And Celtic’s man of the season, part ’09 will be …

Scott Brown

As Mr T would say, I pity the fool who can’t see how good a player Scott Brown is.

After a first season in which his “disappointing” form was greatly exaggerated, Brown is now beginning to flourish in the Celtic first team with the promise of many greater things to come.

Scientists tell us that perpetual motion is impossible to attain but then again Brown only needs to keep moving for 90 minutes at a time to turn all that kinetic energy into electric attacking football. In saying so, you’ll have noticed how I avoided the cliché of “midfield dynamo” (dammit, there I go).

But there are those who think that any player who constantly runs and makes dozens of tackles must be a defensive player or one who “snuffs out” opponents. Brown does all that but his movement and speed make him virtually impossible to mark at times while his quickness of thought and delivery concentrates attacks in areas that the opposition are ill-prepared to defend.

It was those attacking instincts that first impressed me about Brown when he was a talented but raw laddie at Hibs. In those days, he wasn’t so much full-blooded in the tackle as a screaming banshee, but from the collision wreckage of two bodies, it always seemed to be Brown who rose first – and in the same motion, he invariably sought to create an attack.

A season-and-a-half into his Celtic career, he is choosing his challenges more carefully, and is a much more controlled footballer. He still has all that aggression – and sport’s most intimidating stare since Marvin Hagler – but he is no longer easily goaded into being diverted from his game and articulating his frustration in the pages of the referee’s notebook.

Instead, his spinning, jinking runs make him the perfect target for team-mates but in a team that struggles to play one-touch football, Brown is rarely given sufficient credit for the number of times he diverts the ball with one flick while maintaining his runs.

Perhaps more importantly, on Saturday Brown played his best game against Rangers. In footballing terms, that might not account for very much but in terms of his ability to put his stamp on a match in a hostile environment under extreme pressure, his performance answered many questions.

It was by no means a perfect showing – he did play some loose passes – but Saturday was the first time that Brown has shown that he can tame a midfield in those circumstances. His confidence can only grow and there is a sense that a special match against the team chosen by his former Hibs colleague Kevin Thomson is just around the corner – perhaps in February.

It is no surprise that clubs in England have been interested since he signed for Celtic. £9 million is the amount most recently quoted but it would be hugely disappointing if Celtic accepted a bid. Even if the money was reinvested in the team, it is difficult to imagine where a player in his style, of comparable quality would be found. If there are any of those players who aren’t already at top clubs, I have yet to see them.

For a player who has been around the Scottish game for so long, it is sometimes forgotten that he is still only 23 and probably at least two years short of his peak. The fact that Brown is contracted to the club until he is 27 makes him an excellent candidate to build a midfield around.

Predicting the future is a dangerous game – after all he might trip over a stone and break his ankle – but amongst some very good contenders, not least Gary Caldwell and Scott McDonald, Scott Brown looks like the man to lead the charge to title number 4. All challengers are welcome.





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And man of the season, part ’08 is . . .

Gary Caldwell

Of the many qualities that go to making a first-class footballer, Gary Caldwell has one of the rarest in spades: mental strength.

A scan over his early career points to a player who required the greatest determination to rise to the highest levels of the game. A couple of years with Celtic Boys Club before moving to Newcastle in his mid-teens, he secured a contract with the Magpies at 17. So far, so good for the young man.

However, a lack of first-team opportunities saw him loaned out to four clubs between 2001 and 2003. Often that would be a sign that a player was destined for the lower leagues but this is also where Caldwell’s cerebral toughness came through.

During that period, he made his Scotland debut in the most trying circumstances, losing 5-0 to France. If that match was infamous for the scoreline and the subsequent abuse doled out to the then coach Berti Vogts, the enduring image was of Caldwell being taunted by an obnoxious David Trezeguet, who went down in the estimation of many that day.

Many players would have had their confidence shattered but Caldwell used the experience as positive inspiration, determined to be the best player he could be.

Signing for Hibs in 2004, for whom he had played 11 times while on the books at Newcastle, Caldwell soon caught the eye and was described by Tony Mowbray as “the best footballing centre-half in Scotland”. And that soon led to Celtic.

It would be dishonest to say that he was an instant success. In his early days, his performances were sometimes marked by poor positioning and over-ambitious passing that resulted in losing possession. He also found himself playing at right-back – a position that didn’t flatter him, though he performed reasonably enough in the circumstances.

The critics – some not too far from this blog – gave vent to their frustrations but gradually his form improved and his international transformation was illustrated when he scored a memorable winning goal against France at Hampden, by which time an ineffectual Trezeguet had been substituted (he did have a good greet at full-time).

However, just as Gary was starting to look a real player, bad luck struck. An unfortunate accidental collision with David Fernandez led to the former Celt being badly injured. Caldwell was blameless but his performance did seem to be affected. A night to forget away to Benfica was quickly followed by an injury of his own.

On returning, it seemed for a time as if all the good habits had been forgotten and many fans again began to despair of his ever becoming a reliable central defender.

