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A special mention for / to RTV tonight. Brilliantly presented by Emma Dodds, analysis from Walter, Souness and Neil McCann and commentary from CT and Super Ally. Setting a standard that national broadcasters could only dream of matching.

Young Patterson should be good enough to fill in now and then.

I noticed Andy Walker saying the other day how Celtic were currently burning cash. I suspect this is the main reason they need supporters returning. And I genuinely believe getting put out the CLQs has hit them harder than they’d admit. The picture of Liewell sitting in the stand with his head in his hands after getting put out by Ferencevaros may tell it’s own story. Let’s hope so...

I'd have taken that draw beforehand. Could have been a lot worse.

It seems we see the game very differently. Aribo has played in the midfield 3 every game at Rangers bar a run at the end of 2019 when I think we had inuries. He is a quality player so he did well further forward, but his natural position is as the most advanced player in the midfield 3. He has all the attributes for that role. As for Jones, I'm not sure how you can say that after Hagi's performance last night. Kent and Jones are like for like, Hagi offers something very different to both, he has the vision and final pass that both of them lack. It's no coincidence he currently has the most assists in the league and he's had 2 assists in 3 games in Europe too. He plays centrally for us, not as winger.

Rangers 2 - 1 Galatasaray MAÇ ÖZETİ VE GOLLERİ (Avrupa Ligi Play-Off Maçı) A good 10 minutes of highlights with different camera angles

We looked every inch a well coached outfit this evening. Hats off to Stevie, his staff and the players. More money in the bank, some good games to look forward to and further enhancement of a solid European reputation after the nadir of Progres. Well done to everyone involved. Onward and upward, starting on Sunday.

The State of the Nation. I have waited since Saturday to see if any fall out evolved from a couple of broadcasting points. I suspect collective discipline has been restored, temporarily? We know the Scottish Government’s Clinical Director, Jason Leitch has been regularly appearing on BBC Radio Scotland’s ‘Off the Ball’. I think it’s quite an astute move, allowing Leitch and his message to reach a differing audience and demographic. Despite DrStu’s constant attempts at politicising the weekly 45 minute slot, I think Leitch has mostly played with a straight bat? Anyways, on Saturday, just after Leitch’ s contribution; Cosgrove went into a minor rant. He felt general discipline in the country was beginning to break down, and folks were mistaken if they thought the end of Covid was in sight. Then, he got after some PQ colleagues, “people I work with, people who’s views I respect and admire, someone I agree with politically, are spouting views not helpful to the country’s wellbeing”. Off the Ball finished at 2 O’Clock, and Sportsound began. Big Dick introduced Michael Stewart, Tom English, and Billy Dodds. Sellik TV’s Ginga Ninja was revealed as the show’s VAR expert. Mikey launched into an appeal for crowds to be back at football in Scotland, as usual he did not understand the risk of folks viewing the beautiful game in the open air? Billy Dodds agreed, and Big Dick thought it was a decent argument. I realised what DrStu’ was getting at, Stewart’s line was straight from Peter’s mouth. It’s a bit of a give a way, Cosgrove revealing he knew what Stewart was going to say, an hour before it occurred. Last weekend, Cosgrove specifically questioned Leitch on Lennon’s plea that week for the return of crowds. The Lugan Bigot cited Kansas City playing in front of 18,000 the evening before. Leitch shot both the point and Lennon down, “ah don’t think referencing the USA in this current pandemic, is a good reference”. The Yahoos have been consistent on this drive, for whatever reason, they are determined to be allowed to host an attendance. We can speculate on sponsorship, corporate, or redundant disco lighting being the motive? The Michael Stewart aspect is not surprising, I have been told by a decent source that ra Sellik were attempting to get Stewart placed on the Sky Sport staff, over the last couple of years. Indeed, his James Traynor rant was deliberate, burning his bridges before moving on. Sky did not bite, and after several weeks in the wilderness, he signed up for Sellik TV and came back to a position of prominence on BBC Scotland. It’s only ten- twelve weeks past that Michael was telling us how valuable an asset Neil Doncaster, Shifty McGifty, and Rod the Fraud were to Scottish football. Maybe, some of the a Gang Hut could remind Mikey that those three cost Scottish football in excess of three-quarters of a million quid per annum. Surely, they should be persuading government of the Scottish football case, and they could find a national and league sponsor while they are at it, and we know, they’re at it. It’s time for PQ to decide what’s most important, what Peter wants, or the National Health? Michael has made his decision, Cosgrove is telling us so.

What is it they say ,the first yards in your head

Just hearing that if we beat Benfica we get to put Portugal on our mantlepiece.

