Ibrox's Mikey Johnston Syndrome: A Recipe for Disappointment
The recent transfer window has seen a curious trend at Ibrox, one that Celtic fans are intimately familiar with. While we're assessing the foundations of our own Champions League campaign, our Glasgow rivals seem to be clinging to a familiar, and ultimately, futile hope.
The constant backtracking and reassurance surrounding the retention of certain players at Ibrox is hard to ignore. Social media, fan forums, and even mainstream media outlets are filled with fervent pronouncements about the brilliance of players who, in reality, haven't consistently lived up to expectations.
It's a phenomenon that echoes the "Mikey Johnston Syndrome," a scenario known to Celtic fans all too well. We've witnessed the clinging to hope, the desperate desire to believe a player can still achieve greatness despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary. We've seen it with Johnston, a player who, despite flashes of brilliance, ultimately hasn't been able to fulfil his potential.
But the difference at Ibrox is that these players, like the much-maligned Tavernier, Dessers, and Matondo, are not fringe players. They are, according to their manager, the bedrock upon which a winning team will be built. This, despite recent efforts to offload them and the undeniable fact that they have consistently failed to deliver.
The situation is reminiscent of the "Andy Osnard Syndrome" from John le Carre's "The Tailor of Panama." Everyone, from the players themselves to the manager, to the fans, is playing a charade. They know the players aren't good enough, but they desperately need to believe in their capabilities. It's a case of self-delusion, a need to find hope in a barren landscape.
The parallel between these two syndromes is stark. Just as with Mikey Johnston, who was never truly given the responsibility to carry the weight of expectation, these players at Ibrox are being propped up, their failures masked by a thin veneer of hope.
The consequences are clear. When the inevitable slump arrives, when these players falter under the pressure of expectation, the backlash will be swift and merciless. The anger, frustration, and disappointment will be directed at the manager, despite the fact that he is stuck with a squad he didn't choose.
The situation at Ibrox is a stark reminder of the dangers of clinging to hope in the face of reality. It's a reminder that sometimes, the most honest approach is to accept the truth, however uncomfortable it may be. The "Mikey Johnston Syndrome" and the "Andy Osnard Syndrome" are a potent cocktail of delusion and desperation, a formula for disappointment. It's a cycle that Celtic fans know all too well, and one that, sadly, their Glasgow rivals are now experiencing firsthand.
