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We had about 60+ shots at goal in those last two league games, but end up with 3 goals. Penalty claims aside, that is shocking. Methinks we didn`t have more shots at goal by the opposition compared to last season, only that we concede like we did the previous two seasons under SG. The way we lost these two goals yesterday was equally shocking. And truth be told, I doubt that any new guy like Sands or Zukowski can do any worse. As long as we don`t play the full complement of our strike force (at least 2 of 3), we won`t change the goal-return, as Kent, Aribo and even Arfield don`t score often enough - and that`s been the case for years. Obviously, they are no strikers either. And whatever it is, I can´t understand the reluctance to use hardly any subs by any of the current Rangers managers. Not least since we actually have 5 options now.

Arabs, the 'Well and, the Buddies. We were a month into the Miners' strike, the three day week was biting and, power was being rationed during evenings into three hour blocks. The latter fortnight of February'72 saw a new phenomenon. Newspapers no longer began on the back page; pages four, five, six, .... etc carried lists of streets in every village, town and, city - informing you of the hours that evening your home would receive power. I seem to remember power was allocated in three hour blocks and doing homework at the dining room table by candle light. Such ambience did not make Latin any more attractive. Mood music aside, the real soundtrack in the background was provided by Harry Nilsson(Without You), Paul Simon's self titled album and, Chicory Tip(Son of my Father). I had bought the Apple label's first signing, Welsh power chorders, Badfinger had released 'Day after Day'. The NME announced Stevie Wonder would ope for the Rolling Stones during their Stones Touring Party tour of the USA. I couldn't get a ticket. Similarly, I missed Dundee United's visit to Ibrox because of a Noon kick-off. The teams ran out, Rangers - McCloy, Jardine, Mathieson, Greig, Jackson, Smith, McLean, Conn, D Johnstone, A MacDonald and, I MacDonald. Dundee United - McAlpine, Rolland, J Cameron, Markland, Smith(Walter), Gray(Andy), Kopel, Knox(Archie), K Cameron, Fleming and, Traynor. The attendance was reported as 25,000 and Dave Smith stroked the only goal of the game in the 84th minute. My Diary for the day contained two entries, Rangers one-nil victory and my school time had triumphed 1-2 away at Our Lady's High School in Motherwell. I remember the Daily Record had featured that particular all Boys denominational school as being the largest school in Scotland, in excess of 2,200 pupils. Excitement was growing at school, Rangers were to visit Fir Park and several of us played for Fir Park Boys Club. We were a mixture of Bears and 'Well fans, brilliantly coached by the Claret and Amber's Joe Wark and Northern Ireland international winger, Paddy Campbell. After schools football and our Amateur game, we were accommodated in the Fir Park Enclosure with a pie and bovril. The Bears' half of the grouping were confident. Seventeen thousand squeezed in and the teams entered the field as follows : Motherwell - MacCrae, Muir, Wark, Forsyth(Tam), McCallum, Watson(Bobby), Campbell, McInally(Jackie), McCabe, Lawson and, Heron. Rangers - McCloy, Jardine, Miller, Greig, Jackson, Smith, McLean, Conn, Stein, D Johnstone and, I MacDonald. The Motherwell side is worthy of further comment. Keith MacCrae succeeded Peter McCloy at Fir Park and he was being promoted as the new Lev