buster.

An individual can choose how they deliver criticism but not lay out guidelines as to how others go about it Given our recent history I think it important to provide balance. I heavily criticised previous regimes (especially from May 2011 to March 2015) without any mitigating balance because they didn't have any meaningful credit. The important thing IMO is to criticise or question X or Y when you think there is merit in so doing and that is where the issue and conversation should be.... although I wouldn't dream of laying out any guidelines for you !! In this particular case, I was speculating on a game that I haven't actually seen, nor is it yet finished. #Frustration #QualifiedCriticism

The big question mark for me is Morelos. does he stay/go ? if low bids come in and we don't let him go, how does he react ? if he stays does he start / is he the best forward for the system of play ? if he doesn't get his move and isn't starting does he go into the long sulk ? I get that you could say he stays and scores over 30 goals but on balance I think now is the time to move him on.....and if we did, we'd need another decent centre forward who fitted with how we want to play. Whatever happens, we need it resolved asap and not for it to turn into a summer long saga.

To get the club back and put as many building blocks in place as they have has been a tremendous effort. However, the retail challenge has proved to be a tough nut to crack. Not that surprising given how Ashley operates. I'm not a lawyer but given the particular circumstances surrounding the relationship, if S.D.I. propose or agree to sign a contract with us, then you just know that there is something smelly in the small print. .....I'm guessing that the lawyers pointed it out (obviously don't know how they described it) and then they would have discussed the matter with DK. That said, we have to wait and see how it pans out, with the emphasis on WAIT (which SDI are more comfortable with).

I very much hope Docherty gets a place in our squad for the coming season, he won't let us down. Needs to get a fair bit of game time to be able to continue his improvement. If we were buying him from Shrewsbury, they'd want a seven figure fee. Like a new signing........!!

Written judgement from the most recent instalment. http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Comm/2019/1419.html --------------------------- I haven't got the legal expertise to give a meaningful summary wrt the current state of play but thoughts return to the question of why we entered into the 2017 deal with SDI and what legal advice we received regards the relevant contract clauses. An ongoing situation that SDI/Mr.MASH will be much more comfortable with than Rangers. Legal costs will be significant and then there are potential damages. What there isn't any sign of,... is normalisation !!

We aren't currently in a financial position to be able to contemplate any major changes to the stadium. Might as well have a thread up about us signing Mbappe....a nice thought but it ain't happening.

PATRICK MCPARTLIN Email

Back in the 70's there were no summer transfer window threads or transfer windows for that matter. Before I became old enough to do a paper round I had to walk down to John Menzies in Princess Street (Edinburgh) each summer morning to go through all the newspapers and see what was happening. An age that saw me so engrossed in the fitbaw, I hardly noticed the top shelf. The Sunday Mail was the required paper at the weekend as it always managed to have some kind of exclusive that actually was an exclusive.....and back in the day, it didn't register as too important that they seldom came to much. A paper round was my natural pathway to early comprehensive information and a degree of financial independence. I even managed to secure a spot within the distribution of the first edition of the Sunday Mail and Post round the pubs of a Saturday night when the tips made it worthwhile. That after doing the same with The Pink at about 5.30 on the Saturday night. An addiction of sorts to fitbaw gossip that was in the main bullshit. The mediums may have altered somewhat but the addiction is still there, only it's worse because I now fully comprehend that most of it is bullshit

Up to Middleton to go down there and make himself a consistent first team starter. Docherty went South and did well in the third tier,..now we'll see what happens to him.

Would have thought it better to decide on who stays and who goes on loan after pre-season training.

At a time when money isn't plentiful, I agree that it would be wiser to spend scarce resources closer to home. As a brand, we aren't going to compete successfully with EPL and other elite clubs in China. I think the route Celtic took by buying popular Asian internationalists is the way to go if you want a return via the Asian punter's pound. They'll spend because they support the player, identify with his personal battle to do as well as he can in a foreign country and thus bring credit to ex-club, country, etc.

It wasn't an objective choice of names, granted.... but I'd say there aren't too many marquee signings that have went well in recent years. Principally because, we can't afford real marquee signings and the names we get tend to come complete with particular issues that again tend to mean we don't get value for money. Better to go for players who don't come with the issues.

The John Mason whataboutery card was as predictable as it is pathetic.

Thank's for your comprehensive reports and website over the season, elfideldo ! The Bert Kassie of our youth set-up. He may be Dutch but his username is easier to spell

Barton, Kranjcar and Alves were marquee signings,.......... Morelos, Kamara and Tav wren't. Barton, Kranjcar and Alves : 41 league games for Rangers between them...How much in wages ? One season of Tav and half a season of Kamara beats that number out of the park. For varying reasons, Barton, Kranjcar and Alves showed why you should be very careful when going down the expensive named veteran route.

Last gasp winner saves the red faces. Pundits who thought Clarke can work instant miracles with a team in transition, who aren't defensively secure or have a real centre-forward threat were being blindly optimistic. That said, we did get the win when in similar type recent group scenarios (eg home draw v Lithuania) we didn't. Given Nations League play-off next year. It's really about being ready for those games, IMO.

deleted

First time I've seen a Scottish player do this.......... She'll be playing for Scotland against the 'Auld Enemy' tomorrow.

Joe Aribo His wiki page has his current team as Sons of William

What we thought of as a marque signing back in the day is no longer possible, unless they are on the cusp of retirement, spend too much time in the treatment room or have some other issue. I'd refer to most of those type of players as ex-marque. Rather than thinking in fees, it's the salary levels where Scottish football, amongst other leagues have been left behind. For SG&Co it's more about putting a team of reasonable to decent players together that all pull in the same direction and then trying to add a little synergy. Then you have to hope recruitment and youth development unearth the rough diamonds and you get some real quality, even if for only a season or two.

Players worth keeping an eye on..............

How many times do we need to be stung before we learn ?!!

The main overall objective for most I think was to turn the clubs fortunes around and create a base from which we have a chance to get our title back asp. This was done in very difficult circumstances and there were and still are various battles to overcome. I think there has been a great effort by an amazingly loyal support attending football matches. Club 1872 and it's members, despite predictable teething problems have also stepped up and contributed greatly. Kudos to the board and Dave King for making the move in 2015 and directing many of those ongoing battles. This particular story is a step of what was a structured debt strategy talked about by DK back in 2015. We needed DK, DP, GL, GT and others. They needed the support.

I'd be sceptical about a deal for Sturridge. Last time he played a lot of league minutes was 2013/14 .....(2276 minutes) One of only two seasons in his entire career to do so From 2014/15 he's played a total of 3541 League minutes Since he joined for 2015/16, James Tavernier has played more than 3,000 minutes league minutes in each of his 4 seasons at Ibrox (total 12950)