Celtic win Scottish title, but is their dominance harmful?
Brendan Rodgers's side target an undefeated campaign, but critics say the Premiership is now a non-competition
Celtic won their sixth consecutive Scottish Premiership on Sunday, with eight games left to play.
A 5-0 win over Hearts at Tynecastle - their 28th win in 30 games this season – saw the Bhoys amass an unassailable 25 points over second-place Aberdeen, despite there being two months left in the season. They have dropped only four points since last August.
"So overwhelming has Celtic's domestic dominance been that [manager] Brendan Rodgers was almost blushing as he celebrated afterwards with his players," says Keith Jackson of the Daily Record.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"When Rodgers looks back on this astonishingly one-sided romp to the club's sixth successive league crown, he can afford to do so with a great deal of personal satisfaction. His first year at the helm – and the total transformation of a team that crawled across the line last May – has been a textbook lesson in the power of astute management."
The Celtic boss deserves great credit as his team aim to complete the season unbeaten, says Neil Cameron of The Herald.
"It has been easy for Celtic but nobody expected it would be this easy," he adds. "That both Hearts and Rangers have had average seasons did nothing for the competition; however, the reason why the leaders are so far ahead is because they have played some genuinely fantastic football."
No side has gone unbeaten in the Scottish top flight since 1899 and the lack of competition is becoming "harmful" to the game, says Ewan Murray in The Guardian.
Celtic must ensure they perform well against the best teams in Europe next season or their victory will only serve to illustrate how poor the Scottish league has become, he adds.
"There is now a contradiction within Celtic's position: to defend Scottish football so their results are commended, while retaining clear ambition of an alternative, tougher and more lucrative scene."
Last month, James Gheerbrant of The Times raised concerns about "what happens to the soul of a country's national game when its main competition becomes a non-competition".
He added that the lopsided nature of the Premiership "perpetuates" the failings of the Scottish national side and the nation's other club teams.
A lack of competition has also raised questions about whether Celtic should test themselves in the Premier League.
Rodgers is in no doubt the Hoops could challenge the top English sides. "Yes, we could," he said yesterday. "I have absolutely no doubt about it because we've got the Celtic factor. We have 60,000 every other week."
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Today's political cartoons - November 2, 2024
Cartoons Saturday's cartoons - anti-fascism, early voter turnout, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Geoff Capes obituary: shot-putter who became the World’s Strongest Man
In the Spotlight The 'mighty figure' was a two-time Commonwealth Champion and world-record holder
By The Week UK Published
-
Israel attacks Iran: a 'limited' retaliation
Talking Point Iran's humiliated leaders must decide how to respond to Netanyahu's measured strike
By The Week UK Published
-
England vs. Scotland: preview, predictions and possible starting XIs
feature Raheem Sterling says the huge Euro 2020 clash at Wembley is ‘just another game’
By Mike Starling Last updated
-
Euro 2020 group D: results, final table and qualifiers
Why Everyone’s Talking About England, Croatia and the Czechs reach the round of 16
By The Week Staff Last updated
-
Euro 2020 final: Italy beat England on penalties at Wembley
feature Football’s not coming home - it’s going to Rome
By The Week Staff Last updated
-
Celtic’s Bolingoli and the Aberdeen eight ‘a disgrace’ to Scottish football
In Depth Nicola Sturgeon issues a ‘yellow card’ after players break coronavirus safety rules
By Mike Starling Published
-
Euro 2020 draw: how it works, teams, pots, start time, UK TV channel
The Week Recommends England and Wales are through to next summer’s championships
By The Week Staff Last updated
-
Europa League: Man Utd, Wolves and Celtic triumph
The Week Recommends Three-goal United continue their unbeaten campaign as Celtic make history in Rome
By The Week Staff Published
-
Women’s World Cup: Shelley Kerr slams officials after Scotland heartbreak
Speed Read England’s Lionesses beat Japan to finish top of group D
By The Week Staff Published
-
Scotland vs. Japan: Shelley Kerr urges team to build on the positives
The Week Recommends After losing to England in their Fifa Women’s World Cup opener Scotland will be seeking a result in Rennes
By The Week Staff Published