Yashin, not only because he wore an all black kit. The next year MacCrae was transferred to Manchester City for £100,000. John(Jumbo)Muir was a big laconic centre-half come centre-forward. He scored a fair number of goals and enjoyed cult status among the 'Well fans. Joe Wark was probably one of the best players never to have been capped by Scotland. Tam Forsyth would arrive at Ibrox in three months time, Kirky Lawson was the epitome of a poacher and, both Bobby Watson and Brian Heron were former Gers. Bobby Hewitt was the 'Well boss and he had kept the side in the top eight for several years. There was an Anglo-Scottish trophy at the time, the Texaco Cup. Those teams finished just short of European qualification on both sides of the border entered and the competition was fierce and well attended. Motherwell had vanquished a host of English first Division clubs such as, Spurs, Coventry City, Norwich City, ...... etc. They had a silky midfielder, Jim McCabe; the claret and amber crowd loved him, they sand, "E for B and Jim McCabe". Eggs for breakfast and Jim McCabe were the vitals for life. Sadly, Jim was the classic Lanarkshire lad. Sellik bid £50,000 for him later in the season, it was accepted but it took Motherwell a day to track him down. He attended the medical drunk and the move was off. The view from the Enclosure was a deteriorating one, the fog crept in and Rangers froze in the conditions. Heron ghosted in at the back stick to strike a low drive past McCloy in the 8th minute and that goal separated the sides at half-time. Rangers wrestled control at the beginning of the second period but a one-two breakaway from Wark and Campbell saw Lawson run on to the through ball to knock past big Peter. It finished 2-0, we retained our third place in the league, nine points behind leaders, Sellik and, trailing six points to second placed Aberdeen. The depression was lifted by the intervening fourth round of the Scottish Cup. Love Street was a big bowl of a ground, capacity was 40,000. St Mirren were suffering a decade in Scotland's second tier, Sir Awex's intervention was still two years down the line. Thirty thousand crowded in and the vast majority were waiting on a goal rush. The Saints had just appointed Willie Cunningham as their new Gaffer and he was promising resolute defence, a money spinning replay at Ibrox would be the very dab. St Mirren lined up - Stevenson, McLaughlin, Munro(Ian), Millar, McQueen(Gordon), Murray, Borland, McLeod, Prentice, Bryceland and, McKean(Bobby). Rangers - McCloy, Jardine, Mathieson, Greig, D Johnstone, Smith, McLean, Conn, Stein, MacDonald and, Johnston. The word on the supporters bus was the Miners' strike would end on Monday, the vote had been taken that Saturday morning. Sunday evening would still be illuminated by candle light and Latin. Clearly, the Rangers players in the first half at Love Street were communicating in Latin, it was 'O me miserum' as Gordon McQueen and Ian Munro stood firm. Nil nil at half-time was relief. rangers found their venom in a six minute second half spell, running in three goals from Doddy, Colin and, Calimero. McLean added a second from the penalty spot and the Saints notched in 86th minute for a consolation by Ally McLeod. Traveling home on the bus, the relief of a 1-4 victory was short lived, the draw for the fifth round was live on BBC Radio Scotland. We drew Motherwell away in a fortnight's time. In a ten day spell, we were to experience two quarter-finals, one in Turin against Torino, the other at Fir Park against a rampant Motherwell. The sky was falling.

