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It's been a little over seven weeks since our last competitive game and still just under a year since we began last year's Europa League campaign but tonight in Gibraltar, we're already underway for the 2019/20 season. Just along the southern coast of Spain where many Rangers fans will be already be on holiday, for the players these fans support, it's back to work later in an overseas territory we've not competed in before. Yet as Celtic found out a few years ago on the artificial surface of Gibraltar's national stadium, nothing is guaranteed in terms of a positive result so nothing should be left to chance for Steven Gerrard's men tonight. In terms of last season's efforts, despite there being no trophies nor success per se, the common train of thought amongst fans and critics alike is that Rangers did improve. First and foremost they went toe to toe with Celtic in each of the four games between the teams, including comfortably winning our two home matches. Indeed, as much as there may not have been a genuine title race, Rangers did, for a while at least, did keep it interesting. Moreover, in terms of our European adventures in 2018/19, for what was a new squad and management team, to win four qualifiers and just miss out on qualifying from our group stage, was also heartening and should provide confidence for this summer's pre-domestic action. Of course Steven Gerrard isn't a man for sentiment or resting on his laurels. Although he'll still want to move on the better part of ten players in our squad, he's already signed several with a few more likely to arrive depending on our European progress and who else actually does leave. With regard to the new signings, Rangers fans will be happy with how they looked on Sunday in a fairly decent 5-0 home win over an admittedly weak Oxford Utd side. Edmundson, Aribo, Hastie, Stewart, Ojo and Jones all did well on their Ibrox debuts whilst existing players like Polster and Docherty also felt like new signings too. Although Alfredo Morelos is struggling with a 'slight' groin strain, the manager's wealth of options further forward in the team makes us very difficult to predict in an attacking sense and Jermain Defoe looks increasingly sharp when called upon. Yes, summer friendly wins (or defeats) shouldn't be used to define a team's forthcoming season but there were plenty positives on show against Oxford so the manager will be pleased to have a selection headache going into the competitive stuff. With that in mind, his team isn't all that easy to predict. Despite not featuring in Sunday's friendly, Allan McGregor should be in goal tonight and his early season Europa form last season was key to our progression through the qualifying rounds. Similarly, Connor Goldson and Niko Katic were the central defensive pairing throughout July and August last year and I'd expect that to be the case for this year too given the way they finished the season as well. Captain James Tavernier will remain first choice right back of course but it's at left back where we have our first uncertainty. Jon Flanagan also started and finished last season pretty well there but is out until next month after undergoing a hernia operation. Meanwhile, despite now becoming Croatia's first choice left back since signing for Rangers, Borna Barisic has struggled to look anything other than lost when selected for us. However, I do think he may start tonight instead of Andy Halliday and the Croatian simply must step up this season if he wants to stay at the club. Moving into midfield and this is where the manager's options make it very difficult to guess how the engine room will be formed: just ask Jordan Rossiter and Ross McCrorie how tricky it is to get a game here. In addition to the actual personnel choices, the formation is also uncertain, though with Jermain Defoe likely to start, I'd expect the 4-3-2-1 used latterly and successfully towards the end of last season will be deployed tonight. That means perming a slightly deeper three from Aribo, Davis, Docherty, Jack and Kamara with a further two from Hastie, Jones, Ojo and Stewart in the advanced roles to support Defoe. Good luck trying to be right there! Given Morelos is injured and Kyle Lafferty on his way out, obtaining another striker has to be a priority for the manager. Greg Stewart did well in his cameo there for 60mins on Sunday but will prefer to play just off someone else in the main. As such I'd expect us to sign another striker - if not two if Morelos leaves as well - before the end of August. Poker will be being played there and just how much money we can raise from the sale of the Colombian will decide the quality and timing of any new acquisitions. For now, Gerrard will be content with the options he has up front but I do expect at least one more striker and defender to arrive. Any fees raised for the likes of Foderingham, Holt, Dorrans, Grezda, Dodoo and Lafferty will help there, especially if we can hold onto James Tavernier for as long as possible. All things considered, despite the importance of tonight's match and future qualifying ties, this is still very much a Rangers team in progress. There will be seven changes from the team that started against FK Shkupi last July, and whilst missing players such as Candeias, Arfield and Morelos may still have a future part to play at the club, this season's team will be markedly different from last term as we move through the qualifiers. Crucially though, expectations will have also increased and the next few weeks will see just how these new players, and the management team responsible for selecting them, cope with that demand. So far at least, Steven Gerrard certainly hasn't looked anywhere near as 'terrified' of the task facing him as some of his dafter critics claim but he will be aware any honeymoon period he had has now ended and progress this coming season must be more tangible than pointing to a few decent wins. Wrestling the title from Celtic will be extremely tough and repeating or improving upon last season's European campaign equally tricky but those - along with success in the domestic cups - are the measures by which he'll be judged on. He and his team can start with no monkeying around on the Rock tonight. Possible team (4-3-2-1):

0-1 Rangers! Ryan-HE'S-A-WASTE-OF-A-JERSEY-Jack!

