‘I don’t think he is a big enough name’ – Former Celt admits he was wrong about Ange

Celtic hero John Hartson is one pundit the fans love.

Honest, wears his heart on his sleeve and shows real passion and love for the club. But what he also is, is fair with his criticism and open when he gets it wrong.

Hartson has made no secret of the fact that he was wrong about Ange Postecoglou and his appointment to the big job at Parkhead.

In fact, I wrote back in January that the former Celtic striker admitted he was ‘disrespectful‘ in his initial views on the Australian manager.

And as the Hoops reinstated their three point advantage at the top of the league, Hartson reiterated his mistake [The Roar] at judging Ange too early in his post match analysis after the 3-1 away win at Livingston, “I remember doing a gig at the start of the season with a couple of players and we were all thinking, ‘transition’. 

“And I said, ‘well, it might take two years, because our rivals are that strong’. And Celtic were that far behind.

“The whole club needed someone to come in and get it spot-on and unite everyone again. And they have done that with the football they have played. It is fantastic football, it is the Celtic way – score more than the opposition.

“I think they have had an exceptional season. Ange Postecoglou has come in, been very humble, he understands it, he understand the fans and what the club is about.

“I go back to the start of the season – Celtic can’t win the league, it’s impossible to win the league in the state they were in.

“Ange has come in and changed everyone’s thinking. I will go on record and say if we hadn’t got Ange in, we wouldn’t be where we are now.

“I was one of the ignorant ones who said, ‘I don’t think he is a big enough name’. But boy has he stood up … he has the crowd in the palm of his hand right now”.

Ange has worked wonders this season. Not even a full year into what was billed as a massive rebuild, he already has one trophy delivered, sits at the top of the league and has every chance of winning a treble.

There will be a lot of pundits and media men like Hartson that will be eating their words.

They just won’t have the courage to admit it publicly.