We did say on this site that, broadly speaking, the PFA would be fine.
The professionals, the players union, the managers, they were always going to play this one relatively straight because they know that our guys have been the best … but it was still very, very sweet to see that we swept the boards of the major awards.
It was no more than we deserved.
So Ange is manager of the year in the eyes of his fellow pros, and we know that in spite of a couple of them coming out to admit that they wouldn’t vote for him. Robbie Neilson wanted Campbell to get it, although justifying that would have been hard.
Ange and Celtic have a chance to show him, in less than a week, why we deserved our success.
Callum as player of the year was a surprise only in that Carter Vickers could have won it instead.
I don’t think the big American will begrudge the club captain his award. Callum has played more than 50 games and has been an outstanding ambassador for us throughout.
The man is a force of nature, and he has proven himself an exceptional leader.
He won the club award as well, and is now only two games away from hoisting the trophy in his first year with the armband.
He has done himself and Celtic proud.
Liel Abada, likewise, with his young player of the year award.
He is a significant talent who is just going to get better and better and better. People who complain about his inconsistency need to reflect on how much he has done for us in this campaign, and how young he is too.
This is a guy who has delivered. He will continue to improve.
Tom Rogic scoops the goal of the season award, for his strike against Dundee Utd.
It was a beauty, and the only real contender which could have beaten it would have been O’Riley’s finish from a magnificent multi-pass move that seemed to encompass the whole team. Tom’s goal is a superb solo effort, and it definitely earned the accolade.
The sportswriters will have to justify their choices if their picks go against our guys.
Some of them are itching to give player of the year to their favourite captain, others to see Ange denied the manager’s award on whatever flimsy pretext they can come up with.
But with the PFA having clearly recognised what we all know – that the Celtic team is the best in the country – they will look petty and small-minded indeed if they don’t do likewise.
Congratulations to everyone at Celtic for their awards.
It was a big name, for the manager in particular, who is the architect of this miracle turnaround.
Congratulations to all of them and I’m sure it will give the whole club a much needed lift after yesterdays failure to clinch the league title. Despite it being a better result for us than them, it felt more like defeat at the time, but these awards brings that result into perspective as it defines just what a great season the Bhoys have had. I am particularly pleased for Ange as it gives his managerial skills credence on the world’s stage, I’m sure the Aussie media and public will be proud of both him and the wizard of Oz.
Well done Celtic, it is thoroughly deserved.