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Showing content with the highest reputation on 06/05/22 in Posts

  1. The second was such a Kamara goal. In a cauldron of ferocious atmosphere, with a European Final on the line, Kamara, so laid back, just passes it into the bottom corner from 20 yards out.
    5 points
  2. Spot the difference and you can almost hear the 1st photo
    4 points
  3. Just a wee side note, I thought Bassey was also immense considering his age and where he was playing.
    4 points
  4. Nearly voted for Ryan Jack, who I thought had his best game for a while until injured, but in the end I couldn't look beyond Connor Goldson. We're really going to miss this guy if he goes this summer.
    3 points
  5. Every week I follow the same routine, wait for team news go on to Billy Hills do a first scorer and correct score an stick a tenner on it then same scorer and score anytime and a fiver on that. For some reason this week I broke with routine and posted on here early. Went onto Billy Hills as I'd a fiver free bet that was going to expire so went to put on my prediction but thought about and opted for 3-1 instead so a most welcome return of £350 for my "free" fiver and a rather delightful £2510 return for my tenner. So Seville all covered, if you bump into me in Southern Spain identify yourself and I'll treat you to a libation or two! 🙂
    3 points
  6. Are you suggesting our best players should have no game time for 2 weeks? That would be a good way to guarantee losing the final. Rest a couple each league game but the players need to keep playing.
    2 points
  7. All credit to Nostradamus and his top-drawer prophecies, but as impressive as he was when predicting the Great Fire of London and the coming of the French Revolution, not even the big man could have foretold this gobsmacking Rangers story. After the momentous events of Thursday at Ibrox, we are now deep in the realms of the sublimely surreal. Having started their European campaign with one win from six games, Rangers are going to Seville for a Europa League final against the 11th best team in Germany - on current standings - having already eliminated the second and fifth best. In the beginning, there were 32 teams in the group phase. Now, only two are left. Napoli, Lazio and Atalanta are gone. Borussia Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen and RB Leipzig are gone. Barcelona, Sevilla, Real Betis and Real Sociedad are gone. Lyon, Marseille and Monaco are gone. Porto are gone. Three of the top seven clubs in Italy were eliminated, so were three of the top five in Germany, four of the top six in Spain, three of the top seven in France, and the top club in Portugal. As stellar as they all are, there's no sign of them. It's just Rangers and Eintracht Frankfurt. The team that hasn't won a European trophy in 50 years plays the team that hasn't won one in 42 years. It's all so refreshing and so utterly remarkable. The bookmakers make the Germans the favourites. Given what Rangers have done to Dortmund - 24 points ahead of Eintracht in the Bundesliga - and Leipzig - 14 points ahead - where they're coming from is anybody's guess. We checked with 17 significant players in the odds-laying world and all 17 had Eintracht at the head of the market. As excellent as Eintracht have been in the Europa League, Rangers, with their indomitable will, must be considered favourites in the real world. Let's write that again for emphasis, because it's such a striking thing to say. Forget about the bookies and just study the football - Rangers must be considered favourites in the Europa League final. Nostradamus' whiskers would have been twitching at the fantastic improbability of all of this. In seeing off Leipzig, they once again showed astonishing levels of composure and heart in what was their 60th game of the season. They had no recognised striker fit enough to play and yet scored twice in the opening half hour - and should have had a third - against a side with the second best defensive record in the Bundesliga. They were going through at that point. Then they were going to extra time when Christopher Nkunku scored midway through the second half. Then it looked as if they might be going out as they started to wobble under Leipzig pressure. 'Every one of those players stepped up' What happened next will be spoken about for as long as football is played at Ibrox. Locked together at 2-2 on aggregate with 10 minutes to go, there was the real prospect of another 120-minute night for Rangers - it would have been their third in 22 days as part of a run during which they have played nine times in little over a month. Every Rangers fan on the planet would have been hypnotised by what was going on in front of them, every last one of them a tortuous amalgam of emotions, incapable of taking their eyes off the action while suffering through every second. Incredibly, the picture changed again when John Lundstram scored to make it 3-1. You almost had to rub your eyes to make sure it had actually happened. Rangers had looked tired and increasingly vulnerable, but they found something extra, something that hit Leipzig square between the eyes and knocked them out. Lundstram has become a towering presence in this team and his goal will only add another layer to his legend. The truth is, though, that on the biggest night at Ibrox in 50 years and in the biggest game of these Rangers' players lives, they produced a performance of power and substance, a display of the ages. Every one of them stepped up. For the fifth time in Europe this season, James Tavernier got Rangers' opening goal. Leipzig would have known all about his freakish menace from full-back, but knowing what he can do is not the same as being able to stop him doing it. Once it would have been heresy to compare any Rangers right-back to the great Sandy Jardine, but we're inching into acceptable territory with Tavernier now. Just as Jardine scored the opening goal against Bayern Munich the last time Ibrox hosted a European semi-final, second leg, so did Tavernier half a century on. What a force of nature he is. It was his seventh goal of the tournament - he's the competition's leading scorer - his 16th of the season and his 35th in his last 100 games. 