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It has been an frustrating six months for Rangers fans. At the start of June, a poor season 2022/23 had just ended. With Gio sacked this time last year and, despite some decent performances under his replacement Michael Beale, no trophies were won and another league title was lost to Celtic. Nevertheless, there was still some optimism at that point. Dead rubber or not, a comfortable 3-0 win at Ibrox in the final Old Firm match of the campaign offered some confidence that Beale had got to grips with these games with no previous derby wins prior to that. Further, his new diamond formation looked the part, being defensively sound but with an improved threat in attack. Could the summer transfer window allow him to bring in better players and enhance the options available to him? Fast forward to the start of pre-season and the squad was much changed in good time for 2023/24. Previous key, but also undeniably under-performing, players in Morelos, Kent and Kamara were (or were about to be) moved on. Meanwhile, a variety of others were brought in and, on the face of it, the acquisitions looked suitable: Butland, Lammers, Dowell, Sima and Sterling arrived quickly and, by the time the season kicked off in August, Dessers Danilo, Cifuentes had also been added. The best part of £15m had been spent and, despite some reservations about a lack of wide options, most fans were happy with the majority of our business. Unfortunately, things quickly went wrong for Beale. An opening day league defeat to Kilmarnock showed a new team struggling to gel and despite a reasonable rest of the month, it culminated with a 5-1 humbling to PSV knocking us out the Champions League before what many fans felt was an unacceptable loss at home to Celtic in our first match of September. Already we were falling behind in the league and performances were hardly attractive. Another partial recovery followed with home wins against Real Betis, Motherwell and Livingston in three different competitions but a dreadful defeat to Aberdeen at Ibrox resulted in the departure of Beale less than a year after his appointment. The Rangers board moved quickly to replace him after the caretaker coaching team led us to an unexpected Europa League loss in Cyprus. Belgian Philippe Clement came in and both results and performances immediately improved. Although supporters still had their doubts about various players – old and new alike – six wins in an undefeated spell before the November international break showed an obvious improvement. The new manager quickly identified our lack of width as an issue and also offered a slightly more conservative look to the team: not defensive per se but the full backs weren’t as high and we were prepared to go more direct when required. The feel-good factor was back amongst the support as Scotland also secured qualification to Euro 2024 with no club football. The next challenge for the new manager was a clear one. Post international break we had 12 games in just over a month to navigate. These included tricky trips to Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Parkhead but also the opportunity to win the League Cup in mid-December and close the gap to a Celtic team that were just starting to look somewhat unconvincing themselves. For his part, Clement was confident: players were arriving back from injury and he had the best part of a fortnight on the training ground to implement more of his own ideas since taking the job. There was also talk of a new Sporting Director to finally replace Ross Wilson who’d left earlier in the year. At the time of writing though, our start to this vital block of games couldn’t have gone much worse with just two draws against Aberdeen and Aris Limassol respectively and both from going behind to extremely cheap goals. Now, at this point we could talk about the positives in that we fought back to avoid defeat. That’s fair enough and I do believe most of the players worked hard enough in these games to deserve not dropping points. However, the obvious issues in both games can’t be ignored. And, first and foremost, the manager has to take his fair share of the blame. For the Aberdeen game the team selection was largely fine and I don’t think may fans took issue with the starting line-up. Injuries to Raskin and Jack meant a start for Cifuentes whilst getting both Lawrence and Cantwell into the same team could surely only increase our creative and goal threat? Furthermore, Clement spoke pre-match about the threat Aberdeen carried on the counter and from set-pieces; surely that message was a clear one to the players. Not so it seemed as Aberdeen took an early lead from a the simplest of moves; just a few minutes after a similar attack had given us a clear warning. After that, to their credit, the team did recover to a degree. We dominated possession and should have equalised well before a late penalty secured a point. Indeed, we should have won the game as Sam Lammers headed straight at the Dons keeper in injury time. Two dropped points it was though and, after Celtic had only drawn at home the previous day, that really was difficult to swallow for Rangers fans. Doubts were forming again about the mental capacity of this Rangers side. Onto Thursday night and the team had an immediate opportunity to restore credibility. On paper we had our easiest game in our Europa League group: even if Aris Limassol had beaten us in October, Beale had just left, the team was in disarray and surely lightening wouldn’t strike twice? Importantly, this time we knew more about their twin threat of pace on the transition and the ability to be clinical with chances created. They were also less than impressive in a defensive sense and could be exploited from wider areas. Despite necessary changes in central defence, surely this time we’d guard against the quick counter and avoid conceding the kind of avoidable goals we seen in Cyprus? Yet again we were let down. Todd Cantwell, ignoring instruction from the manager, skipped inside and lost the ball cheaply. One long ball later our sleeping defenders were exposed once more and behind we went. Cantwell was taken off soon after and the jeers were loud as the half-time whistle went. Fortunately, unlike Pittodrie, we equalised effectively from kick off for the second period but huffed and puffed after that. In fact, for the rest of the game our failings couldn’t be more obvious. From being unable to do the most basic of stuff: players couldn’t control the ball, simple short passes went uncompleted, decision-making was inexplicable and various players abdicated their responsibilities time after time amidst a general unacceptable lack of quality and belief. Even our substitutes couldn’t provide improvement and we timidly surrendered the opportunity to qualify for the next stage of that competition. Post-match things didn’t improve. The manager admitted taking off Cantwell (one of last season’s few shining lights) was a tactical issue and not down to injury (see the continued huge strapping the player wears during training and games). Clement discussed how he felt the player wasn’t following instruction: fair enough, Cantwell was playing badly and culpable at the opening goal. In that case, why play him there in the first place and why were other under-performing players excused? The Belgian then went on to discuss being happy about qualifying for the Conference League. Again, on its own, securing European football after Christmas is usually a positive but, in the context of last night, it felt ill-considered and glib. All things considered it has been a bad week so far for Philippe Clement but not a period he can’t recover from. However, he has to demonstrate he has learned from a difficult five days. For example, he has previously spoken about taking the fans with him during games and he was absolutely right to say so. A packed Ibrox isn’t an easy place for any team to visit and a loud, clear backing from the stands does provide a tangible benefit to our play. That was missing last night and, as much as the players must take ownership for their own bad performances, so too must the manager. Selecting Sam Lammers instead of Ross MacAusaland, Tom Lawrence or even Rabbi Matondo was a strange choice when the Dutchman has perhaps been the best (worst?) example of what transpired to be a poor summer transfer window. To then persevere with him whilst scapegoating Cantwell to a small degree confused almost every Rangers fan last night. The former Norwich man has undoubtedly struggled this season and was again poor last night – as well as selfish – but I’m still puzzled as to why he was taken off whilst the likes of Lammers and Cifuentes made it into the second half. The latter’s selection was perhaps forced but, not for the first time, his lazy style and lack of any key input to games shows a player disinterested in improvement or adapting to his new club. Worse than that though we have other existing players struggling with their contribution. Ben Davies was again poor at centre-half, James Tavernier had an awful game at right back whilst Tom Lawrence still looks less than fully fit and sharp after 15months out. Elsewhere in the side, new father Abdallah Sima has gone off the boil again on the left wing, Danilo struggles to influence games in attack and we still have a variety of players failing to contribute. Be it via injury (Roofe, Jack and Dowell are constantly injured) or just not being involved often enough (Yilmaz, King and Sterling were supposed to be the future), we have a large squad of 28 players with very few actually performing to acceptable levels. The manager simply must change that and I think the last few days has shown again change is necessary on the park. To that end, Philippe Clement will know all this. He will also know there’s not much he can do until first January’s window but more probably until the summer. He will also be aware that without moving on players his budget may not be to the level required to facilitate the kind of wholesale improvement we need. However, that need not mean he can’t continue to deliver improvement. After all, not all has been lost in the last two games. We’re still well in the title race and more than capable of getting a positive result in Seville. We can also win our first trophy of the campaign in a fortnight’s time at Hampden so there’s much to look forward to and I think that can be lost after bad results. Even so, it can be argued we are back to square one with much of the goodwill the new manager has built up lost this week. To hear the team booed off last night was really disappointing but this was an understandable manifestation of our frustration with a poor start to a vital winter period. I’d like to think the manager will have noted that supporter reaction and be discussing it with his players as you read this. Sunday afternoon is an immediate opportunity to right a few wrongs and it will be fascinating to see how Clement reacts. I doubt we’ll see wholesale changes to the starting XI but will he recognise and fix the kind of flaws that seen Gio and Beale flounder in an increasingly negative tactical mindset or will he relish solving the same problems that affect this team over two years since we last won the title? The pressure is already on…

