Michael Beale received sympathy from one Hotliner but also took a bit of stick for comments made over the last couple of days. So, just another day of contrasting opinions on your favourite forum for sounding off on football.
Dr Robert Pender emailed: “It’s not easy being a Rangers manager having to look around for bargains. This is the real reason for the slow movement of new players. Rangers need a massive buyout from a mega rich group. It would be a good investment with the great support they have. Anyone out there in the Arab world?”
But John Caw wasn’t so sympathetic in his email, writing: “Michael Beale says Ryan Kent is a technical player and not a tough guy. Would this be the same technical player who floored Scott Brown at Celtic Park?” And Eddie Easson, Ballingry , Fife, said: “Once again the human trumpet Beale is hogging the back pages. It’s really comical - they’ve won nothing and signed nobody. Now he’s saying McGregor is the best keeper in Scotland. One clean sheet since Beale’s arrival. Amazing from a manager who has only managed under thirty games in his managerial career.”
Still on Rangers, Frank McFerran, Carrickfergus , said: “I’ve always said that Kemar Roofe was a sick note of a player - he was the same at Leeds Utd. That’s one of the reasons they let him go, he is a luxury. Pity because he certainly knows how to score a goal.”
The usual bickering over VAR and decisions for and against the Old Firm continued to be batted back and forth. Chris Lowe, Yoker , emailed: “That’s three years running a dodgy decision has gone Celtic’s way in cup games.
"A few years ago in a cup final vs Hearts, Celtic got a penalty for a clear dive. In the League Cup final against Rangers they scored with three players offside which ends up the winner. Hibs last season, Hibs are denied a penalty in the dying minutes when there’s a clear push in the box.
"The other night vs Killie they’re denied a blatant penalty in the last minute at 1-0 and allowed a goal that comes off a hand into the net. When you look at big decisions at big moments in games, when does anything go against them?”
But Sean Beech, Hampshire, disagreed, saying: “I see the Rangers regulars are again gnashing their teeth about Celtic and VAR. How many of them wanted the referee to double check the Goodson handball incident?
"Yet suddenly when it’s a Celtic player involved it’s ‘they should have checked’ narrative. Make your minds up guys? Either the referee is right all of the time or fallible like the rest of us. Or maybe you are the 'we are only happy when it works in your favour 'narrative?"
Alfie Mullin, London, said: “Kenny Wilson talks rubbish on the Hotline. I mean, imagine a supporter of Celtic, complaining that Rangers get help from officials. After all, his team won the league last season due to dodgy decisions by officials.
"Two seasons before that, they were handed the title, via zoom, about 3/4 of the way through the season because of Covid. He and his cronies should think about that, before complaining that anyone else gets help.”
Arrin Geddes, Irvine, emailed: “I can only assume Alan Flett wasn’t alive when Paul McStay was playing. Any credibility Mr Flett’s opinions might have had just disappeared. Paul McStay is not only one of the finest people you could ever meet but one of Celtic and Scotland’s finest midfielders. Alan Flett, you are clueless!”
Robert McEwan, Mount Vernon, emailed: “The guy in the Hotline having a go at Celtic players like Paul McStay and Tosh McKinlay is well off the mark. Those two got Scotland caps because they were the best players in the country in their positions. How bitter are these people?”
Finally, Henry Moffat, Stirling, said: “I can’t believe there are still some fans on the Hotline criticising the Celtic board. We are hoovering up trophies and after this year’s Champions League money registers will have £60m in the bank before even selling any players. And likely another Champions League pot to follow the next year, so we are in the strongest position in our history!"
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