Staunch Rangers duo spark Celtic fan fury on Hotline as title accusation turned on its head
The Rangers faithful reckon they are looking at a brighter future - but the Celtic support aren't ready to forget the Ibrox club's recent past.
Monday's caller John Stewart took aim at the Parkhead club as he accused them of winning a series of 'tainted titles'.
Predictably, a few of folk didn't quite agree with that statement.
First up was Glen Mitchell, who said: 'John Stewart mentions Celtic winning tainted titles, which they never were. He must have forgotten about his old club's tainted titles in the EBT years. Now they really were tainted.'
William Hutchison, Aberdeen, added: 'What on earth is yesterday's caller on about claiming all the titles Celtic have won since 2012 are tainted?
'There was only one which went to a vote and that was during lockdown. The rest were won fair and square.
'And don't give me the line about them not counting because Rangers weren't in the Premiership for four of those years. If the other teams had won the league, would you say they were tainted too? I doubt it.'
Gordon Ashley, Ayr, called to say: 'John Stewart and George Wilson talk about Celtic being arrogant and winning tainted titles!
'Rangers cheated their way to multiple trophies using money they never had and dodgy tax schemes that denied clubs like Ayr United and Falkirk trophies that are rightfully theirs. One day those trophies will be rescinded.'
David Oliver, Hawick, said: 'I can't believe come of the Rangers comments. Alan Flett says they are 'back to where we belong'.
'They've only been in existence since 2012 and were never there in the first place.
'John Stewart mentions tainted titles. He must be forgetting about a previous club in the 90s who had nine tainted titles.
'And as for Celtic having it their own way, the treble success started after Rangers returned to the top league. Green eyes, blue noses spring to mind.'
Russell Martin looks to have leapt to the front of the race to land the Ibrox manager's gig.
But Eddie Easson, Fife, said: 'So serial winner Russell Martin is the new favourite. Sporting Director Keith Thelwell is the expert picking him. Notably his former club Everton didn't fight to keep him.'
But Rangers fan Alec Morrison, Edinburgh, hit back on behalf of the blue half of Glasgow, saying: 'Got to laugh at they Bhoys. They started off years ahead, then miles ahead and are now only streets ahead of Rangers.
'They are starting to panic. If we can bring in a goalie, centre-back, right-back and a No10, then they are there for the taking.
'Celtic beat us once in the league in four games last season. We know that £20million isn't a lot - they spent that on Adam Idah and Arne Pengels. We spent £3million on Nico Raskin and Hamza Igamane, I know what two I'd prefer.'
John Alexander, Glasgow, said: 'I see Keith Jackson is still blaming Craig Whyte and giving David Murray a free ride for Rangers' demise in 2011.
'Whyte was no more than a useful idiot for Murray, who has never been brought to account for his role in bringing a Scottish institution to its knees.'
Neil Renton, Leith, called to discuss former Hibs boss Nick Montgomery's claims that dodgy VAR decisions played a part in his Easter Road exit, saying: 'Montgomery is right - Hibs are the most hard done team when it comes to VAR decisions going against them. If we were treated as fairly as everyone else then we'd be challenging for second place.'
Stephen Mulhern, Dumbarton, also wanted to talk about one of this season's top Leith performers.
The Hoops fan said: 'It's common knowledge that Celtic's Achilles heal last season was any high ball launched into the penalty area.
