There was plenty of talk about marquees on the Hotline but not even a big top could shelter the Celtic board from more transfer flak raining down.
Hogh deal fails to appease fans
The Hoops are closing in on a bumper £11million deal to make Bodo Glimt striker Kasper Hogh their signing of the summer. The Denmark international arrives as a replacement for Daizen Maeda who has completed a £10m move to Ipswich Town. But even the eye-watering figures aren’t enough to placate fed-up Celtic fans who again stayed away in droves from Saturday’s glamour friendly draw with AC Milan.
Donald Dundas, Uddingston, said: “So its pull the wool over-the eyes time again at the big time shed. Sell a player who doesn't want to be there anymore and then announce a marquee £11million signing to appease the fed up fans that in reality cost £1m. You couldn't script the brass neck audacity could you?”
Davie Mitchell, Glasgow, added: “Hogh is a good start but last year we already had our marquee arrival Kieran Tierney in the door long before this stage and still made a mess of the summer window. More quality is needed and fast because the season is just a matter of days away.”
CEO absence noted
Charles Maxwell emailed: “I see Michael Nicholson chose to stay away from Parkhead for Saturday’s friendly with AC Milan. It’s nice to see him getting behind the ‘not another penny’ campaign. Turns out he's one of the Bhoys after all.”
Rangers fans also want more
Rangers might be well ahead of Celtic in terms of signings but not all Bears are content. Here’s that word again.. Drew Ferguson, Oban, said: “Rangers will not win the league this year unless they make two marquee signings that will provide creativity and quality up front. The current squad is decent but we need more than that to win the league and progress in Europe.”
Meanwhile, Jimmy Murray, Edinburgh, took an alternative view. He said: “Rather than signing players fans have never even heard of, would Celtic and Rangers not be better employing proper, professional coaches? Ones that can coach their players to defend a corner or a free kick. As right now any time an opponent sends a ball into their box it’s total panic stations. Absolutely clueless.”
Hotline handbags
It wouldn’t be a Monday morning in the office without a spat of Hotline handbags and regular caller Alan Flett appears to have stirred the nest at the weekend by questioning why Hogh would leave Champions League regulars Bodo for Celtic. Stevie Doyle emailed: “Nonsense spouter Alan Flett must be really worried about the upcoming season as for the first time he's mentioned a Celtic player without his usual "bang average" description. You are right to be worried Alan.”
Ah but wait Stevie… Right on cue, the aforementioned Alan Flett emailed: “So Celtic fans on here think Hogh is going to be the Erling Haaland of Scottish football? And his partnership with Duran will make them the new Sutton/Larsson? What you really meant was, they'll be the new Laurel/Hardy.”
Robert McEwan, Mount Vernon, said: “I see big mouth Flett getting into a fret over Celtic’s signings. Why would hardman Cammy Devlin and Lawrence Shankland leave a club who finished second to go to a team who finished third?”
