Probably, other things being equal, Celtic supporters would tend to support a European team against an English team in a European semi-final. So it was last night. Rich, royalist Arsenal are a team that excites little love in Scotland or even the rest of England.
They have had a few good players in the past, and one does like their colourful strip, but their very ground exudes opulence – and a certain amount of arrogance, uwarranted arrogance. It is hard not to equate them with (the)Rangers.
Certainly no-one doubted that the Coronation Cup of 1953 was meant to produce a final between the establishment teams of Rangers and Arsenal with the new young Queen coming to Hampden to present the Cup. As it turned out, the final was between Celtic and Hibs and there was no Queen there. Was there a reason for this?
So, the downfall of the Gunners to the hard working Villareal did not see many Celtic supporters collapse in grief on their living room floors. Except, there was one player who attracted our attention, because we had seen him before – and this was our very own Kieran Tierney who had parted from those whom he loved and who loved him in 2019.
It seems a long time ago, but what a player? The memory abides of his relationship with the Green Brigade, and the picture of him with the loud hailer in hand addressing and conducting the North East corner remains a potent one. He was one of us, and I think he still is.
No point now in navel gazing and wondering if he did the right thing in leaving us. The point is we want him back. We need him, and he needs us. He is with a team who, by English and European standards, are not all that great. In fact they are a major disappointment to their friends, and are going nowhere.
But Celtic might come back. Clearly we live and pray for such an event. It would be more easily achieved if KT came home. Season 2020/21 has been a season from Hell for both Celtic and KT himself. We need you back, Kieran Tierney.
Come home, Kieran Tierney, come home!
David Potter
Sadly, Kieran Tierney would these days command a transfer fee of at least £50m, maybe much more so will only ever come back to Scotland to play for Celtic at the end of his career.
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What is it with this Tierney fantasy? He’s not coming back, he has a career to forge, if he can recover from the absolute burn-out we inflicted on him. He’s a top European full back, who could probably get a transfer to quite a few top tier teams, if he thinks Arsenal are holding him back. If Arsenal are smart they will rebuild around him as a club captain.
Come back at the height of his career to play against Hamilton, St Johnstone and Livingston?
Get real. It’s gone.
We stated that in the article Roy, but it’s am opinion piece from David Potter, the Celtic historian who doesn’t really accept the ‘values’ in the modern game and can’t see why a Celtic supporter would want to leave Celtic to play for Arsenal.