'Relentless Rangers show character again' The notion that Leipzig would get spooked by the Ibrox noise seemed a touch fanciful in the preamble. It was easy to see how Rangers would get inspired by the commotion in their own stadium, but Leipzig cowed by it? This is a team that has gone to pretty formidable places in Germany and beyond, a club full of respected players linked with moves to Manchester United and Barcelona, PSG and Juventus, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur. Even if the fees reported are only half right, the numbers are outrageous. And yet they are a side that has lost two German Cup finals (4-1 and 3-0) and one Champions League semi-final (3-0). They might have class, but they also have a glass jaw. We suspected that before and we know it to be true now. When Glen Kamara coolly slotted Rangers' second goal, the idea of Leipzig losing their nerve didn't seem so outlandish. They should have been three down after half an hour, Joe Aribo missing his connection from three yards out. Leipzig's body language told of a team that was shellshocked, like a fighter shipping blows in clusters and not knowing what to do next. This was Rangers doing what they did in Germany - controlled fury, harrying their opponents at every turn - but there was an added flourish in attack. Every time they moved forward, they looked dangerous. You watched them playing like this and scratched your head at the memory of them dropping so many points domestically. Giovanni van Bronckhorst sat in the stand at Hampden watching the players he was about to inherit concede three goals in 38 minutes against Hibernian in the League Cup semi-final in November. Now look where he is. In what has been an emotional week in a profoundly sad season off the field - the death of their much-loved kitman Jimmy Bell following on from the loss of one of their greatest managers, Walter Smith, in October - Rangers people might find comfort in the belief that they had help from on high in the closing minutes. Something propelled them forward, that's for sure. When they can't have had much left in their legs - the crowd, the celestial, who knows - picked them up and drove them on. They were relentless. They've shown this side of their character so many times of late. The biggest game of their season, and their century, is less than two weeks away. Football has a spectacular capacity to upset a narrative, so we say this with all respect to the footballing Gods and their infinite powers to ruin a great story, but there's a hint of the unstoppable about Rangers now.
    2 points
  8. Lots of players deserve praise for last night but I think Sakala deserves a mention. I thought he was very good. Many have questioned his ability to play centre forward and hold up the ball. He did that as well as cause them headaches with his pace, I thought he was very good. I thought he should have started both games, but he more than did his bit off the bench.
    2 points
  9. Also worth noting, our starting 11 last night cost a "staggering" £13M - and half of that was for Ryan Kent.......
    2 points
  10. That Benzema photo makes me feel physically sick. I hate what the big leagues have done to football.
    2 points
  11. Only Gold and high (1,400 points or above) Silver MyGers members are likely to get tickets through the club. The other options are the UEFA ballot (first one already out, second one due today) or via touts/ticket sites, where the prices are already £1.5k and over (for a single ticket)
    2 points
  12. Gio needs to adapt his tactics to the Scottish game. It took Gerrard a while to be able to get there and it's taking Gio that too. Hopefully he'll see what works and what doesn't but he's shown enough in Europe to suggest that he's a good coach.
    2 points
  13. Not sure gunslinger. The players and squad should be managed accordingly but resting our first XI for 2 weeks will not do us any favours IMO.
    2 points
  14. I think we have to remember he came in mid season and had to gain the trust of a bunch of players who had a very strong bond with the previous manager. There have been too many silly points dropped but let's not aim everything at Gio. In many games the players let themselves down with sitters and terrible defending. Either way, I've seen more than enough to want to see how he does with some of his own additions.
    2 points
  15. I would love for us to be part of the Red Bull organisation; an affiliate. That doesn't mean I want us to be RB Rangers - far from it. I believe there are a few clubs that are affiliates but not completely re-branded in that way. However, to tap into that coaching network, the tactical philosophy that is reproduced at all of their clubs, and their recruitment network would be invaluable. It would allow us to bridge, partly, the financial gap. I think it's the future of football, for better or worse: you've got City Group doing it, and I'm pretty sure there's another but the name escapes me, to go along with Red Bull too. I know it's seen as plastic, but I don't think you can argue with the knowledge-base they've built and the brand of football they put on the pitch, from New York Red Bulls to Salzburg to Leipzig. Probably not the time to mention this, though...
    2 points
  16. The Kamara role and the game he played was genius. Aribo was also amazing at leading the press and playing that pressing #9 role. We lost much of the pressing that worked for us when he went off. Hat off to the manager and his team last night was an incredible tactical victory over a side with incredible talent. N'Kunku and Gvardiol will go on to play for elite eruo clubs.
