BBC pundit Tam McManus rips into Rangers for ‘taking the bait’ with Old Firm branding
Tam McManus has ripped into Rangers for ‘taking the bait’ with their Old Firm branding during the game against Celtic on Sunday.
The Blues decorated the tunnel with the words ‘Old Firm’ emblazoned above where the players walk out, while the advertising boards said ‘This is the Old Firm’ throughout the game too.
Celtic fans have called it the ‘Glasgow Derby’ since the Bears liquidated in 2012 and rebuilt, in a bid to wipe their history away. McManus took to Twitter on Monday night to take a swipe at the Ibrox club, saying it was ‘cringe’.
“Literally no one cares if some fans call it the Glasgow Derby,” he said.
“For me, it’s banter from opposition fans and Rangers are taking the bait big time. Don’t know why they are making such a big deal out of this.
“Was cringe seeing these pictures and the big Old Firm at the tunnel Sunday.”
History
This is simply about not allowing one club to get one over on the other, and nothing more.
Nobody cares if the game is referred to as the Glasgow derby or the Old Firm derby, but if Celtic want to do one thing then obviously Rangers will do the exact opposite.
It’s the same reason why Rangers have made such a big deal of their 150th anniversary and their 55th league title last year, despite Celtic fans claiming the club was only born in 2012.
It’s about pride and not letting their history be wiped away by a rival, so it’s an important thing for Rangers and their fans to not let the narrative run away with itself.
Now that the club have made their point, it seems likely they’ll tone it down in future but then again they may go even bigger considering how much they’ve seen it rattles their rivals.
In other Rangers news, Kenny Miller reacts to Rangers Old Firm defeat, ‘long way back’ to title.