26th of foot

After an hour of last night's game, Bakayoko was struggling to maintain his £20 million valuation. Then, Barisic went off injured; Sterling came on and Bakayoko's valuation gained a million quid every minute. Sterling should claim 50% of anything Rangers claim from PSV.

I blame last evening's world wide phenomenon, 'the Blue Moon'. Our players were moonstruck, lost amid the fantasy and reverie. The good news is that it will be another dozen years before a Blue Moon appears again.

I think we have to compare like with like? In 1998, we signed Dutch international left back, Artur Numan from PSV for £5 million. That's 25 years past. In 1968, we signed Scottish international centre forward, Colin Stein from Hibs for £100,000. That's 55 years past. Today, we are not signing the Dutch international left back, nor the Scottish international centre forward. Reference Joey Veerman, he has one international cap for Holland and he preferred PSV over us. We were hoping to sign him on a free and offered him an attractive package. There is a trend and it is clearly not a good one for Rangers. During last night's match, the commentator, Rory Hamilton mentioned a stat'. I do not know if it is true but it sounded so. The Dutch league receives £140 million per season from TV, our latest deal running from next season until 2029 is for £29.5 million per season. Neil Doncaster and Murdoch MacLennan signed off on a deal worse than the arrangement with Setanta agreed in 2012. In future, the underlying trend will ensure more Filip Sebos than Colin Steins.

Reference the current Gaffer. In the last 13 years, Rangers have had ten Managers, six permanent appointments and four have been given the gig temporarily. The temporaries have been McDowall, McCall, Murty(twice) and, Nicholl. Permanent appointments have all been largely unproven at Rangers expected level ie McCoist, Warburton, Caixnha, Gerrard, Vn Bronkhurst and, Beale. The guy given the longest was Stevie G, we could see he was building something by our huge progress in Europe. His third bite of the cherry came good in securing the Premiership by 25 points. I would argue his biggest failure was the two games against Malmo to secure a brighter financial platform for the club, losing from a winning position in the final quarter of the tie against ten men? Our financial woes did not provide a stable platform for any of those above. Time is short at Rangers, Walter Smith was quoted as saying he was only ever three games away from full blown crisis. Continuity is everything, I want the Manager to be given time; however, as a supporter if we lose on Sunday I will organise and take my place in the firing squad. By Tuesday, maybe Wednesday I will be more lucid and rational and advocate continuity again. Our Board under various guises these last three decades have often been guilty of short quick fix. Being lucid at this moment, I want the Board to stand stronger than our current midfield. Present a vision of our future, show us progress towards and, I will refuse to take aim and fire.

The collective perceived perception is the Manager must be given time and, I agree with it. I attended all the home pre-season friendlies and did not see any cohesion, a narrow disposition both in possession, even narrower out of possession, forwards not able to hold the ball or win the foul and, really poor set pieces. Last night was more of the same and after a 5-1 thumping where our Keeper was the man of the match, a most sobering experience. The short term future is ra Sellik at Ibrox on Sunday, if Barisic is out who takes over?

It was a hard one to take but, if we are honest and we must be honest; I suspect most of us sat down to view with more hope than expectation? The Manager's post match interview was alarming. Rightfully, he praised PSV's front two, Saibari and de Jong. However, throwing the defence under the bus was naughty. Yep, we were well beaten and it could have been a more severe rout. Losing five is not a good look for the defence but, PSV were relentless, no hesitation in coming through our forwards and midfielders, we did not have the physicality nor the will to stop them. The forwards hardly won or retained a ball in the first half. The midfield were truly woeful for the entire game. Certainly, they did not protect the defence. Again, out of possession we are too narrow. One pass to either Lang or Bakayoko and they stood up both our full backs. I thought Barisic did a reasonable job in curtailing the right winger. It became even more apparent when he went off injured and Sterling clearly struggled with the same player. The midfield have got to offer more protection against better sides. Our Keeper made three very good saves and he is part of the defence. Michael Beale will be relying upon the same defence on Sunday.

PSV 1 Rangers 2 FGS : Matondo.

Referee : Don Robertson. Assistant Referee 1 : Frank Connor Assistant Referee 2 : David Roome We have endured a month of both broadcast and print media telling us there would be no Sellik supporters in the Stadium on Sunday?

PQ CSC are promoting both Neil Lennon and Scott Brown as next Hibs management team.

According to the separated brethren, we are a new club. Why would they expect the historical allocation from a new club? Further, those very same Yahoos know they are a Knew Club.

At the end of the season, I hope the Perth Saints do not regret those two points dropped at ra Stydome?

As the 91st minute began, the fourth official held up the board announcing a further 8 minutes of stoppage time. The Ref' played 9 minutes and 20 seconds. I hope the St Johnstone manager highlights this during his post match interview, the officials have extended the second half by twenty per cent.

