Is the Robbie Keane backlash just a gauge of online opinion, or is it across the board? I’ll guess we’ll only find out if he’s appointed…
The revelation that Robbie Keane is now the front-runner for the Celtic managerial position has certainly caused a stir amongst the Celtic supporters.
Keane being an Irishman and former Celtic loanee has traits that are normally the requirements that would guarantee you to be welcomed positively. After all you only have to remember the size of the crowd who descended at the front doors of Celtic Park to welcome him way back in 2010, when he signed on a loan deal from Spurs to see that he was back then a very popular figure amongst the supporters.
The Israeli Factor
However, times change and so do people. It seems as Robbie himself has proven with his decision to accept employment within the state that is Israel. But is this backlash towards the Republic of Ireland legend merely just a gauge of the now firmly established online world? Or is it one that’s right across the board, as in ‘real’ life?
From someone such as myself who is regularly on social media platforms, namely Facebook and X, it would seem the overwhelming majority of those folk are dead set against the appointment of Robbie Keane, and for the avoidance of doubt I include myself in that category.
Is the backlash just online noise?
But what’s it like in the ‘real’ world regarding the potential appointment of the Irishman? Well yesterday we saw a banner by a small group of supporters at the entrance to Celtic Park, and without repeating what the banner stated, let’s just say that they weren’t welcoming the Irishman with open arms.
I know of several others in the real world who are also unanimously against the appointment of Keane, but nowhere on the percentage of folk who are protesting behind a keyboard, so what does that really tell us?
Is the Celtic support is split down the middle?
Could it be that the support is split down the middle, or it’s the overwhelming majority who oppose his potential appointment? Or just a massive social media pile on?
Then there’s the Irish factor to consider. In his homeland, as Conall McGinty has explained in his articles, the feelings against Robbie Keane run deep and it goes well beyond just the Celtic supporters in Ireland. But Celtic has to consider the views of these supporters who regularly make the long and expensive journey to Glasgow, with thousands being season ticket holders.
Celtic upsets our Irish support at their financial peril
Since the wall-to-wall broadcasting of English football the interest in Celtic has been diluted somewhat with loads of Irish fans opting for all sorts of Premier League clubs to support. Celtic upsets our Irish support at their financial peril and for our board money talks. 
I guess we’ll find out one way or another if Keane is indeed appointed as Celtic manager.
Just an Ordinary Bhoy
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7 Comments
Personally I find the whole situation embarrassing within our club imo?
Where do we actually stop?
Should CCV and Trusty be run out of our club, with being American, and there support for Israel upon the world stage?
Why stop there?
Add Jota to the list, with taking Saudi money, with there human rights track record?
Sure why not boycott European competitions altogether, as they are allowing Israeli teams to participate within there competitions, but quick enough to ban the Russian teams? Already seen the Ukrainian flag accepted within football but the Palestinian one isn’t?
And now we have ultra groups, singing nothing more than Irish rebel tunes, yet protesting against Irish men?
The whole issue stinks of hypocritical political views, that have no place within the footballing world imo?
If such a decision goes ahead, then judgement can be made upon the decision taken, but on footballing terms within our club imo?
As no such answers are even available whatsoever, it’s nothing more than a personal attack, which i feel very uncomfortable within?
Still prefer football as an escape from world events, which can be very distressing, within this current world affairs?
Making 2 Irish men, the subject of such a potential backlash is hardly a great look upon ourselves as a club within the footballing world imo?
Yet are we meant to turn a blind eye, to the footballing world, and it’s eyes upon America in the coming weeks? For which Scotland as a country is going to be part of as well?
Hypocrisy of the highest order on show at present, and our those involved, setting such a high moral standards themselves, to be so judgemental?
100%.
More feel your way than not my friend.
I go to and watch football to forget, not be reminded. Sorry, but my life and job are stressful enough without an added boost of dread at the end of the week. I can support a lot, but i deserve some rest too.
Sometimes football just needs to be football.
If your life needs more and you want to shout your annoyances for all to hear, do it elsewhere, i’m here Win lose or draw to support my team not politicize a ball being kicked on a field.
Your assertion that most Celtic fans agree with your opinion of Robbie Keane is totally wrong in my view. The vast majority of supporters who I know believe that the abhorrent Israeli actions in Gaza should play no part in any decision to appoint or not appoint Keane. The Green Brigade and their acolytes do not speak for the majority of Celtic fans on this and other issues.
vast majority of Celtic fans i know aren’t happyclapping customers and see this as a huge step backwards and a kick in the teeth to a guy who just won us the double with a shit team overseen by a useless board who fkd up 3 transfer windows ,
Celtic needs a real manager not a Desmond puppet ,club lacks ambition
Keane will be a disaster
Have heard plenty of stories about this arrogant little man when he was at celtic . Horrible little selfish arrogant and not very nice person altogether. Took his gardening leave from the Irish football association almost bankrupted them . He is ignorant horrible and down rite selfish little man . Also he done nothing absalutly nothing to suggest he should be celtic manager . Its embarrassing never mind the shekle he took in isreal . He managed a team who in Hungary dominated thaire league for years and ended up loosing the league . For me he will be utterly yhe biggest embarrassment ever to manage our club I for one will never listen to a single word that comes out his horrible little mouth . I have been a celtic supporter for 60yrs . As some would say disgusting apointment embarrassing and a Desmond 2 fingers up to most of our fans .
The biggest embarrassment to our club was the appointment of Nancy and can never be beaten. Keane will do an excellent job for the club in my opinion, we should leave the Israeli connection out of this.
Well said there Johnno…these people are living in la la land ….make all the noise you want desmond will do what he wants anyway