As a Celtic fan who also watches Scotland, I get tired of listening to the slow drip of bias from the Scottish mainstream media. It’s like a slow-acting poison.
Earlier this year, just before the Euros, I read several pieces suggesting that Callum McGregor might have run his course as a Scotland international. It was subtle, but the implication was there: McGregor was considered the lesser player in the Scotland midfield. These same people reacted with shock and dismay when McGregor formally withdrew from playing for Scotland after the Euros.
We’ve talked frequently here about the BBC and have often criticized them for their pro-Ibrox leanings. The joke—although it isn’t really a joke—is that you only need to have done one thing to get a job in the BBC Scotland Sports Department: wear a blue jersey for one of the Ibrox clubs. If you’ve done that, you’re qualified to be on their shows and talk about football. As the saying goes, we laugh because it’s funny, and we mourn because it’s true. It is shocking how biased they are.
When I found out last night that the Scotland game was not going to be on the BBC, I was momentarily happy. Then I learned that Neil McCann was going to be in the commentary box, and I started making my mental checklist of who might be scapegoated if Scotland didn’t win. And of course, since he’s the only senior Celtic player in the squad, it was obvious that Tony Ralston was going to get it in the neck when he gave away the penalty kick. I didn’t think it was a penalty then, and I don’t think it was one now. McCann could not contain his enthusiasm for sticking in the knife.
Imagine his crushing disappointment when Ralston not only rallied but had an excellent second half. And then, late on, McTominay scored the equalizer. You could almost hear it in McCann’s voice—he had been criticizing Ralston’s every move until that moment. I’ll bet Hanley, whose error in judgment was far worse, won’t get half the stick from our press that Ralston will.
When it comes to Celtic players in the Scotland side, there is no benefit of the doubt, and there are no forgivable errors. The media loves a scapegoat after a night like that, and if that scapegoat wears our club’s strip, they couldn’t be happier.
Listening to people like McCann and anticipating the criticisms of others turns many of our fans off from watching the national team.
If this had been a BBC game with their usual cadre of ex-Ibrox professionals in the studio, I might not have watched it at all. They’d have spent all night waiting for Connor Barron to come on. It pisses you off when they heap praise on Billy Gilmour, mostly because he graduated from the Ibrox Youth Academy. I thought he had a decent game last night and scored a goal, performing much better than John McGinn, who has been dreadful for Scotland over the last year.
But they are insufferable. The pro-Ibrox bias from some of these people is unbearable. Their enthusiasm whenever a Celtic player makes a mistake is grating. It puts you off, and you have to remind yourself that these people don’t represent the country. They don’t speak for Scotland, and therefore you shouldn’t hold your country accountable for the nonsense that comes out of their mouths. But it makes it hard.
If McGregor was not appreciated by the Scottish sporting press, then it’s a blessing he’s no longer in the team. They simply don’t deserve him. They do not deserve to watch a player of that calibre trying to drag up the more mediocre elements of the team to meet his standards. The forward line, for example, is one of the weakest in the history of the Scottish national team, and they were awful last night, as they usually are. Once again, it came down to midfielders scoring goals, with McTominay getting another, which was tremendous. He is an absolute legend for the side at the moment, and you dread to think what would happen if he were not in the team.
When Ralston put that ball into the box and McTominay slotted it away for the equalizer, if you were watching and listening, you’d know that during the replay, rather than giving Ralston full credit, McCann started banging on about the positioning of Lawrence Shankland, who didn’t get near the ball, did nothing of any consequence after coming on, and barely got a touch in the opposition penalty area. This is the kind of stuff that these people do, and it drives you nuts.
I don’t want to be too harsh on Hanley because I’ve seen better defenders than him make that mistake at the end. But the fact that Hanley is even in the national team is a damning indictment of the standard of players we’re producing as a country right now, in certain key areas of the pitch. Now, the midfield, don’t get me wrong, is in pretty good shape even without McGregor. McGinn hasn’t been great lately, but he’s still a capable footballer. Gilmour, for all my criticisms and not always understanding the hype, has gone to a top European club. He and McTominay got the goals tonight, so it was a good night for the boys in Naples.
There are too many subpar players in the international side, especially among the forwards. And I’m beginning to think that the manager is subpar too. As a long-standing fan, I have to say that the Euro performance was indefensible, and he should have been relieved of his responsibilities right after the final game, with a thank you for his hard work and dedication. He should have been told, “Sorry, we need to go in a new direction,” and that should have been the focus in the weeks and months since then. We should have started to see the evolution of a new Scotland side last night.
But as usual, the SFA failed to show leadership, and we’re stuck watching the same old, decrepit, uninspiring football that once again fails to deliver a result. We’re dragging out a process that has only one direction and an inevitable final destination.
Whatever Neil McCann and others think or might want people to think, that is not the fault of Callum McGregor or Anthony Ralston. Scotland has much bigger issues than those guys. McCann and his bitterness are clearly not going to be part of the solution. They are what they have always been—parochial, small-minded, bitter little men; they are part of the problem.
Thought Scotland played Poland off the park and its basically naivety at the top level that cost them.
Im convinced McGregor was aware of the press dissin him and just decided “ f*#k it, I’m off”. Wouldn’t surprise me.
Who Tony that set up the 2nd goal!?
What about the pollution that is McClean (1st Poland goal) on Hanley the 3rd. And God forbid anyone blames McGinn also the 3rd and that imposter Gunn. What is that all about. Every scottish goalie in the SPL is better than that clown.
