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I also saw one in a supermarket queue last week unwashed celtic top on ,just after the CL draw was made, he was on his phone obviously checking the draw. I said to him ‘You got a few winnable matches there’ he replied ‘Aye looks like it ’, I said ,”You definitely be looking to pump Young Boys” …he never laughed,..they are a humourless bunch.

Yesterday at Tynecastle, once again a three-four grouping of Rangers supporters displayed a blue banner with a white cross proclaiming, 'No Surrender'. The four quarters had a Rangers crest, a death head's symbol with inter-city pupils, the number 936(Inter-City Firm) and, a Mussolini quote, "expand or perish". From memory, I believe this is the third occasion that such a flag containing stated symbolism has appeared in our away support? I am sure those displaying will attempt to articulate a homage to a forty-odd year old casual gang - the Inter-City Firm; however, the flag is a disgrace. I would urge the Club to condemn the flag and unequivocally state there is no place for such symbolism among our support. What is the motivation for unfurling a banner containing the Rangers crest and the cap badge of Heinrich Himmler and his dedicated SS Panzer Division? Self Policing Loyal RSC.

I appreciate this is all speculation and must be treated with a pinch of salt, although at first glance there does seem to be some substance to it. I can see the attraction of it to our current board. They're getting no thanks currently, a significant and vocal percentage of our support are quite critical of them and they face further seasons of managed decline, or downsizing at least, with little prospect of that changing short term. Most of them invested with their hearts, I imagine their heads are wondering if that was the right decision now. So this opportunity, if it is is realised, might be very attractive to quite a number of our significant shareholders. Personally it's not how I want to see Rangers owned. I'm naturally wary of any business with the words 'venture capitalist' anywhere near them. I've worked with a number of companies over the years who welcomed investment from venture capitalists but later regretted it. They want a return, that's all that matters to them, it's all about turning a profit. How anyone expects to make a profit out of Scottish football is beyond me. I worry that the plan is to make us a step in a pyramid, a pyramid that will almost certainly have an English side at its apex. That's where the potential to make money lies, so it makes sense that's where the focus is. This group have no love for Rangers. They have no sense of our history, our rivalries, what's important to us, our position in the culture here and our demands and expectations. We'll be an asset, a brand to hawk, a page on a ledger. Someone decried our club as being like a bowling club recently. Perhaps, but at least there's some accountability around a bowling club committee, they need to walk and live among us. I do accept that they won't want to destroy the club, not deliberately at least. They might introduce good governance, new ideas, fresh investment and indeed some success on the park, it's entirely possible. I suspect, not for the first time, I'll be in the minority on this. It's just not how I think football clubs should be owned and run. They're not 'normal' businesses, the emotion tied up with a club precludes it from those 'rules'. In America a club is viewed as a franchise, to be bought, sold and moved for a greater return. That's not how European football is. I hate what's happening to football in England. Clubs are losing what made them great, they're becoming sanitised, tourist versions of their old selves. The same clubs in name only.

have a very merry Christmas everyone

https://www.gersnet.co.uk/index.php/news/ma-category-blog/515-time-to-sink-or-swim Before I look forward to this weekend’s Old Firm top of the table clash at Ibrox, it’s worth taking a quick look back first. Almost six months to the day, we were about to be beaten by Aris Limmasol in Cyprus after sacking Michael Beale a few days previous. The Englishman had gone off the back of a 3-1 home reverse to Aberdeen at Ibrox, his third league defeat of a domestic campaign that was quickly becoming a disaster. Add in the loss to Aris, the season was on the verge of being a write off before October had really begun; especially when we consider almost all of Beale’s summer signings were struggling to impress. Fortunately, an international break allowed the Rangers board a fortnight to appoint a replacement. Various names were linked – some well known by our fans, others less so. However, with only Steven Gerrard able to deliver a single league title across the previous five seasons, the pressure was on to find the right man; someone who could not only bring back success in Scotland but continue our good work in Europe and offer a style of play that could enthuse a fanbase bored of the horseshoe mentality developed by Gio van Bronckhorst and allowed to fester under Beale. Philippe Clement was ultimately given the job and it’s fair to say there was some doubt (or uncertainty at least) about this. The former Belgian international defender had had a decent playing career and had impressed as manager at Genk and Club Brugge before a season at Monaco failed to deliver on some early promise. How would he fare at Rangers? Was he experienced enough? Could he turn us back into winners? Initial signs were good: a run of wins in the league and a League Cup semi-final victory over Hearts at Hampden offered early encouragement for Rangers supporters. However, two draws at the end of November: away to Aberdeen and at home to Aris in the Europa League were blemishes that could easily have caused deeper issues. The good news is Rangers regrouped and went on an excellent run through December, including an away win versus Betis to top our Europa League group and a 1-0 hard-fought win over Aberdeen at Hampden to secure the League Cup for the first time since 2011/12. Unfortunately, just as excitement was building due to Celtic losing two of their December fixtures, a disappointing performance and loss at Parkhead to close out 2023 put us on the back foot again. Could we dig deep again? The reaction from the players and manager was a positive one and although we have lost two games this year, our form has been better than our East end rivals to ensure that only a disgracefully cancelled game away at Dundee last month has arguably cost us the psychological benefit of being top of the table for Celtic’s visit on Sunday. Ahead of that game, all things considered we can say the reign of Clement has been a positive one so far. Not just in terms of results but both in team and individual performances. Yes, there has been the odd blip – the home defeat to Motherwell this time last month was particularly disappointing – but progress has been solid and the manager’s ability to get the best out of a squad often blighted by injury and improve the contribution of players such as Cyriel Dessers, John Lundstram and Dujon Sterling means confidence is rightly high as we enter the business end of 2023/24. But can we beat Celtic? Ultimately that’s the $64,000 question. So far this season, we played them twice and lost twice in two performances that demonstrated a lack of genuine belief; both under Beale and Clement’s leadership. Indeed, despite an impressive win at Ibrox in May 2023, you have to go back two years to April 2022 for our last meaningful victory where we won at Hampden after extra time in a Scottish Cup semi-final. In terms of the SPFL we did win at Ibrox earlier that season but it has now been the best part of three years since we’ve won a league game against them – a record that should embarrass us and goes a long way to delivering Celtic’s own domestic success. With that in mind, whilst Sunday’s contest may not decide the title one way or the other, clearly the outcome will have a major effect on the final period of the season; especially with one further Old Firm game in the league (and a Scottish Cup final tie-up also looks probable). The good news for Philippe Clement is that his preparations for Sunday offer him the best squad platform since he arrived last October. Whilst we still have players injured - Ridvan Yilmaz might make it but Danilo, Cortes and Jack will not – having the likes of Todd Cantwell, Abdallah Sima and Kemar Roofe as options offers us an attacking flexibility we’ve not had since we faced Celtic in December. Yes, ideally, we would liked to have had some more games in the legs of Cantwell and Sima in particular but if we’re entirely honest with ourselves, we go into Sunday’s game with a squad more than capable of winning. Speaking of injuries is now an unhelpful distraction. In fact, Clement has arguably done enough in the eyes of most Rangers fans to demonstrate no matter what happens between now and the end of May he deserves the backing (both of the fans and the money men on the Rangers board) to have another go in 2024/25 but it’s also fair to say his six months in charge now has us in a great position to win the title this year. Speaking of the supporters, one of the cleverest aspects of Clement’s time at the club so far is him directly engaging the fans. By speaking of a synergy between the support and the players we have seen a patience (at Ibrox especially) that had been missing in recent years. It’s no coincidence that we’ve scored as many late goals (at the end of both halves) as I can remember this season with players having the supporters onside for longer periods in games. We should not under-estimate our input. Indeed, with no away fans present that relationship could be even more important come Sunday lunch-time. There’s no doubt our support could be that extra factor that proves crucial; more so when we consider how the referee and VAR has influenced games this season with Celtic benefitting from at least two decisions that could have affected the outcome in each match. As with the injury debate though, it’s all about what we do now and that has to be our focus. In that sense, it’s now very much sink or swim for this season as we won’t have a better chance to apply the kind of pressure that has been missing post-55. Our squad is as strong as it has been this campaign, we have home advantage and we have had a week to prepare for a season-defining game. Of course, nothing is certain and there are always other factors you cannot plan for but I firmly believe we should consider ourselves favourites to win on Sunday and I’d like to see our players and fans fully embrace that. In conclusion, yes, we’ve done well to even be in this position but if we want to be genuine winners then we build on that now and take advantage of a six-month improvement that should be the foundation for success this season and beyond. No more excuses, no more disappointment; we can now take charge of our own destiny. Stand tall Rangers – this is our time!

