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We allow them the whole of the Broomie, they do what they like. Our club is to blame.

17 goals suggest otherwise. Only rangers fans would suggest dropping both our top scorer and the leagues top scorer because he misses a few chances. Jeez.

What a pity today. I thought Morelos caused them so many problems and if he'd scored it would have topped off an excellent performance from him. Strange how fine the margins are in this game.

The turning point for me was bates' injury. We needed a settled defence today, and Cardoso just didn't fit in.

I don’t agree we have closed the gap. We haven’t beaten them over 90 minutes in f***ing ages! They beat us with 10 men at Ibrox. We are going to be 12 points behind. There is still a gap!

I'd certainly have taken the money, but I'm also pleased to still have him. He's only 21; he's still got a lot of development to go. If he's £11M now, what value would he be when he stops missing these sitters? He'll be fine. He takes a tantrum at missing an impossible chance, only to get on with it and score the next again week; he'll be fine.

That can only be described as shite.

It is what it is. We should/could have won this game and they and everyone else knows it. The gap has been closed and if not for the disastrous first half of the season we would have been romping this league. Just move on, win the cup, and strengthen in the Summer window. We don't need much now to make this a title winning team.

Just back in from the match, read some posts and I find I have agreed with most of your posts, keep up the sensible posts mate.

No it wasn't. It was infuriating.

He misses some amount of simple chances and is constantly caught offside. He’s young and works hard but it’s costing us points.

I'm disappointed to have lost, particularly after taking the lead twice, but there were definitely positives and we competed well for most of the game. It was a game we might well have won on another day. The biggest deficit is still in the quality of finishing and the delivery into the box. There's a bit to go yet but it would be wrong to deny the progress we're making.

The plan for Glasgow was very different to what we have today, the city was going to be unrecognisable in many, many ways. Some plans just don’t work out. Emerging from the horror and brutality of the Second World War Glasgow was surprisingly unscathed compared to many other European cities. Yes, it had suffered bombing in the early part of the war and, of course, nearby Clydebank had experienced extensive devastation but the centre of Glasgow, the heart of Scotland’s largest city, the industrial powerhouse of the empire, the beating heart of the heavy industry that powered much of the world, was largely intact. That was the problem. In 1945 Glasgow’s Master Of Works and the city’s Chief Engineer, Robert Bruce, produced plans that would have transformed the city centre. Not only would the majority of warehouses and markets that today make up the Merchant City have been demolished but so would Central Station, the Mackintosh designed School of Art and, arguably the city’s finest building, the City Chambers. These awe-inspiring architectural masterpieces would have been pulled down and a new ‘Modernist’ inspired city centre built in their place. Try and imagine a new city chambers built on the north bank of the Clyde, with new law courts beside them. The city would have two new train stations, one roughly where Queen Street Station stands today and new huge ‘South Station’ built on the south side of the Clyde close to the river. Literally thousands of new buildings would need constructed, business and people would be decanted, streets disappear, familiar landmarks reduced to rubble and replaced with grandiose civic centres and new arterial roads. Its scale and ambition was breath taking and it was actually given initial planning approval by the city corporation. An exhibition at the Kelvin Hall was planned for 1947 where the plans for the new city would be shown to the public. Thankfully a mixture of public concern, political influence and simple economics led to the Bruce Plan being shelved before the exhibition could take place. Whilst you could admire the ambition of Bruce, he lacked the understanding of what makes a city great; namely it’s people, and you underestimate the people at your peril. This weekend might just see another plan for Glasgow begin to unravel. Rangers weren’t meant to challenge again. The club had been dealt if not a fatal blow certainly enough hits to put it down and keep it down for a long time. Or so some people hoped. With unfettered access to the Champion’s League and all the money, profile and prestige that goes with it Celtic, this weekend’s visitors, were ideally placed to capitalise on whatever Machiavellian plans European football’s elite have next. They could hoover up all the sponsorship, corporate hospitality and public identity the city has to offer too, after all who was going to stop them? Rangers, a seeming basket case a matter of months ago, were a club unable to attract the Rangers supporting, Renfrewshire based Aberdeen manager, a club unable to win three games in a row, a club unable to defend a lead at home. Yet, here we are. Where are we exactly? Well, we’re second in the league, unbeaten in the last six matches and have only lost once this year. So we’re not where we want to be but we’re a lot closer to it than we have been for a while. It’s not just the victories that have excited the support, it’s their manner too. We’re fluid, fast and well balanced. Goals are being scored across the team, chances are being created regularly, players are linking up well, there seems to be an understanding now particularly middle to front. More pleasingly we seem to have some fight about us again. We win the 50/50s now, we’re competing all across the pitch, we’re not being bullied and put off our game. It’s remarkable to write this, as this team is really only two months old. The signings of Murphy, Docherty, Martin, Goss and Cummings have galvanised, strengthened and improved a squad that stuttered from week to week prior to their arrival. Added to that we’ve seen Tavernier and Windass emerge as important players, Bates now looks like a Rangers defender and Morelos gets the kind of service and support his superb forward play deserves. This has all been achieved under the guidance of a rookie youth team manager forced into the hardest job in Scottish football whilst the club very publically courted someone else. It’s funny how some plans don’t work out. Before I get too carried away a word of caution. This Celtic side are still capable of scoring goals and winning matches. Their form hasn’t been as good as last season but it’s still better than anyone else in the league and we’d do well to remember that. They have some injuries and some players seem to be out of form, but they’ve still only lost 2 matches all domestic season and have the experience and confidence to harm us if we’re not careful. Whatever our current feelings of renewed confidence we’ve not beaten Celtic since that glorious day at Hampden 2 years ago and a lot has changed at both clubs since. Sunday will be a stern test and one we’re not favourites to win. I’d be surprised if our starting XI is very different from the side that’s largely picked itself in recent weeks. If fit I expect Murphy to return to the side at the expense of Cummings. Foderingham should also return for league duty. Tav, Bates and Martin should start alongside the only real quandary in the side. A fit Wallace should be our first choice left-back but I’m not sure he’s as fit as he needs to be yet. A run out in a friendly against a Championship side is no preparation for a top of the table challenge. If fit John will start, if not I expect Halliday to play at left back. I expect a midfield of Candieas, Goss, Docherty and Murphy with Windass and Morelos up front. That side has four players making their ‘Old Firm’ debut, a match where experience counts and our central midfield is young and has only played a handful of matches together. Amid my expectation and optimism the realist in me is a little nervous. Despite that we shouldn’t lose sight of the fact that it wasn’t meant to be this close. We were meant to be languishing somewhere between Aberdeen and Hibs, turning baliffs away from Edmiston Drive, watching our best players leave for sweetie money and our signings struggle to meet expectations. We’re supposed to be bystanders watching Celtic’s procession to another league title and potential Champion’s League spotlight. That was the plan. Sometimes even the most ambitious plans, whether well intentioned or nefarious, don’t come to fruition. Glasgow doesn’t belong to Celtic, never let them forget that, this is our city too and they don’t get to redesign it without our permission. It’s pleasing we’re not giving it again.

