SENTINELCELTS

“Fear is an instinct, courage is a choice”
A Sioux warrior to a fellow WW2 volunteer
 
 
The Age of Ange truly begins with preseason starting today, good luck all the youngsters drafted in, ‘grab that chance with both hands kid’ would be my advice alongside listen and learn.
As the boss slowly attempts to turn the good ship Celtica around, some task, I wonder will he and the players get a sense of the super heightened anticipation levels for the upcoming season?
Why do the support feel that way?
 
 
In a way Ange is very much a victim of circumstance, he just happens to have said the right things, and been hired at the right time.
And inadvertently or not he has fed this narrative increasing the anticipation levels, with words and background, plus the confidence exuded.
In general when you’re at low ebb, it’s a safe pair of hands for a slow and steady rebuild. To turn to a Barca style would raise the interest of any teams support, but to a support with attacking football in their DNA it only further raises the hype and anticipation levels.
 
 
But I don’t think that’s the biggest reason why we can’t wait.
I believe it’s because we as a fanbase haven’t felt the rays of hope, the raising of the blood, the thrill of the chase in a long time. Around last September or so,feels like a lifetime ago now, a different era.
 
 
And in many ways it is, which again only helps raise the interest levels. Only today I heard a chap who had knowledge of big Ange on a Celtic podcast claiming ‘in the title race definite’. Regardless of his knowledge of where we as a club are right now, and he was aware, that shows a level of belief in our new boss that is very reassuring indeed.
 
 
Since last Autumn all we wanted to do was fast forward the clock, well it’s here and the unstoppable force meets the incredible mystery in a matter of weeks now. When you think about it, just the act of being in the hunt past October is progress, I hope we all recognize that.
 
 
My own anticipation levels are through the roof with the out of the box appointment, allied with the fact the relationship with the PLC is almost at breaking point which will lead to action imo. We should see many talking points, on the field and off the field, this upcoming campaign. The Tims are on the verge of uniting against the PLC, make no mistake. This could be a momentous year on a few fronts.
 
 
Of course it’s true many are itching to sit in their hallowed seat again, with that anticipation now raised due to an unknown quantity promising attacking footie, which is nice and all that. But even nicer is a fresh start, a fresh title tussle starting to simmer nicely under the surface.
 
 
The European Championships have only helped increase our interest levels for next season, once again seeing large crowds at stadiums and witnessing the tragic unexpected (get well Christian),, to the fully expected to me (Top scorer in the Euros history and still going, I told you he was the best) Ronaldo still gracing the big stage breaking records,,to the very very much expected English hype machine kick-starting into overdrive once they had beaten a decent team.
Seen that movie before.
 
 
But ultimately all we want is to be contesting. I know fans of other clubs may roll their eyes at that ‘entitlement’ but I would reply the biggest club should be contesting, as a rule or something has gone truly wrong for in most sectors the largest dominate.
 
 
To be contesting again, to have some genuine hope, that’s all we want.
To feel alive again, part of the game by urging our team forward.
To feel the thrill of the hunt again.
Well the hunt starts today.
Good luck big Ange, you’re gonna need it.
 
By Mahe.