Ranging Rangers fans reckon time is up for Michael Beale and Ibrox chiefs should send out an SOS to Graeme Souness.
The defeat to Aberdeen on Saturday – after Celtic's late win at Motherwell – seems to be the final straw for Hotline punters and they are already looking towards a club legend to salvage the season. Gary Stevenson, Newtonhill, said: “The time has come to reintroduce Souness to Glasgow Rangers. The fans need a boost and let's be honest the Premiership can easily be won as the standard is poor. By adding pride and grit, Rangers can still win the Treble this year.”
Robert Livingstone, Palm Beach, said: “End this disaster quickly before there's no way back. Beale's position is now untenable, he's single-handedly brought down Rangers with mediocre signings, throwing away £14 million and a January fire sale is now on the cards. James Bisgrove should bring in Graeme Souness until the end of the season. If anyone has a chance to save the season it's him, he’s done it before in similar circumstances, he knows the club inside out and he's aye ready.”
James Forsyth, Bellshill, said: “We have injuries The fans understand that but it's the signings. Dessers for Colak, Lammers for Hagi and Arfield? Sakala allowed to go when we have no width? Time for Souness as an interim until we can find an experienced winning manager.”
John Allardyce, Edinburgh, said: “Beale must go now. He’s brought in duds – apart from goalie Jack Butland – and this team is a laughing stock. Rangers forwards are powder puff, completely useless and there's no fight or direction.”
Andrew Adams, Kirkcaldy, said: “Beale says the supporters need to help the players more? Dessers and Cifuentes didn't need the fans to help them score the chances they missed. I’m 68 years old and would've backed myself to score, the guys got to go – now.”
James Andrew, Glasgow, said: “The next 48 hours will tell us if the folk in charge have any ambitions for Rangers. If they allow this to continue past a couple of days, they are admitting they don't care how the season goes. Beale has to go before the season does.”
Some fans have other suggestions about who could get Gers back on track. Forbes McGarva, Doncaster, said: “Beale stands on the sidelines and looks lost. He has no ideas on how to improve things and how to inspire the team. Time to stand aside Michael, the board needs to get someone with passion in. Two ex-players come to mind, Barry Ferguson and Kevin Thompson – at least they have Rangers in their hearts.”
Barrie Urquhart, Clydebank, said: “We are the Submersible going to the Titanic. This isn't a rescue mission any more, this is a salvage mission. Get Derek McInnes in pronto to start the rebuild with Shankland, Ferguson, Jashari, plus Lowry and Hagi back.”
While Rangers stumbled, Celtic pulled off a last-gasp win at Motherwell. Denis Bruce, Bishopbriggs, said: “The contrast between the Ibrox side and the Parkhead team was glaringly obvious this weekend.
“One lot fights to the finish, the other surrenders too easily. One manager has won back the support of his side while the other has lost the respect of his supporters. One is headed for the top, the other for the chop.”
Stephen Mulhern, Dumbarton, said: "Brendan Rodgers has continued Ange Postecoglou's We Never Stop mantra without even knowing what his best starting line up is. In contrast to Beale, whose comment regarding saying Rangers shouldn’t be losing against a team like Aberdeen is being hugely disrespectful to the Scottish game.”
That Beale line angers Dons fans too. Alan McPherson, Cullan, said: “Beale said Rangers shouldn’t lose to a team like Aberdeen. This just emphasises his arrogance towards the rest of the teams in the league and typical of the two ugly sisters of Glasgow who seem to think they have a god given right to win every game.”