I was under the impression that Helander was fit again, only not used in the EL game because he`s not in the squad. I thought Balogun was fit again too. We utilized Lundstram as a CH (or let`s say very deep DM) against Dortmund and he did well enough. I expected that playing him alongside another CH would give us a better distribution from the back. All in all, he did not do too bad, the goals were not his fault. YET ... playing him there meant that we played Kamara as the DM and we ended up with far too many back- and side-passes and likewise not the drive that Jack and Lundstram provided these last few games. It was not as problematic in the first half, but in the second we clearly toiled and changes could easily have been made. Very very frustrating.

When you pass it side-to-side for several minutes before shooting, you're giving the opposition plenty of time to organise. Motherwell, much like Dundee United previously, were throwing themselves all over the place to block shots. We need to get the ball forward quicker. Kent is often great at taking on a man (or two) but then just passes it back or balloons it over the bar - the end product isn't good enough. Sakala isn't terribly dissimilar, in that respect. Teams only need to attack us for 5-10 minutes per game in order to score. The goalkeeper needs dropped because it's clear the defenders no longer trust him, which results in them making mistakes too.

As soon as the first Motherwell one went in there was a sense of inevitability throughout the team and fans

No real idea where to start here. Feel slightly cheated by this squad. Can mix it against a star studded multi million pound Dortmund side but sh*t the bed against Aberdeen, Ross County, Dundee United and Motherwell today. Not to mention capitulating at the home of our main rivals had handing them initiative in the league race. Tav was asked after the game (by David Edgar i believe) is there an attitude/application issue and he said no because we can do it against Dortmund. Thats exactly the problem and the fact he cant see it speaks volumes. This is a bad result in isolation but raises more questions about our recruitment in the window. The polish lad I can overlook. But the fact we have hardly seen Sands, Diallo and Ramsey since they signed does not reflect well on the recruitment team. Electing to play Lundstram at CB, who has been great for us in midfield recently is quite frankly bizarre and is on the manager. Sands is available, Balogun was on the bench. heck even through Leon King in. We needed Lundstram in midfield in that second half. Not making changes after half time when it seemed some players were running on empty. Bizarre. A few questionable offside decisions again, a red card that wasn't given and the player was subbed at half time. All the usual and again we have no interest in calling it out so it will only continue. I genuinely believe there are players within this squad who have no real desire to win this league. Just do it on the big stage in Europe and try to get a move. Domestically go through the motions.

Earlier in the season he was getting slated for errors leading to goals which in my view was as a result of "hospital" passes to him leading to him losing the ball. Yesterday his "hospital" pass to Bassey was in a similar vein and caused the move leading to Well's first.

Some games you get angry at but yesterday I found myself just shaking my head. So disappointing to pass up the chance to gain ground on that lot. The defensive issues are obvious and need sorted out, fast.

I watched a montage of McGregor's mistakes this season... Depressing viewing. It hits you harder because he has been incredible for us; world-class at his peak, with an ability to pull off miraculous saves.

10 league games? Either way, hardly been value for money - has he played a full game yet?

we also have more than 10 games left. silly nonsense.

It isn't. We're paying part of Ramsey's weekly wage. There was no up-front fee.

