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Tomorrow evening's League Cup quarter-final against the Honest Men is an opportunity for Steven Gerrard to lay down part of a big marker. There is a similarity to Souness's first season, league draws and defeats had seen Rangers off the pace. Progress in Europe and in the then Skol Cup had fueled optimism. We were paired with Dundee at Ibrox in the last eight, the previous dozen years had seen the dark blues end our cups' involvement on three occasions. There was considerable relief to see Rangers run out 4-1 winners in front of a packed Stadium. We knew we were two games and a calendar month away from securing the first silverware of the season, and so it transpired, defeating ra Sellik 2-1 in the Hampden final on the 26th of October. It was the beginning of a quarter of a century of success. Momentum is everything in football, and Ayr United are on a roll. They were crowned League one champions at the conclusion of last season's final game, and they climbed to the top of the Championship on Saturday last, after recovering from a 2-nil deficit to run-out 3-2 winners. Their top scorer is Lawrence Shankland, currently boasting 21 goals, including three hat-tricks. The centre forward began at Rangers, leaving as a teenager to join Aberdeen. He scored regularly at youth/reserve level, was loaned to a number of clubs, arriving at St Mirren where the perceived wisdom was he carried a dozen extra pounds and lacked the necessary determination to make the top grade. His arrival at Somerset Park changed everything, he became a personal trainer, lost the timber, and honed a real sharpness. There are a number of well kent faces supporting Shankland, Andy Murdoch is no stranger to the Bears, Alan Forrest notched against us in February, and Michael Moffat's intention to fund more Bookies' children through private schooling, are all deserving of a mention. Their manager, Ian McCall is another former Ranger. His playing career saw him start at Fir Park, move to Queens Park, pin balled to East End Park, before arriving at Rangers for £200,000. His debur was at Sellik Park, his first touch a defensive header at an opposition corner, he hit the bar. In the next three seasons, he made 24 appearances, scored 2 goals, including a spectacular winner against Hibs. The Doonhamer resided in the city's west end and tales of his bohemian lifestyle quickly circulated. He missed a couple of training sessions and was transferred to Bradford City for the same amount involved in his arrival. A few years later, he was celebrated in song, "he's white, he's blue, he shat in Simon's shoe". Stainrod had big shoes to fill. McCall's managerial career has been long and varied. Began at Clydebank when the then owners were attempting to transfer the club to a Dublin base. He moved to Airdrie, Morton, Falkirk, Dundee United, Queen of the South, Partick Thistle, before washing up at Ayr. His tenure at Tannadice saw him face Rangers in a League Cup semi-final. Barry Ferguson returned from down south that very day, he was put on as a sub', Rangers running out 7-1 victors. McCall's honesty was refreshing, "it's all my fault, at 2-1 down I decided to go kamikaze"! Bohemians from Dumfries, what are they like? The decades do not change Ian, according to today's press; he is determined to attack Rangers and stick by his preferred two up front. I suspect the game will be entertaining and hopefully McCall will be walking back to Ayr in Simon's shoes. I think Gerrard will ring the changes : Foderingham, Flanagan, Goldson, Worrall, Wallace, Halliday, McCrorie, Grezda, Arfield, Middleton, and Morelos. I take the Bears to go through on the back of a 4-1 victory. In 1986, a month after securing the League Cup, we sat fourth in the Premiership. We exited Europe on December 10th, and went on a 19 league match unbeaten run that brought our first title in nine years. Win this trophy and the momentum will be ours.

BBC governance is a miasma. If you go to London you will end up back with Ken McQuarrie who is now Director of Nations and Regions and tied in with his chums who made this decision in the first place. I’ve met him and he will have no interest in helping. A dual approach to Ofcom and Fiona Hyslop in the Scottish Govt would be my recommendation. Whilst the BBC is a London operation she is a significant stakeholder in Broadcasting output to and from Scotland. If you raise it to political level you get out of the BBC cycle and can move faster. A question or support from a Rangers supporting MSP might not be a bad thing, backed up with stories from people genuinely disadvantaged. Hyslop will want to be seen to support inclusivity as it’s a stated part of Scottish Govt strategy and values. Club 1872 could actively poll for stories and work with charities that help the aged for example to highlight why the radio is important to many people. In summary 1872, a sympathetic politician, someone who understands the BBC at a working level could crack this quite quickly. I’m sure Rangers fans have links to unionist politicians (seems plenty of young Tories on follow follow) and someone like 26th of foot working with 1872 and a friendly politician could provide the ammo for Ofcom, Hyslop to either launch or be pressurised with. Just needs a bit of time to collect data, find the right network to help (all meet), examine the charters of said organisations, agree breaches and launch.

Rangers v Hearts final ?

We got the sheep in the semi's...bring it on.

What a shadow squad we now have! Truly I cannot name our best side.

