One door opens and another closes. Strange things were happening around Celtic today as we enjoyed a good run out in the Scottish Cup on an afternoon fit only for ducks and mad football fans braving the elements to watch their team.
The game itself was entertaining without being one we will tell future generations we witnessed. There was no avalanche of goals, but there could have been. Fourteen shots in target. Nine times we had the ball in the net. One penalty denied for – haha – an offside.
I find that the most amusing decision of all today, and the manager did too. And there was one choice by the manager that I found the most intriguing take from the match.
There was probably not one of us who thought that Rocco Vata
would ever be seen in a Celtic first team strip. Until today, that is. Even with rumours swirling that he may yet sign a new contract with us, which would be the most unlikely turnaround since James Forrest did it in Brendan Rodgers first season with us when he looked solid gone, I didn’t expect him to be in the squad or to come on and score. He played well too, and could have had more.
I’ll put it on the record right now that I do not expect him to stay at the club. This just doesn’t have the feel of something with that kind of ending. The interest from Italy is firming up and I think if he’s given the choice he might well opt for that, especially if they present him with a clear plan for reaching the first team which we haven’t.
In some way this is a pity, and I’ve always been of the mind that I’d have loved it if this kid was as good as some people think and willing to commit his future here.
But is he? he good enough and is he willing to stay here and commit to this club for the next phase of his career? If the answer to even one of t hose questions is no then this doesn’t have a happy ending. This is why I still think he’s not going to be here next season.
