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The Martin Ramsay book that came out a few months ago about the title winning season of 86/87 is worth a read for a number of reasons. I thought I remembered this season well. I was mid-teens, going to game regularly, leaving school and getting on in the world. Rangers had not had a good side for most of my time actively supporting them. Decline under Greig followed by false dawns and further decline under Jock Wallace, the players at Rangers simply weren't good enough. Then Souness was appointed manager. One thing I forgot about that season that Ramsay's book really brings into focus was just how many of that title winning side were at the club before Souness and Smith were appointed. Indeed it's no exaggeration to say that it was basically the previous season's side plus Woods, Butcher and Souness himself. Jimmy Nicholl rejoined, but he'd been at Rangers before. Graham Roberts joined during the season and became a first team regular, but new players like Jimmy Phillips, Neil Wood and Colin West made little impact. The real story of that season is how introducing 3 very good players transformed the side and lifted the existing players to heights they previously couldn't reach. Players I could have sworn had left the club that summer, like Cammy Fraser and Dougie Bell, actually played a decent amount of matches that season. The core of the squad that nearly finished 6th the season before won the league in style. Players like Davie McPherson, Stuart Munro, Derek Ferguson, Ted McMinn and Bobby Fleck along with Davie Cooper, Ian Durrant and of course Ally McCoist became a title winning side. Cooper aside none of that group of players were hitting any kind of highs in their careers prior. I guess what I'm trying to say is we don't have to rip everything up. There are weaknesses in our squad, but its core is capable of winning the League Cup, reaching the Scottish Cup Final, the last 16 in Europe and taking the title to the final weeks. Some judicious improvement might be all that's required.

Goodbye, then.

What do you suggest - Always look on the bright side of life?

First thing to go would be that Tina Turner song Simply the best we have a nerve playing that stupid song

Absolutely. I think Clement has been a bit of a victim of his own success, I mean no one had us anywhere near the title when he came in, then we gave him zero budget in january, but now we're disappointed as it feels like we chucked a very good position - that his management took us to.

No doubt both sets of supporters will find plenty to moan about. Hopefully there's a handball or a foul on one of our players in their box, Collum doesn't give a penalty and then VAR intervenes and it's ultimately given and Tav puts it away. I really like it when that happens and I think that'll make it twelve on the trot, so we've got a dozen from the doyen.

Cantwell can complain all he wants but fact is he flits around on the outskirts of games and rarely gets involved. Sometimes, that's not his fault as we don't move the ball quickly enough to players in space but, other times, his use of the ball when he does get it is mediocre at best.

ManU currently 4 - 0 down at Palace, after 86mins. A total shambles, although Palace has played well, and attractively, scored some cracking goals, and thoroughly deserves this emphatic win.

The Sash would be good.

I hear Peter told Neil to get a tenner on William Hill being the SPFL's next sponsor?

Johnny Cash (Nine Inch Nails), Hurt.

If Willie Collum says it's not a penalty, it's not a penalty. VAR can recommend all they like, our Willie will not be moved.

This Wille Collum?....

Cantwell is talented. Football is a team game. Cantwell is not a great team player. This is why I said he was rubbish before.

Prob a few more than four, but not vastly more. When Silva isn't playing the average age has dropped to 22! Against Spurs 14 of the squad were injured, but the 17 and 18 year olds that came on did well.

Looks like Everton may enter Administration before this is finished? 777 have had offices raided and looks like will fail the owners test, leaving the current owners who have run out of money. Not sure if the board had any other groups interested Compo?

With 5 goals and 4 assists in 28 games this season, Cantwell has massively under-performed. His stats are here on ESPN: https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/243380/todd-cantwell

Northern Ireland defender Paddy McNair has confirmed he will be leaving Middlesbrough this summer and a move to Rangers is likely to appeal for the 29-year-old, who is a boyhood fan of the Ibrox side. (Belfast Telegraph) A move to Rangers would "appeal to me" too, so I can whip some tactical sense into the management team ...