The Old Currant Bun is first out of the traps LAWYER'S CALL Celtic ‘intimately connected’ to Boys Club & sexual abuse survivors ‘should be allowed to sue’ James Mulholland 13:09, 28 Feb 2022 Updated: 14:17, 28 Feb 2022 https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/news/scottish-news/8499511/celtic-connected-boys-club-court-victims-sue/ A SENIOR lawyer has urged a judge to give permission for sex abuse survivors to a launch a US-style “class action" lawsuit against Celtic FC. Advocate Ian Mackay QC told Lord Arthurson on Monday that former Celtic Boys Club players should be allowed to sue the Hoops for a multi million pound sum in the Court of Session. Mr Mackay represents men who were abused whilst playing for the youth side and they believe that they are entitled to compensation. Their action follows the convictions of those involved with Celtic Boys Club. Lawyers for Celtic FC oppose the action from continuing in the court. The club has previously said that the Boys Club was a separate legal entity to the team and that it shouldn’t be held responsible for their actions. But on Monday, Mr Mackay told Lord Arthurson that lawyers for the men have uncovered evidence which shows apparent close links between Celtic Boys Club and Celtic FC. He said the evidence showed that the two entities were “intimately connected” and that his clients should be allowed to sue Celtic. Mr Mackay said: “Celtic Boys Club was intimately connected to Celtic Football Club - it was branded as being closely connected to Celtic Football Club. “Players played in Celtic strips and wore blazers which were virtually identical to those worn by Celtic FC players. “Football kit, holdalls and training gear were provided by Celtic Football Club. “The pursuers’ understanding was that they were playing for the boys club of Celtic Football Club. “Celtic Boys Club trained at Barrowfield, the training ground of Celtic Football Club and Celtic Park as well as elsewhere. “Celtic Football Club exercised control over who played for Celtic Boys Club because scouts recruited players who they considered were good enough to play for Celtic Football Club and diverted them to Celtic Football Club. “The Boys Club was a nursery for senior team players. Celtic Boys Club was in effect what could be now known as the academy of Celtic Football Club. “Articles about Celtic Boys Club appeared regularly in the Celtic View, the club’s newspaper - and the club was referred to as being part of the Celtic family. “Celtic is vicariously liable for assaults committed."Scots cop who punched & tried to bite dad at kids’ football match faces sack after dodging jail Mr MacKay was speaking during a virtual hearing at the Court of Session on Monday. An estimated 25 victims of historical abuse at Celtic Boys Club have come to mount the "super case" using new powers under Scottish law. Lawyers for the men are hoping more former Boys Club players will come forward. They have brought “group proceedings” against Celtic FC PLC - the procedure is similar to US class action style litigations. On Monday, Mr Mackay also told the court that the Boys Club was formed in the 1960s. He said that evidence uncovered during investigations showed that Celtic FC first became “aware” of rumours about child abuse in 1970. He told Lord Arthurson that investigations have shown that during a Celtic FC board meeting in 1985, director Kevin Kelly “laid down the law” about how adults at the Boys Club were to behave around players. He said that allegations of child abuse were repeatedly raised at Celtic FC board meetings throughout the 1980s and 1990s. Mr Mackay said that evidence also showed that the Celtic board became aware of an allegation that a boys club player was abused during a team trip to the USA in 1991. 'OFFICIALS MET WITH RELEVANT PLAYER'S PARENTS' Speaking about the US incident, Mr Mackay said: “Officials at Celtic Boys Club telephoned Jack McGinn the chairman of Celtic Football Club and Jimmy Farrell, a director of Celtic Football Club from the USA seeking advice on the situation. “Officials of Celtic Football Club met with relevant the player’s parents to discuss the situation while the boys club remained in the USA. “Further investigations in relation to this incident took place by officials at Celtic Football Club in 1993 and 1994. “The relevant players provided an affadavit to solicitors for Celtic chairman Fergus McCann. They had relations with senior Celtic FC figures.” Mr Mackay said that the evidence showed clear links between Celtic Football Club and Celtic Boys Club. He said boys club players thought they had close links with senior Celtic FC officials. He said: “They were seen by boys who played for Celtic Boys Club to have such relationships. They were viewed as being men as having influence on the progression of players to professional football clubs. “They were quite inextricably linked to the boys club to the extent that they were the controlling hand so that’s the relationship- that’s the primary dispute. “Because of the controlling hand of Celtic in the Boys Club, we say that Celtic are vicariously liable.” Roddy Dunlop QC, for Celtic FC, told Lord Arthurson that the action shouldn’t be allowed to proceed. He said his clients believed they wouldn’t get a “fair trial” because documents which would be key to their case that they boys club and Celtic FC were different entities were missing. He added: “One adds into that the fair trial substantial prejudice point because the defenders position here that as part of a fair trial substantial prejudice defence is the difficulty now in establishing precisely the relationship and the length between Celtic Boys Club and Celtic Football Club going back into the 1960s - there are significant documents missing - there are things as basic as the constitution of Celtic Boys Club that cannot be found so it’s not again as simple as saying vicarious liability is established and then let’s look at a fair trial. “Fair trial substantial prejudice is bound up with the very suggestion that Celtic PLC is vicariously liable for the actions of those who ran Celtic Boys Club.” Urgent police hunt for missing schoolgirl Hayleigh Kent who vanished two days ago Mr Mackay also asked for the appointment of a senior lawyer to be a “representative party” in the action - a legal term meaning that he would be the leader of the action for the former players. Mr Mackay said the lawyer had decided to become involved for “altruistic reasons” but he asked Lord Arthurson for a formal legal order which would keep the man’s identity anonymous. He said: “Your Lordship might be aware from the media that following the defenders failure to achieve certain goals in the championship the director of the defender’s house was set ablaze - I think it may have been twice. There was at least one arson attack on his house. “It was thought - maybe wrongly - at the time that those who were responsible were supporters - or those who thought were supporters of the defenders. “Your Lordship that football clubs such as the defenders inspire support and tribal loyalty and that loyalty may induce supporters to engage in extreme acts. “It is for his protection that the order is sought.” Lord Arthurson said he’d issue his decision on whether the action could proceed on Tuesday. He added: “I simply wish to make it clear that the name of the putative representative party along with those in the group will not be reported between now and my decision and I will issue my decision tomorrow.”

