Spiteful Hearts fans turn on Souttar with reality of move to Rangers
Soccer Football - Scottish FA Cup Semi Final - Heart of Midlothian v Inverness Caledonian Thistle - Hampden Park, Glasgow, Britain - April 13, 2019 Hearts' John Souttar celebrates scoring their second goal Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff
Hearts fans have predictably taken news of John Souttar’s move to Rangers quite badly.
As is the modern way, plenty of comments have been made on social media with fans making clear their displeasure and rage at what is an upward and positive career move for the Scotland international.
When a player leaves after running down a contract, there will always be claims and cries, with the word ‘loyalty’ used every time. After his injury issues at Tynecastle, some supporters pointed to how the club stood by him in his recovery and offering a new deal.
Yes, there have point to an extent but players also have a loyalty to themselves, their family’s and their own best interests. If Souttar had performed poorly over the course, injury or not, there would not have been that ‘loyalty’ shown on the other side, thatis a reality.
Another is that all clubs except the elite clubs in the big leagues are selling clubs and every now and then, a reminder of that will come.
Rangers recently got a very good deal for Nathan Patterson, but it was still sore to lose a talented player to a club operating at a higher level, the same is a strong possibility with Connor Goldson at the end of the season, as his contract runs down.
See below a selection of some of the typical reactions from Hearts fans online, with one particular strange take of Souttar moving to a ‘rival’ club…yes, really.
That’s the thanks we get for keeping faith with him through all the injuries.
— Gordon Sarkis (@sunshinespaz) January 14, 2022
He needs to be dropped at every level. Why would he try as hard, and possibly cost Rangers a Champions League place or joining at a later stage, when that is one of the reasons he is joining them? That is before you consider risking injury again.
— Paul McGee (@psmcg76) January 14, 2022
Others inclued:
@gillianmccc51 – “And that’s the thanks we get. Could stomach him going down south.”
@William04150909 – “Keep him and don’t let him play another minute this season. Rat”
Several other mindless comments were wishing injury to the player with the usual insults thrown in, but along came one supporter to add a welcome dose of reality to the discussion:
@KeithRobson – “We did get him from Dundee Utd in similar circumstances. Would have loved another full season out of him.”