THEY say you can run but you can’t hide. But when you can’t run there’s not much chance you can hide either.
Having dodged the Hotline bullet for a few days, Scotland’s fiercest phone-in finally caught up with yours truly – and dished out an hour-long rammy of fixture chaos and Old Firm point scoring.
Ian Ramsay, Auchtermuchty, said: “Hearts have no Saturday games, no 3pm matches, we go to Aberdeen on a Friday night and the game with Hibs is on a Wednesday night. It just looks like the SPFL and TV companies don’t give the fans a second’s thought.”
Ian McDonald, Innerleithen, said: “Another shambolic effort by the clowns who run Scottish football. Hearts go to Ibrox for a third time and don’t have another Saturday game this season plus there’s a midweek Edinburgh derby.”
Jim McClean, Rothesay, said: “The SPFL are a joke. Once again Killie are handed only two home games. It’s all geared to suit Rangers and Celtic. What would have happened if it had been a Rangers and Celtic cup final? Would they cancel it?
“It wouldn’t surprise me if Steve Clarke went back to England and I wouldn’t blame him when he sees how the SPFL work.” Denis Bruce, Bishopbriggs, said: “What on earth will those responsible for the split fixtures do if Hibs beat Celtic in the first game after the split? Then the league decider will be the Old Firm game.” Douglas Dixon, Maryhill, said: “The Old Firm game should have been in midweek. There’s less chance of trouble as most people are working. “It now means Rangers have to travel to Aberdeen on a Tuesday night. The authorities are clueless.” Pat Thompson, Parkhead, said: “If Celtic beat Hibs will Rangers players give them the guard of honour at Celtic Park the following week? If they do I’ll eat my hat.”
Steve McSherry, Uddingston, said: “Alfie Mullen doesn’t normally have anything sensible to say but he made a good point in the Hotline pointing out the fines dished to Celtic for fans behaviour.
“Both sets of fans have let their clubs down in the past so no one can claim moral high ground here.”
Candy Copeland, Ayr, said: “Alfie says Rangers incited the crowd in 1999 but the huddle was after the game, long after Hugh Dallas had been struck by a coin. Leigh Griffiths tied a Celtic scarf at Ibrox, is that not incitement?”
John Rigby, Pollok, said: “The callers bringing up Celtic fans’ behaviour have a cheek. Rangers fans have been responsible for the biggest incidents in Scottish football. They caused a riot after the League Cup Final in 1965 when Celtic won 2-1 then invaded the park to cause the problems at the 1980 Scottish Cup Final.
“Both times Celtic fans were on the pitch celebrating and Rangers fans ran on to have a go at them.”
Ray Carmichael, Glasgow, said: “The criticism of Rangers has been way over the top. Where would Celtic be if they went bankrupt, got sent to the bottom division and lost all their best players?”
Alexander Ure, Knightswood, said: “I’m fed up with the likes of David Weir and Ally McCoist slagging off Dave King. They never said anything when they were at the club and left with big pay cheques. “I have faith in King, he will get it right.”
William Hillis, Erskine, said: “Packie Bonner was talking about Moussa Dembele emulating some of the Celtic legends like Charlie Nicholas but forgot to mention Brian McClair. He was top scorer for four seasons in a row while Nicholas left after a couple of years to chase the money.”