Former Rangers captain Barry Ferguson needs present skipper James Tavernier to affix him within the Ibrox Corridor of Fame however the Report Sport columnist’s opinion has break up the Hotline. Tavernier, who signed a brand new long run deal via the week, has seen the rise of the membership again from the Championship to title winners two seasons in the past and Europa League Finalists.
However Jim Fleming, Hamilton, mentioned: “Barry needs Tavernier within the Corridor of Fame with simply two cups received in six years? Come on!” And Jim McClean, Rothesay, mentioned: “That is the man who was touted for £10 million, he has signed a brand new contract as a result of no one else needs him, he's overrated. Sure he scored 17 instances in Europe, 80 per cent penalties. However my granny may rating penalty kicks.”
Nonetheless, Davie Kirkpatrick, Cambuslang, agreed with Ferguson, saying: “Barry is completely proper. No participant has executed as a lot as Tavernier to take Rangers again to the highest. He leads by instance, his character to disregard the boo boys a couple of years in the past and his targets and assists make him effectively worthy of that place within the Corridor of Fame.”
Antonio Colak is one other Rangers participant splitting opinion. However John Davidson, Armadale, has no doubts over the brand new centre ahead. He mentioned: “So many individuals shall be consuming humble pie after writing off Colak within the quantity 9 shirt. He jogs my memory a lot of Dado Prso and I hope he has as a lot success and extra. Onwards and upwards.”
Shifting on and a troublesome week in Europe noticed Rangers and Hearts maintain their qualifying hopes alive with Gers drawing 2-2 at house to PSV Eindhoven and Hearts narrowly dropping 2-1 away to Zurich. A united entrance amongst Hotline callers for all three of our representatives to succeed? Dream on.
Alan Flett emailed: “A good end result for Hearts in Switzerland so let’s hope they will fly the flag for Scotland together with Rangers. Motherwell and Dundee United must be ashamed of themselves and Celtic are a laughing inventory. In the event that they handle to get one level of their Champions League group they are going to have had a profitable marketing campaign.” Ian McDonald, Innerleithen, mentioned: “I've little doubt that Hearts will qualify however Robbie cease being damaging away.”
Stephen Mulhern, Dumbarton, mentioned: “With Craig Gordon as soon as once more performing heroics to maintain Hearts within the tie it opens up the controversy about who's the most effective goalkeeper in Scotland. I consider Joe Hart simply shades it from him. And with the wealth of expertise he brings Celtic have a combating probability of progressing from the group phases when the massive hitters go to Celtic Park.”
In the meantime, Steve McSherry, Uddingston, mentioned: “I used to be disillusioned that Hearts couldn’t depart Zurich with a win after taking the lead. Nonetheless after their show I’m hopeful that together with Rangers Scotland may have two golf equipment within the Europa League.”
Gordon Ferguson, Kilwinning, added: “They are saying you make your personal luck in life and Rangers actually did final yr a European closing placing Scottish soccer again on the map if that’s fortunate give me a few of the similar this yr. Right here’s hoping Celtic have the identical luck in contrast to final years triple European exits and might maintain Scotland on the European stage.”
Caller Colin McArdle set the cat among the many pigeons yesterday when he claimed any Rangers success over the past two years was right down to luck and that they’d be proven up by a “bang common” PSV facet. However Jim Mackenzie, East Kilbride, blasted again: “I see Colin is getting his excuses prepared early by saying PSV Eindhoven are common. It’s a pity his mighty Celtic misplaced to European giants FC Midjtyland in 2021 and averted PSV by doing so. Knocked out of three European competitions final season to groups like Bodo/Glimt and so they say Rangers have been simply fortunate within the run to the Europa League closing beating the event favorite to get there. You could not afford sufficient brasso to wash their brass necks.”
Jimmy Strangers, Tranent, mentioned: “Colin, take your head out of the place the solar do not shine. You mock Rangers for the so-called disaster in Paradise and an personal purpose within the Scottish Cup and the luck they carry in Europe and a mean Dutch facet in PSV Eindhoven who would gub your lot. I actually look ahead to VAR when it is available in as your lot will lose out on all of the dodgy penalties you get because of sure referees’ blindness and perhaps the top of additional time on the finish of video games if you find yourself drawing or dropping.”
Tam Williamson, Lanarkshire, mentioned: “Concerning Alfie Mullin's reply to my current letter, dreamers like him overlook that Celtic have now nearly a very totally different facet than what failed underneath Lennon with Jota being the most effective participant since Henrik Larsson to play in Scotland. Celtic will compete with the most effective within the Champions League while Rangers bottle will crash in Eindhoven subsequent week. The £40 million loss will begin the alarm bells ringing in Ibrox as soon as once more which appears to be an everyday prevalence inside this trophy starved comparatively new membership.”
Lastly and John Scott, Grassmoor, agrees with our very personal Michael Gannon on the alarm bells ringing over the supposed £50m SPFL grand plan.
Solely John is much more pessimistic. He mentioned: “Michael Gannon was maybe being well mannered in not mentioning that almost all of the golf equipment who commissioned the current report have American homeowners. All very profitable enterprise folks which are struggling to reflect that success on the soccer fields of Scotland.
"Construct it and they're going to come solely applies in Scotland if the leisure equals the services. Certainly they have to see we've got too many groups with too few high quality gamers. A poor product with no probability of attracting new sponsors with an additional £20m to throw at us. It is inevitable that Rangers and Celtic will transfer to a extra profitable league, seemingly adopted by Hearts, Hibs and Aberdeen.
"What then for Scottish soccer? In the event that they need to create a imaginative and prescient of a soccer league with American razzmatazz in Scotland they want slim down the numbers and if meaning amalgamation so be it. If not we are able to proceed to recollect Del Trotters well-known quote. "Don't be concerned Rodney, this time subsequent yr we'll all be millionaires.”
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