Rangers are in Istanbul knowing their season is in last chance saloon. But fans on the Hotline fear the Europa League last 16 clash with Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce could turn into a Turkey shoot.
Caretaker boss Barry Ferguson is desperately needing a response from Saturday’s defeat to Motherwell. Kevin Kean, Inchinnan, said: “This is a bad time for Barry Ferguson to take over. He has no experience of planning to win a Euro knockout tie home and away, then we face Celtic away. We are looking at four defeats in a row including the Motherwell game.”
Davie Wilson, Glasgow, added: “One look at Fenerbahce’s results in the last three months compared to Rangers’ gives me the fear heading into the lions’ den. In just his third game in charge Barry Ferguson will need to conjure up one of his greatest ever Euro nights with the club to even keep the tie alive.”
Meanwhile, George Wilson, West Sussex, doubled down on a previous point when he said: “My comments pointing out the truth that Celtic are a very average side in a poor league seems to have upset several of the Celtic camp. Regardless of the Fenerbahce result, most Rangers supporters like myself accept our club is not in a good state at the moment. All I said was Celtic are at present the best of a bad lot in Scotland and three wins out of 10 in the Champions League is highly unspectacular particularly with the quality of the teams they beat.”
George wasn’t the only caller to take a pop at Celtic’s season with Alan Flett’s accusation that Celtic are celebrating mediocrity hitting a nerve. Sean Beech, Hampshire, said: “I will very happily celebrate the supposed mediocrity of winning trophies as it sure beats being a jealous critic. If Mr Flett has so little regard for the quality of Scottish football perhaps he should look elsewhere for a team or sport to support and give us all a rest from his constant belittling of the quality of our league. The same league that had two teams perform very well this year in Europe and showcase our football to the rest of Europe.”
And Brian Logan emailed: “Alan Flett says Celtic fans are ‘easily pleased’. He’s wrong, we’re ecstatic! An unprecedented 13th League title in 14 seasons is in sight, the League Cup is in the bag, we’re Scottish Cup holders, Rangers got knocked out by Queen’s Park, we had a great run in the Champions League and we are the most successful club in world football.”
Meanwhile Rangers are closing in on sealing a takeover deal with US investors. But Gary Stevenson, Newtonhill, said: “With American investment incoming now is the time for the Rangers fans to change their songbook.
“The days of sectarian chanting and anti-papal melodies are from the past and is not for the average season ticket holder. The national anthem I understand but please weed out the bigots. Our new owners will not be happy to pay future fines, bans and points deductions for the so called fans behaviour.”
Celtic fan Gordon Ashley, Ayr, said: “There is just no telling Rangers fans, financial fair play rules mean that any investors cannot just give them money for players and a change in those rules means they will have even less money next season, the only way they will get a big budget is through Champions League qualification or player sales, so wake up to the truth.”
Record Sport revealed Celtic are continuing to keep a close eye on Motherwell ace Lennon Miller ahead of the summer transfer window. And Stephen Mulhern, Dumbarton, said: “I hope Celtic do prioritise bringing in Lennon Miller in the summer as he reminds me of Paul McStay at a similar age. We blew it when Brendan Rodgers missed out on John McGinn and I’m convinced Rodgers is determined this won’t be the case again.”
Finally, across the M8 the fallout from Hibs Edinburgh Derby win on Sunday rumbles on. Wullie Graham, Bristol, said: “As a lifelong Jambo I had to laugh at Neil Renton’s comments. After narrowly winning the last two derbies his beloved Hibs are suddenly world beaters? He must have a very short and selective memory. Has he forgotten the 22 games in a row unbeaten in derbies by Hearts? Or the recent meetings at Hampden for cup semi finals and a cup final when Hibs got thrashed? History tells us over the last 150 years Hearts are the best team in Edinburgh and it will take more than two derby wins to change that.”