There is a narrative in our media that we should all be big boys and girls and suck up and take what’s hit us right between the eyes this weekend.
Our media is good at this stuff, at sneering at its customers, at sneering as those who the hacks, in their ivory towers, view as the unenlightened scruff.
It’s one of the reasons I despise almost all of them.
We are forever being lectured by these people – people who make their living on the fringes of the game, people who haven’t paid a penny to watch a football match in years – on how we are supposed to feel about our teams, our players and now our managers.
We are treated as though we deserve a good using, that it should wake us up to how “the real world works” as though we were all utterly incapable of understanding it.
And I’ve long been sick of this, but today I’m particularly pissed off and wholly unwilling to suffer it in silence.
Kicking football fans when they are feeling down is the stock in trade of an industry so far removed from the people in the stands that it can barely see them as its members look down. The arrogance of it, especially when so many of them are woefully inadequate in their own understanding of the sport and the issues around it, is hard to credit.
This idea that our fans have played the role of “wilful idiots” for daring to believe that a man who spoke of integrity and loyalty actually embodied those ideas is garbage.
We are well aware that there is little loyalty in the game; this is why we so readily embrace that handful of people who seem to be cut from a different cloth.
We did nothing wrong here, except put our faith in someone who seemed to exemplify an attitude which is uncommon in our sport.
That’s why he was embraced in the first place, because he did appear to be different. I will not apologise for that, and I will not accept that somehow I am an idiot because somebody else chose to act dishonourably.
Some of the same journalists who are sniggering at us today will call Postecoglou a man of principle, a straight shooter, a man of character … even as they criticise us for having dared to believe those self-same things. That he has turned out to be much less than he claimed does not make the average Celtic fan a moron who deserves to be cast as one.
We, like all football fans, are entitled not to be treated as such, and if we feel pissed off today I’m betting that’s nothing compared to how people inside the club feel … and they too are entitled to think that our club was owed a modicum of respect.
This is the only industry where its customers are actually scorned for their loyalty, and the people doing it are those who have a responsibility to promote the game.
In Scotland it’s made worse because these same people do nothing but slavishly praise the league down the road, and you can tell some of them would love to be working in its environs instead of up here.
Hey, if they had a modicum of talent then they would be.
But I’m really sick and tired of these condescending tossers having a pop at our supporters because we occasionally fall prey to the idea that there might be more to some people in football than greed and naked ambition.
When someone promotes himself on the basis of integrity then aren’t we entitled to expect it? When someone sits in front of you and pledges to be around for a while longer why are we treated as if we’re arseholes for believing that?
The media ought to save its contempt for the people who play these sorts of games, but of course that would involve telling a little bit of truth to power and nothing scares them more.
Fans are easy targets, and they view us as unimportant anyway.
But let me repeat; this is not our fault.
We did nothing except put our faith in someone who said all the right things.
I am not going to apologise for that, I’m not going to pretend to feel embarrassed by it.
I’m pissed off because somebody lied to me.
I’m not asking for understanding or compassion, but I’m damned sure I’m not going to let some idiot hack take the piss out of me either.
I haven’t felt this depressed after such a great season since Peter Lawwell announced Neil Lennon had been appointed on the showers.
He said ‘it may surprise you how long I’ll stay’. A rash statement perhaps. But nothing on the level of Brendan’s moist eyed declarations of undying love which included referencing his Irish roots and saying that he was a boyhood fan. Then off in the middle of the night.
This guy came from an entirely different ethnic background and lived most of his life thousands of miles away. He was never something even resembling a Celtic fan, a Martin O’Neill or a Tommy Burns.
What were his options here? Did you want him to tell a bigger lie? To say he he now had such a love for the club they would have to carry him out of Parkhead in a box? Or would you have preferred him to say ‘this is just a temporary gig for me, my agent is working hard to get me a move down South, but in the meantime I’ll do my best here as you’re paying my wages’.
Look it’s disappointing that he wants to go when we were all hoping he might hang around a bit more. But this is where Celtic are in the food chain these days, unless you get hold of someone who’s a genius and a Celtic fan, like Martin O’Neill, they’re not going to stick around very long if they do well.
It’s time to wish Ange well. He is a thoroughly decent and honourable man. We shouldn’t get obsessed with some newspaper headlines which reveal something that should have been obvious – that he would one day leave and that his agent would be trying to make that happen as soon as he could.
