It's a sending off which has sparked a blazing barney and had both sides of the argument seeing red. Graeme Shinnie’s dismissal against Ross County and Aberdeen’s subsequent failed appeal which brought an extra game ban for the midfielder brought the fire to the Hotline this week.
Shinnie will miss Sunday’s clash with Rangers - and ex-Ibrox hero Kris Boyd stoked the flames when he claimed the Dons knew they couldn’t win and only appealed to whip up a storm ahead of the Pittodrie powderkeg. But Hugh McKirdy emailed: “I had to laugh at Kris Boyd accusing Aberdeen of attempting to bend the rules regarding Graeme Shinnie. I mean it's not as if Rangers would ever dream of looking for an advantage, is it Kris?”
But Gary Stevenson, Newtonhill, said: “I know that Rangers haven't been great this season but let me assure the Aberdeen fans that they were never scared of facing Derby reject Graeme Shinnie. If you check back you will find that the SFA have never favoured Rangers. I know that it's a massive game for Aberdeen, perhaps they should put the effort in every week and not just when Rangers come to town.”
Right on cue Dons fans Martin Stewart, Aberdeen, hit back: “Shinnie won the ball and had no way of pulling out the tackle. If that’s a red card then the game is done. As for Rangers fans saying Aberdeen are trying to bend the rules and we only ever try against them - I wish we’d try a bit harder as it’s three games and three defeats this season whereas we’ve won our last six against other opposition.”
Sticking with Rangers and Michael Beale opened up on his transfer plans this week when he said he was targeting players that would help the current group reach their targets of winning trophies and playing in the Champions League.
But Gerard Kelly emailed: “Micheal Beale can talk all he wants because right now he knows he is up against it and if he talks about great things the Rangers fans will buy into it. But that’s their problem, deluded as usual. To say you’re going to challenge in Europe .. the fact is you can’t even challenge Celtic let alone Europe I can see a p45 in the post soon.”
Celtic fan Bud Hay claimed in yesterday’s Hotline that reading Beale’s Champions League target made him choke on his brekkie.
But George Wilson, West Sussex, said: “Bud has been telling us for weeks that he is choking on his Rice Krispies or flying to the moon and that Michael Beale will be sacked by the end of the season if he doesn’t win a trophy. There is no chance Beale will be sacked but if he is I will pay for a year’s supply of Rice Krispies or for a trip to the moon for Bud where hopefully he will stay and carry on with his anti Rangers obsession.”
David Bryce, Troon, took the Euro criticism across the city to Celtic Park when he compared the Hoops’ recent record to Dutch cracks Az Alkmaar who have reached the Conference League semi finals and Belgians Union St Gilloise who bowed out at the Europa League quarters this week.
David said: “When you look at the performance of the likes of AZ and Union St Gilloise in Europe then there can no longer be any excuses for Celtic continually failing at that stage. Ange Postecoglou can never be regarded as a Celtic great until he makes an impact in Europe. Our shoddy record must improve or he won’t get his dream move to England.”
Finally and with Hibs’ top six hopes going to the wire this afternoon, Neil Renton, Edinburgh, backed Lee Johnson and said: “Johnson was right not to celebrate with Hibs fans after the derby win. Instead of celebrating a win over a poor team wait until there’s something really worth celebrating."
READ NEXT:
