Celtic have stepped up their summer shopping spree with the signing of Alexandro Bernabei but the Rangers support are getting angsty over their club’s reluctance to open the purse strings and complete a deal for Antonio Colak.
Ibrox bosses have been on the tail of the PAOK Salonika striker for almost a week now but the paper work still hasn’t been signed off. And frustrated bluenose Robert Livingstone, Palm Beach, called from Stateside to say: “It’s slow going at Rangers. We really need to sign a decent goalscorer because you can't win league titles without one.
“Fans all know that but the board don't want to pay much. Instead they are opting to haggle over a price to bring in Colak, who has shown in Sweden with Malmo that he can score goals. It seems the Rangers board are trying to lowball the price. You think they would have learned after the John Souttar fiasco.”
Jimmy Mac, Glasgow, added: “I wonder who actually wants Antonio Colak at Rangers – is it Ross Wilson who is pushing to get him or is it Gio van Bronckhorst? From what we read about Colak, he appears to be a bang average player and is never an out and out goalscorer.
"This has penny pinching written all over it with the board unwilling to spend any of the season tickets, Europa League, sponsors or commercial monies on quality players. On the other side of Glasgow, they have spent £30million plus from last season on players while Rangers get freebies or loan players. I am beginning to fear the worst before a ball has been kicked unless they have four or five quality players lined up to come challenge the team straight away for their positions.”
Bernabei may have checked in but Celtic fan Jimmy Murray, Edinburgh, is starting to wonder what the state of play is with Jota’s rumoured arrival on a permanent switch from Benfica, saying: “Are Celtic pulling one of their favourite strokes with Jota? Stringing the fans along with promises until the season tickets are sold out then giving some excuse why he won’t be signing.”
It’s happening, Jimmy.
Meanwhile, the debate on the Hotline turned to yesterday’s comments from Robert McQueen, who claimed while Rangers have been doing the nation proud with their Europa League exploits, Celtic were bound to be “humiliated” in the Champions League. Peter Lyons, Blantyre, said: “Can I remind Rangers fans they hold the title of the lowest accumulated points by any Scottish or English teams in the Champions League with two points. Oh, wait a minute though, that doesn't count as that was the Oldco!”
John McGee, Aberdeen, added: “Caller Robert McQueen said Rangers made Scotland proud in Seville. I watched the Europa League final and not one Scottish flag was on display from the 80,000 support inside the ground or out. Great way to show your pride for Scotland."
Poor Robert wasn’t the only caller getting it in the neck. Ciaran Mallon, Belfast, added: “Chris Lowe seems to be a bit confused when he says Celtic have been humiliated in Europe by teams made up waiters, dishwashers and firemen. After all It was Rangers who embarrassed Scottish football by getting dumped out of Europe by the mighty Progres Niederkorn, not Celtic!”
The last word on another day of squabbling goes to Dons fan Ian Alan, Linlithgow, who said: “Can I just remind Rangers and Celtic fans that the last Scottish club to win a European competition was Aberdeen FC, who are also the only Scottish club to have won two. Before Celtic fans bleat about the Cup Winners’ Cup not being the top trophy, Aberdeen had to beat Bayern Munich and Real Madrid to win it. When Celtic won the European Cup, they beat a selection of diddy teams and a very negative and ordinary Inter Milan side.”
