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The Light at the end of the Tunnel. The current situation reference Rangers is nothing new to those of us passing three score years. The almost five year period between April'66 and October'70 felt like unrelenting darkness. It was impenetrable, the Scottish Cup final replay victory over Celtic was a dazzling brightness; however, by Autumn'70 it had faded. Of course, we knew where we had come from, locating the way ahead was the real problem. Rangers had made a ECWC final and a Scottish Cup final too, in the intervening years, and failed to secure both cups. Further, we had endured a couple of Championship campaigns where we managed to secure defeat from the jaws of victory on the last days of the seasons. Flicking the switch appeared useless too, three differing Managers and a repeating temporary Boss did not raise a glimmer. Season '69/70 had seen Wullie Waddell pontificating on Scottish football from the lofty designation as the Scottish Daily Express's Chief Football Writer. He could talk with considerable authority, done it all as a Rangers player and managed Killie to a Championship victory five years previous. The immediate aftermath of our defeat to Polish wizards, Gornik had seen Waddell condemn the then gaffer, Davie Whyte with a piece entitled, 'the Boy David'. The Board sacked Whyte and appointed Waddell in his place. He cleared out the dead wood and introduced a host of youngsters into the team. The likes of Alfie Conn, Alex Miller, Colin Jackson, Graham Fyfe, and Derek Parlane were elevated, and he decided a most effective, free scoring inside forward, William Jardin was a better right back. Pre-season '70/'71, Waddell's final piece of the jigsaw arrived. The former player/Boss of Berwick Rangers and then Hearts Trainer, Jock Wallace took over at the Albion. The beginning of the campaign was at best described as inconsistent. We lost two out three pre-season friendlies, the other a draw. We qualified in top position from our League Cup group, involving Motherwell, Dunfermline, and Morton. The quarter-final was two legged against Hibs, winning both games 3-1 for a 6-2 aggregate. Meanwhile, our League form was poor, losing 0-2 at home to Celtic and by mid-Autumn, we languished fifth in the table behind Celtic, Aberdeen, St Johnstone, and Motherwell. The perceived wisdom cited Jock Wallace taking Rangers to Gullane sands. We had left all our energy on the East Lothian coast. We defeated Cowdenbeath in the semi-final, both goals notched by Johnston and Stein in the second half. The final was due, ten days later; we had a league fixture in between, at Ibrox against Aberdeen. A hopeful 40,000 watched a well drilled Dons outfit manage the game from minute one until the ninetieth. A Colin Jackson own goal follow followed by classy finish from the biggest blue-nose on the field, Joey Harper settled a deserved 0-2 triumph. The murmurs leaving the Stadium focused on the inconsistency of so many youngsters, and the pre-match news of returning to Gullane sands for three days before the final. The build up to Hampden was dispiriting for Bears,the Daily Record ran a two day series of interviews with the remaining 16 clubs Skippers in the then, Division One. All but three predicted a comfortable green'n'grey victory. Gullane sands became the subject of relentless jokes ie we endured the twice daily sessions on the sands, then played a team of dustbins. The game finished a 0-0 draw, noting the bins had been denied a clear penalty. A final casualty of the coast was Captain, John Greig going down with the flu. I suspect the conclusion to the Gullane sessions(revealed after the final by Sandy Jardine) might have been the cause? The 