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Finally, during a rare day off work, I managed to view the recently released Amazon documentary about Steven Gerrard. It’s important to note right away, there’s nothing about Rangers in it. Instead it’s a biography of our manager’s playing career – specifically at Liverpool – and the incredible highs and cruel lows within it. It’s an essential watch for any football fan about the loyalty and drive of a legendary player in the modern era. And its relevance to Rangers isn’t just noteworthy but timely. The similarities between Rangers and Liverpool are obvious. They reside within working class cities with two primary clubs. They’ve suffered stadium disasters of the kind that no-one should experience in sport. The demands of the support are huge and, given it’s been seven years since Rangers last won the SPFL title, the expectations may be considered identical. Even down to the iconic gates at each stadium and huge stands such as the Kop and the Copland, I doubt there would have been a better managerial fit for Steven Gerrard outside the Merseyside club he will always love. Of course, the appointment of Gerrard was always going to be a risk. It’s his first big managerial job and there are never any guarantees about playing legends transferring their talents to the dugout. It doesn’t always work and, as much as our supporters were excited about the appointment, there were (and still are) doubts. Yet, this documentary is the perfect antidote for those who have concerns and, so far at least, Gerrard is doing what he did as a player and making a step-by-step transition into becoming a successful manager. On Sunday afternoon when Rangers went top of the league for the first time in god knows how long, Rangers fans started to get excited again. Yes, we’ve only played 14 games of a 38-game league season and, sure, Celtic – still the dominant side in the country – have played once game less but after watching Gerrard’s Liverpool side overturn a 0-3 deficit against AC Milan to win the Champions League against all odds in 2005, surely anything is possible? Interesting, throughout the documentary, the commentary from various relevant people was at pains to point out that ever since their period of dominance in the 1980s, Liverpool were for most of Gerrard’s time considered the underdog. The riches of Sky TV deals, as well as the influence of billionaire Russians and Arabs means Liverpool struggle to compete financially and, again like Rangers, have had their problems in that regard. Gerrard played in the Gillett/Hicks era and that experience may well have proved part of the conversation ahead of him joining Rangers – a club not without their own fiscal travails. Recent published accounts of Old Firm AGMs show Celtic to have the upper hand over Rangers off the park as well as on, so Gerrard will have been consciously aware of the battle he was going to have before he took over. It’s fair to say the Scottish Premiership doesn’t have as many big clubs challenging for the title like the EPL but Gerrard set himself a high bar at Liverpool and will be doing the same here. In that sense, his team’s progress so far will have enthused him. A fine run in the Europa League is perhaps an unexpected bonus but, just like his playing career, the league will be the priority. And the immediate challenge is as tough as they come with another eight games still to play this year – culminating with the visit of Celtic to Ibrox at the end of December. Our position then ahead of the winter break will be telling and there is an opportunity now to lay down further markers before the New Year Derby. First up is a match against an Aberdeen side whom we’ve yet to beat this season and one would hope both the manager and players are still hurting from a League Cup defeat at Hampden in October. Suffice to say the Dons will be just as hungry to repeat that feat on Wednesday night. With two games against Hibs and a tough away match to an in-form St Johnstone side still to come as well, this is a crucial month for Gerrard but his experiences we seen put under the documentary microscope (warts, slips and all) are worthy of comparison. Despite this, some suggest the capture of Gerrard as manager was a PR stunt, or worse, he’s ‘quietly terrified of’ or unqualified for the job in front of him. In fact, any football person worth their salt after viewing the Amazon film will see Gerrard and the Rangers job were the perfect fit. That’s not to say he will bring back trophies to Ibrox. No-one can promise that, just as Gerrard couldn’t when he broke into the Liverpool side as a raw and inexperienced teenager. Yet, just like then, the early signs are positive and going by what he achieved as player and the type of professional, driven character he is Steven Gerrard can most definitely ‘Make Us Dream’. As Liverpool challenge again down south and their fans begin to believe once more, could we about to witness the ultimate football irony? Or perhaps it’s just a glimpse into an ordinary slim lad’s destiny?

