There was a time when we all thought that the only reason that Charlie Mulgrew would be remembered this season was because of a ‘misunderstanding’ over his childcare methods with a women who has made a living rounding up uncontrollable assets, making them manageable and ogle worth.
The player made a poor start in his return to the club after an acrimonious split saw him leave when he was a young pup with the box: “Bad attitude” having a pencil tick applied.
Having just been voted the worst signing ever on a Sheep Worriers website he became Neil Lennon’s first signing in the La Revolution. It hardly bode well.
His first game against Braga had me commenting that he was like a lamp post just hanging around doing nothing. Then, I thought, lamposts are useful. They give light to dark streets and give you something to cling to when your two sheets to the wind.
He was then like one of those concrete lamp-posts that have all but been decommissioned for being unsightly, square, dangerous and just a lump of meh. But they were also useful in their time. He was just sh*t then.
He did nothing of note again until the turn of the year. A surprise inclusion on the left hand-side on midfield at Ipox. A decent performance in what was a decent team performance where the tactics and application aligned to great effect.
It was the murmuring after injuries crippled our backline that Mulgrew was being primed to be emergency cover had us all decrying Tommy Sheridans Gimp – for not letting us have Kelvin Wilson – as some form of loyal skulduggery despite the fact that it wasn’t down to him if the player was sold. It was meltdown time.
It didn’t seem to bother Charlie. He came in and began to stroll through games. Still, at times he looked awkward but then so did paid and certified center halves and can be fingered for a few defeats. But he grew into the role. He became our big game Charlie with three goals at Hampden. One of them being the best free kick scored in a cup final since 1985.
When Loovens became fit towards the end of the season, after the Inverness debacle, Mulgrew moved out to the left handside of midfield for the remaining games he was involved in. Again, like at Ipox he did it with not much fuss. As the cup final came round, I hoped Charlie would get his day in the sun. He had deserved and earned it.
What does next season hold for him? Kelvin Wilson will play meaning that will he be vying for a centre back spot with Rogne and Danny. For all Danny’s faults I reckon he is favourite to partner Wilson. He’s that teams rock. A tattoo’d cheerleader, father figure and brother. It’s what he was brought in for. Johan knew what was on Danny’s tin. The team will still need that.
At no time should Mulgrew be considered for left back ever again. This leaves a midfield berth. It’s crowded in there. Ledley will be fit and he is Charlies direct competition. I’m not considering him for a central role.
Charlie could find a load of first choices in front of him meaning that this season could have been his season in the sun. Like most I bet he’s hoping that we go on an extended run in Europe…
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Have you noticed how sublime the back heel from Stokes is just seconds into the vid?
How come we always get overlooked when we do something as silky as that.
If that was a FirstNameSurname (all the Gers players are identified by both their names when Celts are just Surname) player then we’d be hearing about it till the cows come home.
Yes, magic spot. Also see at the final whistle, not shown, Lenny went over to Stokes. I think Stokes has a future.