This, though, is where Caldwell has again come into his own. The perfect way to “silence the boo-boys” is always to play better football and Gary’s return to top form was crucial to the run of victories that took Celtic to the title in May. This season, he has been arguably the club’s best player, demonstrating intelligence and maturity in his partnership with Stephen McManus.

Appearances as a defensive midfielder have demonstrated Caldwell’s versatility and given him a chance to display those ball skills that are sometimes best kept hidden by a defender.

He is now enjoying the best football of his career and, in this sort of form, few Celtic fans would want any other player in his position.

A very likely contender for Scotland’s Player of the Year awards, Mr Winning-Mentality is our man of the season, part ’08.





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Aiden McGeady: Penance done – now for contrition, reconciliation and Paradise

It has now been two long weeks since the disconcerting clash between Aiden McGeady and Gordon Strachan led to the player’s suspension.

What now? Well, in such a celebratory week, the best possible end to the year and start to 2009 would be a reconciliation between the two men.

There have been reports that Aiden either had or intended to apologise to Gordon. I hope that, for once, the speculation is true.

Any of us who have ever been young men know how easy it is to blurt out ill-considered words when there is a perception of injustice. One of those hard lessons that you only seem to learn years after it is of any use is that these outbursts are almost invariably a mistake. In fact, as often as not, even when you’re right, you end up in the wrong.

In this case, as has been recognised by most fans, Aiden’s behaviour couldn’t be defended, even if it might be understood. Apart from the issues of internal discipline, the manager’s need to show strength to the dressing room and recognition of the millions of people in soul-destroying jobs who have had to bite their lip when they think their boss is being unreasonable, one fact has been largely ignored.

Gordon Strachan is the manager of Celtic and whoever occupies that role deserves at least the respect that goes along with such a prestigious position at our club. For generations, the manager of Celtic was a figurehead for a community that is unique in football. You cannot abuse the Celtic manager without demeaning part of the club itself.

But there are myriad other reasons for Aiden to take the difficult step of apologising.

Firstly, in his own interests, why would he want to give racist Rangers supporters the satisfaction of leaving the club with so much undone? Thousands of Rangers fans hate Aiden purely because he plays for Celtic and Ireland. If he leaves, it will be the only solace that sorry bunch enjoy this festive season. If he goes without ever having put in a truly memorable performance against them – a Lubo game – he will surely regret it.

Secondly, Aiden really has much to learn about football. He is also in the fortunate position of having all the ability to develop into a top-class player if he can only listen to the advice and instructions of one of the best training ground coaches in the game.

Aiden has been quoted reminiscing on the advice of Tommy Burns, that one piece of magic can win a match. That is true – but the great players look to perform as part of a team for 90 minutes, with the flashes of brilliance merely providing the memorable moments in glittering careers. It is, if you like, the difference between being David Ginola and Zinedine Zidane.

As to taking instructions from a coach; well, where to start? Remember Henrik Larsson when Martin O’Neill came to Celtic? Henrik was already a superstar in the eyes of the fans, yet Martin quickly changed his game, telling him to spend more time in the box and leave the build-up work to others. Larsson could have been forgiven for wondering why anyone should wish to change such an outstanding player. Instead, he chose to put his faith in the manager and rose to even greater heights that need hardly be illustrated here.

Take a star of a different sport: Joe Calzaghe. Calzaghe is probably the finest current British sportsman, thought by very shrewd judges to be the best boxer in the world and, many argue, the greatest British fighter of all time. Yet when things have gone badly in a fight it has been common to see his father and coach, Enzo, berating him on live television, even slapping him.

Did this make Joe “lose face” to the watching millions? No, because throughout it all he recognised that Enzo only ever gave him good advice and had much to teach him about his sport. Calzaghe’s 100% record remains intact and his stature has grown yearly.

Self-confidence is an asset in anyone, especially those who wish to rise to the top. Truly great Celtic players like Tommy Burns, Danny McGrain, Paul McStay and Henrik Larsson married that with a degree of humility that earned them the acclaim so often denied to others less reticent in outlining their own qualities.

It would be deeply sad if Aiden was to leave Celtic without having risen to the standing his talents can and should merit. If he wants to take the place most of us hope he will accede to, amongst the all-time greats, he will need at least two outstanding seasons in the hoops after this one.

Then, when he has learned all he can in the time, when he has been an integral part of great successes, when he has tormented the club’s most bitter rivals, he may wish to look elsewhere – and he will just be entering his peak years.

A couple of other things Aiden might muse on:

- the people who tell you that you are right all the time are rarely the ones giving you the best counsel.
- men who have the ability to offer a sincere apology never lose face – they earn the respect of other men (and women) worthy of the name

I cannot believe that a man like Gordon Strachan – a petulant wee bachle in his time – wants anything other than to reinstate a fruitful relationship with the player who has arguably most to give.

Aiden, I’m sure that like almost all Celtic fans, he expects only the best of you and desires only the best for you. Your future – and a piece of Celtic’s – is in your hands.





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