JohnMc

To be fair to Nevin he has publicly spoken about not wanting his children to support Celtic because of the sectarianism he could hear around him in the stands. Not many people are brave enough to say that or apparently have good enough hearing in the first place. But on your bigger point the panel that sits on these things is a farce. How can anyone can claim a 19 year old from Ghana without an international cap should get a work permit? I'd say that if we'd signed him.

Andy Kennedy went out with my cousin for a while, he looked like he might have a big future at one time, his first goal for Rangers was a cracker. He came through at the same time as Dave Macpherson and Hugh Burns just before Durrant and Derek Ferguson. Billy Davies was another around that time, he was very highly rated but got injured and released. John Morrow was a sad one, I remember seeing him play for us at McDiarmid Park a long time ago and he looked like he was going to be a superb player. Didn't he pick up a really bad injury? Chris Vinniecombe, Davie Kirkwood, Brian Reid, big things were expected of all of them at one time.

Kind of on topic I read something very recently that written online media will become available in a similar way to how music is available on Spotify. So, you'd pay a small(ish) monthly subscription and that would give you access to thousands of articles from all across the world, the writer or publisher would then get a payment every time someone read their article. Algorithms would see the type of articles you enjoy and suggest new ones to you and so on. As a business model it has some appeal to smaller regional 'papers'. In the end this will still reward writers of popular articles rather than factual articles. As a matter of interest has anyone on here read either issue of Nutmeg? https://www.nutmegmagazine.co.uk/

Good point about Cathro's age counting against him too. As Calscot says Levein might well provide the backing and the authority that Cathro needs. I actually think Levein was a better manager than he's given credit for however the Prague debacle was all his doing. The concept of flooding midfield and hitting on the break is fine if you have the players to carry it out. Scotland didn't. I notice Barry Ferguson doesn't mention calling Iain King of the Sun from his car on the drive away from Murray Park that fateful day, he must have forgotten about that call...

Newspapers have never been impartial, very few have even pretended to be impartial. They've almost always openly supported a particular political party and that ideology has been editorial led. In times past that would have been a left or right wing a Tory or Labour support, in recent times we've seen 'nationalism' also enter the equation. So any demand for impartiality in newspapers is pointless, they are private companies and can support who they want and report stories to suit their readership. Broadcast media used to try and be impartial but most commercial stations are right leaning and always have been, today Murdoch owned media doesn't pretend to be anything else. The BBC is the issue, it does have a duty to impartiality and at times falls well short of it in my opinion. What is often overlooked is economics. The BBC aside all the rest are commercial organisations that need to earn money. There is very little appetite to pay for content online, and so click-bait type articles have come to the fore. It's a shame but we've only got ourselves to blame. I stopped being surprised at how many Rangers supporters insist on reading articles from bloggers and journalists that they already know to be biased. Just don't, ignore them, they rely on your clicks, if you don't it will disappear. "Aggressive shut down mobs" are not limited to Scottish nationalists, anyone who thinks that is deluding themselves. I know a few bluenoses who've suffered astonishing abuse online from fellow bears.

There are parallels between the new Hearts boss and PLG. Not so much in record, PLG's record was much better, but in terms of the media reaction and expectation compared to that of professional players. PLG was going to 'revolutionise' Scottish football, new diets, new training and new ideas. I read similar things about Cathro. The problem PLG faced and Cathro will face is the actual man-management side of it. To introduce anything new you need to be able to communicate and win the trust of professional players, a generally cynical, hard-bitten and conservative group. Interestingly the only truly revolutionary moment on sport in recent years was the Moneyball episode in major league baseball. But the architect of Moneyball thinking, Paul Depodesta, was unable to implement his thinking, he'd never played the sport and was viewed with suspicion by players and managers. It needed Billy Beane, a highly regarded coach and former professional player, to introduce Depodesta's ideas. When Southampton appointed Sir Clive Woodward as Sporting Director it should have heralded the beginning of a golden period for the club. Woodward is/was a progressive thinker, a hugely successful coach in rugby union he was tasked with modernising the sport's science and culture at the club. Instead he clashed with the existing coaches almost from day one. The head coach, Harry Redknapp, left before the year was out, Woodward's appointed Head of Sport's Science lasted two months and eventually Woodward himself realised he was unable to communicate and manage footballers successfully. As a footnote Woodward was later appointed the head of coaching for the British Olympic team and oversaw the most successful period in British Olympic history.

