Barmy banners and bonkers invasions

Published 28th Jan 2019

Sales of pharmaceuticals freely available over the counter from any chemist must, if the weekend is anything to go by, be reaching record levels as tension rises in the Premiership title race.

A pitch invasion at Livingston because Rangers scored a third goal there.

A banner inside Celtic Park the day before criticising the Celtic board who have presided over the last seven trophy wins in succession and the last seven league titles in a row.

What will it be like when one of them wins the title and the other has to stand by and watch the celebrations while feeling that the end of the world has arrived?

I shudder to think.

"Back Rodgers or Lose Him", said the latest offering from those fans who would be the club's conscience.

Really?

Celtic's weekend win over Hamilton Accies was achieved without the club's record signing, Odsonne Edouard, as well as Celtic's most valuable player, Kieran Tierney.

Then there was Tom Rogic, away with Australia at the Asian Cup, and Leigh Griffiths, scorer of over one hundred goals for Celtic but currently on compassionate leave.

Craig Gordon was rested as well and James Forrest was left on the bench to begin with.

If the manager was backed to any greater degree they would need to build an extension at Lennoxtown so that all of his playing staff could be accommodated.

The cast-list of also rans is huge and the last days of the transfer window this week will see Celtic start to offload whoever they can from those who are obviously surplus to requirements.

The board backed the manager when he brought in Marvin Compper, Lewis Morgan and Youssouf Mulumbu, to name but a few.

No board of directors is perfect but those in power at Celtic Park have adopted a policy of what Brendan wants, Brendan gets ever since he arrived at the club.

Million pound playing surface? No problem.

Disco lights? Let's get this party started.

If Celtic lose Brendan it will be because he has reached the end of his tolerance threshold in Scottish football and wants another challenge somewhere else.

Or, what if Celtic don't win the title this season?

If Ten in a Row is not a project but the only thing in life that really matters would the Celtic fans call for the manager's removal if he fails to deliver championship number eight?

Just asking.

It is a horrible pressure for anyone to have on their shoulders.

Seven titles in succession? All well and good but you can't taunt the other lot with that because it's been done before.

Seven trophies in a row? An historical footnote if you can't create a distinction that may last a lifetime and take the bragging rights into the stratosphere.

Steven Gerrard will know by now that he has taken up residence in the madhouse, so he will be equally aware that Celtic winning the title this season and moving to within two flags of the only thing that matters in life will make his life difficult.

Losing at Kilmarnock last midweek was like a death in the family for a lot of his club's supporters.

The funeral aftermath of a Celtic title win will cause him problems on an industrial scale if it happens.

One defeat at Rugby Park was enough to see him bin Steven Davis and Jermain Defoe from the very next starting eleven at Livingston, and they're costing the club a fortune in wages.

What will it be like if all the signings, all the expectations and all the optimism bites the dust?

Rather him than me.

Everyone is living on a game by game basis. Wednesday night's home match against St. Johnstone is now a must win fixture for Celtic. There's no point banging on about your game in hand if you don't win it.

There is no point in me, or anyone else, appealing for calm. Laughable pitch invasions and barmy banners tell us that rationality left town and isn't coming back.

Off we go.