As much as this had to happen, I take no pleasure in any Rangers manager getting sacked. In fact, I would go as far to say that it makes me pretty sad to be honest. I really liked Clement. He had a certain charm and he seemed like a nice guy but it wasn't to be. Good luck Phil.

Rangers often fills our lives with joy but can also bring disappointment. Those who lead our club understand that can yield criticism but that should be constructive and not personal. We shouldn't forget they love the club as much as you or I. All the best to John and his family.

Many will pour scorn on this. I take him at his word and think it a contains a certain decency. Good luck to him in the future.

My formative years following Rangers were like many of us I expect. Catching 'football specials' to Paisley and Dundee, standing outside a pub you were too young to enter while waiting for a supporter's bus, you and a mate deciding at 1.30 on a Saturday you'd go to the game that afternoon and not worrying about tickets or anything like that. Scottish football was different then. The football was better, a better standard of player overall, much more competitive, with some genuinely world class managers pitting their wits against each other on a much more level playing field than we have today. The grounds though were terrible. While nostalgia brings a rose tinted memory of standing on terraces across the country, feeling the involuntary sway of the crowd, trying to find your way back to your pals if you left to visit what passed for the toilet, often little more than holes in the ground. Good time, but in truth many were crumbling death traps, we were literally treated like animals, herded, shouted at, regularly attacked and demonised by the media and popular culture, how more people weren't seriously injured, or worse, is simply down to luck. Add to this Dickensian picture the fact that Rangers weren't very good. I hear the cries of anger about our current state and remember back to when I was a teenager, watching clubs like Aberdeen, Dundee Utd, even Hearts for a spell, dominate us, far less Celtic. For various reasons we simply didn't have a good enough team. John Grieg, perhaps our greatest ever player, was unable to rebuild an aging but very successful side (why is a debate for another day), his successor, Jock Wallace, was a giant of a manager, the man who'd stopped the greatest Celtic side of all time, who'd delivered two trebles. Even he couldn't sustain a challenge and against a backdrop of massive industrial decline, high unemployment, social unrest and a city that was covered in soot, slowly being demolished and left to rot our Rangers side was devoid of class, of guile and of hope. Davie Cooper, our only true spark of brilliance was disillusioned and out of form, Bobby Russell and Robert Prytz simply weren't at the level we needed, as popular as they were. This was my Rangers, they'd last won the league when I was 8, I was barely aware of it. Rangers were also rans, workmanlike players struggled and and fought but were regularly bettered. I didn't really know any different. Against this background a waif was introduced to the side. I use that word deliberately, Durrant was neither tall nor strong, he genuinely looked like he was about 14 years old, in truth he was 18, so not much older. His sprite like appearance was accentuated by a shock of long curly hair, fashionable at the time, but unusual on a Rangers player, our team seemed to made up of guys for who fashion was something to be avoided, like winning trophies... He seemed to come from nowhere, his friend, Derek Ferguson, had been known to most of us since he was a schoolboy. He'd made his debut at 16, our youngest ever if memory serves correctly, he's featured in countless Rangers News features and as a support we were anticipating his greatness, but Durrant seemed to appear from stage left, unheralded and without fanfare. It was a side that featured many home grown players; Kenny Black, Hugh Burns, Dave McPherson, Robert Fleck were all regulars, some of who we had high hopes for. Durrant looked the least likely to succeed, and yet he very quickly showed us what we'd been missing. His speed of thought was only matched by his sureness of touch. Stamina made up for his lack of strength and he was fearless when facing tackling that was encouraged in those days but would see you banned for months now. The bigger the stage the greater he shone. I'd been waiting for Ian Durrant my whole life without realising it. As an ugly, lanky, spotty teenager with no patter and even less confidence here was someone who seemed to have everything I didn't and he was pulling on the the light blue or Rangers too. The media had fixated on Celtic's young 'stars'; Charlie Nicolas, Paul McStay, Peter Grant, but now we had someone who was more than their match. He cemented his immortality for me in two games against Celtic. The first Old Firm at Ibrox under Souness when he read a revitalised Davie Cooper weaving run and flick to bury the winner past Bonnar in front of the Copland Road. Rangers were back, and this time it was for real. Later he dominated a League Cup Final against Celtic, scoring our first and running the game against a very good Celtic side. There was a moment when Celtic were attacking, the ball was half cleared and fell to Durrant inside our box, instead of hoofing it first time into the stand, he let it roll through his legs, catching it with his heel while turning quickly, suddenly he was facing away from our goal, with every Celtic attacker wrong footed and we were on the attack. It was a sublime moment, one I expect most present have long forgotten, but I never will. It was a moment of skill perfectly executed in the most brutal of fields, a slip or error would have left us exposed and probably a goal down. We need not worry, we were in the presence of greatness, if only for a short time. I had never been in awe of a Rangers player like this before. I could write more, but most probably know how his career was derailed. In truth despite some great moments, he never regained his previous levels. But for a few years in the bleak 1980s nothing shone as brightly as Ian Durrant.

I really doubt that they are pissing themselves or are that they want a divided support. The board want success as much as the rest of the support. I doubt they look on us in the same way as Murray did. They'll be frustrated as everyone else and to try and paint them as the second coming of Murray isn't helpful and perhaps a sign that emotions are high. The one thing about yesterday's protests and recent statements is that nobody is coming up with proposed alternatives. Not one. If the directors walk away and withdraw their £22m loans (as at 30/6/24) where do the payments for next month's salaries come from? Who do the protesters want to take over? I don't think anyone denies that there hasn't been mismanagement but we have extremely limited resources to change things and there is nobody looking to take over from the current board. Frustrations are high but if change for the better is to be achieved, there needs to be a different approach and not done with meaningless platitudes.

FFS. The guy has been in the door less than 2 days and will still be in the early stages of his information gathering, and has also been dealing with the SFA on the VAR issue and you expect him to have something of substance and can already form an opinion that he hasn't got what we need?