The Cry was No Defenders. The nameless, faceless PQ Producers have a responsibility. Of course, they have responsibilities, each show has both presentation and content. Thus, Presenters, contributors, social media platforms, .... etc on one side; and technical staff, IT staff, engineers, business and commercial management too. The real responsibility is, 'Balance'. Ensure both sides of a discussion are aired and allow the listener to make up their own minds. The aforementioned phrase, 'on one side' is important because as license fee paying Rangers supporters, we know with PQ Producers, we are very much, 'the other side'. The Presenters and contributors are on message and are allowed free reign to get as comfortable as can be with their preferred prejudice. There is an ongoing process of cleansing, it is reckoned Kenny McIntyre is the last remaining football relating staffer? There are some like DrStu'(resident Witch Finder General) who find that position too galling, he has spent five weeks painting a target on the poor guy's back. I saw a list of three dozen names, all regular Presenters and contributors and other than McIntyre, two names are up for contention for Rangers leanings. Billy Dodds has enough trouble towing his EBT, but he went public a decade past in a Sunday broadsheet, he no longer considers himself to be a Rangers supporter. In fact, most Bears would argue that Billy is a mainstay of BBC Scotland's football output because of that published statement? Chic Young, despite his long and weary protestations of St Boo allegiances; is such a necessary prop of thirty satirical piss-taking years, no one takes him seriously. No, balance left PQ at the same time as satire. What would all those satirical shows make of Chris McLaughlin? What would be their take on a series of Justice Ministers sitting in the North Stand at Sellik Park? Anyone for 'Four Men in a Boat' on the Panama Canal, they could manufacture a sail from Dermot's papers. The PQ Producers must be seen/heard to be going through the motions; thus, we want to hear from Rangers supporters, the odd, very odd VoxPop with Bears passing PQ on their way to Ibrox, and a few occasional(Producer written) e-mails/texts read out on air, is more than enough to satisfy demands of balance. The reality for license fee paying Rangers supporters was Sunday's noon kick-off at Tynecastle. Big Dick(Dandy) introduces from Hampden, asks questions of commentator at Tynie of Paul Mitchell(Jambo), interacts with co-commentators, Allan Preston(Jambo) and Billy(I no longer consider myself to be a Rangers supporter)Dodds, then goes pitch side to Brian McLaughlin(Hibby). It's predictable, Hearts start well, score first, and everybody connected to PQ, is happy. Rangers equalise, then go ahead before half-time, and the air waves darken. Allan Preston is critical of the Ref', the Linesman, and Morelos. Big Dick reinforces those thoughts, and Billy Dodds contributes, "it's a cracking game". At this point, let's congratulate Allan Preston for his monthly standing order to the Foundation of Hearts. Allan is also a licensed football Agent. I am positive he would never publicly talk down a player not on his books to favour one on his books, and vice-versa. We call that a balanced approach, and I am sure the PQ Producer has a wee reminding word in his ear every now and again? It's important to retain balance. The second half sees a red card challenge from Arfield on the Hearts Keeper, Rangers not taking numerous opportunities to notch a third, and a ten man Rangers comfortably hold off Hearts for twenty-five minutes. Preston's frustrations boil over, he loses balance and obviously reminded of the danger, offers, "this is not sour grapes". Encouraged, Billy goes further, "none of this detracts away from Rangers performance". Big Dick, remember he is at Hampden; wades in, calls Arfield's challenge, 'shocking, disgraceful, and outrageous' in turn. Reminds the audience of Rangers seven red cards this season, "obviously, there's problem". Both the Ref' and Linesman get it in the neck again. Now, a Rangers supporter might mention that the Ref' and his officials are the same for both sides, why no yellow cards shown to Hearts players? Further, why was Clare's shocking, disgraceful, and outrageous flat booted, studs showing, assault on Coulibaly's upper thigh not a red card? Even further again, why did Paul Mitchell, Allan Preston, Billy Dodds, Brian McLaughlin, and Big Dick deliberately NOT MENTION this challenge at any point during the broadcast? See how balance can be awkward and inconvenient! Finally, Craig Levein's post match outburst to Brian McLaughlin was well received at PQ, they would have called it, 'balanced'. He knew what he was doing, he did the very same as Dundee United manager, at Ibrox ten years past. He was flanked by his then club Chairman, Eddie Thompson. After a 3-1 defeat, he proclaimed, "we were never going to be allowed to win that game". Craig always sounds balanced when he is pushing at an open door. More PQ balance to ensue, when the Dandies visit Ibrox tomorrow evening.

