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The guard of honour thing is a load of nonsense. I don't expect one from them and I certainly wouldn't expect us to ever give them one.

Since I can claim to have been properly aware of these things, I reckon I've enjoyed 22 league championships, every one special in its own right. I remember similarly long droughts being broken, the first time after Celtic's NIAR and again when Souness arrived, but given all that's happened these last 10 years it's hard not to see the impending league title as something particularly special, a truly exceptional event. Some players become supporters but they mainly only live in the present or at least the short term. Only the ordinary supporter experiences the ups and downs over the longer term, periods stretching across the careers of several managers and many players. I've been fortunate to see some great times as a Rangers fan and some pretty dark days too and I don't hesitate to say that our re-emergence this season will stand head and shoulders above everything else for me. It's good to be back.

This morning, I felt all warm and fuzzy. Maybe nostalgia ain't all it used to be, but my enthusiasm bubbled at the thought of Dens Park and Easter Road during March'75. Season '74-'75 began in desperation and quickly got worse. Jock Wallace was entering his third season as Rangers boss and Bears of my age had to draw on misty memories of Primary 2 or 3 to remember Rangers last Championship victory. Killie had won it in '65 under Wullie Waddell's tutelage and newly appointed Sellik manager, Jock Stein had won the subsequent nine in a row. It was the darkest of tunnels, but there had been lights. Big DJ's header winning the League Cup in '71, the ECWC victory in Barcelona, and the Tam Forsyth studding us to Scottish Cup success in '73. Those flickers did not sustain a League Championship winning flame. We kicked off the league season on the last day of August at Somerset Park, Ally McLeod had the Indian sign over us in Ayr. We required a Jardine penalty to secure a 1-1 draw. I travelled home on the Tannochside bus and thoughts were dark, already a point behind and we were visiting Sellik Park in a fortnight. In between, Thistle visited Ibrox and our new strike force of wingers, Graham Fyfe and Cutty Young notched our goals in a 3-2 win. The bus was despondent going along London Road, a lithe and agile pairing was not enough against ra green'n'grey's back four. The return journey was raucous, Johan and Cutty ran them into the corners, and surprise midfield starter, Ian'Ted'McDougall shot our second and winning goal off the far post. The following week, three things occurred. We signed Bobby McKean, I matriculated, and started a Saturday/Sunday job in Littlewoods. Dumbarton at the Stadium saw McKean's debut, he played well but the best winger on the pitch, was erstwhile 'Ger, Davie Wilson. We sneaked another 3-2 victory. My last free Saturday was spent at Rugby Park in the sunshine, we thrashed Killie 0-6. We went all the way to Christmas competing with both Hibs and ra Sellik. Eddie Turnbull's Hibs teams were a joy to watch. They defeated us at Ibrox in November, a Joey Harper goal and competed with Sellik for the League cup, the day we drew 1-1 at Tynecastle. The Saturday before Christmas, I attended Broomfield to witness a 4-3 defeat. As crazy a match as last Thursday's in Belgium. New Year's day saw me back on the Tannochside, Firhill beckoned. Greetings made, a sombre mood settled. Despite a 0-4 win, the return was only lifted when Mr Jaap(the Chair) opened two bottles of whisky, every traveller received a nip courtesy of the RSC. Three days later, we battered Sellik 3-zip at Ibrox and went top of the Division. The next ten weeks roller coasted, I saw two matches, both Aberdeen in the Cup. Littlewoods cafeteria was missing it's dishwasher, I took the Tannochside charabanc to Pittodrie. Ally Scott put us ahead, substitute Wullie Miller equalised. The Monday night replay was memorable for one thing, Rangers ran out under the floodlights in all white. The tie went to extra-time, 65,000 groaned as Arthur Graham nodded the Dons second and winning goal. Meanwhile, we had secured 6 wins and two draws in the League. The middle of March was the tipping point, perceived wisdom had us favourites to secure the Championship, if we could win at Dens? Again, three things occurred that week; I rapped Littlewoods Saturday suds, Rangers re-signed Colin Stein from Coventry City, and Tannochside announce their two buses were full and were taking no more names. I was reduced to enduring a match day special train from Central to Dundee. Sun dappled Dens squeezed in 25,000, it felt several thousand more. We were one down early, John Greig hit Dundee's posts twice with 25 yard screamers, and Colin Stein was ordered off. The second period was calming. Rangers ten men took control, and Parlane equalised with 15 minutes left. We came under sustained dark blue pressure for ten minutes, then a long ball through the middle saw both Parlane and the Dee Keeper challenge for the first touch on the edge of the penalty area. The ball bounced back to a supporting Tommy McLean who promptly passed it into the empty goal. It's difficult to describe, 'a sway' these days, four decades after they disappeared. You began at the back of the terrace, momentum lifted your feet and propulsion saw deliverance on your arse some 20-30 yards forward. Tommy's calmness stimulated a madness that tipped me and dozens of others, over the retaining wall. We celebrated on the track and on the pitch. We were still in situ' when the final whistle blew. The last day of March had myself and three Uni' mates on Leith Walk at high Noon. The queues at Easter Road rivalled Beatles hysteria. We got in before two O'Clock and were fortunate to find a standing position in front of a crush barrier on the old high terrace. The official attendance was 40,000. At the break, we were one behind and hundreds of Rangers supporters continued to come over the perimeter walls. Years after, a conversation with Archie MacPherson, who was on the gantry that day; he revealed the Match Commander reckoned Easter Road held 55,000 that flag winning afternoon. The second period was a blur, we pressed the Hibees all over the pitch. It was huff and puff, we won a penalty, Jardine struck the post. We kept going and McKean hit the bye-line, crossed to an on-running Colin Stein, a bullet header hit high in the net. Eruption amid an explosion of Pomagne corks. Emotions ran from stratospheric to nervous caution. Jock Wallace put a clearly well injured John Greig on to the pitch for the last three-four minutes. We are talking Turnbull's Hibs, you did not fcuk about. Match concluded, league secured, and exhaustion guaranteed. Pomagne was the revitaliser of choice. Fifteen bob(75np) a bottle, it was an aerated cider produced by methode champenoise. Fortunately, John Street Union had a necessary supply. There was a song by a cheesy pop act, Sailor - 'a glass of champagne'. Of course, for a few months that year, Bears adopted the tune, changing the line to a glass of pomagne. I think in homage to the spirit of '75 and emergence once again from the long dark tunnel, a glass of Pomagne should be raised. I note Bulmers produced this particular lightening in a bottle for a century, before discontinuing the elixir a decade past. Of course, other avenues are available, E-Bay has a 1978 vintage for sale, £50 for the entire bottle. I am tempted.

