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Never a red card but we cannot keep approaching games with such a passive, pedestrian mentality. The disconnect and obvious gap between our midfield and attack seems to get bigger with every game. We literally have next to nothing to offer in terms of creativity if Tav or Barisic (as has been the case for too long now) are not on their game. I had hoped by now the management team would have an alternative strategy in mind if Plan A isn't working but, I guess, even they can't perform miracles with so many players well off form.

Pathetic card to be honest. Ref has bought their play acting all night

The Return of Wullie. Margaret Thatcher achieved 'Milk Snatcher' status by decreeing children between the ages of seven and eleven were no longer eligible for their third of a pint of the white stuff after school morning break. Being young, being foolish and, being happy did not require a daily calcium injection. Talking of the Tams, the Atlanta four-piece harmony group took their name from their constant headwear, the Tam O'Shanter. Who knew Atlanta was in Ershur as 'Hey Girl don't Bother me' became Number One? The Rangers News middle double page spread declared, "One is Enough". Willie Waddell was utilising the new publication to manage fans' expectations. We were reminded of then recent forays in Europe had crumbled on fans demands for constant all out attack. Gornik Zabrze had epitomised the smart game a couple of years before. The Silesians had arrived at Ibrox after a home 3-1 victory and conceded early to a Jim Baxter goal. If Rangers had notched a second without conceding, they went through on away goals. Sixty thousand Bears demanded blood and thunder, Gornik grabbed three breakaway goals including a wonder strike from Lubanski. Manager Davie White was sacked after the match. Truthfully, the attitude and mentality of your average Rangers supporter had not changed. Forty thousand paying customers expected caution to be discarded, get on the front foot and, get steamed in for ninety minutes. As the teams emerged, there was one change from Saturday's 0-2 loss to the Dandies. Wullie Henderson had replaced Andy Penman. The teams were : McCloy, Jardine, Mathieson, Greig, McKinnon, Jackson, Henderson, Conn, Stein, MacDonald and, Johnston. The Bretons fielded : Aubour, Cosnard, Cardiet, Cedolin, Chlosta, Toublant, Terrier, Garcia, Keruzore, Betta and, Lenoir. An early ball into our box saw a determined Bomber Jackson go through Alfie Conn and Betta to effect a clearance. Commitment was the name of what transpired as a stop-start game. The crowd was restless with impatience, bugles were being blown but the charges were not happening. Keeping our shape and not allowing space for counter attacks were the focus. Henderson had a point to prove and he fashioned a sitter for Bud Johnston. The Keeper saved and a couple of minutes later dived at the feet of Wullie to keep the score all square. Rangers were in control, then on the half hour mark the heart stopping moment arrived. An intercepted pass and quick release, saw Lenoir in the clear. As Jim Parkinson of the Herald wrote, "he had all the time in the world to score but he wanted even more and the chance was lost". Those of us that remember Doddie playing, will remember his timing of late runs into the opposition box. Regularly, those runs bore fruit. Henderson stretched the Bretons and played in Johnston again. His shot was parried and MacDonald's run veered to the left to knock in the loose ball. Six minutes before the break but still the cry behind me in the Enclosure remained, "a quick second before half-time". The second never arrived before or after the break, Colin Stein rattled the bar and wee Wullie was denied a stonewaller in the dying minutes as Cosnard sent him flying. In between these two incidents there had been an episode of slow hand clapping. The game finished 1-0 Rangers and thus a 2-1 aggregate victory for the tie. Sandy Jardine declared, "it was a good one nil victory, we were the better team". The Bretons agreed, Rennes manager, Prouff was magnanimous, " Rangers played so much better tonight, Henderson and Johnston were the stars". The French press praised Wullie Henderson to the highest, Andre Mausson stated, "even if Rennes attack had functioned, what was the answer to Henderson"? A distinct contrast to the Scots fourth estate where Jim Blair at the Evening Times determined, "a lack of style and poise in the Rangers win". Further, he got after Waddell claiming, "modern football is about tactics but Rangers indulged in the big kick and boom-bang-a-bang". Returning from Ibrox on the Tannochside RSC bus, two arguments were on going. McCloy kept throwing the ball out to Jardine, he should have been kicking it(or rather BIG kicking it boom-bang-a-bang style). The other was a constant on the merit of Alex MacDonald's character; he was a true Ranger as opposed to a corner boy. One of the Committee was adamant Rangers had won through on away goals, he didn't recognise Doddies contribution. The same clown proposed the bus for Tynecastle on the following Saturday should leave at 11.30hrs. Thus, denying secondary schoolboys playing for the school the opportunity to follow follow. In terms of Scottish football it was quite a night. Rangers progressed as did Aberdeen, defeating Celta Vigo. St Johnstone won 3-0 against Hamburg and Dundee also progressed against a forgotten Danish outfit. Ra Sellik ran over Copenhagen 3-0, making it five Scots clubs qualifying for the second round of European competition. Many of you will know next up for Rangers in the ECWC was the Sporting Club de Portugal but, first another league crisis had to be tackled. We were marooned.

