JFK-1

Yes indeed, it was electric for Porto and that would raise it to stratospheric. Obviously Stevie wants to beat anybody we face but them? Has to be yet another level for him from a personal perspective. As I said there are easier draws but there are harder ones too. Man Utd would satisfy me.

I don't think it was peanuts for us at the time. Prior to that we had been operating in the 200K or so market. Tav etc which of course has also been a bargain in the long term. The current squad has to be worth tens of million with Alfie potentially worth tens of million all on his own. And that's what makes the screams of the usual suspects about a pending admin 2 following the recent financial results all the more ludicrous. At worst a single sale could cover losses then we would just have to cut our cloth to suit but there is no chance of any financial implosion. It's all many of them are pinning their fantasy hopes on which I find hilarious. This from a forum just yesterday in relation to the improving co-efficient. I wont mention which one because you don't like them being mentioned. ?

At a million pounds Alfie wasn't cheap but in saying that on current form and with some of the valuations flying around it still might be considered a bargain.

The thing is the names you're mentioning currently out on loan patently aren't good enough to force a way into the first 11 anytime soon. If this boy is good enough there is a path for him. If he isn't good enough he's not going to make it at Liverpool/Chelsea either. If he has some real quality all things being equal there has to be a better chance of regularly making the first team at Rangers than at Liverpool/Chelsea since we can't afford to match the depth of top quality they can. Alfie went straight into the first team at just 20 because he was good enough and is now turning EPL heads as he terrorises Europe. And talking of Alfie there's a chance he can hit 30 goals before the end of the year to match his total for all of last year. Last player to do anything like that Was Marco Negri who hit 33 by the end of the year in 1997.

Are Spurs the next side we're going to see linked to Gerrard? ?

I too think we could give fringe players some time. This isn't going to be about being a better footballing side than them, our second 11 are a better footballing side than them. I listened to a Record podcast discussing this game and every one of them stated the opinion that this is going to be a "horrible game to watch" I'm tired of the likes of them getting away with what they do and calling it football. Then we whine that no one wants to pony up a good TV deal. Why would they? For a "horrible watch"

Been looking at potential opponents if we get to the last 32. There are what may be somewhat easier ties available but I would love to draw Man Utd. I suspect that may get Gerrard salivating too.

Gerrard comment on Kamara.

Definitely one of our best acquisitions given 50K is pocket change in comparison to the prices we typically have to pay for equivalent quality.

I'm hoping there's a chance we can start holding on to these boys given our success in Europe. They don't need to go anywhere else to get the chance to compete at a higher level in Europe at least. And what are the chances of getting into the first team at the likes of Liverpool anytime soon.

Lucky for Tav we don't go down this route or he could be skint. Senegal's Mbaye Diagne has been dropped and fined by Belgian side Club Bruges for missing a penalty as they lost 1-0 to Paris St-Germain in a European Champions League tie. https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/50350269

It would appear the manager agrees with me on this one. Steven Gerrard calls for more protection from officials ahead of Rangers' return to Livingston STEVEN GERRARD believes referees must do more to protect players from serious head injuries as Rangers prepare for their return to Livingston this weekend. The Ibrox boss was furious earlier in the season when midfielder Joe Aribo had to receive 20 stitches in a nasty head wound after being caught by Ricki Lamie. Gerrard didn’t place any blame on Lamie but he was upset with performance of whistler Don Robertson as a number of robust challenges went unpunished. Rangers are back at the Tony Macaroni Arena on Sunday and Gerrard is expecting another physical encounter this time out. Gerrard said: “Look, we know all about Livingston’s strengths and weaknesses and how they like to play and we will be ready for that challenge. The last game was an eye-opener because the physios were on for head injuries four, five times in the first half. “There is a lot going on in the media at the moment about head injuries, so all we ask is that across the board, and for both teams, that the referee protects both teams and people are not going off the pitch with 20 stitches in their head because people are leading with their arm. We expect a certain level of protection. “That is not to take away from what Livingston are trying to do because we accept the fact that that is their style, we respect that. It is none of our business how they play. “But when our players are going down with stitches in their nose and 20 stitches across their head, it is my job to protect the players. “For both teams, in any game in this league. The way that concussion works and head injuries, it is across the board in this league. “One of the things we can improve is the protection of players when it comes to this type of stuff.” https://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/18025051.steven-gerrard-calls-protection-officials-ahead-rangers-return-livingston/

