Martin O'Neill will force Rangers and Hearts into a living nightmare as the Hotline hears wild Celtic predictions after the veteran boss agreed to remain in charge at Celtic for at least another year. Celtic fans on the Hotline couldn't be happier.
O'Neill's Return Sparks Joy and Fear
There was a Scotsman, Englishman and Irishman theme to the Hotline after the weekend, but nobody was joking. Scotland fans are serious about the nation's chances of making World Cup history after a 4-0 friendly thumping of Bolivia, and even Steve Clarke was coming in for praise. England's 1-0 warm-up win over New Zealand had punters less enthusiastic over the Three Lions' chances of delivering in North America though. Much closer to home, it was Martin O'Neill who had callers falling over themselves to get involved in the conversation after the 74-year-old Hoops saviour agreed to remain in charge.
Celtic Fans Ecstatic
Seamie Gallagher, Govan, said: 'What delightful news for Celtic that a serial winner in Martin O'Neill is staying, albeit a hammer blow to Hearts and Rangers. There will be no points dropped like with Wilfried Nancy last season, so there will be no helicopters needed this time round. It's fantastic to be a Celtic fan. Who needs the World Cup?!'
Peter Lyons, Blantyre, added: 'Oh, how we can smell the fear from callers Flett, Gowers, et al. Saint Martin will be in charge of the most successful team in Scotland for next season. And Danny Rohl will be schooled again by the master.'
Scotland's World Cup Hopes
Over the pond, first-half goals from Lawrence Shankland, Scott McTominay and Che Adams blew away the Bolivians and sent the Tartan Army into dreamland. Some of them anyway. Stuart McLeod, Stepps, said: 'That was an excellent first-half performance from Scotland. Obviously it was a friendly against limited opposition, however the 4-4-2 system allowed the strikers to drop and move, allowing us to get plenty width in the team. Our most successful league and international teams were built on this system, and it was really refreshing to not overthink how the opposition might set up and let them worry about us.'
Charles Maxwell emailed: 'Congratulations to Steve and the boys. It's always good to see a Scotland victory, but let's not get carried away about what was a Bolivian powder puff performance. The real stuff starts next week.'
But Danny Gallagher emailed: 'I find it hard to understand the euphoria over the prospect of Scotland making history by qualifying from their group with 32/48 teams qualifying. It will never be so easy. The team was piped away at the airport - they should be chased if they fail.'
Davy Matson added: 'It was a game of two halves. Why can't Clarke let his team play football instead of his negative tactics?'
England's Lacklustre Win
England's record goalscorer Harry Kane netted the only goal of the game as Thomas Tuchel's side ended their preparations with a 1-0 win over the Kiwis, the lowest-ranked team heading to the World Cup. Davie Wilson, Glasgow, said: 'Where would England be without Kane? They should be wrapping him in cotton wool. That was insipid stuff and they'll need to be much better if they're to stand any chance of getting to the latter stages.'
Hearts' Title Agony
Hearts hero Craig Gordon broke his silence on the Jambos' title agony at the weekend when he spoke of the 'anger, the disappointment, the injustice' of seeing Celtic overtake them in the final minutes of the season. Peter Cooperwhite emailed: 'Yeah, Craig Gordon called it out right, an ex-player as well. Injustice, that's true Craig, it happens when you're outside the Parkhead dome. When you were there things were the same for us all outside the dome. This season isn't a one-off but don't see it changing. Hope is a great thing we all look for.'
Meanwhile, Scott McAdam, Glasgow, said: 'I would like to know who are all the armchair Rangers fans from London who like to throw their tuppence worth in when they're winning but don't even know where Ibrox is or simply just sit in London when we champions Celtic hoover up the trophies. There's nothing worse than part-time armchair fans. At least up here they walk away the Rangers way.'
