Bending a Ball Around a Wall

By the Provocative H

I am alarmed at the ease at which some fellow Tims (and I include some well respected ETims scribes in this) seemed to think that it was fair game to continually stick the boot into our assistant manager, John Collins. My problem is that most of the assessments seem to me to be based on quotes that have been read in the Daily Record , the paper that most of all has consistently taken the most soup served from the PR machine at Ibrox  (in both their incarnations), and is mutually accepted in Tim Land as being “anti-Celtic”. This manifests itself with a conclusion by some that Monsieur Collins is always talking, as the good people of Monaco would say, merde. Some go further, and conclude that our former Predator wearing Hunskelper of the 90’s is arrogant, aloof and only interested in showing off his stomach muscles to those poor fragile souls who inhabit the Celtic locker room and should therefore be sacked.

Before I start, its worthwhile remembering John Collins as a player, and his Celtic credentials. I’m sure that I read years ago that his dad used to drive him all over the country to represent Celtic Boys Club (pre Hutcheson Vale days), but given my memory has suffered due to excessive alcohol over the years, I cannot represent that as fact. What is certainly known, is that just before he signed for Celtic in 1990, he was approached by Rangers and offered better terms to sign for them. However, being a man of his word, and a Celtic fan, he ignored this and signed on the line for his boyhood heroes.

John signed for Celtic just as the wasteland of the early to mid 1990’s was about to start, and along with Paul McStay and Tom Boyd, became the shining lights in a very dark time for the club. A tenacious, skillful and sublime midfielder, his range of passing, goals and free kicks (which became his trademark) were of the highest quality. He was a regular goal scorer against Rangers, and who can forget his 2 free kicks (one of which was in the shut out game at Ibrox) which silenced those in red, white and blue. John was also a real team player, filling in at left back and left midfield (even if he was naturally a central midfielder) where his partnership with Tom Boyd proved to be an effective part of a generally dismal Celtic team.

After 221 appearances and 47 goals, John decided to progress his career by exercising his option to sign for Monaco on a Bosman. I think this was one of the first Bosmans, and certainly one of the most high profile.  On a personal level, I was distraught as he was a firm favourite of mine and his class would be missed. However, after 6 years of dedicated service during a time when the team was really poor, I could not begrudge him a chance of furthering his career with Monaco, who at the time were making strides on European scene. There are those who disagreed with his decision and the fact no fee would be received seemed to exacerbate those feelings of discontent. Unlike Henrik (who effectively chose the same exit strategy) and the glory years he experienced, John left the club after 6 years with a sole Scottish Cup medal to his name.

So, against that background, I don’t see where this buildup of contempt and ill-will has come from, other than from people putting newspaper quotes, mischief and rumour together to inform their opinion. Think about the source of this, and any agenda (including personal) of those in the media who commit and print  these words. I do not think it is legitimate for us to slate the media for constantly sticking the boot into Celtic and then some fans do the exact same on the scale and diatribe that I have witnessed recently against John. This is not a call for the return to Pravda, blindly happy clapping or a lack of challenge to the management team or Peter Lawwell by the fans, but neither should we in turn do the media’s bidding or work for them.

People recently criticised John for his views on the difference between playing other SPFL teams and those in Europe. Was he wrong? No, of course not. At the same time, a lot of people are getting hot under the collar as a result of the media in Scotland ignoring reality on other matters (do I really have to spell that one out?) so we cannot then stick the boot in when someone tells it like it is.

The worst he can be criticised for is being too open and failing to understand how his words will be presented.  He perhaps makes a positive statement in public too often that are for the benefit of the players (his recent “we were better than Molde” comments) that should be kept in the locker room rather than the media. However, you never see the question that a journalist poses, only the answer. You therefore cannot have full context, but we as a support should know that certain media organisations are only there to cause and report mischief. If the Celtic support become divided on the ability of a key person in the management team and start wailing hysterically for him to be sacked – job done. In my experience, Celtic are unstoppable when “as one”, and it’s this that certain people are afraid of.

I’m hesitant to mention this last part but I’ve met John a few times on social occasions and my view is that he is very intelligent, polite and frank. That’s a potent combination in the football world. It was clear to me that Celtic meant a great deal to him, notwithstanding that they made it difficult for him in his last year when it was clear he was leaving. He is clever enough to know the club are more than the suits.

So please, let’s criticise if we want to and have to, but let’s lay of the personalised and ill-informed Daily Record inspired drivel that has seen some over the top commentary recently.