'With Brendan Rodgers still undecided over who should partner Cameron Carter-Vickers, I'd like to see him take a punt on Hibs no-nonsense centre back Rocky Bushiri, who is out of contract this summer.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Glasgow Times
24 minutes ago
- Glasgow Times
How Johannes Edvaldsson made Celtic history and led a foreign invasion
Dan Lavery (Australia), Joe Kennaway (Canada), Bent Martin and Lief Nielsen (both Denmark), Mohammed Salim (India) Ronaldo Ugolini (Italy), Gil Heron (Jamaica), Konrad Kapler (Poland) and August Julius Hjulin and John Donoghue (both the United States) had all spent time on the Parkhead club's books prior to him joining. So Edvaldsson, the Icelandic internationalist who spent five memorable seasons in a green and white hooped jersey during the 1970s, was by no means a trailblazer for foreign imports. Yet, did the impact which Edvaldsson, who quickly endeared himself to the Celtic support as a result of his wholehearted and highly effective performances in a variety of outfield positions and who was soon affectionately nicknamed Shuggie, pave the way for other overseas players? Andy Lynch, who was involved alongside the defender cum midfielder in some of the most momentous victories in the Glasgow giants' long and storied history during that era, is convinced the success which his old team mate enjoyed on these shores led to the foreign invasion which followed his departure. Read more: The Celtic side which has taken to the field in the past season has comprised of young men who come from Denmark, Canada, Finland, South Korea, the United States, Japan, Ghana, Belgium, Germany, Portugal and Poland. But the football landscape on these shores was entirely different 50 years ago. 'It was a bit of a novelty for us to have an Icelandic player coming in,' said Lynch. 'I think Johannes was the first foreign player we had played with. It was a very unusual at that time. But looking back I think that was maybe the beginning of more outsiders coming in to the Scottish games, of more foreign players coming in.' Sean Fallon, the Celtic assistant manager who was put in charge of the first team in 1975 while manager Jock Stein was recovering from the injuries which he had sustained in a near fatal car crash, was tipped off about Edvaldsson by Joe Gilroy. Gilroy, the former Clyde, Dundee and Fulham striker, was the head coach at Valur in Iceland at the time, had seen the player in action in an international match and had been highly impressed. The 6ft 3in utility man, who had previously been rejected by Dundee United before following a trial at Tannadice, joined a pre-season tour of the Republic of Ireland that summer and was offered a contract after scoring the winning and only goal in a friendly against a Derby County side packed with England internationalists on his Parkhead debut. (Image: SNS Group) 'He adapted to Scottish football very well,' said Lynch. 'He was best at centre-half, but he could play in other positions. He was a useful player. He was good at corner-kicks and free-kicks and could score goals. He was a good man to have on your team. He was a good lad, too. He enjoyed life. 'He liked a pint after the game, liked to let his hair down a wee bit. We used to go out for a pint in town after a home game, but it would always be quiet. But Shuggie would always want to go out and party. There was no stopping him. He would say, 'I played my game, now it's time to relax'. He was a funny big guy. 'He formed a good central defensive partnership with Roddie MacDonald. Roddie was a quiet lad from the north of Scotland, Johannes was far more outgoing. But they really hit it off. Opposites attract I suppose. They were good at their job, were a real handful for opposition players. They would just kick them for 90 minutes.' Lynch is perhaps best remembered by Celtic fans for scoring the winner against Rangers in the Scottish Cup final at Hampden in 1977. The left-back converted a first half penalty, his first of his professional career and the first of many, after Derek Johnstone had handled the ball on the line. He is reminded about the moment to this day. However, that was arguably Edvaldsson's finest hour-and-a-half as a Parkhead player. He was drafted into the starting line-up in midfield after Ronnie Glavin was ruled out by an injury he had picked up on Scotland duty and performed brilliantly. He always seemed to rise to the occasion in Old Firm derbies. Read more: 'That was a very tetchy game,' said Lynch. 'But I think we deserved to win. It was a big thing for the club, beating our greatest rivals to complete a league and cup double. Shuggie had a very good game that day despite being played out of position. 'Pat [Stanton] slotted in behind Roddie and Johannes and that meant Danny [McGrain] and I were able to attack down the flanks. We were forced into it because of Ronnie not being available, but it actually made us stronger. Our defence was able to cope with Rangers' long ball game.' Both men were in the Celtic side two years later when they came from behind to beat leaders Rangers 4-2 in their final Premier Division game at Parkhead and clinch a famous Scottish title triumph despite Johnny Doyle being sent off – a victory which has since become known as 'When 10 Men Won The League'. 'That's probably the biggest game I was ever involved in,' said Lynch. 'It was incredible night. The official attendance given was 52,000, but there were far more people than that there. When Johnny got sent off with Rangers leading 1-0 and we went down to 10 men. I thought, 'That's us done'. But we came back to win. Johannes played his part that night too.' (Image: SNS GROUP) Edvaldsson moved on the following year and played for the Tulsa Roughnecks in the United States and Hannover 96 in Germany before returning to Scotland and spending two seasons with Motherwell. He moved into the hospitality industry when he retired from football and ran a pub in Glasgow as well as a hotel in Poolewe in the Highlands. 'He opened a pub in Bridgeton Cross after he left the club and I popped in to see him shortly afterwards,' said Lynch. 'I said, 'Johannes, this area is a real Rangers stronghold, it's not a Celtic area!' He said, 'Oh no! They told me they'd love to have me here!' He picked the wrong spot. But that was the sort of guy he was, he would just go for it.' The 34-times capped player certainly had, after stints with Valur in his homeland, Cape Town City in South Africa, Metz in France and Holbaek in Denmark, no qualms about moving to this country to further his career. His old captain is adamant that, despite the overseas players who had plied their trade here before him, he had a seismic impact on Scottish football. 'I definitely think Johannes was the start of the influx of foreign players,' he said. 'He had a good attitude, he adapted to the game and to the lifestyle here well, he was popular with his fellow players and the fans. Yes, more foreign players coming over would have happened at some point. But if he hadn't been able to do the business then clubs would have been put off. 'I think foreign players are good for the Scottish game. I know people get upset at the lack of Scottish players coming through and I understand why, but I do I think they're good for the game. Look at all the brilliant players we've had over the years. They give the fans a bit of colour and excitement. Johannes certainly did when he was at Celtic.'
