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Watching Wednesday's game against Aberdeen made my mind travel back to 1974. Nothing to do with a football match but to the best boxer the world has ever known, Mohammed Ali, or Cassius Clay as he was originally known. Ali was to take on George Foreman in a fight that was to be called 'The Rumble in the Jungle' because it was to take place in Zaire (today's Republic of Congo). An ageing Ali, the punch and move boxer, who's favourite saying was “Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee; The hands can't hit what the eyes can't see.” Ali, though, was the massive underdog to the younger, stronger, iron-fisted, hard hitting Foreman. Very few could see Ali coming away with a victory. In the first round Ali started dancing around the ring throwing his jabs. Foreman though had done his homework and was using one stride to force Ali around the inside perimeter of the ring. Ali realised that in the heat of the Jungle he could never keep moving for the full fight. In the corner at the end of the first round he said to Angelo Dundee his trainer that he had a new tactic. He said, “I am going to rope-a-dope”. Ali stopped running and retreated to the ropes and let Foreman throw punch after punch with flailing arms. All the punches were wayward or to places that didn't hurt. Ali was taunting Foreman with “come on George I thought you could hit.” With all the misplaced punches Foreman was tiring quickly. Even when he did hit Ali with what he thought was his best shot Ali just taunted him more laughing at Foreman. Eventually Foreman could hardly lift his arms and in eighth round Ali with his back on the ropes enticed Foreman forward. A number of Right hooks further followed by some combination punches and finished with a massive left hook Forman went down on the Canvas. He got up at eight but the referee counted him out. Aberdeen on Wednesday used a football version of Ali's tactics. Aberdeen roped-a-dope. Unfortunately it was against Rangers. They applied tactics that saw Rangers attacking punches fizzle out in a packed midfield. They let Rangers pass the ball in places where it did not hurt. They committed niggling fouls and taunted our leading scorer to a red card. They slowed the game down to crawling pace with a bit of help from the referee who blew his whistle for every bump on passing. You could almost hear the words ”Come on Rangers: is that the best you can do?” Unfortunately on the night it was the best we could do. The only difference to Rangers and Foreman was that the knock-out blow came after 7 minutes and other 83 minutes were just the pre-programmed nerve cells of a headless chicken making the movement. Gerrard said after the game that the team plan they had worked on all week was not adhered to and to be honest it was easy to see that it was Aberdeen's team plan we were watching. One last thing is that George Foreman said he learned a lesson that night and never made the same mistake again so let's hope Gerrard and this Rangers team will also learn from this very sore lesson. The players have now until Sunday to lick their wounds and get into shape for our visit to Dundee. Although Dundee are bottom of the league they have had an upsurge of form over the last few weeks drawing against St Mirren and Hibs and beating Hamilton at home 4-0 on Wednesday. Two players we know who will definitely not play are Scott Arfield and Alfredo Morelos. Both miss the game due to having received stupid red cards in recent games. As these two players have been our most productive in goals and probably creative play they are going to be a huge miss at Dens Park. You could see on Wednesday what a miss Arfield is with his darting late runs through the heart of defences. We just don't have another player with the will to burst a gut and make those piercing runs. Ejaria and Coulibaly work hard enough but in the months that they have been at Rangers their creative skills have been virtually nonexistent . With Morelos out that puts all our striking responsibilities on Kyle Lafferty. Big Kyle has had to play second fiddle to Morelos this season but with Morelos out for two possibly three games. Sunday gives him the chance to step up to the mark. Lafferty has never been the most popular at Ibrox amongst the supporters but shooting us back to the top of the league will enrich his hand no end. Left back is the other position that throws up questions. Many were surprised to see Jon Flanagan come in for Andy Halliday who had a good game against Hearts. Flanagan was substituted at Half-time as he has been in recent games due to poor form which must throw up the question whether Halliday was carrying an injury. Personally I hope Borna Barisic is fit again to play. He played 45 minutes for the reserves at the beginning of the week so with nearly a full week of training he really should be fit to play unless he has had a relapse. I am pretty sure Ejaria will be in the starting line-up as Rossiter does not seem to be an option. I have also no idea how far Andy Dallas is from the first team but we really need another striker on the bench. That said we must also not forget the deeds of opposing striker Kenny Miller who scored a hat-trick for Dundee on Wednesday It is time for Rangers to get straight back off the canvas and box clever. Beating Dundee is not punching above our weight. No more stupid red or yellow cards, just a footballing knock-out blow to secure the win. C'mon the Gers!!! Possible team:

There's a low-level lunacy emerging among less composed elements of the Rangers support. Perhaps it's an emotional reaction stemming from a desperation to release the depression of recent years but running on the pitch is moronic and unnecessary. It has to stop.

If he's fit and willing, a 6 month loan is a no brainer.

Rangers shouldn't renegue tickets and let Celtic off with a large policing bill.

Kilmarnock are top because of Steve Clarke.

It’s vitally important and whilst we have the chance to get through to the KO stage, I’d say it’s a priority (or equally as important I should say). It puts us in the spotlight, brings much needed money, attracts better players and gives our team critical experience - so we need to keep it going. Of course I would pick winning 55 this season over a continued run in Europe, but if I had to pick actually wining the Europa League over 55 this season, I would go with Europe. We will win the league again - and soon hopefully - but a European trophy comes around every hundred or so years. Anwway enjoy your day, I hope we put on a performance for you, win, lose or draw.

