Yesterday, at his traditional Friday press conference, Ange Postecoglou was asked about the threats which were made to the referee Kevin Clancy in the aftermath of last week’s game. He answered that question very, very carefully, and he was brilliant.
Buried in his comments, although not too deep that you had to properly dig for them, was an implied critique not just of some of the more hysterical pro-Ibrox voices in the press, but of The Mooch as well and his sheer irresponsibility.
We have spoken at length about that on here, about how the Ibrox manager lets his mouth get ahead of his brain. This is why he carries that particular nickname, because he reminds me of the former Trump White House aide Anthony Scaramucci.
Last weekend, the guy who said he was happy with every aspect of refereeing, who had vowed never to criticise VAR, had a meltdown.
But let’s be fair to him, he wasn’t the only one who did.
There has been a collective loss of sanity all around Scottish football, especially amidst some of the commentators who would not hear a bad word against refs when VAR was pummelling us and now, because a few decisions have gone the way of our club, are now flaying them every chance they get, and especially this week, of course.
Look back on the time Ange has been at Celtic.
Aside from a generalised criticism about how VAR had given so many decisions against us that it would not, and could not, “balance itself out” over the season, he has kept his own counsel on these things. On top of that, at no time has he offered a criticism of a specific official or officials. Neither has our club.
But not everyone in our game has been so careful or moderate in their language and when those in positions of responsibility act irresponsibly – such as when a coach tries to stick the nut on a rival manager – then things like this, threats to refs and their families, are what happens.
This is the week in which the Ibrox lunatic fringe looks at a second major resignation for their club and thinks that they forced that, that they are now fully in control of everything that happens over there and this is a dangerous idea to fill their heads with.
Ange pointed out that it’s the clubs themselves who have the greatest responsibility here. “It’s a really timely reminder to all of us about the language we use and the reasoning’s we use behind things,” said the gaffer.
“We all understand we work in a public space and with that comes scrutiny, but that should begin and end within the professions we work in, not go into our personal lives, and particularly with officials because, for the most part, we have clubs or supporter bases we would like to think would go into bat for us in situations like this. But the officials are kind of left out on their own.”
This is as close as Ange will come to suggesting that the mood is set from the top of the house, and in particular the mood of the fans. They have been surrounded by this idea that the world is against them for a long time, and this week only reinforces that.
We also have to remember that The Mooch’s comments after the game were only following on from his insinuating, before it, that having only Celtic fans in the stadium could intimidate the refs towards giving decisions our way. He also blamed our club for the ticket standoff, and said that he was only repeating what he had been told by his bosses.
It seems clear to me that The Mooch was who he had in mind when he spoke about the way in which the outcome was perceived to have been influenced by the decision to chop off the one Morelos put in the net. He didn’t even bother to mention the outcry over Jota; only a handful of people in the country thought that worth squealing over.
“If anyone analysed that game and thinks one moment decided that, then they are not really looking at the big picture. From my perspective there is a decision there where everyone has opinions on it but it’s not fact-based because it’s not like it’s an offside or something you can clearly see. It’s an opinion-based thing. Everyone gives their opinion and ultimately one person has to make the decision … The fact people think one individual — in this case the official — and one decision has decided the outcome of the game is just not right.”
There is very little doubt who that barb is directed at, and Ange has made his point quite brilliantly without ever once using The Mooch’s name … or having an outright dig at his club. This is an example of his subtlety and intelligence.
It’s the difference between sending a pointed message and a dog-whistle to the lunatic fringe.
The club across town would do well to learn it, if they even care to.
When Ange retires and is sitting in front of his log fire with a Havana cigar in one hand and a large single malt in the other , reminiscing about his time in wee Scotland ,I’ll bet you his memories will be of the ‘unorthodox ‘ strange ways of how Scottish football is governed , administered and reported by all of the people employed to do so ? If ‘ backward ‘ and ‘blinkered ‘ come into his thoughts ,he’ll be right on the money ! We really are a laughing stock sometimes ,sadly …
I am not convinced that the ref blew for the Morelos incident. Freeze frame shows to my eyes that the ref points to a foul by Jack and another blue shirt putting Hart in a sandwich. Morelos lack of protest to the ref makes me wonder if he told him the whistle was not for him.
Hugh I agree I thought the whistle was for the foul on Joe Hart not Morelos although he gets away with that every week so he probably thinks he should get away with all his shite
Ange knows only to well how to handle the dopes within the Scottish media.
Knows that every word will be tried to be twisted into something that isn’t meant, yet Ange remains far to clever for the idiots still.
On the other hand you got a snidey prick who uses the thicks for his own self importance and quite happy to give such a mouthy prick that air time also.
The bollocks the snide came out with after last week only confirms it and yet seemed to get praise for the usual deflection tactic that was on show.
His team were shite yet still tried to make the game all about 2 decisions they never got with 1 so ridiculously wrong in his opinion only making him still the thick snidey prick he remains
Unchecked societal sectarianism (or urban terrorism) is breeding the current inclination towards violence. Until the law regards all people as equal (the Crown clearly don’t) this situation will continue to fester without legal and moral accountability.