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Jim McLean - An Appreciation Our last match of the 1983/84 season took place on the 14th of May away at Tannadice. I remember very little about the match itself other than the facts that Rangers won and that there was a rousing rendition of ‘Rangers are back, Rangers are back’ from the away support situated under the old covered terrace along Sandeman Street. Season 83/84 was one of major change for Rangers. For only the 9th time in our history we changed managers when John Grieg, arguably our greatest ever captain, resigned following a run of poor results and vocal supporter unrest. Ironically we replaced the eighth manager in our history with the seventh, Jock Wallace. There were 14 days between Grieg resigning and Wallace being appointed, during those 2 weeks former Rangers player, supporter and Govan boy, Alex Ferguson, signed a new, improved contract with Aberdeen amid much speculation that he was top of Rangers wanted list and Dundee Utd manager, Jim McLean, travelled to Glasgow for an interview for the job, returning to Dundee and announcing he didn’t want it. It might seem strange to some that the death of a man who never played, coached or managed our club should warrant any comment in a Rangers supporter’s website, but for me Jim McLean actually had a profound and long lasting influence on Rangers, despite the lack of any formal attachment. The feeling of rejuvenation our supporter’s felt at Tannadice that May afternoon wasn’t a delusion. Following Wallace’s appointment in November Rangers only lost 2 matches for the rest of the season and won the League Cup, defeating Celtic in the final. Dundee Utd finished one place above us that season, so beating them in that final match felt significant, like laying down a marker for the following season. It wasn’t, but we didn’t know that at the time. The other aspect required to understand the context of that victory was just how good a side Dundee Utd were back then. Dundee United weren’t even the best team in their street before appointing Jim McLean as manager. People with greater insight than I will be able to explain how he transformed Tayside’s second team into Scottish Champions and a genuine force in Europe. Much will be written about his methods, his perpetual sense of injustice and his volcanic temper. What shouldn’t be overlooked though is the magnificence of some of those Utd sides. Dundee United had width and speed, they played fluid, attacking football and featured players you hated and coveted in equal measure. As surprising as it might seem now, visiting Tannadice in those days wasn’t an unpleasant experience either. I never felt the hostility that exists now. Perhaps their supporters, unaccustomed to success, were simply enjoying the ride. Perhaps back in the 1980s, during enormous social upheaval, we all realised we were more alike. Whatever the reasons it feels like a long time ago now. McLean was one of 3 brothers born and raised near Larkhall in Lanarkshire. It was a footballing family, his grandfather had played for Rangers, his father had played Junior and McLean and his two brothers, Tommy and Willie, all played and managed professionally. Tommy, the youngest brother, was the the best player, winning the league with Kilmarnock before joining Rangers and enjoying a long and distinguished career. When Jim McLean was interviewed for Rangers manager, his brother, Tommy, was the caretaker manager. Tommy McLean was assistant manager to Greig, and while not really in the running for the manager’s job at the time, his presence must have played a part in his brother’s thinking. Many theories exist as to why both McLean and Ferguson didn’t want the Rangers manager job, most of them are without substance. What can be said though is that Rangers were at a low ebb. Our scouting and player development was poor and the creativity our board showed in planning and building the Ibrox Stadium we recognise today was sadly absent when looking at football matters. It sounds arrogant, but the inability of a club like Rangers to attract the manager of Dundee Utd was a seismic blow to our standing. McLean, then in his mid-forties and at the height of his mercurial powers would have transformed Rangers, had he been allowed. At Utd he had complete control of the football side, it’s unlikely he’d have ever got that at Rangers. Ultimately his loyalty to Dundee Utd and his family, who were settled in the city, is admirable and should be recognised as such. McLean’s refusal led to the second Wallace era. It started well but ended badly. Wallace was unable to craft a side from the ingredients he inherited. Despite some success his tenure went the way of Grieg as crowds fell and mediocrity normalised. There had been a change in the Rangers boardroom too during this time and Wallace’s dismissal, whilst sad, was largely welcomed by the support. The imagination lacking in his appointment a few years before was very much present in the choosing of his successor; Graeme Souness. This is where Jim McLean’s influence on our club is most significantly felt. Souness was wise enough to know he needed someone beside him who understood Scottish domestic football intimately. He chose well, he chose Walter Smith, Jim McLean’s assistant, confidant and consigliere. It’s impossible to overstate the influence McLean had on Walter Smith. Smith was signed from Junior football for Utd by McLean’s predecessor, Jerry Kerr, but it was under McLean that he became a first team regular. Smith stayed there for 9 years, returning for a further 2 as a player following a couple of seasons at Dumbarton. On retirement from playing at the end of the 1970s McLean took Smith onto the coaching staff and he eventually became Dundee Utd’s assistant manager. Smith’s time as a coach coincided with Dundee Utd’s most successful spell. Winning the League Cup twice, reaching the semi-finals of the European Cup and of course winning the league itself. McLean and Smith achieved this with a side largely made up of home grown players and cast-offs. Perhaps the greatest tribute you can pay that United side is that during a period when Scotland were rich enough player-wise to overlook European Cup winning captains for caps, Dundee Utd supplied 5 players to our World Cup final squad for the Mexico finals in 1986, more than any other team. Rangers only supplied one player, two if you include Souness. Smith’s tenure at Rangers needs little embellishment from me here. His long time assistant, Archie Knox, was also a disciple of McLean having played under him in the 70s. I mean no disrespect to McLean’s memory when I point out that Dundee United’s decline as a force in football started after Smith left. There was a time in Scottish football, and it doesn’t feel all that long ago to me, when any one of five clubs could realistically expect to win the league and when an away win at Tannadice was something to be really savoured. Jim McLean belongs to Dundee United, and it’s their supporters who will feel his loss, but we shouldn’t overlook his influence on Rangers, both directly and indirectly. The last 30 years would have been very different without him. Sincere condolences to the family and friends of Jim McLean, a genuine football legend.

