Michael Beale has striking issues with hitmen such as Antonio Colak and Alfredo Morelos heading out of the door. The Ibrox manager and his recruitment staff are hunting for fresh faces.
Unsurprisingly, the Hotline has a view on the entire situation with Andy Adams, Kirkcaldy, feeling one solution is right under Beale’s nose. He said: “We’ve been linked with strikers from the four corners of the earth when the perfect guy is just miles down the motorway. Kevin Van Veen. He’s scored plenty for Motherwell and can do the same for Rangers. He should be a priority. He might cost £1.5 million, but he’s worth it.”
Beale has to pick an attacking unit for Saturday’s game against Celtic and Andy Logan, Livingston, said: “After his public condemnation of Morelos not making a difference, something that’s been apparent for months. I watched Liel Abada come on against Hearts for Celtic and chase lost causes, trying to influence the game showing energy and professionalism. That is how you put yourself in the shop window. With a manager who has the class not to publicly lambast players who might be moving on. Interesting to see if Morelos makes Saturday’s squad?”
Rangers will play for just pride in the final Old Firm meeting of the season with no chance of winning a trophy. But Ian McKay, Denny, said: “Let’s get some things straight here. Celtic are ahead of Rangers off the park and at present, so deserve to win the league, have won one cup and will win the Scottish Cup within 20 minutes of kick-off.
"I am sure most Rangers fans would have Daizen Maeda, Kyogo and Cameron Carter Vickers if they were honest, but the rest of the Celtic squad? No. All on a par with the Rangers squad. Both Gio and Beale have had an horrific injury crisis to face. The hype that Celtic are way ahead of Rangers and will get stronger is nonsense.”
Henry Moffat kicked off a storm in yesterday’s Hotline over the stat that Rangers have not had a penalty awarded against them this season. Helen McLean, Inverness, said: “It’s not the fact that Rangers are the only club in Europe that doesn’t get penalties awarded against them, it’s the fact they are constantly given penalties for infringements that are nowhere near as bad as the ones they are let off with.”
Michael Emonds, Northampton, had a stat of his own and said: “Across all the top leagues in Scotland and England, 133 out of 134 teams have conceded a penalty in the league. Which team is the only team not to have conceded one? Answer on a postcard please.”
But Chris Lowe, Yoker, responded: “Well Henry I’d like UEFA to look at the skewed foul to card ratio Celtic hold over every other team in the league season after season. PS: Henry, who is the only team to go through a season not conceding a penalty? I’ll give you a clue it’s the one that gets all the decisions and starts and ends with a C. 2016 season.”
Celtic’s kids won the Glasgow Cup Final and Brian McDermott emailed: “Congratulations on winning another trophy for our club. Ironically on penalties at Ibrox of all places, who would have believed it?”
Manchester City, Real Madrid and the Milan giants served up two cracking Euro first legs, but Hugh McKirdy sent an email to say: “Who needs the Champions League when you have the Scottish play-offs? 23 goals over four games on Tuesday. That’s value!”
Allan Morrison, meanwhile, had an idea which could prevent a situation where Inverness are idle for a long period ahead of the Scottish Cup Final. He said: “Why not make the Championship 12 clubs with a split the same as the Premiership so it would stop this ridiculous time gap that Inverness have to endure before the Final.”
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