That would be interesting. You’re not Barry Ferguson by any chance? On reflection, no, your English is too good.

I don't think I've seen one Rangers supporter get too carried away with Clement's start. Not one. We've all been burned too many times. Virtually all are delighted with how the team is now playing compared to a month ago, and virtually all are delighted with our win against Sparta, apart from the odd one.

Subject: FINLAY SPEEDIE Remembering Finlay Speedie ---(found this on Google) Part 1 Finlay Ballantyne Speedie was born in Dumbarton on 18th August 1880, and the town would remain dear to his heart all his days. He was an excellent sportsman, and in particular a fine young footballer, starting his playing career at just 15 years old with Arniston Thistle in 1895. ---His teenage football career saw him move from club to club on a frequent basis.-- From Arniston he joined Clydebank Juniors the following year, and after another 12 months (aged 17) --he was on the move again, this time as an amateur player for his home town club Dumbarton.---- He never played for their first team in his short spell there, before signing for Duntocher Hibs in 1898.---- He finally turned professional the following year, signing a contract with Strathclyde.Juniors Speedie was a versatile player, most at home at inside forward, and several impressive displays at inside left for Strathclyde attracted the attention of William Wilton at Ibrox.- The Rangers manager had assembled the best team in the land at the turn of the 20th century, and in October 1900 --Wilton signed him for the Scottish champions.-- At just turned 20, Speedie may have thought it might take time to get his first team chance, but Wilton was convinced the player was ready for the first team, and on October 20th 1900--- Finlay Speediemade his Rangers debut at inside left against Dundee at Ibrox in the First Division.--- Rangers won the match 4-2 to maintain a 100% home record in the league for the season, So impressed was Wilton with his new signing, . In just his third appearance for the club, Speedie found himself playing in a cup final, and he took home a winners medal as Rangers defeated Partick 3-1 in the Glasgow Cup.--- The following Saturday he scored his first Rangers goal in a 3-1 victory at Morton in the league as Speedie’s dream introduction to life at Ibrox continued. ----He scored important goals against both Kilmarnock and Queens Park, which set up a potential title party against Celtic on New Years Day 1901.--- A win over their fiercest rivals would guarantee Rangers a third successive title. ----There were 30,000 at Ibrox to see young sensation Finlay Speedie open the scoring after an hour, before a second goal in the last few minutes settled any nerves.--- A late consolation by Celtic seemed irrelevant, as Speedie and his teammates celebrated being Kings of Scotland again. ---He started in 11 of the 20 league games that season, earning himself a first league medal. His debut season wasn’t perfect, however, as he had to endure 2 painful cup defeats by Celtic in the Scottish Cup and the Charity Cup.---- But by the close season in 1901, Finlay Speedie was now an established Rangers regular. Season 1901/02 saw Rangers retain their title,--- but it was a season overshadowed by tragedy in April 1902 when 25 spectators died at the stadium during a Scotland v England international match due to the collapse of a temporary stand. ---Speedie was now a virtual ever present, and he won a second Glasgow Cup medalin the strangest of circumstances when Celtic declined to take part in a final replay after it was ordered to be played at Ibrox after a drawn match at the same venue. Celtic pushed Rangers all the way in the title race, Speedie scoring an important goal against them at Ibrox in a 2-2 draw in October, and played his part in a vital 4-2 New Year win at Parkhead.-- Celtic took this defeat particularly badly, lodging a protest with the SFA over the referee’s handling of the match, which the SFA dismissed. ----Speedie then scored against both St Mirren and Dundee in the last 2 matches of the league season, which won the title by just 2 points. Rangers and Speedie failed to reach the Scottish Cup final again, this time it was a defeat to a very good Hibs team in the semi final that ended his hopes. ---And Hibs also knocked Rangers out the Charity Cup---- after extra teams were included in the competition to raise funds for the families of those affected by the disaster. Finlay Speedie played for Rangers for another 4 years, but he wouldn’t win another Scottish championship. ---The club were forced into selling many of their players and cutting costs to maximise money available to compensate families and to rebuild the stadium. ---Speedie played in 18 of the 22 league games in season 1902/03, . These included a double in a 2-1 win over Hearts, but it was Edinburgh rivals Hibs who won the league, with Rangers third. Speedie scored his first Rangers hat-trick in the 7-0 Scottish Cup first round win over Auchterarder Thistle, and also starred in a comfortable 3-0 win over Celtic at Parkhead in the third round. ----Rangers reached the final, where Hearts were the opponents. It took 3 games to find a winner, with Speedie playing in all 3 matches.