Fairly comfortable win for us tonight with a good half dozen + fringe players from the squad making an appearance and doing a decent job. Middleton tired a bit from 70 mins onwards but what he did in the previous 70 was enough for me. Grezda came on for the last 20 or so minutes and my instant impression is that when he is match fit he will be a top player for us very impressive movement and speed off and on the ball.

From what I could see on Rangers TV he didnt do anything to get booked he's quite entitled to speak to the ref about it.

A mate, who had no idea I post here, asked me if I listen to the Gersnet podcast a few days ago. He was definitely a fan.

If there is a solution found it only means the quantity of coverage will change not the quality..it will still be the same snidey dismissive nonsense that misrepresents everything that anyone connected with Rangers says or does.

I can't believe my eyes. Is there a suggestion that only some of the Rangers support would be annoyed if McLaughlin's privileges were re-instated? Try 99.999%. There must be a parallel universe somewhere...

The issue just now is about losing face. Both the BBC and Rangers have taken up positions that make compromise difficult without one looking like it's 'backed down'. If Rangers were to announce they'd reinstated media credentials to Chris McLaughlin they'd take a lot of criticism from a decent percentage of the support. If the BBC announced they'd decided to send someone else they'd be criticised too by some staff, external voices, other club's supporters and so on. Yet, fixing this is really quite straightforward in my opinion. The BBC agree to cover Rangers in the same way they cover every other side and the problem is solved. The issue is then how to 'sell' that to our support and those who who support the BBC's stance. That's where 'the statement' comes in. Both parties should be able to word something that allows both to save face, appeases those who don't want compromise or agreement and then all the rest of us who simply want normal coverage of our football club, coverage we've paid for and continue to pay for, can get on with things. It's not in anyone's interests this carries on indefinitely, particularly not the Rangers support who are the only people being properly inconvenienced here.

One positive over the Morelos booking. It frees him up for the final.

Ejaria was my man of the match. As Christine said in the podcast, we are spoiled for Choice at the moment.

As sure as fate we'll be playing on the Saturday now that you've said it Gonzo.

Due to Rangers and Celtic being in Europe on the Thursday One of the semi final games may be in Edinburgh.

Best possible draw.

Halliday- Middleton combination again 4-0 !

Yes, he was booked at Kilmarnock.

With so many changes in the team, it's not really a surprise that we're a bit disjointed at times but we're very comfortable and have taken the two real chances we've created as Ayr sit very deep. Keep it tight second half and hopefully we can get a few more players on as they return from injury.

Left

We are not playing well despite being two up.

I like the look of that side.

@Bill and @BlackSocksRedTops - please try to be civil, or just ignore each other if you can't. We don't need that childishness ruining this thread.

There's a lot of unnecessary ad-hominem on this thread. A lot of people on here don't realise that not every Rangers fan is a die hard who could recite all of the BBCs transgressions over the past decade. We need to have radio coverage of our games. And when we triumph in Europe we need to have some discussion of our games afterwards just like our rivals get. The BBC are a disgrace for how little they are covering us just now, going way beyond merely not coming to Ibrox. But something needs to be done get coverage resumed.

I'm usually fairly worried about that type of angle but this management team have given even me belief and confidence going into this evenings match.

Until it suits their purpose to continue their prejudiced, biased and misleading reporting. They are like a dog after it’s attacked someone, never be trustworthy again. Only this dog is bitter, bigoted, twisted and hates you to the core.

That post embodies everything that has been weak and ill-directed about the new-age Rangers fans that have emerged in numbers over the last 25 years. Rangers acts reasonably in the face of persistent biased reporting and see our attackers extend their impartial campaign by effectively blacklisting the club. This is then compounded by increasingly overt criticism and ridicule. So along comes this brand of supporter, on their knees and calling for appeasement and pursuing deals that can be "sold" to the fans. As if this was a situation of our own making and believing that any resolution would immediately result in a 180 degree change in BBC attitudes to Rangers. It's beyond fantasy. It would be easy to despair at the naivety and cowed compliance of some of our colleagues in the Rangers support. Seriously, you have to wonder what kind of infantile world they inhabit.

Great Pod again this week. Colin's really pretty good hosting things.

Thank you. I’ll ask anyway, can’t see anything to lose.

The situation with Hummel and the strips might be an indicator. Things are a bit haphazard.

A statement? Seriously, do you really think the current situation is going to be resolved by a f**king "statement". Get a grip of yourself.

There should be no meeting half way and no compromise in the PR war. When this is over we should not stop. When we are back on top we should proactively chase everyone of them for their lies and attempts do destroy us. No retreat, no backing down, we go after them all. There spurious fictional reporting has been designed to harm both club and supporters. It’s not just the BBC, but they, along with the DR are the biggest haters out there.

Here's a 'sevco of the week' for next week. From kiddydale st unsurprisingly. ?

Liverpool isn't that far in the grand scheme of things. His family situation is his business.