The last couple of weeks have been dramatic, intense, adrenaline fuelled, endorphin infused and utterly joyous.

Not a single one of us will forget where we were, who we were with, and the aftermath, of the most unlikely title win in decades. 

This group of men, who many times looked cowed, unsure, without confidence, fitness or form in far too many cases. Went from being so unworthy as Celtic players, that their shirts were flapping around them like the mainsail of a sinking ship in a violent storm, to filling out those jerseys like Dr Banner in a fit of rage. Rampaging Hulks who could not be stopped by lesser men. 

What they have achieved now is historic and indelible. No matter how big or small their contribution. A title is not won over a few games, and if you played your part you should take the plaudits. 

This is a career highlight for both decorated veterans and Celtic novices. 

Winning a title on the 88th minute of the final day, will be a unique experience in all their lives. Unparalleled relief from the pressure, the explosion of joy, the adulation and the glory. Exactly what every child dreams of, but only the tiniest fraction will ever achieve. 

Maeda, Tequila & the Turnaround

I had the misfortune to be in attendance at the Kairat Almaty game three managerial appointments ago, which properly kicked off a wretched period of the season. 

In that game Daizen gave one of the worst performances I’ve ever seen from a professional player. Unable to control the ball, laughably so at times, or pass, or beat a man, or any function of a pro footballer for that matter. Even his famed press seemed less intense. 

From that shell of player, clearly disturbed by the late breakdown of his move to Wolfsburg, lacking focus and motivation, to the man who has produced the most extraordinary burst of form when it counts the most, scoring seven after the split, including what was effectively the title winner, has to be one of the most remarkable, incredible resurgences imaginable. 

Without Daizen, there’s no title. It’s as simple as that. The greatest athlete to ever wear the Hoops, his press inspired fans & teammates, and utterly terrified defences. His Champions league stats proved he was in an elite bracket all by himself. His number of sprints dwarfing his rivals and his ground covered almost double the average. Nearly twelve kilometres to the average six. 

If Daizen could finish consistently the way he did at the end of this season, he would be among the the world’s most coveted players and would never have been anywhere near Celtic. 

I would hate to see him labelled as a cult hero. For his contribution over so many years, he’s a hero to many and a legend for me. A meaningless accolade maybe, but his humble nature, his love of family, his absolute dedication and relentless style, make the combination of character and talent that deserves the title. If nothing else, he epitomises for me the best traits I hope for in a Celtic man. 

Whenever he was pushed forward, dragged in fact by his teammates, in post match celebrations he was palpably uncomfortable. I witnessed this most recently after The Rangers were monstered by Maeda.

And what a song he ended up with. A version of Tequila that fit beautifully, was wonderfully simple and had the whole stadium on its feet. When he inevitably moves on, I wish him success at the highest level, starting with leading his country to World Cup glory, but not before he wins us a double.

Mob Mentality

Pitch invasions are invariably controversial. It would never occur to me to enter the field of play, and thankfully that puts me in a very significant majority. 

We all have instinctive, sometimes almost involuntary, joyous reactions to dramatic circumstances, but that’s does not include the wilful act of invading the pitch. And if it did, turning back after a few seconds as the adrenaline stops spiking would still not be acceptable but certainly more understandable.

With the game not finished, those partaking of this performative selfishness (lots of phones on display taking ‘content’) put the title itself at risk.  Imagine, after this chaotic season, sacrificing a legendary achievement, a season’s worth of extreme effort from the players and extreme endurance from the fans, on the back of this rash and foolish behaviour. Extraordinarily self centred actions.

Being a home game, I expect offenders will be identified and dealt with in due course. 

We do not judge ourselves by the low standards of others. As a fan base I believe we are among the very best. Self policing has been how much of that was achieved, and we need the older, wiser heads in the support to make it clear this is not acceptable behaviour. 

What happens when you regularly accept low level pitch invasions is moments like this, when emotions run amok and league titles are threatened

The Real Mob Mentality

For all the fact we have to get our own house in order, and we should expect higher standards of our support, that’s a matter for us as a fan base. Despite the initial reports there has been no evidence of assaults. 

The external attacks from media talking heads have been persistent, delusional, bitter, hypocritical, furious, fatuous and facile. If you want to get into the realms of whatabouttery it is extremely fertile ground. 

Apart from those Celtic or Hibs minded, there was nobody who wanted us to win this league and good lord, doesn’t it show. I do love the conspiracy theories such as Crown Bar Beaton being a puppet of the unseen Fenian hand. 

The SFA, packed with Rangers/The Rangers men from top to bottom, being involved in a conspiracy to advantage Celtic.

That VAR correcting decisions miraculously missed by the usual suspects on field, is somehow a separate but contradictory part of the same confused conspiracy!

Every time you shoot down an obvious nonsense talking point, another one immediately takes its place, like a hydra of half baked, harmful hogwash. 

Still writing about a match that wasn’t abandoned being abandoned. Despite almost instant confirmation from the officials that wasn’t the case. 

Still contesting uncontestable offside decisions, then reverting to clear handball decisions, immediately gaslighting from the main and obvious points. 

Those points being that the decisions were correct, and you don’t get to rewrite the rules based on how much you despise Celtic or how much you wanted Hearts to win. 

The manager himself brooked no nonsense on a Talk Sport interview with the deluded Jim White and reliably controversial Simon Jordan. Shooting down the premise of the questions much less the answers. 

Fairytales & Fury 

The fury over Celtic’s title is illustrative of how superficial the acceptance of this club founded for Irish Catholic immigrants is in reality. The media mob have just about been able to restrain themselves previously, with a resigned and reluctant acceptance of Celtic’s ongoing dominance. 

The first time that has been genuinely threatened, especially in such a dramatic way, exposed many who have revealed themselves and their true agenda. They will not be forgiven or forgotten. As they say around my Irish home, they’ve entirely lost the run of themselves. 

Days later, as many are still furiously trying to have us stripped of our title, the other point it illustrates is our need for absolute dominance. We should never have let either club this close to us for many reasons we have discussed, and those discussions will continue. 

But this lifting of the curtain to reveal the Wizard, has been a reminder that it’s actually a Grand Wizard and assorted acolytes, who need only the encouragement of proximity to roll their tanks onto the Celtic Way and, by foul means or fouler, attempt to take what is ours and tarnish our legacy. 

We must invest what is necessary to make this season another that won’t be relevant again for forty years or more. 

Rubbing it in with a double would be a good start. 

I hope your team wins on Saturday.

Mon the Hoops.