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No, it's to further emphasise why they're different from Ferguson. The team certainly didn't fail while Duncan Ferguson was with us, we won the league in 93/94 and 94/95 the two seasons he was with us. I'd also argue his signing spurred Hateley, the man he was supposed to succeed, onto greater influence, Hateley was our top scorer in each of those seasons. Duncan Ferguson is one of the great 'what might have been' of the last 50 years. He was the victim of David Murray's ego, SDM was angry that Jim McLean was reusing to sell him to Rangers. He should have bided his time, perhaps arranged a 'Gough' and got someone down south to buy him for a season then sell him to us. We were powerful enough then to do that. But instead he arranged for friendly journos to write stories about how hard done by Ferguson was and ramped the pressure on Dundee Utd until eventually they agreed a very acrimonious sale for a then British record fee. That simply put enormous pressure on Ferguson from day 1. For all his undoubted talent Ferguson was a big daft lad, and the glare of publicity and expectation that came with the move wasn't a great mix with a young man filled with confidence and bravado. With hindsight I think Ferguson should have gone to Bayern Munich, who apparently made a bid for him after he'd terrorised the German defence in one of his few games for Scotland. What a player he could have become with the level of coaching and technical input they had. He's still have to come to us eventually, but he'd have been older, wiser and a better player. Anyway, there are number of labels that could be justifiably put on Ferguson, but a dud most certainly isn't one I'd use.

Ding Ding, Seconds Out! Two of Rangers' long term political adversaries engaged in an angry spat earlier this week. The ring was the Palace of Westminster as Brendan O'Hara MP and Brendan Angus MacNeill MP squared up, threw a few insults and, finally threw their Commons Order Papers at each other. Anyone following the tragedy of CalMac these last few years will know both MPs are main but, silent players in the continuing drama. O'Hara is MP for Argyle and MacNeill represents the Western Isles. Despite being the MPs representing at least 80% of the CalMac lifeline Ferry ports, they have said nothing. Brendan O'Hara is akin to Sellik Royalty, a direct descendent of one of six families that founded the club in St Mary's Halls in November 1887. He and his late brother, Dermot the former BBC Scotland News Editor; campaigned against the old Board and were most active in the early fanzine scene. Not the View was their 'zine of choice where both regularly referred to Rangers and Rangers supporters by the 'H' term. When Brendan was first elected as an MP, he made a public apology for his four decade usage of the term, particularly on social media. Dermot was the Editor at PQ who introduced the bouncing ball on his own made up lyrics to the Famine Song. Brendan Angus macNeill is a colourful character to say the least. Dalliances in Hotel rooms with teenage girls, conducting an affair with a Westminster Journo who was also engaged with fellow SNP MP, Stuart Hosie, convicted of Dangerous and Reckless Driving ie knocking a 15 year old girl off her bicycle on his home island of Barra, making three all expenses paid visits to the UAE in the last six months, ........................ married with three children. MacNeill was garrulous at Westminster CSC meetings during our demise. Unlike the CalMac lifeline Ferries, he had plenty to say. Today, the Western Isles MP has announced he will sit as an Independent for the rest of the Parliament. O'Hara is the SNP Whip and MacNeill's conduct annoys him greatly; well, he is having considerable fun. After tossing his order papers at O'Hara, MacNeill bellowed, "bully, you are a wee small man". Brendan replied, "ah'll get ye". It was reported Stuart Hosie was holding back O'Hara. I suspect Mhairi Black was handing out the chibs? It is just another PR disaster in a continuing litany for the SNP; however, the most interesting point is that former Sellik View Editor, Kevin McKenna was dispatched to ensure containment. Kevin is the Godfather these days, he is the Godfather to Angela Haggerty's child but, increasingly he is the Troubleshooter expected to smooth things over. He has reported the fight was, "a case of handbags". Only several months past, Kevin did a couple of Herald articles assuring his fellow Yahoos that the Admiral Bar's closure was temporary, it would open again in a different location. His companion whilst visiting the bar was Monsignor Tom Connelly - Spokesman for the Scottish Bishops' Conference. Thus, a fight between two well known Scots MPs and, sinister Kevin does a tidy up. BBC Scotland does NOT report a word. Are they worried they will be banned from SNP press conferences as well as ra Sellik's? We should be told.

Fulchester United? Melchester Rovers?

A defender who can defend that will make a change

I'd look upon Balogun as being brought in to be our 5th choice centre half (I'd hope), and yes, I'm happy with that. We've got a player who knows the club and can hopefully do a job if called upon. Whoever we're going to have as our 5th choice will have some issues.

