BT Sports pundit makes bizarre ‘competitive’ claim that wasn’t an issue in his playing days

Soccer Football - Champions League - Group F - Real Madrid v Celtic - Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain - November 2, 2022 Celtic players applaud fans after the match REUTERS/Susana Vera


I don’t think I am alone in this but I am getting sick and tired of this narrative being spouted by people in the media.

The amount of rubbish I have heard and read about people basically rubbishing Ange Postecoglou’s achievements as the Celtic manager because of ‘lack of competition’ in the league is both sinister and untrue.

Celtic are where they are because they have an excellent manager, great scouting system and players that, unlike other teams, they haven’t overpaid for and can actually afford.

The other issue I have with this narrative is that I don’t ever remember this being an issue in the nineties when Celtic were toiling and the other club were being bankrolled by other means to enable them to achieve their nine in a row.

It’s really bizarre. These people are meant to talk UP our game.

Why not celebrate the fact that we have a manager that has brought an exciting style of play to the league that is bringing with it extra media coverage and attention?

And the next person to jump on the no competition bandwagon? Ally McCoist.

As reported by the BBC, McCoist said, “I think he’s done well, I really do.

“I definitely think the gap has closed.”

“He’s only dropped two points; that’s excellent, absolutely excellent.

“You look around the rest of the country and although there’s some good football, generally speaking, other teams aren’t taking the points off the Old Firm as perhaps they once did.

“You do want to see a competitive league, and I know Celtic lost at St Mirren earlier on, but those results are very, very few and far between now.

“I actually don’t think it’s great for the league. I won’t say there are only four games that matter, but the O*d F*rm games have become so important.

“It used to be that games at Tynecastle, Easter Road, Pittodrie, Tannadice, Fir Park were very difficult, there were no guarantees. That’s changed a little bit.”

Very strange from McCoist. Like I said, he never once mentioned it when he was helping his team sweep all before him in his playing days.

Now? It seems to be an issue.

It’s a strawman argument. Why not address the real issue in the game? Clubs are not as well run or supported as ours.

And whilst people moan about budgets and finances, we have chairmen in our league actively engaging in financial suicide by denying Celtic supporters away tickets whilst their stadium sits half empty!

The media in this country really get on my nerves.

If you know your history: Martin O’Neill

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