Leaderboard

I left Birmingham Airport on Wednesday afternoon extremely tentatively with an expectation of running battles with the local police and other unacceptable conduct that I was led to believe was the Glasgow Rangers way. I had never done a European away and had grown to understand that the Rangers support cause unnecessary trouble wherever they go. What I encountered was the exact opposite. I left Birmingham without a ticket and due to Rangers' reputation I wasn't keen on sitting in the home end but before I had even left the tarmac at Birmingham Airport I had folk taking my number and promising to sort me out! Genuine football supporters looking out for other genuine football supporters it could be said. I had planned my trip to go via Hamburg. Rangers and Hamburg have a strong connection (similar in many ways to Sunderland - Feyenoord) and as such the Glaswegian Loyal had arranged for 3 coaches to depart Hamburg on the morning of the game and then return afterwards. This meant spending the night before in Hamburg. We were encouraged to spend our night in the St Pauli area of the city at Sportpub Tankstelle otherwise known as the home of the Hamburg Rangers Supporters club. I dropped my bags in the hotel and decided to take a walk to the Tankstelle. Sure enough lads I had briefly spoken to for 10 minutes in Birmingham greeted me at the bar and put me in contact with people that could possibly help on the ticket hunt. I then received an inbox from a stranger on FollowFollow (the Rangers equivalent to the SMB). I had spoken to him on FollowFollow briefly at the weekend but he remembered my plight and when a spare ticket come up he got in touch, told me he could email me a PDF of a ticket if I could find a printer to get it printed! He insisted that I worry about finding a printer rather than spending my evening trying to transfer the money. Luckily I had a good friend from Denmark who was attending the game the following day who sorted me out. The ticket was mine and the big bad Rangers fans had sorted me out! That evening was spent in the Tankstelle with probably close to 150 other Rangers supporters. Not a hint of trouble, local tourists coming in for a pint and a chat when they heard the noise and the streets were self policed by the big bad Rangers. Anyone thinking they were big and clever stepping out of line was told to clamp it or f*ck off. The local police regularly drove by but their presence wasn't needed and they soon left again with a wave and a thumbs up. Onto the match! We boarded the buses at just after 1pm, bus 1 hit a stray dog on the motorway, bus 3 was involved in a minor collision with another vehicle who claimed they never seen the massive bus that was in the way as they tried to join the road from the slip road but all 3 buses eventually arrived in one piece-ish with no complaints from any of the 150 Rangers fans on board. It was all part of the experience. I spent an hour pre-match in the club house and spotted Newcastle Brown Ale on tap! I informed my Danish friends that they need to get that sorted but they insisted it was popular although they would go for a lager out of respect for me. The match itself was pure entertainment. Rangers supporters were insisting that a draw would be a good result and that they couldn't allow Midtjylland to take a big lead into the game at Ibrox. 6 goals followed, 5 of which came in a 20 minute spell. The noise was something to behold led by the trusty Union Bears ultras and their drum. Young and old were aware of the Union Bears and everyone participated as they jumped from song to song serenading the locals and the team with songs of Rangers history. The beat of each and every song controlled from the beat of the drum. Rangers were excellent from front to back. Alfredo Morelos was at his unplayable best whilst Niko Katic strolled it in defence like a seasoned pro although Midtjylland did have a 10 minute spell in the second half where it looked like they could do the unthinkable and recover from 0-3 down but Scott Arfield soon ended all their hopes with a well worked goal resulting in a clever finish. The final 20 minutes was played out to the noise of the away end with the locals watching on from either side in awe. As the game finished I was expecting an announcement to inform us that we were going to face a hold back. I just couldn't believe that the local police could trust the Rangers support to leave the area safely and without bother but the announcement never came and they done the unthinkable and let the away end stroll out into the streets alongside the home support. Rangers fans responded by trading scarves with the locals, shaking hands with the stewards and taking selfies with the local police. We boarded the buses and faced a 4 hour journey back into Germany. We landed back in Hamburg shortly after 2am after a loud and jubilant trip home with genuine football supporters with an undying and almost unhealthy obsession with their team. One of the many topics of conversation on the way back was how the big bad Rangers were once again rescuing the coefficient after Aberdeen let down Scotland once again in Europe. I left Hamburg at lunchtime today and arrived home shortly after 7pm to reflect on a trip of a lifetime watching the... big bad Rangers in Europe.German coach companies - 2/10Rangers support - 10/10Match - 10/10Result - 10/10.Comments on the big bad Rangers from the Danish Police - 10/10 https://www.readytogo.net/smb/threads/fc-midtjylland-away-review.1482340/

Not a bad appraisal of the game from the Evening Times. https://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/17825691.midtjylland-2-rangers-4-five-talking-points-impressive-rangers-showing/?ref=ar

Just watching West Ham v Man City and VAR has been used on several occasions. Personally, I don't like it, as I feel it detracts from the fluidity, spontaneity and excitement of a football match.

