“He thought he could put anyone out in the jersey” – Hugh Keevins stinging Ange criticism
Soccer Football - Scottish Premiership - Celtic v Rangers - Celtic Park, Glasgow, Scotland, Britain - February 2, 2022 Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou celebrates after the match Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff
I wrote earlier tonight about how Hugh Keevins was over the top with his criticism of the Celtic team when he branded them arrogant and complacent.
The veteran journalist was scathing in his criticism of the team and in the very same program, he had Ange Postecoglou and Jota in his sights.
But it was the level of criticism that Keevins aimed at the Celtic gaffer that caught my ear.
After a Celtic fan called to criticise Ange, Keevins said, “I think he picked the wrong team. I think he was complacent.
“I think he thought he could put anyone out in the jersey with the badge, and that would be okay.
“And I may be simplistic, however, I believe that you pick your best team, and that includes a Hatate, O’Riley and Jota.
“And by the time Jota came on, it was slipping away from Celtic, and all he [Jota] seemed to be interested in doing was throwing himself about.
“I think the momentum was with Celtic.
“And I think Ange Postecoglou, as I say, if a man makes a serious mistake once in a calendar year, then you can hardly hang him out to dry.
“However, he is not above criticism, and he picked the wrong team.”
Hugh, of course, is correct. Ange is not above criticism.
Even I wrote about that at the start of the season, but how can you say he shouldn’t be hung out to dry when in the very same breath you are accusing the man of being complacent and basically throwing any old team out expecting them to win?
Yes, he picked the wrong team. Yes, players were off form but Ange got complacent?
Even in victory at the start of the season against Aberdeen, the gaffer let the team know that their performance was unacceptable.
Does that sound like someone who would suffer from complacency?