Rangers Fans React to Opening Day Draw
Rangers fans are still reeling from the opening day draw with Dundee United, with many taking to the Hotline to express their opinions on the team's transfers and mentality.
What Happened?
The debate over the new Ibrox boss' first game in charge dominated the phones on what was supposed to be a quiet Sunday. The Hotline inquiry into Rangers' opening day draw with Dundee United is in full flow - and Derek McInnes is straight in the firing line.
Why It Matters for Rangers
The knives are already out, with some fans calling for more signings and others criticizing the team's performance. The boss has had just one competitive game in charge, but the pressure is mounting.
What Comes Next?
With the Premiership action up and running, transfer business has been bubbling along quietly behind the scenes. Celtic are holding out for a big payday if Arne Engels is to join West Ham, and some fans are baffled that Rangers cannot command a similar fee for Nicolas Raskin.
Rangers are currently 4th in the Premiership, with 1 point from 1 game, and are 2 points behind leaders ST Mirren. They have scored 1 goal and conceded 1 this season, with their next fixture against Kilmarnock on December 26th. Connor Barron and José Cifuentes are currently sidelined.
The debate over the new Ibrox boss' first game in charge dominated the phones on what was supposed to be a quiet Sunday. The Hotline inquiry into Rangers' opening day draw with Dundee United is in full flow - and Derek McInnes is straight in the firing line. The boss has had just one competitive game in charge, but the knives are already out.
Barriemore Barlow, Dunbartonshire, said: "Rangers looked rudderless and disjointed, no discernible plan was apparent. The new recruits are not of a high quality. Another batch that is no better than the lot brought in by Russell Martin!"
Gordon Ashley, Ayr, said: "What a loser mentality Derek McInnes has started the season with. Shouting at referees when not one bad decision has gone against his team. The truth is he is a bog standard Scottish manager in charge of a club going nowhere. His claim to fame is finishing second behind the champions."
However, Robert Livingstone, Palm Beach, was more forgiving - as he agreed with the boss over a need to bring in more wide men this summer. He said: "It didn't go to plan but at the end of the day, Dundee United deserved the point. It could've been worse after United missed simple chance at the end to win it. Rangers must find a playmaker who can make things happen. Obvious choice for McInnes has to be [Vaclav] Cerny, would be money well spent if he can deliver the club trophies. Ryan Naderi has got his critics, fair enough he's struggled, but he tries non-stop, McInnes shouldn't give up on him."
John Spence, South Ayrshire, called for calm from his fellow Ibrox diehards: "With 14 out of the last 15 seasons ending in abject misery, and with Russell Martin's disastrous tenure fresh in our minds, I understand fellow Rangers fans pressing panic buttons after the first game of the new season. But even by our standards guys debating McInnes successor already is ridiculous. Yes, we need decent results on the pitch, but we badly need stability off it. For the first time in a while we have ambitious owners and a string of Rangers men running through our club, a group who will feel our pain because it's theirs too. Let's give them a chance. This won't be an easy season, for us few are, but I do believe we're finally on the right track. But it may be a long haul and patience, not our strong point, will be required."
With the Premiership action up and running, transfer business has been bubbling along quietly behind the scenes. Celtic are holding out for a big payday if Arne Engels is to join West Ham, and Melvin Gess, Corbridge, is baffled that Rangers cannot command a similar fee for Nicolas Raskin. He said: "Hells Bells! Please someone explain to me how Engles can be worth £25m and Raskin £20m? Are Celtic really that much better at marketing their product?"
Having only ended the 28-year wait to return to the World Cup last summer, Scotland have joined their fellow UEFA nations in agreeing to boycott the tournament amid an escalating row with FIFA. European football's governing body have now declared a total loss of confidence in FIFA President Gianni Infantino after his plan to sell a private equity stake in World Cup commercial rights. Robert Burns noted:
