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About to go on my works Xmas day out then am on a family holiday for a week so wanted to take some time now to thank everyone for their participation on the forum again this year. Supporting Rangers still feels like a fool's errand at times but the last month has shown football remains a funny old game and, as we approach Christmas Day, it's fantastic to see us winning the League Cup, being Scotland's sole representative in Europe post-group stage and, whisper it, challenging again for the title. Yes, we're struggling with injuries and genuine quality during some games but there's no doubt Philippe Clement has restored some belief to our players and fans since his arrival. To that end, I hope everyone has a safe, happy festive period and is able to enjoy a few more Rangers victories as well as, more importantly, valuable time with your friends and family. I certainly hope Santa brings us three more wins before 2023 is out and let's hope 2024 is a prosperous one for all Rangers fans and our club.

I would like to wish all Gersnetters lots of pudding and pie. Can I share a wee Christmas memory from 1971? Christmas day was not an official holiday in Scotland until 1974. Easter and the risen Lord was the big religious festival but, we saw on the TV how much fun the English were having at Christmas and decided to participate. The 25th December'71 was a Saturday, a working day and, Scottish football had it's final Christmas day fixture list. I was a 14 year old schoolboy and when asked what did I want from Santa, my reply was to view Rangers at Easter Road. Santa was good to good boys and I travelled on the Tannochside Loyal RSC to the capital city. 25,000 squeezed into the old Leith ground and watched an attritional game. Large snow flakes began to settle on the pitch in the ninetieth minute as the ball was hoofed from the Rangers box. The ball was hooked on by Colin Stein and the Lone Ranger chased down his own ball forcing Hibs defender, Black to concede a corner. Tam McLean stepped up as the snow began to drive, the corner found Colin, Colin Stein's head and flew into the net. Winter was howling and the Bears were growling, we only sing and dance in blizzards.

Thanks to all who assist with running and moderating this fantastic forum. Merry Christmas fellow bears.

Frohes Fest aus der Alten Försterei

Happy Christmas to all!

Thanks for all the hard work and merry xmas to all.

Merry Christmas tp all fellow Gernetters. Thank you for all the hard work Frankie and enjoy the holiday!

That's why we should offer them the corner. They should never get the Broomloan again.

Merry Christmas lots of pressies and points for anyone playing in blue

A Christmas Broadcast from the King. (I don’t think his new backing group wii go far)

Have a wonderful Christmas Frankie and all at Gersnet 🎄

He's doing what he was asked to do, steadied them and had some good results. I wish he wasn't in football management, as I quite like him as a pundit.

Merry Christmas to you and yours mate. Also a very merry Christmas to all Gersnetters and their families

Sima has outscored all of Celtics forwards, Dessers has outscored or scored the same amount as Celtics forwards having played less games. Danilo is only 2 behind Celtics top scoring forward having played significantly less games. We have 2 out of the top 3 scorers in the league (Tav and Sima), they have 1 in the top 3 (a midfielder). You are correct that our midfield players aren't scoring enough, but Sima and Dessers are on course to score 15 - 20 goals each (if the stay fit), as is Tav.

He's turned St Johnstone around. He may be old school but obviously that's what some teams need.

That’s a good one. When Rangers were signing Mikel Arteta the Spanish press were calling them Guardabosques. Försterei sounds much better.

about as much chance as Santa getting a cheer at Parkhead

I wish someone with more technical skills than I possess would do a "best bits" video.

I thought we were fine last night. We were in total control and created numerous chances. The only criticism I have is we didn't take more of those chances - but I did have 2-0 in the GPL, so I'm content.

As I sat there tonight, I couldn’t help but marvel at the sheer entertainment value of Sam Lammers. At times he’s genuinely Chaplinesque in his mastery of the absurd.

What do people expect opposition managers to do at Ibrox? Open up and play sexy, expansive football? Our squad value ridiculously outweighs theirs. Would you want us to have a go in the Bernabeu or Allianz Arena?

