BRENDAN ON THAT TACKLE AND ON WHY SCOTTISH FOOTBALL HAS IT IN FOR SCOTT BROWN
“I’ve known Andrew Davies since he was a boy at Middlesbrough and I know his qualities and I know that was probably out of character for him, but it was still a tackle that could have really damaged the career of Scott Brown.
“I only highlight it so that there’s a protection for every player who plays the game. You want it competitive, the physicality is great here, the honesty and the passion. But if it goes over that then it affects the standard.
“I’ve always tried to be complimentary but also never complacent and to raise the standard not just for Celtic but for everyone. That could be pitches, referees, football – whatever. How can we raise and make better the profile of Scottish football? If challenges like that come willy-nilly and you see it every week then it’s not good for the game or for people from outside watching the game. It’s not a good representation of the football in Scotland.
“What we have is a great product which is super-competitive. You see players come in from all round the world, come up from the south of England to play up here and probably thinking that it’s easy. My time up here has shown that it’s not. Every team you play against is super-competitive. They fight and they can make it difficult for you.
“Then you see players leave here and go back south and do quite well. That tells you the competitive nature here and the physicality here, which is great.
“The concern for me is if it goes over the mark and crosses the line and dilutes the overall standard of your game.
“What I’ve found in my time here is that there is a lot of envy towards Scott from all sectors. I see it in certain sectors of media, I see it in players and in managers talking about him if they are a pundit or in press. There’s a definite envy of his ability and his influence. What doesn’t get spoken about with Scott – and I tend to bang the drum for him – is what a good player he is.
“Because he chooses to stay with Celtic, it shouldn’t dilute his qualities. His awareness, his reading of the game his appreciation of the game and his passing are special.
“Of course, he has a personality that winds people up but I had the same with Luis Suarez. Every ground you went to it was a carnival to get at him, but he would always perform. Browny is one of those players.
“If he plays for you, you love him and adore him. If he doesn’t, you think he’s a pantomime character.
EARLIER in the week Paul John Dykes wrote this about the way Scott Brown is treated in Scottish football. It is well worth a read. While you are at it you could also read this one too.
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