ON a night when the Leader of the Opposition watched on, Celtic showed all the characteristics Jeremy Corbyn will require to defeat Boris Johnson at the ballot box if as rumoured an election is called in the next few weeks.
The irony isn’t lost as Corbyn an Islington Arsenal fan watched on Celtic’s own political force was in operation agreeing to sell perhaps our finest asset to the club he supports. The stories announcing the agreed fee to sell Kieran Tierney to the London club all seemed to appear within 10 minutes of each other during the game as the player and manager tried their damndest to out think and out fight their strong Romanian opponents.
Good to know everyone at Celtic was fully focused on the job at hand. Well nearly everyone. Despite a protracted summer long negotiation it seemed strange that the story was buried as the majority of the Celtic support and players were enduring the nervousness of what the club is really all about. Football matches.
Sometimes you get the impression there are people at Celtic who have long forgotten we are a football club first and foremost. What on earth are we doing allowing an agreement for a fee in a negotiation that dragged out for so long to be announced in the away leg of Celtic’s toughest and most important European game so far this season?
Either we had no control and I doubt that greatly or we are happy to have a manager fielding questions about Celtic selling their wares when he should be focused on feeding back to a support how he felt the match itself had unfolded. A total lack of respect. Hung out to dry.
Spurs are open to allowing midfielder Victor Wanyama to leave the club on loan today
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 8, 2019
To most supporters a fee eventually being agreed was not unexpected it seemed fairly certain this game of brinkmanship between Peter Lawwell and the Arsenal bean counters would find common ground before today’s English transfer deadline. I doubt any of us thought Celtic would be allowed to be portrayed as a second class citizens in the negotiations with our London counterparts. Do you think the Arsenal board would have allowed a story selling their finest assets to be broken in the media mid game?
We look like the poor desperate relations happy to agree on the terms even at the expense of the respect and standing of our own club. It lacked class and it was embarrassing. On our hands and knees collecting the crumbs falling from the English Premier League dinner table.
Maybe in future we can substitute players mid game and get them down to the Emirates to sign in if there isn’t a second to delay. On second thoughts perhaps that’s actually giving them ideas.
On this Day in 2⃣0⃣1⃣7⃣…
???? @kierantierney1 scored this #BetfredCup beauty! ????#OTD | @CelticFC pic.twitter.com/5RZxLOeYZi
— SPFL (@spfl) August 8, 2019
When Neil Lennon was appointed many let their concerns be known, believing that Peter Lawwell would be delighted to have Lennon in post as he’d have a free rein. That our Chief Executive would have less of a political headache having a manager perceived to be simply delighted to be in post. In his pocket if you will, rather than someone who would challenge such behaviour. Well Lawwell doesn’t seem to be dispelling such rumours with behaviour like that last night.
Lennon showed all the spirit of Celtic as his men got an away goal avoided defeat and return to Celtic Park with an opportunity to progress to the next round very much in their own hands, and with a strong Celtic support behind them at Celtic Park you’d have to say they’ve given themselves a brilliant opportunity to progress.
To progress in fact towards not only the footballing prestige of the Champions league but also the buckets of money that Peter Lawwell would appear to covet above all else. Strange behaviour then to allow that to be undermined, but I guess when it comes to money Kieran Tierney as a bird in the hand is better the champions league riches very much remain in the bush.
At least our manager has shown the dedication and focus to the job at hand. A challenging opponent and place to play was handled well and with complete professionalism. It’s just a shame Peter Lawwell and the Celtic board have not afforded the same dedication and focus towards the manager or indeed the supporters who made their way to Romania last night. Yet another sign of our administration being out of touch with the rank and file. A further example of why off field progression and returns for shareholders appear far more important that on field progression and the development of the side on the football field.
If we were ever previously in doubt about whether Celtic see the fans as customers or supporters we saw the damning evidence last night.
There is a gulf between our administration and the supporters even the players and management. That gulf is going unchecked. Peter Lawwell is going unchecked.
This deal being broken at the time it was is evidence Lawwell is willing to trade the dignity of the club for pieces of silver and he’s not even having to look over his shoulder and check he’s getting away with it.
Jeremy Corbyn will have to go to the polls at some stage. It’s a shame our Chief Executive doesn’t have that accountability. Based on how I felt last night my cross on the ballot paper wouldn’t be by the name of Peter Lawwell.
Niall J
The one that got away from Peter Lawwell, last August. John McGinn signs a new five year deal at Aston Villa…
Excuse the recording! John McGinn talking to Sky Sports News about his new deal and the clubs ambition. #AVFC pic.twitter.com/I2a0VZi9MV
— Heart Of The Holte (@HeartOfTheHolte) August 8, 2019
Also on The Celtic Star…
Albanian President Meta sends message to Celtic after ‘very promising draw’…see HERE.
‘Mixed bag performance wise but this was a good result against a good team,’ Andybhoy88 on Celtic Noise…see HERE.
Lenny in the Dark over KT as Jeremy Corbyn praises Celtic’s ‘discipline and determination’…see HERE.
Sandman’s Definitive Ratings – Celtic at Dracula’s Cludgie…see HERE.
‘This is a very sad night for Celtic,’ David Potter reacts to the Tierney Transfer…see HERE.
Forrest equaliser gives Celtic the edge as Kieran Tierney leaves for Arsenal…see HERE.