In 1840 most of the Govan area was farmland and the country estates and houses of the better off. From the east, estates and mansions identified on old maps were Plantation, Mavisbank and Haughhead, Cessnock, Miln Park, Craigiehall, Broomloan, Moorepark, Hillock House (named after the nearby Doomster Hill), and Merrylands. Beyond the parish church there were Teucharhill, Craigton, Cardonell, Bern/know, Greenfield, Fairfield, Merryflats, Linthouse, Greenhead, and Shieldhall. Farms were Whitefield, Ibrox, Broomloan, Craigton, Greenside, Langlands, Drumoyne East, Mid Drumoyne and West Drumoyne, Holmfauldhead, Moss, and Hardga The writer remembers seeing the buildings of West Drumoyne, Shieldhall and Hardgate farms in the 1930s. The latter farm stood in Renfrew Road opposite the SCWS complex of factories. Shieldhall Farm occupied the land between Hardgate Road and the Southern General Hospital, and behind the Clyde Sawmill & Wood Storage Go's yard. Holmfauldhead Farm buildings survived in Elder Park until the late 1990s by being used for the storage of Glasgow City Council Parks Department equ

I'm not sure what you mean by this type of signing. What in Murphy's history makes you think he had a high chance of injury? He's had no record serious injury during his career and was 28 when he joined us so hardly at the end of his career. I'm not even sure it's a fair criticism of Dorrans, he's played consistently over 20 games a season at Championship or EPL level for most of his career and was 29 when he joined us. A squad needs balance, we need experienced pros at, or close to, their peak to balance the younger promising players surely? I'd have thought Dorrans and Murphy both fall neatly into the former with the added bonus of them being local boys who'll take no time to adjust to the environment both on and off the field.

Dorrans and Murphy have been really unlucky with injuries, I don't think you can blame them or those who sanctioned their signings for that. I'm disappointed Dorrans is being moved on, I thought his cameo appearance at Villareal gave us a glimpse of what we were missing. It could be that he's simply not ever going to get back to the level of fitness we require though. Murphy was very effective before his injury, he's an intelligent player, not a flashy one, but I hope he regains his fitness and stays with us.

https://mobile.twitter.com/davefergi/status/1148313365934010368 Seen a couple of vans with Ibrox Park on them driving around in Brisbane’s bay side. Thought it was maybe a supporters business. Didn’t realise it’s the descendants of the old owners of Ibrox farm who sold the land to Rangers to build Ibrox.

While the bookies are not always right, the odds on offer for this afternoon's match has us at a unbackable 1/12. At those odds at 4 or 5 goal victory should be expected, but I have a feeling it wont be quite that easy on a difficult pitch against a team already with competitive action under their belts. After Luxembourg, I take nothing for granted, even at this diddy stage of the tournament and it pays to remember we are here because we are actually classed as diddies ourselves by UEFA co-efficients standards. Absolutely no idea as to what team will be given the honour of starting our season off this afternoon, but I would think it will be the same back 4 and striker as the OP suggests, and that Davis will definitely play but other than that the other 4 spots are anybody's guess. Will it be new boys, or last seasons tried and tested ones? Only about 4 hours till we find out and I cant wait.

Deli and Mayo, then. Sounds like an American cop show.

A very professional performance all in all and I don't think we could have asked for much more. A fairly pedestrian first half followed by a higher tempo second period ensured the home side couldn't live with us and a much deserved rout ensued. Good stuff!

He's not had much a break so may be seen as sharper than a few others plus he's used to playing on that kind of surface.

Gerrard out.

Team as is posted in thread opener. ??

I love stroking a badger. I am going to call it Ibrox from now on.??

Some suggestions the game will be live here this afternoon: https://www.gbc.gi/tv/watch-live

According to Transfermarkt he’s just had loads of injuries.

Recent links to Roofe & Simon Deli CB are true, especially Deli as a CB A lot hinges on Morelos departure however Those that read my blog last week would have seen what I said, still a LOT of action to happen in our window yet 10-12 out 2-3 in Deli is absolutely outstanding, better than what we have - that would be a massive signing So we will see ?

I’m not going to get too carried away with Ojo just yet. He looks very similar to Odowu and Ejaria who both also started really well but couldn’t sustain any consistency. A good start and here’s hoping third time lucky for us with this type of player.

Well, he already looked like Kent in his later stages with us. If only he was ours ... then again, the season is long and we've seen it happen with Ejaria too.

A good start but let’s not get carried away. I’m looking for four wins out of four in ELQ1& ELQ2 to help our co-efficient

We look like a much better balanced team than at this point last year , all the players look like they are very comfortable on the ball , and show a desire to win the ball back , early I know but looks promising .

That's my new half-time catchphrase.

Is it too early to place some money on Ojo being the player of the season? If he keeps this up, I can't see anyone getting close to him. Aribo looks solid too. I'm excited.

I'm pleased to see the players going over to congratulate Barasic for both those goals. Make him feel a part of the team. It might be what he needs. Barasic's goal, for me.

