Rangers’ win in Turkey – a Cinderella story or a trivial result in a Mickey Mouse competition? Well it Disney seem that there is a common view among the Hotline regulars.
Peter Cooperwhite was first to call in, saying: “I read in Saturday’s Hotline the usual East End brigade berating Jose Mourinho, saying The Special One is past his best and his Fenerbahce team are a poor side. There was no credit at all for the way Rangers performed. Barry Ferguson pulled off something Brendan Rodgers has been trying for years, an away win in Europe!”
Celtic fan Sean Dolan, Chicago, added: “All this continual drivel about Mickey Mouse leagues and worst teams in Europe is getting beyond boring. Celtic and Rangers, in their respective campaigns, are playing the best Europe has to offer. Let’s stop with this nonsense and recognise that both teams outperformed this year. A significant achievement and one that still continues for Rangers. Congratulations on a great performance and win. Well deserved!”
Denis Bruce, Bishopbriggs, followed to say: “As a Celtic supporter, let me congratulate Rangers on their first-leg performance against Fenerbahce. Now the Bears have to build on that score to get through to the next round. Don’t let Scotland down.”
But those positive views weren’t universal as Michael Emonds, Northampton, said: “Caller Alan Milligan says it’s time the European coefficient was changed to a personal club basis gain rather than the country of the team. What about changing it to five times the points earned in the Champions League to the Europa League as it’s a much harder gig?
“Imagine by his logic Leicester City winning the EPL and being told sorry, it’s the Conference League for you as there’s some guy up in Scotland who got the rules changed, the champions no longer get into the Champions League. City would say, ‘I’ll bet he’s a Rangers fan!’”
Sean McGarvey, Cumbernauld, said: “This guy Alan Milligan emailing in to talk disrespectfully of his country’s champion is a joke surely? Do you get a coefficient trophy Allan?! Or a wooden spoon for being the officially worst team ever in the Champions League? Sit doon mate, it’s embarrassing…”
Gordon Ashley, Ayr, added: “So Hotline comedian George Wilson says his team can only perform against attacking flair? Hilarious! Is that why they consistently cannot qualify for the Champions League and the one time they did, they humiliated our country? The teams you are playing in Europe weren’t good enough for the top level and Rangers never will be.”
William Bradford, Kirkintilloch, emailed in: “Nice to see that George Wilson has awoken from his slumber now that Rangers have won a game! As for his comment about the way all the other teams play against his team, I’d like to point out that Celtic play the same teams, who play the same way and don’t seem to have any problems beating them.”
Alan Flett said: “Help ma boab! If winning a pub league and getting pumped in Europe every year makes you ecstatic, surely that proves my point. Celtic fans are easily pleased!
Jamie Thompson, Yoker, said: “These so-called world-class Celtic players Jota and Kyogo are both total failures at new clubs. Jota was kicked out his last two clubs and was forced to run back to Celtic to play in a worse league. Meanwhile, Kyogo is out of his depth at his new club Rennes, who must be now thinking they’ve bought a dud.
“The standard of Scottish football is beyond poor with only two clubs worth speaking about. Rangers have been an embarrassing failure and the rest are just making up numbers, with nothing to offer in the league or in Europe.”
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