Premiership football returns with a bang as Celtic and Aberdeen put their 100 per cent records on the line at Parkhead.It’s been a perfect 13 wins from 13 outings for Jimmy Thelin’s side in all competitions so far – but is the red revolution for real or is it just another false Don in the north east?
We could get the answer this afternoon as the Pittodrie men go head-to-head with the champions for the first time this season. Celtic look set to welcome Cameron Carter-Vickers back from injury while Aberdeen are at full strength. And Robert McEwan, Mount Vernon, said: “I hope Celtic go out and replicate the same score from this day in 1957 – it is the anniversary of the 7-1 beating of Rangers. This should be a cracking game between the top two teams in league.”
Stephen Mulhern, Dumbarton, said: “I’m hoping Brendan Rodgers isn’t tempted to hold Carter-Vickers back for the Atalanta Champions League game as he’s the glue that holds out defence together. Realistically we will get nothing on our trip abroad and retaining the title should always be our priority.”
Meanwhile, Gordon Ashley, Ayr, claimed: Aberdeen fans are forgetting one major thing in their overconfidence in challenging for the title, they will not pick up the guaranteed 15-20 extra points that Rangers were afforded in previous title challenges due to interesting VAR decisions. If they don’t get at least a draw on Saturday the league and treble is heading to Parkhead.”
But Dons fan James Masson emailed: “This Aberdeen side carry a huge threat going forward, imagine if we still had Bojan Miovski leading the line! But I’m still confident Kevin Nisbet will do the business, he always liked a goal in Glasgow against the Old Firm with Hibs. Win today and the title challenge is real.”
Off the pitch things have been heating up too. But not in a positive way. Celtic and Rangers fans have landed their clubs in the dock with UEFA over the repeated use of flares and fireworks inside grounds in their Euro games this season. It’s a growing menace on our terraces and not just at the Old Firm clubs.
But Robert Burns emailed: “Pyro is merely a passing phase at football grounds. Once alcohol is reinstated, the suffering fans can get blootered to dull the pain of the mince unfolding before their eyes on the pitch.”
Hibs entered six more legends in the hall of fame this week and our own columnist Tam McManus urged the current squad to take inspiration from seeing the likes of modern day icons Paul Hanlon and Lewis Stevenson honoured. Neil Renton, Leith, said: “Tam McManus shouldn’t be too disheartened by the fact he’s not in the Hibs Hall Of Fame. At least he had a bit of success at Easter Road. The way the current lot are going they’ll soon be on a Hall Of Shame.”
Finally, as another international window shuts without a win for Scotland, John Scott, Grassmoor, reckons we should look to Scandinavia for clues in how to improve the talent at our disposal. He said: “Iceland’s relative success has been built on massive investment in infrastructure across the island. Their kids can now play in huge indoor facilities throughout the year and you won’t hear them whinging about plastic pitches holding them back. How about we try investing in our young, working class boys who have been priced out of the game for decades now. With the average cost of a junior shirt from your favourite team now being £50, what chance have they got of their hard pressed parents affording boots, kit and subscriptions so they can play with their local boys clubs. As they say, sometimes people can’t see the forest for the trees but obviously Iceland have a lot fewer trees than Scotland.”