The big difficulty comes from the unique status of certain employees at a football club. I work for an IT firm here in Yorkshire. If I were to be guilty of gross misconduct, my employer would right dismiss me and not worry too much about it. I like to think they'd struggle to replace me immediately but am under no illusions that it would be anything more than a minor inconvenience whilst someone else learnt the finer details of the stuff I do on a day to day basis. In the case of a football club, however, the players are also assets. Could we replace the likes of Patterson on the pitch? Yes, we bring in a new player or find another in the squad (King?) who can fill the role and build from there. What we do lose though is financial. Patterson listed on Transfermarkt at 250k, hopefully with a bit of nurture and development he becomes a multimillion pound player in a season or two. Given our finances that's not money we can afford to just throw down the drain. Yes we hold our players to a higher level and are disappointed when they fall short (as these guys undoubtedly have) but there's also a business angle to consider and if we hang them out and make it known we no longer want them, their resale value plummets and that becomes problematic. It's been said before, but if it were to have been Morelos, Tav, Kent or one of our other high value assets who did it next, we'd have set a precedent that would be very dangerous. They need a penalty, even a draconian one, and an education on what it means to be a representative of Rangers, but pragmatically there needs to be a route back for them, if only to maintain their transfer value...

Considering we didn't give them one, that would make us look like hypocrites. I'd like Gerrard to plant a big Union Flag in the middle of their pitch.

oh i think a guard of honor would guarantee that.

