26th of foot

The entire Scottish league fixture list is postponed today. There are two Scottish Cup quarter-final ties to fill six hours of BBC Scotland coverage. Perhaps, Jum Spence will use the opportunity to explain the demise of Dundee United? Remember, Jum spent several months as a club consultant at Tannadice. Or, they can continue to bash the H-u-ns.

What are the odds that the guy who first expressed the wish to strip Rangers of titles ending up as the SPFL's in-house legal counsel?

Otis Blue is my all time favourite album.

This has passed me by, but I note that Rod McKenzie has retired from Harper MacLeod. Now, I am sure there would be any number of Quangos available to Rod, where he could do less than fcuk all and continue to top up his pensions. However, Rod has decided to take up an option provided by SPFL Chief Executive, Neil Doncaster. He is the SPFL's legal counsel. He is part-time and in-house, co-ordinating a panel of external legal advisers. I wonder if Peter told Rod to take the job?

He has been heavily involved for more than a decade in local politics in South West Lanarkshire. It's a single issue on the siting of an incinerator, he Chaired/Chairs an organisation of those opposed to the specific siting. The last time I saw Dawson play was at the end of Souness's first season. He Captained Rangers victory at ra Piggery in the Glasgow Cup final.

As long as Lustig is fit furra post season tour of Japan.

1967, we won 2-0, it was the quarter-finals of the ECWC.

God bless Masonic snow.

Look at those lights, I am attracted like the moth to the flame. Moody brilliance amid the grey.

At half time last night, the mood was mournful on BBC Radio PQ. The future must promise better; however, the light ahead appeared baleful. Big Dick had repeated the phrase, "Rangers are cruising this", but sparked a soupcon of optimism by following up with, "Rangers contain a number of loanees, a lot of work is required to maintain their current situation". Steven Thompson thinks we are currently favourite for second place, but there's no title race. Wullie Miller concluded, "if Rangers don't finish second, it's failure". Big Dick waded into the familiar, warm waters of budgets. Wullie tested the chlorine by letting go a long stream of pysh reference the Saints defensive frailties, "even the second goal, who's picking up Docherty, who stops Morelos picking him out, where are defensive midfielders matching Windass's run"? Thommo hampered by an EBT around his neck murmurs, "it was a cracking goal". Big Dick finishes with, "Rangers have had three shots on target, three goals". Thus, Rangers are not that good, St Johnstone are truly awful. Some club should give the bankrupt Wullie a job in management. Big Dick did NOT repeat his Sunday claim of bring full live coverage across all Scottish Cup quarter-finals this coming weekend. See, the future light is being dulled already.

MUST be accompanied by lashings of Wintergreen on all exposed areas.

Those that participated on the Rangers Tax Case Blog most voraciously, have not disappeared into the ether like the blog. There is a seam to be mined, and their produce is packaged and handed over to Martin Williams' He has published their intent these last eighteen months. The usual pattern will emerge, Williams will be hail hailed for his courage in penning these epistles, he will tell of a threatening experience to him/his wife/his family; hugely publicised, and another senior journo will be found to carry the torch. It has become carefully choreographed theater.

Thank you. Well done Craig Levein. Again, why no Derek McInnes? Big Dick should explain.

There is a caveat, Broonie wants to be considered for international selection if an away fixture in Denmark is on the card. Those Danish plastic blocks are a masticating joy.

Firstly, I had two guests at Bar'72 on Saturday, and thus heard next to nothing of BBC Scotland's coverage. I have a question to any Gersnetter that did tune in, did Richard Gordon interview Craig Levein post-match? As stated at the top of this thread, BBC Radio Scotland improved their coverage of games at Ibrox by telephoning the opposition managers for post match reaction. We heard the triumphalism in the voices of Tommy Wright, Martin Canning, and Neil Lennon. Owen Coyle utilised the opportunity to spout grievance. We did not hear Derek McInnes, was he contacted? If Levein was NOT interviewed, then there appears to be a correlation between opposition defeat and lack of interest at PQ. Did Craig trap? Secondly, I heard most of yesterday's coverage of events at the Hill'o'Dung. I heard Richard Gordon state twice, "we will have full live coverage of all four Scottish Cup quarter-finals next weekend, from Saturday's lunchtime until Sunday afternoon". Now, full live coverage suggests they intend to provide commentary from Ibrox? He said it twice, half-an-hour apart. Oh, and Dundee United are now forth in the Championship, and still no sign of Jum Spence. Finally, the PQ line on Neil Lennon appears to be, "Neil is a passionate man". Sportscene failed to show Lennon getting most profane in the face of referee, Kevin Clancy. Further, Chick Young claimed Lennon sarcastically clapped his hands in the face of the referee too, not shown either. I heard Richard Gordon, Pat Bonner, Chris McLaughlin, and Stephen Thomson all use the line, 'Neil is a passionate guy'. Tell that to the two women he has threatened in well documented cases.

