Scott Mullen: Selfless Scott Brown, Palestine flags and mindless fans

Yesterday, he was bang on the money again.

Settling down at Lennoxtown to preview today’s game away to St Johnstone, the Celtic manager had to quickly deal with the sudden announcement that his captain Scott Brown was hanging up his Scotland boots and armband ahead of the forthcoming World Cup qualifying campaign.

In true Rodgers style, his reaction was delivered with consideration and common sense. “It’s the right decision for him.”

Nobody, with possibly the exception of Scotland manager Gordon Strachan, would argue.

The captain’s armband seemed a perfect fit around the bicep of the combative and tenacious midfielder in the absence of Darren Fletcher.

Throughout the Euro 2016 qualifying campaign, Brown was a big figure in the Scotland team, but a Scotland team that ultimately failed. Memories of Tbilisi immediately spring to mind.

However, the reason for the 31-year-old’s retirement was not triggered by what was done on an international stage, but what took place, and what is currently taking place, at Celtic Park.

It is no coincidence that while leading his country over the last year Brown’s form for his club deteriorated. Injuries have played a part in a dip in form, but too often last season the Celtic skipper was far from his best and looked way short of the high standards he had previously set.

Against Rangers he was way off the pace and was often chasing shadows, and against so-called lesser opposition looked a player burnt out.

Yesterday’s announcement just goes to show that Brown realised this himself.

At what stage he began to think about international retirement is something for the player, but undoubtedly the arrival of Rodgers at Parkhead must have been a key factor in one of the hardest decisions of his career.

Going from a player at the end of last season had many surmising was ‘done’ or now on the downward slope, Brown has transformed himself immensely under the new Celtic manager.

I was on pre-season with the club and about the team hotel and off the pitch he was his usual jokey self. On the park he has looked sharper, fitter and more focused. That was abundantly clear on Wednesday night against Hapoel Be’er Sheva. He was a sensation.

It’s clear Rodgers has helped reinvigorate Brown as a player, a captain and a person. Together they now stand on the brink of a return to the Champions League and the title fight the club has been longing for.

With all due respect, why jeopardise that?

It’s unlikely he would be able to maintain his current form on two fronts and with that he should be admired and thanked for his selflessness, not lambasted for supposed selfishness.

BEFORE YOU GO

WEDNESDAY night was a triumph for not just Celtic but football in general.

Touching on last week’s ramblings, it was everything that a match should be. Excitement, drama, a wee bit of calamity and plenty commitment from an inspired Celtic side.

As bright as Celtic were, the same cannot be said from a group of their supporters who seem determined to bring embarrassment and trouble to the door of their own club on a crusade of self-indulgence.

Hoops supporters were heavily warned by, well everyone really, not to bring Palestine flags into Parkhead for the Champions League qualifier with a team from Israel. Surely for blatantly obvious reasons.

Still, a few hundred felt compelled to risk not just punishment for their own club and potential arrest but the potential safety of others in next week’s return leg.

Given the heavy sense of empathy to the cause that these supporters claim to be feeling, I assume they have all been petitioning and protesting politicians and demonstrating outside embassies? Aye, thought not.

There was even footage of three or four home fans lecturing Be’er Sheva supporters outside the ground on the tricky political issue that has raged for decades without peacekeepers or politicians being able to calm it.

Don’t worry, though, lads, wee Davie from Castlemilk is now on the case.

---------