Leaderboard

So with the excitement and I might add exhilaration of Rangers clash with Porto behind us and a 2-0 win under the belt it's back to the bread and butter. The 'hammer throwers' of Scottish football beckon. Rangers visit Livingston and their dreaded plastic for the second time this season the first of which was a 1-0 Rangers win in the league cup quarter final. Rangers took the lead after just 5 minutes in that game when a Kamara strike from around 20 yards was deflected into the goal off the knee of a Livingston defender for what turned out to be the only goal of the game. From there even though Rangers had 60% of the possession and 6 shots on target to 0 for Livi the most striking feature of the game was what I would euphemistically call the 'physicality' of Livingston. Both Ryan Jack plus Joe Aribo sustained head injuries and while Jack was ultimately able to carry on Aribo was more seriously injured by an elbow to the head which resulted in a wound requiring 20 stitches to close. A total of 6 yellow cards were flashed by the referee 4 of them for Livi one of those cards being directed at London Dykes for a late challenge on Connor Goldson. This actually appeared to continue a pattern of Dykes assaults on Goldson after Dykes had been red carded at Ibrox during a league match some weeks earlier in which Rangers ran out 3-1 winners. Goldson was left lying on the Ibrox pitch requiring treatment after Dykes delivered what we might begin calling the Livi special, an elbow to the head. I'm focusing on this aspect because that's exactly what I expect to see again in this game. I actually have real concerns for the health and safety of Rangers players against a side who have accumulated a total of 22 yellow cards and 2 reds across 18 games this season. It's the third worst record in the league behind first placed Motherwell and second placed Hearts. And take note that a full third of these Livingston cards, 8 to be precise encompassing 7 yellows and 1 red came in just two games against Rangers. A shocking disciplinary record against Rangers in just two games resulting in 3 head injuries one of them serious. We know we're far and away the better team and they know it too. We only need to be allowed to play football to win this game and obviously it's going to be up to the referee to allow that to happen. If the referee does his job I predict a comfortable 2 or 3 goal win if not it may be tighter with us still being dominant but unable to actually impose our class in a game likely littered with stoppages for constant fouling and time wasting. Let's hope to get through this with another vital 3 away points and no cracked skulls.

Excellent interview, @Stevie - 4lads Blog. I really enjoyed it. Good to hear how a player feels rather than the usual platitudes.

And there are some who have all that skill and the determination to win but just can't live the life of a professional athlete. Plenty money to spend, want to spend a lot of time in the pubs and clubs getting pissed with their non athlete mates. Turning up for training hungover and unfit to train or just not turn up at all. I suspect there are countless who have gone down that path.

I watched the whole match today and I would say it was pretty even with us having g that bit of extra quality up front. I didn't think Barker was bad at all and really liked Kent. Tav had a great game so did goldson.

It's a fantastic story. I think he epitomises the player profile we should be going after; young, technical, but cheap and underestimated. I was first made aware of him the season before we signed him; he was regularly around the top of the league in terms of stats, with his passing and interceptions especially top notch. It was just the little hint that he's able to do things that others of that level can't. Gerrard makes a good point about players fitting into the style of the team. He was developed at Arsenal, but then the styles at Southend, Colchester and then Dundee -- under McCann he did well, because there was an intent to keep the ball, but not the other manager(s) -- didn't really suit his abilities.