If this is what we get from Cantwell when he is subbed, what will be his philosophical thoughts when he is dropped? Clement talks of collective with regards to the team and how the performance of an individual is secondary to that of the team. Cantwell has been subbed before when he was not doing as he was instructed to do. 1 more strike and he may be out.

I'm not really interested in what players put on their social media profiles but Cantwell has been a bit of a let down and rarely does anything in big games, so I wouldn't be too fussed if we sell him in the Summer.

"Erik ten Hag under consideration by Bayern Munich" You gotta laugh. From FC Holyrood (a total clusterfuck, where no one knows what they are doing) to FC Holywood (not quite yet a total clusterfuck, but trying hard, and where everyone knows they are a superstar). After last night, mind..... Erik ten Hag under consideration by Bayern Munich Deposed Bundesliga champions make contact with Manchester United manager as they search for a replacement for Thomas Tuchel Constantin Eckner Monday May 06 2024, 7.00pm, The Times Ten Hag coached Bayern’s reserve team in Germany’s fourth division between 2013 and 2015 Erik ten Hag under consideration by Bayern Munich (thetimes.co.uk) Bayern Munich have contacted representatives of Erik ten Hag, the Manchester United manager, as they look to replace Thomas Tuchel. The German side have been frustrated in their search for a new manager after Ralf Rangnick, the Austria national team coach, became the latest to turn them down. Bayern have also been interested in Xabi Alonso, whose Bayer Leverkusen side have beaten them to the Bundesliga title, and their former manager Julian Nagelsmann. Ten Hag is one of the names being discussed internally and his management has been sounded out about his potential availability at the end of the season. Rangnick, the former United interim manager, has opted to remain in charge of Austria rather than take over at Bayern No decision has been made by Manchester United about Ten Hag’s future. It is understood that the Dutchman, who is under contract until 2025 and has guided the team to the FA Cup final against Manchester City on May 25, would not want to engage in any discussions with Bayern presently. Ten Hag’s position at Old Trafford has become increasingly uncertain after a disappointing campaign in which United exited the Champions League in the group stages and missed out on qualification for next season’s competition. The Times revealed on Friday that Tuchel is on a list of managers under consideration at United should Ten Hag leave. Bayern have been looking for a new manager after announcing in February they would part company with Tuchel at the end of the season. They had expected to reach an agreement with Rangnick, who was United’s interim manager in the 2021-2022 season, but were last week informed that he would not be joining despite what sources described as fruitful negotiations with the Bavarians. Despite Ten Hag’s disappointing stint at Old Trafford, it is understood that members of Bayern’s hierarchy regard him highly. Ten Hag remains a familiar figure at the club, having coached Bayern’s reserve team in Germany’s fourth division between 2013 and 2015. After that, he enjoyed successful spells with Utrecht and Ajax before joining United in 2022. Bayern had also reached out to Julen Lopetegui’s camp to inquire about his availability. However, these talks came to nothing and Lopetegui is now set to replace David Moyes at West Ham United.

It's not a problem. The UK ministers aren't Celtic-loving, Rangers-hating separatists. The whole whataboutery when it comes to criticising the SNP gets a bit tiresome. Criticism of the former first minister and his party can surely be made without reference to the poor job that certain Westminster politicians are doing.

Watching Chelsea yesterday and it looks like manager has the makings of a good team they played some very entertaining football.

I was just having a laugh. I have always thought that Clement wants to play with two box-to-box midfielders, with each taking turns at dropping off and getting forward. Diomande-Sterling would be pretty good, IMO. I think we'll see more wingers signed in the summer, too.

Did well at Everton. Many more illustrious names didn’t do as well at Old Trafford. No one can succeed at West Ham, the Aberdeen of England. Not until the bubble blowers get real and measure success as dodging the drop.

Someone's been taken in by a Nigerian Prince.