The nets have been taken down and the balls put away for the summer as Scottish football takes a well-earned breather.
Yet there’s still plenty of hot air being spouted on the Hotline as the never-ending bicker-fest continues.
Brian McDermott, Maryhill, was first up to take a pop back at one of yesterday’s callers: “So delusional John Bruce reckons his team threw away the league to concentrate on being runners-up in another competition? Here's hoping they throw away the next two titles to Celtic as well that will give us title 54, surpassing the old Rangers’ total or 53 and a half.”
Robert McEwan, Mount Vernon, added: “Big mouth Bruce is at it again. Don’t know one Celtic fan that wanted Rangers to win in Seville. It’s people like him that put you off wanting a fellow Scottish team to win. He would be gloating as if it was the big cup they won.”
Sean Beech, Hampshire, emailed: “Whilst Rangers have earned Scottish clubs more co-efficient points in Europe over the last two seasons, these things swing in roundabouts.
“The totals for the last 20 years (Celtic 156 Rangers 138.75) are better at showing trends but of course Rangers fans don’t want to hear about history, especially when it shows yet again they are second best.”
Charles Buchanann said: “Why do all these Rangers fans on here keep saying they gave the league away this season because of points they dropped? Celtic dropped five points to Livingston, two to Dundee United, two to St Mirren, two to Hibs and four to rangers. That’s 15 points in games we should have won and we still won the league.”
Hotline regular Gordon Ashley, Ayr, also chipped in: “All these sore loser excuses from Rangers fans are boring. The truth is if the champions had the squad we have now at the start of the season, we would have won the league by 15 points.
“With Celtic having £26millon in the bank soon to be supplemented by £40m champions league cash, there will be no nine-point start this year.”
But John Charles, Falkirk, reckons it’s time for the green half of Glasgow responded to their blue adversaries’ Europa League run.
“It’s been 55 years since Celtic won the European Cup, it’s time to leave it in the past and with respect to the Lisbon Lions, no more parading our replica of the big cup. Leave it in the trophy cabinet and never take it out again.
"We must improve in Europe. Rangers’ exploits last week are a wake-up call. Had they won, things would never have been the same again.”
Responding for the Gers faithful was Robert Hoey, Kirkintilloch, who said: “Since our club has completed its journey back to the top level and strengthened to be able to compete, which was the 2020/2021 season, we have won two from six trophies – the same as Celtic – and also reached a European final, generating an estimated £40m.
“With whatever we earn from next season's European adventure, it will be more than whatever Celtic have earned over this and next season. Hopefully Celtic don't damage our coefficient too much as European football is not for everyone.”
Lewis Fotheringham, Mount Ellen, said: “I had to laugh at Colin McArdle comparing Eintratcht Frankfurt to Norwich City. If we are going by that logic, then Bodo/Glimt are no better than Barnsley, who finished bottom of the English Championship.”
Chris Lowe, Yoker, added: “Rangers have gone deep in Europe with some fantastic individual displays, including three players in the all-star 11 and our right-back claiming the top scorer prize, so where are the £30m-rated valuations?
“Do they have to be outstanding against Hamilton and Motherwell like the Celtic players were who previously got this accolade, as it sure wasn’t in Europe they gained these valuations.
“Celtic only won this year’s title with the help of numerous ‘honest mistakes’ that all went their way with the same four officials involved most of the time.”
Last up was Stephen Johnstone, Ardentinny, who said: “Rangers can’t be sentimental here. Allan McGregor, Steven Davis and Leon Balogun have been instrumental on helping us to the dizzy heights of a European final but the time has come for the trio to bow out gracefully. They will go down in folklore as true blue legends like the whole 2022 team.”
