COULD a new song enter Scottish football fans’ repertoire of inflammatory chants following the Premier Sports Cup final between Celtic and Rangers at Hampden tomorrow afternoon?
Is this a devilish ditty which might soon be receiving an airing at grounds around the country?
“You’re simply the second best.
“Better than almost all the rest.
“Better than nearly anyone.
“Anyone bar one I’ve ever met.”
Rangers followers are not likely to amend the lyrics to the Tiny Turner anthem which is blasted out over the public address system at Ibrox when their heroes emerge from the tunnel prior to kick-off if they lose this weekend.
However, their Celtic counterparts may very well goad them with a full-throated rendition of the revised rock classic when they return to William Hill Premiership action against Dundee United at Tannadice a week tomorrow should the Parkhead outfit, as is widely expected, prevail against their city rivals.
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Yet, if Philippe Clement’s men, who have enjoyed a distinct upturn in form in recent weeks and who drew with Spurs in the Europa League on Thursday night, defy pre-match predictions and overcome Brendan Rodgers’ highly-fancied charges then their supporters may well be keen to adopt it in an attempt to ram it right up “them”.
Every match between the Glasgow behemoths, even a dead rubber after the league has been won, is of massive importance to their legions of fans. The outcome of a cup final is especially significant. There are, though, bragging rights on steroids up for grabs in this encounter.
Celtic and Rangers have currently won exactly the same number of trophies – 118. So whoever comes out on top at Hampden tomorrow will be able to say, without fear of contradiction, they are superior and lord it over the other lot. And, boy, will they lord it.
There is an awful lot on the line for Blue Noses in particular. They pride themselves on being “The World’s Most Successful Club” even though that has long been a spurious claim. Al Ahly diehards certainly take issue with it.
But that has not deterred those who view the world through light blue tinted spectacles from making their proud boast. Al Ahwho? They can shove their seven Sultan Hussein Cups up their a***!
They have argued in the past, with some justification, that their 55 national titles sets them apart. But Linfield in Northern Ireland won the Irish League Championship for the 56th occasion two years ago. Could another “record” accomplishment go this weekend?
The interminable debate about whether Rangers are the same club which was founded in 1872 or a new entity which was formed in 2012 (and please see the comments below the online version of this article for a full and frank exchange of views from readers of Scotland’s quality broadsheet on this important subject) is beyond wearisome.
No consensus on the infernal topic has ever been reached despite the hours which otherwise intelligent people on both sides of the divide devote to it. And it never will be. Ever. But the crowing about and chicanery over how many trophies they have won might be even more unbearable in the days/weeks/months/years ahead.
Will the owners of Rangers pubs with signs which declare their exalted status in the global game choose to alter them accordingly if they lose? No, not a chance. Will Celtic fans who need to seriously re-evaluate their lives rock up with pots of paint and ladders in the dead of the night and do it for them? Yes, yes they will.
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Could Advertising Standards Authority employees be inundated with complaints from hysterical Hoops sorts in the days to come if it is Callum McGregor not James Tavernier who gets his hands on the first silverware of the season tomorrow night? They should set their email accounts to out of office replies right now.
But if Rangers, who have won the Premiership just once since their financial implosion and have seen their age-old adversaries come from some distance behind and match their impressive haul in that time, triumph and edge ahead once again then their fans’ one-upmanship will know no bounds. Hopes the BlueSky social media platform will be a less toxic environment than X may prove short-lived.
This infantile squabbling will not end any time soon either. It has been going on for over a century so why should it stop now? Celtic are currently nine points clear in the top flight and look certainties to finish first. If they do lift title 55 come May then Rangers supporters should seriously consider emigrating to Egypt.
