ALEX’S ANGLE: SILENCING THE BIG MOUTHS

THERE are still far too many critics out there who have failed to deliver even any sort of infinitesimal acknowledgement to Celtic for the club’s extraordinary double triumph of last season.

Not even a ripple of applause or a grudging well done to mark the champions’ fifth successive title, their fourteenth flag in 15 years, a record 56th crown and the grand total of FORTY-FIVE honours in this century.

You can throw in five trebles, too. No mean achievement.

The club’s serial detractors made such a fuss over Martin O’Neill’s side’s downright effrontery to overcome Hearts on the last day of the league season that, at one stage, I was convinced a National Day of Mourning was about to be announced.

CROWNING GLORY…Martin O’Neill holds aloft Celtic’s 56th title.

Throughout the summer, we’ve had to tolerate utter bile dressed up as informative views and opinion from people who missed their calling as bulbous-nosed, big-footed performers in a circus whose car doors fall off when they turn up for work.

They queued up in April to write off the Parkhead club and, unfortunately, weren’t bestowed the wit or wisdom to admit they got it horribly wrong a month later.

They must have been born under the same poisonous cloud as the likes of Dave King, the former Ibrox chairman once branded “a glib and shameless liar” by a South African judge during the Glaswegian’s tax fraud case in 2010.

Today’s naysayers could learn from this character who once preposterously claimed that the four titles Celtic won during the…ahem…enforced absence of Rangers – or whatever handle they want to grant themselves – following a sustained period of financial jiggery pokery had led them inevitably to the trapdoor leading to the fourth tier.

As their city neighbours were led off to accept their punishment in 2012, Celtic won four in a row before King’s men resurfaced in time for season 2016/17.

Rather foolishly, he dismissed the Parkhead side.

WELCOME TO PARADISE…£11million-plus Danish dangerman Kasper Hogh.

Over that decade, Celtic have won TWENTY-THREE trophies – nine league championships, seven Scottish Cups and seven League Cups.

Across The Clyde, celebrations have been somewhat muted. One league title, one Scottish Cup and one League Cup. Not much cause for wild celebrations among that lot.

And here we go again, dear reader.

Look, no-one believes we witnessed anything remotely like a vintage Celtic last season. It was a turbulent campaign, to say the least, but the team still managed to prevail against all odds and overcome the ricochet effect of Wilfried Nancy’s 33 days of chaos and catastrophe.

Martin O’Neill may insist he is not interested in leaving a legacy behind, but the 74-year-old Irishman has already earned a place in the club’s folklore.

Somehow, miraculously, he managed to turn things around. And we cannot forget the contribution by his backroom team of Shaun Maloney, Mark Fotheringhm and Stephen McManus.

Or Callum McGregor and the lads on the field where in matters most on matchday.

THREE CHEERS…Camilo Duran is congratulated by James Forrest after scoring against AC Milan in the 2-2 draw at Parkhead, the Columbian’s third goal in successive outings.

All is not perfect in the east end of Glasgow. You and I are aware of that.

There will be movement between now and the transfer deadline on September 3, popular players will join Daizen Maeda through the exit.

Hopefully, quality performers such as Kasper Hogh and Camilo Duran will arrive to strengthen the squad for the rigours of the challenges at home and abroad.

In the meantime, let’s prepare to get behind and O’Neill and Co as the silverware quest kicks off this evening with the visit of Dundee.

Let’s hope we are all in for another thoroughly enjoyable adventure in Paradise.

ALEX GORDON

*DON’T miss the unbeatable match report and best action images from tonight’s Celtic v Dundee Premiership opener at Parkhead – only in your champion CQN.