It's a symbiotic thing. You must have seen that photograph? You know, the one where the Hippo stands there chewing the vegetation and perched on it's back is a bird the size of a song thrush. The free rider is an Oxpecker, it uses the Hippo for both protection from predators and as a source of food. As it traverses the Hippo's body, it sticks it's curved beak into skin crevices and eats the burrowing insects and grubs. The Hippo is most content to allow the Oxpecker free reign, it's a reciprocating beneficial relationship for both parties ie 'symbiotic'. I witnessed the above myself. My professional life saw me visit Kenya for eight weeks, and down time allowed for a few Safaris. Watching that Oxpecker's agility is quite something, hanging off the Hippo's tail, swinging that beak into the areas surrounding the butt-hole. It's an avaricious little bugger, getting stuck into the hardening shit for more and more worms and beetles. I wondered then, why does no one publish that photograph? We are capable of understanding the principle of symbiosis, but the visual reinforcement must remain within romantic parameters. PQ's A-Team pitched up at Hampden on Sunday afternoon for the main event, the Betfred cup final. There was collective dyspepsia from the starter course, the boys in maroon had been fcuked over by the perpetrators of hate crime, Rangers. The post match grievance so well articulated by Craig Levein, Allan Preston, Michael Stewart, et al(no sour grapes) had sweetened the after taste somewhat; however, "the H-u-ns and typical orange bastards" were top of the league. A serious digestive was required. A warm bonhomie was soon evident. The Dandies lined up with Big Dick, Liam McLeod, and Wullie Miller. Jim Leighton was recorded too, offering support to Aberdeen, warning of the mental fortitude needed to compete in Glasgow. Ra Sellik rawked up with Eire Force One and Two, Pat Bonner and Tom English charmed with mawkish patronisation and applicable condescension. The airwaves dripped with respect, this was another final meeting between Scotland's two most successful clubs these last five years. The culmination of the final had both halves of the PQ A-Team sharing the plaudits, wasn't match winner, Ryan Christie honed to green'n'grey perfection at Pittodrie? Jonny Hayes and Gary McKay-Steven's crossover was cause for celebration too. Packie lamented Adam Rooney's lack of pace, "another yard quicker and he would have been an Irish international regular". Big Dick proclaimed him as, "Salford's finest". Tom admired Aberdeen's organisation and commitment. Both managers were constantly referred to as Brendan and Derek. Mutual masturbation all round. Seriously, it was hard to differentiate between the sweating, defecating, farting Hippo and the shit chewing, weevil eating Oxpecker ?

Jordan Jones glenn Kamara kieron Dowell dom Solanke Should all be added to rumoured in ?

Lifted from FF As Rangers sit in the unprecedented position whereby we sit top of the SPFL yet bottom of the fairplay table it is truely astounding that there are still crackpots out there genuinely of the belief there is a refereeing agenda working against celtic to the benefit of Rangers.One man in the firing line re these wild allegations is Bobby Madden. Unfounded online rumours suggesting madden once held a season ticket at Ibrox seems to have led to a campaign against him yet a quick look at his stats since our return to the premiership tell an entirely different storyGames involving Rangers 8Games involving celtic 9Rangers players sent off 2Celtic players sent off 1Opposition sent off v Rangers 1Opposition sent off v celtic 2Pens awarded to Rangers 2Pens awarded to celtic 4Pens given against Rangers 3Pens given against Celtic 0Break it down even more and youve got the needless yellow that he gave morelos that put him out the semi final and the leg breaking clare tackle on Sunday, i just hope this online onslaught against Madden isnt influencing his decision making against us

At one stage I think I found this hilarious, but don't you think this is all very disturbing? Their team win a trophy (apparently) and yet they are shouting about their day being ruined because we went top of the league, and suggesting there's a conspiracy in our favour from referees. I don't care about Celtic. I only watch them when we play them. I know very little about their players, or finances. I just don't care because they're not my team. My family and friends are the same. I can't remember the last time any of us spoke about them. We are just too bust discussing and enjoying our own team. I know we joke about it, but many of the Celtic fans really are more obsessed with us than their own team? It's a serious question .... why? We've not won a trophy in years. We've been no threat to them for a long time. We are a completely new club with no history against them (according to them). I honestly don't know why any of their fans should be interested in us, never mind obsessed to the point where they are delusional. It's making some of them ill. Are we really a cause of mental health issues, or a symptom? This latest accusation is incredible and highlights the level of obsession. All of the facts point to Rangers being punished way harsher than any other team, and for anyone who cares to look at the evidence, we are victims of poor refereeing (other than Dallas scoring another hat trick for us yesterday) rather than beneficiaries. So, once again I ask you .... why are they like this? Anyone got any suggestions? (I'm expecting some great opinions from Bill and Gonzo in particular ?)

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Rubbish, it's entirely well earned and you did a fine job. ?

Gary McKay Steven ????