So with the excitement and I might add exhilaration of Rangers clash with Porto behind us and a 2-0 win under the belt it's back to the bread and butter. The 'hammer throwers' of Scottish football beckon. Rangers visit Livingston and their dreaded plastic for the second time this season the first of which was a 1-0 Rangers win in the league cup quarter final. Rangers took the lead after just 5 minutes in that game when a Kamara strike from around 20 yards was deflected into the goal off the knee of a Livingston defender for what turned out to be the only goal of the game. From there even though Rangers had 60% of the possession and 6 shots on target to 0 for Livi the most striking feature of the game was what I would euphemistically call the 'physicality' of Livingston. Both Ryan Jack plus Joe Aribo sustained head injuries and while Jack was ultimately able to carry on Aribo was more seriously injured by an elbow to the head which resulted in a wound requiring 20 stitches to close. A total of 6 yellow cards were flashed by the referee 4 of them for Livi one of those cards being directed at London Dykes for a late challenge on Connor Goldson. This actually appeared to continue a pattern of Dykes assaults on Goldson after Dykes had been red carded at Ibrox during a league match some weeks earlier in which Rangers ran out 3-1 winners. Goldson was left lying on the Ibrox pitch requiring treatment after Dykes delivered what we might begin calling the Livi special, an elbow to the head. I'm focusing on this aspect because that's exactly what I expect to see again in this game. I actually have real concerns for the health and safety of Rangers players against a side who have accumulated a total of 22 yellow cards and 2 reds across 18 games this season. It's the third worst record in the league behind first placed Motherwell and second placed Hearts. And take note that a full third of these Livingston cards, 8 to be precise encompassing 7 yellows and 1 red came in just two games against Rangers. A shocking disciplinary record against Rangers in just two games resulting in 3 head injuries one of them serious. We know we're far and away the better team and they know it too. We only need to be allowed to play football to win this game and obviously it's going to be up to the referee to allow that to happen. If the referee does his job I predict a comfortable 2 or 3 goal win if not it may be tighter with us still being dominant but unable to actually impose our class in a game likely littered with stoppages for constant fouling and time wasting. Let's hope to get through this with another vital 3 away points and no cracked skulls.

I have been reading that if we and the yahoos continue this seasons form into next season along with at least some sort of contribution from say sheep etc that there is a possibility of climbing as high as 10th and that would be massive. League winners would go straight into the groups while runner up would start in QR2

Scotland may have an edge since all of 3 nations directly above us from places 15 to 13 only have one club left in Europe. Thus we have two clubs potentially collecting points while those nations have just one. It's mind boggling that the self loathing denizens of Scottish football still want us to lose in Europe and i'm not talking about the yahoos, I mean all the others who this could benefit. This is what 15th spot could do for them. Europa league third qualifying round: 3 domestic cup winners from associations 13–15 enter at this stage The top two sides in the league would be in the CL and we all know who that will be. If one of the top two also win the SC then that EL spot with a third qualifying round entry would go to whoever finishes third in the league. A chance at making the groups with only 2 ties rather than 4 to be negotiated. Plus from 2021/22 when the European Conference League begins. Final ECL qualifying round: 3 losers from the Europa League third qualifying round for non-champions enter at this stage. Which if they fail at the EL QR3 stage gives them yet another chance at Euro group football against potentially lesser opposition. But nope, they're greater fans of us losing than of their own clubs getting a better chance at millions in the Euro groups. What kind of fan is that? Does it even qualify for the label?

Porto to Livingston. On transfermarkt Porto are valued at £282 million and Livingston at £5.2 million. And let's not forget a ten quid pitch.

Alfie, scored the crucial first and assisted the clinching second.

Another factor regarding the alleged Arsenal interest. The usual suspects are proclaiming that just like Rodgers he will be gone in a heartbeat if an EPL club makes an offer, But consider this, let's say Arsenal did indeed make an offer. Would Liverpool fan and legend Steven Gerrard make a move to a club he would have to drive to take points from a Liverpool side that at the end of the day could be instrumental in depriving them of the longed for holy grail of a first title in decades? I just don't see it.

20K a week for one save in a shift. Daylight robbery. ?

I doubt money would sway Gerrard he's worth an estimated £60 million. I think he's simply a footballing fanatic who has to be in the game to be happy with his life. Story going around yesterday that Arsenal are preparing an approach for him which again I suspect he would turn down. He's started this 'project' repeatedly stated that he's here for a 'very long time' and being on the verge of something special he will want to follow it through. The only thing that would move him anytime soon would be Liverpool and that's not on the cards.

Morelos the first Rangers player since Nacho Novo to score in 3 consecutive Euro games.

A further aspect of tonight's results. With both us and the unmentionables winning Scotland are now up to 16th in the co-effciency table. As has been mentioned before 15th gets us two CL qualifying spots but there's more than that. If this Euro form continues this season and into next season while those directly above us had a similar season to this one Scotland would actually rise to 10th position. And that would mean the champions get an automatic entry into the CL groups.