Buds won't ruin Gary's title party

Aug 10 2008 Scott Mcdermott

CELTIC stopper Gary Caldwell insists the Hoops are in great shape to launch another SPL title bid but hopes their flag party doesn't become a damp squib.

Caldwell can't wait to kick off the new campaign against St Mirren today when Tommy Burns' wife Rosemary will unfurl the championship flag in celebration of Celtic's dramatic three-in-a-row success.

The defender admits it will evoke a lot of memories for the squad - especially the night they clinched glory at Tannadice only days after Burns' funeral.

But this time last year Kilmarnock spoiled the party by grabbing a draw in Glasgow and Gus MacPherson's men will be hell-bent on doing the same thsi afternoon.

Caldwell is determined to avoid a repeat because he feels dropped points, even on the opening day of the season, could be costly at the end of it. He said: "We're really looking forward to it now. We have sharpened up over pre-season and it's all been geared towards the St Mirren game.

"We feel ready to get our title defence started.

"Last season's first match ended in a 0-0 draw and we don't want that again.

"It's supposed to be a day of celebration and if you don't win it can go flat.

"We dropped points early on and it might have cost us in the end.

"Thankfully we won games in the run-in that helped us go on and lift the championship.

"This year we have to be tighter from the start of the season and not as slack as we were last year - we can't afford to drop the same amount of points again.

"Flag day is great and I'm sure it will take us back to that night at Tannadice when we won the title.

"It will bring back happy memories and hopefully the crowd at Parkhead will be right up for it.

"The players are certainly ready to go. We don't have any Champions League qualifiers which made it difficult last year because we had a hard game against Spartak Moscow to deal with.

"This time we have the luxury of going straight in to the group stage.

"That means we can purely concentrate on the league just now and look for ward to the Champions League when it eventually comes round again later in the season."

Caldwell has been impressed by Celtic's pre-season performances, particularly last week's 3-1 win over Dutch cracks Feyenoord at the Jubilee Tournament in Rotterdam.

Boss Gordon Strachan adopted a new-look 4-3-3 formation and it worked a treat with the Hoops racing into a three-goal lead by half-time.

Caldwell was delighted with how they adapted to the system, especially the midfield who dominated throughout.

He said: "The first half was really good - our attacking play was excellent. We probably had three shots at goal and scored them all.

"So it was positive and defensively we looked solid as well. We have always said we're gearing up for the start of the season and the closer it gets the more eager we are to get going.

"The Feyenoord display proved we're ready and the formation worked well for us.

"The gaffer has tried a few different things in pre-season to see what will suit us and what won't.

"The 4-3-3 was positive as we looked really good on the break and that is something we can hopefully use in the future.

"We also performed well in the middle of the park. We needed to give our midfielders minutes on the pitch and they have all shown something in pre-season.

"Everyone got their chance and the manager was able to shuffle people around.

"I ended up playing the holding role against Porto but the midfield who finished that match will probably never line up together again.

"Will I get a game in there again? I don't know, that's the manager's decision. He picks the team and it's up to me to show I should be in it."