Champions League? You’re not having a laugh.
In fact fans of both halves of the Old Firm are watching it unfold through the cracks in their fingers and with the latest round of fixtures ending in defeat in Liverpool and Leipzig, the only place to find sanctuary was that forum of comfort and compassion that is the Hotline ...
So, let’s get to it. Unless you’re Joe Hart. If you’re reading this, Joe, it might be time to go for a cuppa. Dr Robert Pender emailed: “ Joe Hart lost his position at Manchester City because his weakness was playing out from the back. Has never improved, all teams should always press him with vigour, always a goal there.” Brian Duff, Glenrothes, Fife, said: “Joe says his mistake was due to the way Ange Postecoglou wants his style of play. It’s not the first and it won’t be the last Joe...pass it to a Celtic teammate.”
Kenny Wilson, Moffat, said: “No complaints about the result – Celtic were beaten by a better team but they have to realise they play far too open football in Europe and quality teams will just exploit it. But once again the first two goals were our own making and personally I think it’s time Benjamin Siegrist was given a chance as Hart has been suspect all season.”
Robert Hoey, Kirkintilloch, said: “After six games played between Rangers and Celtic and only one solitary point won, it really shows where we are against the big guns in Europe. Just puts into perspective the achievement in reaching a European final last year where on the way we took care of RB Leipzig which at the time was derided by many Celtic fans as no great achievement.”
Frank McFerran, Carrickfergus , added: “It pains me to say but the two teams just aren’t good enough. A Liverpool player like Salah or Van Dijk earn in the region of £24million a year from the club alone. Our teams just can’t compete. Sad but true.”
George Wilson, West Sussex emailed: “So Edward Fraser is mocking Rangers by implying they are now the embarrassment in Europe and not Celtic. Rangers have come up well short in the Champions League and have not been anywhere near good enough but Fraser has used one poor campaign to try to distract from previous good campaigns and from Celtic being a total laughing stock and embarrassment in Europe for 20 or 30 years.
“Apart from many embarrassing individual defeats they hold the unique record of twice being knocked out of Europe three times in one season. Celtic were fortunate not to lose by a barrowload against Leipzig who were very unfortunate to have two perfectly good goals chopped off. The same Leipzig that a few months ago Rangers beat 3-1 in a European semi final - something Celtic haven’t been anywhere near to in 19 years. So let’s not kid ourselves who Scotland’s embarrassment in Europe still is.”
William Hutchison, Aberdeen, said: “What is going on at my club..we were in formidable form before the St Mirren game but we lost that one, just scraped past Motherwell and now thrashed in the Champions League...c’mon Ange, get your magic again this isn’t like us. We need a good result and performance v St.Johnstone on Saturday.”
Robert McEwan, Mount Vernon , said: “Same old story for my team Celtic in Europe. Ange’s all out attack might work in Scotland, but we’ve got to be more tight at the back in Europe. But next Tuesday at a full Celtic Park, we can still get a result.”
John Stewart, Newton Mearns, said: “Celtic must be counting their lucky stars on how they managed to get out the RBL Arena only being beaten 3-1 . It was three going on six and to have only 1one point at this stage in such a poor group is very poor.”
Stuart McLeod, Stepps, said: “Didn’t sound like Chris Sutton was backing his own claims that teams in Europe were fearing this all conquering Pep Guardiola-like Celtic team. Remember the Celtic fans telling us the RB Leipzig side sitting third in the Bundesliga were bang average when put to the sword by Rangers last season but they have miraculously turned into a European superpower now they sit 11th in the same league six months on.”
Forbes McGarva, Doncaster, emailed: “I have just finished reading Borna Barisic article in the Daily Record . What a load of tosh. He is correct about Leon King. He is a great prospect for the future and should start more games.
“But, come on, stating we played our best game in the Champions League against Liverpool, only losing 2-0. That is the attitude we had on the night, trying to keep the score down.
“That is not how Rangers play, let’s play with passion and bravery. Do not back off and try to be defensive. We have another chance to represent Scotland in the manner we should have. Let’s press them into mistakes and take the game to them. Win or lose we will play with pride, because we did not do that on Tuesday.”
But Joe Graham Garrowhill, added: “Rangers still not out of it yet as runaway Napoli keep destroying everyone else in this group. As a matter of fact, their win against Rangers was their hardest victory out of their three wins so far. Even though we are bottom of the group with zero points we can still achieve third place with two of the three games remaining to be played at home.
“The return game should be different under the Ibrox lights with the home support roaring them on. The last 10 minutes at Anfield showed good signs when going forward.”
Jake Curley, Edinburgh, said: “Rangers boobed badly pre season in not spending the money our great European run earned us. They should be scouring the planet for talent come January’s transfer window and buying better players than the ones we’ve got.”
Are Celtic really a Euro laughing stock? What do you think of Thursday's Hotline?
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