Not to excuse it but it's worth remembering we're not the only football club struggling financially. Dundee Utd posted a loss of nearly £3 million earlier this year, Hibs nearly £4 million, Hearts lost £1.2 million and Aberdeen, despite some remarkable spin in the media, lost nearly £900k. St Johnstone lost well over £1 million, Dundee lost nearly £3 million, Motherwell are late to publish this year but lost over £1.5 million last year and Ross County lost half a million. Only St Mirren, more or less, broke even. In Belgium the Champions, Antwerp, lost around £40 million, indeed only 6 clubs in total out of their top two divisions didn't make a loss. Ajax lost 13 million Euros last year, PSV and Feyenoord also posted multi million Euro losses. In the Republic Of Ireland, where their domestic league is enjoying a renaissance with record attendances and clubs reaching European group stages, every single club in their top league made a financial loss last year. You don't have to look far in England to find clubs haemorrhaging money, despite access to TV and sponsorship revenues we can only dream about. Spanish football is a basket case with some of its biggest clubs carrying debt that would frighten a small country. Professional football in Europe, despite never being better funded, is in a perilous state financially. Clubs (and many of their supporters) take pride in finding loop holes in regulations designed to protect them rather than accept financial downsizing far less simply living within their means. As difficult as this is to type, Celtic are not only consistently well run, they are also very much the exception. We could be profitable. Everyone knows that means we need to find, develop and sell players every season and that is easier said than done. For every Nathan Paterson there's an Adam Devine, for every Joe Aribo there's a Todd Cantwell. Why some players succeed and some don't is one of life's mysteries. There is no excusing our form currently. We're not playing well, we don't score goals, we don't even entertain. We should be better than we are with the money we do have. I remain in the camp that's not convinced changing our manager, again, is the answer. We keep trying that and it doesn't seem to work. Perhaps some stability will pay better dividends long term. A new CEO and Chairman should provide that, although who knows, clearly firing Clement will make a lot of supporters happy and take the heat off the board and buy everyone a few months grace. We're addicted to short term returns, so nothing would surprise me.

It still depresses me that so many still yearn for a sugar daddy to make everything good again. I do wonder just how many in our support would accept literally anyone in control of the club if it guaranteed we'd win the league and beat Celtic. It's always worth casting your mind back and remembering why you became a Rangers supporter. Was it simply because you expected us to win the league every season? Most seasons? I started 'supporting' Rangers at primary school, mainly because most of my pals, my dad and my big cousins did. It was a north Glasgow primary in the late 1970s, you'd the choice of Rangers or Partick Thistle, no other clubs were available. But the relationship was cemented in the 1980s, when I was old enough to go to games. Here's the thing, in the first half of the 1980s there wasn't a lot of winning going on. We weren't just behind Celtic, we were behind Aberdeen, Dundee Utd and even Hearts for a while. Don't get me wrong there were some good times, a couple of League Cups, a Tennents Sixes too (well it excited me at the time!), but mainly it was a struggle on the pitch. But then going to the football isn't just about the football, is it? It was meeting up with your mates, a common shared interest. It was the ritual of going to the game, lucky omens, lucky clothing, buses or trains, the programme, the pie, I was too young to drink but clearly that was important to many guys too. Then the game itself, the singing, the noise, the smell, the chance to share every emotion, publicly. Football and gigs were probably the only places you could be emotional without feeling stupid or being ridiculed. Winning was always great, a bit of magic from a player a bonus, and a defeat met with anger. Our club is going through the most turbulent period in it's long history since the late 1800s. We're not out of it yet, we're hopefully towards the end, but who actually knows. Football is a very different sport to the one I started watching, but the essence of supporting a club, the things that cemented that bond I don't think they've changed, although pricing of tickets and timing of games does make it harder. Our club is still perfectly capable of being stable and solvent as well as competitive, some stability would help that happen, I think.

It's not rank rotten, but it's not as good as 3 or 4 seasons ago, thats without doubt. Better Rangers sides than this one have been thumped at Parkhead. A star studded Rangers side who beat Celtic 5-1 in season 2000/01 lost 6-2 and 3-0 to them that season as well. I understand supporter's are angry and disappointed after a home defeat where we were second best all over the pitch, but surely some perspective is required? We are a club and a team going through transition. Only two players remain from the Europa League final run, one of them is a back up centre half and the other our much maligned right back and captain. That's huge change in a short time. For comparison the Celtic squad for that season contains 10 players who are still regular starters for them this season. We can pinpoint moments where things might have turned out differently. The huge one is failing to beat Malmo in Champion's League qualifying in 2021. Had we secured that money the squad could have been strengthened further, perhaps Gerrard wouldn't have been tempted away and our ability to match Celtic financially would have given a huge boost. Had we sold Morelos when he was one of the most exciting strikers in Europe, had we sold Kent when he was ripping holes in Bundesliga club defences for fun, had we sold Tav when he was one of the most effective attacking full backs in the Europa League... Decisions were made and we did none of those things. Our recruitment has suffered because of that. We're now a club that looks for potential talent in leagues or clubs a rung below us financially or in the reserves of clubs a rung or two above. We're not able to buy players in their prime now, not really good ones at least. We're a stepping stone for players hoping to make it to England or another league where the pay is much higher. Diomande, Jefte, Bajrami, Igamane and ever Barron will be hoping to develop and move within a couple of seasons. Guys like Cerny, Bajrami, Cortes, Nsiala we're the required 'step back' to move forward again. I'd say Propper is our only summer signing for who signing for a club like us is the final destination rather than than a stop on the way. That's a big change from under Gerrard and even from under Beale, who was indulged to an extent that we signed Danilo (over £5 million), Dessers (over £3 million), Lammers (£3.5 million) and even Cifuentes at £1.2 million. We must all surely realise that kind of spending on that type of player isn't going to happen again? I think it's going to be a rough season. We'll take some beatings at times, maybe even domestically. But I think we'll give some out too. Some of our signings look shrewd. Diomande, Jefte and Bajrami have ben early successes I'd say, Barron has shown enough to suggest he can become an important player and the fleeting glances of Cortes and Kasanwirjo suggest similar. Time is rarely given to Rangers managers and already some feel time is up for Clement. Yet time is what we need to give someone, Clement or whoever. This season still has some twists and turns ahead but if we're to build something we'll need to show patience and support. Again, not something we've always been good at. The only way we can compete financially, even with Celtic far less Lyon, is to develop players and sell them for a profit. That requires buying ones that aren't the finished article and trying to make them better. That's what we're doing this season and I don't see what other choice we have. I don't think it's Clement's fault that our squad isn't as good as it was 25 months ago, he can only play the hand he's been dealt. I've seen enough in some games to feel he does know what he's doing, but that it will take time and luck for that to to be fulfilled.

