Rangers supporters have turned on manager Derek McInnes, branding him "Russell Martin in disguise" as frustration boils over in the final stretch of the transfer window. Despite significant spending, Ibrox punters on the Hotline are unhappy with the club's recruitment approach and squad selection.
Fans question Scottish talent focus
Iain Morrison, Livingston, said: "We were told in the summer we would focus on Scottish talent. What the hell is going on? Last game there was one Scot, a loanee. Connor Barron and Findlay Curtis never get a sniff under Derek McInnes. I said for years, he’s not the man for Rangers. Russell Martin in disguise. Do us a favour Derek. Go! Take all the dross that’s been signed since you came along and the recruitment team with you."
The board also faced criticism despite backing McInnes with nearly £20m on new players, with more expected to arrive. Alan Flett said: "We've left it too late for Vaclav Cerny. We should have signed him last year instead of splashing £10m on Chermiti. And we should have kept Dessers for another year. I'm convinced we would of won the title last season with Dessers and Cerny in the team."
Stephen Johnstone, Ardentinny, added: "Trillionaire Elon Musk, of the richest people on the planet, is looking to buy rockets to add to his exploring space missions into space. Well he can try giving the Ibrox board a phone as they have a few Rockets there needing fired."
Disciplinary hearing and Celtic jibes
Rangers are standing firm over their SFA disciplinary hearing into the scenes at Ibrox last March. William Hutchison, Aberdeen, said: "Rangers are saying they refuse to take full blame after the scenes in Scottish cup clash at Ibrox last season, but the Celtic fans were at fault too. So if Rangers are saying the full blame is being put on them it is utter rubbish, both set of fans are just as bad as each other."
Celtic supporters have been bullish on the Hotline about how their SPFL rivals have fared in Europe. But Gary Stevenson, Newtonhill, said: "It's strange that the Celtic regulars have been digging up some of Rangers' defeats in Europe in previous years. I was going to mention some of the teams that have toppled Celtic but I don't think the Hotline would allow me to use up the full column."
Grant Parker wrote in: "Why are all these Celtic supporters laughing at all the other Scottish teams that are playing in the European qualifiers this year. Do they not realise that with all the teams possibly getting knocked out early that Celtic will have additional qualifying rounds to play in the next few years. By all means have a go when it is domestic games but we should all be supporting the Scottish teams in any European games."