Replacing Helander like for like. Like for like in terms of of availability to play that is. With Souttar I pretty much see our number 4 as a number 3 and Davies has been unreliable for two seasons now too so I’m very uncomfortable with an injury prone and ageing Balogun being our 4th choice centre back. Standards are low if people are content with that.

One loan springs to mind….2 million fee and 90k per week for a handful of games and the penalty miss that cost us the EL.

Too fucking old, and no resale value.

Who can forget star players like Shakin' Stevens and Bobby C*** , total legends.

Apparently Sterling said last week that he plays at right back or left back but doesn't play centre back.

What he's actually saying is any opposing forward coming within ten yards will be leaving the field on a stretcher.

Twattery at its finest

That's the spirit. But you're correct we are never winning CL with or without LB..... Did you listen to the manager today? Confirming why we signed LB and that there are more signings in the pipeline?

If he is actually '5th choice' then I can get along with it, but as has been said, with the injuries that Souttar, Davies and Goldson have been picking up there's a probable chance he'll be more like a 3rd choice at times. I know people won't agree but I'd geniunely rather have Lewis Mayo as '5th choice' to be honest, prem experience, homegrown and has a exemplary recent injury record. If a 35 year old crocked (looking at last season) Leon Balogun is a better choice then our academy is in a worse place than I thought. Nothing against Leon, I like how he's positive about the club when few other ex players are and I'll back him now he's in. I just have a bad gut feeling about this. It will look different if the rumoured exit of Kamara goes through and we get a good LCB in, if not it will look pretty bad.

Official

So if we don't bring in badly injured players we bring in ones to badly injure our other players. Groan.

Well have fun and good luck 👍

Sorry to be bearer of bad news....

What?!

Dujon Sterling: A lot of defenders now, right-backs and left-backs, get judged on their stats and defensively they’re not great. I like to make sure I do my defending first. If he means that he will give the opposition's danger man a reducer, early doors, then I am in.

A defender who can stay fit would be good too 🙄

Great Post John. 👏🏻

It is expected that players get slight injuries in pre season training, they'll be working harder on fitness, and have theoretically just had a couple of weeks off. Anyone who trains for any sport will understand this. Balogun is a bonkers signing.

Nah, Duncan Ferguson was sold for what we bought him for, he was no dud. Ferguson was treated differently from pretty much every other footballer in Britain it remains a disgrace he was jailed for what happened in that game. The other 2 players were paid off by us.

I can sense a few defensive problems in our immediate future...

He was a poor investment, agreed, but we never paid him that wage.

King really isn't that good at the moment. He'll hopefully turn into a good player but he's not there yet. Whether he's better than Balogun is definitely arguable. However given the injury to King, Goldson still isn't fit, Souttar is unreliable and Davies might be on his way, getting Balogun in as a quick backup isn't the daftest thing.

A gamble which never paid off. Prodan was one of the best CB’s in the world just before he got injured & we signed him. Had he got fully fit & back to his best I’ve often wondered how O’Neil’s Celtic with Larson, Sutton& Hartson would have got on against him. He would have made a big difference to us I’m sure & they’d never have done as well as they did early 2000’s

For the VLs like myself:

Compo is going to give you a right good thrashing.

That’s Uilleam for you. Ever the controversialist, always out on a limb. Have some public obloquy while you’re at it, pal.

I'm not sure it's fair to say someone who got a serious injury is a dud. Kuznetsov, Rosenthal, Helander and even Roofe have been unfortunate, the former two had their careers completely derailed. No one thinks Michael Mols was a dud, but he was never the same player after his injury. For me a dud could be someone who simply wasn't up to the job despite the all realistic expectations. Basil Boli for example looked like a truly world class defender at Marseille but like a comedy act with us. Guivarc'h had won the World Cup but looked like he'd struggle in the Challenge Cup with us. Salenko had set goal scoring records in the World Cup but looked like he'd won a competition to play when he was with us. Even Maurice Edu, lionised for scoring a last minute winner against them from 2 feet out, never came close to living up to his price tag or expectations. But all of those players had to move country, learn a new language, or try and settle into a new culture. As supporters we probably under estimate how difficult some players find that and what affect it can have on them. The real duds are those who simply never tried. Kyle Lafferty, particularly second time round. A total waster who will no doubt spend years appearing at fan forums and pub openings in the future. Grezda, Pena and Negri fall into this category. Andy Webster is another, he didn't cost us a transfer fee however he was waste of a wage. Alan Gow is another who I always felt could have done so much more. Those who simply weren't good enough. Konterman, Sebo, Billy Urquart, Beattie, i'm not sure you can really blame them for that, the club needs to take the blame. They at least tried their best.