---- On April 25th 1903, Finlay Speedie became a Scottish Cup winner . ---This was despite him being forced to play for more than half the match at left back due to J Drummond leaving the field with an injury, and the team playing with just 10 men. Speedie won 3 Scotland caps, all of them in 1903. He scored the only goal of the game on his international debut, a 1-0 win in Wales, and he then played in a 2-0 defeat to Ireland before his third and final Scotland cap in April 1903 against England. He scored Scotland’s first goal in an impressive 2-1 win at Bramall Lane, Sheffield.--He unfortunately missed a penalty kick-- the ball hitting the post He also played in a League international against England in 1903 Third Lanark were league champions in season 1903/04, with Rangers again ending the campaign in third. ---Speedie started in 23 league games in the now expanded First Division, and hit 16 goals in all competitions.--- These included a New Year’s Day derby goal at Parkhead in a highly entertaining 2-2 draw and a hat-trick against Port Glasgow in the Scottish Cup. ---But it was 2 cup finals at the end of the season against Celtic that lived longest in the memory, for very different reasons. On April 16th 1904, a crowd of 63,000 attended the Scottish Cup Final, and Finlay Speedie scored twice early on to give Rangers a healthy lead.--- But things unravelled and a Quinn hat-trick gave Celtic a 3-2 win. ---Then on May 14th, the teams met in the Charity Cup final, and Speedie was again on the scoresheet when he scored a 79th minutepenalty. This was Rangers’ 5th goal of another very eventful match, which saw Celtic down to 10 men for a lengthy period when Quinn had to leave the field injured. The final score of Rangers 5 Celtic 2 gave Speedie his first winners medal in the competition as well as some revenge for the Scottish Cup heartbreak. Speedie appeared in three more major finals in season 1904/05, but none provided him with a winners medal.--- Celtic would end the season as league champions, and they were his opponents in the Glasgow Cup final in early October 1904, a Hamilton goal not enough to prevent a 2-1 loss.--- Speedie scored against them in a fine 2-0 win in the semi final of the Scottish Cup,------- but a replay defeat to Third Lanark in the final meant a second successive runners-up medal for him. The third final he played in was a league championship playoff against Celtic, after both teams ended the season on level points. ---These days, Rangers would have been champions on goal difference, but the rules in 1905 demanded a playoff, which Celtic won 2-1. ---Despite winning no trophies, this was Finlay Speedie’s most productive season in Royal Blue, scoring 20 times in 41 appearances, 13 of these goals in league games. . He started the first game of season 1906/07 in the league against Falkirk then was dropped .--- Becoming increasingly frustrated, he made it clear to manager Wilton he saw his future away from Ibrox, and he played his last game for the club in a drawn Glasgow Cup match against Queens Park on 8th September 1906. ----Within a week, Newcastle United of the English First Division announced his signing for a fee of £600, ----(£100,000+ value today) --and at 26 years old Speedie moved south. ----His Rangers career saw him play 167 times for the club and score 65 goals. Last edited: Feb 9, Part 2 This was a Newcastle team among the favourites for the title, and Speedie enjoyed a dream debut scoring twice in a 5-1 home win over Sheffield Wednesday, the team who went on to win that season’s FA Cup. ----Speedie’s versatility saw him appear in every position across the forward line during his time at St James’ Park, his debut was at inside right.---- and soon Speedie was in a side vying for top spot.---- Speedie scored a vital opening goal in a mid-November win over reigning champions Liverpool, was on the scoresheet again a few weeks later when notching another crucial goal in a 7-goal thriller against Notts County and celebrated Christmas week with goals in wins over Bolton, Manchester United and Stoke City. ---When he also scored on New Years Day 1907 in a win over Derby County, his contribution was looking crucial in the league race. Speedie added an English league title to those he won at Ibrox as Newcastle held off a late challenge from Bristol City to claim the title by 3 points.---- For much of the run in, he filled in as an emergency defender during an injury crisis, winning plaudits for his performance in a hard-fought draw at Manchester City. ---On March 9th 1907, Speedie lined up as a defender in the Charity Shield against Corinthians at Craven Cottage, and added a winners medal in this competition to his collection in a 5-2 victory.----- Overall, Speedie scored 10 times in his debut season on Tyneside, despite spending much of the second half of it in the back line. His second season at Newcastle would also be his last. The league title defence ended in a 4th place finish, but Speedie and his teammates went on a good run in the FA Cup. Nottingham Forest and West Ham were beaten before a huge 3rd round clash at home to Liverpool. After falling behind early on in front of 46,000 spectators, Newcastle hit 3 second half goals with Speedie grabbing the crucial second. ---Grimsby were brushed aside in the next round, setting up a semi-final against Fulham at Anfield.