Philippe Clement sinks Rangers so low they're on the seabed as Hotline rages against Ibrox imposters
Rangers got caught in a Spiders’ web as they crashed out the Scottish Cup - and Philippe Clement found himself entangled in a whole new level of trouble.
Furious fans bombarded the Hotline to demand the manager’s head along with others at Ibrox after Queen’s Park secured a remarkable giant killing in Govan. Jamie Thompson, Yoker, blasted: “Utter disgrace from Clement and these shameful Rangers players. You think it can't get worse then just look at that performance. Clement needs to go along with Robin Propper and few others. Totally unacceptable.”
Peter Cooperwhite emailed: “I was 10 the time Berwick Rangers knocked Rangers out the Scottish Cup. Never thought I’d see the likes of it again. We have sunk that low you could find us on the seabed along with the shipwrecks. The manager/board must change. Fans have had enough. Well done to Queen's Park, maybe it’s a blessing in disguise.”
Graham Taylor, Airdrie, added: “Enough is enough! Clement has to go. Another season over before the clocks go forward. Rangers fans recently getting excited about Igamane, Raskin and others - they are all imposters. My once great club if truth be told has never recovered from past difficulties, we are a busted flush. It's absolutely heartbreaking.”
Alfie Mullein, London, said: “Rangers getting knocked out of the Scottish Cup by Queens Park was disgraceful. If they'd had more urgency about their play and didn't think they only needed to turn up to win, then they would've got through. As it happened, they seemed to treat it like a training game, until it was too late.”
But Liam Birney, Paisley, said: “Congratulations to Queens Park and Callum Davidson on a deserved victory over Rangers. He has showed exactly why he personally has exactly the same trophy haul as Rangers since 2012 with three trophies each! Well done the Spiders.” And Laurence McCall added: “After today's defeat by Queens Park I think it's a racing certainty that Rangers will replace big Phil with Stevie G.”
Meanwhile Celtic had no such trouble against Championship opposition, thumping Raith 5-0. Daizen Maeda has never been a slouch when it comes to delivering for the Hoops. But one Hotline punter reckons he’s so fast off the mark this season that he could be moonlighting as a takeaway food delivery driver at half time in games.
The Celtic forward helped gobble up Raith with a hat trick to make it six goals in a week, 21 for the season and 50 for the Hoops in total. And Charles Maxwell emailed: “Nicholas Kuhn has been great this season but player of the year must go to Daizen Maeda. Left wing, right wing or through the middle, he’s a perpetual motion machine. Is it true he does deliveries for Just Eats at half time?”
Meanwhile David Bryce, Troon, said: “Daizen Maeda is a modern day Celtic hero. His work rate and pressing is immense however he is now turning into an exceptional footballer, whether he’s on the wing or through the middle. Celtic are truly blessed to have him. He could play for most top clubs in Europe, he’s that good.”
Kenny Wilson, Moffat , said: “Another routine win for the champions and once again Maeda putting in another great performance showing he is going to be a huge miss for Wednesday night. Good to see another big crowd and Raith will get a deserved big pay day out of it. A bit of a tougher test to come this week against a top team and while I don’t believe we can get through let’s hope we put up a good show and have a go at them.”
Celtic look to be hitting top form ahead of Bayern. And William Hutchison, Aberdeen, called with a couple of points: “First to Hotline regular Chris Lowe who called Arne Engles "pen-gels”, didn't he see that brilliant strike v Dundee? Second point, I agree with Rodgers about the morons who might not listen to him about the smoke bombs and pyro. Well they bloody well better and if they fail then other Celtic fans can't blame UEFA if we get the ban. Blame the ones who disobey.”
Michael Emonds, Northampton, said: “Chris Lowe says Celtic faced cannon fodder in the Champions League, how poor does that make Rangers when they couldn’t qualify to play as cannon fodder? He slags off Matt O’Riley’s form in England but doesn’t mention he was literally kicked off the park on his debut, his time will come. So you don’t rate Engels that will bite you on the bum by May, and that remark about Idah ‘no laughing at the back now’… I remember last May when the young man had the whole Celtic end laughing as the Rangers fans made their way to the Hampden exit.”
