Kris Boyd and Chris Sutton have been embroiled in an on-air ding-dong over where Celtic go next after their Champions League exit, with the latter branding his rival a “fool” and an “idiot”.
A 2-0 defeat to Lazio midweek left the Hoops’ hopes in tatters with one game to go, and it came off the back of a 1-1 draw with struggling Motherwell at Parkhead. Brendan Rodgers has reiterated the need for improved quality and the recruitment ahead in January has sparked a punditry war of words ahead of Sunday’s match with St Johnstone.
Rangers hero Boyd was up first, claiming Celtic are happy to run with the squad they have got and maintain domestic dominance before finishing with a question for Sutton. He said: “I know it’s easy to say Celtic will get to January but they are not going to have European football. Why would the Celtic board (spend) … I mean, everybody tells me they are the best team in Scotland by a country mile. Why would you want to go and spend an absolute fortune in January to go and win the league again?
“Looking at Celtic, it’s as if they have enough to do what they need to do in Scotland and they’ll bank the rest of the money. They don’t need go and spend an absolute fortune. Do Celtic just do enough to get past in Scotland. We keep hearing Celtic have got to invest to compete in Europe but we don’t see it.”
Sutton did not agree with the assessment one bit. He fired back: “You didn’t have waffle some nonsense there. Why would Celtic want to build in January? That’s a rally strange comment, why would Celtic want to get better? Brendan Rodgers is basically saying this squad isn’t good enough.”
Boyd interrupted to ask “why didn’t he do in the summer?” as Sutton continued: “You make a very valid point and the was the biggest issue in terms of Champions League football, Celtic weren’t ready. You are spot on there.”
A continued mention of this story being a repeated theme was made by Boyd, as he asked fellow pundit Mark Wilson where Celtic should strengthen.
Sutton added later on: “Let’s not make excuses for Celtic in the Champions League. We are seeing Copenhagen, a team you would put on par with Celtic, who are competing in the Champions League.
“The point Kris makes about Celtic basically not needing to sign players in January was utterly ridiculous. Of course they are going to sign players if Brendan Rodgers thinks they are not at the level.” Boyd interjected to say “I think people forget they spent a fortune in the summer as well” and to claim he hadn’t seen Sutton criticise things.
That wasn’t something the former Celtic striker was happy about. He added: “Hang on a minute, I have just criticised them for the last three or four minutes. You are talking absolute nonsense. It’s an amazing concept you don’t understand a manager wants to sign players in January to get better.”
Boyd butted in one more time to say “after signing eight in the summer?” And there was a final Sutton dig as the debate ended: “That was then, that was the past you fool! Idiot.”