--- Playing in his favourite inside left position, Speedie had an excellent match as Newcastle hammered in 6 goals without reply. ----This set up a final against unfancied Second Division side Wolverhampton Wanderers, with Speedie a hot favourite to add an English Cup medal to his Scottish cup badge. ---But the final, played at the Crystal Palace on Saturday April 25th 1908, was to be a massive disappointment. Speedie, along with the rest of his teammates, never hit their stride and had a poor game. ---Wolves were 2 up at half time, and although Newcastle pulled one back with over quarter of an hour to play, the underdogs hit a decisive and deserved third goal near the end to carry off the trophy. This was to be Speedie’s 60th and last game for the club, scoring 14 times. Newcastle brought in new forwards in the summer, and they decided to ring the changes, with Speedie joining Oldham of the Second Division in June 1908. It proved difficult to argue with this, as Newcastle then won back the English title in season 1908/09, while Speedie scored 6 times in 17 league starts for Oldham,--- before a brief 2 month spell at Bradford Park Avenue from April 1909 where he scored once.---- In September 1909, Speedie decided to return home, and was delighted to sign for his hometown club Dumbarton. Part 3--Dumbarton were now a Second Division club, Speedie combining his football with them alongside a job as a Shipyard Engineer.--- He made his Dumbarton debut on September 25th 1909 in a league defeat at St Bernard’s and by New Years Day he had scored 5 times, most notably a double against Vale of Leven. His new club drew champions Celtic in the Scottish Cup first round, Speedie enjoying a fine match against his old rivals even though narrowly losing the game 2-1. ---The Sons ended the season in a respectable 4th place in the league, with signs they were capable of a higher finish the following season. ---And in season 1910/11 that is exactly what they achieved. Speedie was a key man in the Dumbarton title winning team, but a title that did not in those days earn automatic promotion to the First Division. He started in 18 of the 22 league matches, scoring 5 goals. --The title was won by 4 points, but Queens Park were not relegated despite finishing last in Division--- One, meaning no place for Dumbarton. Speedie was enjoying his football despite this apparent body blow, and was a regular starter again over the next 3 seasons. A 4th place finish in 1911/12 was followed by a 6th place. But, amazingly, Dumbarton were this time voted to Division One along with champions Ayr United, with the teams in 2nd to 5th all bypassed. ----The top league was being expanded from 18 to 20 teams for the following season, Dumbarton presumably getting the nodbased on their history. This would be the last season of “normal” Scottish football before the outbreak of the Great War, and Speedie at 33 years old was now back in the top league. He started in Dumbarton’s first game back among the big boys on August 16th 1913, and enjoyed a thumping 4-0 win at Boghead over Queens Park. He started 32 times in the league, scoring 4 times in games against Falkirk, St Mirren, Aberdeen and Raith Rovers.--- On November 8th 1913 he made an emotional return to play at Ibrox, and gave a good display in a slightly unfortunate 3-2 defeat.--- He was on the losing side in the return fixture at Boghead in March too, this time by 3-0. In a tough season for the newly promoted club, Dumbarton ended the season 19th, with just 10 wins from their 38 games. The August 1914 declaration of war changed football, and also marked another chapter in the life of Finlay Speedie. ---He became Private Finlay B. Speedie of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, representing them at football in December 1915 and seeing active service in France in the second half of the conflict. He returned home on leave in December 1917 and played two matches for Dumbarton as a guest player, the first of which was on December 1st against Rangers at Ibrox. He was on the losing side, giving Rangers a 2-1 win.--- Speedie then played the following weekend in a 1-0 home win over Hibs before returning to his regiment overseas in France. In May 1918, his name appeared in a list of wounded personnel issued by the War Office. ---Then in August 1918 it was confirmed that Speedie was recovering in hospital from a gunshot wound to his left leg that he suffered in the French battlefields, and that he had been awarded---- the Military Medal for bravery in action. After the War, he returned to his shipyard job, and even played one last game for Dumbarton on 6th September 1919,(aged 39) ---a 0-0 draw in Division One against Third Lanark at Boghead. ----Overall, his Dumbarton career saw him play 126 times and score 35 goals. ----A combination of age and his wartime wound made the decision to retire from the game an easy one. ---He did make a brief return to the game in the 1930swhen accepting a coaching role at Dumbarton, but he didn’t fill the role for very long. Finlay Speedie died on 5th February 1953 at the age of 72. Won 2 league titles,-- the Scottish Cup,-- the Glasgow Cup --and the Charity Cup for Rangers. He Scored 65 goals in 167 Rangers appearances, including a double in a Scottish Cup Final v Celtic. Won the English First Division and Charity Shield with Newcastle. 3 caps for Scotland and 2 international goals. Won the Scottish Second Division with Dumbarton. A War Hero,---- awarded the Military Medal for bravery in the Great War. There are some great men not in Rangers F.C Hall of Fame, -and their stories are worth remembering

