The Glasgow rumour factory kicked into high gear this weekend with stories that Stuart Armstrong has rejected a new contract at Celtic Park and is ready to move to England. Few Celtic fans will be happy to see him go, but there will be a profound lack of mourning.
His record last season was excellent, but he was part of a team. McGregor, Rogic, Bitton, Eboue, Brown, Ntcham and others can all play in the same position.
We will be weakened, but not short.
Stuart Armstrong is a clever guy. He’s already preparing for a life after football, a life in the law. The impulse to make as much money in the here and now is understandable and obvious. He sees the sport as a career. He has no allegiance to Celtic. I do not expect blind loyalty from him, or indeed from just about any player at the club … all we can ask for is honesty.
And let’s be honest for a moment; if Armstrong leaves it will not be for “football reasons.”
The calibre of teams being linked with him isn’t great, let’s face it.
He will never challenge for honours at those clubs, far less win one.
Champions League football is in the past for him.
If he goes it will be for money.
The least he can do is front up to that, to tell it like it is.
He is examining his options right now, as he’s fully entitled to do. He has less than a year to go of his contract. If he wants his football career to be about achievements and honours he will sign a new deal and help us make history. If he wants it be about cold hard cash he will go.
Brendan is trying to build something here, something bigger than any one individual. We’re trying to establish a legacy and Stuart can not only play a part in that but he can be at the centre of it. He can be our next captain and shepherd this club into the future.
That’s how highly I rate him. I am not one of those folk who think he’ll not be a loss.
He will not be the first player to take a decision based on money. Others have gone there before him, and many of them have lived to regret it. Others don’t care about regrets, only about the stuffed bank account. I cannot fault them for that, but I can call them mercenaries which is what they are. They don’t care about that either; the average supporter would be astounded by the level of disdain most players have for our views.
Some online think writing negative stuff about Armstrong makes him more likely to leave; please, give us a break.
If he’s made the decision to go it’s all about the cash and nothing we said was going to make the slightest bit of difference. If Brendan can’t convince him to stay at Celtic Park and be part of something truly special then nobody can.
The evidence suggests that this saga is nearly at an end. It has dragged on long enough. Either Stuart is going to stay or he’s going to go and the only important thing now is that we get it sorted quickly. We appear on the verge of knowing one way or another and that’s all to the good, because the manager has plans to make and things to do and he can’t be expected to hang on indefinitely as the player and his agent make their minds up.
No harm to Stuart Armstrong; I’m not one of those guys who will hold a grudge if he’s decided to leave. But nor will I particularly care what happens to him or in his career after he goes. My focus is on Celtic and players who are actually at the club; I’ll give Armstrong no more thought that I usually give to Victor Wanyama or others who have. Some of them will win things again and others won’t, but none will ever find themselves on the street.
Football has too much money swirling about it. Nobody can kid the fans on; the only real loyalty is that in the stands. We’re the only people who really care about the game, because we’re the only people who give to it without any guaranteed return.
Those players who appreciate what life at one club is about, who retain affection for it which almost matches that in the stands, are rare and that’s why Scott Brown will have a place on The Celtic Way and Victor Wanyama won’t. Scott won’t ever have to rattle the beggar’s cup either.
Some players get it. Others don’t. That’s all it is.
So no grudges. No regrets. And hopefully no mealy-mouthed platitudes if the player heads south. Because I’d respect him more if he simply said “The bottom line is that this is more money and that’s what matters to me.” That would give the fans what so few players bother to in the current football climate; the benefit of respect.
In the meantime, the show goes on.
Celtic will not stop.
History will not wait.