buster.

There are teams there who could make life difficult but the first round should really be about us. In that if we have our act together regards some swift, decent recruitment and good preperation, then we should get to the second qualifying round without too many issues. We'd definately be unseeded in the second round and there would be some potentially very difficult ties, eg. Sevilla.

We are seeded in the first round and can't draw Partizan and the other teams you list. This link has a graphic that makes this clear. https://kassiesa.home.xs4all.nl/bert/uefa/seedel2018.html

A wee extra........ Re. 2010 October 17: Celtic make complaint on Dougie McDonald over penalty decision in game against Dundee utd. In the summer prior to this, Lawwell and Lennon went on a tour of Celtic supporters clubs to help try and boost 'morale' and subsequent support, given that not only had Celtic not won the League but their crowds had went down by about 20%, which was massive. On this tour, during which IIRC an express request was made not to record it.......a transcript of sorts emerged from a kerrydale poster in which mention was made by those representing the club, that they would take any opportunity to go after the SFA. ie. the hullabaloo around Dougiegate was to a large degree, premeditated. This had been preceeded by Celtic FC sending a video to the SFA/Referee dept. of what they viewed as mistaken decisions that went against them. I think this was about the Feburary. It wasn't interested in balance, it was more to stir up the masses, create more siege mentality and keep their support (who were peeved with Mowbrary) onside and attending football matches.

Good podcast, it's as constructive a conversation as you'll get anywhere on matters Rangers. I think David is up there at the top of the clubs podcast punditry. One pedantic bone to pick about the subject of '...Atrocious Referees'. The only 'penalty decision' mentioned was the one that was correctly awarded (Hibs first goal) and not the Whittaker handball, which for me was the most important decision/mistake of the whole game. A decision that didn't have a balancing factor to weigh in as did the Allan 'red card' / Goss. And whilst being pedantic and on referees, if Ross has a father who is a qualified ref. then he might want to call him prior to the podcast to check on the rules, eg. concerning Hibs penalty.

There is another factor in all of this that is having a lasting effect and one that isn't ignored by our more active and strategic enemies. It's the further marginalisation of our club and it's support from the rest of the 'Scottish football community'. Now, Scottish football has never been one big happy family and we as the biggest and once 'establishment club' have been the focus of envy and the customary degree of marginalisation that this brings...........BUT..........over the last 7 years it has been ratcheted up 100 fold and this type of continued 'campaign' and what it provokes/leads towards, if little else, will make sure an angry and bitter divide continues for our lifetimes and beyond. When governing bodies preach harmony and respect but bow to those who are determined to squeeze us into the dirt, it makes you wonder. As for the contradictory hatred that fuels those souls who are so enveloped in their labour, do they remember anything about the fitbaw ?

- BBC Scotland .........Tick - Careful Timing (Why today?)...........Tick "....Almost two years ago, David, who is a season ticket holder at Ibrox, spoke to a solicitor about the alleged abuse and was advised to make a claim against Rangers....." - Torbett up in Court today..........Tick Pre-emptive tool of deflection - No mention of Rangers acting properly at the time and immediately informing the Police.........Tick

Have the SFA found a way to get out of what they apparently signed up to in the Five way agreement (2012) with regard to 'no further action' ?

SFA JUDICIAL PANEL PROTOCOL 2017/2018 https://www.scottishfa.co.uk/media/1823/judicial-panel-protocol-2017-18.pdf ------------ Seems to provide various options including 8.4 Power to appoint clerk, experts etc. 8.4.1 In exceptional cases, in addition to the Tribunal Secretary, a Tribunal may, subject to the prior consent of the Secretary in respect of cost, appoint an additional clerk (and such other agents, employees or other persons as it thinks fit) to assist it in conducting proceedings. 8.4.2 In exceptional cases and subject to the prior consent of the Secretary in respect of cost, the Tribunal may obtain assistance from an expert to provide his opinion on any matter(s) arising from proceedings. 8.6.5 A Tribunal consisting of a single legally qualified person, who is a solicitor or advocate or member of the judiciary (Sheriff Court or Court of Session) of not less than 10 years’ standing (including cumulatively in a combination of the said functions), may be appointed by the Judicial Panel Secretary for the consideration and Determination of representations made under Paragraph 14.10 opposing the suspension of a Determination pending appeal.

