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Disappointed Patterson isn’t playing, but let’s see how Flanagan does

Only one reason Hibs would make an offer they know would be rejected for a promising young Rangers player, to try to unsettle him by offering him first team football.

Rangers goalkeeper Robby McCrorie is set to go straight into the Livingston side for their home encounter with St Johnstone tonight after the Ibrox club brought an early end to his loan deal with Queen of the South to allow him to make a temporary move to West Lothian.Hibernian are understood to have sought to acquire the 
Scotland under-21 international, right, on a permanent basis following earlier interest from city rivals Hearts, but Rangers would not entertain any bids for McCrorie, who is expected to be given first pick status during his loan stint with Livingston.That proved a major attraction for Rangers with the player considered to have the potential to be a future challenger for the Ibrox No 1 role currently occupied by Allan McGregor.

I don’t think anyone on here is getting carried away.

Immediately after the game people have made their own judgments on what they've seen. 3 weeks of propaganda and a frenzy whipped up by those who are paid to do so tends to make people far less balanced in their views though.

You must have skim-read, I said all stats were not including Old Firm games. The difference in games played home and away was between the rest of the league so to gain a more accurate prediction of how those games would go I didn't include Old Firm games which would skew the stats.

I think his point stands that they have strenghened, albeit only in depth. Whilst we have weakened our squad, albeit only in depth. If Edouard gets injured I'd probably fancy the Polish boy to have more of an impact than Griffiths or Bayo, he's match fit at the very least.

If it wasn't for the timing of this article it would be more than welcome. If it wasn't for the timing of this article it wouldn't have been printed.

At this stage last season all those stats were significantly worse though and you could flip every one in Celtic’s favour. We had a terrible December. There was little justification for the level of optimism at this stage last season but this season it is backed up by the stats. The absence of Morelos and Tavernier and the threat of future injuries and suspensions in the biggest worry for me. Our starting 11 have been exceptional but we lack a bit of quality on the bench.

I only included the average GDs above, but I should add that we were on top for every stat; home goals scored, home goals conceded, away goals scored, away goals conceded. We're only half way but those are some very encouraging stats.

We're only half way there and we have it all to do. But the first half of the season has been better than some maybe recognise. On the face of it, looking at the League table, we have just edged it. We are joint on a goal difference of +42 but we have dropped 1 point less. However, we have dropped 1 point less and have managed an identical goal difference despite playing: 1 less game 3 fewer home games 2 more away games So taking them 1 at a time, what's the significance of those stats? All of the below excludes OF games and assumes current form to date will continue. 1 less game Goal Difference Rangers average GD per game is 2.2, Celtic's is 2.1 so it gives them a 2 goal GD advantage that they have played 1 more game Points Both sides average circa 2.6 points a game so obviously this gives them an advantage of about 3 points 3 fewer homes games Goal Difference Rangers average home GD is +3.43, Celtic's is + 2.9 If we had played 3 extra home games our GD would be 10.3 better off Points Both have a 100% home record so no impact 2 more away games Goal Difference Rangers average away GD is + 1.9, Celtic's is +1.33 If Celtic had played 2 extra away games, their GD would be 2.6 better off Points Rangers average points dropped away from home is 0.4, Celtic's is 0.625 If Celtic had played 2 extra away games they would have dropped 1.25 additional points I know the methodology isn't perfect, but if you add those together you end up with: Rangers 2 points clear Rangers 8 goals clear on goal difference The first half of the league campaign has exceeded everyone's expectations. Let's hope it can be maintained! Big challenge ahead.

Looks like Wilson has brought a smart new strategy to the club. We used to just let young guys' contracts run down. Now we are selling them for probably next to nothing but it allows us to insert clauses in their contracts just in case they prosper. Houston's contract is up in May so he'd have gone for nothing.

Glad the club are fighting this. Don’t criticise them before they come out with today’s statement.

Could be that my free VPN is causing problems

Do you use a free VPN or paid?

Flanagan and Halliday are both in the final months of their contracts. I think Patterson will step in as backup right back and we’ll probably sign a left back in the summer.

Yes. Ojo, Jones and Barker were all poor. Patterson did very well and looks capable of stepping in for Tav if needed. Kennedy is small but his technique looks excellent.

I found Rangers tv was very stop start and it wouldn’t cast to my Apple TV which was very annoying.

Ah sorry I thought I had checked. Disgraceful. Alfredo has a a ridiculous number of yellow cards and almost all are for next to nothing.

Exciting to see Patterson get a start and it will be good to see Edmundson and Jones get a start too

According to the sun Morelos received a 3rd yellow for the gesture after being sent off. Surely to goodness that isn't true. He's already received a yellow (and subsequent red) at Motherwell this season for a misunderstood gesture.

The right back will be effectively playing as a winger against Stranraer, it will be all about breaking them down and providing energy and creativity. It's probably a case of horses for courses and I think Gerrard will see Patterson as the strongest right back for this game. League games it may be different. We go to Tynecastle a week Sunday and I think it's unlikely Patterson will be seen as the strongest right back for that game.

Stranraer is surely the perfect opportunity to give him a chance to prove himself. He is regarded by some as the number 1 prospect coming through the ranks and it's being said he is being groomed to be Tavernier's backup next season. The system we play requires the full backs to provide an attacking threat and that suits Patterson much more than it does Flanagan and Polster.

Very bad news, but we couldn't have chosen a better run of fixtures for him to miss. That's not to be complacent but it's just a fact that January is the easiest month we'll have all season; no European games, 3/4 games at home and all against bottom half teams. It could be a big opportunity for Patterson if he impresses against Stranraer.