Chief Referee for the SFA claims the Celtics-Rangers flashpoint was accurate

St Mirren manager, Stephen Robinson, has shared how he was blown away by one Celtic player’s performance in Paisley on Sunday.

Stephen Robinson

Robinson’s side succumbed to a 2-0 defeat to Brendan Rodgers‘ men and whilst The Buddies boss was disappointed to go out of the Scottish Cup, he reserved special praise for Celtic goalkeeper, Joe Hart.

Robinson said [PLZ Soccer], “Celtic defensively, they don’t really get that kind of credit. They are classed as a very good football team.

“But some of the blocks that they made in the six-yard box and Joe Hart, I thought was superb on the day dealing with corners and deliveries into the box.

“And you know, they deserve credit for that as well. At times the two 18-yard boxes is where the difference is between winning and losing football matches.”

A real touch of class and humility from Robinson there. Hart’s performance at St Mirren was, probably, one of his best of the season.

As I spoke about yesterday, the £15k p/w ‘keeper has been criticised for making some blunders earlier this season but of late, he has really shown his value to the Celtic team.

Against Hibs, he made three brilliant saves and at Aberdeen, he made a further two and ten ball recoveries. [Fotmob]

However, against Rangers at Ibrox earlier this season, Hart showed his true value to the Celtic team. His leadership and experience helped coach an inexperienced centre-back pairing of Gustaf Lagerbielke and Liam Scales through a tough afternoon at Ibrox which led to a 1-0 Celtic win.

With his contract set to expire at the end of the season, Rodgers needs to make a decision on the £1m man and decide whether or not he still has a future at Celtic.

Based on the last few performances, it does seem that despite having a career spanning 20 years, Joe Hart still has a lot left to offer.

Ex-Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou is linked to an incredible Premier League move

Ange Postecoglou’s Rumored Move to Liverpool

Recent rumors suggest that former Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou is being considered for the managerial position at Liverpool, following Jurgen Klopp’s announcement of stepping down at the end of the season.

Soccer Football – Premier League – Tottenham Hotspur v Fulham – Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, Britain – October 23, 2023 Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou reacts REUTERS/David Klein

Postecoglou’s Impact at Spurs

Since his move from Celtic to Spurs in the summer, Postecoglou has left an indelible mark on the North London club. He has not only transformed the team’s playing style but has also created a positive atmosphere. Under his guidance, Spurs have gained recognition for their attractive football and are currently competing for a spot in the next season’s Champions League, thanks to their strong performances in the league.

Speculation and Invitation

The speculation regarding Postecoglou’s potential move to Liverpool gained traction when Andy Maher mentioned on SEN 1116 that “Ange Postecoglou’s agent has formally received an invitation to discuss his potential interest in the Liverpool managerial position.” This revelation has added fuel to the ongoing discussions about Klopp’s successor.

Career Milestones and Achievements

If Postecoglou were to take on the managerial role at Liverpool, it would mark another significant milestone in his career. The Australian coach has experienced a meteoric rise, starting from his days in the A-League and J-League to a successful stint at Celtic, where he secured five trophies in just two years.

Stepping into Klopp’s Shoes

Taking over from a managerial giant like Klopp, who led Liverpool to numerous domestic and international triumphs, including the Premier League and Champions League titles, would undoubtedly be a massive step for Postecoglou. The potential move is further complicated by the fact that Liverpool is Postecoglou’s boyhood club, adding a sentimental layer that might make it challenging for him to turn down such an opportunity.

As the managerial saga unfolds over the coming months, the potential shift of Ange Postecoglou to Liverpool will be a storyline worth keeping a close eye on, given its potential impact on both the coach’s career and the future trajectory of the iconic English club.

The Celtic wonderkid whose cost essentially has truly skyrocketed with the aid of 1,267% after leaving in a massive way.

Celtic supporters may have enjoyed the latest sight of academy brain Rocco Vata emerging as a first-team alternative for Brendan Rodgers this year.

The 18-year-old talent has been in five matchday squads for the senior group in 2024 and made two appearances – scoring in opposition to Buckie Thistle in the SFA Cup.

Hopefully, the teenage whiz will be in a position to earn greater minutes on the pitch over the weeks and months to come as he appears to translate his brilliant academy form, with 12 goals in 15 Lowland League fits this season, over to the first-team.

The Hoops will be hoping that Vata can emerge as a everyday for Rodgers subsequently and that they can gain on the pitch from his development.

Whereas, they were now not able to do that with one of the last homegrown wonderkids to come thru their academy as Ben Doak made the jump to be part of Liverpool in the Premier League.

Ben Doak’s market price at Celtic
The Reds snapped him up from the Hoops in March 2022 for a suggested compensation charge of £600k, as he had yet to sign a professional contract with the Scottish giants – due to being sixteen at the time.

He had already made two first-team appearances beneath Ange Postecoglou in the Scottish Premiership at some point of the 2021/22 marketing campaign however that was not enough to convince him to commit his future to the club.

Doak, who used to be once described as “explosive” by way of brain scout Jacek Kulig, used to be spotted by using Liverpool and they moved to take him away from Scotland in 2022 to be part of their academy system.

Ben Doak’s modern-day market value at Liverpool
It is challenging to argue in opposition to that being a exceptional choice for the teenage dynamo as Jurgen Klopp has provided him first-team opportunities and his market cost has soared over the last two years.

At the time of writing (12/02/2024), Transfermarkt fee Doak at a whopping €10m, which is round £8.5m, and that is a fantastic make bigger of 1267% on the £600k that the English giants paid for him.

The 18-year-old gem, who has been sidelined with a meniscus tear on the grounds that December, made five senior appearances for Liverpool throughout the first half of of the season, with three of those coming in the Europa League.

Interestingly, Doak has played more first-team games (ten) for Liverpool than Vata (six) has for Celtic in all competitions, regardless of the Irish teen being seven months older.

The Scotland formative years international, who was once hailed as a herbal “force” through Klopp, has been shown a clear pathway into the senior squad on Merseyside and his soaring market cost displays his wonderful growth down south.

This suggests that there is no reason for Doak to regret his choice to make the go away from Celtic as his profession seems to be heading in the proper course at this moment in time.

Hopefully, the teenage whiz will return from harm and pick out up where he left off as a real choice for Liverpool’s first-team, with a view to incomes a increased function in the future.

Meanwhile, the Hoops might also watch on with a tinge of sadness, at the same time as they have to still be thrilled to see him doing well, as they lost out on having the homegrown dynamo as phase of their personal group moving forward.