Obviously a lot of quite young supporters on here, like Compo, who might not realise that this is the third time Lyon have beaten us, fairly easily, at home. For us old timers this is something we've seen before, sometimes a European side turns up at Ibrox and is simply quicker, stronger and more skilful over the 90 minutes. Unless you're about 12 years old then this isn't the worst Rangers team you've seen. Last night, as against Celtic and as against Dynamo Kiev, our biggest problem remains our inability to convert our chances. Our team simply doesn't have enough goals in it. Lawrence is contributing now, Dessers will score some, but the rest of our team simply aren't. The goals have dried up from Tav, our centre halves aren't much of a threat from set pieces and our other midfield and attacking players simply don't score often enough. Lyon had goals right across their forward line. I don't think there is much we can do about that. We have the squad we have until January at least. Unless someone suddenly emerges that's going to be an ongoing problem. I suspect even if Cerny or Tav had scored early on. and they both should have, we might still have lost, but goals change games, they lift the crowd and force the opposition to change how they play. So who knows. This is a Rangers side in transition. Diomande, Bajrami and of course Butland looked decent last night, others found the pace, power and skill of Lyon to much. Anyone who thinks changing manager, again, in the autumn is he answer is very wrong, in my opinion.

Classy statement from a classy guy. It didn’t work but for me he was hung out to dry by the board some players and keyboard warriors. Yes tactically it didn’t always work out but I thought he was a good manager. Certainly a massive improvement on the one before and after.

I enjoyed last night's game, thought we pretty much controlled it from start to finish. I also think we need to remember we again played with a makeshift defence, who I thought did well. The much maligned Propper once again had a solid match, so much so that his injury is now a concern when a few weeks ago some might have thought it a relief. Nsiala looked very composed with the ball at his feet, he's clearly a ball playing defender. Time will tell if he's up to the more rigorous aspects of defending but he's certainly not a dud as had been suggested. Ridvan has done his best at right back, but the lack of a right footed player there was evident at times last night. Having to come inside every time and his inability to play a pass down the line was a real weakness. That said he's out of position and has done a job for us, so criticism of him is unfair. Raskin, Igamane and Cerny are our most important players currently. Cerny always provides an out ball, Raskin is bossing midfield, short passes, winning 50/50s and breaking up opposition attacks sounds is made to look simple, when it's not. Cerny's movement is underrated, watch him when we're out of possession and then again when we win it, he's always available, he finds space and stretches their defence creating space for others. His final ball isn't always right, but he's become very dangerous player. Big Hamza is fun to watch. I don't think i've seen a Rangers player strike a ball as sweetly and has powerfully since Albertz, he had a shot in the first half that is still stinging the Aberdeen keeper's hands this morning. I also think he's got an interesting temperament. You have to assume by now he's getting noised up by defenders, that prick Shinnie will certainly have tried. I've yet to see him look even mildly annoyed far less angry. There are comparisons to made with Morelos in terms of his strength, presence and growing affection from our support, but he looks to have a very different mindset. Time will tell if that's a good thing or not, I think it is but I might be wrong. Our lack of squad depth is still a problem, a glance at our bench last night really underlined that. For all Rangers deserve criticism for some of our away performances they deserve praise for our home ones too. Six goals scored in two matches at home, one conceded, with a defence that probably gave many of us nightmares when we first saw it picked. Credit where credit is due.

Merry Christmas to everyone, thanks to you all for continuing to support the site and forum. 👍😎❤️🎄

A couple of other comments: We are largely reliant on financial support from the directors, and there are £22m of loans outstanding to them at the year end. They can be rightly criticised over a number of issues but they are obviously still highly committed to the club, and I'm not sure where we would be without their ongoing support, for which they deserve to be praised. We have a settlement cost of £3.8 million, which is presumably the cost relating to the Elite/Hummel case. It's so frustrating that we have wasted cash in such things, although perhaps it was factored in to an extent when deciding to switch to Castore. We are now apparently litigation free for the first time in 10 years. Thank f***!

Tom Anguish and the Guillotine. BBC Scotland supports all Scottish clubs in Europe? Of course, we know and, the rest of Scottish football knows; BBC Scotland supports one team more than all the rest put together. It is ra Sellik state of mind. Last night's 7-1 humbling in Dortmund presents a real problem for the denizens of PQ's Gang Hut. Domestically, it is a procession for their beloved green'n'grey hooped horrors. The national broadcaster is intent upon leading the gaudy coloured cavalcade. It is an exercise in triumphalism and the usual suspects are determined to be seen exercising ridiculous swagger when leading the parade. The Drum Major tosses the stick into the air, the cheers echo and, amid the cacophony you can hear the plaintive cry, 'in Brenda we trust'. In his two spells as Sellik Gaffer, Brendan has put out teams in the Champions League that have conceded seven goals on three occasions, six goals once and, five goals twice. He conducts the after match pressers with the same line of mitigation, suffered misfortune, endured higher standards of officialdom and, lessons have been learned from the experience. The last point is something PQ CSC ignores, despite another thumping the preferred narrative of way over the top hyperbole continues. Since the Slovaking easy victory over Bratislava the specific comments emanating from the Gang Hut have compounded : "Kyogo is akin to Messi" - I might have noticed this quality last night if he had not been replete in an invisible cloak. "Maeda is the best presser in world football" - James McFadden blamed him for two of Dortmund's goals. "Celtic are playing like the Harlem Globetrotters" - I suspect they were confusing the basketball entertainers with the reality, the Gallowgate Bogtrotters? "Celtic have invested in their future with Engels whereas Rangers are stuck with the same old faces" - I am sure he will be the third famous Belgian after TinTin and Hercule Poirot. PQ CSC has wound it's neck in reference website articles. The day after their Slovan victory, we were treated to 8(eight) pieces including the effect on the Scottish coefficient and how much money was earned from the game. There are only two articles this afternoon, one of which is a hard hitting critique by Tom Anguish. I thought they may have included Financial Analyst, Kieran Maguire's jottings ie Dortmund have three times the budget of Celtic whereas ra Bhoys have a budget 25 times that of St Johnstone? No, the continuing Sellik fantasy consumes the Gang Hut, there is no sustenance in cold porridge reality. Talking of Tom, the very essence of PQ was on display near the end of Sportsound. The panel was Kenny Macintyre(the Token), Pat Bonner, James McFadden and, Tom English. There had been a fastidious non mention of the last Scottish club to visit Dortmund throughout the show's four and a half hours. It was only three years past but the game was not referenced. The consensus being Brendan's team had been both naive and soft, would he/could he change it? Pat and James opined well rehearsed platitudes then, Tom dropped the R bomb. He compared Rangers 2-4 victory, recited the Dortmund team and, suggested a more practical approach from Brendan. The responses were illuminating. James dismissed the comparison with, "Brendan won't shut up shop and hope for a result" and Pat bullishly replied, "no Celtic supporter would take advice from a Rangers performance". Kenny moved the discussion on to the next game against Atlanta because the Producer/Director guillotined further discussion on that specific topic. A reminder of a Rangers victory was only going to rub salt into collective raw wounds. Pat allowed his mask to slip but, McFadden's retort is preposterous, Rangers parked the bus and got lucky on four occasions? Watch the game again Faddy. Brendan will continue to produce many more Champion League stinking turds and PQ will do Peter's bidding by rolling each and everyone of them in glitter.