You get Celtic fans in Dalry?

At the time I was quite angry about Le Guen and felt he hadn't been supported by SDM and the players. However, Le Guen has done very little of note since leaving Rangers and, with hindsight, I now think he simply wasn't up to the job.

A similar scheme has been in place in Scotstoun for a few years now, primarily for the Glasgow Warriors games. It's great for residents, it can be a nightmare parking anywhere near your house when a match is on, something that made me very angry when our kids were still babies. I'm surprised this hasn't been introduced before now, the Scotstoun scheme is about 4 years old now. Ibrox is well served by public transport, there are car parks at various underground stations and the Science Centre is only a 10 minute walk from the ground.

I agree with you that he shouldn't be banned from football forever, however I do think his past should exclude him from a role like this. Coaching well paid, grown men is one thing, any of them have an issue with him they can take it up face-to-face. This role involves working with children and coaches who coach young people, the dynamic is different, the power balance is very heavily skewed in Mackay's favour. The only good thing that might come of this is the pressure being put on Regan might eventually become intolerable and he'll resign.

Great read, good to see Germinal back on here! The Mackay appointment is just bizarre. Even if you ignore the texts and their content, you still have to ask how he's qualified to do the job of Performance Director? From what I can see Mackay has only ever coached professional players and has no experience of coaching children, far less devising and implementing a nationwide strategy to help develop future talent. Brian McLair made sense for the position, having worked as a youth coach and academy director at Man Utd, arguably as good a football academy as there is. Mackay's managed senior professionals at Watford, Cardiff and Wigan. The guy MacPhee who has joined Hearts as Assistant Manager was apparently in the frame for the job, again he makes some sense. But Mackay is just an all round puzzling appointment, he could be excluded for so many reasons.