The fans booing and groaning at every little thing is becoming a problem. For example, last night they started to moan when Cifuentes passed the ball back to the 'keeper. Did they not realise that there was (a) no pass on, and (b) three defenders around him so if he gave it away it would probably be a 4-on-1 attack? It was the correct pass.

Hope they do turn up tomorrow - the game is Sunday......

Match highlights with alternate comms

Minefield mate. You know six out of seven dwarfs are not Happy.

He is Dutch, good he must know a club anxiously looking for a Sam Lammers type player.

Saddened this morning to hear of the death of Rev MacQuarrie who I'm sure most of us will recognise (in name at least) from his support of and work with Rangers over the years. You can read more about some of his work with the club here: https://www.rangers.co.uk/feature/everyone-anyone-stuarts-story/4oGsbEbN3v4Kbe1PUubiA1 RIP Rev

I think we were watching different games.

The Jolly Bhoys' Outing. Madrid in the second week of December is most attractive and the PQ Gang Hut have been rubbing their hands at the prospect since the Champions League group stage draw. Tapas and vino veritas is just the very rub. Of course, only those that are up to date in their sub' contributions need apply for a seat on the Beeb CS bus. Leaving from PQ and, pick ups at the Admiral Bar and Candleriggs. In the Spanish capital since Sunday night, both Sheelagh McLaren and Martin Dowden did traveling supporters VoxPops for Monday and Tuesday lunchtime and evening TV news. James McFadden and Liam McLeod did Brendan's presser and Monday evening training at the Atletico stadium. Tuesday night saw the same pair do the match commentary. In the studio were Big Dick, Aiden McGeady and, the current unwelcome Tom English. Post game, the consensus was the plucky purveyors of cavalier football were unjustly undone by Masonic VAR. Aiden was particularly upset. We can only assume Pat Bonner and Chris McLaughlin missed the bus? The game finished Atletico 6 Sellik 0. Thus, there were no mentions of the result in Wednesday morning, lunch or, evening bulletins. No supporters VoxPops either. An admiral decision or more probably an Admiral Bar decision? Wednesday night and former Sellik TV employee, Michael Stewart brought much needed gravitas to the situation. He told the listenership that Sellik were deserving of six points from their two Champions League home fixtures against Lazio and Atletico. Further, only one of the red cards in Rotterdam was correct and last night's red card for the Bushido Warrior was also a travesty. There you have it, the Jolly Bhoys have decreed Sellik have at least seven or maybe nine Champions League points and do not forget the bonus three points for hitting the post against Real Madrid last season. The next stop is Rome where Connie McLaughlin, Amy Canavan and, Sheelagh McLaren will perform a re-enactment of, 'Three Bhints in a Fountain'. I wonder who won the bus sweep?

Murray managed the club well during NIAR. Brought in the players we needed and I'm sure he must have played his part in bringing in Laudrup and Gazza. He could be very persuasive when he wanted. He didn't, however, put in any finance during NIAR. We had bank loans of around £10m at the end of 8, which were wiped out the following season due to the investment in Enic. It was after NIAR that he then went crazy with the spending, although he was good at bringing in finance. The Enic cash was followed by Dave King, NTL and JJB and he did put in £10m himself at the same time as King and a further £50m when he had no choice as he'd created a shitshow. The overspending led to some periods of downsizing along the way as it couldn't be sustained. After Murray stepped away for the second and final time the club's finances were finally under control while managing success on the pitch, and shows what could have been done if Murray didn't gamble so much with our finances and his ability to bring in more cash, which disappeared post-crash in 2008. The thing that ultimately led to the events of 2012 were the EBTs, which were a high risk strategy. He really should not have put that amount of risk onto the club. It's obviously a highly complex area and it isn't helped by HMRC's which-hunt and the retrospective changing of the law, but it still seems that Murray's approach was push past the line of what would have been acceptable, which resulted in HMRC going for blood. That rests purely on Murray. We had NIAR and a European final under his watch, and a hell of a lot of great days, but he's also responsible for the pain and worry of 2012, creating the situation for Craig Whyte buying the club and our subsequent demotion to the third division, the effects of which we're still feeling more than a decade later.