I remember a lecture at Staff College on, 'Objective Appreciation'. I had endured umpteen lectures on the subject but, it was being intensified as we moved from the heading, 'Aim' to, 'Mission Statement' in the orders process. A simple aim ie to attack and destroy the enemy at grid reference 12345678 was being replaced with possible multi-paragraphs on achievable aims. I was confused; however a Sapper Colonel simplified it by explaining it was semantics because you can only play the hand you are dealt. Clement was dealt a most poor hand, a host of over payed players in a largely ageing team had to be moved on. He began by bluffing his hand, signing younger players in Cortes, Diamonde and, Barron then suffered a run of injuries in Jack, Cortes and, Raskin. Refereeing decisions in the more important games have been largely prejudicial in a constant environment of penalty to Rangers. Last night's howler was truly awful and Ridvan's injury looks medium to long term. I suspect we have not experienced the nadir, it looks like more bad times await? In twelve years, we have had twelve Gaffers, six permanent and six temporary. The longest lasting was Gerrard, lasting three and a half years. He delivered the League title and the base for considerable Euro success. Continuity is important and I believe the Belgian deserves time to turn it around. As a support, we must NOT lose our discipline, if we want to vent then voice concerns to both the club Chairman, John Bennet and his Board. They are the folks tasked with improving the Gaffer's hand.

It's entirely possible to state that Celtic have benefitted from big officiating decisions in games against us, including yesterday, without saying there's a conspiracy. I believe a number of referees are terrified to give decisions against Celtic and I think there are various reasons for that. I don't think refs are meeting in pub in Carfin plotting how to thwart Rangers, but I do think if a referee can avoid giving a penalty against Celtic in a tight game they will. If there's the slightest hint of controversy about a goal against Celtic they'll chalk it off. The personal and professional cost to a referee of upsetting the Celtic management, board, support and Celtic leaning media is high and as such they'll always err on the side of caution when faced with that. Who can blame them? None of that distracts from us needing to improve our side, but to pretend that big decisions in important games haven't gone against us with some regularity is surprising. Twice this season we've had goals against Celtic chalked off, both incorrectly, in my opinion. On both those occasions those goals would have given us a lead over Celtic, something we've not managed at all this season. Scoring first in these games gives you an advantage, it changes the momentum, it leads to changes in tactics, it changes the confidence of players. Who can say if we'd have won yesterday had the goal not being denied us, who can say if the first game a Ibrox would have played out differently had Roofe's perfectly good goal been allowed to stand. We'll never know. But to deny the evidence of our own eyes when it comes to these decisions, and to berate supporters for pointing this out I find bizarre.

Back in 2012, it was hard watching a Rangers team cast into the lower reaches of Scottish football. There were a few bright lights; Lee Wallace's commitment to the club, Barrie McKay's verve and, Lewis Macleod's determination to prove, 'there can be only one'. I thought Lewis shone brightest, undersold by David Somers for £900,000 and, two appalling knee injuries at Brentford saw the diminishing of what could have been a stellar career. He is only 30 years of age, I wish him every success as Rangers Academy Coach.

John Nelms forks the Dens Park pitch with his tongue. John Nelms is a former US Navy submariner, he spent several years based at the Holy Loch. Continually diving too deep, enduring weeks of breathing each others' farts and, when they open the hatch you find yourself in a midge infested hell hole; it all has an effect. This Bubblehead's particular bubble is helium, have you heard him speak? John keeps his mouth open because he is attempting to equalise head pressure, a fortunate trait that Peter finds most convenient. John is happy to be compliant. According to John he fell in love with ra Sellik whilst moored in Argyll and when he returned to Scotland, fronting Texan millionaire, Tim Keyes investment he was anxious to follow his heart. Dundee were the club he utilised to beat his Yahoo desire. He proposed a Dundee - Sellik league fixture should be played Stateside on St Patrick's day, preferably in Boston. He voted twice by e-mail to secure Sellik's nine-in-a-row and muddied the waters by claiming spam folder happenstance that annoyed Partick Thistle, ICT, Stranraer and, Rangers. He created a scheme allowing Gordon Strachan to have dual roles at both Dundee and ra Sellik. John thinks both Neil Doncaster and Murdoch MacLennan are stand up guys and we can all look forward to the SPL investigation that will blame Sean Batty for getting the weather forecast wrong and fining Rangers because they turned up. Of course, Neil and Murdoch will take the line(s) thrown by Gang Hutter, Kheredine Idessane as the basis for the investigation. John Nelms grasped at his fellow Bhoy's buoys : You and your groundstaff have been here since five this morning forking the pitch? Another thirty minutes and this pitch would be playable? The last fixture was delayed for thirty minutes because Rangers arrived late(Kheredine fail failed to mention the crash on the Tay Bridge). The last fixture saw a further twenty minute delay because of pyro' being ignited within the Rangers support(banged to rights on this one). Kheredine did not confront John Nelms with information garnered from his interview with Philippe Clement : Rangers only found out there was a problem after 09.30 hrs because the club kitman had arrived at Dens to see Nelms and groundstaff forking the pitch. He was told they had called a local Ref' to undertake a 10.15hrs inspection. The game was the only senior professional match in the UK postponed over the weekend. Dens Park has hosted 16 league fixtures this season and four of them suffered postponement due to a waterlogged pitch. I will save the SPL the time and expense. Neil and Murdoch will say exactly what Peter tells them to say, just like John Nelms.