... aye, I also watched the full game again. Not just because, when it's as exciting a game as that, and you get the result, you kind of have to watch it again but also because watching it live was just such a stress-riddled, over-excitable experience I wasn't really able to properly judge what exactly had happened. Can't say I was any less astounded during the second watch but, being a bit calmer, I felt, yeah, there was a bit of opening rustiness due to Kent being dropped and suspension buddies Roofe and Morelos coming back in at the same time as a not-quite-match-fit Scotty Arfield. But, as with Alfie going on to be instrumental in all four of our goals after missing a good early chance to put us in front, I feel sure we would normally have gone on to win this one very easily. That we didn't was, for me anyway, attributable to the circumstances: I know you have to be ready for anything - especially in Europe - but most of the few mistakes we made, almost all of which were instantly punished, were down to stuff that, well, happened to us rather than was caused by us: For example, an injury to our captain, who never gets injured, in the very week we lose the young lad who was meant to cover him; and then - during the injury time allowed for Tav being replaced! - the star striker who stole the show, who stole the whole group stage, the last time we were in Belgium is injured. That had everyone wondering what the hell?? When you lose a player like Tav - a player who is never injured, never dropped and is so instrumental to our tactical vision and team identity - it will inevitably send a wee tremor through the club. When you lose him in the first half of a vital European away game, one in which you're already getting three other players back up to speed, that has to send shock waves through the team on the pitch. Then, during the added injury time for Roofe going off - and because the paperwork for Kent coming on wasn't ready for the fourth official (Jimmy Bell's second mistake, after Rofe-gate? You can tell him) - Antwerp get the softest penalty in the history of soft penalties, and we're going in 2-1 down and looking like the gods have it in for us, after having led 1-0 and looking like we could open up our hosts at will. Add to all that the worst-since-Beaton-at-Ibrox-v-Lennon's-Hibs refereeing performance, plus - whatever its merits or otherwise - the very fact we're not used to playing games under the auspices of VAR disrupting our flow in a way that perfectly suited an injury-riddled Antwerp side who wanted a bitty, broken-up game, and the fact we won that leg by any score is utterly bloody magic. Little wonder Stevie G said the players adapted to Dundee United's tactics yesterday by sorting it out on the pitch themselves. After last Thursday's tribulations they'll be able to switch formation ten times a game while solving a Rubik's cube with their left hand and doing some Sudoko with the right (pen in the mouth, filling out Jimmy's paperwork for the next sub). My arse was on the floor at full-time on Thursday yet the players, hilariously, brilliantly - reassuringly - seemed to be just casually giving it, "Nice wee workout, that - aye, quite enjoyable". And yesterday, after a bit of job sharing - Greegs covering the first half hour while everyone else had a lie-in - we saw that surfeit of enjoyment from Thursday pour into their legs when they just unleashed on United in a way we haven't managed to do to anyone other than Ross County this year. But the best laugh for me in Antwerp, as the players came off the Bosuilstadion pitch, was the off-stage member of our coaching staff hollering at Goldson - "CONNOR! CONNOR! GET HIM AWAY!" - because they thought Borna was about to go for their keeper again, following their wee squaring-up after the winning penalty. Borna hears this, turns to Goldson and just smiles and brushes it off as he heads over to, apparently, shake someone else kindly by the hand. But he has that exact same fixed smile, open-eyed stare on his face which could just as easily mean he's about to scalp someone, which is why I love players from the former Yugoslavia: They don't really do the posturing or handbags stuff. They're all skinny as rakes and their mood is either "I would die for you, my friend" or "You will die at my hands, my enemy". No in-between. GOLDSON: "Come on, Borna. Leave it. You're on a yellow and we've already lost Tav. Get up that tunnel." BORNA: "Leave what, big man? I'm chill. No sweat. Nae danger. Just going to shake hands with the guy". GOLDSON: "You sure? Coz I can never tell wi you. I'll get in trouble if you lose the plot". BORNA: "Totally sure. All forgotten. I'm 100% Karma Chameleon. We won, didn't we?! Why would I even care?! No, I'll see you in there, bro". GOLDSON: "Okay. Cool. See ye in there". [turns towards the tunnel] BORNA:"Oh, Connor..." GOLDSON: [turning back, disinterestedly] "Yeah?" BORNA: "Does a severed head count as hand luggage or would I have to put that in the hold?" GOLDSON; "Fu**ing WHAT??!" BORNA: "I said it's all good and I'll see ye in the dressing room..."

It's a Gribz thread mate - confusion reigns, but it is usually when he is on the sauce, not sober

Klos gets in ahead of Niemi every day of the week mate.

It IS a nonsense. However, the press vilified us for supposedly not giving them one, we were called classless..... by their current manager.... So whilst it is a nonsense, I would have no hesitation in reminding them how we were treated when they were in the same position.

Don't let @Rousseau hear you talking like that...

McGregor man of the match?? WE CONCEDED A GOAL! He should be dropped for the next match. Standards gentleman, standards.