It's committing heresy I know but I'm going to risk ridicule and say something positive. The second half was much better - not great but much better. Cantwell came to life, McCausland shone, Butland dominated, central defence was largely untroubled, Lundstram's distribution improved immeasurably. Lawrence started to exert some control, Sima rediscovered some aggression at last and Barisic went off. Three points, clean sheet, no obvious injuries - what's not to like. Sorry about the above. I wanted to conform to the new doctrine of Sykesean Gloom by saying everything and everyone was shite ... I just couldn't manage it. On the other side of the ledger, Dessers was his usual dreadful self and the appearance of Lammers put the mockers on a decent second half.

He should have taken Lammers off and moved Cantwell to 10. Playing Lammers is like playing with 10 men.

Another great TIFO from Broomie Collective and UBs

correct but we can't expect to win the league by passing up chances to close the gap.

I did not see Tiger Shaw play but my Grandfather was a huge fan. I saw Eric Caldow on a dozen or more occasions but I was a primary schoolboy and my only firm memories of him come from '66/67 season. He had recovered from his leg break but was struggling with his mid-thirties, recovery and, the challenge from Davie Provan. My old man loved Caldow. After Davie Provan, the club left back for the next decade was the bluff Fifer, Billy Mathieson. He played in the team that won the EWCW. Billy or Wullie if you prefer was stuffily solid. A Mathieson goal is real hens' teeth, I believe he notched one? Actually, there is a story that combines Billy and yesterday's topic, 'Rangers Keepers'. It was a game against East Fife at Ibrox in the early 70s and Rangers fielded a young Goalie for his first and last game. I cannot remember his name but he conceded and we lost 0-1. A middle aged guy in front of me blamed Mathieson for not stopping the cross ball and berated the left fullback, "you're tae blame, you're useless, you couldnae kick doors at Halloween". Did I mention Billy had received a ECWC winners medal earlier that year? John Greig played left back from '75 to '78. He bullied/intimidated young wingers and generally enjoyed playing keepie-up with Jinky. I prefer to remember ham and egg as a wonderful driving tough tackling midfielder. Ally Dawson was wonderful before the serious head injury, I thought he lost his edge after a long period of recovery. A real club servant, he Skippered the team that won the Glasgow Cup at Sellik park at the end of '86/87 season under Souness. I have huge admiration for Stuart Munro, he endured and survived a whole host of far more expensive Souness purchases. We signed him for a peppercorn fee from Alloa pre-Souness. He played in a back four of English and Scottish internationals, Woods, Stevens, Butcher and, Gough. He survived eight seasons and we sold him to Blackburn Rovers for £350,000. Munro's secret was his recovery pace, a failed tackle on the half way line concluded with another successful dig on the cusp of the penalty area. David Robertson had genuine pace, could tackle and, a real pile driver of a shot. Numan had the same attributes. Papac was more Stuart Munro. A special mention to Lee Wallace, stayed on after the implosion. I thought he was poorly treated after the 2016 Scottish Cup final and at the end of his Rangers career by the club. Barisic is a fine modern day wing back and a regular Croatian international. After all that, I am voting for Artur Numan.

I don't think Lammers was anywhere near as bad as Sykseybear makes out. In fact, like most of our players, he had a decent 1st half. In fact, the same poster was using words like disgraceful to describe our 2nd half performance andwent further saying it was worst 2nd half performance of this or any other era

Aye right up there with losing 2-1 to Raith in Scottish Cup and drawing 1-1 with Stirling Albion. Did you sleep through the Super Ally managerial era?

"He may have made mistakes" Has the world gone through some reconstructive warp wave? Is the revisionist exoneration of Sir Murray upon us? If so then please .... count me out. That bastard sacrificed this club and left it to die. How short some memories are.

I don't go to Hampden any more but to be subjected to Michael Stewart in commentary is criminal.