    2 points
  17. This would be my team v Dundee Utd: McCrorie; Polish RB, Sands, King, Barasic; Davis, Ramsey; Amad, Lowry, Wright; Itten. Only Wright and Barasic cannot be rested. Let's give the youngsters their heads. Should still be good enough to beat Utd. Priority is to keep the likely side injury-free and fresh for the final. Re Itten, anybody else notice him standing looking forlorn while everybody else was celebrating?
    1 point
  18. Get friendly with the right West Ham supporter.
    1 point
  19. Has to be Lundstrum, a magnificent performance, and his turnaround from the Sheffield United player who cost us at Tannadice and stunk the place out in his first few appearances to the one who has grown in front of our eyes in the last couple of months has been quite incredible to watch. I thought he was immense, ahead of magnificent performances from Tav (as usual), Bassey, Kamara and of course McGregor who apart from one magnificent save also killed tons of time off the clock with his antics which I love to watch, and marshalled his defence superbly. Imagine what we could have looked like with Alfie on top form as well and Hagi Roofe and Ramsay fit and playing a part.
    1 point
  20. Deeply proud of the Club, blown away by the power of our supporters. Trying to understand the magnitude of this 9 year journey and what these players achieved last night. As much as anything, desperate for us to take that one last step in the final.
    1 point
  21. Kennedy is a ranger fan. I am starting suspect he set us up to win with his dossier.
    1 point
  22. There is one item that guarantees you NOT to travel to Seville - a John Kennedy Dossier.
    1 point
  23. I was being, almost, tongue in cheek. I certainly would have reservations about Rangers becoming RBRangers, but I should take sponsorship and advertising monies from them. I think that, overall, the Club has to try to capitalise on its current Euro celebrity.
    1 point
  24. 4.6 million euros for the runner up in the final. 8.6 million for the winner.
    1 point
  25. If you read up on what Red Bull did to Salzburg, you wouldn't want them anywhere near us.
    1 point
  26. See my response on the Seville thread (UEFA, Rangers or touts).
    1 point
  27. Is it true, you attend Suvul and are given a calculator?
    1 point
  28. 16 mins highlights from German TV (you might have to activate VPN or the like)
    1 point
  29. Maybe somebody should chap on Red Bull's door.... 'Why do you waste your time and money with these simpering shills in Leipzig, when you could invest in some Real Men, down Govan way ?'
    1 point
  30. Could we not get Irn Bru money? IB Rangers has a certain 'je ne sais quoi' don't you think?
    1 point
  31. Highlight from last night...Big John doing a Tardelli (circa 1982 WC) after the goal went in.
    1 point
  32. I'm sure I read you have to win it to get EL qualification, so nope.
    1 point
  33. It's ridiculous to only pick one, the effort from everyone was extraordinary and it's not just emotion to say every single player made a significant contribution. If I have to pick one I'm going for Tav. Not only for his goal, but for his leadership, his overall performance was superb and also because his journey is Boys Own stuff. On top of all that he was our best player last night.
    1 point
  34. Emotion aside...I think Gio played a tactical blinder last night considering the cards he had been dealt. I also think that applies to many of the other big games of late. He's also shown enough tactical awareness to adapt in game which was not always Gerrards best quality.
    1 point
  35. what a night nearly 4 am before i got to sleep. just noticed at the last goal Goldson was fouled in the build up. I wonder if we would have got a pen from VAR if we hadn't scored. He was screaming at the ref while Kent was skinning his man.
    1 point
  36. Went for Lundstram but there were several worthy candidates.
    1 point
  37. I would add Adams, Olmo and Szoboszlai (just coming back from injury) to that list too. Talented side. That's the recruitment and player development model we should be trying to emulate. OK--we don't have Red Bull money, but we can still look at young players based on the stats, and pick up some that are underrated. The important thing, then, is giving them time and extended runs in the team. (We also need a solid tactical system into which they can play a part - and a coach with the ability to utilise them. GvB is not bad in that regard.) Bassey is the perfect example. Again, so many were writing him off. He always had the physical attributes, but lacked in certain areas, like positioning and tactical awareness. He's learning, though - and it wouldn't have happened if he hadn't been given a run in the team.
    1 point
  38. I have a ticket for the final booked and a flight from Manchester to alicante on the 17th and nothing else. Still some work to do
    1 point
  39. Feel like last night was a dream. Did it actually happen? Had to tune into Talk sport to confirm. Adrian Durham saying last night was the best atmosphere he's ever experienced in his 40 plus years watching football. I'm still not convinced it happened?
    1 point
  40. Wow! Wow! And fucking wow! I'm not a superstitious fellow by any stretch, but maybe, just maybe, the shades of Sir Walter Smith and Jimmy Bell were on hand tonight to see us through to the Final. And, in Seville, maybe, just maybe, the shade of Jock Wallace will be on hand, again, as he was for Porto, in 2003.
    1 point
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