For the type of game he plays Hagi doesn’t need pace over the ground. Ian McMillan wouldn’t have won many footraces but his feet were quick in a tight space and so was his brain hence the ability to release the killer pass.

LASK battered sporting lisbon last night.. Qarabag are no mugs now either, regular European team now, they also battered legia warsaw last night 3.0 away from home.

What a performance that was. Absolutely buzzing still 12 hours later! After a very even first half, we really stepped it up beginning of second half. The passing movement for both our goals was so quick and precise, that is clearly the result of hours of coaching drills by the backroom staff. Great play and deft finish for Arfield for the first goal. Taveniers position for the second is outrageous! As Walter said, that was no late full back run, he was almost loitering with intent, completely ignored by Turkish defence! The cheap goal we gave away made for a nervous ending. Jack was definitely heading that off the line had McGregor not diverted it! Not that it matters much now. A final plaudit for RTV. Best £15 I've spent in a long time! What a great pundit line up and professional commentary accompaniment. Great when Gerrard joined them at end. His humble deference to Souness & Smith "large shoes to fill" says it all about our manager.

Gerrard seems to agree, but I would actually rather see an attacking midfielder brought in. In CM, we have Jack, Kamara, Arfield, Aribo, Davis. In AM, we have Kent, Hagi, Jones, Barker Stewart. You could argue Roofe, but I'm concerned about his injury record. For me, in centre mid two injuries aren't devastating. In fact we have just made the EL groups with injuries to our two most important centre mids, Aribo and Jack. Two injuries to your two most important AMs would leave you with Jones and Barker/Stewart. We need more quality on the bench surely. Some games really suit Kent and not Hagi. Others suit Hagi and not Kent. If you had a quality AM on the bench you could bring him on when it's clear things just aren't working for one of those two.

I can only assume that the SFA is holding back publication because the longer the delay, the lesser the impact. Perhaps it hopes that -people involved (perpetrators, their enablers, their protectors, and their victims) die in the interim, or -pederasty, etc. is legalised by the Scottish Parliament. In any event, I'd lay £1 to £100K that it will be the whitest of whitewash jobs, and that it will deflect attention from the nest of predators and their pals in and around O'Merta FC, and spread the blame. Here's the report from today's Times: Victims’ anger after SFA delays sexual abuse report again Marc Horne Friday October 02 2020, 12.01am, The Times https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/scotland/victims-anger-after-sfa-delays-sexual-abuse-report-again-0gvshk5qd Malcolm Rodger, spokesman for the survivors’ group Settle the Score, said the delay caused “unnecessary pain and suffering to those individuals who were brave enough to come forward and give evidence” The author of a report into sexual abuse within football claims he is being kept in the dark by the sport’s authorities over their failure to publish his findings. The document, commissioned by the Scottish Football Association, was due to be released in 2018 but has been held back on numerous occasions, provoking anger and frustration from survivors who gave evidence. Martin Henry, chairman of the Independent Review into Sexual Abuse in Scottish Football, said he had handed over the finalised report to the SFA some months ago and was assured it would be made public before the end of September. He said he had been given no explanation for the latest delay. “The report was submitted in the summer and is now in the hands of the SFA,” he said. “It is up to them to comment on why it hasn’t been released.” A source close to the investigation said: “We were told it would definitely be released in September but it never materialised. I can fully understand why the survivors are puzzled, concerned and frustrated. Obviously there are issues, but we are not party to what these issues are.” Johann Lamont, the former Scottish Labour leader and co-convener of Holyrood’s cross-party group of adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse, said that any further delays were unacceptable. “I am gravely concerned that this serious and important report has not yet been published,” she said. “Survivors need to know that there has been a thorough investigation and we all need to have the confidence that lessons will be learnt. “The SFA must make a firm commitment not just to publish but to provide a deadline by which that commitment will be delivered.” The report was originally delayed to allow a number of court cases, linked to historic sex abuse with football, to be completed. More recently survivors have been told its release had been held back because of the pandemic. Survivors and their representatives have suggested that the SFA and other prominent Scottish football institutions are looking to sideline a report that will highlight their historic failures — and could have consequences for scores of legal cases. Malcolm Rodger, spokesman for the survivors’ group Settle the Score, said: “Every additional delay causes further unnecessary pain and suffering to those individuals who were brave enough to come forward and give evidence. “The SFA’s remarkable reluctance to publish raises questions over whether their main priority is protecting their own reputation rather than vulnerable youngsters.” Patrick McGuire, a partner with Thompsons solicitors, which is representing six people who were abused by SFA officials and dozens more who were attacked while playing for senior and junior clubs, said: “Perhaps it’s time for the Scottish government to impress upon the SFA the need for this report to be made public now in its original form without edit or redaction.” The Times understands that the final report will recommend that the SFA and a host of prominent clubs, including Celtic, Motherwell, Hibernian and Rangers, must acknowledge past failures to protect vulnerable children and teenagers. The SFA did not respond to a request for comment.

