Celtic: Craig Levein just needs to stop
By Nick McAdam
A recent rivalry has unfolded between Celtic and Hearts. This one seems a bit childish, however, on the part of manager Craig Levein.
The debate all started as none other then Scott Brown made an absolute cruncher of a tackle on 16-year-old Harry Cochrane. Broony’s tackle was perfectly within the legal limits of the game, but it still seem to upset the Hearts’ manager.
In fact, it’s fumed the manager to the point where talks are still holding up several games after the incident.
Yet, it wasn’t really an incident to begin with. Not just saying this as a Celtic fan, but if the tackle was made on anybody else, it would’ve been completely forgotten by now.
That’s what happens with unusually young players starting within the top ranks of the game. It’s top-tier football, and players have to expect the best tackles to compete in the game. Just because Cochrane is so young does not mean in any shape or form that he’s untouchable.
To be fair, Cochrane did suffer an injury to his collarbone as a result of the tackle from the captain. But again, that’s Scottish football and players have to be willing to accept potential injury.
Levein doesn’t seem to care in a way. Like any manager, he wants to protect his players, but this case seems like a lost cause. Comments such as this have emerged as a result which are completely unnecessary, courtesy of iNews.
"Celtic captain Scott Brown is ‘twice the age of Harry Cochrane and lucky if he’s half the player’More from The Celtic BhoysCeltic handed fresh injury doubt before Feyenoord gameCeltic’s £40.7 million announcement should scare RangersBrendan Rodgers makes superb claim about returning Celtic playerBBC pundit makes sensational claim about Celtic hero KyogoKyogo Furuhashi sends clear message to Celtic doubters"
Can’t really tell if Levein was the one to say that, but it’s still completely out of this world. There’s no doubt that Broony has won and done more than Cochrane at his young age. Brown is the captain of the best Scottish club for a reason, while Harry is still a prospect at best.
Celtic’s own Brendan Rodgers had something to say in Brown’s defense. Sky Sports notes Rodgers comments when the boss said:
"“He is a wee bit obsessed with Browny, isn’t he?“I think it is a huge compliment for Browny that Craig keeps talking about him, if he does, especially as we don’t play them for a little while.“Browny is a very competitive player. There is nothing really to answer on that.”"
The comments should put an end to Levein’s obsession at this point.
Right now, Rodgers and the rest of the Celts need to put this behind them. Celtic are looking for a treble at the end of the year, and it’s best if the Glasgow side stay focused to that goal.
Hearts have their own tasks to accomplish. Levein needs to move on from the tackle because he seems a bit immature going on about it in the matter that he has.
Next: Two new candidates for Scotland’s manager job
What are your overall thoughts on the situation? Is it really that big of a deal that Levein is making it? Let us know in the comments section below.