Don’t Blame Ange for Failed Acid Test

In discussion with disappointed/angry (delete as appropriate) fellow Celtic fans after the Ibrox capitulation, it appears Ange Postecoglou is arrogant, naive or, quite simply, a genius, leading Michael Beale down a very dark alley.

Forced into multiple changes, mostly defensively, the runaway league leading boss took the opportunity to blood some of his fringe players, athletes who have been knocking on his door day-in-day-out to ‘get a game’.

This experiment backfired spectacularly when a Todd Cantwell/Nicolas Raskin inspired theRangers side took full advantage, and played us off the park at times, scoring thrice.  It was as disappointing as it was insipid in terms of a battle. In truth, we were gubbed!

Tony Ralston was a no-choice given in the absence of our dependable right-back, Alistair Johnston. This in itself is a worry. Tony is a player of fortitude, but lacking skill and vision. Ralston was proven culpable against a lustre attack force, beaten when it mattered, passing abysmally.

Alexandro Bernabei in place of Greg Taylor was always going to cause palpitations due to his susceptibility in defensive mode; dangerous going forward but a concern under pressure in his natural position, he is a defender-of sorts, but not my sort. He was ripped at the back, and the speedy, determined theRangers wingers hung him out to dry time and again.

Yuki Kobayashi – A player I have lauded and with good reason. Yuki has excelled in his limited time at Celtic, being used as a substitute for Carter-Vickers in time of need. I’ve found him a secure acquisition with a calm and collected demeanour, rarely putting a foot wrong. Unfortunately, his time is yet to come in the real big time.

The Japanese centre was deemed not good enough when he was liable for two of the three preventable goals we conceded, staring into space as a smirking Cantwell latched onto Hart’s poor parry, before allowing Souttar an unchallenged free header for the second. Very poor. He may well come good, but on this performance, the jury’s out.

Joe Hart can be a wonderful goalkeeper, but, like David de Gea at Manchester United, I shake my head at times and wonder, can we do better? I think we can. I’m not comparing them, simply exposing their frailties.

Barring Reo Hatate who manfully tried to shore up an overrun midfield despite mis-placed passes now and then, the whole team seemed to capitulate under an expected onslaught from an opponent desperate to literally save face from a trophyless season. We knew it was coming, but soiled the bed when it did.

Our illustrious skipper, Calmac is allowed one day a year off. Sadly for us, it was at Ibrox, and trying to bridge the gap of lesser skilled combatants proved a bridge too far. It was a poor performance from the metronome, and he will surely feel the pain deeper than most.

Our attack force was frantically out of sorts, and should they have been in anything other than dismal form, Celtic would have been well in contention. As the vastly underrated Cantwell drove home unchallenged, Oh should have restored parity, but chipped against the post with the goal gaping sending the global TV Celtic support into apoplexy. It was a bad miss, and the Korean never recovered from that despite receiving exceptionally poor service.

Jota flattered to deceive as he has done any times recently. We need more from our Portuguese superstar!

Abada’s swipe at the ball in the middle of the box should, and normally would have nestled in the back of the net, but on this day, it was never gonna happen. The Israeli was practically non-existent otherwise.

Neither was the penalty shout when Goldson’s tumble resulted in him handling the ball on the deck. But, like maybe the millionth time this season for the big Englishman, nothing to see here in this backwater of Scottish football! Should the laws of the game be applied fairly, 2-1 would have probably given Celtic ‘oxygen’ for the second half, a word which was used in after match interviews, perhaps prematurely?

Celtic were the dominant force in the second half but, as Ange said, we were too panicky and less controlled. That was the difference. theRangers knew the game was won and Celtic were ineffective. They deserved their victory and we deserved to lose. The third goal was an embarrassment as Cantwell won a tussle with two Celtic battlers and Sakala drew great pleasure in rounding Joe Hart and netting easily. This moment pretty much summed up the game.

So, as Ange was lambasted and brought to book in some negative quarters, I ask the question, was it his fault we lost 3-0? Well, yes and no, mainly, no. He was left without the services of Johnston, Carter-Vickers and a recovering Kyogo, all massive players.

He chose to rest Taylor and Maeda as they had endured a barnstormer of a season. That’s it. He decided that he would test his reserve defensive combatants against his strongest rivals rather than against St. Mirren at Celtic Park where they would likely spend 90% of their time in the opposition box learning nothing, with nothing to lose or gain.

So much rhetoric about ‘waterboy’ Cantwell, ‘Carol’ Baskin etc. These boys took us apart and embarrassed us in this game, so forget about the colours they sport and acknowledge their talent, and desire, something we lacked. Souttar, who blew the last game, won 100% of his ariel balls and scored against us as he’s done before at Hearts. Their wingers were more potent than ours and caused us more trouble.

Yes, they were better than us but without our most important players, that was no surprise. Ange took a risk with his selection, and it was a good one since he found out who he could rely on in the major arenas when called upon. I applaud him for that despite the result which ultimately cost us nothing but blushes! He will take his findings to the board who will hopefully fund him in a quest for more talented players in the new season.

In truth, Celtic have not hit the heights since demolishing Kilmarnock in a first half rout at Rugby Park. Few are saying it, but we have struggled since, and are not feared as we once were despite our obvious success.

Imagine this side taking on Real Madrid, Barcelona or Manchester City in the Champions League with Ralston, Kobi, Bernabei, etc? No, I cannot either. We need first class back-up for our rampant first teamers, and Ange knows it. Ibrox proved this point, We hate losing there, but we did.

There may or not be some shock departures from Parkhead’s gates come the summer of ’23, but if there are then this result may be a blessing in disguise as we forge a path to a brighter future a bid to extinguish the Ibrox flame with incoming players of true Celtic quality. In the meantime, there’s a Cup to be won and another Trophy to be flaunted at Celtic Park in a couple of weeks.

Whilst theRangers vampirical hordes celebrate a rare win over the Champions by wallowing, up to their knees in lustful blood, let’s enjoy OUR moment, and remember who we are. We are Celtic, forged from the pain of famine and exclusion in a country which, sadly, despises every fibre of our being.

Being poor and ostracised is not a cause for celebration-being Treble Champions once again most certainly is, and we hope and pray that this will come to pass on 3rd June when the old and famous Scottish Cup is gloriously lifted above the head of Callum Gregor at Hampden Park. Ange’s ‘arrogance’ will be on public display that day and I, for one, will wallow in that! HH

Eddie Murray