Mrs Brown's Bhoys. As yet, I have not seen a second of the Pacific Quay produced 'Mrs Brown's Boys'. In new, modern Scotland, our public service broadcaster is determined to provide us with, "a slice of life". Particularly, a slice of Irish life. Mrs Brown's Boys has been around for quarter of a century, played regular three week spells in the Pavillion Theatre for a decade before PQ stepped in and decided Brendan O'Carroll's drag act was the very dab. In many ways, it's the perfect metaphor for BBC Scotland. A well honed production built most carefully on patronage. The vast majority of parts on and off screen are either O'Carroll or Gibney family members. Brendan is married to fellow show star, Jennifer Gibney. In the last two-three years, there has been unrest and law suits surrounding the show, emanating entirely from the minority(non family) members of the show. Recently, Scots Actor, Gary Hollywood best encapsulates this concern. He is suing O'Carroll on grounds of workplace discrimination and constructive dismissal. Gary does not have patronage protection and feels sliced out of Brendan's Florida based slice of life. Of course, as Rangers supporters we recognise Gary's dilemma. Let's say you are Michael Stewart and your job most weeks is to go on Sportscene/Sportsound and in the most unequivocating manner, state Rangers are the beneficiaries of Refereeing decisions. Sportscene has an Irish Producer and Sportsound's Editor is Claire Kelly(former Sellik Chair, Kevin Kelly's daughter); a proverbial ton of patronage back up. Michael is untouchable, already he has had several spills with Rangers and is allowed to carry on. Saturday Sportscene had him totally ignore the laws of the game and declare twice, "Hagi's high boot into the face of Joe Newell is a penalty all day". Rawking his big white sannies for confidence, he ignored a high boot in the box with no contact is an indirect free kick and talked over Neil McCann's opposing view. Further, imbued with patronage, he ignored Newell's deliberate simulation, going down holding his face whilst Hagi's boot is at least a foot away from contact. Even when Michael assumes his natural inclination as a Bully, ie makes a complete cnut of it, he can rely on other patronage recipients to ride to the rescue. Former Sellik View cub reporter, Alison McConnell is in today's Herald interviewing Newell, and Joe is harbouring a sense of injustice. Is there an old firm game this week? I have asked and asked again, but I do not think we will get an answer as to why Michael left Sellik TV after a dozen weeks. Surely, the natural conclusion to all this patronage? I suspect Michael has higher ambitions. Why should Michael appeal for action against Rangers from the Compliance Officer, when he could just get on with the process of draconian punishment, if he was appointed(anointed) Compliance Officer. All four previous Compliance Officers have been Sellik season ticket holders, surely Peter's patronage can swing it for Michael on the basis of three months on Sellik TV? Gone yourself Michael, get over to Florida and have a word with Brendan on how to stitch it up completely. Bring us back a slice of life.

