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I hope that you don't intend to charge Mr Gerrard for supplying this team-talk.

I've seen quite a bit of that, and to try and equate the two is just sick and trivialises the racism that the likes of Kamara and others regularly receive. It is points scoring and those who use it should have a good look at themselves and realise that their bitterness is downplaying the racism that some black people have to regularly suffer. I've also seen the claims of anti-Irish racism and couldn't get my head around how Rangers fans were racist against the Irish. The "Why don't you go home" chant could be levelled against us, but it's not been sung for many years as far as I'm aware, and it seems to me that it was sarcasm and aimed at Scots who pretend to be Irish, rather than Irish people themselves. I couldn't think of other songs/chants that were anti-Irish. I guess from what Rick is saying they're trying to claim the use of "f*nian" is in some way anti-Irish. As the argument is using the political meaning of the word then that's the same logic as claiming that our "fuck the SNP" chant is anti-Scottish. There still is racism out there, although thankfully nowhere near as bad as it was 30 years ago, but the attempts to link it to Rangers fans is downplaying it and allowing the actual racists more oxygen to continue their bile.

Well done Rick. Attempting to add a few drops of paint to the wide canvas of sectarianism is brave, the Curators will take note and throw another couple of tins of revisionism upon the minor changes. The Curators framed the canvas some 30-40 years past and have been adding multiple coats of primer ever since. The F term is a case in point, it is sectarian, decreed and no doubts about it. The Curators do not address New York's CSC, 'the Unrepentant F----- Bastards CSC', or former Sellik Chair's statement, "I am a proud F-----" or George Galloway's eulogy to Jimmy Wray MP, "he was a bold F----- man". It's a most particular gallery, you only get to look if you agree to look the right way. An accompanying leaflet explaining the right way is included in the price of entry. I note today Jum Spence has Tweeted an advert for Graham Spiers latest Podcast, it's an hour of conversation between ra Bhoy in Corduroy and Jum. Of course, there's a price of entry to hear Jum's "life at BBC Scotland whilst attracting the Rangers online lynch mob". I assume I was a member of that lynch mob, I questioned Jum's demand for Rangers to be fully prosecuted, whilst being stripped of their proceeds of crime. Jum assured us on national radio, "I know this, I lectured on Law for a decade". My question to the pompous prick was, 'what crime'? BBC Scotland dispensed of Jum's services twice because on matters Rangers, he could NOT be accurate, therefore could NOT be objective. We are still waiting on Jum to tell us the crime committed and by whom? I am sure Jum is watching the process of malicious prosecutions currently going through the Scottish courts. Talking of lynching, how about those nine members of the Green Brigade charged with Breach of the Peace after hanging two effigies from the roof of the North Stand, replete in Rangers tops and orange collarettes? On their second appearance in court, the PF announce ALL evidence had been lost, the trial was discontinued. The Justice Minister announced an official investigation. Three years and we are still waiting for the report. What will occur first, the report will be published or Jum will specify the crime committed by Rangers? Art movements tend to disappear because they evolve into bloated nonsense. Now, both Spiers and Spence are fully qualified Lecturers in Bloated Nonsense.

As I said on FF why not Greg Stewart surely not as lightweight as Hagi.

Every time we play ra Sellik, we field 12 players. Of course, one of our players wears all black. Wullie Collum, Kevin Clancy, Nick Walsh, .......... etc

We are, it's gone. We've lost that fight. But it's important we learn from it. Understand what's happened. Maybe even balance things up.

From what I can see (and maybe that isn't a great deal) the Scottish Government adopts whatever values it can use against those it feels threatened by.

Man Utd are in the final. If they got Cavani 5 years ago he'd have surpassed 100 goals for them - what a striker he is. I wonder if they win it does the 5th place Premier team get into the CL. Hopefully thats the way West Ham get in but how bad would it be if thats the case and Liverpool end up in the CL due to Man Utd. Villarreal must be kicking themselves conceding.

