Since the day and hour he took over as Celtic manager, Ange Postecoglou has had to deal with the idiots in our media over and over and over again. He must be sick of it by now.
The manner in which he deals with them continues to amuse and entertain.
Last night, when the line-up for the game was announced, there was some surprise at the number of changes. I personally had thought there would be maybe half a dozen.
Nine seemed a lot, but when you looked at the starting eleven what you saw was strength and quality.
That’s the surest sign that we have real squad depth now, when you look at a team with that level of rotation and don’t recognise it as being significantly weaker than one which shot nine goals past its last opposition. That’s how far this team has come.
Ange has been determined, right from the start, that we would reach this point, a point where the team would be strong enough to make that many changes and still prevail.
He has been trying to get the squad here for the last 12 months.
Now that we have, he will make rotation part of his strategy.
This is a long term plan, with European games and domestic games to juggle. This is why we’re doing it, because we can, because we’ve got this team to where he wants it to be.
If you were forced to endure the commentary last night on Premier Sports, you’d know it was pretty bad. Rob McLean anchored the show, and he asked Ange the questions before kick-off. The big guy was less than impressed by his shady opener.
McLean explicitly suggested that Ange had been “thinking about the weekend” when he shuffled the pack so much. Ange’s comeback was all the more impressive for being delivered so off-hand and without a trace of anger. “No, I was thinking about tonight,” he said, as though correcting a child who had made a mistake at the blackboard.
Honestly, I don’t know what answer McLean was expecting. “Yeah, we’re running scared of that fixture” maybe, or something worse? But Ange very gently, but firmly, pushed him off of whatever road it was that he was starting to go down.
Ange was clear that he considers the League Cup one of his priorities. It’s the first trophy he won with us, we’re the holders, and so he won’t compromise on it. He rested players last night because he wanted fresh legs against Ross County and he trusts every member of the squad at his disposal. That’s the truth of it, and I know this is hard for the media to grasp.
Prior to the game he explicitly told everyone in the squad, “We think about one game at a time here.”
He was definitely not thinking about Saturday.
Because the hun infested BBC sports are always thinking about the errrr huns, they expect everyone else to do so and seem genuinely deflated when they find out differently.
Stupid stupid huns.
Rob Mc Lean. The ,and I mean the biggest dud football commentator in the history of the multiverse ! Last night he repeatedly implied live on TV that Celtic’s opening goal was ‘very fortunate’ , due to the Ross County keeper scared to outstretch his right arm to make a save ! This from an alleged neutral ! Why this buffoon continually receives employment ,is a complete fallacy .
Ange has far to much class for this type of talk they come away with , sly digs here and there then it comes back and bites them with his answer.
Stephen Craigan should be told that some people can’t see what’s going on. And depend on his expert opinions of the match. Out of the 5 goals scored only 1 was great attacking play according to Stephen Craigan. The other 4 were defensive errors according to Stephen .
I thought Micheal Stewart had his tongue firmly stuck in his cheek. When highlighting a pull on a CELTIC players jersey when he said. “If the officials see that” it’s a silly free kick to give away.
So, when you thought he’d make half a dozen changes, that wasn’t in any way because of the weekend? In your article on this subject two days ago, in the first paragraph, you make reference to the teams we have coming up. Sounds like you and Rob McLean were like-minded on this pre-match.
I don’t really think there was anything wrong with that question. I actually think he was thinking about the weekend, that’s why few of our players were rested . A mean you would think rob McLean had asked Ange if he could sleep with his wife or something, the way this piece has been written. Nothing wrong with the question whatsoever, I would say Rob was doing his job here. And Rob praises Celtic, last night he said with the way Celtic are playing it will take some team to stop them, just a joy to watch he said. Anyways about last nights game, absolute class again. I would start big Giakkoumakis on Saturday, this guy is always in the right places. He is a very good player, and very dangerous.
He is but must control his temper. Any excuse for these pigs.
Team player squad player out of the team last night that will play on Sunday gaikamakous who had no protection from officials abada a cert goal keeper did no harm to his
C V came for crosses let down by defence in goal after another distribution no good or fast enough turnbulls trying to score when he should be making defence splitting passes which he has every shot that gets charged down gives opposition chance off break away and all his shots were all blocked still got a chance mooy if angi thinking of releasing mcgregor up the park ? But tired last fifteen minutes forrest will play at sometime new boy good debut but to soon and a mention for officials there are 12 against 11 its not your job to even things decision making by all officials ref freekick that led to raiths goal ?has to spend minutes when seconds why talk to player he knows he got away with one no advantage showman and one against sevco works at Murray Park only sfa could think this ref can give fair decision
Eh,what was all that about Jack, punctuation is handy mate.