While you are right they did insist they would give us one.

I'm hoping yahoo tears will keep us all hydrated for the duration of the Summer. I'll keep some beer and whisky handy though, just in case.

Boys' stuff.

Frankie - Sorry I couldnt find the last thread about this topic. I was having a think about our best Euro players. (Old posters - no comments about Buffel and Namouchi). I still rate Buffel. He wiped Porto at Ibrox. I had this: Niemi Cuellar Boumsong Moore Reyna Tugay Albertz Laudrup De Boer Negri Prso

No Kai Johansen or Orjan Persson Even the penalty king Johnny Hubbard

So non-British and only one from each country. Here's my effort: Charbonnier Porrini Cuellar Moore Barasic Reyna Kamara Albertz Laudrup Morelos Mols

..... and I will toast your health with it ? Cheers.

Am I agreeing with Bill. ? Absolutely sir. I will send you a cyber pint.

Ah, that makes it harder, but still as good as Albertz was (and I loved the guy!) I'd have to pick Kos. Leaves me a space for Gazza in midfield though, so every cloud and all that!

I would be surprised if any of us could say we haven't broken lockdown rules in some way, shape or form. I do, though, understand these guys are in a different situation

Is this players who played for us in europe, or european players who played for us (I think not with the inclusion of Moore and Reyna, but then Negri wasn't here long enough to have a big impact in european games) Prso scored a few in europe, but his play was measured in a lot more than his goals. Klos over Niemi every time.

That can only be based on the tea leaves, or the thoughts of a born pessimist! ?

I won't be celebrating until it's official, even though I think there's no chance of us being caught. It's just protocol. I think there's as much chance of us dropping points before we arrive at the Piggery, as there is them.

Seems to me there are two different issues here. One is the point of mathematical certainty that, by definition, arrives when it arrives. The other is winning the race to be champions and surely it's tedious to pretend we didn't actually win that race several weeks ago. Certainly, when Celtic started 2021 with a loss and 3 draws, the race was well over. Since that point there has been no realistic role for caution or concern. I know I've been celebrating our return to the top for over a month. Confirming it with a mathematical certainty is just pedantry. It's done, over, finito, crack the champagne.

Yesterday was the day we won it for me - touch wood. No way a team who has only conceded 9 goals all season is going to lose 7 games. One thing at a time - win the title then go unbeaten. If we went unbeaten it would be one of the greatest achievements. I think we mentioned it the other day on another thread - Celtic wont get to Mid 80s points wise. I dont know about everyone else but I am suffering today, the vinos were flowing yesterday ?

Orange County midfielder Francis Jacobs set to join Rangers By Alani Adefunmiloye - 22 February, 2021 According to The Athletic, Scottish Premiership giants Rangers have completed a deal to sign Orange County teenage midfielder Francis Jacobs, and he is expected to move to Ibrox later this year. The 15-year-old became the youngest professional player in United States football history after turning professional in August 2019 at the age of 14 years, four months and 29 days. Rangers took Jacobs with them to Doha last year when the club’s under-16s went to play the Alkass International Cup, and he was one of three players to travel to Scotland for a training stint with the Light Blues in December 2019. USL Championship outfit Orange County are in a partnership with the Light Blues, and they will be hoping that their academy graduate can make the grade at Rangers. Jacobs stands at almost six feet tall, and he could be mistaken for an older player due to his impressive physicality. The midfielder has a UK passport and that has made the deal straightforward, and he has impressed Rangers coaches during his trials to warrant being given a contract. The deal is believed to include a sizeable sell-on clause for the USL club, and it will be interesting to see whether he can break into the first-team going forward. Sportslens View Adding another exciting prospect to their ever-growing list of talented teenagers in the academy is a great move on the part of Rangers, and they are definitely preparing for the future with some smart signings. Steven Gerrard’s side have dominated the Scottish Premiership this term following 26 wins and four draws in 30 games, and they are now seven points away from winning their first top-flight title in 10 years. Rangers will be keen to make more quality first-team signings this summer as they prepare to defend the title next term, and it will be interesting to see how things go in the coming months. https://sportslens.com/orange-county-midfielder-francis-jacobs-set-to-join-rangers/335176/

Yeah, and less should we not be defeated in either of the OF games that tally drops by 2...…. In all honesty, it is highly likely we already have enough points to win the league - they are dross

Wouldn't be many folk left at any place I've ever worked, defence, aviation or pharma, if this was the case.

