I recall veteran Scottish sports journalist Archie Macpherson saying to me once at a supporters’ night that Jock Stein was the first Celtic manager to take on the press.
Essentially, the Big Man wasn’t comfortable being at the back of the bus.
Archie regaled the audience with a vignette about Jock tracking him down after MacPherson had written a story that was unduly critical of Celtic.
Ever the raconteur, Archie told the tale of how Stein had disguised his voice until he was put through to the journalist.
Busted!
Essentially the man who brought the Big Cup back to Parkhead was determined to put manners on a hostile media.
What I took from Archie’s story was that it wasn’t long before the chaps in the press box realised that it wasn’t business as usual at paradise.
I was thinking of that when I watched Ange today at his presser.
Who are these brave people? These warriors who are accusing people who are out there. Kyogo is the size of a jockey, he’s playing against guys nearly a foot taller than him. All these brave warriors on the outside, casting aspersions, are they?
I haven’t read it; I won’t read it. You know, you end up in arguments with ignorant people, you’ll eventually become one of them. I kind of ignore those narratives as you painted it.
I think that Kyogo has been great for our football club, he’s been great for Scottish football and I’d be surprised if anyone wouldn’t want somebody of his character and his playing ability in their club or in their league. Beyond that, mate as I said, good on all these brave soldiers sitting there in their studios or lounge rooms or wherever they are. Throwing these narratives across the bay.
The contempt in Postecoglou’s voice is palpable.
As well as quickly fashioning a side that plays exuberant attacking football the Australian has clearly grasped the toxic nature of the Fitba Fourth Estate.
The narrative that has emerged about Kyogo over the last week has contained some dark themes.
I’m sure that Celtic’s manager, with his own lived experience as an immigrant, would have discerned that very clearly.
Every Celtic player will now know that Ange has their back.
It is also undeniable that he has put the Stenogropahy Corps on notice.
I’m sure that the Big Man would have approved.
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And on that note, he may be barely coherent through his machine gun staccato verbiage but Wiggy Boyd’s dog whistle re Kyogo’s goal against Hearts was successful as at last 3 wrong offside decisions went against Celtic on Sunday. Thankfully the result was still comfortable, but a shameful disgrace that Sky provide a platform for this clown to propogate partisan views intending to influence officials in future games in favour of the zombie club.
Can’t think of any other situation where that is tolerated. Roy Keane, Jamie Carragher etc are professionals who can see beyond their allegiances, and by the way, can actually string a sentence together. At least Super Salary has some eloquence. Are Sky intending on becoming a fan TV channel?
It speaks volumes that a Scottish hack… sorry “journalist” should choose this line of questioning of the manager of a Scottish club on the eve of a European tie. The one time you think they’d be able to set aside their agenda would be in support of Scottish representation in Europe but it seems the hostility is so ingrained their simply not capable of recognising it.
I think the guy asking the question is from ASCOM i.e. he’s overtly a Celtic fan, so this is all a bit misleading actually.
I wonder if someone can explain the thought processes which concluded with the idea the fans should stay silent and how this relates to punishing the board. It seems to me that the only people they hurting are the players who will suffer from the lack of backing. I am genuinely at a loss to understand it. I have touched on this before but it seems to me that the GB’s raucous unpredictability scares the board more than anything and the last thing they will regret is the GB’s decision to remain silent. It’s like something Blackadder’s General Melchett would dream up.
Totally agree Charlie…It makes no sense whatsoever.
Its an action supported by all of the supporter organisations (I’m certainly unaware of any that don’t).
Of course, by and large that doesn’t include gammony old men, who usually spend their time abusing Celtic players and offering nothing positive and endlessly slagging the Green Brigade, as that’s exactly what the media, police etc want.
Its laughable to imagine the players can’t handle the silence from, er, 1% of the crowd and if they couldn’t then they’ve no chance at the likes of Ibrox.
This anti-GB shtick goes down well on the likes of the Daily Record Hotline, where the gullible are egged on but the vast majority of Celtic fans don’t fall for this.
The action itself will be very noticeable and will be commented on and bring unwelcome (for them) attention on the board and hopefully adds to the pressure, so that this appalling appointment is never made.
The videos from FAC etc are really upsetting, showing how young lives have been ruined by illegal policing operated by Higgins and anything that is done to highlight, shame and stop this, must be done.
In the selfish Tory world we inhabit in the UK, its frightening that so many prefer to punch down rather than support opposition to their masters.
I don’t know a single fan that was targeted by ‘evil eyes’ but they will always have my total support and, I think, so do the majority of the support despite the pathetic utterances of the “it doesn’t affect me so I don’t care” small but vocal (except when encouraging the team) ones.
Those shocking videos of police Scotland at their station arresting anyone they thought they could wrestle to the ground, then picking on someone who seemed to be simply watching what was happening! Those videos show them for what they are. I’ll leave you to decide what they may be.
