Tony Bloom talked the talk at the start of the season, and now Hearts are causing chaos on the field of play.
Even before a ball was kicked, Celtic had off-field issues, but now the fact that the champions of Scotland are eight points behind leaders Hearts, it has made things rather interesting.
Some sections of the Celtic support feel it’s still early days, and when the pressure hits the fan, that’s when the Hoops will stand up, but others have gone completely the other way and think it’s game over already.
But how have the English media viewed matters in Scotland? Because somebody, outside of Glasgow, challenging Celtic for the title, isn’t the norm.
‘Statement’ win for Hearts and Tony Bloom threat to Celtic
Understandably so, Hearts’ new investor Bloom has got a mention from the English press, and some think this win for the Jambos is. ‘wake-up call’ for Celtic.
Brighton are one of the clubs Bloom owns, and a media outlet related to the Seagulls thinks the ‘sceptics’ will now think differently about how he goes about things.
The Argus, which is a newspaper on the south coast, covers Brighton and Hove Albion. They, unsurprisingly, went with the Bloom angle.
‘Hearts win over Celtic marks boost for Tony Bloom.’ The headline read.
Describing Hearts’ win over Celtic as a ‘statement’, it also added, ‘All eyes were on Derek McInnes’ Jambos to see if they could handle the growing expectations and pressure of having the opportunity to open up the type of lead never previously enjoyed by any side outside Glasgow during the past four decades of (Celtic and Rangers) dominance.’
The Guardian newspaper noted about Hearts’ chances of becoming champions of Scotland: ‘The supposedly impossible dream (is) edging ever closer to becoming a true reality.’
It also added ‘People assert Hearts will not and cannot be champions or even contenders, because of what record books show. Hard evidence on the football field suggests another narrative entirely.’
The Times also went along with the lines of it being a ‘statement’ win for Hearts, and how this was ‘another wake-up call’ for Celtic.
‘These are very early days in the Scottish season, and for all the noise created around them, they are not yet convincing as a team which will be first across the line. But enough about Celtic. What a statement this was from Hearts. Not that they will go on and win the league — not that, not yet — but an emphatic show of strength. If anyone doubted they are a force to be reckoned with, then this was another wake-up call,’ wrote The London-based newspaper.
We Are Brighton thinks Hearts, and Bloom’s other club, Royale Union Saint-Gilloise, are now showcasing their ‘power.’
They wrote: ‘(Hearts’ win over Celtic) should wake up the remaining sceptics to the transformational power of the Jamestown Analytics recruitment model developed by Brighton owner Tony Bloom.’
The last time Scottish teams won the Premiership title
Yes, there is a lack of togetherness at Celtic right now, but that shouldn’t hide behind how dominant they have been for nearly two decades.
Celtic have won 13 out of the last 14 titles, but this one is different from any of them before, and if Hearts are to do the unthinkable, then they will have to end a 65-year wait.
Years since Scottish teams won the Premiership title:
- Celtic: 0
- Rangers: 4
- Aberdeen: 40
- Dundee United: 42
- Kilmarnock: 60
- Dundee: 63
- Hearts: 65
- Hibernian: 73
- Motherwell: 93
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