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Two captains, one at Celtic and one at Ibrox. 500 games each. But there the similarity ends.

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Image for Two captains, one at Celtic and one at Ibrox. 500 games each. But there the similarity ends.

Today, during the Celtic game, one of the commentators said something that I found interesting. It was during the discussion about Callum McGregor, marking his 500th game for the club. I talked about that earlier, of course, very briefly, but it’s a major milestone and shows what an absolute legend Callum has been for us.

I’ve always thought he was going to go down as a Celtic great. I didn’t expect him to go down as a great Celtic captain.

When Brown left, I wondered if McGregor had the right mentality to step into those shoes, but he did it without batting an eyelid. He did it flawlessly, and he’s been doing it ever since. McGregor is a captain. McGregor is an on-field leader. And McGregor has been an exceptional on-field leader for this club.

But it was the next bit from the commentator that really sparked my interest, because James Tavernier is also approaching 500 games across the city at Ibrox. And they seemed to think that was pretty good. They seemed quite impressed by that. The commentator, despite Celtic fans abhorring the phrase, decided to refer to the “Old Firm” captains.

That made my blood boil slightly, because I really wish commentators would stop using an expression that every single one of our fans actively loathes. Do we not get an option to opt out of that? Do we not get to decide that we don’t want to be referred to in such a way? It’s technically false anyway, as the so-called “Old Firm” hasn’t existed for years. I’m pretty sick of hearing the phrase getting used.

But my pique over that was only momentary, because it was the idea that there’s any similarity between Tavernier and McGregor that tickled me a little.

500 games apiece for their clubs? They may well have. But that’s where the comparison ends. Because one of them has been a phenomenal success, and the other has been a monumental failure.

It is not for nothing that Celtic fans jokingly call Tavernier “Captain Disappointment.” He may be the single most embarrassing addition to the Ibrox Hall of Fame. If there has been a captain of the Ibrox clubs who has won less and still ended up on that wall, then I’ll be genuinely surprised.

Only at a club in a truly wretched state would a player like him reach 500 appearances. Yes, he has lots of goals and lots of assists—much of that down to the good fortune that has smiled on him and his club over the years in terms of penalty awards. They got their first of the season today, and he scored it, of course.

But goals and assists aren’t what you hire a right-back to provide. They are not what you want your captain to provide. You want him to preside over a trophy-laden era, just as Callum has.

And McGregor is a fitting addition to the Celtic Hall of Fame. He is a fitting monument to the club and to everything it has done in his time here.

When fans across town look back on Tavernier, they will do so with a deep sense of embarrassment. That this was their leader through the last decade—years they have lamented time and time again. They know what a failure his whole “era” has been, and they know that he is the ultimate poster boy for that failure.

In many ways, I was glad to hear today that he’s approaching his 500th game for their club. That’s a proper NewCo number. And I think it’s more than possible that, from now until the day that club winds up for a second time, he will be the guy with the greatest number of appearances for them.

He is the ultimate symbol of their mediocrity. He is the ultimate symbol of that club’s struggle for relevance. And the only reason they have any relevance in the wider world is because people in our commentariat keep on using the “Old Firm” tag to describe them. That really is the only reason the rest of the world even cares that they exist. Tavernier symbolises that lack of relevance.

McGregor, on the other hand, is—as the manager said today—a role model, one that our younger players should aspire to. An example of what is possible. An example of how to conduct yourself as a young player, take the opportunities presented to you, and make good on them.

He wasn’t guaranteed a place when he first broke into the team. He was allowed to go out on loan to a club in England, and many people probably thought he wasn’t coming back. But he did come back. And he excelled when he did.

This club is lucky to have him all these years, and he has gone on to be one of the greats. He made every ounce of his talent count, and he did most of that here at Celtic. He will never be a one-club man because of that loan spell, but he is a one-club player. And that’s why we’ll all honour him as a legend who it was a privilege to watch.

I’m sure that when Tavernier plays his final game for the Ibrox club, he will also be hailed by their support. But a lot of them will do it through gritted teeth, because he will never represent what McGregor has represented to us. And that’s why today, I found it highly amusing when I heard he, like McGregor, will reached 500 games.

Because, if their fans are being honest, it’s not a comparison anyone at Ibrox would really have wanted the Sky commentary team to make.

Photo by Craig Williamson/SNS Group via Getty Images

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3 comments

  • SFATHENADIROFCHIFTINESS says:

    It would be a real shame(not) if the Tribute Act were to follow, follow the example of the original denizens of the CrumbleDome and committed financial Hara – Kiri while Captain Disappointed was still in tenure just as he was about to celebrate his 500th appearance with Losers FC in a Testimonial Match. A match cancelled by the Administrators.
    I wonder what his reaction would be like.

  • Gerry says:

    CalMac has every right to be called a legend, and he has earned that title.
    A wonderful player, captain, leader and most importantly, person.

    He leads by example and speaks with great intelligence whenever he is interviewed. We are hugely privileged to have had such a loyal and talented player at our club, for so many years, and hopefully for a few more yet.

    I’ve not really got much to say about Tavernier, other than he must be very “disappointed” to have so many loser’s medals. That is tough to take I would think ! They were actually mentioning today that his goals for the season are well down …I wonder why lol!

    The other thing that made me chuckle today was Old Spew Heevins stating that Sevco will win the Europa League, as they are now looking like a “proper football team !” He has more faces than a town hall clock, after stating for most of our game that Motherwell will probably equalise!

    The harbinger of doom !
    No, just an old buffoon!!!

    As we turn our attention to the last day of the January transfer window and expect the sum total, of absolutely zero more signings…let’s salute what we have in Callum McGregor …a modern day Celtic legend ! HH

  • Clachnacuddin and the Hoops says:

    Cal-Mac makes The Huns be seasick… Cal-Mac makes The Huns be seasick…

    Cal-Mac doth steer Tavernier – His medal cache he can’t get near…

    (# 23 v # 3) – Choke on that lurkin Scummy’s and lurkin Sevvies !

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