There are eighteen days to go, Rangers face six games, three League, two Europa Cup and, the final itself. A most hectic and intense period. It struck me in the immediate wake of events at Pittodrie on Sunday last, the build up had already begun. Of course, the Dandies are frustrated, twice in the last several months they have snatched a draw and a defeat from the jaws of time added on victories. Other clubs are fortunate in that they are lionised in such circumstance due to a never stop attitude but, Rangers are accused of being the beneficiaries of vague nefarious influence. Our accusers had to be patient such were the numbers involved. Applying the levers to Pandora's Box were Barry Robson, Wullie Miller, Richard Gordon, Liam McLeod, Jonathon Sutherland, Michael Stewart, Chris Sutton, Peter Martin, Neil Lennon, Mark Wilson and, former Referees, Steve Conroy and Des Roache. All of the world's ills can be comfortably laid at the door of Rangers; particularly if you construe a shirt pull inside the box as being worthy of an equity card and, your mindset is Rangers deserved nothing. According to Michael Stewart time added on events should not apply to Rangers because, "just like the Hearts game, Rangers were never going to score until the Referee's decision". Or, if Rangers do not stop we will apply sufficient pressure to ensure Rangers are stopped. Rangers can help themselves. Firstly have a serious word with Todd Cantwell, he is a creative player with a penchant for finding space to throw himself to the ground unchallenged. The former Norwich player has a grievance, his yellow card rate is three times higher in Scotland. However, he has established a reputation for fresh air surfing and he must be told to refrain. Secondly, the club's historic adherence to dignified silence must be up for serious consideration. I understand not wanting to confront every crackpot with an agenda; however, achievement on the pitch should not be surrendered meekly in serial continuing aftermath. Barry Robson's post match line, "another stoppage time penalty to Rangers is not a good look for Scottish football" was a feed from Alan Burrows. The current Aberdeen Chief Executive has a ton of previous with Rangers. His behaviour at Motherwell made him most attractive to the Dandies. His first publicised decision was to reduce Rangers supporters ticket allocation whilst NOT doing similarly to Sellik supporters. He knows the value of gratuitous kicks at Rangers whereas similar behaviour towards the establishment club carries sanctions. What did Burrows say after his club's six goal thrashing at ra Stade de Gadd? He has plenty to say about our club and there is a whole list of the usual suspects waiting impatiently to deliver the lines. Whataboutery is not a good look but events do not occur in a vacuum, Sellik were awarded two penalties, allowed ten minutes time added on and, survived their left back stamping his studs down on to a 'Well player's shin. Did the levers find purchase? They were not even picked up, let alone shouldered. Compare and contrast with a Rangers player having his jersey pulled in the opposition box during injury time? A true benefit of being the establishment club is the deflection you can effect on another club that ironically, you claim is the establishment club. Phillipe Clement has his hands full, getting a tune out of an assembled grouping not of his choosing and concurrently dealing with fixture congestion whilst under constant off field heavy artillery. The five games between now and the cup final will come under forensic investigation, the levers are waiting and most willing. To see it any other way suggests you have already seen Michael Matheson's season ticket for Firhill?

100% of our support would.

"I was brought up to absolutely hate Rangers". Above is the opening line spoken by Richard Gordon in his BBC Radio Scotland biopic' first broadcast nearly two decades past. Richard has spent the last twenty years flashing those very credentials. Last season he was appointed Cove Rangers PRO, moved back to his native Aberdeen and, took up a weekly column in the Aberdeen Press and Journal. We know he writes exclusively for a group of fans when visiting Sellik Park sing, 'we hate Rangers more than you' and the separated brethren show their appraisal by applauding. Today's column for the P and J is part of the League Cup final build up. Less than a fortnight to go and both clubs have played another two games, one in Euro' competition and a League fixture each. Aberdeen drew 2-2 in Helsinki and lost 2-0 at Easter Road whereas, Rangers drew 1-1 with Limassol and defeated St Mirren 2-0. The great Masonic conspiracy failed us again, no penalty awarded in either game. It is good to know the Grand Wizard like Barry Robson is continually obsessed with the aesthetics of the Scottish game. Further, a glance at the current league table would add greatly to the charge Aberdeen only raise their game against Rangers. The Dandies are three points ahead of bottom club, Livi'; their four points gained from two games against us keep them from the base. Of course, the difference at the top between ourselves and ra green'ngrey hooped horrors is effectively five points and that is the number we have surrendered to the Dons. There is considerable scope in this information for an interested columnist. The cup final is approaching fast and with hatred in his heart, the Cove Rangers PRO decided to go with, 'Penalty Rangers'. Big Dick has accrued his own empirical evidence, applied kai squared analysis and, t-test for fit. His conclusion is Rangers are beneficiaries of a bias or, I suppose it was so much easier when Wullie Miller refereed all Aberdeen games. Bias is a most strong word but do not expect Richard to name the officials affected by it. Similarly, since the penalties awarded stats prove Sellik to be the greater beneficiaries, penalties conceded is this week's and next week's trend. Richard expresses disbelief that Rangers have survived a league season without conceding a penalty, "not a single Rangers player committed a foul inside their own eighteen yard box". He lists the penalties awarded against us in Euro' games and deems those an expected stat' those conceded in domestic cup games are not all specified because they run a bit of interference on his preferred narrative. The one stat not mentioned is that another Scottish club has survived an entire season without conceding a penalty and, Sellik have achieved that stat' twice. Still, it is a bit awkward to type whilst Peter is stuffing his dick down your thorax. Dick's bias is to place firm pressure on the final officials and in doing so he deliberately omitted the most relevant stat' ie in this year's league cup, Rangers have played three games and conceded penalties in two of them, against Morton and Hearts.

I always wondered what would happen when our resident ego met another similarly-sized ego...

I'd like to register no interest at all.

There are definite improvements, but he can only work with the tools he has.

He took Cantwell off for not obeying his instructions. We can't have players on the park who ignore what they're being told by the manager. I do agree with the general point that I'd prefer Cantwell playing in the 10 position rather than Lammers.

Barisic gets the same. Some fans seem to think he should try a forward pass even when nobody is available.

It's a major problem - the atmosphere last night for a must win Europa League game was toxic.

Cheer up mate.