24th of October arrived and 108,000 squeezed into the old ground. Our supporters bus had been alive with the news that Greig had failed a fitness test the previous day. Speculation on his replacement split the ranks, we needed the craft of veteran campaigner, Andy Penman as opposed the legs of youngster, Graham Fyfe? A further shock was the team news, neither two was in the starting line up, a callow 16 year old who had debuted a month before against Cowdenbeath in a league match, scoring twice, was the Skipper's replacement. Derek Johnstone's name was overwhelmingly met with, "WHO"? The team that wet and windy day was : McCloy, Jardine, Miller, Conn, McKinnon, Jackson, Henderson, MacDonald, Johnstone, Stein, and Wullie Johnston. Fyfe was our sub'. Our back four was Jardine and Miller as full backs, Jackson joined McKinnon as the centre two. They were never realy troubled. Our midfield star was Alfie Conn, Doddy and Henderson provided the heavy lifting. Bud and Stein continually took the Sellik back line into wide areas. Jim Craig was terrified of Bud's pace, resulting in Bud sitting on the ball late into the game. He teased and enticed Craig to come out and tackle, before dancing around him to deliver another cross. The winning goal was scored in the 40th minute, Conn slipped a ball wide to Henderson. He galloped 40 yards and slung the ball inside to a supporting MacDonald, who in turn pinged it wide to Bud. He checked and delivered a high looping cross, DJ got up between McNeill and Craig, heading the ball firmly past Williams. We scored another in the second half, Colin Stein squeezed the ball at least a foot over the line, but Tiny Wharton was fifty yards off the play and Evan Williams quickly retrieved the ball. As Ronnie McKinnon stepped up to receive the trophy, the clouds momentarily parted and a streak of silver blue became apparent. It was nearly five years and the darkness was bleakest before the game began. Our youngsters outran and outsmarted the acknowledged masters of trophy retention, Celtic were participating in their sixth consecutive final. The youngest player participating in his second game and first final was the light at the end of our tunnel. It was the beginning of sustained success, we won the Scottish Cup, the ECWC, and the league Championship in subsequent seasons. Big DJ - the bringer of the light. NB - Sandy Jardine revealed a few seasons later, that the end of the Gullane sands sessions included either a dip in the sea, or a hosing down by Jock Wallace. Apparently, before the League Cup final in the dressing room, Wallace separated the players into groups of four, and turned a freezing fire hose on them. Thoroughly soaked, they were required to lie of the Masseuse tables and the Trainers rubbed in raw alcohol into all muscle groupings as an embrocation. No wonder Greigy was down with the flu! The events of half a century past feel similar today. We have been through several years of darkness, we have endured a number of Gaffers, and it's the separated brethren tormenting us again. Like 1970, we lost 0-2 at Ibrox to them a few weeks before the final. We attempted to nullify their game, forgetting about our own. Similarly, we did this back in August. We played far too narrow and allowed ra Sellik to dictate the tempo. Hampden is a huge playing area, we have to be expansive, I suspect whoever owns the tempo will own the match? Out of possession, our tempo must remain high, pressing them high up the pitch. It's this manner that laid the foundations for our respective 1-0 and 2-0 victories at Ibrox My team would be : McGregor, Tavenier, Goldson, Katic, Barisic, Davis, Jack, Arfield, Kamara, Kent, and Morelos. Hopefully, 2-1 to the good guys?

