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Rumour collection ... mostly C&P, as I have not much time right now: Rangers are said to be the front runners in the hunt for Arnaud Bodard of Standard Liege, who has also been linked to Old Firm rivals Celtic. Clement effectively ended reported £3.4m interest in the Bodart with his Butland comments but money talks in football so never say never. If reports are to be believed we’ve started brightly in this regard, with Rangers in ‘advanced talks’ to sign £3m Jose Cordoba from Levski Sofia. Whilst one Panamanian journalist has sought to cast some doubt over a move the sounds around a deal for the powerful, left-sided 22-year-old centre-half continue to be positive. Other potential options include Dion Sanderson – who has just been relegated with Birmingham City – and Paddy McNair – a lifelong bluenose who has just been released by Middlesbrough. Whilst the links to Sanderson have gone a little cold, Northern Irish international McNair can also play in midfield and the situation with John Lundstram may be of interest here. It’s not just at the heart of the defence either. With Borna Barisic set to leave the club, Brazilian option Jefte Vital continues to be linked but loan side APOEL won’t lose the Fluminense left-back without a fight. West Ham right Ben Johnson has also been linked, but with a move to Crystal Palace touted amid high wage demands, a deal has never looked likely. There have been transfer links aplenty already, with the club said to be on the ‘right track’ to striking a loan extension for injured RC Lens winger Oscar Cortes. Another name who has been strongly linked with Rangers is A-League winger Raphael Borges Rodrigues. Currently turning out for Macarthur in Australia, the Socceroos talent is reportedly a player in demand with the likes of Coventry City also mentioned. Only 20-years-old, Rodrigues’ agent has tipped the player to move to Europe this summer and it’s one to watch for Rangers fans as their team target more emerging markets. Then there is Orlando Pirates talent Relebohile Mofokeng who can play on either wing or as an attacking midfielder. Only 19 and just off the back of a trial with Premier League Wolves, Rangers are reportedly keeping tabs but so far there is nothing concrete regarding Ibrox interest. Abdallah Sima – on loan from Brighton this season – probably tops the club’s summer wish list and with Brighton open to a sale, a deal could be done this summer. But as is always the case any transfer will depend on finances with Brighton paying close to £6m and, quite possibly, expecting the same or even more in return. Then there is Lawrence Shankland. The PFA Scotland Player of the Year has scored 28 goals for Hearts and is surely bound for Euro 2024 with Scotland this summer. Rangers are always mentioned alongside the bluenose forward and as Shankland enters the final year of his Hearts contract, the striker is open to a Tynecastle exit. Whether that means Rangers will pounce remains to be seen with many believing a failure to sign the striker might’ve cost the Ibrox side a Champions League fortune. Another name that has been mentioned is young Stoke City talent Sol Sidibe. Reports this week have suggested that Rangers are one of a number of clubs tailing the 17-year-old, but face competition from the likes of AC Milan.

Jimmy Hogan is a fascinating figure: 'Hogan believed that possession-based football was the answer, but that it must be founded upon constant passing and movement, and added versatility in his players and increased fitness that would allow them to bamboozle an opponent with the fluidity of their attacking moves. 'In 2012, Spanish magazine Panenka published a pedigree of several influential managers and teams from the 1910s to the 2010s—such as the Brazil national team of the 1950s and Pep Guardiola—placing Hogan as its progenitor; Hogan created a direct lineage for modern football tactics. Influenced by Burnley-born manager Harry Bradshaw and his adoption of the Scottish combination game, Hogan was directly responsible for the coaching foundations of two of the most influential footballing sides in history – Austria's Wunderteam and Hungary's Golden Team. 'Hogan is credited with the revolution in European football that saw Hungary defeat England 6–3 at Wembley in 1953, ushering a new football era. After the match, Sándor Barcs, then president of the Hungarian Football Federation, said to the press: "Jimmy Hogan taught us everything we know about football." 'Helmut Schön, 1974 FIFA World Cup-winning manager, whom Hogan lectured in Germany, stated: "I greatly admired Jimmy and always regarded him as a shining example of the coaching profession. In my lectures to coaches today I still mention his name frequently". 'Gusztáv Sebes stated: "We played football as Jimmy Hogan taught us. When our football history is told, his name should be written in gold letters". After his death in 1974, the head of the German Football Association labelled Hogan as "the father of football in modern Germany".' It's crazy to think that the Scottish passing and combination game of that time was virtually the basis of the Mighty Magyars, Dutch Total Football and Cruff, to Barcelona and Guardiola. And yet we're still stuck with an out-dated game. In his book, Jonathan Wilson compares the way in which football was discussed in Budapest and Britain: In Britain, football was discussed in pubs by men standing up with a pint in their hand. In the coffee house, customers sat down at a table, and so it became possible to illustrate tactical arguments using simple props, like a cup, a spoon or sugar bowl. It's a short step from that level of abstract thought to drawing diagrams and formations - something that would have seemed preposterous in Britain. Herbert Chapman found that push back when he organised tactical discussions. I believe there's still a lot of that push back today - 'Laptop manager'? Sure, criticise results, but engage with the ideas.

