There were plenty of Bears with sore heads after a sobering night in Amsterdam put a heavy dampener on Rangers ’ return to the Champions League.
Gio van Bronckhorst admitted his side “can’t compete” with the continent’s best after the 4-0 hammering in his homeland to Ajax. But Gers fans aren’t having it and reckon the manager and his players needs to step up - or ship out.
Lewis Fotheringham, Mount Ellen, said: “That has been two diabolical performances from my team over the past few days. Losing two on the bounce is bad enough but to have done it in this manner is deeply concerning. Despite reaching the Europa League final and recruiting seven new players, it appears this team, and indeed the club in general, has gone backwards since winning 55.” Kevin Kean, Inchinnan, said: “Gio van Bronckhorst is seriously failing in team selection and tactical nous. Aberdeen will fancy their chances on Saturday and Napoli are already thinking another three points. Rangers may get NO points from their group.”
Robert Livingstone, Palm Beach, added: “Rangers were badly beaten, a shocker to watch and again van Bronckhorst persisted playing this silly 4-2-3-1 system making Antonio Colak anonymous. At least a 4-3-3 gives more attacking options. Morelos should start with Colak at Pittodrie and try to save the season as it's close to the point of no return.”
Andrew Lamb, Fraserburgh, said: “Rangers qualifying for the Champions League has proved to be nothing more then gaining access to 30 million quid. They don't belong there, don't have the resources needed and surely the inevitable Euro exit will put them out their misery.”
Jim McClean, Isle of Bute , blasted: “I hope Rangers and their supporters never complain again about teams parking the bus at Ibrox after they done the same thing in Holland at the Ajax training session. Pot, kettle and black springs to mind.”
Van Bronckhorst had claimed he would need “hundreds of millions” to tackle Europe’s best.
But Stephen Mulhern, Dumbarton, said: “I found it bizarre that van Bronkhorst said Rangers couldn’t compete without hundreds of millions. Celtic were unfortunate not to be leading at half time against no less than Real Madrid. And even this early in the season his side looks like a busted flush.”
Walter Knutsen, Dumfries, said: “Rather than shout about spending millions, would it not have been better to offer more money to Bassey and Aribo to stay? Gio should also explain why Balogun was allowed to leave when we are using Sands as a centre half. If we pay a reported £9m to keep him and Matondo that will defy belief. I think Gio has lost it as his team selections are dire and why is he not playing Arfield?”
However, Gers fan John Bruce conceded: “Any Old Firm fan who thinks that their team, or any of their players, is at Champions League level is deluded. Both clubs' aim is to get there for the money with the Europa League being the real target, albeit still a difficult one. There are still a few difficult Euro nights ahead for both clubs.”
Gers fans had branded Celtic’s 3-0 defeat to Real Madrid 24 hours earlier as embarrassing.
And Hoops supporters weren’t slow to reply.
Charles Buchanan emailed: “Rangers fans on here saying Celtic were an embarrassment against the European champions must have been watching a different game. Celtic were brilliant in the first half and could have been a couple of goals up. They should have waited until they played Ajax. Even Ally McCoist said that was an embarrassment.”
Arrin Geddes, Irvine, added: “I hope the Rangers fans who thought Celtic were embarrassed on Tuesday night had the same glasses on watching the Ajax game. Celtic went toe to toe with the reigning European champions for an hour, Rangers looked a beaten team after five minutes in Amsterdam.”
However, Gers fan Alan Flett emailed: “I’m not embarrassed by the result at the weekend, I’m just bitterly disappointed by the performance from my team. We were in a Euro final three months ago and we are better than Celtic. But when we let our levels drop, they have a chance and that’s what happened on Saturday. Celtic fans applauded their team after they got pumped 3-0. That’s embarrassing!”
Frank McFerran, Carrickfergus, tried to be the voice of reason when he said: “We expect too much from our teams in the top European competitions, we just are not good enough. It’s only once in a blue moon that we get good results. But don’t accept it, try harder.”
But John Scott, Grassmoor, vented: “It’s time Rangers and Celtic were barred from Europe's premier competition. Rangers and Celtic continue to embarrass Scotland on the world stage and frankly the Europa League is their true level. Tongue in cheek obviously but if their fans can get sanctimonious about the rest of Scottish football in Europe they should be able to take a look at themselves. Glory snatched from a 3 nil home defeat. Come on. Complete ban on the diddy teams they said. Relatively speaking they are diddy teams.”
Today's Hotline doesn't exactly make for great reading for Rangers fans - but what do you make of the calls?
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