Jim Brogan and shrinking jerseys

It was with deep sadness that I learned yesterday of the passing of Jim Brogan.

He was part of the Celtic team I grew up watching in the 1960s and 1970s.

I have vivid memories of several challenges that would not have contravened the Geneva Convention.

For the avoidance of doubt, he didn’t take prisoners.

I had the pleasure of his company some years ago over the mountain in Gaobh Dobhair.

He was the real deal in every sense of the term.

My thoughts are with his family.

There are many words in the Glaswegian vernacular for personal courage and they were all applicable to “Brogie”.

I cannot imagine Jim Brogan ever considering it acceptable to fall in a heap holding his face from an imaginary slap.

Indeed, he would have taken a real blow on the coupon as a polite invitation to reciprocate at the earliest opportunity!

No quarter asked for and none given.

Of the current crop of millionaires playing for Celtic, only Scott Brown and Kieran Tierney would pass muster on the Jim Brogan Courage Index.

It is undeniable that Brendan now has the first genuine crisis on his hands since he took over at Celtic.

Of course, he knows that very well.

Apparently, the psychological hangover from the summer transfer window hasn’t shifted.

Up front, there is a Moussa Dembélé sized hole in the team and Odsonne Édouard looks lost.

Consequently, Celtic’s title hopes are hanging by Leigh Griffith’s hamstrings…

A couple of veteran Celtic watchers (they’re both ex-players) are telling me that their take on the current malaise is that they’re watching a disunited team.

I cannot comment on that, but the rumours of a dressing room split and training ground confrontations continue to surface from previously reliable sources.

When such events do sporadically occur it is for the manager to stamp his authority on proceedings.

However, that can be difficult if players have witnessed the gaffer being undermined from the boardroom.

So far this season is being brought to you by Heated Driveway Disasters.

Consequently, the match in Perth tomorrow night now has a significance that few would have foreseen at the start of the season.

I’m down the Word Mines until the start of next week as political thrillers do not write themselves.

So like some of the Celtic defence at Rugby Park on Sunday I will be posted missing.