The Celtics supporters are faced with a terrifying tale that only this special city can produce when the stakes are very high.
Based on their current performance, I wouldn’t bet against Celtic’s prospects of still being in the Scottish Cup by this afternoon at four in Paisley.
With the way Stephen Robinson’s team is playing, it’s hard to argue that a St. Mirren victory would have to be classified as a “Cup shock.” But, I would empty the bank and stake the grandchildren’s inheritance on Rangers winning the Premiership by ten o’clock on Wednesday night, following their humiliating defeat of managerless, directionless Ross County in a manner akin to a public whipping.
And if Celtic go up to second place as a result, they might very well hold that spot for the whole of the season. That’s what happens when one side of the Old Firm gains the upper hand and the other is compelled to call for composure amid discontent among its supporters. You are aware of who you are. If a team that fired their manager seven league games into a championship and was eight points behind their fiercest competitors at the time went on to win the Triple Crown, that would be absolutely amazing.
As remarkable a story as a team that wins a triple crown going on to lose all of its titles the following year. But that’s the terrifying tale that faces Celtic supporters, which is why today’s matchup with St. Mirren is so important. I support using straightforward language. It is ideal for use in radio soundbites and print copy.
If Celtic were playing in your backyard, you wouldn’t open your curtains to watch them, given the pathetic state of their exhibitions since the end of the winter break. Own goals and penalty kicks have quickly eliminated them from games against Ross County, Aberdeen, and Hibs.
Brendan Rodgers was the one to call for composure despite leading a club that, paradoxically, incites fear with their style of play. It is not a good idea to go sideways and backwards, especially because Joe Hart is receiving more touches than some of the outfield players.
And wasn’t it the Celtic manager who declared that the Perth break had been the most irrational he had ever been as a manager after the now-famous two-leg match against St. Johnstone in early December? If he was the one who incited the ire against his team in the first place, then there’s undoubtedly a clear contradiction there.
“It’s my job to control the inner voice of the team,” Brendan stated prior to last Wednesday’s staged jail break at Easter Road. I realize that this sounds like a lot of hoopla, but I can certainly see how the manager’s perspective has changed in light of the season’s events, which were shaped by dubious signings.
It’s one thing what Rodgers says for the general public to hear, but I would give anything to be a fly on the wall in any room where he is having a private discussion with Peter Lawwell, the chairman of Celtics. I can’t help but think that it would have to be more about shouted shouts than inner whispers.
In the face of difficulty, the manager strikes a conciliatory tone, which is the team’s equivalent of Brendan taking a hit. However, the supporters seemed to be afraid of what might be coming down the pipe without needing to be wooed by the manager in the interim when they carried a banner to Pittodrie last weekend that was critical of their club’s board of directors. This was done when the team was leading the league by five points.
The greatest threat of all arises when a team is at odds with itself rather than its fiercest opponents; when the boardroom becomes a more popular topic of conversation than the locker room. With his time-added penalty winner against Hibs last midweek, Adam Idah stopped a potential civil war from breaking out, but today in Paisley, the irate players are retreating behind the barricades. Due to weakness against Kilmarnock on a Sunday afternoon at Rugby Park, the Viaplay League Cup was eliminated. Tension could only rise if St. Mirren suffered another such setback.
I am a traditionalist. In my opinion, Rangers are the clear favorites to win a cup competition if Celtic is eliminated, like they were in the Viaplay Cup. Furthermore, it has been demonstrated that any Celtic squad can no longer compete for the championship with the belief that defeating Rangers is the standard.
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