The old adage "Money Talks".!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I thought that too. We should have brought Cummings on as soon as they went down to ten. It was obvious that Rodgers had to change his plan but we made it to easy by not changing anything ourselves. If we had brought on Cummings at that time, it would have given everyone a boost, and them a problem. About 5 minutes after he was sent off, I looked over and saw Murty telling the players to lift it. He even turned to the fans to get us to lift it too. What he maybe realised too late is to that he had someone on the bench who could have lifted it. Murty is still very inexperienced though and as long as he learns from these things, it's all part of his growth into the role. He's earned much more time to develop in my opinion. We showed that our style of football works against them too so I'm excited still about our future under Murty.

Experience counts in these games, Murty's lack of said showed today imo, not getting on his back btw, as i honestly thought we were good today. Morelos takes his chances and we could have won it. However i felt we played into Rodgers hands today, we reverted to leaving Morelos isolated, we kept it tight at the back for the most part, but we stood off them for periods and let then get comfortable on the ball again. Another manager, Pedro made this mistake too and it cost us then as it did today.

Usually put asterisks for swear words but not this time "WHY ARE THE COWARDS HIDING THEIR FACES SURELY IF THEY ARE TRYING TO MAKE A POINT THEY SHOULD FUCKING MAN UP" If they are not "MAN ENOUGH" then just FUCK OFF.

what a load of fuckin' muppets... arseholes pure riddie

Sinister snd unacceptable.

I think we will. You’re right though, some players have to learn how to win

After today, having almost managed to calm down after the stress of it all, I'm now convinced we are just one centre half and a number 10 away from winning this league. Windass is good at the running game, but when we need to create, we need a more inventive player there. I really enjoyed watching us go forward, but Murty's interview was spot on. We stopped playing our game when they went down to 10 men. We could and should have won it but hopefully they'll have learned a valuable lesson today - they are there to be beaten now. We just have to beat that mob in the cup now.

I do! some of these posts are embarrassing! keep up the good work.

He put in a lot of effort today but didn't score. Room for improvement - yes. Dropping him - no.

Sorry I misunderstood you when you said “We’ve closed the gap.”

Second place was always the target this season. I'm much more confident of achieving that now than I was a few months ago.

Maybe it's time to stop thinking about the points gap with Celtic for a while. We need to bounce back, and secure second place, by dealing with the rest i.e. Kilmarnock, Hibernian and Aberdeen. Another win in the cup would be nice too of course.

I didn't mean in terms of points, but in terms of quality. Going from being humiliated regularly to being absolutely enraged at a narrow defeat is most certainly progress.

The manager should have taken the initiative as soon as the red card happened. He was slow to react again and our opponents seized the initiative instead.

