Other than putting the ball in the net John Hartson liked nothing better than a good 50-50 challenge on the park- or a 40-60 to make it interesting.
He revelled in the physical challenges, a £2m teenage signing at Arsenal, scoring in a European final at the age of 20 and up against the odds almost every time that he pulled on the red jersey of Wales. He loved it.
In retirement, in his thirties he defied the odds in his greatest ever battle, against cancer. Looking at him these days you’d never imagine what he went through in the summer of 2009.
Some keyboard warriors are easy meat for big John, if folk don’t like his enthusiasm for working on Celtic Champions League matches that is their problem. He ain’t going to change his style for a seat on the Sportscene sofa.
Late on Wednesday night big John put his thoughts together rather well inside one tweet.
Rob McLean… I can’t believe Celtic organised to have him work at previous events.
The clip of him crying when Celtic beat the old Rangers 5-1 and Simply the Best played at the end of the game was brilliant. ?— Woody Preston (@WoodyPreston1) December 13, 2023
In contrast to Hartson, Rob MacLean sounded like he had lost out to Rory Hamilton in a draw for a place on the TNT Sport Christmas jolly to Seville.
Other than the tired old Champions League statistics that Celtic fans are very familiar with MacLean had nothing to add to last night’s viewing.
While the snipers chip away Hartson has a very full diary as his views are sought on European matches, the EPL and Wales international matches. He also speaks Welsh.
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Celtic have their first #UCL win at home in over ten years ? pic.twitter.com/D0CUpDH5Mk
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) December 13, 2023
Ah ,don’t fret about Rory Hamilton ! He’ll be in Spain with Super Swally walking on the beach pre tonight’s game for TNT sports . Reminiscing about ‘days of old ‘ with the nation’s green caretaker no doubt . We got stuck with McLean last night as lead commentator …. It was like listening to a drunk rabbler in the pub when you want a quiet pint ! It’ll be interesting to see how many scoops and ‘guest commentators ‘ BBC Scotland send to Spain to capture the Real Betis game ? My money is on 6 …..