It's been bugging me since Saturday night and I needed an outlet for it! I don't know where the 'Writer's' forum bit is anymore, I can't find it. So I've posted it in here, take it out if it's not suitable for the Rangers forum, publish it on the main site or ignore it and let it drop off the page, I'd an itch I needed to scratch and now it's done! I’ve read a number of articles over the last 12 months about how Donald Trump’s mastery of Twitter has played a huge part in securing firstly the Republican nomination and then the presidency of the United States. The Washington Post described Trump as the “master troll” and his use of Twitter clearly allowed him to garner as many column inches is it does followers. The ability to speak, or at least tweet, directly to the soon to be most powerful man in the world is one of astonishing things that we now take for granted. Up to this point politicians for most of my life have been otherworldly beings. Seen and heard only through the media successful politicians mastered sound-bites, oratory, a wholesome look and the ability to smile on demand. Social media is changing that. I went onto Twitter on Saturday evening to see what was happening in the world. My timeline is mixed and contains people from my professional life, allotment and gardener writers, photographers and naturalists, journalists, politicians of various hues and, of course, some football talk. Two stories caught my eye; the untimely death of the writer and journalist A.A. Gill and a Glasgow based MSP called James Dornan asking for an investigation into safety at Ibrox. Dornan seemed to be suggesting there was cause for concern regarding the structural well-being of Scotland’s finest football ground. Naturally I was alarmed by this and looked to find the source of his concern; I hadn’t expected it to be a delusional, obsessive Irish blogger called Phil Macgiollabhain. Who, and what, Mr Dornan chooses to read in his spare time is his business, but whom he chooses to re-tweet is an insight into his priorities and his judgement. Many people were rightly appalled. The blogger in question, like Donald Trump, has managed to find an audience for his bizarre world-views. He writes with an earnestness found only in the fanatically neurotic, it reminds me of David Icke’s famous appearance on Wogan when he was convinced he was the son of God. Like all of us he has a living to make and he’s clearly found a constituency for his world views in the unhinged, fringe of Scottish society, if he can make a buck out of them who am I to judge. Still, it was a surprise to find an MSP among them. The Sunday Times columnist, A.A. Gill, died of cancer at the weekend, he was 62. I didn’t always agree with what Gill wrote, but I usually enjoyed how he wrote it. Acerbic, humourous, thought provoking and challenging, Gill was a master of words and had been at the top of his profession for several decades. His death prompted me to buy the Sunday Times once again and read his final article, ironically about the diagnosis and treatment of his cancer. Being published the day after his death added to its poignancy but it was Gill’s insight into cancer survival rates that struck a nerve with me. The UK has the worst cancer survival rates of any Western European country, and, of the UK, Scotland has the worst rates of all. In Scotland you’ve a 46.6% chance of surviving cancer, in Northern Ireland it’s 51%, in Germany 59.1% and in Sweden it’s 64.7%. My mother was diagnosed with cancer earlier this year, like me, she lives in Glasgow, the centre of the developed world’s worst example of cancer prevention, detection and treatment. We should be ashamed. I try and avoid much of the faux outrage I see online. As a middle-aged father I long ago figured out where the importance of football really comes in the grand scheme of things. But I was genuinely angry at the priorities and choices being made by this particular elected politician. If we take Mr Dornan at face-value and accept his explanation that he’s concerned for the welfare of supporters then you still have to ask why the Retweet? Why not place a call to Glasgow Council, or to Rangers themselves, and find out if safety certificates are in place and up-to-date, surely as an MSP you carry a bit of clout and can get answers? Wouldn’t that have achieved more or is trolling now so ingrained in those who seek public office that what is seen is more important than what can be done? What offends me most though is that any MSP, MP, MEP or councillor in Scotland feels that this is a subject they should be engaging on. The lowest cancer survival rates in Europe news followed on from the report that Scotland's schools have recorded their worst ever performance. With three children at the local primary and a mother visiting the Beatson every fortnight I don’t care what delusional narcissist bloggers make up and I don’t expect members of the Scottish Parliament to care either. Here’s the thing, I’m exactly who you need to be reaching out too Mr Dornan. I’m not a died-in-the-wool unionist, I’ve voted SNP before, and may do again, but I voted ‘No’ in the referendum. I’m one of 55% that needs to be won over. Here’s a clue, trolling football supporters isn’t the way to do it. Focus on the things that are really wrong with this country whilst you have the chance, things that really concern your constituents and the vast majority of the people who live in Glasgow. There’s Japanese proverb; ‘When the character of a man is not clear to you, look at his friends’, maybe that might help you understand why so many were appalled by your Tweet. By the way Japan has a cancer survival rate of 58.2%.

I don't believe the SNP is "anti-Rangers". I think a lot of people involved in the SNP do have a basic antipathy towards people signing 'Rule Britannia' and waving union flags. But then I'm not a member or supporter of the SNP and I've no time for either of those two things either. I suspect a fair number of 'bears' vote SNP, I'm sure some are fully supportive of Scottish independence, I'm sure some just didn't fancy the alternatives on offer at election time and some thought Nicola Sturgeon would make a better First Minster than Jim Murphy. Any 'poison' is clear to you perhaps, but not to everyone.

I'm surprised that you're surprised! Gersnet ran a poll at the time of the referendum and, from memory, it was broadly inline with the result. Remember, for most people who they support and who they vote for are two entirely different subjects. The only thing the colour of my scarf tells you about me is what football team I support. I voted 'No' in the referendum, I'd vote the same way if there was another one tomorrow. But in five years time, or ten, who knows. Things change so I keep an open mind. Two of the strongest SNP supporters I know are big Rangers men, one I understand is looking to stand in local elections for them. He's a good guy and would make a great councillor, I'd vote for him. That's got nothing to do with him being a bluenose though. Describing them as "evil" does you a discredit. I disagree with some of their policies, I think, on balance, things are better being part of the union. But I can respect their point of view and accept that parts of their argument is valid. They aren't "evil". Any attempt to group Rangers supporters as one homogenous group should be resisted, whether it comes from fans of other clubs or from fans of our own. We're a broad church and represent a wide cross-section of the population, we'd be well served reminding politicians of all hues that as often as we can.