It's not quite the same in my opinion. We are actually making half chances and the ball is moving forward faster, mainly thanks to Davis and Kamara being able to hit Ojo, who looks like he's going to be a super signing for us.

This is good practice for us because this is the type of anti football sides we will be up against in the league this season. Jones and Ojo look dangerous though. It'll take time for them to bond with their team mates, but early signs are good for those two. If we get a goal, this tie is over.

It's going how I expected, to be honest. They have everyone behind the ball, and we're slowly trying to find a way through, and struggling. All on a terrible pitch.

I'd like these kind of songs being sung by "real man" - voices, not some Wham!-like chaps. Voices like ... ... or one of my all time favourites

It will mean defenders running about with their arms behind their back,and attacking players trying to hit their arms.

I love stories like this. Certainly the area where Ibrox Stadium now sits wasn't developed by the late 1870s although Copland Road and Broomloan Road were both developed and linking Govan Road with Paisley Road by then, and the Ibrox Railway Station was open. We moved to the area in 1887 and our ground appears on the ordnance survey map of 1889. I love grounds that are located in the middle of towns and cities. Surrounded by houses and businesses, genuinely part of their local community. I dislike the newer grounds that have been built in the last 30 or so years on the outskirts of towns. I understand why and I accept they've some benefits in terms of access, parking and so on, but they're soulless places pushed to the periphery. Ibrox, for me, is the perfect stadium. A mix of the old and new located in a city surrounded by people, homes, roads and businesses. I know The Hummell Training centre is an impressive facility but it's location isn't, it's miles from our home and overlooking hills and farms instead of the places our support live and work. I'd prefer the Albion was still used, but I accept why that's not practical. So it's all more ironic, when you look at the old maps, you realise that Ibrox was that 'edge of the town, middle of nowhere' stadium at first. The city built around the ground, not the other way around. I guess land was cheaper and more available, much like now, the further out you went. We were the McDiarmid Park or the Falkirk Stadium of our day. The other thing we often overlook is Govan was a totally separate town when we first moved there. At the turn of the century Govan was one of the largest towns in Scotland, but it was separate from Glasgow in the same way Paisley is today. I wonder how we'd all react if the club announced it was moving to a new stadium, outside of the city at the edge of the green belt.

One thing at a time.?

Next up, embedded tweets!

Apparently the route for Ibrox comes from the old name for badgers; brock.

Edmundson cost £600,000 For deals like this it hinges on Morelos going for big money Deli at £2m not so much Roofe at £5m definitely

Just show the opposition respect and beat them that's all we have to do.

I always go with League minutes only as it tends to be where priorities ly. I don't know anything about the player and was just asking the question, rather than casting any judgement.

Yes, Arfield wanted to play but manager said he won't until next week at the earliest.

Well, St Joseph's FC may prove tricky opposition, but it is no Red Imps.

Ibrox boss Gerrard said: “Daniel isn’t suspended or injured, it’s just a numbers game. "Daniel has been left out of this squad, but he won’t be the first, and he won’t be the last, big name to be left out.” Gerrard added: “As the weeks go by I’ll have to make big calls and leave out big players, who are good players, but we hope it’s going to be a 60-game season. “I’m not going to make a big thing of it. It’s just the way it is. We have big squads and big players, and competition for places. "It’s normal from week to week that there are changes, who is in and who is out. Daniel is a good player, he played a lot of games for me last year. “The same could happen again this year. I wouldn’t be surprised if he is involved in the competition in the next round if we were to progress. "Knowing the player, there is always going to be disappointment. “With any players, if they are not in the 11 or the 18, they are within their rights to feel disappointed. “But you also expect a level of professionalism where you get on with it, and you fight for the jersey and fight for your place. “You take it in the right way and take it as a challenge to win the shirt back. That’s what all the top players did that I played with and that’s what I tried to do.” Gerrard added: “We have seen the two games St Joseph’s qualified through. They will be well drilled. “We always lay it on the line it is about us. It is about ourselves and believing in our way if we are to get a result here. “We always show the opposition respect, and I think it is a big mistake if you look too far ahead. “You have always got to prepare correctly for what it is in front of you. “St Joseph’s have got good players, they are a good team and they are effective on this surface. “You’ll not find me or my players being complacent or under-estimating the challenge in front of us.” Reports claimed Mike Ashley, above, had made contact with Gerrard’s representatives in the hope of luring him to St James’ Park. But Gerrard insisted: “Fake news. Not that I am aware of.” https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/sport/football/4461640/steven-gerrard-daniel-candeias-warning-rangers/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1562621535

Easy to get from the Subway? It almost takes you in to the shop. I went in on a nice sunny day and bought a rain jacket then went and sat on the terrace of the pub next door, or a few doors down, and watched the world and good looking woman go by. Bliss!

What about ar*****es but wait a minute does that not apply to actions from castle doom.

C***s!

Seems like it if its all coming down to the corrupt SFA to look at it