JFK-1

I have no doubt that like everyone else who comes to Ibrox they will approach this in a different manner than they would when facing others. But that being said they have shipped 5 goals in their last two away matches with 2 conceded at Ross County last week and 3 at Hamilton prior to that.

Yeah Scotland isn't a place to be sporting football colours or attire just about anywhere outside a football stadium. Even just traveling to the stadium and back could be problematic in some circumstances.

We have 5 fixtures in just 3 weeks beginning on Saturday then for better or worse we will hit a 3 week break during which our potential lineup is going to change. We will have the January window and maybe even Rossiter will get back to fitness at last. It's a tall order given previous inconsistency but 3 of the 5 are at home and I hope for full points before that break to set us up for the second half of the campaign.

We will discover the reasons in the next biography. I bear him no grudges.

That's what I find so absurd about them. Why in the world would the English want to take on board a support who hate them, show undiluted hatred for ANYTHING British such as interrupting armistice day silences etc, when they already have issues and vociferous complaints about Muslims doing exactly the same things?

There is mention of it on the BBC website. Some details can be found on this thread already in footie chat. http://www.gersnetonline.co.uk/vb/showthread.php?82089-Celtic-charged-by-Uefa-over-crowd-trouble&p=657572#post657572

Meanwhile a passenger on a tram heading to the Etihad Stadium revealed that Celtic fans set off pyrotechnics on a carriage ahead of the Champions League clash. The terrified passenger said the tram filled with smoke while other visiting fans were 'were banging on the roof and chanting.' Tram operators Metrolink say they are now investigating the incident. One passenger, who didn’t want to be identified, says that travellers were left terrified by the explosions. The man, who was travelling to Market Street on the Bury line at about 6pm, was unable to leave the service after hundreds of fans boarded at Shudehill and was forced to stay onboard until it reached the Etihad. Smoke filled tram following the incident He added: “People were banging on the roof, chanting and stomping. “The fans weren’t letting anyone off or anyone on. “There were people there with kids who looked really scared.” The passenger, like everyone else, was forced to stay on the tram until the fans all got off at the Etihad, where – he said – they all breathed a sigh of relief. He said: “People started throwing fireworks, and the carriage was left full of smoke when we all got off. “I felt really sorry for this man who was travelling with his grandson, the young boy looked absolutely terrified.” "I'm a 34yr old man from Moss Side and I was worried for my safety. I can't imagine how the families felt." A TfGM spokesman said: “We are aware of an earlier incident which involved a passenger setting off a flare on a tram while on their way to tonight’s match at the Etihad Stadium. “This isolated incident was both irresponsible and potentially dangerous and we will be working with police to investigate the matter further.” Startled Mancunians took to Twitter to express their shock at the behaviour of the fans on their way to the stadium. Elsie Wraighte said: “Well done 2 Celtic fans who shook tram w banging (sic), shoved each other at me & screamed ‘look at the f*nny!’ in my face just now #everydaysexism.” Emma Preston said: “Unable to get a tram because all the Celtic fans are bouncing up and down inside them. This bl**dy city!!! #CityLife #UCL #Manchester.” http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/celtic-fan-arrested-throwing-hamburger-9406049

And it's not just in the grounds they're at it. The antics begin outside even before the match kicks off. Celtic: Supporter arrested for throwing burger at police horse http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/38231502

PETER LOVENKRANDS had good reason to cast his mind back 11 years yesterday and savour his historic goal against Inter Milan that produced an improbable qualification to the last 16 of the Champions League for Rangers. It was on December 6, 2005 that the Dane secured a 1-1 draw with the Nerazzurri offering some welcome joy against a dismal domestic backdrop in which Alex McLeish’s side were 17 points behind Celtic in fifth position. His recollections only heightened his assertion of how important it is for Mark Warburton to return Rangers to UEFA competition next season and he feels momentum is now with the Ibrox club and can be considerably enhanced with victory over Hearts on Saturday. Lovenkrands was there last Saturday to watch a spirited performance and deserved victory over Aberdeen that returned Rangers to second positon and he now feels they can hold onto it for the remainder of the campaign. The Dane said: “There have been happy memories for me this week as it was 11 years that I scored that goal against Inter Milan. “The atmosphere was incredible and it was such a great feeling to get the goal that took the club through to the last 16 for the first time because I knew how much it meant to everyone. “It was amazing to be part of that. I had always dreamed of scoring in the Champions League but to score such an important goal was just fantastic. “We need Rangers back there. It might not be Champions League next season but it will be massive to get into the Europa League. “It gets the name out there again which attracts players and, of course, it brings in a lot of money too. “So it’s vital that Rangers get into Europe and I feel this phase of games can take them a long way towards that target. “If they beat Hearts on Saturday it will be another big moment because it stops another one of their rivals in their tracks.” The hotly-debated appointment of Ian Cathro as Hearts’ new Head Coach has added another dimension to this Saturday’s meeting at Ibrox and Lovenkrands is interested to see if he can handle a baptism of fire. He said: “It was important for Rangers to show a reaction after the defeat at Tynecastle last midweek and they did that with a very good and deserved win over Aberdeen. Now they have the chance to get back at Hearts this weekend. “The atmosphere is also bound to be massive again on the back of what happened in the Aberdeen game. “I would expect the fans to be back out in their droves again to roar them on. “I think it will be a completely different game to the one we saw at Tynecastle for a variety of reasons. “The new manager has just come in and it will be very interesting to see how he handles his first game. “I have heard from my Newcastle contacts that he is a good coach and looks very promising. “He is unusual in the game because he never played at a high level but he seems to have great knowledge and good ideas. “This is his first job as a manager so it will be interesting to see how he handles it. “It will be nerve-wracking to say the least, coming to Ibrox.” Lovenkrands feels there were a number of encouraging elements to Rangers’ play last weekend, most notably the performance of Lee Hodson at right back and also the inter-play between Barrie McKay and Lee Wallace – a staple of last season’s form. He said: “Lee deservedly won the man of the match last Saturday and surely he can’t be left out this weekend. “I felt the defence looked really solid last week – Clint Hill and Rob Kiernan were also excellent – but for that one blip when Jayden Stockley should have scored with a header. “Scoring what proved to be the winning goal was the icing on the cake for him, but his overall performance was very good. “Defensively he was very strong and it would be incredibly harsh to take out the man of the match who scored the winning goal. “I would be very disappointed if that happened. He has to keep his place. “That’s not to say that James Tavernier can’t play as well because he came on last week to play in midfield and it worked well. “We also know how good he can be from set pieces so we know his value. “But Hodson has got to stay in the team at right back for me. “I suppose it’s good for the manager that he has two players fighting for the position. “Barrie McKay and Lee Wallace looked to be linking well again last weekend and that augurs well for Rangers. “Barrie gets into great positions and Wallace has that power to overlap and look for the pass. “Hopefully that’s Barrie coming back into his rhythm and showing the quality that he did last season and it would be nice to see him get more goals under his belt. “I’m hoping that Rangers can really kick on after that Aberdeen result and finish the year strongly to cement second place so winning on Saturday would be another big step.” http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/14949968.European_qualification_is_crucial_for_Rangers_this_season__says_Peter_Lovenkrands/?ref=mr&lp=17#comments-anchor

