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Rodgers runs the show at Celtic. His opposite numbers allows himself to be run.

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Image for Rodgers runs the show at Celtic. His opposite numbers allows himself to be run.

By the time this afternoon ends, Celtic could have virtually wrapped up the title. That will depend, of course, on what happens at Fir Park as well as at Celtic Park.

But we’re so close now. To be on the verge of being almost assured champions is a testament to two things: the exceptional form we’ve shown under Brendan Rodgers and the complete catastrophe across the city.

If we come out of today with a 12-point lead, it would be momentous. It would send us into the game at Ibrox knowing that a win would just about clinch it. There’s a certain sense of certainty about Celtic winning the title this season. But let’s be clear: it’s not inevitable, and no-one should use that word, because there is nothing guaranteed about winning this championship.

Inevitability implies certainty without exception, and this is not that. We still must continue playing our best and getting results.

This club, however, is focused. This club is determined. This club doesn’t make the kinds of mistakes that would put the outcome in doubt. I’ve been reading the comments from players all week, including Callum McGregor and Arne Engels. Both have reaffirmed the team’s determination to keep putting points on the board and not give the opposition even a sniff of getting back into the race.

Across the city, the only inevitable thing is the sacking of their manager. If Celtic does its job, that will become certain. Only in a scenario where it looked like he might still catch us would he be allowed to stay. As it stands, I can’t believe they haven’t done the deed already. He’s an absolute failure who has turned a bad situation into a worse one. I see no sign he can turn it around.

The media has spent the last few days flaying him after weeks of praise. It’s a familiar routine. One day, he’s a genius leading them back to the promised land; the next, he’s a dunce who shouldn’t be anywhere near a major job. The truth lies somewhere in between. He’s won things in other countries where there wasn’t as much pressure on him. But like many managers with an inflated sense of their own talents, he crumbles under real scrutiny.

What has defined the two managers this season is that one is in complete control of his destiny, and the other is not. Rodgers has seized control of the reins at Celtic in a way I wish he had during his first stint. Doubtless, he’s been inspired by Ange Postecoglou, who leveraged the little room he had to ensure he took full control of his revolution before accepting the job. Ange knew Celtic was desperate and used that to secure the authority he needed.

Now Rodgers is in charge of his own revolution, and it’s clear how well everything knits together. That includes team selection and beyond. Rodgers is the undisputed leader of the Celtic dressing room. No one disputes his authority, second-guesses him, or questions his leadership.

How many times in the past 12 months have we said the Ibrox boss cannot allow himself to be swayed by the fans, the media, his dressing room, or his board? Yet he has been forced into grubby compromise after grubby compromise. He didn’t believe Ianis Hagi was good enough to play for his team, and he was right. Yet there Hagi sat in front of the media yesterday as their appointed representative, while the so-called leaders of their dressing room hid.

What did Hagi tell the fans? “We owe you a win.” Not a run of wins, not a trophy or a title—just a single win. That team reeks of a loser mentality, and the biggest loser is the man in the dugout, who has allowed everyone—fans, media, his board, even his players—to dictate the team’s direction. His side isn’t run by his vision but theirs.

This is why we’re sitting here on the verge of virtually wrapping up the title in the next few hours. If we win today, the minimum gap heading to Ibrox will be 12 points. Only after securing our three points can we look across to Fir Park to see what happened there. Anything less than a win for them, and Clement might not even make it back to Ibrox.

But in the grand scheme of things, it doesn’t matter what happens across the street at that laughing academy. As long as Brendan Rodgers is in command at Celtic, doing all the right things, nothing else matters.

Still, in terms of sheer entertainment, the Ibrox soap opera is hard to beat. Almost as hard to beat as we are.

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6 comments

  • Lostinissan says:

    When you see bullies humiliated without them recognizing why they are disliked.
    Is so sweet.
    Arrogance and downfall are bedfellows

  • Clachnacuddin and the Hoops says:

    Your last paragraph James…

    ABSOLUTELY FUCKIN AWESOME !!!!

    What a time to be alive as a Celtic supporter these days !

  • Johnny Green says:

    It’s half time and looking like a 15 point lead going into next week.

    An absolute dawdle!

    • Clachnacuddin and the Hoops says:

      Clancy made damn sure it wasn’t 15 points…

      The policy worked a bit today for sure –

      Will Gordon Duncan of Clyde Superscoreboard be squealing like a pig for a week about this the way he was on behalf of Sevco demands – I think not….

      Motherwell fan ma fuckin fanny !

      • PortoJoe says:

        As I said earlier, I would like someone to show me the actual foul on the GK for Motherwell’s “3rd” goal. It was skated over very quickly on Sportscene…

  • Johnny Green says:

    As it turns out, it was a much needed boost for the Huns before taking us on at Ibrox.
    An unexpected come back moral victory away from home against Motherwell.

    They are back on form 🙂

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