Back in 64/65 in England United had won the league and in their last home match the players were waiting for the team talk from Busby and it was get out there turn it on and enjoy yourselves that's what we should be doing on Sunday

Just trying to cram as many into midfield as possible. As i said....pish poor on tactics and it would appear arithmetic.... ?

Not sure Celtic will be happy with us playing with 12 players...

Just go out and go on all out attack from the first whistle two strikers up top two players playing like bandy leg wingers feeding them with crosses cut backs one twos and hammer this horrid bunch once and for all And dont forget to polish up our shooing boots sometimes think they are scared to have a buzz at the opposition goal. Tora Tora Tora that's the nip word for tiger and I would attack them like tigers ?

I like Bill's suggestion about possibly flooding the midfield as this is their only strong area IMO. Having both Kamara and Davis sitting will give our full backs their usual license to fill the wide areas with a suggestion to play Kent and Morelos up front playing more centrally. I do have concerns about our central defender Simpson, hopefully it will be the making of him. Being an ex goalie i'm piss poor at the tactical side of the game but i'd go with; McGregor Tav Goldson Simpson Barisic Aribo Davis Kamara Wright Morelos Kent

Racism bigotry sectarianism I would bet that if we could fast forward a century these same ugly problems will still be rearing their ugly heads

That’s always been my view. If someone’s forever blabbering on about “their dear land across the sea” what’s wrong with asking the question?

You're obviously correct and it's sometimes used in that way, but to equate it to being anti-Irish, I'm presuming that the political definition is in use. I'm also not trying to argue that it's sole use is political. I've heard it often enough in a sectarian way over the years.

I have no time at all for UEFA or the Scottish government (and fully respect the opinions of Bluedell, Frankie and Rick Roberts) but I get the feeling we're pissing in the wind, to a large extent.

Crvena Zvezda have been punished with a full stadium closure because a chap in hospitality shouted an ethnic slur at Ibrahimovic, during their recent (closed doors) EL match with Milan. The Balkan situation (particularly between Serbs and Bosniaks) isn't entirely different to the one in NI/Scotland, where racial distinctions are negligible and the hatred is more based on religious affiliation. Regardless of what you or I think, UEFA view sectarianism on a par with racism. Additionally, the Scottish Government view the term 'F*nian' as a sectarian, not a political, term.

Yep, i'm guess i'm trying to point out the agendas and contortions involved. The goal was always to get us in trouble, by any means possible, and less with how that's achieved or any double-standards. Ultimately, we have to be smart and wisen up. This one's always going to be a loaded gun. No doubt they'll invent new and imaginative ways to catch us out in the future.

There are a few embedded tweets etc in the next so you're better using the link to read. As usual excellent stuff from @Rick Roberts!

Here's a (defensive) consideration about changing the borders of the main league systems. If things go tits up at the moment in the financial landscape of football, for whatever reason, then we still have a home. If we leave the Scottish game and embark on a trans-national experiment and things fall apart, we could/would end up back in 2012. As someone said earlier, change keeps on happening - even after change happens. The world of money is becoming ever more volatile and uncertain. A TV company or a group of major sponsors changing course could quickly scupper a new league system based on and entirely dependent upon its ability to generate enhanced funding. That's not to say we shouldn't have ambitions but, unless you're already one of the elite few, I think it would be wise to adopt a more cautious position where experimental league systems are concerned. What glisters is rarely gold.

I think Aribo's problem is if he isn't creating chances he looks like he isn't doing anything. Hagi's like that too. I actually think both work hard when they don't have the ball and their movement creates space for others, but a lot of that is unseen and not always appreciated. Aribo was great against Celtic a couple of weeks ago, then less effective against a very defensive St Johnstone, but the whole side struggled to break St Johnstone down. I think to many of us look to Aribo, Kent and Hagi to provide the spark and inventiveness that wins those types of games.