Joe the Stabiliser. Motherwell the unpredictable

Joe Hart’s first job when he arrived at Celtic was to provide stability where it was sorely missing the previous season.  Vasilis Barkas started the season in goal and played 22 games in total, he was dropped for Scott Bain, who made 23 appearances, but both gave way for Conor Hazard, who played six times, including a memorable Scottish Cup Final, when he saved twice during the penalty deciders.

When the goalkeeper position is unstable, a burden is added to the defence, which had problems of its own.  Joe brought authority and reliability where it had been missing.  He was a big part of Ange Postecoglou’s success.

Celtic’s treble winning season meant that last term he played more football than any other in his career.  By May, he will be 37, and irrespective of form, Celtic will be planning for the future.  He is not here for the money or the weather, only the chance to play and he would not he happy as an understudy.  Paying Tottenham £1m for a 34-year-old turned out to be good value.

In his interview yesterday, Joe didn’t make suggestions about how he would like to end the season, but he didn’t need to.  You and I both know what his intentions are.

Celtic made heavy weather of it earlier this season at Fir Park.  Conceding a late equaliser before scoring an even later winner is great fun – and how leagues are sometimes won – but better not to concede late equalisers in the first place.

Motherwell lost at Hearts last weekend, their first defeat in the league since a Christmas Eve loss to Newco – evidence that they are difficult to beat when that is their intention.  Their visit to Celtic Park in November started Celtic’s recent run of poor results.  A David Turnbull penalty put the home side ahead with five minutes remaining, enough time for the visitors to equalise, despite contributing nothing but defending in the proceeding 89 minutes.

No predictions from me about Sunday.