Celtic’s miss when it comes to signing John McGinn is regularly documented after his meteoric rise.
Aston Villa captain, English Premier League regular and now Champions League star and Tartan Army favourite. It is a transfer that continues to haunt the Parkhead faithful and one punter insists they CAN’T make the same mistake with Lennon Miller. Stephen Mulhern, Dumbarton, said: “I’m not surprised to read that Reo Hatate looks like leaving in the summer but surely if that’s the case Lennon Miller must now be the number one target to replace him. It’s common knowledge Brendan Rodgers is a huge admirer of him and after missing out on John McGinn it’s imperative this doesn’t happen again.”
Kieran Tierney is on his way back to his boyhood club from Arsenal this summer. It looks likely to signal time up for Greg Taylor in Glasgow’s east end with Dinamo Zagreb pulling out all the stops for the full-back who also has MLS options. One Hoops fan is sad to see a ‘brilliant’ player head for the exit. Robert McEwan, Mount Vernon, said: “I am sorry to see Greg Taylor go as he has been a brilliant player for Celtic. But he leaves with a bag full of trophies and medals. All the best to him.”
Big news coming out this week is that the SPFL will allow teams who qualify for Europe next season to postpone games in order to help them reach the big time.
Of course, with that comes the Celtic and Rangers back and forth between punters, while one caller has called on the games top brass to help NOW rather than wait with Barry Ferguson and Co in Europa League quarter-final action against Athletic Bilbao.
Peter Cooperwhite emailed: “So SPFL are going to give Rangers a helping hand in next season’s Euro exploits, So why not now as a big game is coming up next week? The reason I said Rangers and not Celtic is, well, let’s face it, there’s no chance they will still be in Europe along with us as their resigning duds who can’t cut it anywhere else.”
Alan Flett emailed: “Mr. Scott thinks that our clubs need a month of preparation before playing in Europe! I’ve got a better idea! Why don’t the SFA appoint Rangers as our sole European representative on a permanent basis. It makes perfect sense as we’re the only Scottish club capable of competing at that level. Celtic and the rest would be spared their annual dose of humiliation, which means our Coefficient will rise and Scottish football may gain some credibility. It’s a no brainer!”
Gary Stevenson, Newtonhill, added: “Exciting times with big European weeks coming up. Or as the Celtic supporters call them Dragons Den weeks. Fascinating television finding out which inventions will receive backing from the Dragons.”
League reconstruction is back on the table with a 10-team top flight already dead in the water. It is a view shared by the Hotline who believe reducing the teams would be an ‘amateur’ move and it should be BIGGER.
Sean McGarvey, Cumbernauld, said: “The idea floated to reduce the league to ten teams is nonsense, Although I’d agree to get rid of the embarrassing split. A ten team league is amateur hour thinking. Make it 16 teams. There’s very little difference between the rest of the teams apart from Celtic anyway, rangers and Falkirk are about equal so why not?”
Finally, Jose Mourinho nose gate has hit the headlines globally and it would only be right for the Hotline to have their say. So the last word goes to Neil Renton, Leith. He said: “Jose Mourinho is clearly losing the plot after he attacked a rival boss’s nose. It’s ironic as he couldn’t pick a team to beat Rangers but he can pick the beak of an opposition gaffer.”