Celtic setting new undefeated record is nothing to celebrate because Scottish football is a mess – Hotline

Celtic are record breakers but it was the same old songs on the Hotline with rival fans queuing up to play down their 27-game unbeaten run.

The 50-year record held by the team who went on to become the Lisbon Lions may have been eclipsed with Sunday’s 4-0 thrashing of Hearts but Ralph Yardley, Glasgow, isn’t impressed.

Ralph said: “I can’t believe the accolades coming Celtic’s way. With the state of Scottish football at the moment Roy Rogers could manage Celtic to this record, never mind Brendan.”

But Bud Hay, Dumfries , is laughing all the way to the bank, saying: “I’d like to congratulate Celtic on making history because I’ve got £100 at 10-1 on them going the whole campaign undefeated.

“I’ve two other £50 bets at 100/30 on the same thing too so I’m looking forward to my holiday in Benidorm with the winnings already because I can’t see any team touching them.

“I’ve also got £500 on them to win the league and the bookies might as well just pay out on that now.”

Sounds like Bud is going to have as much money as Craig Gordon if the keeper chooses to swap Celtic for Chelsea.

John Bruce emailed: “You’ve got to love some of the Celtic fans on the Hotline.

“Steven Watson reckons Craig Gordon would be better off staying at Celtic to play in the Champions League rather than go to Chelsea for ‘a few extra bob’.

“If given the choice of going down south for an extra £30-£40k per week or staying up here for the chance to pick the ball out of the net in Europe 15 or 16 times in half a dozen games, I wonder what he’d choose?”

George Wilson, West Sussex , said: “Celtic supporters are calling for Craig Gordon to stay to get Champions League football – and one even said Celtic will win Champions League before Rangers win another league title.

“With Chelsea Gordon would be guaranteed Champions League whereas Celtic are unlikely to qualify and will merely make up the numbers if they do.

“As for Celtic ever winning the Champions League. They are an average team in a rubbish league and their supporters really should take a reality check. Rangers could win the league again within a year or two.”

Kilmarnock got their first win in eight games but still the punters don’t seem happy.

Jim McClean, Rothesay , said: “At last Killie have a victory but signing another five new players and throwing them in at the deep end I don’t think is the answer to our relegation fears.

“Especially when that means dropping the best goalkeeper in the Premiership in Jamie MacDonald. I still fear the worst. No wonder the crowd is dropping at each game at Rugby Park.”

There’s another reason, according to Alan Munro, Stevenston , who said: “I was at Rugby Park on Saturday and we are now down to a hard core of 3000 supporters. It doesn’t matter how many fans sing Michael Johnston out, he’s so thick-skinned nothing penetrates.”

Motherwell punters are even less impressed with their team.

Kenny Rae, Wishaw , said: “I don’t know what’s happening at Fir Park. There’s a malaise through the whole club and it may show that so-called fan ownership doesn’t work.

“The amount of players we bring into Scottish football who are coming from a very low level of English football is unbelievable and it’s stopping young Scots guys from getting a chance.

“Motherwell have just signed a boy from Forest Green, a 26-year-old who’s never made it at a level that’s probably on a par with junior football.

“What is Scottish football coming to when our so-called top clubs are picking from such a low level at the expense of a youth team that’s getting plaudits?”

James Robertson, Dennistoun , said: “How much of a fraud and a dud do you have to be before football fans say enough’s enough?

“Take Mark McGhee. Leading 1-0 at Ibrox with six minutes to go the guy didn’t have enough tactical nous to ride it out and they lose the game to go out the Scottish Cup.

“A week later against the same opponents, Rangers get a guy sent off after four minutes and he still can’t get a win. The guy is hopeless.”

Rangers fans aren’t getting carried away with those back-to-back wins over Well either.

Drew Feguson, Oban , said: “At last Rangers have a potential game changer in Emerson Hyndman as after only a couple of games showed the creativity to open up packed defences.

“However Rangers need to get guys like this on long term contracts and build for the future not short term loan deals. Dave King will need to dig deep in the summer because the Rangers fans will not tolerate second best for too long.”

Jackie Stewart, Ardrishaig , said: “I stayed outside Argyll House at Ibrox and listened to Dave King’s promise to invest his children’s inheritance (£30 million) in Rangers.

“He has done nothing to convince me he will. He has no credibility and his integrity is seriously in doubt. If he is not prepared to honour his statement then sell the club to people who would be prepared to invest real money.

“We need a hands-on chairman, not someone living at the other end of the world.”

Gordon Hendry, Ochiltree, Ayrshire , said: “A well earned victory at Motherwell almost had the shine taken of it by another dreadful display by Rob Kiernan, who almost sold the jerseys with a challenge which should have resulted in a red card.

“Why does our manager not see what the rest of us are seeing week in week out in relation to this defender?

“It’s so frustrating for Rangers fans like myself not to see a decent central defender coming in during the January transfer window.”