The second half was a tough watch. All's well that ends well; however, there were several occasions whether it be midfield or on the flanks, a quick heads up and pick the pass. It could and should have been more comfortable. After decades of Goram, Klos and, Greegs all standing on their line at cross balls. It is refreshing to have a keeper like Butland prepared to come and take a ball.

Ross County 1 Rangers 2 FGS : Roofe.

As yet, we can still sign Soapy Souttar as Sweeper. Although, it could be argued that Soapy is two dimensional for a Souttar trio?

Has this appointment been approved by the KSA(Kerrydale Services Authority)? Has Phil McFournames completed his due diligence through the auspices of, 'Rugger Chap'? We need to know before the usual suspects in both print and broadcast media tell us the real truth behind this appointment.

The William Poole thing is most complicated but the usual suspects in new, modern Scotland reduce it down to anti-catholicism. It is the 1840s on the north east coast of the USA. The great famine is happening in Ireland and on the northern west coast of Scotland but, other tragedies are occurring ie the pogroms in Eastern Europe and the beginning of the end of slavery in the south of the States. Tremendous mobility of labour concluded at the entry point to the USA, New York. Irish, Jews and, Blacks arrived in increasing numbers and lowered the price of labour. Those born and bred in New York attempted to ring fence jobs and opportunities. I am NOT agreeing with this or the methods chosen to effect the decision, I am explaining the facts. During the 1840s in New York, Tammany Hall was in full swing. William Poole and his ilk felt they had no recourse, they advocated protective collectives and fought those they perceived to be undermining their standard of lives. I suspect those responsible for Tuesday night's TIFO feel similar(I mean the decision makers) and, have decided to lionise Bill the Butcher. Martin Scorsese's film was an over romanticised version of Poole's life, as John Mc says, he perished at the hands of one of his adversaries. As a retired chap, the one aspect of Poole's life I find attractive is he was the founder of, 'the Know Nothing' political party. Shelby Foote does a pretty convincing critique on Poole's political activism being one of the enablers leading to the election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860. I find our current crop of professional politicians to be deeply unattractive, particularly here in Scotland. They have few if any principles other than narcism and maintaining their snout in the flowing trough. Nihilism can be just as attractive as nationalism but, just as wrong. The usual suspects clap their hands to gain attention then identify their preferred bad guys. The events of nearly 200 years past in another continent are revised to suit their agenda. I have posted on another thread that the TIFO was clever because it upset those that find William Poole's actual life to be inconvenient. Today is the anniversary of the St Bartholomew's Day massacre, modern day estimates say between 10,000-30,000 Huguenots were murdered in a single day in late 16th century France. Now, that is really inconvenient and maybe should be a consideration for the next TIFO?

Richard Wilson worked at the Herald for several years, he was a football writer then moved over to BBC Scotland. He appeared on Off the Ball on a couple of occasions and RAB Cosgrove revealed Wilson was a Bluenose and member of the Laptop Loyal. The second time he appeared, RAB got after him on then hot topic of sectarian chanting. He asked if Wilson had ever participated? Wilson pointed out RAB never asking any Sellik supporting guests similar questions. RAB went on about Whataboutery. This would be a decade past and, soon after Wilson moved into PQ management/Admin'; I believe he is currently Assistant News Editor?

Well, the second half lasted 47 minutes and Liam did NOT mention Rangers once. I wonder if Sportscene Producer, Eamonn Donohoe has had a word at half time?

During the first half of a Hibs v Aston Villa commentary, Liam McLeod has mentioned Rangers on seven separate occasions. The 2016 Scottish Cup final has had two mentions. Once because McGinn, Hanlon and, Stevenson all played in the game, the other because the final is Easter Road fokelore. Another two mentions for Rangers - Liverpool in last season's Champions League. Once to emphasise the apprehension SPFL Premiership sides have taking on English Premiership clubs. The other as a warning what English clubs can do, the word utilised was, "humiliation". Liam then mentioned two Villa players, he witnessed Diaby score against Rangers for Leverkusen; then he pipes up on seeing Bailey do similar. Finally, last night's Ibrox fixture against PSV was raised by Liam, "many thought Dessers was offside in the build up to Rangers second, the new quick VAR decision suggested only the player's arm was offside". Of course, Liam omitted the big Rangers against Villa story, the 1887 FA Cup semi-final which the Birmingham side won 3-1. Maybe Liam will squeeze it in during the second half?

I thought the Bill the Butcher TIFO was most clever. It has angered all the right people which is nice.

Rangers 2 PSV 2 FGS : Dessers.

That would be a Marist consideration?

I can see scope for Disney , 'Peter and the Seven Sycophants'.

Val McDermid will adhere to her principles and get after Mason Greenwood with the same vigour she has attempted to stymie David Goodwillie. The situation is a minefield for all interested parties, Greenwood, Man United, interested clubs and those who have already played a hand ie Val McDermid.