I had my TV up loud and only heard booing when Kamara was on the ball. The Czechs don't like him because they think he got one of their players banned from the Euros. Booing someone you think has done you wrong isn't racist. There is likely to be an element of racism involved but proving that would be impossible. I keep hearing kids are taught hate, which is just nonsense. I used to attend a primary school which had the only 'special unit' in my hometown. Kids at other schools used to rip us to shreds about it and we weren't exactly angels ourselves when it came to commenting on the 'special' kids. Kids can be absolutely horrible without any instruction from adults - I've witnessed it many a time.

Why not - education is key to elimatimg racism. Or do we allow another generation to become racist scumbags?

Lacklustre and lethargic. Schoolboy defending and carry absolutely no threat going forward. Whats happened to this team

Been obvious for weeks now.

I wonder when someone will explain offside to Sakala.

A decent first 15-20mins then we concede a cheap goal. I hoped that would see us up the pace but, no, we remain passive and create nothing. fingers crossed half the team change their footwear at half-time and maybe we can burst into a sprint now and again. I'd also bring on Patterson as Tav is well off it. Similarly Roofe is offering nothing so we need a change there. Really frustrated at how badly we're playing. Right through the team there's just no belief - though Aribo and Sakala have done fairly well.

I'm a bit more up for this game now it's upon us. Mon The Rangers! ??

To be fair Laverkusen were a top outfit when they knocked us out of the EL. Not gonna stop me having a wee chuckle mind you....

I lie. I'm a believer in 'choke them to death' when they're down. ?

They got leathered 4-0. Im a believer in 'kick them when they're down' but Rangers aren't doing it.

Wow, I stopped checking their score at 0-2.... ?

Probably the fault of Brexit. Apparently everything else is.

It's true! ?

I'm sure we would, I just come across as a grumpy, argumentative old bassa which in "real life" I'm not, no matter what anyone / everyone who knows me says ?

I've edited mine's too. I reckon we'd get on fine in real life, Cammy. Hopefully Gerrard and the team get their shit together on Sunday.

Still not seeing what Sakala adds to our team? Itten would have been a better option tonight IMO

statement from Glen Kamara’s lawyer Aamer Anwar read: “I had hoped when I heard of the stadium closure of Sparta Prague that both Glen and other black players wouldn’t have to put up with any abuse or racism and could just get on with playing football. “But this evening should be an embarrassment for the Czech side that, despite their fans being banned, it still made little difference that the stadium was filled with 10,000 schoolchildren. “A huge proportion of those children booed Glen’s every touch of the ball along with every other black player for Rangers. Tonight shows yet again that Prague has a serious problem with racism & as usual UEFA is nowhere to be seen. “Glen and the Rangers players have shown total class, but no player should have to face this at their work and on the European stage.”

They didn't relent. Kids are often allowed in when there's a stadium closure. I genuinely can't believe how easily offended football fans are now. Children booing - quick, man the barricades.

EL is a bonus. Lyon is no benchmark and one can loose in Prague, especially with that defense. Could easily have been 3 or 4, yet that also shows their quality. We are good enough to beat that lot, yet we are not exactly clicking. You just have to hope that we will pick up points against Brondby and Sparta at home too, and that was always Plan A. We should have started with Lundstram in DM. As I said before, if Aribo doesn`t start well, its almost like a man down. The odd bit of sharp skill isn`t enough to warrant a starting slot. Likewise, Wright should have been on for Bacuna, so we had some speed and penetrating runs, Hagi is for the creative department. In the end, there was too much craft on the park, and not so much attacking power and ability. That has seen us struggle before. As for Sparta, they have some decent players, and some of the scum variety. Slavia too. Claiming fouls, falling down like pole-axed and whatnot, yet looking bewildered when they hand it out. That incident with Kamara was just the icing on the cake. As for Prague, dear gods, what a shithole if even the kids start screaming at Kamara. You just hope a neat fine is coming Sparta`s way ...

Absolutely but see my previous post: the midfield are so deep, there's no support so, even if we do control it, it simply goes back to the centre halves. You can count our high tempo inter plays on one hand recently where last year, it happened several times a game. Everything about the team is so, so negative, from the body language to the way we play. Even someone like McGregor looks like he lost a fiver and found a penny.

