It's silly season in the transfer window .. and even dafter season on the Hotline as the summer shenanigans over titles, European hopes and new signings abound.
New Celtic coach Harry Kewell reckons the Hoops are going to be a “handful” in the Champions League. But George Wilson, West Sussex, said: “Couldn’t stop laughing when I read Harry Kewell’s comment. He obviously hasn’t seen their performances and results in various European competitions over the years. Celtic are and have been a total laughing stock in Europe for years. They reached the UEFA Cup final in 2003 but have done nothing else which is why we regularly have their supporters on here having to go back 55 years when they won the now defunct European Cup. They will be out of Europe again by Christmas.”
Liam Birney, Paisley, shot back at caller Jimmy Murray who claimed last season’s Hoops double was no big deal. Liam said: “Does Jimmy's envy and jealousy regarding Celtic have no limits. He's said that Celtic's league and cup win was no big deal. Would that be the league that took tens of thousands of his fellow Rangers fans onto the streets of Glasgow twice the season before last? As for the backroom staff, thanks for your input but their record is unparalleled in UK football with trophies win!”
Meanwhile Gordon Ashley, Ayr, defended Celtic full-back Josip Juranovic over claims he wasn’t worth the Hoops’ £15m valuation. Gordon said: “Yesterday’s deluded caller has just lost any credibility Rangers fans had left by claiming our full back who is keeping a full back they rated at £25m out of the Croatia team with his weaker foot, isn’t worth £15m. This kind of fairytale thinking is exactly the reason they will get less than half of the money they dream of for Calvin Bassey.”
Over to the other side of the country and Davy Cook, Edinburgh, is getting in the Edinburgh derby spirits already as he took a pop at Hibs over their recruitment.
He said: “First S haun Maloney, now David Marshall and Aiden McGeady .. who’s the next ex-Celtic old timer to join Hibs? Mcgrain and Aitken? Roll on the first Edinburgh derby.”
Sticking with Hibs and at this week’s Q&A with Lee Johnson and chief executive Ben Kensell, supporters were told that defender Rocky Bushiri had asked the latter why fans “hated him”.
But John Scott, Grassmoor, said: “Obviously it must be soul destroying reading online criticism of yourself but you have to stand back and ask why? Bushiri was leaving the club and a lot of Hibs supporters were not disappointed to see him go. He must know himself he's hardly endeared himself to a frazzled support with some of his error-strewn displays. So the moment he triggers a clause in his loan deal to make his Hibs stay permanent there was bound to be a backlash. Yes some fans can act like morons in the anonymity of cyberspace but the vast majority can identify if a player is worthy of that green jersey or not.”
Over to Kilmarnock and Jim McClean, Rothesay, said: “It is ok our manager Derek McInnes saying we were a Premiership team, that’s history, we had some decent players then, now we have a bunch of no hopers if last season is anything to go by, I really fear the worst and don’t think we will survive next season to be honest.”
Finally a warming message from Tam Cowan who emailed: "Can I convey my thanks to Sir Rod Stewart via the Hotline, as I know he reads it every day, for kindly giving me a VIP meet and greet package to auction at the Andy Goram fundraiser on Wednesday night in the Airdrie Working Men's Club.
“It went for an astonishing £10,000 and a total of £30,000 was raised on the night for cancer charities, the St Andrew's Hospice and Andy's family thanks to the generosity of a capacity crowd and the efforts of many former Rangers and Celtic players who took part in a star-studded Q&A. Cheers, Rod!"