The Winter 2020/21 Transfer Window Rumours and Deals - Thread Here we go again ... SIGNED in Winter 2020/21: IN - Scott Wright (23) - Scotland, LW - Aberdeen, contr. till summer 2021 - LINK - TM - SIGNED - SIGNED permanently (4,5 years) IN - Jack Simpson (24) - England, CH - Bournemouth, contr. till 6/2021 - LINK - TM - SIGNED - SIGNED permanently (4,5 years) IN - Nnamdi Ofoborh (21) - Nigeria, CM - Bournemouth, contr. till 6/2021 - LINK - TM - SIGNED pre contract (4 years) GONE in Winter 2020/21 TBA OUT - Josh McPake - on loan to Harrowgate Town till end of season after loan to Morton cut short due to injury - LINK - Done: LINK OUT - Kai Kennedy (18) - on loan till end of season to Raith Rovers - LINK OUT – Glen Middleton – loan to St. Johnstone for the remainder of the season - LINK OUT - Jordan Jones - on loan to Sunderland till end of season - LINK OUT - George Edmundson - on loan - Derby County till end of season - LINK OUT - Brandon Barker - on loan to Oxford United till end of season - LINK OUT - Jamie Barjonas - Orange County SC - LINK to come OUT - Cammy Palmer - Linfield FC - LINK OUT - Umaro Balde - left by mutual consent - LINK OUT - Ross McCrorie (22) – CMF / right-back - joined Aberdeen (loan and sign option) - LINK - deal made permanent as part of the Scott Wright transfer above OUT or AWAY (as of 28/12/2020) Jake Hastie - on season-long loan to Motherwell (option for January 2021 return) - LINK Robbie McCrorie (22) - goalkeeper - season long loan to Livingston (option for January return) - LINK Jamie Murphy (31) – LW – joined Hibs (on-loanfor this season, deal will then be permanent) - LINK RETURNING: RUMOURS: IN – Juan Diego Alegria (18) – Columbia, striker, FC Honka (Finland) - LINK IN - John Lundstram (26) - England, CM, Sheffield United - contract till summer 2021 - LINK - TM IN - Fashion Sakala (23) - Zambia, attacker, KV Oostende - contract till summer 2021 - (DR for reference) LINK - TM IN - Kyle Joseph (19) - Scotland, striker, Wigan - contr. till summer 2021 - LINK - TM IN - Adam Reach (27) - England, LW/LM/LB - contr. till 6/2021 - LINK - TM IN - Gustavo Hamer (23) - Dutch/Brazil, CM - contr. till 6/2023 - LINK - TM IN - Siriki Dembele (24) - Scotl. / Ivory Coast, ST - Peterborough, contr. tilll 6/2021 - LINK (DR link) - TM OUT – Borna Barisic – West Ham interested OUT - Alfredo Morelos - Bayern Munich - LINK (Spanish) - LINK (German) n - CONTRACT EXTENSIONS Kai Kennedy (18) - new contract till 2023, on loan till end of season to Raith Rovers - LINK Ciaran Dickson - LINK NON-STARTERS: IN - Bright Osayi-Samuel (23) - England, RW, QPR - contract till summer 2021 - LINK - TM - signed for Fenerbahce IN - Thomas Robert (20) - France, RW, Airdrieonians - contract till summer 2021 - LINK - not on SG`s list LINK IN - Ben Davies (23) - England, CH/LB, Preston NE - contr. till summer 2021 - LINK - TM - no move (yet) LINK IN - Alfie Doughty (21) - England, LB/LM, Charlton Atheltic - contract till summer 2021 - LINK - signed for Stoke OUT - SQUAD as of 01 / 06 / 2020 Squad listed in order of remaining length of contract & primary position Full squad list: https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/glasgow-rangers/startseite/verein/124 Squad by primary and optional position: https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/glasgow-rangers/kadernachposition/verein/124 Goal: Allan McGregor (37) – contract till 2021 Andy Firth (22) - contract till 2021 Jon McLaughlin (32) - contract till 2022 Defence Leon Balogun (32) - CH/RB - contract till 2021 with option for another year James Tavernier (28) – RB- contract till 2022 Connor Goldson (27) - CH - contract till 2022 Nathan Patterson (19) – RB – contract till 2022 Filip Helander (27) - CH - contract till 2023 Nikola Katic (23) - CH - contract till 2023 Borna Barisic (27) - LB - contract till 2024 Calvin Bassey (20) - LB/CH - contract till 2024 Jack Simpson (24) - CH - contract till 2025 Midfield Steven Davis (35) – CM - contract till 2021 Bongani Zungu (28) – CM - contract 2021 Scott Arfield (31) – C/LM - contract till 2022 Glen Kamara (24) – CM - contract till 2023 Ryan Jack (28) – CM - contract till 2023 Joe Aribo (23) – AM - contract till 2023 Ryan Kent (23) – LW/AM - contract till 2023 Ianis Hagi (21) - AM – contract till 2024 Scott Wright (23) - LW/AM - contract till 2025 Strikers Jermain Defoe (37) – ST – contract till 2021 Greg Stewart (30) – RW/ST - contract till 2021 Alfredo Morelos (23) – ST - contract till 2023 Cedric Itten (23) - ST - contract till 2024 Kemar Roofe (27) - ST - contract till 2024 Coaching Staff Check out the club's home page Academy / B Side -> https://www.rangers.co.uk/article/academy-restructure/4skGYIfqugwK1CvGZUHFH0 Women's Side -> https://rangers.co.uk/teams/ladies-senior/ IN - Kirsty Howat (23) - ST, Scotland, from Glasgow City - free - LINK IN -Rachel MacLauchlan (23) - RB, Scotland, from Glasgow City - free - LINK IN - Sam Kerr (21) - MF(?), Scotland, from Glasgow City - free - LINK IN - Chantelle Swaby (22) - CH, Jamaica, from Sky Blues New Jersey - free - LINK