Of course he was thinkin about Saturday AND Tuesday. Goes without sayin imo. And why shouldn’t he, when any other manager in his position would dae the same. McLeans favourite club manager did the same on Saturday, only difference bein, the ibrox manager never had the same stupit fuckin question put tae him. And there’s a surprise eh !? Great hearin him and creagan chokin when we got the 3rd last night tho.
Or rather did the same on Tuesday……….
Kind of with you on that Damian. Ange is too clever not to see the layers in advance but I accept that he’s focussing on one at a time, ‘in this moment’ as they all say nowadays. Why would he build such a strong squad for the games we have ahead otherwise.
Only a true visionary like McLean would think that looking ahead ends at the Glasgow Derby, though it highlights the stupidity and subjectivity of the crap question. Only in the self important mind of a hun twat would you ignore a huge club like Real Madrid, with all its history, from future thinking to concentrate on a 10 year old zombie cheat. Ask a better question and you won’t have the pish ripped oot you
I agree, I wasn’t expecting as many changes either, but as you say, it’s one game at a time.Its clear to me Ange knows exactly what he needs for the squad he wants,hence the possibility of the big Dane arriving.
I don’t know about you but I have a feeling there is something very special taking place at Celtic Park just now and I just can’t wait for each game to come up.
I have an excitement I have not felt for years, even in the 10 in a row season.
I would go as far to say, that team last night would have won 10 in a row.
When we got him from the j league I wasn’t excited but when I look at Celtic now am thinking we need to hold on to this guy I thought things were going down hill when Neil Lennon was manager this guy gives me so much hope I honestly believe we are going to the knockout stages of the champions league that in my opinion would be the icing on the cake ange there is something about him absolutely brilliant job he is doing
Last night presented all the players on the park the opportunity to inform the manager they all want to be part of a team that is setout to win one game at a time, Its a marathon not a sprint and with long hauls comes injuries and suspensions and all must be ready to play when called upon, We now play what football is all about , a team sport with all willing to be part of it.
I agree with others that it was a reasonable question, but I also agree with Ange continually putting them in their place, for he knows by now that if you give them an inch they will take a mile.
Keep rumpffing it right up them Ange baby.
I listened to the BBC commentary of their game with QOS and It was so pro them it made rangers tv sound impartial!!
You would think daft arse McLean would have learned his lesson by now especially when the (water and flour men at the BBC)that’s doughballs have been blown out the water with big Ange replies and answers by now,but no they continue to try,God loves a trier.
Stephen Craigen, mentioned the “Old Firm” on a number of occasions during last night’s commentary, for no apparent reason.
Is it just me being super sensitive or is it the case that more time is spent analysing the frailties of the opposition defence than giving us much credit for playing some brilliant football and blowing them away. Michael Stewart was at it last night as well. He gave the keeper some stick last night for a couple of the goals.Personally I don’t think the lad had much of a chance. It would appear these teams are simply not trying a leg against us
Tae me the question was rhetorical. Do some people honestly think if we hadn’t these 2 games comin up Ange would’ve left out kyogo, jota, juranovic etc. last night. No chance. And as I’ve mentioned, the same question wisnae put tae VB that I’ve heard, after the QOTS game. These clowns dae this tae get some sort of headline for their like minded media imo.
The main reason, as we all know, is that you take precautions tae make sure you don’t run the risk of injury tae key players before 2 games that are much higher in profile. Of course the same risk applies tae the players who’re picked, but clearly can’t exclude them all. We’re fortunate now we have a squad we can rotate for these situations. Why ask a question when the reasons so blatantly obvious. Disnae make sense.
Definitely has a cut of Jock Stein about him big Ange.
Postecoglou’s approach to the game,players and the media has more than a whiff of the great man about it.
We could well be witnessing something truly special unfolding in this modern era under Ange.
Back to building sides to become more competitive rather than buying to sell for Financial gains.
Long may that continue in this period of greed and short term gains.