Will be announced Monday Have known for a while but unfortunately leaked tonight club have been sitting on it a week or so, shame it’s out tonight but it is what it is Suggest we are protecting ourselves from England

Being one footed does not mean your a bad player everyone's having a go at Flanagan because he had a ninety minutes he would rather forget but his team mates had long enough to get the result . This bloke did very well with his one good foot

God, that picture took me right back to when I got my first Rangers strip for Xmas.

Pull yourself together lad

I think that would be dreadful. Morelos would be wasted. Yes, he wanders around, but that's all part of him playing upfront, as he drags their defenders out of position. We need him in the centre. We have tried it in a couple of games late on, but that's against tiring, poorer quality opposition. We saw in the first game what happens when Defoe plays in the centre. It can't happen again.

Wednesday night in the immediate aftermath of Pittodrie, Big Dick exercised pathos, the AmDram Quine howled, "Alfredo Morelos should have definitely been at least booked for three fouls on Kyle Ferguson". An attempt to elicit feelings that already exist within the PQ Gang Hut? His only backer, Wullie Miller shrilled, "absolutely". We are all products of our conditioning and Big Dick is always anxious to rock his, 'I was raised to hate Rangers' vibe. In fact, I suspect Big Dick brings more emotion to this fixture than Alfredo? Eventually, it was admitted Rangers should have had a penalty. Further, Sam Cosgrove was fortunate; but was Sam as fortunate as Joe Lewis? No red card for Joe against St Mirren and well done Neil McCann for insisting Cosgrove's over the ball challenge on Davis was a possible ordering off. As for Tav', well that's what you do to the Rangers skipper. To paraphrase Big Dick from last season, 'Rangers were subjected to decisions at Pittodrie expected by most opposition fans'. Big Dick cannot help himself, he is compelled by the Aberdeen are the second best team in the country line. Those Bhoys on the other side of the PQ Gang Hut have to hear the soothing cheer, 'we hate Rangers more than you'! After rumination, Big Dick concludes, "in the calendar year the Aberdeen - Rangers record is played seven, Aberdeen have won two, Rangers two, and three drawn. Steven Gerrard's team cannot pull away". Again, not true, why does the Producer allow such a spin? If the calendar year is from 5th December'18 until 4th December'19; then seven games have been played between Rangers and Aberdeen. Two Scottish Cup ie a draw and a 0-2 victory for Aberdeen. The five league games break down is three Rangers wins ie 2-4, 2-0, and 5-0, one Dons victory 0-1 and one draw 2-2. I make that 3 Rangers wins, two draws, and two for the Dandies. If it's the year 2019, it's six games, and the break down is 3 won, two drawn, and one win for the Dons. The respective goals break down is 14-8 or 14-7 in Rangers favour. Pedantic, absolutely; but they started it. If you are accurate, then you will be objective. Big Dick should take a leaf out of Alfredo's book, drop the hate-filled emotion.

Are they available for Sunday?

Imagine if this was a Separate Entity FC player! it would even be brought up in Parliament!

The flip side to the consistency of Barasic is that up until Wednesday, Flanagan hadn´t played a real competitive match for months and it showed. Against Celtic in early September. Flanagan at left-back meant that our attacking balance suffered and we couldn´t exploit the space that Celtic deliberately left down our left. To be fair to JF, it has to be said that he defended well that day and Forrest didn´t get a look in. Ryan Kent joined just after the Celtic match and he certainly provides a threat on the left but he needs a supporting full-back on his outside. One who can cross a ball with his left foot (beats me why a professional can´t add this to his game). I´d guess that Barasic will take the pain-killing injection if that means he can start.

What an animal! I didn't see the game due to other half being in hospital. Total incompetence from Beaton.

The whole defence have been at fault for most of the goals conceded this season. We're continually losing goals due to our own errors, which is disappointing.

Portuguese*

Celtic 0 Rangers 1 Goldson 88 mins

I don't expect any surprises in our line up, barring any injuries. McGregor TavGoldson Helander Barisic JackDavis Kamara ArfieldMorelos Kent

I assume the compliance officer has been made redundant??

You addressed nothing and are now following that up with pointless nonsense which if it's intended to be witty is falling well short of that description. . A sentence addresses this topic? That's it? It's the polis job? Give us your breakdown on why no one should talk about this because that's the claim you made and what you're supposed to be addressing. It may very well be something the police should be involved in but that's irrelevant to claiming we shouldn't discuss it here. And as for this drivel about quests and where they're going you need to put that to the entire community since despite your pearl of wisdom stating don't talk about it they're all talking about it. Across all platforms. Forums, podcasts and beyond. If no one talks about it why would even the police or any authority care? Because in that case in their view no would be caring. Now i'm trying to help you here, you need to think before posting. If you want to make a statement think first can I rationally back this up if others disagree. If you don't you end up in this situation where you're on the fringe desperately trying to add something of on to it that makes little to no sense because the original statement made no sense. It's clear to me and I expect to others that you're one of those people who just cannot admit they're wrong. Then even when proven wrong must still try to push it when it's a lost cause. Simply must get the last word even when it's a lost cause and that last word is meaningless.

The point is: once people do not get hunted for this, the "quality" of items will change, To the worse. Aberdeen are obliged to investigate, as that chap/lass/idiot violated their ground rules. The police probably needs to investigate as "attempted bodily harm" is sure a thing under their jurisdiction. These people, no matter what colour they wear, need to be slapped ... and thoroughly.