Hearts 1 - 2 Rangers FGS Dessers

I've been reading Jonathan Wilson's book, The Names Heard Long Ago. The history of modern football was born in the coffee houses of Budapest. It was inspired by the short passing game in Scotland, which was brought to MTK Budapest by Englishman Jimmy Hogan and Scot John Tait Robertson (who played for Rangers). Hungarian coaches like Imre Hirschl, Árpád Weisz, Bela Guttmann and Gusztáv Sebes took their tactical ideas to Italy, Germany, Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, across Europe and the Americas. The greatest example of these tactical ideas was the golden team, but what many thought was the beginning of an era was actually the end of over 50 years of development.

Yeah, my wee cousin just got a cheque in the post unexpectedly.

My wee cousin won £4K on the lotto a few weeks ago.

"Dutch referee awards four red cards, 15 minutes of injury time, celebrates with winning team and gets lifetime ban" Will never happen in Scotland, the ban that is. At least the referee was honest, and that will never happen in Scotland. Dutch referee awards four red cards, 15 minutes of injury time, celebrates with winning team and gets lifetime ban Eredivisie May 15, 2024 Dutch referee awards four red cards, 15 minutes of injury time, celebrates with winning team and gets lifetime ban - foot.mundo (footmundo.co.uk) Referee Jan Smit has been given a lifetime ban by the Dutch FA [KNVB], and it’s pretty easy to see why. The official was in charge of a fourth-division match between St. George and SV De Valken, and to say his performance benefitted the home side would be one hell of an understatement. During the course of the game, 61-year-old Smit handed out four red cards to SV De Valken, and with St. George needing to equalise to win the league, 15 minutes of stoppage time were awarded and they then scored the title-clinching goal. Post-match Smit was seen on stage holding the championship trophy aloft with the players cheering on as he hoisted the prize. He then performed club anthem ‘Guardian Angel’ on the microphone in front of the celebrating supporters. The KNVB, which is the governing body for the top tier Eredivisie downwards, has now handed Smit a lifetime ban from officiating football matches. KNVB spokesperson Daan Schippers said in a statement: “We have received several complaints after Sunday’s match. This morning we called Mr Smit and told him that he is no longer allowed to referee matches. We expect a neutral attitude from a referee and that both teams are treated with respect.” Despite the damning match statistics and footage of the celebrations, Smit has called the decision ‘laughable’. Speaking to NH Nieuws, he said: “I can understand that SV De Valken is disappointed with the course of the match. However, in my opinion, the four red cards given were all one hundred per cent justified. “Before the match I was asked by players from St. George if I wanted to sing a song afterwards. I have done that several times in the past, including at Spartans, VVS, Grasshoppers and also in Amsterdam at ASV Arsenal.” “I said that if they were to become champions, I would like to sing a song. During the chorus of ‘The Guardian Angel’, the bowl was pressed into my hands and I held it up. “De Valken, however, did not appreciate this. They just forwarded that video to the KNVB and filed a complaint. “I wasn’t partying with the players at all. I just sang a song and held up the bowl once. That’s the only thing. I find it too sad for words that the KNVB is removing me for that reason. “It’s laughable. The KNVB has not done any research and only watched one video. I assume that my career is now over.”

I get money taken from my account for the RYD lotto, have done it for about ten years but neevr won anything. Never checked my numbers to be fair they say they will send you out the info if you win.

I trust there's a heavy dollop of sarcasm in there?

Collum, I believe, is heidie at St Inquisitor's, or some such, Bigot Factory, for which the salary will be substantial. I don't expect he will be taking a cut, so the salary from the SFA must be significant. Collum, I fear, will earn those wages. Rangers, I fear, can expect only a ramping up of Yellow cards, Red cards, and, of course, the Catholic card.

We played 56 games, not including friendlies, last season. We played 65 matches the season before. This season we'll play 59 competitive matches. Last season Copenhagen won the Danish league, the Danish cup and played in qualifiers and group stages of the Champion's League, yet only played 47 competitive games. Club Brugge played 51, PSV played 52. We can argue about playing too much football, but if we reach the latter stages of both domestic cups and qualify for European 'league' football, which we should do every season now, then that's not going to change. So what's vital is not only that we are able to keep our players fit, so perhaps don't sign ones with clear track records of fitness problems, but also that we need real depth in our squad. I've no doubt we've asked players to play this season who weren't fully fit. Would it come as a surprise to anyone of we found out that Tav, Goldson and Lundstram had all played when carrying injuries? For us to be successful next season we need a squad that can rotate and rest players without weakening the team. We don't have that currently.

This would have been a good appointment. Interesting that they decided to give the role to an active ref with no real experience in life of running a business function and strategising a roadmap for success.

Wullie is now the devine leader of referees

Im skeptical that a hard pre season is the panacea to our injury woes. The players talking publicly about how they had a very tough pre season under Gio but then we saw half the squad go down injured for most of the season. The problem seems to be with specific players, Matondo, Davies, roofe, Yilmaz, Jack etc once they pick up injuries they just never stop. Morelos never really looked to recover from that thigh injury he got in his second to last year. There has got to be some issues with the recovery process.

The once mighty Leeds are in the playoff final.

I'd imagine Clements comments relate to the lack of physical conditioning, which then means players struggle to meet the requirements demanded in a busy season, and break down. He hinted at this in comments about wanting players to be able to cope with 2 or 3 games in a week. IME you can't really change this mid season, that'll just result in fatigue and injuries too. I think the result is that our squad are in for a busy pre season.