‘So poor’ ‘no challenge’ ‘not good enough’ Martin O’Neill delivers fresh taunt on Graeme Souness verdict

Martin O’Neill never forgets as plenty of his former players will testify.

The Irishman spent the most productive years of his career alongside Brian Clough where he discovered that there is more to management than selecting players and tactics.

In the dug-out or in his new career as a pundit O’Neill tends to remember what has been said in the past and doesn’t bury it as yesterday’s news, for the chip wrappers.

His media work has brought regular appearances on TalkSPORT where Graeme Souness is on the rota, usually alongside his long term chum Jim White.

Maintaining a Glasgow rivalry is about the extent of TalkSPORT’s interest in Scottish football, O’Neill and Souness will always draw an audience with follow up on their comments assured across multiple media outlets.

From the outside, London, maintaining interest in the Glasgow derby is becoming more and more challenging.

Celtic haven’t lost a meaningful Derby match since April 2022 with only so many ways that you can keep pushing the idea that matches between the two clubs are clashes of Gladiators that turn the directions of the seasons.

O’Neill and Souness managed in the fixture, more than 20 and 30 years ago, the landscape has changed but the former Rangers boss attempts to hang on to a rivalry that is from another century with Celtic lifting 18 of the 24 titles this century, heavily reinforced by 12 of the last 13.

Listening to TalkSPORT this morning, The National reports O’Neill saying:

I don’t think he [Rodgers] has to worry too much because Rangers are so poor.

I have been saying this for some quite considerable weeks now. They aren’t a good enough side to challenge Celtic over a whole season.

I had this argument with Graeme Souness some weeks ago that ‘there isn’t a big gap between them’, there is a massive gap between them. On any given Saturday and any given day, Rangers might pose a threat to Celtic for a match, but over a whole season, especially in league terms, not good enough.

There is no challenge from Rangers there, at this minute. Aberdeen have done exceptionally well, so far, but you aren’t expecting Aberdeen to keep it going throughout the whole season. They have done really well again.

If Celtic are thinking Aberdeen are their main challengers, then as you [Jim White] mentioned at the top of your question to me. Complacency? I don’t think Celtic will be complacent.

I watched them against Brugge, the other evening, expectations had been high because they had been splendid against Leipzig. They didn’t play so well in the first half and much, much better in the second half. Eight points from five games. Going strongly in the Champions League and even stronger in the SPL.

It could be wider [the points gap by the end of the season] because Celtic are so dominant. Very, very strong. You just expect Celtic to win the games.

You mentioned that ‘Rangers got over the line against St Johnstone’. That is no real surprise to me. You don’t feel that Rangers are capable of going away from home and winning convincingly in matches.

Souness should have the chance to bite back on a future radio appearance, with two Glasgow Derbies coming up in the next month there will soon be fresh evidence to discuss how close, or otherwise the two Glasgow clubs are.