They say it’s nice to be nice. But when it comes to Rangers beating Nice there were few pleasantries coming from rival fans on the Hotline.
A 4-1 win away to a side sitting fifth in Ligue 1 would normally be cause for a national celebration. But Gers’ Europa League thrashing of Franck Haise’s side brought little in the way of compliments outside of the Light Blue legions.
Jim McClean, Rothesay, said: “A fantastic win for Rangers, well so they are saying. Did they realise it was against a bunch of 18-year-olds from Nice reserves they were playing? Big Phil’s job is still on a shoogly peg, I just hope he stays so they don’t nick Derek McInnes from Kilmarnock. Oh I forgot they have no money to pay Killie compensation.”
Edward Fraser emailed: “Here we go again ‘the Rangers are on the way back and will easily win both the Europa League and Premiership’. It will take more than one good game in Europe to overtake Celtic in domestic football. But I’m sure that’s not going to stop the Rangers fans from gloating that they won and we only drew with diddy Club Brugge.”
Jack Armstrong, Bathgate, added; “You really have to laugh at the drivel some of these people come away with about the quality of teams Celtic have been drawn against in the Champions League. Yes the CHAMPIONS League. Then you look at the dross they have been playing in the minor league. Nice were so bad it was laughable.”
And Gordon Ashley, Ayr, said; “Does Chris Lowe enjoy getting laughed at on the Hotline? His side has just played against one of many teams in his group who will field mostly B team players because they view it as a Mickey Mouse tournament. And he slags off Celtic for getting a good point against a Champions League standard team. Come back when your team can manage a point in the big boy’s playground.”
Right on cue, George Wilson, West Sussex, replaced: “Poor old Rangers-obsessed Gordon Ashley keeps telling us the Ibrox side are no longer a threat to his club but he’s on here day after day talking about his pet subject which obviously is Rangers.
“One Glasgow club blew it in an apparently certain home win in Europe this week whilst the other romped it in a what was forecast a certain away defeat.”
Rangers have now won three and drawn one of their five Europa League matches and their Thursday form is in stark contrast to the domestic woes. Thomas Weir said: “Watching Rangers is like having that partner who cheats on you at the weekend but then takes you out for a fancy meal on a Thursday night to make up for it.”
Robert Livingstone, Palm Beach added: “After poor league performances this was a truly great Europa win and certainly will give the fans high hopes for a decent finish especially if they can beat Spurs at Ibrox. Igamane looked good with his two goals maybe he is after all the right replacement for Dessers and Danilo? Clement for the first time in a while got the team selection dead right.”
Gary Stevenson, Newtonhill, said: “Despite Rangers being by far the major contributors to the Scottish coefficient I have no doubt that the usual numpties will try to trash the standard of the opposition. I urge them to tread carefully as Nice are sitting fifth in the French league, the same position that Borrusia Dortmund hold in the German League. Scotland’s third best team strikes again.”
Celtic’s 1-1 draw with Club Brugge on Wednesday evening was still up for discussion. James Brown, Glasgow, said: “I am very happy with Celtic’s second half display against Brugges. As for Cameron Carter-Vickers’ own goal, Rangers fans shouldn’t gloat too much as Dessers would have missed it!”
And Glen Mitchell emailed: “As much as CCV’s own goal was a howler and cost Celtic a win, the crowing by the deluded Ibrox supporters is a joy to behold. This is a team that hardly ever even gets in the Champions League and when they do they end up the all time worst ever team.”