This one is not to be missed

(ii) Rank Hypocrisy. Enthralled, I returned home last evening, Rangers beating of Porto was the high on my mind. I switched on the TV and found BBC's Question Time underway. Guests included Humza Yousaf and Angela Haggerty. The HND armed Journo is a piece of work, and considerable work has been put in by many to ensure she is provided with every opportunity. Angela straddles the horses of both Irish and Scottish nationalism, riding down Union aspirations the way she rode down any claims that fellow Journo, Lyra McKee was murdered by the IRA. As my high ebbed, I wondered just how far does Angela's protection extend? She is among a coterie of Journos regularly invited by PQ to broadcast their preferred prejudice. You have the likes of former Sellik View Editor, Kevin McKenna, the Herald's former Literary Editor, Hugh MacDonald, and Herald columnist, Catriona Stewart(Gregor Cox). They all provide support to a range of Producers, Staffers, and Presenters. Well, it's mutual support; Chris McLaughlin, Tom English, and DrStu' can all say what they like, knowing it will minimised/expanded, rationalised/evaluated, justified/acceptable, ...... etc. They have all uttered the most vile, sectarian statements about Rangers and Rangers supporters knowing that not one of them will ever be pulled up, chastised, or disciplined. They will not be reminded either, their sin is clean. They were all contributors to the Rangers Tax Case Blog and that has never been raised for conversation since the day it all disappeared, after a number of court rulings. Nearly a million impressions gone overnight without a word. Actually, DrStu' has commented on a few occasions, it has always been the same, "Rangers supporters should forget all about the RTC Blog". It's the arrogance, we are not allowed to find out whose display cabinet hosts the Orwell prize? DrStu' the Jedi Knight! Last Thursday's Media Review, you know that show where DrStu' brings a different voice to the microphone? He introduced himself saying he had been watching Jeremy Corbyn's election campaign. He found it most compelling, or rather he could understand why traditional voters in the north of England would find it compelling. He urged those voters to forego the temptation of the Brexit Party and return to the socialism fold. A break ensued, then DrStu returned to speak of "coherence". In Scotland, Corbyn's message was incoherent because socialism was represented by the SNP. Here's me thinking if you allow your socialist sensitivities to be subdued by nationalist demands, then you are a national socialist; something entirely different. Why can't DrStu' allow his fellow Scots to vote Labour? Further, I am surprised that the broadcast footprint of BBC Scotland has been extended to include the north of England. Of course the rank hypocrisy is that DrStu' hates the English as much as he hates Rangers supporters. Question Time is a show that exercises the collective minds of the Gang Hut. We have had several rantings and ravings on the make up of the panel, and even more interesting is a demand to ensure approval of the audience members. DrStu' spent an entire Media Review battering a particular audience member from Livingston who had rag dolled Fiona Hyslop. It was DrStu's favoured shotgun approach, he was outraged that the Livi' chap was a drummer in an Orange marching band. The rank hypocrisy is DrStu's Councilor in Dennistoun is a drummer in a marching band, his name is Allan Casey and he banged the drum for an Irish Republican marching band. Obviously, DrStu' is prepared to subdue his socialist principles because Casey is nationalist Councilor. I suppose it's a relief that DrStu' only hates some drummers. The other conclusion must be DrStu' the Jedi Knight approves of Angela? It was he on the Media Review that announced Lyra McKee had died as a result of cross fire. Mutual support provides mutual comfort.

Incredible run by Preston and Alex Neil with one of the smallest budgets maybe even the smallest in that league. I hope they go all the way.

Yes indeed, it was electric for Porto and that would raise it to stratospheric. Obviously Stevie wants to beat anybody we face but them? Has to be yet another level for him from a personal perspective. As I said there are easier draws but there are harder ones too. Man Utd would satisfy me.

Got it it's not on main page yet still showing as a live match.

£1 million for a striker is peanuts, even for us, especially when you consider he was scoring for fun in Finland too.

Disagree. The biggest issue we will have in keeping him is money. Billy Gilmour for a move at 16 and was rumored to be on £17k a week the moment he signed for Chelsea and rising to £22k a week on his 17th birthday. I’ve personally seen Leon play since he was 8, though obviously fleetingly. My son played against him 7 years ago and even then he looked a player. Saw him the following year as a full back (prior to 11 a side) and his engine was terrific by also. Very good football player. He played in a tournament a couple of gears ago down south and some of the scouts that were there questioned Rangers’ sanity in letting him play and be seen. Some at HTC believe he has a brighter future than even Billy Gilmour. Leon’s also a very well liked kid.

The only expensive players we have in our squad are Kent, Goldson, Helander, Barisic and maybe Katic And I suspect we would get our money back on all of them.

Tavernier, Ryan Jack, Arfield, Steven Davis, Allan McGregor, Jermain Defoe (when he signs his permanent contract) All of the above can be considered bargain too

The thing is the names you're mentioning currently out on loan patently aren't good enough to force a way into the first 11 anytime soon. If this boy is good enough there is a path for him. If he isn't good enough he's not going to make it at Liverpool/Chelsea either. If he has some real quality all things being equal there has to be a better chance of regularly making the first team at Rangers than at Liverpool/Chelsea since we can't afford to match the depth of top quality they can. Alfie went straight into the first team at just 20 because he was good enough and is now turning EPL heads as he terrorises Europe. And talking of Alfie there's a chance he can hit 30 goals before the end of the year to match his total for all of last year. Last player to do anything like that Was Marco Negri who hit 33 by the end of the year in 1997.