I’ve been tipping Aribo to emerge as our best player for a long time and it hasn’t happened. He started the season brilliantly and seemed to take a very long time to get back to that level of fitness and form after 10 games out. But displays like yesterday are exactly what I was hoping to see from him, but on a consistent basis. For so long we lacked a real creative force in our midfield 3 and Aribo has almost all the attributes to carry out that role to a very high level. If he could continue to bulk up but also add a Kent-like aggression to his play and a bit of arrogance too he could be unplayable more often than not rather than on the odd occasion. On another note, it is a sign of champions that we have such variance in the man of the match polls week by week.

Like most Gersnetters I was viewing Rangers TV's live broadcast of today's fixture at Ibrox, against Dundee United. Clive Tyldesley was commentating and Kevin Thomson added colour. It was a more exciting match than most at the Stadium. The first half hour saw the Tangerines elicit terror. We are grateful for Greegs being the epitome of a Stopper. This passage of play had Kevin Thomson concentrating on the band of pigeons feasting on scattered seeds in front of the Broomloan. As Rangers ran into a two-zero lead before half time, Tyldesley took RTV into Test Match Special territory. It was befitting of old Johnners, speculation on whether the pigeons were east or west enders ensued. Thomson increased the ante saying, "if any support would support every individual pigeon on the Ibrox pitch, it would be Rangers supporters". Then, the Director ordered the cameramen to provide wide lens shots of the feral winged wonders. I admit to a weakness when visiting northern France, any table d'hote menu featuring breast of wood pigeon and boudin noir in a red wine jus accompanied with a couple of glasses of pinot noir, is a must have. Pigeons can be special, Skinner proved it, Winkie was awarded the Dikins Medal, and Dick Dastardly spent endless TV hours attempting to stop Yankee Doodle. I feel strongly, the Club must acknowledge our avian brothers and sisters, let's celebrate the Doo Order.

Blowers was on TV the other day, regaling the audience with the tale of how he and others drove from Chelsea to Mumbai (Bombay, as it was then known) in a Rolls Royce. to cover the !st test against India. Sometime in the 70s, as far as I recall. No pigeons, but I think that they managed some game birds on the way....

Agreed. This is my thoughts also. You can debate about the virus but you cant go against employer rules (Rules and lawfulness is very different but respect comes into play) - especially in a privelged position footballers are in. I liked Jordon Jones as a player - he absolutely ruined himself but you cant have one rule for him and another rule for others. At this stage in the season - to risk what the team has done all season is not acceptable. I dont buy this home grown loss argument - we will find other full backs. But Bassey and Patterson need to take good long hard looks at themselves.

Best team in London ? The job Moyes has done is excellent. I really didnt see it coming. Rangers v West Ham next season in the Champions League.

Great Medicine Man Rousseau has spoken.

Ah, but a couple more should be enough, right?

TEN POINTS. (I will continue to fight to good fight re: BadJuju )

Oh dear.

Love that series, a great insight. Antwerp’s penalty looks even more ridiculous from the RTV angle. Love the reaction at the ft whistle, a few understated fist pumps, no OTT celebrations, we know it’s not over.

Having watched three of the five since they were 12 years old I found it particularly disappointing. I don't think Dapo has ever been in the first team bubble, so the other four shouldn't even have been in contact with him. Rightly or wrongly Nathan and Calvin will still be looked on as assets, whether that means a way back or they will be moved on we will have to wait and see. I would imagine it has ruled out any chance of Bongani's loan move being made permanent. Dapo's contract is up in the summer, his loan move to QOTS was a chance to impress, be that Rangers or in the shop window for another club, it would appear that chance has gone. I believe Brian was offered/signed a new contract recently, could be withdrawn it hasn't been signed. Nathan's parents were a presence at virtually all his games over the years, I would like to have been a fly on the wall to witness their reaction to events, especially watching Thursday's game.

Having just watched the whole match, due to a terrible stream & loss of most of the 2nd half, I can now see why I have seen so many confident reactions to the match. I was left feeling Antwerp were the better team last night. We were excellent last night, however for me the tie is still in the balance as they had a good few players missing and are a very good side, at this stage of the competition there are no weak teams but we continue to show we are a very good team, we will need to be at our best to get through this tie though as the next match will be very tough.