who was who in 2004

Rab Douglas: App 26; s/outs 15 Injury-plagued season of mixed fortunes for the big man. Lost the gloves to Hedman after keeping four clean sheets in his first four games which must have been a blow to morale. Restored to the first team after the Swede's performance in Lyon and capped his return with a brilliant penalty save at Fir Park. His red card against Barca effectively ended his participation. Might not see too much of a future at CP unless he's in the first team.

Magnus Hedman: App 19; s/outs 11 Certainly looks the part and has a respectable percentage of clean sheets but has been too injury-prone and has shown up as a complete liability in the Champions League.

David Marshall: app 17; s/outs 3 Grabbed his chance against Barcelona and never looked back. Outstanding prospect.

Stanislav Varga: app 54 gls 7 Who would have thought after his debut against Caley that he'd go on to be one of the key men in the Celtic defence? Nobody bested him in the SPL although the Champs League was a different story.

Bobo Balde: app 49 gls 2 Didn't quite match the high standards he set himself the season before but still too tough an obstacle for most of the forwards in the domestic game. For Europe, see Varga, Stan.

John Kennedy: app 20 gls 0 Growing in stature with each appearance until hobbled by Romania's Ganea in a 'friendly' while playing for Scotland. It can be a cruel game at times, we can only wish him a full and speedy recovery.

Joos Valgaeren: app 16 gls 0 Struggled for fitness throughout the season, epitomised by his performance against Villareal. Has the look of a player fading out of the first team scene unless he can regain his pace and confidence.

Steven McManus: app 5 gls 0 Slotted easily into the system and looked a useful player. Reminiscent of Crainey - remains to be seen if his Celtic career goes the same way.

Ulrik Laursen: app 1 gls 0 Injury-ravaged season saw him slip from first choice in Seville to nowhere in the space of two months. Will find it difficult to regain his former status.

Jackie McNamara: app 42 gls 1 Possibly his best ever season in the Hoops. Versatile and able to compete at all levels. Worthy contender for Player of the Year.

Didier Agathe: app 45 gls 6 Is there a player in the current Celtic team who divides opinion in the stands so fiercely? If he could harness his outrageous pace to some of the other attributes required of a winger - crossing ability for example - he'd be a world beater. Admirable defensive qualities mean he's rarely out of OFM's first choice eleven.

Neil Lennon: app 52 gls 0 Another consistently good season from another of O'Neill's first choice picks. Relishes the job of providing much of the team's midfield cohesion.

Stilian Petrov: app 54 gls 9 A much more impressive season from the man who looks as if he's about to be elevated to another level in the hero-worship ladder. Never looked out of place in European matches. Another 50 plus games this term could be vital in Celtic's progress. Chipped in with some valuable goals as well.

Alan Thompson: app 43 gls 13 Still one of most potent threats going forward. Great crosser and hits a mean free kick. Worrying that he has started to pick up an increasing number of niggling injuries. Paul Lambert: app 22 gls 2 Now at the veteran stage, his distinguished Celtic career looks as if it's coming to an end. Can expect to be used sparingly but a great example to have around for the younger players.

Stephen Pearson: app 27 gls 3 Showed in flashes why Martin O'Neill rates him as a Celtic player for the future. Good value for money signing.

Momo Sylla: app 24 gls 0 Another season spent drifting along in no man's land. Made 17 appearances from the bench but looks as far away from establishing himself in the first team as he ever has.

Bobby Petta: app 1 gls 0 One half of football against MTK then a loan spell at Craven Cottage. Another season to forget from a player who's pulling down a wage packet to remember.

Chris Sutton: app 43 gls 28 Brilliant wherever he was asked to play. Can still perform at European level and if he can keep clear of injury might be just the man to step up to the plate in the absence of the K of Ks.

John Hartson: app 23 gls 11 Spent most of the season on the treatment table but still managed a respectable 11 goals. There's plenty of goals in this particular bhoyo if he can stay fit enough to sustain a decent number of games.

Shaun Maloney: app 23 gls 6 yet another squad member lost through injury for much of the campaign, although you'd be forgiven for thinking that Rangers had a monopoly on injuries if you read the Scottish papers. Rated by Lubo, Larsson and O'Neill he now finds himself in the same boat as John Kennedy.

Ross Wallace: app 15 gls 1 Skilful player who has won himself a new contract from Martin O'Neill. Shone in flashes when used in the SPL but looked way out of his depth in Europe. A big season for him coming up.

Craig Beattie: app 17 gls 2 Got his opportunity due mainly to injuries to the other strikers and certainly looked keen enough. 'Raw' is the adjective most often used to describe him, although I have heard others.

Aiden McGeady: app 4 gls 1 Scored on his debut at Tynecastle and produced one shimmy that brought audible gasps from the Celtic fans behind the goal. Quite a reputation for somebody just embarking on his Celtic career but one of the most exciting players to have been on the Parkhead books for years.

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dearly departed

Henrik Larsson Signed off for real in true legend style with two goals in the Cup Final. Finally got his move to Barcelona after more heroics for Sweden at Euro 2004. We await the draw for the Champions League group stage with interest (see full tribute in NTV 123). 313 appearances for Celtic/ 242 goals

Johan Mjallby Dolph departs after nearly six years of sterling service in the Hoops after a season which saw his career threatened by persistent injury having rejected a one year deal at Parkhead in favour of two years with levante in la Liga (see farewell on page 16). 198 apps/ 15 gls.

Liam Miller Professing undying loyalty to Celtic while negotiating a pre-contract agreement to go to Old Trafford is not the sort of thing which gets nice things written about you in Celtic fanzines. Beat it ya nugget. 44 apps/ 5 gls.

Stephen Crainey Despite a cultured left foot and what seemed like some degree of promise he couldn't persuade Martin O'Neill to give him a place. Signed for Southampton in January. 57 apps.

Jamie Smith Capped for Scotland by Bertie vogts at a time when he was actually regressing at Celtic, his Parkhead career finally went into freefall towards the end of last season. Incredibly offered a new one year deal he turned it down and was subsequently freed. 63 apps/ 5 gls

Steve Guppy A brief and pretty nondescript Celtic career came to an end for the Gupmeister when he rejoined Leicester City in January. He could certainly whip in a dangerous cross, although at the age of 35 he was getting on a bit to do much else. 49 apps.

Michael Gray A loan signing from Sunderland, he managed to cram in two appearances in the Champions League and an Old Firm game during his brief stay at Paradise. Never really looked like winning a contract, though. 10 apps.