Double post.

The thing that always needs factored into this equation though is on-field success. Put frankly Barcelona's local, national and international profile has been heightened far more by the presence of Cruyff, Schuster, Laudrup, Stoichkov, Hagi, Maradona, Ronaldhino, Romario, Figo, Eto'o, Xavi, Iniesta and of course Messi, whose value to Barcelona is almost unmeasurable, than by the rise in Catalan nationalism. The Catalan identity really only plays out locally, your average 10 year old in small town northern Europe couldn't care less, they care about Messi and winning the Champions League. If Espanyol could put together a competitive side their profile would rise, in the same way that Valencia and Athletico Madrid have seen their profile rise as their fortunes on the field did. The increased commercialisation of football in general since the creation of the Champions League has coincided with Barca, and Spanish football, enjoying a golden period. In the 80s it was Italian sides that ruled the world and AC Milan merchandise that dominated shelf space. Today it's Barca and Real Madrid that's more to do with the cyclical nature of football than political demographics. As for the lack of politicians willing to self-identify as Rangers supporters that is a problem. However it's our problem and for us to fix. The issue isn't Celtic supporters undermining us, it's Ranger supporters undermining us.

I was at an ICAS dinner a few years ago and John Reid was the speaker. He was quite funny which was annoying. They'd Rory Bremner the other week, I wonder if Paul Murray can do a Trump impersonation.

There was even some respect shown during the minutes silence, although the Broomloan seemed to think it was minutes applause to begin with. They're still obsessed with Ian Durrant though, strange bunch. I really enjoyed the match but the result shouldn't disguise the obvious deficiencies in the side and the performance. I'd been thinking the problem this season was our defence and our attack, but today made me realise the issue is our midfield. Halliday is my current favourite player, but, unfortunately, I'm coming to the conclusion he's just not good enough for the centre midfield, and I'm not convinced about Holt either. With the system we play if our central midfielders can't take the ball from the keeper or the defence then we either lose possession deep in our own half or we punt it long and often lose possession that way. Aberdeen, like most sides this season, pressed our midfield and we were unable to play through that. The most regular pass in the first half was Foderingham to Garner, very few of which he was able to do anything with. Two more accomplished, stronger central midfielders would make a huge difference to that side. We played quite well defensively, I thought Kiernan was man of the match, and Hill will be missed next week. Hodson is a better defender than Tavernier, but we do lose something going forward. Better defending wins it for me currently. Waghorn made a huge difference when he came on. Some guy sitting in front of me claimed special insight into Waghorn, siting lifestyle issues as necessitating a move every couple of years. I hope that's not the case as he's still our best forward in my opinion. Garner worked really hard, but for all his industry I didn't think he contributed as much as you'd expect from a centre forward. He's got little goal threat and without players running off him much of what he did petered out quickly. Certainly the Aberdeen defenders knew they were in a match and he closed down well but I'm still looking for more, maybe it'll come. I remain unconvinced by O'Halleron, he needs to lift his head more, when he has the ball he seems to have little idea what's happening around him. McKay though, I think, is arguably the most important player in our side. He set up Wallace's first half chance and Hodson's goal. Used properly McKay will always create three or four chances in a match and for a side like ours that should be the difference between winning and losing. He's not perfect but his guile, vision and range of passing remains superior to everyone else in the squad. So, basically, if we can sign Souness and Zidane in the Jan window we'll be sorted in 2017... As old Fidel used to say "Hombres, beating Aberdeen at home sure brightens up a cold December Saturday, viva la revolucion".

It's been a problem with time Pete, or lack of it. Needed to focus on other things. Thanks though and I'm happy to contribute when I can.

You're going to have to take that up with Castro, if I hear of a seance happening this weekend I'll let you know...

Although it seems a bit early with us only having played last night the Aberdeen match is on Saturday so I've stuck the preview on the site. I've not done one for a while so apologies in advance if my 'style' isn't to everyone's taste. I never feel there's much point in me talking about tactics and so on. So, yeah, boxing and communism instead. Any problems with it let me know.

