Celtic’s Canadian Bhoy Leaves His Ibrox Counterpart In The Dust. He Is Destined For Greatness.

Earlier than the sport kicked off, I stated that it’s end result would rely upon what model of Celtic confirmed up. In the long run, I assumed we may have been loads, lot higher. Not that it mattered, as a result of our high quality shone by and ultimately we’re double winners.

There shall be loads of time within the subsequent few weeks for the retrospective items, and I look ahead to writing them. Loads went proper. Loads went incorrect. However 93 factors to win the title and the Scottish Cup is fairly excellent. Three wins and a draw towards the Ibrox membership within the league, and beating them within the cup remaining … that’s additionally fairly damned good.

You already know what that document places into perspective? Clement’s monumental luck that Derek McInnes had already knocked us out of the League Cup earlier than his arrival, or his document towards us would look even worse and we’d have celebrated a treble once more yesterday.

So while our efficiency general was not as nice as we’d hoped it might be, it’s the traditional instance of how our psychological fortitude received us by and made the distinction, and about how we merely have the higher footballers able to successful large video games. The Ibrox membership noticed what Bernardo produced earlier within the season, and the identical with Idah. When these guys got here on yesterday, they need to have been far more switched on to the hazard they have been in.

These video games are at all times about what your large gamers do, and the large performances generally come from those that aren’t on the checklist of those that would usually make the headlines. I assumed the most effective man on the park by a rustic mile yesterday was a Celtic participant, and one who isn’t getting any of the reward within the media that he deserves.

His title is Alastair Johnston. I assumed he was immense.

Normally, this season, when speaking concerning the defence, I discuss Carter Vickers. I’ve virtually run out of superlatives for him by now, and he was a rock once more yesterday. However AJ made an actual distinction and had an actual influence and shut them down time and again and on prime of that he was certainly one of our most harmful gamers going ahead.

There’s a weird faculty of thought that when Tavernier goes that the tag of Scotland’s finest proper again shall be out there to all comers. It’s not true.

Tavernier hasn’t been Scotland’s finest proper again at any time since he arrived right here. There has at all times been somebody in that place higher than him at Celtic, and this has been very true when you think about Frimpong, Juranovic and now AJ, and people three are so clearly higher footballers than Tavernier, and comfortably higher defenders, that’s ridiculous, and somewhat bit pathetic, that this debate has lasted this lengthy. On the finish of each marketing campaign, Tavernier seems within the “group of the 12 months” and I ponder how his fan-boys can have failed to note that there have been higher gamers, in his place, at Celtic Park the entire time.

Alastair Johnston is all the things I need to see in a Celtic defender. He’s aggressive, courageous, positionally good and possessed of an iron self-confidence. Let’s not overlook that this boy made his debut in a large, large sport at Ibrox and got here by it like a champ. He has not seemed again since. I can rely on one hand what number of poor performances he’s had.

I’ve written loads about Carter Vickers being a warrior; so is that this boy. He will get banged about loads and places himself in harms approach repeatedly and by no means misses a beat. He works extremely arduous. He’s brave. He’ll make a fantastic captain sooner or later.

He is likely one of the most reliable gamers on this facet on these large days, with large issues at stake. I can not keep in mind ever having a second the place your head is in your fingers at some main error he has made. All gamers in his place make errors, however you outline the nice ones however how seldom they do it and he’s positively one of many good ones in that respect.

Each member of the group yesterday deserves credit score as a result of it was not only a one-off sport, this was the end result of a bloody, brutal marketing campaign the place they’ve been the primary males. A few of them should be out on their toes, and I want all of them a fantastic summer season and a few actual down time. They earned it. However he has been probably the most necessary gamers within the group over this era, and yesterday his efficiency was a masterclass in deal with stress.

I feel we’re very fortunate to have this lad. He may not hit a fantastic free kick or be the designated penalty taker and thus doesn’t get within the headlines … however what a fantastic Celt he’s turning into, and having watched the Legends sport this afternoon I’m moved to marvel if he’s not destined to be our greatest proper again since Lustig, and possibly even sooner or later eclipse that excellent footballer who has greater than earned his place within the pantheon of greats.

So will Alastair Johnston. I’m satisfied of that.

When you think about that Tavernier is within the Ibrox Corridor Of Fame, with that pitiful trophy haul as a captain, it’s all the extra ridiculous to contemplate that this younger lion doesn’t get half the headlines he does … however boy oh boy, with 4 trophies in a mere 18 months, he has actually gotten extra of the glory, and he has years of successes nonetheless in entrance of him right here.