When you have proper football teams trying to play football and you have unbiased refs, unlike the cheating agenda driven refs we have to put up with in Scotland, it shows how good a team we are.

Some very good scores this round. Correct Result (1 pt): Everyone who entered, except two, who were a little pessimistic. Correct Number of Rangers Goals (1pt): Rousseau, One, compo, Stevie, Yorkie, BEAR, Ian, Dado, BHB, MacK, BD, gs, 26th, cammyF, FS, T-1000, TB and r_s. FGS (2 pts): Franc. Correct Score (3 pts): One, compo, MacK, gs, 26th, CammyF, FS, T-1000, TB and r_s. Latest Standings:

Like us all I'm sure, I'm just so fucking damn proud and buzzing. Sure we all seen a few Turks on SM giving it the big "We're coming". Well, now you're going...home empty handed! Superb performance with 2 great goals that command respect for any neutral looking. I think anyone who aims unfair criticism at Tav going forward really should take a step back and remember. A fantastic performance again by the skipper who I think is hitting his peak. Yes, he is going to fuck up but his positives FAR outweigh the negatives and I'm delighted for him as much as any. Scotty Arfield, what can I say except I was wrong to think he was done. A class above at times. Playing with smarts, guile, confidence and swagger. Well done lads, you've made my Friday here in Melbourne absolutely brilliant and it's only 7.30am with me still having to do a hard day's graft at work. Don't care though, cause we are the people!

BT have the rights so it will only be on there. We won't be able to buy it on RTV.

Celtic's clamour for supporter's to be allowed back is eye-catching. I'm not sure allowing say 10,000 back into a 60,000 seat stadium would enhance the atmosphere much, so this can only be about the money. Celtic promised their season ticket holders exclusive access to Celtic matches being shown on their in-house TV. Unlike Rangers, where anyone can purchase on a match to match basis, currently the casual Celtic supporter, or supporter of whoever they're playing, can't. People who claim to know about these things tell me this has been quite successful for Rangers from a revenue perspective. Perhaps Celtic need to allow some fans in so they can break their agreement with their own season ticket holders. Surely getting those in power to allow supporters to return is beyond even their lobbying skills??

Happy with the draw. Benfica will be tough but we have a good record vs Portuguese teams of late, and we seem to perform well in big games so for me they will be two great tests of where we are as a team. As for Liege and Poznan, they will no doubt pose problems but I fancy us to get points on the Board there. You would take our draw ahead of theirs every day of the week.

It is the normal 6 game group stage, so we play each side home and away. First games are on 22 October, then the next 2 Thursdays, a 3 week break then the last 3 games on consecutive Thursdays.

All you can ever hope for is a group that gives us a reasonable chance of progressing and I think we definitely got that. Thankfully there are no mega-journeys to far flung hellholes. Edit - wouldn't it be funny if £40m signing Alfredo Morelos scored a hat trick for Lille to sink them at Parkhead. You can dream.

Aye, but those 3 teams will be delighted at drawing such a "big gun" in Pot 1! The only reason they are there because FOUR higher ranked teams went out last night! I'll be really surprise if they qualify from that group! Bring on the Disco Lights ?

Decent group / draw. No stand-out ties but happy with that group.

Celtic Sparta Prague Milan Lille That's a tough group considering they were in Pot 1

Kamara for me. He was outstanding. And when we weren't playing well I felt he was the only one of the three midfielders not making mistakes. He was also making positive forward passes. Tavernier and Hagi would be next. Hagi was another who didn't make mistakes when we weren't playing well, his vision and passing is a huge asset but some of our fans still get hung up on his lack of pace.

"Close"? I'm pleased to see him get some plaudits. I feel like I've been on my own in praising his performances.

This Europe thing is a piece of p*sh, eh? Superb.

Hagi for me. He seems to be made for the European stage.

Another superb Euro result. First half was scrappy but second period really was first class at times, typified by two excellent goals. Late consolation was frustrating but team reacted well and were comfortable as Gala went direct for last few mins. Gerrard, his staff and the players really deserve a lot of praise for qualifying three years in a row.

It's a positive message to put out obviously but the footage is now a bit stale and needs a rework. The ventriloquist fella is very good though. Glad we welcome talented showbusiness people of all types to Ibrox; Souness even has a magician's scarf on in that photo Ian posted above.

That would be like strangling the Milky Bar Kid.