On a warm, Caribbean evening back in 1996 two of the most important figures of the 20th century met for the first time. Fidel Castro, the Cuban leader who died last week, and Muhammad Ali, arguably the greatest ever boxer, who died earlier this year. Both were hated and revered, worshipped and reviled by different people at different times during their lives. Castro’s recent death brought to mind their first encounter. In Havana, overlooking the harbour, in the company of Ali’s fourth wife, various assistants and confidantes, a CBS TV camera crew, a delegation from the Red Cross, various people from the Cuban state security apparatus and the greatest heavyweight boxer Ali didn’t fight; Teofilo Stevenson. The Cuban amateur won gold medals in the heavyweight division at the 72, 76 and 1980 Olympic Games. Ali, ten years his senior, won Olympic Gold in the 1960 games. Stevenson remained amateur and resisted the lure of the riches thrown at boxers in the 1970s, preferring to remain in Cuba. This certainly affected his bank balance but brought him a wealth of admirers, Ali included, as well as the position of national hero in his homeland. Stevenson and Ali had met before and although neither spoke the other’s language there was apparently a clear bond between them, so much so that Castro ordered Stevenson to accompany Ali and his entourage on their visit to Cuba as his unofficial representative. Although only 54 years old Muhammad Ali was already in poor health. Parkinson’s Disease had cruelly curtailed Ali’s motor skills, he even relied on someone to help him get up from a seated position, and his speech, a weapon that was just as mighty as his strength and movement, was almost non-existent. Ali would go long periods without speaking at all, his voice, when it did come, was slow, slurred and quiet. A polarising figure in his prime, in retirement and poor health Ali was more popular than ever. Ironically Castro was still in good health at the time. Despite living for a period in exile, taking part in a revolution, surviving numerous attempts on his life and smoking cigars most of his life he was surprisingly fit for a man in his 70s. His trademark jungle green fatigues were immaculately pressed and only his beard betrayed his age. Two people whose lives had been marked by struggle, conflict, and controversy, who had, in different ways, symbolised their nations, nations who had been in a state of cold war with each other for decades, would be in the same room as each other for the first time, to pay each other their respects. Aberdeen make the trip to Govan on Saturday for our second meeting with them this season. The red menace were, at one time, one of the finest sides in these islands. Their 1980’s side combined strength, speed and skill with an unbreakable team spirit. Guided by a genius, Govan born, ex-Rangers player. At their height they were a match for anyone and regularly put Rangers to the sword. They weren’t a likeable team though. Players like Miller, Strachan, Rougvie, Cooper and Simpson were aggressive and committed and so were hate figures for all but their own support. I didn’t like that Aberdeen side, but I did have a grudging respect for them. I’m not sure how much respect there will be at Ibrox on Saturday. Antipathy, conceit, anger and apparent hatred I expect you’ll see, but probably not much respect. That’s a shame. Another ex-Rangers player from a little further downstream of Govan manages this current Aberdeen side. Like Alex Ferguson, Derek McInnes didn’t properly fulfil his potential at Rangers, but he was a likeable and fairly popular player. It would be nice if he was able to retain that as manager of Aberdeen, but I wouldn’t be putting my mortgage on it. I’ve no special insight but it feels like there isn’t much respect at boardroom level either, that wasn’t always the case. During Aberdeen’s golden period the Director’s of both clubs were close and the relationships were very cordial. It might be coincidence, but Scottish football was in a far healthier place when our respective boards enjoyed each other’s mutual respect. Where things are at their worst though is at supporter level. The hostility seems to be real. In the past a section of the Aberdeen support seemed to revel in causing as much offence as possible. I’m a big advocate for freedom of speech but the crassness of celebrating the career defining injury of a young Scottish international never mind singing about the deaths of fellow football supporters in the place where those deaths actually took place never ceases to amaze me. It’s hard to respect people who do this. I doubt they care. They should though because there should be respect between our clubs. Not friendship or ‘special relationships’, but simply respect. Respect for the achievements of each club, respect for the time, effort and money the travelling support have invested in their side, respect for the players, some of who, however