A jam-packed Hotline had callers with plenty to say about Aston Villa’s apparent interest in making Steven Gerrard their new manager.
There was also more widespread condemnation about the behaviour of a section of the Celtic support at Dens Park on Sunday.
Scott Gowers, Edinburgh, said: “Steven Gerrard has won the heart of every Rangers fan and none of us want him to leave.
“If Gerrard decides to leave Rangers for Aston Villa it will be for the money. Should Gerrard stay at Ibrox he’ll have far more success.
“Here’s the reality at Villa - the possibility of an FA or League Cup win and possible UEFA Cup finishing positions.
“Gerrard will probably miss the opportunity to manage Liverpool going the Villa route, the risk is massive and spending £90m couldn’t save the previous manager.
“To all the pundits thinking Gerrard will jump ship, I think they’re wrong as Gerrard has ambition (no disrespect to Villa) and one day he would love to manage Liverpool which as I say the Villa route would more than likely put that ambition on the back burner.
“Callum Davidson however would be an ideal candidate for Villa, look at the success he’s had on a shoestring budget, think what he could do with the likes of £90m.”
Frank McFerran, Carrickfergus, said: “As a Rangers fan I am also a realist, Stevie G will leave Rangers some time soon, I always said that this was his last season at Ibrox.
“Aston Villa would be an excellent team for him to cut his teeth on in the Premier league, they have a big support and a wealthy owner who will spend money . That’s the problem with Rangers at the moment - bargain basement players is mostly all he can hope for whilst at the likes of Villa he could spend money , and his European contacts are now good.
“I wouldn’t like the guy to leave but I would understand his motives, he wants to be a Premier League manager and maybe England manager, Rangers supporters can’t fault him for that. I, hope he does well in his life as a manager.
“I would like Gary McAllister to stay as Rangers manager, remember the great Walter Smith took over after Souness, the rest is history.”
But Andy Adams, Kirkcaldy, said: “Why would Steven Gerrard want to go to Aston Villa? He would be taking a huge gamble, is he certain to keep them up? No. Will he do his reputation damage? Possibly. And would it affect his chances of the Liverpool job? Most definitely. He needs to stay, win another championship or a cup or two, maybe a treble, then the job he craves is his for the taking.”
John Bruce emailed: “This season is already taking on a similar look to last season for Rangers - a relentless push for the league title. No matter what happens elsewhere, Rangers only have to do what they did when they won 55 - win their games and there’s nothing the other teams can do to stop them.”
Onto Celtic, and their fans’ disruption of the minute’s silence on Remembrance Sunday was pilloried.
Ian McKendrick, Glasgow, emailed: “Celtic fans are so ignorant with the minute silence, did none of their family ever serve in the armed forces?”
William Hutchison, Aberdeen, emailed: “I’m so ashamed how Celtic fans behaved on Sunday. So you don’t agree with the appointment of Bernard Higgins, with wearing poppies for Remembrance, with a minute’s silence BUT you’re happy for the club to get into trouble and another huge fine for your antics. I got told to dry my eyes by someone when I said this, but I am a Celtic fan and want them to stop dragging the club down.”
George Wilson, West Sussex, said: “How embarrassing at the moment to be a Celtic supporter. Noisy and disrespectful last week during tributes to Walter Smith and now again this week at minutes silence Remembrance Day ceremonies. Throwing tennis balls on to the pitch at Dundee and stopping the game . Kyogo for the second week running trying to get a fellow professional sent off by going down after minimal contact like he has been shot by a sniper and finally the cringeworthy celebrations by the Celtic players with the supporters behind the goal after rising to second in the league. Yes, the best supporters in the world.”
Jim Mackenzie, East Kilbride, said: “Once again a section of the Celtic support boo and sing during the minute’s silence for Remembrance Day. They then follow that up with a song about poppies. What a disgrace they are. Shame on each and every one of you.”
John Scott, Grassmoor, emailed: When will someone in power get off their backsides and do something about the disgraceful behaviour of Celtic fans? Two of my great-uncles died in Burma, not during conflict but due to disease, starvation and ill treatment at the hands of their Japanese captors. It took three years for the news of their deaths to reach Scotland. My Grandmother and her brothers were children of an Irish Catholic who moved to Scotland with his parents in the late 1800s. “How dare Celtic fans disrupt a moment’s silence in their memory. Move to England’s Premier League? They wouldn’t last a minute in London, Manchester or Birmingham displaying such disrespect for the fallen of British families.”
Paul Price emailed: “To the so-called, ‘green brigade” there is no place for your despicable behaviour at any football ground, never mind at Paradise (Celtic Park). Either wind your necks in or stay away...believe me, you will not be missed.”
Chris Lowe, Yoker, said: “Two weeks running now Kyogo has cheated and feigned a facial injury to get a player possibly red carded and a penalty kick awarded , his latest one against Dundee again going unpunished by the referee. Surely the Compliance Officer must step in. He’s a good player but he needs called out.”
Stuart McLeod, Stepps , emailed: “Hopefully Kyogo Furihashi can make a full recovery after two weeks of severe assaults. Last weekend he endured a savage beating inside the Livi penalty area by the incredible Hulk. This week he had to endure a couple of upper cuts from the invisible man inside the Dundee box. My advice to Kyogo would be to try and avoid the opposition penalty areas as all these assaults seem to take place there.”
David Bryce, Troon, said: “I find it really strange that Anthony Ralston is not in the national squad. He has been outstanding this season. He is a better right back than O’Donnell and Patterson , who never gets a game at Ibrox. In relation to Jota I would be in his ear asking him to sign permanently and give us another two good seasons after this one, and then the club could sell the lad for excess of £20million. The boy is a huge talent.”
Tam Williamson, Lanarkshire , is also a Jota fan. He said: “Celtic must stump up the money and sign Jota NOW. This young man is in the same class as Di Canio, Laudrup and Jinky and will play at the highest level anywhere in Europe . Wonderful to see such a talent choose to play his football in Scotland.”
But Jimmy Murray, Edinburgh , isn’t happy, saying: “I read on Celtic website some fans are happy with the defence and backroom hangers-on Kennedy and Strachan. Celtic have played two real football teams this season, Betis and Leverkusen and shipped 8 goals!
“The return legs of these ties are due in the coming weeks and I’m confident another 8 plus will be conceded. But if these fans are happy with clean sheets in the Mickey Mouse league that’s fine. I remember when Celtic were a force in Europe. Sadly these days are gone and will be until we have proper coaching.”
