Over the past two decades, Scottish football has been entirely defined by an era of unrivalled Celtic dominance.
However, this campaign has completely flipped the script, and it has caught the attention of many footballing people across the world.
Celtic’s abject struggles, combined with the unexpected brilliance of Hearts, have set the stage for an incredibly rare three-way title race heading into the post-split fixtures.
But on the Let Me Be Frank podcast, Frank McAvennie was asked an interesting question regarding the coverage around Celtic this season, especially on Sky Sports and from their lead commentator, Ian Crocker.
- READ MORE: Celtic’s previous results against the five teams they will play in the SPFL post-split fixtures
Your first thought when you see the fixtures…
How many points will we pick up?
Frank McAvennie debunks claims of unfair coverage of Celtic games
It was related to Celtic’s win over Dundee on Sunday, and the tone in which Crocker was using and how, in general, ‘it would be good for Scottish football’ if the Hoops lose the title.
But McAvennie rightfully shut down that nonsense and put the facts on the table about how Celtic have been abject this season, and they can’t argue with anything.
Crocker has been fronting up Scottish football coverage for some time now, and he is a familiar voice to Celtic, Rangers and Hearts supporters, and others, whether they like him or not.
But Simon Houston suggested that Crocker ‘reflects the general feeling’ that ‘Scotland needs another champion.’
And it’s something McAvennie disagreed with, as he shared that the Sky commentator is a West Ham United fan, a club the former striker used to represent.
Simon Houston: “Quite a few Celtic supporters on social media are having a pop at Sky commentator Ian Crocker because he seemed to be buzzing with statistics about how bad Celtic had been.
“Then his tone really seemed to change when the Dundee boy got sent off.”
McAvennie: “I think that’s just you who says that.”
Houston: “I am reading social media. The reason I bring this up. Do you think Ian Crocker and people like Ian Crocker reflect the general feeling that Scotland needs another champion? Do you think neutrals want Celtic to lose the league?”
McAvennie: “It would be good for Scottish football as everyone keeps saying.”
Houston: “That’s the point I am making.”
McAvennie: “I can understand that. But let’s be honest. The football this season hasn’t been anywhere near good enough for Scottish football.
“So, people like Crocker have got to make it sound interesting. It’s interesting now because we have three teams going for the league.”
Houston: “When I went to study journalism many years ago. The definition of what makes a news story is ‘Man bites dog.’ That’s a news story, right?”
McAvennie: “Don’t let the truth get in the way of a good story. Is that another one?”
Houston: “Celtic have won 14 titles out of 15. Winning the league is ‘Dog bites man.’ Someone else winning the league is ‘Man bites dog.’
“I think guys like Crocker are trying to reflect this desire from everyone who isn’t a Celtic supporter for someone else to win the league.”
McAvennie: “He’s a West Ham supporter, so I am alright with him.”
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