Trembling bookies everywhere are waiting for this: Toffees 1-2 Chelsea B’mouth. 0-3 Liverpool Hotspurs 3-1 Burnley Watford 1-2 Palace City 2-2 United Villa. 1-2 Leicester Mags 2-0 So’ton Norwich 1-0 Blades Brighton 2-1 Wolves Hammers 2-0. Arsenal

Chill out, apparently. And with those two words I just negated every point you made with ease.

It shows how far Barasic has turned it around this season when we are all desperate for him to play. We definitely missed him last night especially in an attacking sense. Have to say I wasn't confident about this game before last night and obviously the collapse from two up has done little to encourage me. On the other hand the other mob are not great and if we score first I think we'll have a chance

Thanks, 26th! I'll get a graphic made and publish it on the main site tomorrow.

Totally agree with the subs point. SG doesn't make enough of them or make them early enough for my liking. Last nights were just completely baffling to me. Does Ojo have to play some part of every game? To put him on before Stewart was just complete madness. Surely Defoe should have been introduced at some point too. Kamara was also there that could have freshened up the midfield. Its all very well us saying we have a stronger sqaud - we undoubtedly have - but it means nothing if we don't utilise the bench

Having slept on it, I woke up this morning quite concerned. I know it's just one result, but there were some warning signs in that game. Firstly, we rely too much on a small number of players. Morelos, Kent and Jack need to play well against the tougher teams, or we just don't perform. Last night we didn't have Jack or Morelos on form and although we still looked like winning in the first 30 minutes, as soon as it got tough, we didn't have our best players to pull us out of the rut. Secondly, it worries me that we don't have an on the field leader who inspires the others around them to press the reset button after a set back. So much for Davis, Goldson, Tav, Jack, etc. None of them could be seen to be trying to take control. They just looked at each other in bewilderment as the game started to unravel. Gerrard looked utterly frustrated on the sidelines. Had he been on the pitch, he knows he'd have been able to get a reaction from his team mates. Finally, it really concerns me that we can be subject to these refereeing performances. At the very least, Beaton is the most incompetent referee in the game. If he's not, then it's something a lot more sinister. The double standards were so obvious last night and I'm disgusted that he's now able to perform like that so blatantly and yet without consequence to him. Our players lost that game last night, but Beaton appeared to do his best to create the right conditions for it. He alllowed Aberdeen to drag the game into a hack-athon. They committed foul after foul without any cards being shown. In any other league in the world (even the old junior leagues) Cosgrove and Logan would have been sent off. As I said at the beginning, I'm concerned. We've got a mountain to climb now, despite it being only two points of a difference. For me it also takes the shine off this weekend. I'd rather have won that game last night than the cup at the weekend. Now we have to wait for the league game against them which is one where all the pressure is now on us.

A couple of comments on last night. First half hour was outstanding. But it’s worrying that even when we are in cruise control we all know that we could lose it. They pull one back and somehow we know deep down our players aren’t going to cope well with this. They equalise and we all know deep down we aren’t winning the game anymore. Maybe I’m just a pessimist but there’s a mentality issue there and very poor game management despite having a lot of experienced heads in the side. They still had a huge amount of luck with that second goal, what are the chances the deflection would set him up for an open goal. Final comment, boy did we miss Barisic.

When was the last time he didn't select Goldson and Helander?

I put the blog above together because things appear to have ground to a bit of halt on coverage and progress for the Grays and many others. This is what the facilitators, enablers and guilty want. Every day that passes makes it easier for the fighters to fold. To accept whatever meagre deal is being carved up for them. I guess what i'm saying is that if we want a public enquiry, then we the public need to force it. I don't claim to know what the best or right course of action is, but, write to the press, try and make sure it stays relevant and at least let them know there's a demand for it. That goes of every corner for the UK and beyond, every local newspaper, every column inch and web mention helps. Contact or write to your MSPs, at this time close to the election we at least have some leverage, tell them it could be a deciding factor in your vote. Get it a mention. Make it an issue. A full and open public enquiry into CSA in Scottish football. It takes 5 minutes, but it needs buy in and numbers. If we do nothing, then nothing is what we'll get.