Leaderboard

I want to make it clear I have never once criticised James Tavernier. I have criticised his poor performances, of which there have been many over the last season or two. Since it's never a reflection on the person, it's an easy step to commend any player who actually performs well. Tav deserves all the praise he gets for his display yesterday and will no doubt continue to receive it if he continue to improve. Perhaps now his growing confidence will see him become the more assertive captain I feel we need. Given the appalling performances turned in by many players after last New Year, it's hardly surprising that several of them are receiving better evaluations this season. Kamara, Arfield, Davis, Tavernier, Kent were often dreadful in the run up to lockdown and our better results recently are in no small measure due to the way they've transformed their game. I've always found Rangers fans to be very fair and their views tend to reflect only what they see in front of them on the park. What else should we do.

During the course of my family research at the Mitchell Library I came across this wonderful photograph from the front page of the Sunday Post from February 1949. It’s my Mum Emma( winking at the photographer ?) and her two cousins Emma and Sadie at a Scottish Cup Tie at Motherwell. The three of them have hand knitted Rangers scarves, my mum’s showing the names of Brown, Young and Shaw. Sadly none of them are with us today but they will be cheering us on. Rangers won the match 3-0 with goals from George Young, Willie Paton and Willie Thornton. Let’s hope for a similar result today.

It's nothing to do with technology. And, you can't blame the Referees for implementing the rules. It's the rules that are the issue. The decision to award Newcastle a penalty for Dier's handball was ridiculous: he doesn't even know the ball is there, with his back to it, and his arm is not in an unnatural position, as he was jumping. The new rules are stupid. Souness actually made the point that it makes the game more exciting, which is true: more goals, more excitement. But, it does take away some common sense in these situations.

That is an vast exaggeration. He definitely wasn’t at his best for spells but the criticism was way over the top and failed to take into account his contribution. Unlike others, he was not playing in his natural position but still chipped in with goals and assists pretty much all season and played a huge role in Europe. For a start, he got 4 league assists from centre mid when Kent got none from behind the striker. 9 goals was more than double any of the other centre mids too (including Aribo). He had spells of poor form but his ability was always there and people were far too negative about him. I suspect you’re not going to agree but we can agree that it is great to have him on form again.

Today was a hard one to take for the Gang Hut, a 1-5 victory for Rangers at Fir Park has to wear a PQ perspective. One half of the Blarney Bhoys, Tom English vented frustration at Half time, “Rangers are the beneficiaries of two soft penalties, whereas Motherwell have been denied a stonewalled when Kamala pushed Campbell. Look, Roy Hogson summed it up last night, the hand ball must be deliberate”. Before the game at Fir Park, Tom was predicting, “a tricky afternoon for Rangers”. Now, Big Dick is the Gang Hut statto, he has the Bumper Big Book of all penalties awarded and conceded. Big Dick is posted missing today and fellow Dandy, Liam McLeod commentating was not forth coming. Thus, listen in Gang Hutters, Rangers last penalty awarded on league business was during October of last year. It’s eleven months and 27 matches since our last spot kick in the Premiership. Every other club in the Premiership has been awarded a penalty during that period, the vast majority several. The law of averages does not pertain to Rangers at PQ, Tom made an ill considered decision, knowing there was a waiting grateful audience. At half time, he tweeted on the BBC Scotland account, “can Bobby Madden complete his hat trick, missed a couple of opportunities in the first half”. Manner from heaven for current Motherwell Director, Andrew Wilson, he replied, “Farcical decisions by Bobby Madden, two pens to Rangers, neither strong but second just ludicrous. 2 clear pens denied to us, was ever thus”. Andrew’s bitterness could not be contained, he took it further, “Madden has been the most dangerous player on the field for Motherwell to cope with, and good in defence also”. This is Wilson’s second stint as a Director of the claret and amber, he gave up before to become an MSP for the SNP. He was responsible for the Scottish Government’s economic case for independence, 635 pages predicated upon a barrel of oil being $115. Apparently, Wilson has an Economics degree? I am sure the Compliance Officer will use it for necessary mitigation. Maybe, it’s where Gerrard has gone wrong, being cited for defending his own player with a puncture wound after referee, Kevin Clancy did not even award a free kick. Tonight’s Sportscene will have Sellik TV’s Michael Stewart ignoring Andrew Wilson completely, whilst demanding referees’ leniency towards Rangers players end immediately, or Peter will wield the big stick.

The Laird of Dunlop, the big cheese; well, he smells like a big over ripe cheese, Graham Spiers continues to push the most attractive podcast on the block. This week, it’s a call back for Rangers hater, Gordon Waddell, and an introduction to BBC Scotland staffer, Stefan Bienkowski. I am sure Graham is just giving the lad a reach around? Stefan ran a Sellik on line ‘zine before entering the hallowed halls of PQ. He is the barking mad clown that penned a piece last November, demanding the postponement of the then, just announced General Election. Stefan’s mindset was his beloved Sellik were playing Cluj in Romania, their last Europa Cup group match in the middle of December. This coincided with the date of the election. Stefan argued at least 15,000 Yahoos would be out of the country watching ra hoops. Seriously, the missing hordes would corrupt the election result? Less than 700 Yahoos traveled, and the country survived the crisis. Stefan and Graham are made for each other, a rhapsody In corduroy.

It's a decent move for Andy Halliday and like another Rangers player leaving the club I wish him well.

Sellik TV’s Michael Stewart has taken to Twitter this evening, he is raging that BBC Radio Scotland had former Referee, Hugh Dallas on at 6 O’Clock to tell the listeners, both a Rangers penalties were legitimate under the laws of the game. Further, Michael is demanding his view be countered, and wondering why BBC Scotland have allowed Dallas to speak unfettered? I suspect PQ has suffered a stroke of balance, don’t worry it won’t last any longer than tomorrow night. Still, Michael will be happier knowing RAB(rancid auld bigot) Kevin’s on Radio Snyde agrees with Sellik TV’s Ginga Ninja, both Rangers’ awards were not penalties, and Motherwell were denied two stonewallers. Keeping good company there, Mike?

Good luck to him, hope he flourishes there.

It's a great problem to have. If everyone is fit, I'm not sure. But I am sure that he's in our strongest 11!

What a great find! Thanks for sharing.

The Palace/United game had 10 minutes added on time and as there were no apparent injuries all down to VAR it looks like. Extra minutes as much as that could throw fans travel plans int o dissaray.

Going for captain Tav.

I am glad we dont have it thank the lord for our tip top referees like Bobby Madden Kevin Clancy and dear old Wullie Collum ?

The Dier one had me fuming and I dont support either, or paricularly like Jose, but I fully understood his reaction to the decision

Yeh I hate it. Cheap penalties aren’t good for anyone.

Just so I nail my colours to the mast on a certain rule , this handball rule is killing football .

True, they'll be away rewriting the rules as we speak ?

SG got cited for less IMO.

My old grandfather an old horse racing man from Ireland once sat me down and told me all about his work with a racing stable in Ireland telling me what to look for in a horse and all about the joys of having a flutter . Well today at Newmarket seven races in total and seven races won by an Irish horse and I was fortunate enough to have six of them on .

Was watching Sky this afternoon and seen all afternoon that Killie were winning 1-0,imagine my surprise to see on STV news that St.Mirren shown as having won 1-0. Imagine some poor bugger tuning in thinking great my coupon's up.!!!!