Ange Postecoglou’s Media Conferences are unmissable really and the numbers of supporters viewing them on You Tube continues to grow. Good to hear James Forrest from The Celtic Blog on there today asking questions in both the Callum McGregor and Ange Postecoglou conferences ahead of the trip to Pittodrie tomorrow night.
We’ve covered Calmac’s conference already so we want to turn our attention to what Ange has had to say and as usual there’s plenty to get our teeth into. Before we do that however there’s another pressing matter that needs to be discussed.
You might wonder whether those in the comfiest of seats at the Scottish Cup tie against Raith Rovers at the weekend will be sitting a wee bit less comfortably than is usually the case after Ange today praised the Celtic support for the unbelievable backing given to the team last Wednesday night in the 3-0 win over theRangers and noted that all over the world people were talking about that, then adding that this would NOT have been the case had the game been behind closed doors.
Ange also pointed out that the game was in danger of forgetting the importance of supporters as the lockdown dragged on and football continued to be played in those soulless empty stadium environments. So the lesson is there for those in power – whether that is politicians or those running the game or operating football clubs – the game isn’t much at all without supporters. That was Ange’s message today and we’ll get to that next, we promise.
On Sunday Celtic will close a section of the standing section in response to the use of pyrotechnics at the Glasgow Derby last Wednesday night. It’s a safety issue and maybe – giving the Board a huge benefit of the doubt here – they are getting the ‘punishment’ in now to avoid it kicking in down the road, as a necessity. No-one is being prevented from attending the Raith Rovers game as supporters from that affected area of the North Curve are being offered tickets elsewhere in the ground or a refund. Presumably they’ll accept the former so will be at the Scottish Cup tie. Let’s hope so.
Many supporters on the HCTS pay for their tickets and choose not to attend these cup games. Other season ticket holders with an option to buy the ticket for their seat for these games don’t bother and the crowds tend to be around maybe 30-35k – so there will be plenty of places for the Green Brigade to stand next to seats.
Last year was dreadful as we all know. Supporters from the North Curve were a year ago this week displaying a Lennon Out banner outside Lennoxtown. A year on and there is a superb unity at the club and together – fans, players, the manager and his staff and even the Board – combined to blow theRangers away last week.
We cannot allow that unity to be damaged or worse still destroyed on the back of this flare issue. When we play theRangers again in the league at Celtic Park it will almost certainly be an early kick-off. The midweek game last week was very much a one off, the first against any Rangers club for a decade, so the chances of a repeat of last week’s flare-up is limited. Celtic must accept this and the Green Brigade can show some common sense by assuring Celtic that there will be no flares inside Celtic Park from them this season. Then we can all move on and get the League won and maybe even add a few more cups.
Word got out last night about this decision to close a section of the standing section due to “safety issues arising at our last home match, including widespread use of pyrotechnics”. This has now been confirmed and the club’s position is outlined below.