Scotsman
31 minutes ago
- Scotsman
It's becoming obvious how little Reform understands Scotland
Reform UK has suggested the Barnett Formula and block funding grant from Westminster should go to be replaced with more tax powers for the Scottish Parliament We'll know early tomorrow morning who has won the Hamilton by-election, but during the campaign we have learned a lot more about Reform in Scotland, and it's becoming more obvious how little its leadership understands Scotland. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Even with defecting opportunist councillors hoping to win a seat in the Scottish Parliament – the latest jumping from Labour – it looks like we'll have to wait for anything resembling a coherent plan, and First Minister John Swinney's so-called special summit just gave them a credibility they didn't deserve. The only party benefitting from the rise of Reform is the SNP and in their usual haste to virtue signal, Labour and the Lib Dems were suckered into trooping along for what was just a promotional vehicle for John Swinney. That being said, the Reform attack on Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar was unwarranted, and no one who knows him thinks his main goal is to increase Muslim influence. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad But it was Nigel Farage's declaration that the Barnett Formula should go, and with it the block grant from Westminster, made up by devolving more taxation powers to Holyrood, which really exposed how little he understands, or cares, about Scotland. The Barnett Formula is not some financial sleight of hand designed to rip off English taxpayers, but a means to ensure the distinct needs of country in which a tenth of the UK population scattered across a third of the landmass are properly met. Scrapping the formula is not the same as arguing for more efficient spending, and there is no shortage of examples of how the SNP squanders public money, the botched ferries being symbolic. But whoever told Nigel Farage that telling Scottish people they should receive less money was a vote winner needs to be kept away from sharp implements. And his suggestion that Holyrood's taxraising powers should be increased could only come from someone who has not studied what has happened with the extensive powers devolved after the 2014 referendum. Maybe more financial power could be contemplated if it meant lower taxes, but the chances of that happening are slim to non-existent, certainly not from Reform which says it supports higher welfare spending. Reducing personal taxation through more efficient services and the use of artificial intelligence, freeing up resources for infrastructure investment, and cutting the burden on businesses are all goals which plenty of people would agree with, but the back-of-Nigel's-fag-packet Reform approach would be disastrous for us all. What has been confirmed in the space of only a few days is that Reform is not really about reform at all, but con artists telling people what they want to hear; increase benefits but cut tax, give Holyrood more power but slash its budget. Get Royal Marines to stop the boats? What, by opening fire? It's all hokum designed to fool, and like a fairground charlatan, Nigel Farage doesn't care. The 'plague on all your houses' motivation for voting Reform is all very well, but like Labour's do-good MPs voting for Jeremy Corbyn to create a contest they thought he had no chance of winning, people need to be very careful what they wish for. The last thing those voting Reform want is an SNP victory, but I strongly suspect when the good folk of Hamilton wake up tomorrow that's what they'll get. Sue Webber is a Scottish Conservative MSP for Lothian
Scotsman
32 minutes ago
- Scotsman
Sheriffhall junction upgrade no further forward
An artist's impression of the proposed Sheriffhall roundabout flyover It's only seven years since the Edinburgh City Region deal was signed, with the support of all the local authorities and both the Scottish and UK governments. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Now worth £1.6 billion, the agreement should accelerate economic growth and prosperity, and one element was upgrading the Sheriffhall junction on the City Bypass, with long jams now virtually round the clock. Designs for a much-needed flyover are available, funding was in place, but in seven years we are no further forward, because both the Scottish Government and Edinburgh City Council are in such a thrall to the Green Party's anti-car agenda. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad A review of the project was ordered in 2020, when Edinburgh's SNP-Labour administration was drunk with power during lockdown, blocking streets and narrowing roads in a hidden agenda to make driving as difficult as possible. Having already accepted the need for the improvement in the City Deal, the SNP Scottish Government then bent to the Green Party's will by agreeing to a public inquiry in 2023. The resulting report was delivered to SNP minsters a year ago and since then, nothing. Except we now know some £6.4 million has been spent on consultants to produce designs. My colleague Miles Briggs has launched an online petition for work to start without further delay, and I hope it persuades transport secretary Fiona Hyslop to get a move on. She's only got a year left in Holyrood, so it would be a nice way to sign off by delivering something of genuine benefit to the Lothians. Sue Webber is a Scottish Conservative MSP for Lothian
