Celtic fans are growing increasingly frustrated with the club's lack of transfer activity as the new Scottish Premiership season draws near. The Hoops have been linked with Kasper Hogh and Haissem Hassan, while negotiations with Paderborn over Mika Baur continue.
Fan anger over transfer dealings
David Beattie from Rothesay voiced his concerns: "Are we Celtic supporters being treated like mushrooms by Dermot Desmond and his board over Kasper Hogh and Haissem Hassan? When did Celtic actually make a statement signing, let alone two? These two boys will have the choice of any Premier League club, so we wait with bated breath to see if this is actually Celtic being progressive in the transfer market. I won't be putting the mortgage on Celtic finally getting their act together."
Rangers busy under McInnes
Rangers have been active in the market under new manager Derek McInnes, with Partizan Belgrade captain Vanja Dragojevic the latest arrival. However, Peter Cooperwhite remains sceptical: "I hope I'm wrong but this time last season we had Russell Martin bring in young players, and now as huge potential we've signed Vanja Dragojevic. We've still got a few from that managerial disaster. I know he was captain and really hope he lives up to the hype good luck with him, as we need big players to step up."
Jamie Thompson from Glasgow criticised some Rangers players after the friendly against St-Etienne: "How much longer is Rangers manager putting up with Chermiti? Few others that are just lazy, no fight, standing on pitch, not part."
McInnes ban and penalty debate
McInnes received a four-game touchline ban from the SFA for comments about a Celtic penalty during his time at Hearts. Jim McClean from Rothesay said: "Derek McInnes was wrong and should rightly be punished, don’t know why Rangers are appealing the decision, I see they have started their season well by being awarded two penalties, some things never change, this will be the norm this season."
Ken Tweed added: "Regarding the SFA notice of complaint to Elliot Watt and Derek McInnes over the very late penalty awarded to Celtic against Motherwell. The SFA Key Incident panel confirmed that the penalty should not have been awarded so the comments made by both were only pointing out not only their views but also those of the SFA Independent Panel. It was not that long ago that the then Celtic chairman commented about referee Walsh being selected to referee a cup game after having not showing a red card to an opposition player in previous game. Referee Madden was also mentioned in his complaints about referees yet I don’t remember any action being taken then when the referees names were actually stated."
Hibs and Hearts suffer European defeats
Hibs began their season with a 2-0 Conference League loss in Kosovo to KF Malisheva, just days after Hearts were thumped 4-0 by Sturm Graz. Neil Renton from Leith said: "You know it’s an embarrassing loss for Hibs when you’ve even got your Jambo mates winding you up about it. The defeat to minnows Makisheva may be so funny that it could win a comedy award at the Fringe Festival. At least we’ve had our worst performance of the season in the first game. Surely even Hibs can’t get any worse…?"
John Scott from Grassmoor commented: "What can you say about Hibs? Not a lot as it turns out. What a woeful, pathetic performance. No doubt they'll blame the pitch, but players from both sides were falling on their backsides during a turgid 90 minutes. Didn't stop Malisheva getting two goals while dancing through our powder puff defence though. Hopefully the stick they received when they got back to Scotland will spur them on to overturn the two goal deficit. Let's also hope David Gray has them practising how to cross a ball into the box, as every attempt was either charged down or went straight to an opponent. The final kick summed up Hibs display. Down two nil, got a corner at the death, couldn't beat the first man. The end."
Stephen Johnstone from Ardentinny also took aim at Hearts: "Hearts were Dung Gaz against Strum Graz in their first Champions League qualifier. And watching Wouters flops, one can say without McInnes, and Shankland, Devlin, who all jumped ship to Ibrox, they have run out of Gaz before the Premier League starts and will be looking for a new manager before Xmas."