@Rick Robertson top form on our main site today; please read and share widely... https://www.gersnet.co.uk/index.php/news/ca-category-blog/513-old-foes-and-old-ghosts The media, government and the governing bodies don’t really have a problem with offensive or sectarian chanting at football. We know this through their actions over a suitably long period of time and a sizable sample set of evidence from many supports. They don’t even appear to have a particular problem with questionable political messages, metallic missiles and fans encroaching onto the pitch with menace. However, they do have a problem when it's Rangers fans doing the chanting. Selectarianism was a phrase coined to capture the appalling double-standards applied to the chanting debate. Long story short, an industry appeared (comprising mainly of those of a certain demographic but fortified with other flavours of detractors) who were able to cause Rangers much discomfort and bad press over a good number of years with this. The mud-flinging and intense lobbying paid dividend and Rangers were ultimately sanctioned by UEFA over an airing of the Billy Boys in Europe in 2019. Over time on social media, many of those actively involved in the industry since the early 2000s, have shown their hand and exposed the real reasons behind their meddling, be it journos, MSPs, NBM or FARE. In preceding weeks merry hell has been ramped up over fairly benign refereeing decisions, with the collective outrage centred largely around unspectacular decisions impacting Celtic players. The collective foaming at the mouth continued into Rangers’ cup game at Hibs. Hibs lost control and the game rightfully went in our favour. You wouldn’t know it but the most contentious and serious incident of the past few weeks was a red-card challenge on Ross McCausland by a Motherwell player that went on to score the winning goal. This is where the premediated Selectarianism with chanting merges with the disinformation agenda around referees. The best way to fight a war is to have someone else fight it for you – and so Michael Stewart steps up as Celtic's useful idiot in this regard. He went into the cup game with a pre-written script and was going to be argue against anything going for Rangers, no matter how stonewall the incident and no matter how stupid he would look. His plausible neutral Hibs/Hearts playing history belies who pays his bills and writes his thoughts. Significant noise was created but even the press changed tact when they realised pretending Hibs were hard done by officials was a dead horse. And this is where sectarian chanting re-enters the picture. Hibs issued a statement on supporter conduct. The timing of the release and clickbait mention of sectarianism seemed to be more to appease their support than genuinely address supporter behaviour in Scottish football. This is the same support that threw dangerous objects at Shankland not two weeks ago and laughed off fans physically assaulting Rangers players following a cup win at Hampden years before. Of course, there’s no show without punch and up pops BBC Scotland's brass neck-in-chief Chris McLaughlin. A man who walks past rampant anti-Semitism, overt pro-terror cheerleading and industrial scale child abuse to get a negative headline about Rangers. Hibs' mention of sectarianism was all he needed to start up the Pacific Quay CSC propaganda machine. As predictable as a disallowed Rangers goal in an Old Firm match, it didn't take long before he had worked strict liability into his narrative. There are two things that aren’t a coincidence here. The first being that their beloved Celtic have a fight on their hands and so we have the lashing out, pressurising/threatening officials and looking for anyway to derail or penalise Rangers. The other being that McLaughlin pipes up as the SNP's hate crime laws are coming into effect. Cast your minds back to May 2021 and a certain Humza Yousaf (ironically then Justice Minister) knowingly posted an obviously fake video to smear Rangers players celebrating their league victory. And guess who done the donkey work in the press to create damaging headlines on the back of this? Using the vehicle of the impartial national broadcaster to peddle his obvious bias. That’s right, McLaughlin again. Worryingly, neither Yousaf nor McLaughlin were held to task or apologised for their involvement in this - indeed the latter's tweet is still there. After decades of mischief making, McLaughlin is still in place at the BBC and able to target Rangers. Even worse, Yousaf somehow failed upwards, unelected and, as incompetent as ever, into the First Minister role. What a damning indictment of the nation. The Rangers board need to be very wary and very canny here. These are loose cannons aimed at the club, probably with a plan and with enough clout to make things difficult. The fake video appeared to pass without formal complaint from Rangers. McLaughlin’s part in continuing the narrative of Rangers and others, and not Celtic, being the centre of SFA's historical CSA report passed without complaint from the club. At some stage Bisgrove and Bennett need to be stronger and ready to protect the club. This doesn’t mean the house of lies isn't built on a foundation of truth. The sporadic re-emergence of the Billy Boys domestically is undeniable; even if it usually fizzes out without any offensive words being used. I’m more than happy for certain chants to fade into history and be replaced by some of the fantastic anthems of recent years. However, against a backdrop of sectarianism and offensive chanting from other clubs in Scotland it was always expected. What is more dangerous is that the Billy Boys has been heard again in Europe. This is stupidity beyond belief when a stadium closure is not just possible but probable. The damage it could do to the fantastic Europa reputation and energy we’ve grown in recent years would be unforgivable. The board and fans groups need to nip this is the bud before it’s a problem.

I sometimes wonder what might have happened if the support had actually backed the manager(s) and the players over the last 3 and bit seasons, instead of turning on them after every set back and poor result. I find it staggering that anyone would claim our support aren't impatient, that's a real lack of self awareness on display. There's literally a thread describing at least 10 of players as 'no hopers and non triers'. Six of those players are full current internationalists, but aye, no hopers. We are literally the poster boys for impatience, we will turn on players after a couple of poor games, a manager will get a month, maybe 6 weeks and if we're not performing the knives will be sharpened. Anyone who doesn't think we'll turn on these proposed new owners with a fury they can't comprehend yet if they fail to back a manager or sell a favourite player simply doesn't understand our support. We are passive in terms of wanting to actually get involved in running and making our club better, but very vocal in making our unhappiness known when those who do fall short of our perceived standards. The Rangers support, of who I am proud to call myself one, have many good points and are unfairly maligned by others, but let's not pretend we're a patient support, we're most certainly not.

My wife and I were married on St Andrews Day, 2006 and departed to the Maldives for our honeymoon a few days later. Bad planning meant I was missing that December's Old Firm game at Ibrox and the remote Meedhupparu Island had no satellite TV whilst the internet was patchy at best and usually non-existent. Nevertheless, I took a hopeful wander over to the communal TV room for a look see and found a few other nervous folk asking the same question. There were three bears and one Celtic fan. We had no joy on any of the Indian TV stations we could receive before an Aussie chef wandered by and asked what was happening. He beckoned us across the small island to the kitchens and we pulled up stools to listen to a battered old radio which didn't have match commentary but did supply BBC updates. The chef found us some cold beer as well before departing to help with dinner service. Celtic scored in the first half and with a Rangers team made up of Svensson, Sionko and Steven Smith, I had minimal confidence we'd equalise and the Celtic fan was jubilant. At the final whistle (we were told), us bears trooped back to our beach huts whilst the Celtic fan bounded off to the bar. My pus was tripping me at the result and the fact we were going home in the next day or two. It wasn't until much later that night (the Maldives are five hours ahead), that I seen the Aussie chef with had a big smile on his face wandering up to me with two silly big cocktails. You'd be happy with that late equaliser he opened with and my mood instantly changed. Turned out he knew Mortimer from a past life. Ultimately we lost the league again that season but just a few weeks after that game, Walter arrived back at the club and the following season we ended up in Manchester. My eldest daughter was also born in October 2007. You never know what's around the corner...

I've not seen it mentioned but for the Dundee Utd goal watch the foul on Diomande as the ball comes in. As everyone else is saying delighted with that result. Our vulnerability at crosses will remain until Balogun or Souttar return, in the meantime we just need to get on with it. He didn't take the headlines but Igamane is a joy to watch. His touches and turns are sublime and he almost guarantees at least one nutmeg a game. Winning is the most important thing but it's nice to be entertained too, to admire skill for skill's sake. What a finish from Dessers, 5 goals in 3 games, happy for him to shut up critics like me. As for the sending off, it's hard to look at it and not see bias. The hand ball too, deliberate or not he's bouncing the ball with his hand and yet that's not a penalty it seems.

C'mon Cammy, we get you're really unhappy just now but the club can't win with you. Do you really expect the CEO to announce he'd welcome bids for Raskin and Igamane in the coming days? Would that lift team morale, get the Union Bears back onside, increase a player's value? You know that if the right bid comes in for any of our players we'll sell. Stewart knows that, Clement knows that, the players know that and their agents know that. What the right amount might be is open to speculation. You're now taking up a contrary position on every subject, whatever the club say or do you oppose it. It's a shame and it makes this forum harder to read.

You could make a credible case for 7 or 8 of yesterday's side. Hagi had his best match for us I thought, fair play to him as i'm not his biggest fan, but he was excellent. I thought both centre halves were immaculate, Sterling playing another unfamiliar position looked like he could make that berth his own. Both full backs were pivotal to our game plan and both were very good, our keeper had a strong match, his distribution was eye-catching and saving what needed saved. Bajrami and Igamane did the secret work, ensuring both McGregor and the Japanese midfielder weren't options for Celtic when they had possession, ensuring it was their centre backs who had to try and start their moves. Cerny worked hard all match, he could have had 2 goals with a bit more luck, I was celebrating the one that hit the post for a while before I realised it hadn't gone in. But for me the game was won in midfield. Diomande was elegant in possession, spinning and turning away from danger, supporting the attack and protecting the defence, always available for a pass. Raskin though was my man of the match. Controlled energy, aggression when needed, wonderful anticipation, tenacity and his run and back heel for our first was sublime. A captain's performance.

