They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder but there’s not much love for this current Rangers side from Light Blues punters on the Hotline. A 2-0 win over St Johnstone at Ibrox on Sunday at least made it four domestic wins on the spin and without conceding a goal.
But the lack of genuine quality has supporters worried – not to mention the five point gap separating them from leaders Celtic and Aberdeen. Gary Clark, Hamilton, said: “The decline in the calibre of player at Rangers compared to the Walter Smith, Dick Advocaat and Alex McLeish era is truly remarkable. We haven’t had a striker of note since Alfredo Morelos and he checked out for the last couple of years at Ibrox. The current squad lacks any real quality.”
Jamie Thompson, Yoker, said: “This Rangers team lack serious quality. The defence is woeful and the second half against St Johnstone was really poor. Some of these Rangers players need to learn how to pass and control the ball. They will win nothing this season and if that’s the case Philippe Clement needs to go.”
But Alan Flett emailed: “There’s a reason why Rangers are hopeless. We nearly went out of business 12 years ago and we’ve never fully recovered. What’s Celtic’s excuse? Over £70m in the bank but a bang average team, a manager who is only there because he couldn’t cut it in England and, a captain who isn’t fit to wear the shirt.”
Speaking of Celtic and Nicolas Kuhn was a lucky boy to avoid a second yellow card for his celebrations after hitting the winner at Ross County earlier on Sunday. And Scott Gowers, Edinburgh, said: “Any player in the SPFL who got booked for running to the crowd after scoring this season should have their yellow cards rescinded. Kuhn scores a late winner and really milked it by not just running towards the crowd – he made physical contact. As Kuhn had been booked already all of a sudden the law once again was different for Celtic players. The rules must apply to all players and all clubs.”
Meanwhile, Chris Lowe, Yoker, said: “I see the penny has dropped with some of the Celtic support that their new £11 million penalty taker isn’t as good as the usual suspects bummed him up to be. Rodgers, as usual, claims they’re all globetrotters after again being bailed out by old foe Clancy who its rumoured is a January target for Ange along with Walsh and Robertson.”
Jimmy Murray, Edinburgh, said: “At long last I see the Celtic fan website is now questioning the coaching at Parkhead.
“Hangers-on like John Kennedy and Gavin Strachan have been forced on Deila, Lennon, Rodgers twice and Ange in the past 10 years. None have been allowed to bring in their own chosen coaches. The club’s record in Europe is shocking and embarrassing. Get rid of these hangers on and get professional, proven coaches in.”
Craig Gordon’s remarkable career could be set to turn another page if, as expected, the 41-year-old gets the nod for Scotland against Croatia on Saturday with Angus Gunn injured.
And Stephen Mulhern, Dumbarton, said: “It seems certain Craig Gordon will be between the sticks in Croatia after a well deserved return. Surely former Motherwell captain Liam Kelly must now regret moving to warm the Rangers bench behind the irreplaceable Jack Butland and in doing so sacrificing his international career. The keeper’s jersey is definitely up for grabs and Kelly was more than capable of filling that role if he was playing first team football.”