Rangers fans are used to disagreeing with the Daily Record by now but it seems the newspaper’s latest list has them double-checking to see if it’s a wind-up.
The newspaper and the Ibrox club are in dispute and earlier this season we saw a huge backlash to a front-page splash which started a public dispute with Ibrox media partner Heart & Hand.
Joe Aribo was Rangers’ highest rated player on the Daily Record list which has been criticised by fans. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
Now, many Rangers fans feel the newspaper has been showing its true colours as it tried to list the top 50 players in Scottish football from 2021.
Rangers fans stunned by Daily Record top 10 players of 2021
Only two Rangers players have made the top five players in Scotland apparently as Joe Aribo finishes second in the list and Steven Davis fifth.
Celtic – despite finishing 25 points behind Rangers last season and sitting four points behind them this campaign – have two players in the top five.
These are apparent top player Callum McGregor and 3rd best player Kyogo Furuhashi, with Portuguese winger Jota 6th.
Hearts keeper Craig Gordon finishes 4th, despite Rangers keeper Allan McGregor winning the Scottish Premiership’s Player of the Year award last season.
🥁 Drum Roll 🥁
Record Sport’s top 10 players for the calendar year of 2021, with Celtic skipper Callum McGregor coming out on top, with Rangers star Joe Aribo narrowly missing out on No1 spot 👏
What do you think of the selections? 🏆 pic.twitter.com/riAsLqrLNo
— Daily Record Sport (@Record_Sport) December 13, 2021
Hibs winger Martin Boyle (7th) is rated above Rangers trio Ryan Kent (8th), James Tavernier (9th) and Glen Kamara (10th).
Only nine Rangers players make Daily Record top 50 in Scotland
In the wider list, Rangers stars Allan McGregor (13th), Alfredo Morelos (14th), Connor Goldson (24th), Ianis Hagi (28th) have also been included.
This means the likes of Filip Helander, Scott Arfield, Borna Barisic and Fashion Sakala have not been included.
Rangers fans – naturally – have taken umbrage with the list which appears to be focused on the second half of the year:
Come on 😂😂😂 https://t.co/YFyuvsd37P
— Gary (@MrGaryValentine) December 13, 2021
Quite possibly the worst take of all time.
Actually embarrassing 😂 https://t.co/KLpxb9FK0V
— Ruaraidh Morrison (@ruaraidh1985) December 13, 2021
Hahahahaha
Good one lads…now where’s the real list? 🤣🤣🤣 https://t.co/KZgzTY5hOH
— Lewispreston (@_LewisPrestonn) December 13, 2021
😂😂😂😂😂 at it https://t.co/VDqM5H5eKO
— David B (@db130593) December 13, 2021
To be fair to Callum McGregor his goal in the Old Firm at Ibrox last season was a vital one, he deserves it for that alone https://t.co/gVrTl7SjWu
— Kevin Geddes (@Geddes1989) December 13, 2021
I know newspapers are old but the calendar year has been 12 months since 45 BC
— Mr M (@MBS1872) December 13, 2021
Craig Gordon is literally 5 places above Tav… https://t.co/7xQIgfJ4Kt
— Carson Ritchie (@carsonritchie__) December 13, 2021
No words. 😂 https://t.co/LOhma9Q9jH
— Joe Morrison (@JMorrison1987) December 13, 2021
The most embarrassing and pathetic list in the history of lists. https://t.co/JKDYoxuy6y
— Alan (@Alan_38_) December 13, 2021
That list is shambolic 😭 https://t.co/q1ePHbtSBg
— Kevez 🇳🇱 (@kevrfc1990) December 13, 2021
Too be fair mcgregor has been fantastic for us this year https://t.co/2Zeb7IIsdt
— W. (@Wrfc72) December 13, 2021
Tav was player of the year yet isn’t even top 5 four months later apparently 😂 https://t.co/Bm9aZMZhYR
— Nathan (@nathanj3001) December 13, 2021
McGregor 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 https://t.co/AoeO40My91
— Mr M (@MBS1872) December 13, 2021
I think someone at The Record needs to be told a calendar year lasts for 12 months rather than four and a half… https://t.co/VD7qicS04y
— Andrew Dickson (@mrandrewdickson) December 13, 2021
Rangers continue to be in dispute with the newspaper as the Ibrox club take a bold and controversial approach to the press over the course of the last year or so.
Given the latest announcements in the Ibrox Boardroom too, we don’t suspect Rangers will be changing tact any time soon.