At least BR secured us a lot of money and may not have had the backing Ange had. You can wish him all you want, I won’t as he spoke about a 5 year plan. Hail Hail
We’ll said Jim. Thanks for five trophies Ange. All the best and if it doesn’t work out at Spurs I’d have you back in a heartbeat. But certainly not Rogers!
And yet a lot would take back the snake that is rogers. Maybe a lot are exactly that. Stupid.
Great and articulate take on it James. All the fans did was take the man at his word and he was not telling the whole truth
Brilliantly said James. We are hurt not stupid.
Were we not suckered in by Brendan?
We slated the other side for following King?
As you say we are just fans James
Agree 100%. Journalists can’t comment on how it feels to be a real football fan all they want to do is write condensing statements to try and make football fans feel as if we are stupid for going all in on a person that made us think that he was one of us. You can’t be a real football fan and think that your club is not the most important thing in your life after family. I dont want to be one of these fans that can say, well done big ange go and be happy at another club, we wish you all the best. Not me I’m afraid.
“I’m pissed off because somebody lied to me.” That’s it in a nutshell, James. And if the new manager tells us he named his son Shunsuke after a great Celtic player, or brags about his Macari poster (he was in a Man U top) or plays the pity the poor immigrant card – can somebody just tell them to can it?
Hoping whoever comes in next spares us all the patronising bullsh8 and simply tells us they’re here to do the job to the best of their abilities.
There is no way on earth that I would allow any of the gobshites within the Scottish media to see any disappointment within today’s developments regarding Ange.
Like many I bought into the nonsense of “I’m here as long as I’m wanted”, “building something special here for the club” etc etc but cracks were appearing within his approach long before just in the last week, and still the scum couldn’t take advantage.
So spurs are looking to take a huge gamble, as Ange is doing so likewise.
Ange has never worked with any players upon the huge wages that many of the wasters within spurs are on.
How well will he manage that? Upon many other unanswered questions?
If he is a success then the whole profile of the Scottish game should improve.
Yet I don’t believe that will actually happen, and would be very surprised if it was to happen.
Don’t really take much notice upon those who choose to leave the club, and Ange will be no difference regards Ange now.
There has been great success stories in the past, yet fairly limited, and less in recent times, don’t see that changing with Ange either.
My focus will still remain firmly upon our club, and to progress stronger and finish the work of building something special that Ange couldn’t be bothered to finish.
His loss not ours.
As long as the next appointment is right then I fail to see that the trend that has been set over the past 2 years won’t continue, and will actually make us stronger as a team.
An interesting summer awaits, and that would have been the same weather Ange stayed or went.
I still believe we will be grand as a team, with a very strong base already to build upon still especially within CL.
The Scottish media might have there day in the sun today, but won’t be too long before there pucking there guts up yet again when our success continues
Well said mhate all about CELTIC i warned many on here about the ” aussie: living over there for years you get to see the total sychophantic bs of the ” eplll mhate” vomotit inducing he would a went mid sesson if he had got an offer! Let us forget him now and who know i might see him in Australia come Christmas! As good chance he have plenty time on his hands! All about Celtic! No more ” fan bhoy bs” from far too many here and elsewhere
Judas. Truly gutted. I want to thank him for the memories, but I can’t bring myself to wish all the best for the future.
Good managers are intelligent men. Intelligent men who are good managers know exactly what language to use to get the fans onboard. Fans generally buy the whole spiel when they should be taking it all with a pinch of salt. And we have to be fair here, A lot of our fans hailed Ange as someone who ‘gets us’ because he too is an immigrant etc etc. We should also acknowledge the fact that Ange came to us as an almost complete unknown and inherited a complete shambles and still managed to claim two trophies in his first season. So in light of that alone i tip my hat to the man and i certainly wont hold any grudges against him.
Good luck big fella and thanks for the memories especially the two occasions where we dished out a right good hun skelping. Sometimes Angeball was shite but in the main it was delight to watch.
He came when we were in a mess. He won 5 out of 6 domestic trophies and was only denied 6 by the width of the crossbar. He was on a 1 year rolling contract. Spare us the histrionics. Desmond & Lawell looked like hell because they are wondering how they are going to sell bringing back BR to the support. And then live with him
He gave the impression he was here for the long term and in his own words “wanted to build something”. Well in my opinion he has walked away with the job half done.
