The fall-out from Scotland's 2-1 Nations League defeat to Slovenia continues to dominate the Sports Hotline, with Rangers winger Findlay Curtis at the centre of a row over a denied penalty appeal.
Regular caller Charles Maxwell had accused the youngster of diving in the area, prompting Robbie Wood to email in: "I had to laugh at Charles Maxwell's comment on Thursday 'That's the way they teach them at Ibrox'. As far as I am aware, neither Aiden McGeady nor Stiliyan Petrov were ever at Ibrox."
Curtis penalty controversy
An irate George Wilson, West Sussex, added: "What a disgusting comment from Charles Maxwell to say that Findlay Curtis dived deliberately because he was taught this by Rangers. It didn’t look great but any suggestion Rangers teach their players to deliberately dive is an appalling and inappropriate comment to make and suggests Mr Maxwell probably supports Celtic. If so, he should be more concerned that an ailing Martin O’Neill has decided to stay on at Celtic who now very clearly have a very poor defence and midfield and are in need of new management and guidance."
Celtic manager Martin O'Neill decided to remain in his post after contemplating his future during the international break and is determined to deliver more silverware at Parkhead come the end of the season.
O'Neill walking a tightrope
Denis Bruce, Bishopbriggs, feels the veteran is now under severe pressure to keep his job. He stated: "O'Neill has decided to continue as Celtic manager to see if he can make up for the three appalling results the team experienced before the international break. We should applaud his courage in doing so but there must be some misgivings on that matter."
"He must know that he is now walking a dangerous tightrope where a repeat of a similar series of results will lead to his downfall and departure from his post as those earlier three results have left him no more leeway for such mistakes. Certainly, the board did not make his job any easier with its transfer negligence but he will carry the can if results do not make a dramatic upturn to get the team back on track for a tilt at the remaining two titles."
Formation frustrations
Jim McShane argues O'Neill is suffering from the same problem that Scotland boss Sebastien Pocognoli is currently facing. He added: "It is clear to me that Martin O’Neill and Sebastien Pocognoli suffer from the same affliction….they don’t seem to know how to get the best out of the players they have at their disposal or what their best formation is."
"O’Neill has changed his formation 4 times since the start of this new season! What?! He goes from a 4-2-3-1 to 4-1-4-1, and then he plays Rangers twice…4-3-3 in the League Cup and then changes it to 3-4-2-1 in the league loss! What?! No wonder the players are running around with no clue about what their roles are. In my humble opinion; Scotland and Celtic should adopt a 4-4-2 formation…Bowie and somebody else up front for Scotland and Duran and somebody else up front for Celtic."
Celts return to action with a trip to Lanarkshire to face Motherwell on Sunday and Stephen Mulhern, Dumbarton, admits previous experiences in the away end at Fir Park are making him feel very nervous. He said: "I’m approaching travelling to Fir Park on Sunday with a degree of apprehension after Celtic's poor form. I have good and bad memories of attending matches at the venue starting with 1966 when Celtic won the league to go on to nine in a row then the helicopter Sunday debacle when Scott McDonald ensured the title ended up at Ibrox. Mika Baur's confidence will be sky high after making his international debut in midweek and he in particular owes Celtic fans a huge improvement after being posted missing in the horrific games against Rangers."
Robert McEwan, Mount Vernon, is a bit more optimistic, writing: "Thank god that the real football is back. Nobody in the West of Scotland cares a jot about international games. And as a celtic fan hopefully my team decide to turn up and play. In Martin we trust."
And finally, Gary Stevenson, Newtonhill, saw the funny side of last weekend's shocking events at Dunhill Links where majority Celtic shareholder Dermot Desmond was pelted with tennis balls by angry supporters while enjoying a round of golf. He said: "I just got a cracking deal on ebay. 200 tennis balls for £20 from a guy from Ireland."
