It has been a bit of a mixed season for Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers, and whilst we now seem to be more properly back on track, there can be no denying that at points this year we have significantly struggled and failed to appropriately perform in games that should have been victories and all three points.
Different fans will place a different emphasis on how much leeway should be given to both the injuries we have suffered this year, as well as what was a disappointingly quiet January transfer window given the gaffer’s own words on what he wanted to happen, but it is what it is, and as I type we have now rallied and regained a three point advantage at the top of the Scottish Premiership table, and have secured our place in the Scottish Cup final so the double is potentially there for the taking and anybody who knows how to bet soccer will know Celtic are more likely to see at least one trophy this season.
Parking talk and reflections on the campaign for a moment, one of the other big talking points to come out when it came to the 2023/24 campaign was former England international goalkeeper, Joe Hart’s, early confirmation of his plans to retire at the end of the season.
The 37 year old stopper was pretty coy at the point when it came to what his own personal future may hold, but he was extremely adamant that the reason for his unexpected announcement was to quieten the noise and speculation in the media that surrounded his Celtic future and he hoped that it would allow the club to better focus on the battle ahead, and at a later date he would give more of his thoughts, as back then his focus was on improving our form and helping us to a successful end to the year.
Whether or not it actually quelled the speculation is open for debate, but he stuck true to his word and has dodged the subject ever since, until very recently where he may well argue that with the club better back on track he was right to try and not be a distraction, and with a small advantage ours again, he can take a moment to talk longer term and give a few more thoughts.
Many had thought that he would want to remain in the world of football in some capacity, but it was unknown as to whether or not that would be punditry or a move into coaching. They are the obvious two choices these days for players of Hart’s calibre, but it seems that neither actually overly appeals to him, and that he would prefer to forge his own path when he hangs up his gloves.
This in itself would not necessarily preclude him from remaining with Celtic though either.
But coaching is a no, it ‘doesn’t do it’ for Hart as he cannot envisage himself taking charge of one team, but he did confirm that he had already had talks with the gaffer as to how he could lend his considerable experience to the club in a different capacity.
What that capacity might be remains for another day, as that is pretty much all he would offer with six big games left with a desire to really bring the curtain on his playing career down with a bang.
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