That’s why I don’t follow Scotland, I have a long memory when tommy Gemmell,jinky,big Billy etc. getting blood and the press saying nothing about it
Have you noticed that since McCann has had to pay back over £200 grand of iffy dough he received , every SMSM outlet has been at pains to employ him ..aiding him in his monetary hour of need ? The BBC -using our money – , SKY Sports and now ITV4 plus a whole load of digital platforms . He’s had so much work for being a ‘wrong yin ,’ that the 200 large must be well on the way to being repaid ? Where else other than Scotland , would this happen ? If you were the boss of a media company ,would you want to be associated with a common financial crook like McCann ,with the accompanying smell of corruption he brings ? You know what’s next don’t you ? He’ll be on Strictly ! The Waltzing wonder …or the cha- cha chappie .
The buns dont support scotland but by god do they love to stick the boot in when celtic player gets something wrong.
As long as celtic represent Scotland I’ll support the country ì was born in. Last night was Scotland at their best…incompetence in basic situations but Clarke seemingly can’t do wrong because he got us to 2 Euros.
As far as I’m concerned Scotland have achieved nothing and haven’t progressed in the slightest. He replaces idiots with idiots, keeps playing idiots abd expects a different result. It’s his job to develop the national team and introduce youth. If he still plays McLean, Hanley abd even Christie for that matter…don’t get me started on Gunn…then why’s he still the national coach. Welsh is better than all they clowns in defence that continously let us down. Surprised he never brought Armstrong on to save the day bit McCowan no where to be seen.
Total muppet!!!! HH
The Scotland game was a squirrel story to keep the SHENANIGANS going on at ibrox in the distance.
Sevco are onlyba couple of games away from total meltdown and that includes the manager and their money problems,the ball is almost burst over there.
As I have already said to you in a previous email is it not time to make the head of BBC SPORT in London aware of the inbuilt bias of BBC Scotlands sports department
I stopped going to internationals for many years after being in the Rangers end at Hampden one time and surrounded by a-holes who booed Peter Grant (loudly) when he was brought on as a substitute, and for the rest of the game. I only started going back years later when it was obvious that the demographic of the Scotland support had dramatically changed and there was – to coin a phrase – ‘no Huns at Hampden’. But a hyper-critical response to any of our players is making a comeback big style. Ralston isn’t that great a player but he doesn’t pick himself for the national team, so that’s on the manager, not the player. CalMac, like Broony before him, got it spot on – just get the 50 caps and get the hell out of there. It isn’t worth the grief.
The underlying issue with the Scotland team is all the talent is in two positions – left back and centre midfield – and Clarke can’t get any of them to adapt to other roles. The rest of the team is very much an undercard. It’s actually reminiscent of the imbalance of the Welsh team of the late 80s and early 90s who had Ian Rush, Mark Hughes and Dean Saunders up front and Southall in goal, but in between them were a cast of carthorse defenders and midfield cloggers from the Cardiff City, Swansea and Newport teams then hopelessly thrashing around the lower reaches of the football league. In some ways by getting to two consecutive European Championships Clarke has overachieved.
Some great points Captain. I was in the Celic End at a Scotland game, my mate shouted come on the Maestro and was spat at.
Best wee cuntry in the world
Off topic , just read an article on CQN by Paul67 omg what a clown .
Think I can just see his feet sticking out of Lawells ass.
It’s not Paul67’s feet.
It’s the feet of the last man in a whole line of ‘Happy Clappers’
trying find the shortest route to Pistol Pete’s ‘good books’
Pistol Pete aka Hugh J Anus.
McCann was not very complimentary to rangers last weekend because he didnt have his brethren around. Sutton would have clipped him around the lug.
Another ex ibrox cheerleader who i personally could not give a flying f**k about.
Pay your tax bill McCann. Not content at taking the money that eventually killed rangers he was at it again with his new company to avoid tax. The beeb are bad for that. HH
McCann is an anti Celtic disgrace, for a guy who grew up a Celtic fan it is disappointing that he can’t hide the Axse licking to his former masters at Ibrox, and his current masters at BBC Scotland.
I hate the guy being a pundit and have started turning the sound down whenever he is on, I would rather listen to Big Boyd as he a genuine big bluenose and doesn’t try to hide it.
McCann is just a bitter wee axse licking barsteward.
Recently I’ve had a feeling of dejavu to the pre millenium times when Celtic players took the brunt of any criticism when it came to the national team. I’m not surprised that CalMac retired from national duty, he was never appreciated by these anti Celtic clowns.
Correct, lf we want too win anything with they strikers we should enter the horse of the year show,
Correct, lf we want too win anything with they strikers we should enter the horse of the year show,
McCann is a dirty wee tax dodhing hun b******.When Hanley gave his penalty away he metioned Tony Ralston by name bur referred to Hanley as “he”
A dirty little scumbag.
On Football Focus last Saturday they had McCann on previewing the Glasgow Derby. He said Celtic had revoked the agreement to allow away fans.
He enjoys his soup, wee Neil
So he’s a Liar with a Liebrox connection then James.. Quelle surprise there then not !
I’d love to meet him in the street to remind him of his former love of the record holders of every record in Scottish Football = Celtic FC…
A strange wee git of a man that has tried to curry favour with a football club that’s as of today 12 years and 40 days old…
I think it’s common knowledge that Celtic were not the first love of Stein, Dalglish and McGrain amongst others but they still never stuck the boot into their first love (Rangers as they were known as then) the way he does about his first love – Celtic Football Club –
We are better off without him as a supporter and the truth is a significant amount of Sevco fans detest him as well thankfully !
I’m a proddy Celtic fan and the bias is not just anti Celtic,Scotland is institutionally anti Roman Catholic and I don’t see the bigotry,not just from rangers fans,ending anytime soon even though their ancestors in Scotland,before the reformation,were Roman Catholics and before jesus they were pagans.
No critisim of gilmour not being physically strong enough on losing possession on the first goal and if he is that good how come chelski and Brighton have let him leave