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Dessers goal must be a contender for goal of the season. It doesn't need to be a 30 yard screamer of an acrobatic cart wheel. His goal was simply sublime.

Lundstram's pass for the first goal was excellent

Steve Davis was entitled to act similarly to Naismith and Whittaker. When he departed the club for Southampton, he insisted upon Rangers receiving a fee. A proper professional, a proper Ranger.

Or maybe the three. Actually, I was wrong to mention Baxter. He is unique. In old lineups there were two halfbacks, right and left regarded as part of the defence but playing in front of the back line. The ideal half back’s role was to break up opposing attacks, procure the ball and supply it to the forwards. Equally they were expected to defend inside their penalty box. The ability to drive forward into the opposition penalty box was a bonus. The perfect exponents were John Greig and Dave McKay. Stuart McCall did pretty much the same. More often, one half back was more defensive minded (Harry Davis, John Cumming) the other more forward going (Danny Blanchflower, Frank Beattie) Left or right didn’t matter. You would think that Tav would be an ideal attacking half back on the right. I just wonder if he needs his area of the field to be the modern right back position where he can see the trend of play and start his runs early. Standing further forward might impede those abilities. He would have to play four consecutive games at right half before we would know if it suits him.

I thought it was french for pineapple.

Three goals, three points, clean sheet, and all on an East coast January night. There was a bit of slackness, in passing, and movement/positional play, but the team was never really in trouble, and when it was, Spring-heeled Jack was there, as we have come to expect. Here's a question: what was the best goal of the three? They were all 'football' goals, different, and from different players. Yilmaz: great pass, great first touch, great finish. Cantwell: a terrific strike, controlled, and beautifully placed. Dessers: a subtle subterfuge, which sent several Hibees away for their tea. It did not quite reach the status of being 'disrespectful', more's the pity. I can't make up my mind. (I didn't think Dessers capable of such a finish, and I've belted and flayed him, with the rest of you, but the hat was off last night. Maybe there is a player there, after all.)

Thought he was MOTM again last night by some distance.

Said both were precautions - so assume both being out for 4-6 weeks 😀

Some years back my company had a Club Deck hospitality box for a few seasons. Willie Henderson and Davie Wilson were our hosts for a while and we had many good chats with them. I was always struck by their humility - there was never any pretentions or grandstanding, just two decent blokes who were as keen to have a laugh and talk about the team and the game as we were. The other one we had for a while that I always think of was Colin Jackson, who was just the nicest guy you could hope to meet.

I had a look at our league fixtures up to the next OF which is at home, these are the 11 fixtures: St Mirren (a) Livingston (h) Aberdeen (h) Ross County (h) St Johnstone (a) Hearts (h) Kilmarnock (a) Motherwell (h) Dundee (a) Hibernian (h) Celtic (h) So we're looking at 7 home fixtures in the next 11 games, with none of the so-called traditional tough aways either (Aberdeen,Hearts,Hibs). In fact, the only one I'd be trepid about is the Killie fixture because of the reverse and their form against the OF this season. What I'm getting at is that this is as good a setup for a title run in as you can get imo, we should really be going unbeaten in this 11 and aiming to beat Celtic at Ibrox. Obviously there's the issue that I wouldn't trust this team to beat Celtic in a game of Rock Paper Scissors but you've got to start somewhere. I still think we're well in this, even with a medical department run by Ronald McDonald. What do you guys think? Cheers.

one of these.

Great servant to this club and his country. A quiet legend.

A sad end to a wonderful career that he could not get one more game in front of the BEARS. Happy retirement Steven and good luck for the future.

Boulevard, surely; it's still Edinburgh.

So, is @Gonzo79 suggesting that, in 2024, a prince may NOT become a princess? Monstrous, if true.

Three great goals, but the Dessers one was pure class. Thought we had two honest penatly claims too. And Butland broke spoon burner hearts. Nice

I'm stressed enough about Saturday's fuxture without focusing on anything else.

I have related as a Primary schoolboy, often I sat with my Grandfather in the old section G of the Main Stand. There were some characters among the sea of raincoats and bunnets. One old chap had a hand made rickety(when is the last time a Gersnetter saw one) and would bellow when Henderson received the ball, "stick it in the bunion bag Wullie". As a ten year old I though he could not pronounce, 'onion'!

As an Edinburgh resident, I'm offended.

Boredom > Posit > Rumor > Speculation > Possibility > Near Certainty >>>>>Denied by club Repeat. People just get bored and talk shit. MANY of those people are in the 'press'.

Sterling looks like he could develop into being a cracking destroyer in midfield.

Never seen three better goals in one match. Cantwell, crash bang WALLOP. Yilmaz, crash, bang and a bit of skill for control. Dessers, if Sherlock Holmes played football he would have scored goals like that. Best of the three.

Dont even joke

If he can stay fit, yeah we could keep him. lets face it his stock at this point can only really go up.

Found all the ex-players to be really down to earth, a particular favourite being wee Doddie. I remember when growing up having a miniature Willie Henderson key ring. ha.