Some of these players he brought over from Japan and South Korea must be wondering what on earth is going on. Most of these boys were his personal signings and basically some were projects for the future. For Ange to run away after two seasons in my opinion is disgraceful. I thought, and he gave the impression that he would be here for at least 4 seasons. There are not many honourable people in football these days, I and many other Celtic supporters thought there was a chance he was one, sadly he wasn’t.
i just hope Celtic Identify his replacement quickly and get him in the door.
People need to get real. Everyone is a mercenary these days.
Move on,appoint another mercenary, but let’s not get all misty eyed about it.
If he wins trophies and does well in Europe, so much the better, but it should be on our terms, and please stop conferring sainthood on the next badge kisser and chest thumper.
I was happy with Ange and I really did want him to stay, but do you know something, i am over it already and I am already looking forward to a new manager with hopefully new progressive ideas. I never did buy into the comments on here about Ange’s team being one of the best ever, the most exciting ever etc since the Lisbon Lions. That was never the case, it was exaggeration mixed with passion and hope, but not a fact, not even close. Martin’s team and Brendan’s team were far better, teams that could defend as well as attack. I also always felt that Ange picked his favourites no matter how bad they were playing and I have made those comments previously on here along with the fact he was not infallible. Anyway it’s done, finished and time for us to look forward to a new beginning. On the plus side if he does take anyone with him, backroom staff or players, I’m sure we will be well compensated.
Hi James. We know how the Scottish hacks behave. They have no credibility whatsoever. What can you expect from SMSM who peddle the demotion lie and continuity lie?
They are so bitter and talk down the Scottish football because Celtic are the only successful club in Scotland. I wonder if their dear Rangers weren’t dead and they were the successful club, would they have behaved the same way?
I have no doubt Ange has questions to answer regarding the way he behaved and handled the whole situation and we have every right to question his integrity and commitment to our club.
I believe our board have also questions to answer. Ange’s success has glossed over their failure during the 10 IAR. These are the questions they should answer:
1) did they try to tie him down on a long term contract after last season?
2) can they be trusted even if they say they did?
3) if Ange didn’t sign a contract, did they have contingency plans in place?
4) did they sit down with Ange to plan for next season?
5) what is the board’s view on success in Europe?
6) did their ambitions match Ange’s for the future of the club?
The daily sevco running with the headline Rodgers says no tp Celtic return,that will be them starting with the negative stuff now as the first to be approached and knocks us back.
Watch as the counting game continues about how many KB’s we get looking for a manager.
Ange didn’t lie to anybody as far as I’m aware and I do believe he had a genuine fondness for the club. We need a reality check. If the next appointment is as successful you can bet he will be down the road too. As long as it keeps us ahead of the scum and we can have a little success in Europe, I’m afraid until the football landscape changes in Europe that’s as good as it will get. That isn’t being defeatist by the way I still see no reason why we can’t with the right appointment be a half-decent Europa League team, as it stands at the moment we will struggle to get out of the group stages of CL. And I will repeat this the invincible team would gub our present team and I mean gub.
Andrew, he absolutely lied. No question whatsoever about that.
When he sat and told us he was focussed on only the game, hadn’t talked to his agents etc, he was certainly not being honest.
Correct.
Correct.
Correct.
I wonder if he had Jimmy Greaves posters on his wall when he was growing up and went to the synagogue on a Saturday before going to the game?
As others have stated what could he possibly have said differently?
James, take a wee chill pill, you are over reacting. Another manager moves on, always thus
I would take an O’Neill type any day of the week and for that matter Rodgers in answer to that idiot no all, appreciate and understand nothing comment from above. Stupid enough to know that managers come and go and Rodgers done a good job on limited funds and less support than Ange ever got. Certainly not as stupid as “In Ange we trust”, and all those comments over the last whenever about an “Honest man” and “We never stop”. How many times before you understand football and it’s layers or will you ever. The train rolls on when the drivers leave. Only true fans stay for the duration. HH
On FF tonight they are giving it large regarding Suttom getting the Sky gig next season.
They are saying they are looking forward to the challenge Sky trying to get him into Ibrox when he barred or not wanted there.
Apparently they are on to the klubs PR department just now kicking up a stink and doubling down that he does not get in.
Sutton won’t get in as sevco will get their way,just look at how cinch get nowhere near them at interviews be that home games or away.
I rest my case.