They may be in the Premier Sports Cup final but that’s scant consolation for Rangers fans who rung up the Hotline to have a right old moan.
It was a winning performance against Motherwell but hardly a convincing one and Willie Mercer, Dumfries, said: “The problems at Rangers in the pitch just now are not hard to identify. We have a No.9 who is neither front-line target man or penalty box predator, and certainly does not have the composure or instinct of a natural scorer. We have a quality player in Bajrami but he is played out of position, limiting his ability to impact the game. We have a right-back who cannot defend, and who now offers no redeeming contribution or threat going forward.
“We have signed a centre-half who has been bullied in every game, and knows he is in the wrong movie. We have talented footballers in Lawrence and Diomande but they are better suited to five-a-side than the rough and tumble of the Scottish Premiership, and we have a manager who refuses to change his formation and style of play even though it is torture to watch and every team knows how to play against us. It’s going to be a long, hard season for us Rangers supporters.”
Jamie Thompson, Yoker, said: “This team’s performance on Sunday was bad, every team in Scottish football and the Europa League will fancy their chances of beating Rangers. They win the game on Sunday then we have Rangers players saying we are on our way back, just pathetic. As for Tavernier, he has to go, and Propper and a few others.”
Celtic fan Tam Williamson, Lanarskhire, reckons his team will have Philippe Clement running scared ahead of the final on December 15. He said: “Big Phil’s neighbours through the wall must have been kept awake all night with the big man’s gnashers sounding like castanets after watching Celtic beat Scotland’s second biggest club Aberdeen. Big Phil must be comparing the forthcoming final to a trip to the dentist. As for James Tavernier, he must be wishing now that he went to Saudi Arabia and left with Connor Goldson as his nightmare begins once again when he is run ragged by Daizen, the Man from Japan.”
But there was a more cautious note from Stefan Lomako, Whithorn, who wrote in: “Let’s not forget fellow Bhoys that amidst our elation the Rangers have reached another final, have won two out of three in Europa League and missed a lot of sitters in recent games. They are still a force to be reckoned with regardless of alleged internal problems and much ridicule. I will certainly take absolutely nothing for granted in the next few games in the run up to Christmas although I expect we will be well focused.”
Elsewhere caller John Scott said on Monday’s Hotline that Celtic are so far ahead of the rest of Scottish football, they should be playing in the Premier League. It went down just as you’d expect. Alan Flett said: “So John Scott thinks that Celtic should leave Scottish football? That’s just the sort of arrogance we’ve come to expect from Celtic and their fans. Where are they going to go exactly? The League of Ireland?!”
Alfie Mullen, London, said: “John Scott should be careful what he wishes for. He suggested that Celtic should move on to a higher profile league. I don’t know why that is. Everybody knows Celtic can’t win outside of Scotland, they won’t have their pet officials helping them and will get turned over most weeks.”
Steve Clarke named his Scotland squad for upcoming Nations League games with Croatia and Poland. But John Bruce didn’t like the cut of his jib as he said: “There is one word that has become synonymous with Scotland boss Steve Clarke’s interviews – ‘prickly’. It would appear that he doesn’t appreciate being pressed on his Scotland team’s stats or performances. But with a record which shows that it’s now 13 months since Scotland last savoured a competitive win, he clearly has many questions to answer – whether he likes them or not.”
And in the capital, John Caw said: “David Gray must be sick like I am with refereeing decisions. He gets a man red-carded for jersey pulling and a penalty against his side to boot and yet exact same thing happens at opposite end and surprise, nothing. Mr. Steven it’s about time you and others like you should go and learn what football is.”
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