Popular Post JohnMc 3,143 Posted Tuesday at 12:25 Popular Post Share Posted Tuesday at 12:25 During the Battle of Aisne, on the Western Front of WW1, two men were given the unenviable task of capturing an enemy machine gun post. It was a suicide mission, nevertheless the soldiers followed their orders and attacked. One of the men was Private George Wilson of the Highland Light Infantry, the other man’s name hasn’t been recorded for posterity. Private Wilson received the Victoria Cross for most conspicuous gallantry, a medal you can still see today as it’s displayed in the HLI museum in Sauchiehall Street. Wilson survived the mission and the war. His comrade that day was killed before the enemy machine gun post was secured. Writing about the nature of fate and luck Sergeant Thomas Painting, who was present at the battle, retold the story “Private Wilson from the HLI and one our men attacked a machine gun. Our man got killed but Wilson captured the position. Wilson got the Victoria Cross and our man got a wooden cross, that’s the difference.” Luck, fate or whatever you want to call it is that most elusive and valuable of commodities in football too. Sure, you make your own luck. 30 years from now history will record that Cyriel Dessers scored an injury time winner in a classic 4-3 victory. It’s unlikely anyone then will care that he had 10 or so good chances to score before that. He scored the winner, that’s the only stat that counts. Lucky Cyriel. Lucky Rangers to have him. Unlucky Dundee to keep allowing him to get chances. Luck has been on my mind watching Rangers this year. Had James Tavernier not missed a stoppage time penalty against Queens Park we’d probably have gone on and won that cup tie. Lucky Rangers would have been the gist of the headlines. Clement would have hung on for at least another few weeks, almost certainly until the Fenerbace tie. Luck had something else in mind, no VCs for Phillipe. Barry Ferguson might just be a lucky manager. Certainly he’s incredibly lucky to actually be the Rangers manager. He’s not nearly qualified for the job, indeed I’d argue he would have been lucky to ever get another senior managerial job following his stints at Kelty and Clyde. Yet now he’s managing the biggest club in the country. Not only was Ferguson out of work and available, but so were Allan McGregor, Neil McCann and Billy Dodds, who along with Issame Charai have been unable to fix our defensive frailties but have found a bit of steel from somewhere. A lucky find. Incredibly, Ferguson’s Rangers have yet to win a match at Ibrox. The Fenerbace game was actually a horrible performance, lacking in everything we’ve come to expect from Rangers in the Europa League. Yet we’ve all forgotten about that because Jack Butland chose that moment to re-find the form that made him an England international once upon a time. A 2-0 defeat that felt like a win. We left Ibrox relieved and ecstatic, almost forgetting we’d carried a lot of luck that evening. Our support returned to Parkhead and watched Rangers deservedly go in ahead at the break, before succumbing to Celtic’s Japanese footballers once again. We know how this story normally ends, yet this time it didn’t. Celtic’s defenders decided defending wasn’t for them, Igamane got the break of the ball and delivered a finish so beautiful that should also be displayed in a museum in Glasgow for everyone to admire. Ferguson’s Rangers seem to have all the same weaknesses as Clement’s, yet somehow they feel different. I think, and I say this quietly so as not to break the spell, but I think we’re carrying some luck for what feels like the first time in years. The Dundee disallowed goal, their point blank miss in the second half, oh we’re definitely carrying some luck. It’s about time frankly. Napoleon was once criticised for winning battles through luck. He replied that he’d ‘rather have lucky generals than good ones, lucky ones win battles’. Is Barry Ferguson a lucky general? I hope so. Unlike 8,500,000 others Private Wilson VC survived the First World War and returned to Scotland to resume his life. However, Wilson was taken by TB in 1926 without reaching his 40th birthday. Everyone runs out of luck, eventually. 9 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uilleam 6,333 Posted Tuesday at 13:07 Share Posted Tuesday at 13:07 Here's luck. Unfortunately, I don 't see any prospect of it running out, any time soon Breakdown of average fouls per booking across the league after 31 games Season 25/26 Aberdeen - 4.7 fouls per yellow Celtic - 10.4 fouls per yellow Dundee - 5.1 fouls per yellow Dundee Utd - 4.9 fouls per yellow Hearts - 5.5 fouls per yellow Hibs - 6.3 fouls per yellow Kilmarnock - 5.9 fouls per yellow Motherwell - 5.4 fouls per yellow Rangers - 5.5 fouls per yellow Ross County - 6.3 fouls per yellow St Johnstone - 6.3 fouls per yellow St Mirren - 5.6 fouls per yellow 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnMc 3,143 Posted Tuesday at 13:43 Author Share Posted Tuesday at 13:43 I don't think luck has anything to do with those stats. 4 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uilleam 6,333 Posted Tuesday at 13:45 Share Posted Tuesday at 13:45 1 minute ago, JohnMc said: I don't think luck has anything to do with those stats. Strictly on the QT: neither do I. 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fa1833 338 Posted Wednesday at 22:29 Share Posted Wednesday at 22:29 (edited) 110% agree JohnMc While acknowledging the capricious nature of fortune, particularly stark in the brutal realities of war and the unpredictable drama of football, we witness the indomitable human spirit. It's a testament to resilience, illustrating how even amidst profound adversity, moments of brilliance and serendipitous fortune can coalesce into unexpected victories, kindling renewed hope. The precarious balance between fortune and fate is a constant companion. We navigate life's uncertainties, never truly knowing when our own thread will sever. The tragic loss of my friend in Afghanistan, claimed by a Russian mine, underscores this cruel lottery; how many others unknowingly traversed that same path? Similarly, another friend, felled by an IED concealed for years, highlights the razor's edge upon which we exist. These experiences illuminate the profound role of chance in our lives, urging us to embrace our fleeting moments with heightened determination. Those whose luck has expired would undoubtedly implore us to seize each day. Rather than dwelling on missed opportunities, we must champion the chances we dare to take, celebrating the very act of living fully, in defiance of fate's unpredictable hand. Edited Wednesday at 22:31 by Fa1833 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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