Scotland's goalless draw in Slovenia under new manager Sebastien Pocognoli drew a mixed response from Hotline callers, with praise for the second-half display tempered by frustration at missed chances.
William Simpson was impressed with the improvement after the break. He said: "What a difference that Scotland performance was. Forget the first half, after the break you would have thought that it was a different team. Every one of them was worth five stars, and if they continue like that they could go far in the tournament. All credit must go to their new manager Sebastien Pocognoli - excellent."
McTominay absence noted
Stephen Mulhern, Dumbarton, pointed to the absence of Scott McTominay as a key factor. He said: "When you consider Scotland's only world-class star in Scott McTominay was unavailable, I believe that was a satisfactory point in Slovenia. Realistically speaking, Slovenia should have been out of sight before the half-time."
He added that Billy Gilmour changed the tempo in the second half, but criticised Oli McBurnie as "hardly an upgrade on Lyndon Dykes," and suggested Robbie Ure and Kieran Bowie should start against the Swiss.
Andrew Welsh, however, was less forgiving of some established players. He emailed: "Three players the new manager must see are not good enough. Goalkeeper Angus Gunn - sorry, but rotten. Andy Robertson is finished. Billy Gilmour thinks he is better than he is. Get a haircut and help you see a pass, hopeless."
Celtic criticism and contract questions
The Hotline then turned to Celtic, with Chris Sutton's recent column sparking debate. Donald Dundas, Uddingston, questioned Sutton's criticism of Cameron Carter-Vickers. He said: "May I just ask what right Chris Sutton has to condemn Cameron Carter-Vickers? Maybe it's true. Maybe the manager is sending out one message then changing it again and again which would lead to confusion on the field of play. Celtic were fairly beaten twice so Sutton is raging but would he change his mind if he was playing and got rattled twice? Remember this is the man who accused teams of laying down to Rangers through bitterness and anger. A player in the game knows when it's not going right... and yes, they can correct their own game but 11 players have to be on the same hymn sheet."
Jim McShane, New Hampshire, raised concerns about Martin O'Neill's role in recruitment. He said: "There are a few baffling and head-scratching scenarios coming out of Parkhead these days. First up: O'Neill mentioned a few days ago that he doesn't know what to expect from some of the new signings? This tells me that O'Neill is not part of the recruitment team in bringing players in? That in itself is disqualifying."
He also questioned the contract extensions for Luke McCowan and Liam Scales, and suggested O'Neill should retire. He said: "The other baffling thing is why were Luke McCowan and Liam Scales handed four-year contracts before we had any new players through the door? The bottom line for me is O'Neill needs to retire and go and enjoy himself as he fully deserves. We're all a bit worried about his health and the pressures of the job. Maloney and Company should be let go also…. The team are not getting even the basics right… schoolboy mistakes all over the park. Celtic needs a new approach."
Rangers title talk tempered
Despite Celtic being two points clear at the top, Hugh Keevins has suggested the title is heading to Ibrox. But Robert Livingstone, Palm Beach, was cautious. He said: "They say the older you get, the wiser you become, but I'm not sure about Celtic fan Hugh Keevins telling us Gers followers we're going to win the league in a canter. Every man and his dog knows it's a two-horse race right to the very end."
Jim Robertson, another Rangers fan, also warned against complacency. He said: "I think all of us are going a bit over the top re Rangers turning a corner. Yes, we played well in both games against Celtic, but it's only been in the space of one week. Let's see what happens after the international break in the next 3/4 games after it. As for Celtic…yes they aren't playing well and everyone has documented their failings but they may only be a wounded animal at the moment and could recover."
Stenhousemuir fairytale
The final word went to Stenhousemuir, who top the Championship under Marvin Bartley. Stephen Johnstone, Ardentinny, said: "Livingston must be wishing they never made Marvin Bartley reapply for his job. He is on the crest of a wave with Stenhousemuir, flying high in the second division. And can he do what Gretna nearly achieved and go all the way to the Premiership and win a major final, what a fairytale that would be to rewrite the history books."
