Chris Sutton got his latest Celtic analysis spot on, and it should absolutely be striking fear into Rangers ahead of the long-term future.
So much is fixated on the destination of the league championship. You can understand that too. After all, nobody thought there would even been a title-race this season. You can see exactly why it’s gripped Scottish football as head into the final 6 Premiership games before the split.
If Ange Postecoglou wins the Scottish Premiership title this season, it would be one of the finest achievements of any Celtic manager. It would instantly make him a club icon, and would be the ultimate piece of humble pie for all of those who laughed at his appointment back in June.
Sutton has been pushing Ange for manager of the year in his latest column. And, quite rightly, he’s stated that it should belong to Ange win or lose because of the turnaround at Parkhead.
Speaking via his Record column, Sutton said: “Ange Postecoglou is the Manager of the Year. That’s regardless of what happens between now and the end of the season. As far as I’m concerned, there’s no point in even starting the voting. Postecoglou ’s work at Celtic makes him the outstanding candidate and you’d be as well just handing him the award right now.
“No doubt this statement is going to get folk hot under the collar but, if you are being honest and unbiased, who else can anyone really vote for? Celtic were an absolute shambles at the beginning of the season. The club had lost the title by a massive 25 points last season to Rangers. It was a one-sided Rangers rout. My old club was a mess. The entire squad needed upheaval. He needed a brand new team.
“To walk into that environment and take over when things are going well is one thing. To do it when there is chaos in the building and still deliver is some achievement. Postecoglou might well go on and win a Treble. But, even if he doesn’t, I’d say he’s Manager of the Year material.”
Chris Sutton spot on – Ange Postecoglou the outstanding candidate for Manager of the Year
If Celtic lose the title this season then of course it would be devastating. We’ve been flirting with the prospect of winning it for so long now that anything less than getting over the line would be a heartbreaking moment for us.
However, even if that was to happen, it won’t have meant that Celtic hadn’t made progress this year. Remember, everyone was predicting them to be nowhere near Rangers this season. The fact we’ll have, at the very least, run them so close is in itself a frightening thought for our rivals.
There’s something special building at Celtic and you can see exactly what Ange is trying to do. Next season, regardless of whether we win the league or not, should see an evolution of this team. Something that would take it beyond our rivals regardless of what happens this term.
Of course, there will be a desperation from both clubs to win this season’s title in order to bank the UCL money. The winners would certainly gain a huge advantage over the other. But at the same time, Ange has a squad here that’s getting better every month and that is totally committed to the long-term goals of the football club.
Considering where we were in the summer, Ange should be a certainty to win the manager of the year award. It won’t matter if he sees the title through either – the award should still be his. You can’t just ignore what Celtic have become if we don’t manage to get over the line.
The turnaround is absolutely sensational, and there’s even more to come next season irrespective of where the title ends up. That’s almost certainly something that would have Rangers in total fear.
In other news, Celtic again having to deal with tiresome Aaron Ramsey narrative before Glasgow derby
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