Good columnists stimulate debate and argument. So, Barry Ferguson and Keith Jackson can consider their latest offerings as a job well done because their respective assertions that Steven Davis and Ryan Kent should be weighed in with new deals, provoked a reaction on the Hotline - even if the callers couldn't have disagreed more with them.
Liam Birney, Paisley, said: "I read with bewilderment Barry Ferguson's comments about giving Steve Davis a new contract. These should be awarded on merit and not sentiment. Certainly not for loyalty as he was one of the players that walked away in 2012. It was exactly this type of financial suicide that contributed to their meltdown. Celtic evidenced their business model letting go a much younger icon in Scott Brown."
Paul McCormack, Coatbridge, emailed: "Keith Jackson's column about Ryan Kent should have its own chapter in the Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe, high fantasy at its best. He's gone in the wardrobe found a player that Does for Rangers what the little magician, Messi, does for Argentina.' A player that 'operates on another level' and is worth giving 'what he wants'? A player that's worth giving 'What he wants'.. Your talents are wasted in the sports column, Keith, with that active imagination of yours."
And Sam Morton, Edinburgh, added: "I know that Keith Jackson is a big Ryan Kent defender but mentioning him in the same breath as Lionel Messi is laughable. Kent plays for a team who are on the front foot in 90% of league matches yet has scored only one league goal in the last twelve months, and a meaningless one at that (the fourth in a 4-0 win at Tynecastle). He has a modest assist record and regularly goes AWOL in games. Is Keith his agent?"
*To be fair to Keith, his point was that Kent can be as important to Rangers as Messi is to Argentina. That's not saying Kent is on a par with Messi!
Still on Rangers, Paul McArdle, Gourock, said: "John Lundstram is saying Rangers have banished talk of the nine point gap Celtic have before they play Celtic - whilst he's talking about the nine point gap and Celtic. Obsessed and yet too dumb to realise it."
Bill Park, Bathgate, said: "Michael Beale has done great to get the results needed for Rangers, with the personnel he has available. He obviously needs get reliable strikers in the January transfer window. Morelos should be sold, and Sakala and Matondo offloaded. Colak and Roofe have proved they can score goals for Rangers, but they need back-up urgently."
Denis Bruce, Bishopbriggs, said: "Why can't referees stop the clock when an injury occurs or when time wasting is involved and that could be recorded on the stadium television screen for all to see? Once the referee restarts play after such incidents, the spectators would see how much longer is still to play in any half. Having to wait until somebody holds up an electronic board with the additional time to be played does not seem sensible. That holding up of the electronic board gives room for conspiracy theories whereas the referee stopping and restarting the clock visible to all spectators would remove any thoughts of conspiracy theories."
Finally, a point we can all agree on. Eddie Easson, Ballingry, Fife, emailed: "People talking about career ending injuries to Craig Gordon and Steven Davis are way off the mark. These two guys are consummate pros who will not allow their careers to finish this way. Age won't come into it they will fight all the way to get back on the park. Good luck to both of them."
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