That was a slog. Delighted with the 3 points but not with the prosect of Roofe and Lundstram being injured leaving us woefully short up front and midfield. How the ref could think the challenge on Lundstram was a yellow card is mind boggling.

I can't really criticise them tonight. Objective of 3 points was achieved, very comfortably. Not a great performance, but good enough, and that's all that matter right now. How happy are we with being 2 points behind with a game in hand, especially after delivering wins in the two huge games last week? Injuries are the only worry, but for the first time in a long time I feel we have a manager that will find solutions. Good times, let's enjoy them.

Was never gonna be a classic tonight. Third game in seven days. But we need more creativity & imagination in the final third to score more goals

You think replacing Sima is a priority? Seriously? 😳

Sub.

I am only guessing, but Lammers appears to be one of those players that a manager can trust. In that I mean he can take the managers instructions and execute them on the pitch. PC appears to like / rate him as he plays regularly.

Rousseau will know. Juju and crystal balls are usually linked.

Are we really powder-puff? How many goals have we scored this season? I'm sure our xG this season is very encouraging. We are 2 points behind Celtic in the league with a game in hand, have won the 1st compition of the season and progressed, as group winners to the later stages of the EL. We definitely require additional players but the need is more down to our horrendous injury list rather than us being "poweder-puff". Sima has been the standout forward, Cantwell is beginning to show flashes of last seasons form, McCausland has been a find ( ut like all young players, will be inconsistent) and Danilo and Dessers have shown quality in spells (bother been hampered by injury). Even players like Lammers and Matando have shown flashes or quality and are nowhere near as bad as they are made out to be. Butland has been the signing of the summer, but Sterling looks to be very good and very versatile. Dowell whilst being injured for a while was one of the better players last night. I'd say our biggest concern is in the left back area. Borna has been a decent servant but coming to the end of his Rangers career. Yilmaz is not what is required and is the weakest player in our squad (IMO). He has also struggled with injuries. In my opinion it is more important to get rid of the permanently injured players like Roofe, Lawrence, Jack etc and replace them with players who can contribute more.

Somebody wake me up when all seeding, group stages and coefficients are removed from European football.

Maybe because you've read a similar story two or three times a year since about 1990. Maybe because you're going to read a similar story two or three times a year until you can read no more.

I've no idea why, so don't ask me to explain, but I can't get excited about this at all. 🤷‍♂️

Interesting, almost as if picking up Celtics litter the past few seasons hasn't really benefitted Aberdeen or Scottish football. Wonder who at Aberdeen has the influence to drive change there. Wouldn't be Cormack would it by any chance..

Thank you for a fantastic board. Merry Christmas and very happy new year!

Merry Xmas!

Happy Christmas to all 🎅

I still think Lammers should be played as a striker. One thing he is really good at is getting his shot away. However, too often they are taken from quite far out and from poor angles. Get him in the box and supply him. I don't think he's suited to this #10 / second-striker role he's playing.

Why was Lundstram allowed to continue when he was injured it’s not as if we were going to lose

Have a merry Christmas everyone.

I am convinced (and crossing my fingers) he is only in the team because he is so useless nobody bothers to foul him so he is always fit.

Gutted, I changed from Dessrs as FGS just prior to KO after seeing the starting line up..

My thoughts exactly. Also for me, we've arrived at the point we all know Yilmaz and Lammers just aren't good enough to go forward with, they bring absolutely nothing positive to the team.

Still can’t believe the ref saw that tackle in real time and gave a yellow. Unreal. Should be raised with the SFA.

I wish I had read this last night at half time because I will hold my hands up and admit I did a fair bit of grumbling last night. In the cold light of day and especially taking into account injuries, the run of games and the intensity of the last few weeks, last night was a very decent return and sets us up for the next few games. Who knows Roofe might be back for the next few games despite going off............... seeing Santa last night must have frazzled my brain