They never went for the one filming it on his phone, the cowards. They’re like hyenas looking for a weak target, shameful. I’ve had personal experience with them, and the ‘finest’ of anything they are definitely not, in fact; Higgins looks like a polis that shouted a warning at me in Paradise. From that day forward I take no chances where they’re concerned.
Maybe it was just ‘those evil eyes’ I remember. The GB should be backed in this, although I did think it had the potential to be detrimental to the team, regardless they have my vote. Their charity work alone is impressive and can really only be commended.
HH🇮🇪💚🍀✅
I have no problem whatsoever with the GB making their feelings known on any subject they care to highlight.
My preference would be that they shout “Sack the Board ” for 90 minutes rather than stand in silence…which to me just doesn’t make sense.
My comment was not an ” attack” on the GB… it was an observation and opinion.
That’s so funny, I said the same thing to my wife earlier this evening 👍
Couldn’t agree more.
No shit taken….or even given
If the celtic board are afraid that the corrupt sfa will threaten them with the 5 way agreement they need not worry as the celtic support know that Liewell and Bankier seen the document so don’t take the fans for mugs. If they want the fans to back them they need to grow a set and take the media, sfa and the referees to task as its getting beyond the joke that these referees will not do their jobs properly and without bias then ban any pundit or media reporter that spout utter crap about celtic players and the attacks on them
My brother worked beside Willie Waddell in the Scottish Daily Express in the early 60’s…when Waddell was employed as a Sport’s Journalist…My brother doesn’t remember him writing very much…although he had his own column.
And the Editor of the paper ( The top man) was Worshipful Master of a Masonic Lodge in Edinburgh.
Not that there’s any connection of course.
Just passing on some observations of my brother.
Interesting. I remember as a young boy eagerly looking for Old firm match report in the Daily/Sunday Express (?) when Celtic had beaten them maybe 3 nil or what have you and being disappointed every time. Rangers were always unlucky and Celtic were hardly ever mentioned. I remember asking my father why this was and I can’t remember his answer however I hadn’t grasped the concept of bias as yet. It was the same with “Scotsport” on the night of the match when we were subjected to a barrage of excuses for Ranger’s and a couple of minutes for the Celtic goals. You assume when you are young, if they are in the media they would be professional and interested in what actually happened but they were, and are, all “Kris Boyd”.
Waddle took to criticizing manager Davie White constantly and all was revealed and understood when he took over from him, mind you he did win the European Cup Winners Trophy albeit the “awarded in the toilet” edition.
Charlie….The Daily Express chain of newspapers was owned by Lord Beaverbrook.
If you Google him you will find a Right wing Establishment Unionist of the highest order.
His views were echoed in the tone of the newspapers concerned…and top posts were filled with people who weren’t Catholic.
Bear also in mind …that back then newspapers were the biggest influence on the masses.
To most people…If the paper said it…it must be true.
But to be fair…other than people being miles more savvy today…not much has changed.
Why is it being left to Ange to show the Club’s displeasure at the people who run our game and the Scottish Media..??
Our Board need to act now and issue an OFFICIAL statement regarding the obvious anti-Celtic agenda now being enacted both on and off the field.
There have been so many clear cut ” wrong decisions” on the field coupled with some shocking narrative off the field.
And it has to stop…NOW.!!
What is it with our Board…?
The support is crying out for them to express, loud and clear , their dissatisfaction with, not only recent events, but with a catalogue of “errors ” since day one of the season.
These “honest mistakes ” are now a joke.
For God’s sake Celtic Board…man up…or move on.
Utterly shameful.
Ange’s reply made me think of this quote;
“Never argue with an idiots. They’ll only bring you down to their level then beat you with experience.”
I’ve read of a few different authors to whom that quote has been attributed to Mark Twain, Greg King,..
Either way it seemed apt, in Ange we have a no nonsense, media savvy leader. With Ange at the helm Celtic could have really grown into something more than they are at present. Although, for me, that daydream died when Dom McKay ‘resigned for personal reasons’
The board are gutless cowards who are too comfy with their regular dividends, Dom McKay probably frightened the lives out of them with his ideas to advance the club, right there is, for me, more likely the reason he ‘departed’.
Slainte Phil.
Always remember the time Celtic were off to play in a late round of The Big Cup (a quarter final I think) and Jock was button-holed at the airport by some tabloid cretin, who asked about Celtic’s chances in the tie. “Celtic” Jock said, “are they still playing?” This was the week when Willie Waddell left his sports desk to manage the old Rangers, and the coverage in all media was wall to wall and, in tone, would have put Uriah Heep to shame.
“If you get into an argument with ignorant people you end up becoming one of them.”
Ange’s perfect summarisation of the SMSM who masquerade as journalists.