the pace of Forrest supported the way our fullbacks continued to make full use of the width of the pitch. This allowed Griffiths to come on and cause problems against an exhausted ICT defence.

Scepovic up top looked interested, he made a number of good runs off the ball and was rewarded with 2 tap ins. These type of goals are especially satisfying as they are poachers goals and are an excellent example of good movement and accurate passing literally leaving a man free with an open goal. Griffiths when he came on scored a pin point finish across the keeper and his movement allowed Commons to weigh in with a customary goal to round off a comfortable days work.

Very pleasing and a nice way to round off a good season, a long way from what it felt like being in November. And so to the footnote to Celtics season. We could look at what might have been at various points in the season. What if Meekings had been sent off, would we be looking at a treble? What if Johansen had scored his one on one in Maribor or ot blocked a certain goal from VVD's header?

Then again we have had our share of luck, in scraping that season defining win in Aberdeen when we were awful and that lucky reprieve against Legia Warsaw so I think we can take a lot from what did happen this season. It's been character building stuff, scoring late goals,responding with a champions performance when under pressure to deliver. We are well prepared future challenges, even ones that might include our bitter rivals next year in the SPL.

Its onwards and upwards once more for the reigning Champions of Scotland