I agree. Hopefully Rossiter can get a game soon too. Ejaria and Coulibaly are decent enough on a good day. Unfortunately, their good days don't occur nearly enough.

It seems they’re wearing this on Sunday. https://dundeefc.co.uk/news/2018-19-3rd-kit/ Dundee Football Club are delighted to announce that this season we are continuing our partnership with SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity. SSAFA is the UK’s oldest military charity which provides lifelong support those currently serving, veterans and their families at the time of need. SSAFA provides financial, practical and emotional support to the Armed Forces community through its network of volunteers across the UK, including the local Dundee and Angus SSAFA branch. We have been back in discussions with SSAFA over the past few months and again as part of the affiliation we are delighted to reveal we will have another very special 3rd kit this season which we will wear against Rangers on Sunday. The shirt which includes the Cap badge of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards will go on sale in the club shop in limited numbers late next week and is available to pre-order now from the Dundee Direct website. Over 10% of jersey sales will be added to the eventual total which we are raising throughout the year for SSAFA. Along with wearing the kit and a number of other activities will take place on the day to help build the bond between ourselves and SSAFA. We look forward to continuing our work with SSAFA for another season. Josh Meekings models the 2018-19 Dundee FC third kit at Leuchars Station Army Base, part of the proceeds from sales of the new kit will benefit SSAFA the Armed Forces’ Charity

Ready!!!!

100%. It’s common sense we don’t need three centre mids doing the same thing in that kind of game.

i'm no biting!!

I think that counts for every player tbh! some fans think a player is good and others don't, every week after the match I come on here and see some players getting slaughtered for their performance when I think they have had a decent game!!!?, tis what it is!

As opposed to Morelos, he's a target man who can and will lay long balls off to attacking midfielders (if any), and he will shoot from distance. Anyone knows when we scored the last goal from around the penalty area? (I don't count Candeias cross-come-shot ? ) Likewise, he will be a different aerial threat.

Everything wrong with the mentality of the mindset outwith the old firm. Forever feeding off our success rather than make their own. SMH.

Levein has become a master at misdirection. His side are in terrible form and he should be coming under some pressure, but he keeps spinning the conversation in other directions. It's impressive in some ways.

They will get what every other visiting team gets, take it or leave it!

I may agree to what Ajax PSV and Feynoord wanted to do and get rid of plastic pitches.

The guy has admitted it so the club should come out and denounce it and warn that future actions like this will be punished by lifetime bans IMO.

A hard game ahead always loved games at Dundee in my day they were a first class club with some great players, but if Stevie G has kicked some arses we should get the points .

Half-facts and half-truths, a few missing points and the inference that borrowings are actually debt ... you see whom this article caters for. https://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/17282034.rangers-fcs-borrowing-tops-scottish-football-list-at-more-than-22m/ No word that much of the "borrowings" are interest free and soon to be turned into shares, at least to a sizeable amount. No word that Celtic had income from Europe (for years) that dwarfes anything other clubs gained ... yet still "borrowed" money. Wonder why that was the case, the journo seemingly didn't want to know. No word on who the auditor was who said we're a going concern, nor the lecturer who put this together, But hey, perhaps the Editor of the ET didn't give the journo enough room give us more facts and thus kept the report down to the "really important" stuff?!

I think we should have started with Lafferty up front alongside Morelos .

I knew that, I think it has been well published on FF with your blog. I read FF as well and post now and again. I don't think I am that difficult to guess who I am on there either. I do have an @pete account there but haven't used it for years.

Two days after the event. Listening to McInnes after the Betfred cup final, he banged on about going man to man all round the field against ra Sellik. He did the same against us on Wednesday. It works until one of our men gets past an Aberdeen player, then opportunities are available. Twice, the first half, I remember Middleton standing up the full back and getting past. Of course, in the second we drew Middleton deeper. We passed all around the Dons, they ran along side mostly, not committing to the tackle, showing us avenues that culminated in dead ends. I doubt if both Goldson and McAuley will ever see so much of the ball again? The other thing is tempo. We need a metronome in midfield, someone to dictate the pace we play. I think Arfield does that in part. It would be easy to point the finger at a few players who abdicated responsibility, but I don't think it would help. The likes of McCrorie's combative qualities should not be dismissed, he was part of a most successful midfield against Aberdeen last season. Maybe Ryan Kent's trickery was missed too? We must recognise two games against the Dons and possibly two/three opportunities created and none taken. We are the top scorers in the SPFL and our only goal against the Dandies has been from a penalty. The narrative will become McInnes out thinks Gerrard. If Steve Davis is available in January, he would solve a few of the problems noted above, particularly tempo.

I am ID10 on FF Don’t post on any other sites though, no time as it is

Steven Davis noises are heating up again big style

YES!

I'll have a go at the Dundee Rangers game.

Week after week without a lot of outstanding fixtures. Chelsea v City is the exception. Chelsea must win for themselves and for Liverpool. I hope they don’t. Sixty + years ago Newcastle v Wolves would have been match of the day. Leaving Ashley out of it I like the Mags to prosper but I would really like Wolves to stay up so I hope they win.

More importantly Kenny Miller earned himself a match ball tonight. https://spfl.co.uk/league/premiership/results/988066 Surely it is time to bring him home? cc: @Tannochsidebear