I thought we had a shout for a pen when Silva was brought down in the box in the 1st half??

100% makes such a massive difference compared to Greegs last season

Special mention to Butland who kept them out at some moments that could have changed the momentum of the game.

For the big moments and the butterfly effect that ensued/could ensue, Butland gets my vote. Probably one of the best free signings the clubs ever made.

Put away the cash box and soldier on with what we’ve got bringing back the injured should do it only one team to better and if we can’t do that then we deserve nothing keep the dosh for the summer signings Mon the gers.

I remember an end of season game when I invited a client to take his two kids and I took mine. After the game, Lorenzo Amoruso came into the box with the league trophy and was fabulous with the kids. He made sure everyone got their photo taken with him and holding the trophy (that's when I discovered just how heavy it is). He spend lots of time talking with the kids in a wee huddle. I was so grateful for his kindness, which I felt was entirely genuine. Players can do so much to create lifetime bonds between club and fans.

Super Jack for me with Lundstram next then Ridvan. I think the keeper kept us in the game early doors and made crucial saves at 2-0 and the match ended as a stroll in the park for us.

I think the problem we have is Sterling is showing up really well in midfield. Given how fragile Raskin and Jack are, he is better utilised there than at RB in my opinion.

Dessers - like most others before him - needed some time to adjust and does rather well. He's our only real striker though, who knows how much time Silva has to get going. Alas, we now have a squad that scores goals and does not rely on a Morelos, Colak etc.. All goals were well taken and Lawrence's IMHO should have stood. A few miss-haps in defence apart, this was a very sound performance. Lundstram covered the DM role excellently, clear MOTM performance. Anyone coming on did well too; you clearly see a difference between Matondo and Wright, as the former was rather erratic with his shooting, while the latter had two rasping efforts saved. Sterling will become a very important player for us, I just wonder where Diomande will play ... All in all, very sound.

Another offside call that looks suspiciously onside.

Butland saves us again

You note the quality, he thinks much faster than most around him ...

Watching South Africa v Tunisia, no white players in SA team! mind you they have been busy slaughtering whites in SA! genocide!.

True. Just like there will be people who'll claim he's shit.

"Transgender golfer Hailey Davidson faces testosterone tests after US win" It's only the gowf, I know, but let's be honest: it's only a man who can reasonably claim to be a transexual/transgender woman. Davidson has had the hormones and the surgery, but....really? I suppose the upside is that this guy won't be washing his balls in the locker room sink. Transgender golfer Hailey Davidson faces testosterone tests after US win Controversial triumph at Florida event prompts NXXT Women’s Pro Tour to survey other players about its gender policy Martyn Ziegler, Chief Sports Reporter Wednesday January 24 2024, 12.01am, The Time https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/transgender-golfer-hailey-davidson-faces-testosterone-tests-after-us-win-p9mwgnttm A women’s tour has asked a transgender golfer to undergo extra testosterone tests after she won an event in the United States — and will survey other players about its policy. Scotland-born Hailey Davidson, 30, who now lives in the US, became the first transgender golfer to win a professional tournament when she triumphed in the NXXT Women’s Classic Pro Tour event in Orlando, Florida. Davidson’s win has focused attention on golf’s policy that allows transgender players to take part in women’s events if they have had hormone treatment to reduce testosterone. The LPGA removed its “female at birth” condition for competitions in 2010, but has required reduced testosterone for a year and gender reassignment surgery. There has been criticism of the policy, including from Judy Murray, the mother of the tennis star Andy Murray, who tweeted in 2022 that it was “not fair at all” that Davidson could compete and potentially qualify for the LPGA Tour, before adding: “Protect women’s sport.” Stuart McKinnon, the chief executive of NXXT Golf, said it would seek the opinion of the circuit’s players and request that Davidson undergoes further testing. “Part of our commitment is ensuring an environment that is inclusive and safe for all members,” he said. “In light of recent events, we have initiated a poll among our tour players to gather their opinions on our gender policy. We believe it is vital to consider the perspectives of those directly affected by these policies. “Furthermore, in maintaining the integrity of our standards, we have requested Hailey Davidson to undergo additional testosterone testing to ensure compliance with the appropriate guidelines.” Davidson believes being born male no longer gives her any physiological advantages, and has said that she received death threats on social media after her victory. She said that she did not object to the survey, telling Golfweek: “At this point, we’re trying anything to see if we can cool the fire down a little.” Regarding the threats, she added: “It comes with the territory, I suppose. Someone who is at home really frustrated with themselves trying to take it out on me. If I don’t laugh, I’m going to be miserable.” Davidson began hormone treatments on September 24, 2015 — a date she has tattooed on her arm — and underwent gender reassignment surgery in January 2021.

England has a pyramid system, so going straight into the Championship is not going to happen. Other clubs and their supporters would, rightly, be against that. So if, and it's a big if, we were able to join the English league system it would be the Cumbrian Sunday League or similar, and we'd need to work our way up from there. The time to do that was 2012, I can't see it happening now. I think it's inevitable Rangers will eventually leave the Scottish league, but I doubt England will be our destination.