We carry no threat up front, that is the whole problem

Sorry just quoting Gerrard from the presser! ?

Lacklustre...again. The team don't seem very bothered.

Woeful decision, never a yellow card.

How the fuck was that a yellow?

Sakala is awful. We’d have been better keeping Itten

Nail on the head! We have struggled to score all season, we just can’t break teams down - we can scrape by as we can keep clean sheets in the league but not in Europe.

Very disappointing first half. Started well but now second best all over the pitch . We are struggling to score goals at the moment. We’re carrying very little goalthreat up front.

It’s crazy not having men on the posts.

Neither do I, in all honesty. It's a funny old game though!

I believe Goldstons omission is due to him having Covid in his system from when he was positive a few weeks ago , he is clear to train and to play , the issue arises from him not being able to fly .

3-5-2 would be Tav Balogun Bassey Patterson. Barisic Lundstram/Aribo Davis Kamara Morelos Sakala/Roofe There’s a case for Hagi, it unlikely given weak defence. I don’t mind the look of that. 4-3-3 Tav. Balogun. Bassey. Barisic Lundstram Davis. Kamara Hagi/Aribo Sakala/Roofe Morelos Far more likely.

I actually think that system would suit our available squad pretty well, but I agree it’s unlikely. Main issues with it I see are Tavernier essentially playing centre back and Barisic being thrown in like that in a 3-5-2, which I would say requires exceptionally fit wing backs to really work well.

Lots of negativity around this game from our fans . Chin up weve been in worse situations and came back with the result. Mon the gers

We’re getting very thin on the ground for CB’s. I think it’s clear now Gerrard doesn’t rate Simpson & he’s not even in the EL squad

Our long awaited match against Scottish Champion Rangers is here! Many Sparta fans were happy to be drawn against Rangers as they still remember last season´s games against Celtic (2x 4:1). That was however different team, different playing style and different coach. Sparta has come (again) a long way in shaping up what finally should be team of local Champions. Success that we have been waiting since 2014! Tomas Rosicky, our sports director and former Gunner was not that active on transfer field as many fans would want/expect. Especially on the position of right back. To surprise of many fans Sparta decided to extend contract to Andreas Vindheim, who seems to be favorite on this spot. Due to his injury however, Tomas Wiesner (originally central midfielder, later right-winger) had to fill in this position. As Vindheim is back, I would expect him to start though. On left side Sparta bought Casper Hojer, a Danish player with a fantastic left foot and dangerous mainly from free kicks but he did get injured in third game in Sparta jersey. This really seems like a dark magic was thrown at our players with injuries. Hojer, who was never injured in his career, managed to play just three games and he is out for the winter. His youth replacement Matěj Polidar got injured just few weeks later, however he could be back already for the Rangers game. If not, then on left back will start Dávid Hancko, Slovakian international. Arguably our best central defender, but also the only option remaining. Injuries are crucial for us right now as there are 10 (!!) players currently on the injury list. Including our captain and former captain of Czech national team Borek Dockal and his youth replacement and our wonderkid Adam Karabec. Also both Ladislav Krejci (yes, there are two with exactly the same name) are out for more weeks and mainly Ladislav Krejci younger was in spotlight from clubs from Premier League this summer. That goes also for Adam Hlozek, our generation talent who’s on spotlight on every club in Europe. Hlozek is the only one from named players who is currently not injured (knock knock) however has a dry spell in scoring goals. He replaces them with assists when he is on position number 10. As a lone striker in Pavel Vrba´s favorite system 4-2-3-1 he hasn’t been much successful in goal department. Unlike in last season where we played with Lukas Julis (also injured) as two strikers and were destroying one defense line after another. Hlozek played just half of the season (due to an injury) but still won the title of league top scorer! Sparta despite the injuries started well this season and knocked out Rapid Wien in Champions League path to lose to Monaco in another round. Unfortunately, due to racist monkey sounds coming from the stands, our game against Rangers will be played behind closed doors. Well not really, as Sparta leveraged the possibility to get kids into the stadium (under 14 years old) and there will be the maximum possible (around 10,000). Kids from all around Republic from schools, football clubs, foster homes etc. will make good atmosphere and possibly have the experience of a lifetime. Here I need to add that Sparta as a club acted very strongly towards the racist issue and identified at least 12 individuals who got lifetime ban to the stadium. Let’s just hope we will see great football on Thursday, fully in fair play, without any issues and let the best team win (Sparta!) ? Just after the game against Rangers, Sparta will face Slavia in local derby on Sunday. Big week for us and we want six points! Expected line-up: Nita – Vindheim, Panák, Čelůstka, Hancko – Pešek, Pavelka, Sáček, Hložek, Haraslín – Drchal.