Tierney confirming that boys club and football club were one and the same.

Don't tell me with have an Amish only signing policy now.

While I can't see Midtjylland scoring three clear goals at Ibrox, I would say that the tie is not yet over. The "good" thing is that they will have to come and score now, which will probably open a few spaces for us to exploit. You would hope that they do not get an early goal though. *feet firmly at the ground Loyal*

So gratifying to see Killie get a taste of their own medicine at Hamilton. Killie dominated the play with 62% of the possession and 17 shots at goal to 4 for Hamilton as Accies dug in just as Killie like to do. And again I think it proves it's hard for a team like them to switch from that park the bus strategy to playing attacking football. Both Connah's Quay and Accies have shown them up for what they are. Good at wall building but nothing else.

Burnley also surprised me, beating Southampton. I actually think they've had two 'blip' seasons; their European place the season before last was too high for them, but their flirtation with relegation last season was too low.

Having watched the game again they are very strong with plenty skill, like you I don't expect to be knocked out but we will have to score and be up for it!

it is an absolute farce. If it ever comes into Scotland I'm out because no doubt it'll be even more of a shambles up here

If our medical team is anything like our legal team we will probably find out he has only one good leg and a wooden one at the other side .

Why? This was in April and a Hamstring injury takes 6 to 8 weeks to heal. His season would be as good as over. A footballer that has not pulled a hamstring is yet to be born.

A Point to Prove Intro The surprise loan of Glenn Middleton from Rangers to Hibs appears to signal a thawing in the icy relations between the clubs of late, but there will be little sign of that when the sides go head to head this weekend in a game which both sides will aim to make a springboard for their season. Background to Game Both come into the tie on the back of opening day victories but still very much with a point to prove. After an overwhelmingly positive pre-season, Rangers failed to convince with a laboured victory at Rugby Park which had an all too familiar feel to it. However, Thursday’s fabulous performance in Denmark has gone a long way to quelling those fears and putting the fans at ease again. Hibs had a similar opening day to Rangers when they left it late to grind out a win over a St Mirren side they would have expected to dispatch of comfortably at Easter Road. Head to Head History For a long time Hibs were not a side Rangers had to worry too much about. In 32 games between 1996 and 2005, Hibs recorded only one victory. The return of Walter Smith in 2007 saw this pattern continue with only 2 losses in 20 games. However, since Rangers were demoted Hibs have proven to be a thorn in their side, restricting the Gers to a mere 8 wins in 22 games. This dismal record continued under Steven Gerrard last season as a poor Hibs side were allowed to land a severe blow to Rangers’ title hopes by holding them to three draws, costing the Ibrox men 6 crucial points. However the tide has started to turn and last season was the first season since 2011-12 that Rangers were unbeaten against Hibs and the one-sided games were a sign that the new rivalry between the clubs is not likely to last. The Opponent A change in regime at Hibs mid-season saw Heckingbottom take the reins and rescue their campaign as they embarked on an unlikely 10 game unbeaten run which lifted them from 8th to 5th place. This was the highest possible finish for the Englishman so it was a massive achievement. Lennon had built his house on the sand of loan deals and favours from Celtic and paid the price in his final season when the latter dried up after the John McGinn saga. Lennon was weighed in the balance and found wanting. Heckingbottom has had a summer to re-build and, in a break from the club’s previous strategy, he is building for the future. Lennon’s Hibs were propped up by the short termist strategy of flooding the squad with loan players and in his final season he made seven loan signings. Remarkably, Heckingbottom has made only two loan signings and has preferred to utilise his extensive knowledge and connections south of the border to make 5 permanent signings who are all between the ages of 23 and 26. The signing of Scott Allan had already been agreed before he came in but is very much in keeping with this strategy. Form Having said that, this season’s Hibs squad doesn’t look like the improvement over last season’s that the fans were expecting. The opening day performance was slow, laboured and lacking dynamism. The loss of Martin Boyle to injury was a huge blow in terms of the team’s attacking threat but Heckingbottom and Leanne Dempster were smart to move quickly to smooth things over with Rangers and secure Glenn Middleton on loan to replace him. Middleton has the ability to provide the pace and end product they are lacking but will not feature this weekend so answers will have to be found elsewhere. Dangerman Mallan and Horgan are both players with the ability to create and shoot from distance but the dangerman without doubt is Scott Allan. Rangers know all too well what Allan is capable of and everything Hibs did well against St Mirren went through him and it was no co-incidence that it was he who saved the day with an impressive winner. Rangers Despite Rangers’ midweek heroics, they still come into the game with a point to prove. Last season Hibs were a bogey team and Gerrard will be determined to vanquish any similarities to last season from the off, not least after the Kilmarnock game when the accusations flooded in that nothing has changed. Furthermore, dropping points ahead of the first Old Firm game of the season on the 1st of September is not an option. It is absolutely crucial that Gerrard takes his men into that game with the chance to go 3 points clear and give themselves a lead to defend and maintain from there on. This, more than anything, will signal to the fans and the country that this season is different. The line-up is difficult to predict. Last season the goalkeeper was not rotated but McGregor is a year older and Foderingham rotated in at Rugby Park after the Progres game last week and is likely to do so again on Sunday. The backline was not rotated after Progres but Katic and Flanagan will be conscious of the competition and it wouldn't be a surprise to see Barisic and Edmundson start in a home game where we will dominate the ball. Helander didn't make the bench in Jutland and Gerrard has been wise not to throw him in and risk damaging his reputation before he is fit and ready. Davis is likely to return to the three in midfield but Kamara offered the fans a reminder of his quality and class in Denmark and this will surely leave Gerrard with another headache. Arfield will always keep his place unless he is unavailable but Jones can rightly feel under threat in a position with no stand-out player as of yet. The addition of Brandon Barker from Man City is likely to have more to do with opportunism than a feeling that he will significantly improve the team, but it will nevertheless make a few nervous. In any case, Ojo is likely to step in for Jones and this is another example of a position the club now have enough depth in to allow for fresh legs to be brought in after a European game. Defoe will rotate back in after Morelos starred midweek and the option of bringing in a fresh striker after European excursions is brand new to Gerrard and could be a crucial factor in this league campaign. As important a player as Morelos is, he isn't the fittest player in the world and the aerially dominant Darren McGregor will not relish the prospect of facing a fresh and hungry Jermaine Defoe who scores his goals on the deck. Predicted Line-up - 4-3-2-1 Predicted Score - Rangers 2-0 Hibs

