The first day of the domestic close season and all is quiet as old adversaries take a deep breath and relax.
Aye, right.
This is the Hotline and there’s no close season of goodwill in this little corner of planet football.
No, it was business as usual with both halves of the Glasgow divide going at it hammer and tongs.
David Speirs, Coalhall, Ayrshire, emailed: “I read with interest on how certain Celtic supporters bang on about their record in Europe. They are only in the Champions League group stage because of Rangers. If it was based on their coefficient points total l doubt if they would have made the Eurovision Song Contest.”
But Colin McArdle, Lanarkshire, said: “Rangers have won one league title in the past 13 years . They have won one Scottish Cup in the past 13 years. They have lost the poor man’s Europa League trophy in Seville last week against a mediocre German team who are about the same standard as Norwich or Watford for example, yet the Rangers fans are bumping their gums in a make believe fantasy world that the whole of Europe are now quaking in their boots. You couldn’t make it up!”
And John Kerr, Airdrie, said: “Can someone remind Joe Graham the best team in Scotland this season is the team that wins the league over 38 games – Celtic.”
Hotline regulars Gordon Ashley and John Bruce got it in the neck as well.
Charlie McKenzie emailed: “Just to remind Mr Gordon Ashley he left out Celtic as the only team in Europe to be knocked out of three European competitions in the same year.”
On a similar theme, Willie Clark from Gifford said: “Gordon Ashley forgot to mention the other treble – getting pumped in three different European competitions in one year! Bet he’s so proud.”
But Martin Leggat countered with this dig at John Bruce, saying: “He likes statistics that suit him and are pure conjecture.
"Here are real ones. Since Rangers got back into the Premiership, out of 18 trophies available, Celtic have won 14 , St Johnstone 2 – same as Rangers. That is 11.11% . Wow.”
And Robert Frew, Glasgow, added: “Love the angst from John Bruce. Last season Rangers won the league by 25 points, this season they didn’t win it. Progress indeed.”
But John Bruce was back, saying: “The gloating by Celtic fans over Rangers losing the Europa League Final has been hilarious. The same club who brought out a book, a DVD and a play to celebrate losing their final, opening a suite at Parkhead and fleecing their fans by charging them for bricks to build a Seville Wall. You can only imagine what would’ve happened if they’d won it.
“Rangers reached a European final with a team that cost less than £20million, a feat that is unlikely to be repeated, while Celtic spent around £20m just to win a Scottish league that Rangers threw away.
“It will be interesting to see if Celtic can do the double Treble – knocked out of three European tournaments in one season, two years in a row.”
Tam Williamson, Lanarkshire, said: “GVB comes across as a decent guy but his statement after winning the Scottish Cup that ‘this is the beginning’ beggars belief.
"St Johnstone won two cups last season and fought for survival this season. Rangers lost to a mid table German team in the Europa League final whose ONLY success was reaching the European Cup Final in 1960 after hammering Rangers 12-4 on aggregate over two ties.
“GVB forgets that Rangers LOST £40million Champions League money by losing that final. The financial ball is now well and truly in Celtic’s court again and Ange will use that to Celtic’s advantage for years to come as they will dominate Scottish football once again.”
Michael Henderson added: “I hope Rangers win 'the fittest team in Scotland' award next season again.”
Gary Stevenson, from Newtonhill, emailed: “It will be interesting to see how the Scottish clubs get on in Europe next season. With the finances stacked up against them it’s clear that only major backing from sponsors and Sky will allow us to compete at this level. “The Champions League is out of reach and even the Europa League is a minefield.
"Celtic are a laughing stock in Europe, Rangers have rebuilt their reputation beating quality sides but can they go again? For Hearts, Dundee United and Motherwell I fear for them. Without serious investment we are treading water and cinch is not the answer.”
Finally, some goodwill from Stephen Johnstone, Ardentinny, who said: “The Scottish football season is over and what a cracker it was, full of controversy and heartache and fairytales with Rangers going to a European final and then winning the Scottish Cup for the first time since 2009.
“Now we have a team in the Champions League and another one with a chance of getting there, while three clubs go for the Europa or Conference League.
“I can’t wait for it all to kick off and hopefully one of them can take us back on the road to a final like Seville.”
