Michael Beale admitted Rangers need help if they’re to salvage their title hopes. But he found little favour with Hotline callers after his first pre-match conference as Ibrox manager.
Beale’s side need to overturn a nine-point gap at the top of the table if they’re to wrestle the Premiership crown back from Celtic. And the new man in charge was honest enough to admit they need a helping hand from others if they’re to chip away at the champions.
But Neil Renton, Edinburgh, said: “He’s barely been in the Rangers job a fortnight and already boss Micheal Beale is making excuses. By asking for other clubs to do them a favour, to chip away at Celtic is a laugh. He should be concentrating on his own team and worry less about others.” Meanwhile Arrin Geddes, Irvine, wasn’t impressed with Beale referring to Celtic as “the other team”. He said: “Mick Beale’s lack of class may be down to his limited experience in front of a microphone and I’m sure someone from the club who can do no wrong will have a wee word in his ear, although I’m not convinced he would be up for listening.”
Steve McSherry, Uddingston, agreed: “So Beale won’t refer to Celtic by name? What a pathetic shower they really are and it’s no wonder we have morons in the crowd when they hear this from their manager, a manager who says a lot for someone who has never achieved anything in football.”
There was support from one caller though as Davie Kirkpatrick, Glasgow, argued: “Beale was right not to make any dangerous predictions that could come back to bite him ahead of his first game. Deep down he must believe Rangers have a chance of clawing the points back but all that talk has to be kept in house.”
Former Rangers skipper and Record Sport columnist Barry Ferguson reckons Beale has played a blinder by telling his players to be suited and booted for match days from now on.
But Jim McBride, Cumbernauld, said: “Forty years ago I managed a youth team and ensured all the boys met on match days in proper attire. In the Scottish Cup we were drawn against a Glasgow team who perhaps did not have the resources we had and most boys were dressed to what they could afford. They thrashed us 8-0. They were street wise. They learned the lesson, Barry.”
Jim Davidson, Kilmarnock, had a good chuckle at caller Henry Wallace’s criticism of Ange Postecoglou’s “disastrous” European record with Celtic. Jim fired back: “Henry slaughtering Ange's Euro record is laughable. The fella was just in the door rebuilding practically an entire team. Europe was never on the cards. He won a double in his first season and there’s more to come. How's Rangers’ record in the Champions League? Oh that’s right, hohoho.”
It wasn’t long before the chat fell back to two full backs - Josip Juranovic and Borna Barisic. The Croatia team mates and Old Firm rivals have been at the centre of debate ever since Chris Sutton put a £25m valuation on Celtic ace Juranovic. That led to callers arguing Barisic is in the same bracket.
But Andy Logan emailed: “I had to laugh at the furore around Rangers’ full backs. Borna Barasic is a squad player who only played for Croatia due to injury while Josip Juranovic is a starter and consistent performer. James Tavernier is not even an international player, he wouldn’t get a game across Glasgow. As I have said previously a player is only worth what a club will pay, let’s see how it pans out and what bids materialise.”
Football purists are licking their lips ahead of Sunday’s World Cup Final where Argentina meet holders France and Messi meets Mbappe. Portugal hard man Pepe reckons FIFA should “give Argentina the title now” after complaining about the officiating from an Argentinian referee in his side’s quarter final defeat to Morocco.
Alan Lough, Dunbar, said: “Pepe is an idiot to say that the World Cup is rigged for Argentina to win it for Messi. That would explain the three disallowed goals for offside when they lost to Saudi Arabia, or is it just sour grapes because Portugal were better without Ronaldo and Messi is running riot for Argentina and could win it on Sunday? The assist from Messi for the third Argentina goal has to be seen to be believed. Nothing else needs to be said.”
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