I too think we could give fringe players some time. This isn't going to be about being a better footballing side than them, our second 11 are a better footballing side than them. I listened to a Record podcast discussing this game and every one of them stated the opinion that this is going to be a "horrible game to watch" I'm tired of the likes of them getting away with what they do and calling it football. Then we whine that no one wants to pony up a good TV deal. Why would they? For a "horrible watch"

Been looking at potential opponents if we get to the last 32. There are what may be somewhat easier ties available but I would love to draw Man Utd. I suspect that may get Gerrard salivating too.

Thank you mate, Neil was excellent and spoke very well

Great to see him doing so well. Claudio Cannigia, Nacho Novo and Glen Kamara. That's three absolute bargains we've had from Dundee.

I contacted the club SLO via email on 4th September with what I see as an anomaly in ticket pricing, still await a reply. Further to this I wrote to Stewart Robertson on 2nd October with the same question, same again no answer. Previous to this I used the website to contact the club and did receive an answer for someone in the ticket office, but they did not understand the point I was making and gave the usual standard reply "its the rules". Is this normal from the club, to just ignore fans correspondence?

That is exactly the reason he is getting a new contract.

Another vlog from an English Porto fan

The country value will always have huge significance because it applies to determine the stage when clubs will access competitions. It could be argued that it has never been more important for countries around about where Scotland are currently positioned because of the up and coming new competition set-up (intro of Euro Conference).

I meant to post this a week or so ago. Following Dundee Utd announcing a significant financial loss recently, a loss that was underlined by a salary to turnover ratio of 133%, the evening Sportsound featured Jim Spence, Allan Preston and Chick Young. Jim Spence is a well known professional Dundonian, a man of the people, recognised as the senior legal opinion for most of Tayside and someone who cares greatly about sporting integrity. For the younger readers sporting integrity is something that was all the rage earlier in this decade. Anyway, I expected a full evisceration of Dundee Utd from Lord Spence, someone as concerned with financial probity as him would be ripping then a new one as they say in the High Court. Well, you can imagine my surprise when in fact it turned out that dear old Jim was in fact something of an apologist for Dundee Utd's reckless absentee owners. Apparently they've got deep pockets, have fallen in love with Dundee Utd (I know, I know) and see them as a long term investment. Indeed apparently their business plan will see them making money in the mid to long term. Incredibly this clear case of "financial doping" doesn't require criticism, simply explanation. It's a project, there's nothing untoward going on and everything will be fine. Allan Preston, a football agent who relies on working with clubs for his living, also saw nothing to worry about or question. It was left to an incredulous Chick Young, for possibly the first time in his life, to express what everyone else listening was thinking, namely WHAT THE FUCK??!! Yes, BBC Sportsound that evening made Chick Young sound measured, qualified and sensible. Who says it's not worth the licence fee. PS For some reason no Dundee supporters were invited on to give their opinion on Dundee Utd's problems. Again, a break with precedent surely.

(i) Rank Hypocrisy! Let's go back ten days, DrStu' is doing his petty and ill informed gig on, 'Off the Ball'. The guest is fellow Super Saintee, the actor Colin McCredie. You may remember his fifteen year stint in Taggart? Of course, he has something to plug. Whatever it is, you would be better served finding a burning orphanage to view. The real reason he turned up at PQ, apart from the peppercorn fee and further exposure; was to await the invitation to watch St Johnstone play Acas at Perth on an incoming live feed. DrStu' and Cowan extend the invitation and McCredie offers, "ah was wondering where I could watch the game"? It's the sense of entitlement available to the Gang Hut and their pals. DrStu' bangs on about his keen sense of injustice, it keeps him awake at night. It is really from the first whistle to the last for the Gang Huttees. Rangers supporters paying their BBC License Fee when Rangers entertained Acas did not receive live coverage from Ibrox. In fact, Sportsound went off air as the Ibrox game kicked-off. In fact, full live coverage of the Livi'/Celtic game had just ended and Big Dick handed over to Geoff Webster who spent two hours talking rugby/tennis/golf. Similarly, when Motherwell visited the stadium, full live commentary of Aberdeen/Sellik ended and again Big Dick handed over to fellow Dandy, Geoff Webster for more minority sport. Rangers License Fee payers on both Sundays received two thirty second reports from Rob McLean, interrupting the Webster flow. The rank hypocrisy of the entitled few exercising their privilege over the air, knowing the vast majority listening are paying. Rangers supporters in remote areas, infirm Bears, elderly and alone bluenoses, ..........etc - those where their radio/TV is their link to the outside world should know, DrStu' sleeps well.