buster.

The appointment of McCoist was a 'force-fit' that came from 'past promises' and 'present politics' of that time. It was never likely to be a good one.

How close is Rudden to being a realistic option ? Is he further away than Hardie ?

I don't think it would have been an option for him because IMO, we as a club wouldn't have even contemplated his appointment.

I think this game has potential to develop in a way that more tests the players ability to deal with a situation. ie. if they score the first goal then we are forced out of the relative comfort zone of a two goal advantage and the pressure mounts as Maribor get encouragment. First and foremost, we really have to defend well and prevent them from scoring. If Jack, Coulibally and Arfield are playing I'll be happier but still somewhat aprehensive about what happens down the left, as I don't see any options that are decent. Second, we need to counter with menace and not be camped on our 18 yard box.

We are very light in the CH and CF positions. A couple of injuries away from real problems at a time of two games a week.

RangersU21s 1 - 2 Falkirk Robby McCrorie Jordan Houston Scott Gray Cameron Palmer Kyle Bradley Lewis Mayo Liam Burt (Dallas 70) Stephen Kelly Umar Sadiq (Middleton, 45) Zak Rudden Serge Atakayi (Kennedy, 70) SUBS: Aidan McAdams, Josh McPake, Murray Miller, Kai Kennedy, Daniel Finlayson, Andrew Dallas, Glenn Middleton. https://rangers.co.uk/news/academy-news/rangers-u21-12-falkirk/ Will be interested to hear Elfideldo's take on Sadiq's 45 minutes.

Yes, but only if signed before the first leg. -------------------- UEFA rules 42.08 For the qualifying phase and the play-offs, a club may register a maximum of two new eligible players on List A after the above-mentioned deadlines, provided the quota of locally trained players is respected. Such registration must be completed by 24.00CET on the day before the relevant first-leg match and the club’s association must confirm in writing that the new player is eligible to play at domestic level at this time. P.39 https://www.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles/Download/Regulations/uefaorg/Regulations/02/55/82/82/2558282_DOWNLOAD.pdf

Whilst this season is about us improving and not to worry too much about what happens at Celtic, last night was a notable boot in the baws for the Balance Sheet Champions. It's just a shame they didn't have a difficult league game coming up this weekend.

Making the group stages would be a MAJOR plus for several reasons, including the financial but we've still got to get past two teams who will be thinking the same. This coming 4 or 5 days has two difficult away games that will have a bearing on the amount of games our squad have in front of them and perhaps the depth required in that squad.

Why wouldn't a club look to get what they perceive as value for a player ? They aren't there to do as we wish.

Im not sure thats such a bad thing It's a curious stat that can be given many slants. eg. Rodgers hasn't been very good in the transfer market, SG is getting the backing from the board, etc

Our team that started against Maribor last week had EIGHT Gerrard signings in it. (Note that the Celtic team that started tonight only had TWO Rodgers signings in it)

Here's a stat......... Tonight Rodgers (into 3rd season) starting XI only had two players in that he had signed. Our team that started against Maribor last week had 8 Gerrard signings in it.

Good, we need all three of them to be ready for this game.

I'll be 'converted' when he's played 10 straight games without reaction. That aside, the positive for us as a whole is that he'd have a helluva job dislodging Ryan Jack from the team atm.

Can't say I'm surprised. Nor do I expect to see Jordan Rossiter anytime soon. I'm just relieved that Arfield's injury doesn't appear to have been a major issue.

As always, a good listen and thanks to those involved. David Fraser is IMO, the best 'Rangers podcast analyst' out there on the web ! Hope Gersnet have secured him on a long contract ps. in 15 years no-one will remember Windass, far less him having a legacy ...

The world don't watch RTV, something has to give before 'the war' is over.