To be fair I think they effectively played a second string because there was nothing to play for.

Jose Mourinho's aura is well and truly gone after a sorry end to his Chelsea reign, and a shaky start to his Manchester United one. He has won only nine of his past 30 Premier League games for both clubs - a 30% win ratio. His first 196 English league games, all as Chelsea boss, yielded 136 wins - a 69% return of success. For those keeping track of Sir Alex Ferguson's successors at Old Trafford, Jose's 21 points after 14 games with United is worse than under David Moyes (22 points) and Louis van Gaal (25). To give Mourinho a tiny sliver of comfort, they are sixth, three places above where they were under Moyes. http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/38201029

Don't think it's meant to achieve anything. Simply something these accountants he will be speaking in front of are interested in.

I'm focusing on when we next beat them at Pittodrie which should have been last time we were there but next time will do me now. Give them even more to bleat about as they reacquaint themselves with their proper place in Scottish football.

Totally agree that the January window isn't the best of the year due to most contracts ending in June/July which probably largely rules out the freebie market and sides being reluctant to let key players go mid season. What concerns me is the troubles we appear to have had at the start of this season trying to incorporate new signings into the system. If we get a Europa league spot the qualifying matches will be right at the start of the season. A Europa league group run is absolutely essential to lift us up and away far beyond the Hearts and Aberdeens of this league and that in itself propels us closer to the main opposition. This is what's on offer for this seasons competition. And all that's aside from the gate and concessions money for those home qualifying ties then 3 home group stage matches which would amount to millions and all that makes it our best chance to get some decent additional income next season which to me makes qualification for the group stage a major aim.

I think this upcoming window should be viewed as major and if it comes down to a choice of spending more now leaving less for next Summer I prefer to push the boat out in January. We need to make absolutely sure we take second place at a canter and get players bedded in over the coming months rather than relying on brand new signings to get us through the Europa league qualifiers.

Both Edinburgh sides have a higher average attendance than the sheep which makes me all the more baffled that the sheep think they should be anything but fifth in Scotland. And as for imagining themselves to be entitled to compete with Rangers we have an average attendance that exceeds all 3 of them combined. That's their place.

I expect some to be learning Arabic so they can deliver a traditional rendition of some Hamas terrorist tunes. Of course for most the Arabic will have to wait till they first master English.

Hope the opposition tell him he is shite. That get's him riled and ready to hulk out.

I think if such a league came to be it would itself attract fairly significant TV revenue and as for the threat of no entry to the champions league I would imagine the bulk are likely to think well what are my chances of qualifying for it now anyway if they implement the new proposals? Even Brendans boys who did qualify for the group stage this season just barely scraped into it. The champions league group stage may become a slim chance for most while this thing would be guaranteed revenue. And if UEFA gave it no CL entry they probably ultimately would after just a few years or so.

And more blue pounds to be spread around. The top 3 or 4 in the current championship could hold their own in the top league. Would also like to see an automatic top two from the championship being promoted with the play offs being continued to give a third the chance against third bottom in the SPL. An old argument was that many games late in the season become meaningless but that wouldn't happen if the bottom half of the league are all scrapping it out to avoid that bottom 3. But then most of the current setup don't want the blue pounds to be spread so widely. They want as much of it as possible for themselves and damn the overall state of the game.

Where does that come from? Makes it sound as if we were down there doing a Hibz on an extended stay.

We beat the self professed and media proclaimed second best team in Scotland.

Unbelievable. Bournemouth, who were under the cosh going 2-0 and 3-1 down come back to win it 4-3

What a turnaround. Now 3-3 with 10 minutes left. Entertaining stuff when it's not your team. Don't suppose Klopp is so entertained and you have to guess he will be going into the market to stiffen up that defence.

And as I predicted 2-0 inside minutes of the first. Could be a real thrashing on the cards here.