infrequently, are still capable for making us rise from our seats in excitement. As someone who nearly lost his club I fully understand what my football club means to me and the irrationally big place it occupies in my life. I’m sure Aberdeen fans feel the same way about their club, indeed I’m positive they do. I can respect that. Let’s start there. Aberdeen will probably go into the match as favourites. Although sitting one place and two points behind us in the league table they have two games in hand. Aberdeen’s form has been mixed since our last meeting. They were well beaten by Celtic last weekend following on from two victories away from home. They have players in their squad who are fast and direct and are adept on the break, something of an Achilles Heel for us. Our form is poor. We were well beaten at Tynecastle on Wednesday and although enjoying plenty of possession against Thistle and Dundee we were far from convincing in victory against two struggling sides. The elation and excitement I felt when watching Warburton’s first competitive match in charge against Hibs in the Challenge Cup in the summer of 2015 has all but dissipated now. We don’t close down the opposition anymore, we don’t pass and move, we don’t take corners short and we don’t create the same amount of chances. There seems to be a problem with belief and with confidence. I’ve no idea what our best side is now, Waghorn and Tavernier are shadows of the players they were last season, Holt no longer ghosts into space, McKay and Wallace can’t find each other and the defence bring me out in hives every time a cross enters our box. I don’t accept that Dundee, Thistle and Ross County are better than Hibs, Falkirk or QOTS, yet for some reason we’ve stopped playing ‘our way’ against them. Aberdeen are better than them though. They are quick on the break, and have players who are mobile and skilful. If we don’t improve our performance we’ll lose, it’s as simple as that. Despite his poor early season form I feel it’s time Waghorn returned to the side. We’ve missed his movement and running with the ball. McKay too, even playing poorly he creates chances for others. Hodson must be getting considered for right back, Tavernier can be a joy to watch, but defensively he’s not performing currently. Dodoo, with an assist at Dundee, two goals at Thistle and one against Hearts that looked fine to me should retain his place. Most importantly our work rate needs to rise. Hard work will compensate for many other failings and it really feels like we’re simply not working hard enough currently. Perhaps Aberdeen are the perfect opponents on Saturday. Rangers v Aberdeen is still a big match, third against fourth, a big crowd and a 3pm Saturday kick-off. If nothing else there should be some noise about the old place. If we can’t raise our game for Aberdeen at home then our problems go much deeper than simple loss of form. Aberdeen at Ibrox should be one of the highlights of our season, a fixture we all look forward too, a challenge and an opportunity to benchmark our side. Castro’s first meeting with Ali didn’t go all that well. Castro was late and Ali was tired. Ali didn’t try and hide his annoyance at his hosts tardiness either, the greatest boxer of all time wasn’t used to being ignored. Castro’s English is poor and he spoke through an interpreter, Ali’s illness meant he struggled to reply and he depended on his wife to speak for him. Castro could easily speak for two hours holding a crowd in rapture but was surprisingly poor at making small talk. Despite this they were both able to express their respect for each other, Ali did a magic trick, making a handkerchief seemingly disappear, a trick he’d learned and used to break the ice in the past. Castro then praised Ali for standing up for his beliefs, opposing racism and for being brave enough to visit Cuba as an American citizen. As the evening ended Ali’s wife invited Castro to stay at their home if he was ever visiting Michigan. Castro explained that much to his annoyance he wasn’t allowed to leave New York when he visited America to speak at the UN. This restriction angered him, but, he said with prescience, perhaps in the future as “times change”. Times do indeed change. Scottish football is at its lowest ever ebb, the standard of play and interest from supporters has never been lower. Until our clubs put aside narrow self-interest there is no chance this will change either. Perhaps we can begin on Saturday by showing each other some mutual respect.

I've not done one for a while. Is Aberdeen this weekend still free?

King isn't an employee, but I take the point you're making. What I'd say here though is there's no "whiff or rumour" in this case, the judge's summation speaks for itself. Look, I accept it's highly inlikely it's going to happen, I'm just surprised how relaxed most people seem to be about it.

No, that's fair. It might make removing him more palatable though.