If this is from the SFA Compliance Officer, would it be a three man panel who would make a judgement (from June 26th) and decide any sanction ?

I hope that means it's better than usual and not written by JT.

You look at the 'high energy' teams who can keep up an effective pressing game for long periods of time and their fitness training/conditioning must be as tough as they come in the modern game. It's been reported that this is the way Gerrard likes to play the game and that being so, he'll need to take a tough pre-season that lends itself towards it. You don't have to go to Gullane or bark like a Sgt.Major to work the squad in a modern way that can get the fintness levels to a high level. But they will have to work a lot harder than they have in recent years. Darther, it's surprising how far the human body can go if pushed. I was a Marine and saw it quite a bit, sometimes it went too far and heat exhaustion kicked in. I doubt players would buy into rigorous military style training. Tbh I'm not sure that new recruits even buy into the old style 'rigorous' given the focus on 'bullying'. Bottomline, this is an area that has annoyed me over the years, more especially in European games when we've seen teams come from far and wide who were generally fitter, faster and stronger than us. For me, it's an indictment on our supposed professionalism. As for the bonding aspect, that'll be down to Steven Gerrard

Rousseau leaving the office after the daily transfer brief

4 million here, 4 million there, splashing the cash in a crazy imaginary world Four million pounds seems to be the number this year

It's about learning from the past and going for a balance. A couple of experienced players who can provide leadership are very much needed but we need energy, legs, less propensity for time in the treatment room and on a business side, yes, we do need re-sale value on the majority of signings.

Four year deal for a 29 year old is probably a year (maybe two) too long but I guess it might have been one of the main reasons he chose to come to Ibrox.

Over a period of time, McInnes put an Aberdeen side together that had a degree of stability with a relative cutting edge, enough to be put the diddy teams to the sword consistently..........Whilst we have tried to take short-cuts and failed whether that be managerial or player recruitment. Gerrard needs sometime to build something. If we expect a footballing ACME kit to arrive in the summer where you add a drop of water and it turns into a Championship winning side, we'll be in for another disappointment.

We haven't always done it, last season we only scored 56. Prior to that (in top tier) you'd be comparing the current team against past teams that were full of International players. What is clear is that vast improvement is required, back to front.

I don't think you can look at why XX amount of goals were conceded without at least taking into consideration the other end of the pitch but thats just my opinion.

Salah and Firmino on a two season loan #ITK

Context being that we were highest goalscorers with 76 (56) and a positive GD of 26 (12).....(last season). Goals against 50 (44)....or in other words more or less the same prior to yesterdays game.

That particular 'rollercoaster' costs the public purse a lot of money and creates such an indignant reaction on one side of the fence that you'd think they would frown on actions that might encourage further reaction. The SFA need to come down on him hard this time or it'll be more of the same.

All other top six sides beat Celtic this season Hearts 4-0 Kilmarnock 1-0 Hibs 2-1 Aberdeen 0-1 One common theme amongst those games was that they weren't really at it on the day. You also have to add that their opposition very much were and kept to their script for the whole game. Unfortunately for us, they tend to raise their game when they play us but when they have shown weakness (tends to be in the games that have less riding on them), we haven't been able to take advantage, eg. Parkhead 0-0 game. A 39 point gap has been reduced to 12. That's a huge 27 points of a difference but we are only responsible for gaining 3 more points than last season. They're down 24 points but have picked up exactly the same against us (10 from 12).

I was replying to a post that already had.

We weren't unlucky that Goss didn't get sent off. The main decision today ended up being the penalty we didn't get for the blatant handball.

Sung by....... who funnily enough comes from a neighbour country of where the trolls live.