As a journalist, McLaughlin has every right to find sources who will give him 'information' on whatever story and this can often become 'one-sided' if that information is coming from one side. At this point, the 'other side' has to find a way of getting their side of the story out there, if it's a public war, eg. competing for support/custom of a certain group of people. IMO the problem with McLaughlin and some others was that they went beyond simple facts and pushed a slant / an agenda via the most listened to radio station in Scotland. As well as being used to spread bullshit (on occasion they may not have known it was BS at the time). At the beginning of the week that saw our AGM in 2013, Alasdair Lamont was used by Jack Irvine to not only inform Sportsound listeners that the results of the various resolutions were already counted and essentially decided BUT had the front to put forward that it would effectively be a waste of time for 'protestors' against the then board to attend the AGM. The whole point of the Mediahouse leak to Lamont/BBC Scotland had been to dampen growing disquiet and anger that was heading towards a public embarrasment for the then board at the AGM........and Lamont (said to be a Rangers fan) at primetime on the most listened to station in the country, duly delivered. As for disinformation, in the summer of 2012, McLaughlin delivered a BS story on Arif Naqvi but the that is something that would need a thread on it's own. -------------- The unplatable truth is that the Celtic-minded have been more organised, better positioned, much more unified and way more effective at the dark arts than we have. They've also had material to work that we (eg. Sir Duped, etc.) have sometimes presented them with and they look to maximise damage on us (eg. RTC, etc). However, bottomline, BBC Scotland have been allowed to overstep the mark (and continue to do so).

You make a good point but I'd be looking to involve BBC Scotland, who like it or lump it, have an important reach. As it stands, it's a lot easier for those at BBC Scotland to go down their bitter one-way street.

Our under21s have a game tonight against Falkirk in the Challenge Cup. Forthbank Stadium 730pm UK Admission: Adults: £10 | Concession: £5 | Under 12s: Free https://rangers.co.uk/news/headlines/gers-face-falkirk-on-tuesday/

Will listen later but to answer the question posed in the title.........When we get through to the EL group stages, progress in the League Cup, win at the Brendanbeu and SG&Co are happy with the squad at the end of the transfer window.

'Boxing clever' is an oft used term and it's one that I don't think you can apply to a lot of dealings with the media. As per much of the executive management of the club these past few years, it's been reactionary with a base in popularism. Don't get me wrong, it's a big improvement on the pre March 2015 'spiv model' of serving the interests of others but from my view, we've lacked a holistic strategy that underpins the base from which decisions are taken. Wrt Chris McLaughlin, IIRC the story goes that it was Jim Traynor who literally showed him the door at Ibrox one Saturday afternoon (2015?) and the withdrawal of press privilages for the individual soon followed. In view of that, BBC Scotland then announced their refusal to send journalists to cover anything at Ibrox/Auchenhwie/with Rangers players/manager. The problem I had with this was that the background reasons as to why Chris McLaughlin put himself in the position to have press privilages withdrawn was never told or explained to the watching world. Instead, a vacum is formed that allows the BBC to stand by their man, be dismissive of the club for it's act and allow a general belief to form that it was Rangers who have banned BBC Scotland. Instead of the bombastic Traynor approach, I think we needed to indirectly get the story of how Chris McLaughlin operated during the spiv years and outwith out to the public. I think there was sufficient material that showed him being repeatedly used by Jack Irvine, not only in getting information out but more importantly, adding a slant which the majority of listeners/readers will take as read. ie. we needed to discredit McLaughlin and put indirect pressure on BBC Scotland not to send him to cover Rangers. At a time when we need to develop future generations of Rangers supporters, we need to be comprehensively covered by BBC Scotland and not be involved in the current 'situation'. Given where we are, it now appears difficult to find a solution. Petitions from License fee paying Rangers supporters sent to the Director General of the BBC may help put the club in a slightly stronger position wrt to sitting down and finding a solution to this. The Status Quo serves for little and damages the club. Beyond that we need, as I don't tire of pronouncing.........a holistic stratgy to base decisions on rather than continuous reactions that go down dead ends and tend to cost money.

If we go through in the EL, we'll have an away European tie 3 days prior to the Celtic game. Potential EL tie: Morelos Celtic match: Lafferty