I'd say there were definitely more positives than negatives and it wouldn't do some fans any harm to remember where we were just a few months ago, wallowing aimlessly in mid table after having been humbled by the mighty Progres Niederkorn. I'd say we've come a long way and if we keep progressing the corner will be turned sooner or later. Edit: The Scottish Cup game is clearly there to be won.

Were not far away now , disappointed at giving away the upper hand twice need to brush up on our defending iam not downhearted we showed were as good as that lot

A bit of perspective from a neutral’s perspective from the Guardian minute-by-minute report: “A game of pace, aggression, attitude and skill – along with plenty of affirming hatred – featuring four great goals, one very good goal, a red card, and a title more or less decided; Celtic are now nine points clear at the top of the table with a game in hand. However, make no mistake: Rangers are on the way back, nurturing a compelling youthfulness and swagger. If they can add some control, they’ll be a serious force next season,”

It's SBS, he hasn't had much "to cheer" about of late. The point today is that we have been closer to them than ever in the last six years. The big problem of this season was the transition stage when we lost games on the cheap at home. Today it was even steven on the park and call me silly, but they scored one really good goal at the end, the rest was down to sheer luck either in build-up or execution. You see Brown lumping a clearance up the park and it bounces perfectly for Dembele. Then you see Morelos 2 yards out and his shinguard-shot hits the post and falls to the keeper. Not to mention his free run on goal. We can draw satisfaction that we can play better than today ... and it is time to produce it against them.

To me, he epitomises the SNP.

Battle fever has well and truly set in! This sums up my mood this morning...

So the shit stirrer starts the ball rolling then plays the victim card.....sound familiar?

And to think some of our support wanted this tosser as our manager , the man's a born loser .

1963 cup final Haffey played like a cat in the first game and a pussy in the replay

The silence from Auchenhowie this week has been fantastic.

They've done the walk from the Louden to the match before (I'm sure for another match vs that lot). The Tims have done them to the Piggery too. There was also a big march arranged in Germany last year - went well, although I think a couple of lads got pulled for setting off flares when they got back. I can see why people disapprove - that's fair enough. But I don't like the name-calling of fellow Bears. Just let them get on with it. The funny thing is, in 20 years' time, the current UBs will be 40 with kids and probably moaning about the new young team.

The problem with this is it's absolutely pointless with zero chance of anything good for the club coming from it and the club is my main concern. It's obviously not their main concern. It's also pointless putting in peripheral points such as the team wear black away when we and everyone else know that's not the reason black is being requested as a 'uniform' This can achieve absolutely nothing but attracting the attention of police and media which is exactly the same thing we would all expect if their opposite number on the other side had printed such a leaflet and declared such an intention. I'm frankly livid and embarrassed these total fuck nuts are virtually certain to bring more bad press on the club while presenting an intimidating chanting spectacle to the passing public on a Sunday morning. It takes only one complete idiot to turn it into a disaster and I think we can be confident it will be liberally sprinkled with complete idiots.

After a few hours calming down time, it now seems the right time to post. I was raging with Morelos for not taking his chances and another sitter that seemed easier to score. However, I think it’s unfair to make him the scapegoat today. It was really our failure to stop them from scoring what were 3 poorly conceded goals that cost us today. We simply cannot afford to lose 3 goals and expect our front men to score more to save us from losing. Fod, again, struggled to cope with shots from distance, Cardoso was like a lamb to the slaughter and Alves still doesn’t convince me. I think Murty should have changed it up quicker than he did. Holt would have made a difference in the middle, especially when it was evident that Goss was not in the game today. I’d also have been tempted to bring the wise and experienced Kenny on in place of Josh when they went down to 10 men. So, yeah not Alfie’s best day, but certainly can’t let him shoulder the blame for th defeat today. Hopefully, he’ll put in behind him quickly. Anyway, this was only a dress rehearsal for the Semi-Final - that was always going to be the more important game, stopping their double treble. Hope Murty and the team learn from today - I think Murty’s future relies on it.

The miss didn't look that bad from where I was? Was it that bad? He needs to do some one on one practice in training.

Not long in and the turning point was their second goal. I couldn’t see the Morelos miss from where I was but am assured it was a standout sitter. We are getting closer but we lacked a cutting edge second half. Cardozo and Alves are not for me, third goal they all stood off. Cummings came on to late and should have been on as soon as they had ten men. After what happened today with the smoke bomb being thrown into the middle of fans, one thing stands out. If the club don’t ban those away fans, or put them in the corner, they are putting finances before safety.

Not much of a sleep but I’m up. This is it, time to get the battle fever on

Disastrous? Are you expecting them to blow up a block of flats? I'm glad sensitivity isn't contagious.

A free weekend, some rugby, an OF game, and a superb match preview. Brilliant.

Given doubts over Russell Martin's fitness, I think this will be the team. It's fantastic that we appear to have John and Murphy fit and that left side will be as crucial as our right in terms of getting at Celtic to put them on the back foot. Even better we should also have players on the bench that could change the game for us should it be required.