He went out on a limb to get the club to bring in James Sands during the window. An 18 month loan to buy for a reported 6 million. The manager played him as a DM twice where he looked like a centre back playing DM and played CB once against Annan. Yesterday Lundstram played CB ahead of him. If that's anything to go by there are serious questions to answer.

Is the manager up to the job everyone can see what's wrong apart from him

And there’s probably more than you think…. I always go back to the Malmo games & think that where it all began

A goalkeeper past his best and makeshift CB’s are a big part of our problem at the moment The goalkeeper one is easier to solve. The CB one isn’t because we wouldn’t pay Hearts the £500k or whatever it was.

I was in the Copeland rear the 2nd was offside and from the Sportscene angle the 1st was also.

hard not to regret not signing Soutar in jan

I'm SJ Rear so possibly just above you somewhere. I thought they were close but maybe not. I cant bring myself to watch the game again yet!

From my vantage in the SJ front I am in line with the 18yard box and did not attempt to celebrate either as they were off-side, to me anyway

Whilst walking back to our supporters bus today I overheard a conversation between two fans. Basically stating it will be SG and his team's fault if we don't win the league as they didn't leave us with a significant enough lead in the league. Some logic that....

Why was Lundstram playing centre half? Why wasn't Balogun brought on in 2nd half to see out a 2-0? Why did we try and squeeze out another 90mins from Aribo when he is clearly running on empty? Where was Ryan Jack? Where was Aaron Ramsey and Amad or did I imagine we signed them - our two "marquee" January signings and they've played about 20 minutes and it's 1st March on Tuesday. Why do we continue to play a keeper, who whilst being a legend, is continually coasting us goals? Why no subs until 83rd minute when the momentum of the game was with Motherwell? Why didn't the board back Manager in January window? (2 loans, 2 for the future and 1 not comimg to the summer isn't backing the manager) Why didn't board back SG and his team in summer transfer window? So many questions, so many dropped points, the league title is slipping from our grasp and we look clueless domestically and look frightened in games. Be a miracle if we win league this year and be utter incompetence if we allow them to win it. Winning the league almost guarantees £40M and we threw tuppence at it, they've thrown the kitchen sink at it. In hindsight, are we so short-term thinking (or so skint) that we are prioritizing the EL over SPL and hoping against hope we either scrape the league or that the SPL winner don't get automatic qualification?

How bad must it get before McGregor is dropped? No room for sentimentality, his best days are in the past.

@26th of foot I thank you once again for another informative post. I most certainly wouldn't want to discourage you from posting and really, no one knows whether things will change in another 5 years or not. The point is the BBC is a public funded organisation that should be held to account. This thread, now contains a wealth of factual information to the blatant inequality in sports reporting between Rangers and the rest of the SPFL. I for one applaud for your tenacity, fortitude and excellent good humour in continuing to update those Gersnet members like myself who are interested in the machinations of the PQ inner sanctum. Keep up the great work!👏 PS Just for the record, I think I and most others on here, have got the (repeated) message about the "quick fix" solution of not paying the licence fee. Thank you. But, for some, it runs a bit deeper than that.

I don't want to discourage your posts but I wouldn't be surprised to return in five years to see that nothing has changed. The general approach of complaining about, or mocking, a double standard will not make one bit of difference. The only way to get value for your money is to stop paying the television licence.

It really is a pathetic stance from the BBC! embarrassing!