Frohes Fest to you all. Hope everyone has a few peaceful days with family and/or friends! An impression from yesterday's (annual) Christmas singing at our ground

Happy Christmas to all Gersnetters!

Best referee I've seen in a long time and also linesmen who flag off-side right away ---amazing.

I think I'm the only Rangers supporter left who expects us to beat Aberdeen on Wednesday. I'm really hoping Aberdeen approach the match the way most of their support, and decent percentage of ours, expect. If they are open and expansive I think that plays right into our hands. We've struggled against packed defences, but when sides have a go, like Malmo, Bucharest, Dundee in the cup and Ross County at the start of the season, we've done fine. There's no way Aberdeen are as good as Celtic or Lyon. I accept they are in good form, are picking up points and are clearly a better side than in recent seasons, but they're still Aberdeen. We need to bring our scoring boots, I'm hoping Dessers 45 mins on the bench has given him the kick in the arse he needed, he was much more effective in the second half yesterday than he's been in the previous half dozen games. Cerny and Bajrami seem to be settling too. We're a long way from where we need to be as a side, but I'm not feeling the trepidation some many of seem to be. Bring it on.

With just ten days until Rangers kick off their competitive season at Tynecastle next weekend, it's fair to say it's been less than a positive summer for our supporters with two main lowlights dominating the discussion in recent weeks. For many, the main point of contention will be the issues related to stadium improvements at Ibrox. Work to construct an additional cantilever section of seating similar to that of the Govan Stand in 2006 was brought to an abrupt halt apparently due to a shortage of steel from Asia - though there are suggestions that's not the only reason. This means with a fortnight left until our first 'home' game of 2024/25, we know that match will be played at Hampden but that’s it. From average Joes in the Copland to high profile commercial club partners, none of us know our seat or the logistics associated with getting there. Worse, we’ve no idea how long this will be for. To call this a shambles is an understatement. Now, the intentions associated with the works are good ones. From providing better facilities for our disabled fans, to ensuring we’re fulfilling UEFA rules for European matches, such improvements are often non-negotiable and necessary. However, with a tight schedule for the project any issue was always going to be problematic and some things can happen which are unforeseen, no matter how well you plan. However, to not account for such simple eventualities as material supply really is embarrassing for all associated with the works. Material orders should have been made with back-ups in mind and Rangers could easily have ensured they had alternative stadium agreements already in place in the event there were delays. It seems this didn’t happen and someone – not just the individual apparently fired – should be clear and up front why the process was so flawed. Either way, our summer wasn’t off to a good start when initial rumours turned to formal delay announcements last month. No matter, even with the red face we all have to complement our new Rangers strips (the emails asking us to buy these weren’t delayed), surely the more important stuff of improving the squad would take our minds off having to sit at Hampden instead of Ibrox? An unsuccessful season last term – albeit with a reasonable European run and winning the League Cup despite having to change our manager early doors – and a raft of players coming to the end of their contract meant wholesale amendments to the squad were required. Again, this was no easy task. With seven players either leaving on a free or their loan deals ending, that was the minimum number of additions needed over the summer. To that end, we have seen eight players come in but that doesn’t tell the whole story. Two of these were players returning from loan: Sam Lammers and Ianis Hagi whose Rangers careers appear to be all but over with neither likely to feature for the first team again. Similarly, Oscar Cortes was already here on loan last season. That leaves five new players (Kelly, Jefte, Nsiala, Barron and Igamane), none of whom could be considered first picks, to supplement a bloated squad that was always going to need further urgent, quality upgrades. In fact, Jack Butland aside, it’s difficult to make the case for any player as being essential for the future and even the big Englishman might be dispensable to help pay for reinforcements. Indeed, a variety of players have been linked with moves away. From captain James Tavernier (who hasn’t featured in any pre-season game so far) to his declining deputy Connor Goldson and mercurial midfielder Todd Cantwell, suggestions of their exit appear strong with the hope reasonable compensation will be agreed for their services, allowing us to replace them with better. Yet, at the time of writing, none and have actually moved on and no-one else has arrived. Add in the failure to find buyers for more fringe players such as Davies, Dowell, Matondo, Wright and Lawrence – all who have been shown to be unreliable in terms of fitness and/or quality – then fans are rightly confused ahead of our two final friendlies this week and a closing deadline for the vital CL qualifier in early August. All this means criticism of the club has been quickly building in recent weeks as fans start to lose patience. Stadium problems are one thing but a demonstrable lack of direction and leadership is quite another. The club have released empty emails on the Hampden move but when it comes to matters on the pitch, our communication is even worse. We’ve seen conflicting statements to (and by) the manager about strengthening the team and its uncertain just how long Phillipe Clement will put up with what appears to be a lack of support for his ambitions. What was the Belgian told last year before he took the job? What has changed since? Why are squad changes taking so long? Who is responsible for the day-to-day decision-making at the club and is this delaying all these essential processes? Why has this unacceptable situation been allowed to develop? Only one person can answer these questions and that’s the chairman/temporary CEO John Bennett. Conspicuous by his absence in terms of fan communication, the scrutiny and pressure upon him is now intense. Ultimately, the buck stops with him and all the negative issues of recent years are arguably his responsibility. It doesn’t matter if it’s the farce of Old Firm ‘friendlies’ abroad or the more critical lack of joined up thinking when it comes to managers, sporting directors and the football department, it’s very difficult not to think Bennett and his fellow board members are out of their depth. The chairman has promised a more in-depth statement by the end of this month. However, I think we must make it abundantly clear before this happens, his interview cannot consist of generic soundbites, excuses and moonbeams but be accompanied with clear actions. What we need to see is players moved out now with better replacements brought in immediately. Equally, we need a new Chief Executive with genuine experience and board members with gravitas that can work from Ibrox on a day-to-day basis; not part-time from afar. And, if this can’t happen quickly enough, then be honest, be transparent and be clear too. Is this season to be one of longer-term transition? Should our expectations be more cautious as a result? Will the appointment of suitably qualified directors take more time? When will we return to Ibrox? Is the manager on board with all the above? In conclusion, I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say John Bennett is in the last chance saloon with many Rangers fans. Yes, his financial support of the club has been essential in recent years and that backing cannot be under-estimated. Likewise, we just can’t snap our fingers or stamp our feet and have a range of rich benefactors ready to invest into or buy the club. But neither can that mean poor performance is excused and there is too much evidence of serious mistakes across the club in recent seasons that tell us leadership is lacking. The clock is ticking then: not just for the completion of the Copland Road and not just for changes to the squad but for changes to the very fabric of how the club is run for this season and beyond. With the club’s competitive foundation of success in increasingly clear question, we cannot be found wanting.

Fuck that Nazi shit: it is not clever; it is not edgy; it is not ironic; it is not post-modern; it is not meaningless; and it is not harmless. The reason that such iconography is used by football related gangs is probably not, actually, political, but to indicate that the 'firm' which displays the imagery is as harsh, relentless, disciplined, and dedicated in its uncaring violence as those who wore the badge for real, and committed nameless, and numberless, atrocities. That is, of course, delusional, narcissistic, immersed in fantasy, and based on ignorance; it does not make displaying it acceptable. If you have to ask why displaying what reads like overt approbation for Nazism, for its war criminals, for its complete brutality and inhumanity, is unacceptable, then perhaps you will never know; or understand.

