Ange Postecoglou delivered the most powerful and meaningful media conference of his time at Celtic today.
The content really should have been dealt with by Michael ‘teething troubles’ Nicholson but after 18 months at the club Postecoglou knows that his CEO would rather cross the road than deal with any issue related to the SFA, eight years alongside Peter Lawwell has that impact.
Watching on with a smirk and a laugh has been the old school media, revelling in the impact of VAR as it handicapped Celtic and allowed a title challenge to be maintained from Ibrox.
After 19 matches the champions had conceded five penalties, the team in second place have yet to be tested from the penalty spot.
In five of those matches the club from Ibrox have been refereed by a PE teacher who spends his week working with Murray Park starlets. There are 15 other referees that have handled Premiership matches this season but it seems that there is a special relationship between Nick Walsh and Ibrox.
At Ibrox on Monday the home side got a penalty that they shouldn’t, the away side were denied an obvious penalty.
The old media rejoiced in the spectacle, a four goal thriller, Micky Beale had halted Celtic, there was hope in the air.
Over on social media Celtic fans highlighted the glaring inconsistencies, to be diplomatic, of the decision making. Similar instances were highlighted.
With no answer to the real life events the old media turned to paranoia and conspiracy theories, they had no counter argument.
Today Ange Postecoglou gave a very reasoned and measured review of Monday’s match and touched on the other mistakes that Celtic have suffered from since VAR was introduced. Again there is no counter argument, nothing that the hoops boss picked up on can be dismantled or dismissed.
Rather than go with paranoid and conspiracy the tactic is to play the man. Apparently Ange was fuming, raging and blasting. The 20 minute video from today paints another story.
At 10.30pm tonight the daily newspapers will have a separate interview with the Celtic manager, the reported tone is likely to be very similar.
Ange Postecoglou Celtic VAR blast in full as Connor Goldson credited for Rangers ‘save’ during scathing ref takedownhttps://t.co/QBlOVl40Jf pic.twitter.com/diFk2vrPuG
— Daily Record Sport (@Record_Sport) January 6, 2023
“I guarantee you if Rangers were denied that decision the talk would be about how that was a title-defining decision”
Ange Postecoglou is still raging four days after Celtic were denied a penalty at Ibrox?https://t.co/Ak11OCYLzS pic.twitter.com/rkTdAlSZnp
— Scottish Sun Sport (@scotsunsport) January 6, 2023
Ange Postecoglou fumes over Rangers Connor Goldson handball https://t.co/arO77CCt0e
— Glasgow Times Football (@GT_Football_) January 6, 2023
? Watch Ange Postecoglou’s Celtic presser in FULL as he vents Rangers handball fury and makes Connor Goldson ‘big save’ quiphttps://t.co/YRaW0tsE5W pic.twitter.com/Q9cRlZb3a0
— Football Scotland (@Football_Scot) January 6, 2023
How should Celtic deal with the SFA over VAR?
Quietly in the background, the Bankier way
Keep the pressure on through the Daily Record
Publish detailed complaints after every match on club website
Well said Ange – and not before time- over to you now Messrs. Nicholson and Lawwell. Come out and Back the manager.
They did the very same with Neil Lennon: I watched one of his press conferences when he was joking with the media and made a point about something. The next day it was “rage” this and “fume” that accompanied by a picture of him shouting from the sideline but not a picture of him from the press conference.
The next time one of those guys asks Ange a question the boss should say “I’m not answering in case I’m accused incorrectly of being raging. Get your facts right sonny you would know if I was raging with you. “
Has anyone else noticed the way the MSM have been fawning over Micky beale .they lap up every word .
Watch as from tomorrow the narrative from the LL and their placeman on tv .
Ange will be branded paranoid and feeling the threat from Micky brogues
I’ve watched the press conference and at no time does Ange “fume” or “rage” he is simply asking the same questions most fans in the country are asking.
We pay for the sport and we want answers.
After 5 2mro we’re 12 pts clear & oot ae sight! The FILTH will drap pts Sun I guarantee it! Dbl Figures by 6pm Sun & watch Micky Mooch squirm whilst promising the arrivals of Lewandowski, Mbappe & Haaland lol!
Hypothesis: A club need cash to survive and it rests on a ref/VAR decision. The bookies take bets (as they can do, live, these days). Football infected.
The nick name given to the last two managers of the rangers by the supporters of said club and the SMSM followed them. Began with their first name “Stevie g and Gio” I’ll bet you it won’t happen with the latest manager of “the rangers” MICHEAL beale
Spot on Ed. They have no argument against the facts; how could they?! And so they resort to claims of “Paranoi” etc. Thick as dead Huns!