Nico Raskin reckons Rangers are going to do “something great” next season. But callers have told the midfielder to let his football do the talking - by beating Celtic when it really matters. Fair to say the Ibrox side’s Old Firm victory on Saturday continued to fire up the Hotline a full two days on. And it was Raskin’s comments that stoked the flames.
Liam Birney, Paisley, said: “Here we go again with the same old rhetoric and nonsense from Rangers players. If Saturday's victory over half a Celtic team in a dead rubber match means you're on the verge of greatness you're kidding yourself Nicolas Raskin. Come back when you beat Celtic when it matters! Not when they just put you out of all competitions!” Martin Leggat emailed: “One win in a dead rubber, no trophies and the young Nicolas Rascal has them having some season next year. Wow!”
However there was backing for Rangers. Willie Mercer, Dumfries, said: “Spare me the claims that the game meant nothing, every Old Firm game is important. Spare me the excuse that it was because it was a weakened Celtic team. The Celtic squad has been put together by Postecoglou himself and he played a hand from his own deck. Beale has been dealing hands from someone else's deck all season. So he deserves some plaudits for the performance and the result.”
Alan Flett emailed: “Good win for the Gers but we need to beat them when there are trophies at stake. We’re not far away and the result proved that Celtic’s squad isn’t as strong many people think. Postecoglou was once again found wanting when things weren’t going his way and I can’t see Celtic improving any further under his watch. Bealeball hear we come!”
And Gary Stevenson, Newtonhill, said: “It will be interesting to see how many Celtic fans can be bothered to turn up at Celtic Park on Saturday as the remaining matches ‘don't matter’. Also, it looks like the show pony cleaned up against eleven carthorses. Celtic fans should be more careful when criticising other teams players. As for Todd Cantwell, ‘neigh bother’.”
They might stand on the brink of a Treble but Celtic fans were far from chuffed with Saturday’s 3-0 defeat.
Lewis Doyle, Tipperary, said: “I’m a Celtic supporter but let's not kid ourselves on, we’ve not improved over the last year. Before they go into the Champions League they will have to play many friendlies against European teams because if they don't improve against them, then big Ange will be off as that's the only challenge he has left in Scotland. For a man who has the vision he has, Scottish football will become boring very quickly.”
Stephen Mulhern, Dumbarton, added: “I hate saying this but I feel Postecoglou didn’t grasp the significance of the fixture when not starting with his strongest line up. It must have given Rangers a huge lift seeing the likes of Kyogo on the bench and I can understand it if there’s an important European fixture in midweek but sending out a weakened side against our arch rivals was astonishing.”
However, Jim Nichol, Armadale, said: “I was slightly disappointed with Saturday’s result against Rangers but, to all the Gers fans out there, we Celtic win the games that matter and also on course for a record eight domestic trebles.”
And Robert McEwan, Mount Vernon, added: “Celtic were abysmal, no getting away from that, but considering what we have done in the league and cups, I don't think real Celtic fans can complain too much. I’m not.”
Finally, awards season is in full swing and, Gordon Blackwell, Glasgow, said: “As a Rangers supporter, I was astonished that Malik Tillman won the young player of the year award. He showed a few nice touches but was posted missing in any of the games against the teams near the top of the league. I would be surprised if he returns to Ibrox, as the proposed fee is way over the top.”
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