To paraphrase an old British sitcom that did a decent job of making fun of Nazi Germany, listen carefully I will say this only once. If you (or anyone else) thinks being pro-Nazi on here will work out for you or what they did in the 20th Century was in any way worthy of praise, then please say so, so I can remove you asap.

Rumours are Sterling is going to cover for him until we find a replacement 😀

The truth will out Comparing a guy of 22 with a guy pushing 40, apart from anything else....

Sports Direct is a bona fide business, and a very successful one too. Douglas Park and John Bennett are bona fide businessmen, successful ones. I don't think you're being naive, I think you're being hopeful, you're being optimistic. I think we're all guilty of doing that when it comes to football. Despite all evidence to the contrary we cling to hope, we 'keep believing' to quote the great Marvin. I think some supporters had become so dismayed with the team in recent months that they're welcoming any change, without properly analysing it. They're hopeful because they wanted managerial change at almost all costs and now it has arrived. The new management team are a known quantity too, so why not be hopeful. I'm different. I'd resigned myself to a poor season because I'd accepted the need to rebuild the club. To lower costs, to change the make up of the squad and to allow someone time to try and build something. I'd accepted it couldn't be done in 6 months and was willing to give the players, management team and directors time. So I'm disappointed by this change and I'm disappointed we've ripped up the plan. Barry Ferguson was a wonderful player and a good captain for the club. But I've seen nothing to suggest he's capable of being our manager and he certainly hasn't achieved anything to warrant getting the position. Now, neither had Gerrard, or Souness. Both were gambles that paid off. While John Grieg didn't and neither did Ally McCoist, or to a lesser extent Stuart McCall. So I can understand why many people are hopeful, are feeling positive and looking forward to games again. It's not been a lot of fun recently, I absolutely get that. But I think the message I'm getting is the bulk of our directors now want out, they've had enough. I think if we'd just shown a bit more support and accepted there would tough times during this it would have come good. That's my 'hope' showing, my blind faith despite evidence to the contrary. I'd rather the club was owned by people who care for it deeply, that's my preference and I remain extremely nervous about the 49ers and what they want with us, whatever random Leeds fans might think of them.

Whatever happens now, let's have no more calling for Clement's head; his team have done him proud.

I was at the top of the terracing near stairway 13 looking across at the well-to-do in the enclosure. The result was close but in truth Rangers were well beaten by an outstanding side. One of the best goalies I’ve ever seen, two competent tradesmen at fullback, bruisers at centre half and centre forward, at wing-half one architect and one enforcer, at inside forward one goal-maker and one goal-taker and a Welsh wizard on either wing. Perfectly balanced for skill, speed and robustness. The match had been postponed from the previous Wednesday because of fog. On the Saturday Rangers annihilated a good Kilmarnock side 6-0. On a gloomy ‘bus after the ‘Spurs game an old communist from Greenock (wearing his Balliol College tie) reckoned Killie got what ‘Spurs would have got if the original game had gone ahead. That’s the Left for you. Dreamers.

There's a story, perhaps true, who knows. The season Goram joined us (replacing the very popular Chris Woods for nationality reasons) we were put out of the League Cup by Hibs, the club we'd signed Goram from. At training Goram joked that he 'joined Rangers to play win trophies but if he was still at Hibs he'd be in the cup final', to which Ian Durrant quipped 'if you were still at Hibs we'd all be in the cup final'. Goram definitely took a few months to settle and come to terms with the demands of being the Rangers keeper, but he more than made up for his slow start.

If McInnes ends up Rangers manager would the last person please remember to put the lights out

Has there ever been a Rangers manager who has had so many refereeing decisions go against him ? Think 4 OF games last season and also last night.

What a depressing story this is. It besmirches our club and fanbase and quite frankly makes me furious. I hope the club bans them.

"It's all for six hundred seats". Above is Susie McCabe's concluding statement on the current Copland Road stand development, this after a five minute rant where she explained the purpose and responsibilities of a Project Manager. I attended the Club AGM in early December'22 and compiled a report for Gersnet, I have replicated the fourth paragraph. Andrew Dickson presented Rangers prescribed plans for Disability by itemising the following : 1. the historical demand. 2. the desire to create the best provision in the UK, an exampler to the Disabled supporter. 3. the development deemed necessary for the wheelchair bound supporter. 4. a project team consisting of architects, engineers and, the Disabled supporters grouping had been assembled to oversee the development. 5. some existing season ticket holders will be displaced to accommodate the newly created wheelchair spaces. 6. over 1,000 seats will be cleared to create 162 anchorages plus attendants. 7. 1,800 new seats will be realised by extending the lips of the upper tiers of three stands. 8. the Ibrox capacity will increase by 727. 9. the necessary disabled toilets, kiosks and, lifts will be installed. 10. resolution 8 is required to raise the capital to fund the project. This information is publicly available, the AGM was minuted. The public broadcaster has NOT bothered it's arse to view it because if it is accurate, it would have to be objective. These last three weekends, we have endured three separate discussions on the Copland stand reconstruction and, not one has even touched on the reasoning behind the works. First up was a forty minuted diatribe between Liam McLeod and Tom English, next was the Diversity Twins of RAB and Tam riffing for a couple of hours on Lego and wherever I lay my hard hat, that's my home. Finally, Susie the epitome of Yahoo chic pulled on her cloak of expertise. It is an approach from ra PQ CSC we as Rangers supporters are most familiar with; Angela Haggerty is a, 'Financial Expert', Mark Daily is a, 'Legal Consultant' and Susie has, 'Project Management experience'. In fact we know Susie is a time served Spark and worked as an Estimator in various construction site offices because she insists on telling us so, constantly. Oh and at the Euros she informed, "ah wis sharing a table wae Martin and Wullie". I have no doubt Haughey and Compston contributed their expertise too. A litany of BBC Scotland projected expertise? Susie got one thing correct, her faux concern for the Rangers season ticket holders who were sold their briefs in the expectation they would be seated at Ibrox. As Rangers supporters, we are well used to such confidence trickery. We pay our BBC License Fee and receive a much reduced service in contrast to the supporters of other Scots clubs, we cannot even expect accuracy. If you Google Susie, you will find historical social media outputs where she has referred to the disabled in derisory terms and lots of references to Rangers and Rangers supporters utilising the 'H' term. I blame the PQ's Producers for allowing Susie in her heightened excitement to rush to sink the boot in. It is illuminating listening to a self proclaimed Lesbian exhibit her desire for premature ejaculation. I am on record as stating the Rangers Board have made a rip roaring arse of this project, not one iota of work should have been allowed to start without all necessary materials in situation. They deserve all and every opprobrium but, Susie's easy swing of the boot does what society does more often than not ie ignores the disabled.

Is it halal for a sheik to have a piggybank?

Compo's pals...

Having read a few forums and group chats this morning, it would appear that our team for Sunday and the remainder of the season should be : Butland anyone but Tav Anyone but Goldson Souttar or anyone but Souttar an unfit and injured Yilmaz Sterling (as well as playing right back and left back and left wing) anyone but Lundstrum McCausland anyone but Lawrence, Dowell or Cantwell anyone but Silva anyone but Dessers or Silva but possibly Sima