Also confirming he is an uneducated scumbag who has poor spelling and grammar and loves the IRA and all terrorists loving GB. Good riddance from this country to the horrible wee ned. i expect to see him back with his injured tail between his legs a few years down the road.

Can you imagine VAR in this bigoted little country where like it or not your either a Billy or A Dan do you think any one will give us the benefit if he's got a liking for the hooped horrors or will any Rangers leaning man give them a decision more worrying is if the operators are appointed the same way as the compliance officer .

A waste of time and money. I preferred it when ref's got things wrong, at least the game kept moving. All this stop start pish is ruining the game.

It's a must win game and not because it's Hibs, they're not a competitor who could make this a 6 pointer. Must win simply because they're all must win prior to turning over the yahoos at Ibrox which is a 6 pointer. We have to be sitting top of the pile with 12 points the night of September 1st. Hibs will be lucky to get 4th or 5th at the end of the season.

That's your preview now published @DMAA - thankss again! https://www.gersnet.co.uk/index.php/news-category/match-analysis/1045-a-point-to-prove-rangers-v-hibernian

Is it not Sunday yet. I cant wait for this game. We are due a hammering to this shower. I would love a 4/5 but I'll settle for a scrappy 1-0 if I have to

I could have punched a couple of horses at Goodwood last week ???

Good display from Manchester city

I'd be very surprised if we came close to losing this now but I would have said the same about Kilmarnock and that Welsh team.

So they(allegedly) take in £25m for Tierney & spend a small fraction of that on his replacement ?? When will they all wake up & realise where the money is going to ( or is going to go ?) ??

Never change a winning team , we can always bring on some subs to freshen up in the second half

I cannot believe that Gerrard never had any say on signing them, so I very much doubt that. Hastie is still young and may be loaned out for this year although i believe Johnny said that his parents were promised he would be fighting for a place in the team. I would say he should do what is best for his development. If that means a loan deal then it is better than sitting on the bench.

Surely not, even if he was fit they would allow him to settle in and just be around the squad for the first game.

Hutch‏ @Alan50583050 FollowFollow @Alan50583050 More Richard Gordon on @BBCSportsound "Aberdeen have a lot to do and Midtjylland have a lot to do" The seethe is fucking ecstasy

What a day - my wife gave birth to our 2nd baby daughter, baby Charlotte fought back from the brink & then the Gers get one of their best ever European results! Time for a lie down now though..

Well that was unexpected. I've read that the Danish mob have a tight defence and well drilled defence but the game, 2nd half especially was extremely open. Special praise to Jones for his direct run and pass to Aribo for the 2nd goal and a very well taken goal too. Katic's finish was fantastic for a centre half. That may be Morelos' best performance in a Rangers top. Was delighted to see Flanagan start tonight. A hard, tough tackling, bo nonsense defender.whi wears his heart on his sleeve. Great result. We got a bit sloppy in the 2nd half for 10 minutes but other than that a very competent result and performance.

I know this isn't a footbal article but I think it shows what we're up against and verifies @Bill's point about the BBC brushing off complaints. https://www.spiked-online.com/2019/08/02/the-bbc-is-failing-in-its-obligation-to-be-fair/ Seems we're not the only ones banging our heads off the state funded brick wall.