Stuart's uncle was my sister in law's neighbour. It was through that connection that I got a ticket for the 2008 Manchester final from Stuart. He used to tell a story of when he was going to the directors box during the Ashley years. He asked not to be seated next to the Easedales but as he entered the box, the Easedales stood up to shake his hand. Being a gent, Stuart smiled and shook hands but unbeknown to Stuart, this exchange was shown live on BT Sport. As Stuart sat down he received a text from his friend "now I know what Judas Iscariot looks like".

And here he is today

Tomorrow's game has just moved from the "vital" column to the "season defining" one IMO...

Ive just returned to the forum recently and havent mentioned this before, but watching games from afar and hearing that drum has to be one of the most annoying things - on par with Cling Film sticking when trying to unwrap it.

We will lose players during the next month, there will be knocks, injuries and suspensions that's inevitable. We might play in some shocking conditions, it's winter in Scotland after all so poor pitches and poor conditions are going to be a factor too. What Clement needs is luck, good luck. If we can keep key players fit and in form we've a chance of coming through what is a farcical amount of football in a short space of time. More importantly though is if we don't, if do lose some key players, if we drop some points, endure some disappointing results, that we don't overreact. Our squad isn't as strong as it should be, and it seems our fitness and medical standards aren't what they should be either. It's remarkable what Clement has managed to achieve results and performance wise in a short time, but he's not a magician, there are players in our squad who simply aren't good enough, who we'll need to persevere with for now. It's great to be looking forward to watching us again, to be hopeful instead of pessimistic, but Clement has shown enough in a short time to be afforded some leeway if there are hiccups in the coming weeks.

When he was introduced to those attending Ibrox for a league fixture against Hearts, he was referred to in the match programme as, 'William' and the PA announced him as, 'Billy'. This was the week after our catastrophic Scottish Cup dismissal at the hands of the mighty Berwick Rangers and Billy Jardine played right side of midfield. We won 5-1 and on his next start at the Stadium three weeks later against Ayr United, he scored. The programme notes contained the information he was known as, 'Sandy' and was a promising inside forward. He held his place in the 1967 ECWC final team against Bayern Munich. He was 18 and looked most comfortable in a game we dominated and unluckily lost 0-1 in extra time. Sandy played and won the ECWC in Barca' in '72 and, played in the first Euro super cup final against Ajax in '73. How many Scots have played in three Euro' finals? He established himself as Rangers right back in 1970, pairing up with Tommy McLean on the right flank. Sandy had genuine pace, competed in the Powderhall Sprints in all three events. He played for Rangers over 18 seasons and was rarely injured. Over a period of three and half seasons in the early 70s, he played 171 consecutive matches. I have witnessed other fine right backs at Rangers; Gary Stevens, Alan Hutton and, James Tavernier. However, Sandy Jardine is THE man.

When Goldson was missing last season after getting injured against Liverpool his absence effectively finished our season.

I’m intrigued, are you actually one of us or just a visitor intent on criticising everything in sight?

I must have watched a different game, I thought he did ok and has done recently. I can't see your mind ever being changed though.

Lammers worked hard closing down and doesn't hide when we have possession, he made a contribution last night. He's improved since Clement arrived, like everyone else I'm doubtful he's going to make it with us, but I'm not sure who you play in his place currently. He'd one beautiful bit of skill late in the 2nd half, he got fouled but the ref played the advantage which came to nothing. As we keep saying there's a player in there, he's just hiding him very well. Prague were always going to come back into it in the second half. Sparta are no mugs, they've some decent players and are experienced at this level. That they changed their tactics and upped their game after half time shouldn't surprise anyone. This is the Europa League, we're going to have periods where the opposition are on top. As it was we defended pretty well and again Butland showed his quality, he's been a great signing. Four weeks ago I wouldn't have believed this performance was possible. What Clement, his coaching team and our players have done in such a short space of time is remarkable. We're not only winning again we're doing it in an attractive and exhilarating way.

Sorry but I thought Lammers was fine tonight as he was on Sunday. Also thought Dessers hold up play was very good in the closing stages and he should have been introduced a little earlier. Think all of our players deserved pass-marks, including the subs.

This is not satisfactory by the club.

I'm getting confused by the positions and formations but the best attacking midfielder I've watched in light blue was Ian Durrant. Before his injury Ian Durrant was an utter joy to watch, he had an uncanny ability to ghost into space, he'd wonderful balance, superb vision and perfect timing. Durrant scored big goals, goals in cup finals, Old Firm matches and European games. He worked hard too, he covered every inch of the pitch. If you ever get a chance to watch the 2-2 Old Firm match where Butcher and Woods were sent off, watch Durant's performance in the second half. He was playing every position in midfield while supporting McCoist up front. His run in the last minute for Gough's goal couldn't be matched by Celtic, his strength and stamina really showed that day, as did his will to win. My formative years watching Rangers weren't very happy ones. Greig as manager followed by the false dawn of Wallace's return. The glimmer of hope was the skinny wee midfielder with the mop of curly hair who broke into the side under Wallace. There are players who have a higher profile and played more games for Rangers, but at their best there were few who could best Durrant at his best.

It's a bit like getting married, having a good first few years and then your wife turns into a wreckless nutcase, before leaving you bankrupt, washed up and heartbroken. Then telling people she was great.