Tam McManus has written off Celtic’s title chances after their latest setback, but his argument hinges on a standard he does not apply anywhere else in the Premiership race.
McManus delivered a blunt assessment of Celtic’s current level, questioning both their performances and their ability to stay in the title fight.
He framed the situation as one where Celtic are falling away, placing emphasis on their recent displays and the pressure building around the team.
But the logic behind his verdict quickly begins to unravel when the same conditions Celtic are being held to are applied across the rest of the title contenders in Hearts and Rangers.
Will we hunt Hearts down and win the title?
Celtic criticism ignores the same pressure on Rangers and Hearts
McManus’ argument is clear, Celtic must be perfect to win the title and are not capable of doing so. But he strangely does not apply that same logic to Hearts and Rangers.
Speaking on the PLZ Football Podcast, McManus said: “Yeah, I had a few friends at the [Celtic vs St Mirren] game as well and they said Celtic were really, really poor on the day. I think Celtic are hanging on by a thread at the minute. I just think that they are one bad result away from being actually out it.
“I think Rangers and Hearts have got a wee bit of a cushion over them. I think Rangers with the goal difference now are essentially three points ahead of Celtic, and Hearts are three points ahead of Celtic. So Celtic are going to have to win five games to win the league for me.
“I’m looking at that team at the minute, the way they are playing, the forward areas. I don’t think Celtic are capable of winning five games. I really don’t.”
What is missing is any acknowledgement that McManus does not apply that same standard to Rangers or Hearts.
If five wins are required, then that standard applies across the board, not selectively to one team.
Dismissing Celtic on that basis while assuming consistency elsewhere creates a gap between opinion and the reality of the title race.
Scottish Premiership table shows Celtic still firmly in the fight
The tight Premiership table does not support the idea of a side clinging on at the edge of the race.
The margins remain narrow, with Celtic still within reach of both Rangers and Hearts.
There is no dominant team pulling clear, and no evidence of one side building the kind of run required to settle the title early.
Celtic’s level can be questioned, but it cannot be isolated from the wider picture. Every contender is operating within the same margins, and every contender faces the same requirement to deliver results over the closing fixtures.
Framing the race as if Celtic alone must find another gear ignores what the table is actually showing.
It is not a case of one team hanging on, it is a case of three teams yet to take charge as the title race draws to a close.
Celtic have been criticised, and rightly so, but the reality is that the same questions apply to every side still in the race.
Until one of them answers those questions consistently, the title remains open.
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