Tom, Brendan and don’t ask Chic Charnley for a job reference

What is the cost of Tom Rogic’s continuing absence for another two months?  Tom has scored more than a few winning or equalising goals over the last two years.  We could need him to deliver the third leg of the treble, or to keep the winning run in the league going, but this will not be the real cost.

Tom has been robbed of a precious three months during the most effective spell of his professional life.  He improved with every passing month, got stronger, lasted the entire game and even scored a last minute winner.

With competition as it is at Celtic, he’ll be distraught.  The personal target of all those who have been on an upward trajectory this season is to put their name on the team sheet for the summer’s Champions League qualifiers.  For a player who the manager insisted worked for months before he was relied upon to last 90 minutes, any time he gets before the end of the season will be about recuperation.

For now, there should be no personal targets for Tom apart from being fully fit come June.

You know when you read a nugget which encapsulates much of the journey Scottish football has been on in recent decades?  Chick Charnley yesterday on Jim Duffy: “When I played for him at Dundee and Hibs, he would give me Mondays off because he knew I enjoyed my weekends.”

And that was Chic making the case that Jim should have a higher job!  Cheers.

Another quote to consider, this time from Brendan:

“There are three types of supporters. The first type who absolutely love you because you are the manager of Celtic.  It doesn’t matter what you do, they’ll give you shirts and want you to sign everything.

“The second group are: ‘Okay, we’ll give you a chance and let’s see how you do. See if you win games and I’ll decide’.

“The third group, that’s the group who if you won five they’ll say you should have won seven. ‘You won 5-2? Why did you let in the two goals?’ You can never win!”

I wonder if he’s spoken to Gordon Strachan?

Oldtim

A question for those of you who have been here since the early days:

Oldtim made a significant first post on CQN but neither he nor I have a copy of it.  It was, however, copied and referred to by many in the months that followed.  If you have a copy, let me know.  Thanks.

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