Rangers and Celtic fans are already counting down the days until the next derby showdown. But in the meantime supporters are counting titles.
The international break is usually a chance for the nation to park domestic rivalries and come together in roaring on Steve Clarke’s Scotland side.
Aye right. Old Firm fans rest for no one and in the absence of actual matches, it’s a numbers game that has raged on the Hotline after caller Scott Gowers said on Saturday: “Celtic have not taken anyone’s crown as being the world’s most successful club. Al-Ahly took that accolade when Rangers were coming back up the leagues and are clear of Celtic. The fact is Rangers were once the world’s most successful club something that Celtic may or may not take in the future but as things stand they are not and have never been the world’s most successful club.”
That sparked fury and Paul McArdle, Gourock, said: “Tell Scott Gowers Rangers were on 118 trophies and had walls painted at Ibrox claiming they were world’s most successful club yet now they talk about Al-Ahly. So they must have been lying for well over a decade!”
Peter Lyons, Blantyre, said: “Going by Scott Gowers thinking, Rangers will always hold the mantle of being the worst ever team in the Champions League. If it’s not trophies being debated, it’s money, with one caller writing off some of Celtic’s big names, past and present.
Gordon Ashley, Ayr, said: “Rangers fans can have their day in the sun embarrassingly over celebrating a dead rubber win against the champions.
“It won’t change the fact we have overtaken their claimed trophy haul that they were so proud of and made it out of the groups of a tournament they can’t even get into for the fourth time. Enjoy the Treble.”
But Scott McAdam, Glasgow, said: “So Alan Flett thinks Jota, Tierney and Kyogo are all duds. There was £60m made between the three of them.
“Tavernier, Dessers, Danilo? Queens Park wouldn’t even take them. Keep taking the tablets son.”
Speak of the devil, Alan Flett emailed: “What a laugh listening to Celtic fans and pundits saying how much they missed the great Callum McGregor on Sunday.
“In actual fact, it was Rangers who missed him. We would have won more convincingly had the great man been on the pitch. He keeps things simple, so they say. I couldn’t agree more! There is nothing more simple than doing nothing.”
It might be a week on, but Watergate is still dripping after Vaclav Cerny’s Celtic Park soaking.
John Scott, Grassmoor, said: “There’s a simple rule of thumb on players goading supporters when their team scores. If you won’t react like that in a pub full of opposition supporters then why do it on a football pitch? One thing for sure they wouldn’t have carried on like that in the 70’s and 80’s.”
It was Rangers fans in the dock with UEFA last week with the club issuing a scathing statement telling a section of supporters they won’t be welcome at Ibrox if they continue to cause embarrassment.
Thomas Mann emailed: “So the Rangers/Celtic ultras are throwing their toys out of the pram complaining of heavy handed policing.
“These are the same masked idiots who terrorised innocent women and children in Glasgow city centre last December with their threatening appearance and hooliganism.
“If they want to be treated as civilised human beings then act as such. Some people wonder why alcohol is not allowed at football matches. It’s not a class thing, it’s a bam thing.”