Haw Jum, Did you see Ryan Hardie's screamer? Work it up your arse!

Sounds appropriate.

Levein's Hearts will sit in, and be well organised and marshaled. We will go at them in waves, pushing our full backs further up the park to create the necessary angles. We will have little room to work, and opportunities to get in behind will be limited. Lafferty and Naismith will find increasing room as the game progresses. We must score ffirst and second. Set pieces will be significant for both sides. If we can secure the victory, a window of opportunity might appear the next day. Our hopes hang by the proverbial gossamer thread, but at least it's genuine hope.

Last night, listening to BBC Scotland's coverage of ra Sellik carrying the Scots standard in Europe; the cheerleaders included Chris McLaughlin, Pat Bonner, and Scott McDonald. It crossed my mind that United's star forward was sitting in a PQ studio cheering on his beloved green'n'grey, 24 hours before a crucial game for his club. Dundee United are trailing third behind a confident Livi', who have just stuffed the league leaders 4-1. It's a must win for the Arabs. What does resident PQ Arab, Jum Spence say? Back in late Autumn, Jum utilised his Dundee Courier column to tell the denizens of Dundee they must accept their new status, as a three club city. Dundee and United obviously; but ra Sellik were playing such attractive football, that Dundonians had to accept their fellow Clootie City dwellers desire to watch such exciting football. Well, we are all products of our conditioning and Jum revealed after a Rangers supporter had shouted at him from across his village street, "I was an altar bhoy". Police inquiries are continuing. If Livi' administer a sound thrashing, maybe we'll hear Jum squeak?

Tonight before kick-off in St Petersburg, Richard Gordon summarised the collective opinion of the PQ Emerald CSC, "over bounding optimism". Ra Sellik were going to match up all over the pitch, go toe to toe with the Russians, and prevail. Paddy Bonnar, Scott McDonald, and Chris McLaughlin led, eulogising Brenda's tactical genius in playing the midfield diamond. Big Dick, Liam McLeod, and Stephen Thomson agreed, Dembele would again pin both St Petersburg's central defenders. The aftermath of a three zip thumping is akin to Napoleon's retreat from Moscow. Pat reckons ra Sellik bottled it. Scott is solemn, although that may be all about Dundee United's laughable attempt to win the Championship. Chris laments ra Sellik's lack of aggression. Oh well, let's hope the Cossacks harry them at every turn, and ra Sellik players end up eating their boots. Over bounding optimism will not fill their stomachs.

It's the Shizuoka Stadium in Tokyo. In May'08, ra Sellik won the Cherry Blossom Cup during their post-season tour.

Yep, both Lafferty and Naismith will have room to play.

Levein's Hearts at Ibrox is the proverbial war of attrition. There will be little or no room in behind, Hearts will not come out. They will play for set pieces and hope to notch from one or two. We will be shooting from outside the box. A strong Referee will be required. I remain hopeful.

Reference Billy Dodds performance today, I have remembered another claim he made whilst talking to Richard Gordon, "all these offers of millions of pounds for Morelos, I have my doubts. If you need the money, then you would cash in, surely"?

Yesterday, Cosgrove stated that many of the tartan army were angered at McLeish's appointment as national coach because he is a recipient of an EBT. Then he lionised Jum Spence and quoted Jum's Courier column, "McLeish's appointment could lead to supporter apathy". Finally, Big Stu' demanded McLeish relocate to Scotland, revealing his current Fulham home was unacceptable. Further, if he decides to stay in his west London abode, he should not be paid for travelling to his work. The tune they played out on was the Beatles, 'with a little help from my friends'. Big Stu' knows the value of balance, thus added lamely, "I want to see Eck do well and we should get behind him".