Could be wrong but it sounded like the pink cardigan was the first to ask the gaffer questions regarding our striking options and he once again, masterfully schooled the "journalist" Another banging presser from Stevie G

I'll go against the tide on this one (?) and say I like what Levein is doing. I don't agree with him about Sunday's game but I also don't mind him fighting his own corner and if more managers stood up to the SFA there might be fewer corrupt arseholes there today. His reference to Lennon is superb and refusing to pay the fine is even better.

"I've wrote to FIFA" No you fucking halfwit, you're written to FIFA. As if he could actually write eh?

I'm shocked that Levein doesn't realise that different rules apply to Lennon and he can get away with a lot that others would be pulled up for.

Onevision is just trying to rope me in to do more in front of the mic @pete even though I though I'd done just enough to be the first of the podders to pick up a red card. Without Colin, Ross, Frankie, yourself Pete, David, Stevie, Alistair, John and Christine I'd have nothing to do on a Sunday evening. As you know I've been behind the mic on every pod since we stared this over 6 months ago and over the time I feel I've built up relationships with everyone who contributes so unlike most of the podders who came into it blind it felt natural for me to be used as a talking head when the slot became available a few days ahead of the game. On that if I'm absolutely honest with you the first pod after we go top of the table I'd have preferred one of the other contributors got the slot but availability put that to bed. My first contribution mic side coming at that point felt a little bit uncomfortable, unearned and a bit glory hunter ish for me.

You missed Miller. I know we now often play with 10 men but in the good old days there were 11.☺️

Excellent podcast guys, particularly enjoyed listening to Graham, thought he came across like a real pro unlike the usual rabble.... great job, well done to all involved.

Scott Allan's name has been mentioned. There is more chance of me signing for Rangers than him. GMS is more plausible but highly unlikely in my book. If Glenn Kamara were to arrive, who would be exiting? Coulibaly? Rossiter? Dorrans to be let go? Could Jordan Jones cut it? As usual, until something happens it's all conjecture.

I watched this too Frankie, and had goosebumps at stages. It was strange because I only tend to feel that association when it's my own team. When you see his journey, I agree with you 100% that he was a perfect fit for us. Sometimes the timing can be all wrong, but he has had this opportunity at the perfect time for us and him. You're right, he may not win us a trophy, but after watching that "film" I knew I didn't want any other manager in the world at our club right now.

Gerrard seemed pretty confident in his presser today that we would have a new striker coming in soon.

Could this be one of the best press conferences by a Rangers manager? I felt he's been great in interviews, but in this one he OWNED it. How lucky are we to have him in charge?!? I loved the way he handled the Morelos questions, and the 14 men respones was top drawer too. He seems to deliver straight talking messages, while at the same time praise our fans, talk his players up, and get it right up Levein and the others who talk nonsense about us. I love this guy.

Watch the press spin those SG quotes... it''ll be "Stevie G demands protection for Morelos" or something equally idiotic

When SG shoots them down the long pause is hilarious!

Yes, Stevie!

Psst ... this might be ian's error when setting up the topic. But don't tell anyone. The article itself has been auto-corrected/-edited by the DR on behalf of the caller.

I believe the youngsters call it "butthurt"...

As Pensively Staring suggests, it is an inferiority complex. A fully justified inferiority complex. You'd have to pay me good money to watch any of their matches when we're not involved. I wouldn't pollute my living room with that filth.

Jesus from what I have heard he is already massive, don't make his head 3 times bigger. He won't get through the doors.

Ritchie Shearer Caldow Grieg Mckinnon Baxter Henderson Mcmillan Millar Brand Wilson .

Hydrotherapy?

As always, great job. Loved that one. I bet the guys just loved putting that one together. It's been tough when the pod follows a disappointment, so what a buzz it must have been for the host and guests to do this one. It comes across. It sounded like they needed to suck lemons to wipe the grins off their faces. I could have listened to that for another two hours. There's no such thing as TOO MUCH Rangers chat this week!!!! I can't get enough.

I don't watch them apart from the games against us so can't comment on how our players rank against theirs.

So if we're entitled to say what we think, why is there a notice of complaint?

After Craig Levein accuses Bobby Madden and one of his linesmen of blatantly cheating, will be be seeing the CO wielding his axe again?

Cheers Frankie...perfect listening as I enter my retirement. (temp retirement).

Shame they didn't support their referees when one club, who need not be named, hired private investigators, caused a ref to resign and also caused a strike from the officials. Nice to know now that the ref's, and SFA, are in Celtic's back pocket, that they will defend the indefensible. SFA, not fit for purpose.