I don't recommend taking any offer until after Wednesday's match against St Mirren. This is a game where the outcome will be measured, by both sides, on two criteria: -goals; and -injuries to Rangers' players.

Whilst others did fairly well, I didn't think there was a stand-out but for me, the most noteworthy performance was provided by Alfredo. It was the best I have seen him this calendar year and we can count the days left in it, on one hand. I think he deserves a start in Paisley.

A Christmas Mystery - FARE'S Fair? I need to take you back almost a fortnight, to Sunday the 13th of December. We have just defeated Dundee United 1-2 at Tannadice and the Alfie witch hunt is in full flow. Later in the afternoon, Rangers Ladies traveled to Broadwood to face Glasgow United. A comprehensive 0-5 skelping ensued on the drastic plastic. Live coverage was provided by BBC Alba; it was, "all the action from the first whistle to the last, every kick of the ball". Commentary was Gaelic, provided by Barra born and bred, Alex O'Henley. There was an interview with Rangers and Scottish international, Nicola Docherty aired at half-time. The several minute discussion had been recorded earlier in the week at Auchenhowie. Post game, player of the match, Rangers and Northern Ireland international, Megan Bell was interviewed in the tunnel. No doubts, supporters of Rangers Ladies paying their BBC License Fee, receive at least the same package as other supporters. Alex O'Henley is no stranger to Gersnetters. We know he is a Sellik man, faithful fro'n'fro'. He began as a Cub Reporter on the West Highland Free Press, specialising on football. It helped that the owner of the Blat was current Sellik Board member, Brian Wilson. The former MP for Cunninghame North also fulfilled a couple of Junior Cabinet offices in the three Tony Blair Governments. At one point, four Sellik season ticket holders, John Reid, Des Browne, Jim Murphy, and Wilson were in the Cabinet; very much the Establishment Club. It's thirty years ago, but Wilson was the official Centenary Biographer of ra Sellik. His tome, 'A Century with Honour' sold poorly, there are a couple of double garages holding tens of thousands of unsold books. Thus, with such influence, it came as no surprise that Alex O'Henley was FARE's nominated observer at Rangers last sixteen Champions League second match in Spain, against Villarreal. It took a particular type of hate to pen that peculiar FARE report on a fellow Scots club, it has allowed the usual suspects 15 years of feasting. Still, O'Henley is prepared to visit Auchenhowie on official BBC Scotland(Alba) business and talk to Rangers players exiting the field of play. Rob McLean does similar whilst on BT Sport duty. Creepy Connie McLaughlin was working inside Ibrox last month on BT Europa Cup business. So, six years down the line, why can't the usual suspects inside the PQ Gang Hut provide the full service to all Rangers supporters paying their License Fees? Truly, a Christmas mystery.

Fantastic obit John. Would loved to have seen that United side go up against Liverpool in the European Cup final in Rome in 1984. It's such a pity they were on the receiving end of scandalous ref decisions and match fixing (the Roma chief basically admitted it in 2018)

Do you think that BBC Scotland would be interested in my new sitcom "A Life of Slice", showcasing the everyday antics and happenings of the kenspeckle characters who work in the Lorne sausage factory?

Does she approve of anything?

A fair percentage of penalties involve minimal or no contact and/or players over-dramatising it. Quite often, the defender sticks his leg out and the attacker successfully hurdles it but also dives, earning a penalty.

Did this character, Newell, not go down holding what woulkd be the wrong side of his head, if contact had actually occurred?

I emerged from my Christmas hibernation this morning and read this on the BBC website. I suspect Rangers supporters are much more familiar with the story than others might be and of course for a significant percentage of people this story might seem like ancient history now. To people my age it's not though. On the whole I felt it was quite a fair and accurate retelling of these tragic events. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/extra/B0cJMZS3B1/Fiveboys

Both exploit your imagination.

As honest as your local vicar

I'd imagine the next few days will see the odds on Celtic shortening as many neutrals, as well as their support, see value in that price. ie. next Friday might well show a truer reflection of the here and now. Personally I think it's more 11/10 for us and 15/8 them. This season has saw us being favourites to win away in Europe against the likes of Liege and Lech. Unusual, but the bookies were proven to be right, so when they make us odds-on after conceding one goal at Ibrox in 10/10 league victories, there is obvious reason to why. Thereafter, the money put down may alter odds.

who did @Soulglo vote for

They’ve changed their keeper & CB’s since then. Hearts were putting balls right into the centre of their defence last week & they (in particular the keeper) were struggling. They have clear weaknesses in defence. We need to exploit that next Saturday

Crosses. Since Standard Liege, the number of crosses into our box has been increasing. We lost two goals to Liege crosses, lost a goal at Tannadice to a cross, two at Love Street, one against Motherwell, and yesterday? Well, none but Hibs had seven corners, four or five free kicks, and the same number from open play, beginning in the fifth minute. Fifteen balls into our mixer per game is a test of the law of averages. Stop the crosses, at the very least reduce the number.