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I'm just as happy as any other Rangers supporter when the team turns in a good performance or wins handsomely. However pre-season is really about the team getting up to speed with their match fitness, testing and gelling together new players and how they fit into the managers systems and patterns of play. If they play some nice stuff and score a few goals along the way then great. We did highlight that we liked what we were seeing, singled out certain players for mention with regards to their quality, but that its too early to read anything into it just yet. From my perspective experience has taught me that its absolutely pointless getting carried away with pre-season friendly results. An example of what I'm talking about is the Ibrox International Challenge Trophy 95/96' where we beat Steaua Bucarest 4-0 with goals from Ferguson, Gascoigne, Hateley and McCoist. We beat Sampdoria 2-0 in the final of that little pre-season tourney by the way. Literally a month later we were paired with the same team we smashed in the pre-season only this time in the competitive CL where they beat us 1-0 away Prodan scoring the only goal and drew 1-1 with us in the return leg at Ibrox. So much for our scintillating 4-0 performance in pre-season friendly eh? So beating Marseille 4-0 at home in a friendly is good to see as a barometer of how we might play during the season but it doesn't amount to a hill O' beans if we turn up at Kilmarnock and draw or lose on the first game of the new season. When we've navigated through the EL qualifiers into the group stages and have put Kilmarnock to bed in the first game in a similar fashion to how we've played in these games then you'll be scraping me aff the ceiling if I'm on any of the pods at that time.

Seriously? All that's asked is that you do your fucking job and don't obstruct or cover up decades of child abuse and misery at a prominent football club in your jurisdiction. That's what a real justice minister would do. That fact that you refuse to meet the victims and act like nothing is happening is why you get criticized. Don't try and pretend otherwise.

Listening to the SG post-match interview he mentions that FH being left sided will allow him to play 3 at the back when he feels the opponent allows it. Very interesting indeed to see how that side may shape up.

Tom was great at commentating as usual, but I thought Ian Durrant was excellent. His insight was really interesting and I hope he does more of it for RTV.

In particular the thousands of Celtic fans who watch RTV on their illegal streams just so they can comment on us. I have a feeling they're going to get a proper lesson this season.

I just listened to the pod during my lunch today and enjoyed it as usual. I think @plgsarmy and I will fall out though over our opinion of Kent. ? I did think that Christine and Graham would have been more upbeat after the performances we've had so far, but at least Ross represented the way I (and many others) were feeling, especially after that Marseille game yesterday. I was completely carried away though. As I've said before, even when I disagree I always enjoy the pod. Keep them coming. Well done @plgsarmy, @Big Jaws, and of course Ross (can't remember your online name mate).

Have to say I was impressed with Edmundsson with the ball at his feet. Initially thought it was Katic and he’d improved his passing and touch. It’ll be interesting to see how he does more generally because he seems a very decent addition.

I think that unfair on Durrant. "...the bleedin' obvious..." is a big part of football and no pundit that I have ever known restricts themselves to genuine insight. You can also say that the "...the bleedin' obvious..." is somewhat relative and those watching and listening will be at different stages in their fitbaw education. I agree with Gaffer regards Durrant offering more insight than the average RTV pundit.

Don't forget to listen in live at 21.30 tonight. Ross Bennett, Christine Sommerville, and Graham (Big-Jaws) talk about today's impressive performance.

There should be a Rangers Museum for this soort of thing. You can't put every players medal into a Museum but these ones were special.

Filip Helander is a defender that can become the best defender in SPL, he has played 4 seasons in serie A and though still prone to the occasional mistake due to a lack of concentration, has betterd his game and has become a regular for his national team. An average defender in Italy is a class above most of the ones in northern european league, do not forget Lorenzo Amoruso.

For me, right now, a space MUST be found for Davis. Yesterday it was abundantly clear what a fully fit, proper pre-season, Steven Davis can provide to us - was everywhere and created angles and spaces the whole time he was on the pitch. Thought he was outstanding yesterday.

Merely "back three" is what he said.

Katic and Goldson are striving to become the new Hately and McCoist by the way they have started the season !

@rfb_1872

Apologies, I'm off work today so it's taken me a bit longer to get the mp3 created and uploaded across the usual platforms. Should be available now.

I agree, I look at this side and it matches up well against the other lot across town. It's just the reliance on Defoe that worries me. I would bring in another forward to lead the line with Defoe as back up.

The worst thing about listening to Durrant is the amount of times he uses the word ''now'', he says it every 3rd word or so!?, however he does have good knowledge & input.

You are right but IMO the team needs a settled central defence when possible. It's not an area that should be tinkered with too much, unlike say the midfield combinations.

I will go out on limb and say " If Celtic don't strengthen their midfield we will have a field day against them. Scott Brown and Rogic will be chasing shadows"

Agreed. However the wage bill must be eye-watering and unsustainable, so sadly quite a lot of our options need to be removed. The other worry is that how do our young academy players feel when there are several experienced players in front of them. SG has always talked about a pathway to the first team, which I think is exactly right. With the current squad numbers how does a McPake Mayo Mebude etc even get on the bench?

I think Dick Emery at Arsenal will prove to be a dud also.... so will be a 3 way battle!

Some superb finishing and good pressing play. OM clearly fell away after 65 mins or the like, but we pressed them hard and played some lovely stuff still. I don't think that we will have to fear much from the Scottish teams trying to play an open game against us, as we might verywell put them to the sword at leisure. The trench-and-brick brigade may be another matter. But for that, Jones and Docherty and Jack and Kamara all look very good. Every minute Jones plays, the memory of Kent dwindles a wee bit. His play with Barisic on the left was at times reminiscent of our right-side pairing.

After this game today, it is clear that our starting 11 is impossible to pick right now. The strength in the squad is brilliant.

I’m with you GS , I’m a massive Candieas fan .

Pathetic.

... a bit like skipping responsibility. If he had acted as he should be, there would be no-one calling his stand into question. Poor excuse of a minister.

Happy to look and investigate anywhere but the rancid club he supports. What happened to justice being blind and there for all? Clearly not if you have the right friends in the right places. The sooner this joke of a so-called justice minister is voted out of the office along with the rest of his SNP mates the better. I hope the victims of the Celtic abuse scandal get the justice they deserve but it will be a long time coming while Celtic know they are protected by the likes of Humza. It makes me sick to see this clown in charge of justice in Scotland.

A great day out and may I mention I have also purchased Founders Trail scarf and polo shirt both very good quality.