It may, to the Celtic support, to be stating the obvious to claim Ange Postecoglou is a shoe-in to see off Steve Clarke, Malky Mackay and Robbie Neilson to win the SFWA manager of the year award, but you just know there are people out there who will put up an argument for anyone and everyone bar the Celtic boss.
Thankfully former Celtic Paddy Bonner, speaking to Daily Record, isn’t in the Anyone but Ange camp and has made a sound claim for Postecoglou’s revolutionary rebuild at Celtic being rewarded by a personal accolade to go alongside the League Cup and – definitely maybe – League title double Celtic can win in a season of expected transition and from the ashes of a disastrous campaign last year.
“Oh I think so. From where he and the team started from. If they win it. From where that position was at the start to where they are now is night and day. And playing a really good brand of football as well when they get to top form with the group that he has assembled. So when you put all of those things together, you would have to say he’s done a marvellous job.
“I know there are other managers out there who have done really well. Just look at the job that Dick Campbell has done with Arbroath, for example, but this is a different level in the Premiership and, as I said, when you look at where they were to where they are now, you have to give him great credit.
“To win a double, in that respect after the season before and turnaround of players and whole new squad, it’d be a remarkable job if he does it.”
Celtic of course have the opportunity to do something the top six split was designed to avoid and have a Glasgow Derby decide the league title, but that’s effectively what will happen should the Hoops defeat theRangers on Sunday lunchtime – and that prospect Bonner admits would be the ‘icing on the cake’ after an incredible season.
“You want to win the league, first and foremost. That would be a remarkable achievement in itself with the League Cup in the bag. To win it against (the)Rangers would be the icing on the cake but, to be honest, at this stage, every game is important.
“Look at Dingwall, that was so important. If they had lost up there or dropped points, the nerves may have kicked in a little bit. To go there and do the business, I felt that was the one.
“They can afford to get a draw against (the)Rangers and even a defeat and they would still be in a great position to win the league. If they had dropped any points against Ross County, it may have made Sunday’s match a slightly different ball game.
“But they will be released mentally. They have another full week to prepare, whereas (the)Rangers have their big game against Leipzig in midweek. They are at home in front of their own fans and their tempo against Ross County was good, certainly up until 75 minutes.
“The changes they made were much-more effective than they were at Hampden , so they are in a great position. You couldn’t really ask for anyone, buit, of course, the fans would love them to beat (the)Rangers.”
You get the impression Ange Postecoglou couldn’t give a monkey’s about winning any manager of the year awards, instead he’ll leave it to the support to argue against the ludicrous options put up as apparently viable alternatives. Instead, he’ll know the returning of the league title to Celtic will be the ultimate reward for the incredible job of work the manager has carried out since arriving at the club.
Steve Clarke, Malky Mackay and Robbie Neilson have all done fine jobs in their respective roles this season, as has Dick Campbell at Arbroath, but none have done as well as Callum Davidson did winning the domestic cup double last season, yet Steven Gerrard won out.
And ask yourself this, would any of those managers on this year’s shortlist have taken the Celtic job last summer and come even close to what Ange Postecoglou has done at Celtic? I think everyone, no matter their allegiances, know the answer to that one.
The only surprise when it comes to drawing up that ‘shortlist’ is explained perfectly by Celtic Nation this morning…
Wee Gio not on the shortlist for manager of the year and him the shortest of them all…
I say we riot 🤣🤣🤣🤣
— CELTIC NATION🍀⚽️⭐ (@CelticNation67) April 27, 2022
Niall J
Put it this way theirs plenty of celtic managers who should have won it over the years but some how they didn’t get so ange will be the same especially when the votes are out the masonic fuckpigs will make sure he diznae get it just watch this scotland is a country full of masonic scumbags.