A WARM welcome once again to FEEDBACK FRIDAY, our new column that welcomes the fans’ views, frank or frivolous, candid or controversial, blunt or brutal, as you let off steam with your observations, comments and opinions.
The weekend starts here, so let’s see what has been interesting, intriguing or even irking Scotzine readers.
Strap yourself in, please, we’re in for a bumpy ride.
John Stone gets the ball rolling with a gripe. He opens with: “I see Celtic and Rangers are getting a lot of praise for raising Scotland’s European coefficient with their recent exploits.
“You have to give credit to the Glasgow teams. I watched last night’s games on the TV and Rangers did brilliantly to get back into the game in Rotterdam after looking dead and buried at half-time. It was 1-0 going on 6-0 for Dick Advocaat’s side, but they managed to turn it around in a sirring second-half with Alfredo Morelos getting two goals. Their dreams of a win were thwarted by a leveller, but 2-2 was no disgrace.
“At Parkhead, Celtic only had to go through the motions against Rennes, but they played with a lot of intensity and purpose after a slow start. They were well worth their 3-1 win and the first goal was a thing of beauty with four players getting a touch in a swift raid down the left that was finished with Lewis Morgan sticking the ball away with a fair bit of style.
“Ryan Christie and Mikey Johnston added the others and, despite the hiccup of conceding near the end, it was another praiseworthy performance by Neil Lennon’s team.
“So, all well and good, then? Well, not really. We now have the opportunity to get extra teams into Europe and I have to ask: What is the point? Our representatives are likely to be turned over by opposition from mighty nations such as Malta, Luxembourg and Cyprus. Does anyone want to discuss Kilmarnock 2 Connah’s Quay Nomads 3? Exactly!”
Ed answers: Well, John, thanks for that insightful summary, it’s cheered me up no end.
Dave Bennett got in touch to say he reckons Alfredo Morelos is wildly over-rated at £40million following the tale in Scotzine during the week in which outgoing Rangers chairman Dave King insisted the Colombian striker would not be sold even for funny money.
“He is not worth £40million – more like 40 pence,” was Dave’s short and sharp summing-up of the player.
Ed answers: Do I detect a slight discrepancy in your valuation of the player’s qualities and that of King? In any case, I see he is now rated in the FIFTY MILLION POUND bracket after his two goals against Feyenoord last night.
Philip Drysdale says he is slightly puzzled over the comments of the Livingston manager after watching his Livi side lose 4-0 to Celtic at Parkhead, as reported in Scotzine. He asks: “How Gary Holt can say if you take the four goals out of the game Celtic didn’t cut them up is just bewildering.”
Ed answers: I think you might have a point, Philip. Stats show Celtic had almost THIRTY attempts at the Livi goal last weekend.
“How long before Kieran Tierney and Brendan Rodgers are reunited at Arsenal?” asks Jan Thompson. “The Gunners gubbed again, this time in London by Eintracht Frankfurt. Poor old Unai Emery has been in the line of sights of his bosses for a chunk of the season already.
“Now he has been given the old heave-ho, what are the odds on Rodgers taking over at the Emirates? I’d put my life savings on it.”
Ed answers: Interesting point, Jane. Life savings, eh? I suppose that depends on how much you’ve got in the bank, doesn’t it?
Eddie Smithies isn’t holding his breath on Aberdeen splurging the cash to team up Harry Kane with Sam Cosgrove in the January transfer window. He says: “The way I understand it, Derek McInnes has been told there WILL be a kitty for new players.
“A figure of £5million in investment has been mentioned since Dave Cormack took over as chairman from Stewart Milne. I wonder how much the manager will get for new players?
“He was allowed to splash a whopping £125,000 on Scunthorpe’s Funso Ojo in the summer and that was our top buy. I’m guessing he’ll be lucky if he even gets half that in January.”
Ed answers: Good to see such a positive outlook, Eddie.
The last word goes to Lucy O’Neill who offers: “I read in Scotzine this week tales from three former Celtic players, Andy Walker, Murdo MacLeod and Simon Donnelly, all warning Neil Lennon about the quality of Rangers under Steven Gerrard. Maybe they’ll shut up next month after the League Cup Final at Hampden and the league game at Parkhead.
“The silverware is already in the bag for the fourth successive season and the points won’t be leaving the east end of Glasgow.”
Ed answers: It won’t be dull on these two occasions, that’s for sure, Lucy. Questions will be asked of both sides. Glasgow will be no place for the faint-hearted on December 8 or 29.
* Well, folks, time has beaten us for another week. Thank you once again for your shrewd observations. Please ktc and ktc – keep them coming and keep them clean – and we’ll use the best of them in FEEDBACK FRIDAY. As ever, enjoyable spending time in your company. Thanks for your support and have a wonderful weekend wherever the action may take you. See you the same place next week!
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