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Oh really? Here's the thing; actually it's a thought for the New Year, about the squad, and about a potential Rangers' line up; I don't suppose this would start, in its entirety, for football/tactical reasons (shape, balance, etc), but it could, very easily, finish: McGregor Tavenier Goldson Balogun Bassey Kamara Aribo Zungu Roofe Morelos Defoe Wow! So, we -the alleged Klan- enter 2021 with a 21st Century roster of players, probably with the most BAME guys in Scotland, including the Club Captain. I wonder what FARE, Kick It Out, and the rest of them think about it. I wonder what Nil By Mouth thinks. We would have to speculate, of course, they all say nothing. Our playing staff don't fit their increasingly threadbare, derivative, and indolent, narrative. (Oh, and what is the Green Brigade's line, let's not forget the vanguard of the Most Oppressed People on Earth?) Of course the reasons for this are, it seems to me, purely related to football, to talent, and to how players have been developed and coached. This is not tokenism, or +ve discrimination, affirmative action, or the like. Nonetheless, we are now, precisely, actually, beyond the pale.....and we may, perhaps ought to, celebrate that. For the record: I haven't heard, or heard of, any Rangers' supporter, even from the Auld School, comment/ing on the ethnic make up of the squad, or on that of any of the individual players. I have heard -and read- the usual +ve and -ve observations on quality, etc, some of which, as ever, have been quite trenchant, but race, ethnicity, and, indeed, religion, don't figure. For the record, again: I should like the Korean lad, Son from Spurs. ALL THE BEST FOR THE NEW YEAR

That’s because most of us don’t follow Celtic very closely. They are playing different players and a different formation than they were during their slump. Soro is a major improvement over Brown and Turnbull seems to be a pretty big improvement over Rogic at least at the moment. Griffiths has finally had a run in the team and is clicking with Edouard. Meanwhile our form has dipped quite a bit. I expect a close game.

Il be disappointed in anything less than a win. We play to our abilities and we should. Agree with some of the comments, but we should be looking to stamp our authority on Sat and show we are not here to blow it this year. A victory would make another big statement of intent and pile the pressure heavy back on Lawell to act on Lennon.

Confidence is through the roof among many Rangers supporters. I think this will be a very close match. Am I too pessimistic?

Sorry guys no actual preview but I thought it would be easier to chat about this game on a new thread as opposed to the tail end of the St Mirren thread. Mods please feel free to merge and rename when it comes

Will always be remembered for his "Carthorse v the thoroughbred" quote IMO.

Respect to the Doc. Modernised an ageing Chelsea team that had lost Jimmy Greaves with youngsters such as Terry Venables, Charlie Cooke, George Graham , John Hollins and Peter Bonetti. Funnily enough, he was also responsible for changing the kit from an eton blue shirt, white shorts and black socks (no red tops though) to blue, blue with stripe and white socks - I wonder why he didn't like the former!!!!!

As long as we're winning, I don't care if we have a squad full of Martians*. *no offence to Henrik Larsson

Easy money for nothing. Never heard of them, would never use them, just give us your cash!! We seem to be announcing new "partners" every few weeks in just about every market going, which probably means someone is doing a good job at the club (as long as the money involved is right of course!)

He's faster for a start

The initial post was penned a month past, it seems a lot longer. A game every three days is a hard schedule, something had to give and the defeat was 3-2 by St Mirren in the League Cup. Another opportunity for silverware gone. The three remaining Europa Cup games played out as a home draw against Benfica, a home win over Standard Liege, and finally an away victory in Poznan. We won our Europa Cup group without losing a game. Royal Antwerp await in the last 32. The six league games were all victories, a couple of squeaky bum moments at Tannadice and home against the Hibs. Eighteen points achieved, scored 15 and conceded two. January is easier in that we have only five league fixtures and one Scottish Cup tie to be negotiated. A game every five days is to be welcomed, considering we have picked up a few injuries. The league games are deciding, Sellik(home), Aberdeen(away), Motherwell(away), Ross County(home), and Hibs(away). One game at a time?

I expect Helander to play. Why choose Balogun?

True, and it happened during an unexpected victory at Ibrox.

Lucky thirteen for Rangers as they secure vital win against St Mirren. Rangers maintained their impressive winning run in the Scottish Premiership with a comfortable win against St Mirren at the SMISA Stadium thanks to goals from Kemar Roofe and Alfredo Morelos. The win was Rangers’ 13th on the trot and confirmed the club’s best start to a league campaign since 1928, with 17 clean sheets in their 21 league matches so far. The visit to Paisley was the second in as many weeks after the Buddies ended Rangers’ hopes of securing silverware in a surprise 3-2 defeat a fortnight ago in the BetFred Cup. However Rangers have recovered well from that shock defeat and arrived in Paisley on the back of a deserved win against Hibs on Boxing Day. Steven Gerrard named two changes from Saturday – out went Leon Balogun and Ryan Kent, with Filip Helander and Alfredo Morelos coming in. Any nerves Rangers supporters had about returning to the ground which ended a 27 unbeaten run in all competitions were not settled in the early stages as St Mirren created the first chance. Sloppy play allowed Jamie McGrath a shot at goal which Allan McGregor, making his 400th appearance for the club, made light work of. But it was a reminder to Rangers that they could not be complacent. St Mirren's recent form has been impressive and have made their best start to a league campaign since 1988. Jon Obika came close to potentially increasing that run when McGregor spilled Jamie McGrath’s shot, only for Obika to fire high and wide with the rebound. But Rangers kicked into gear and took the lead on the 27th minute when Kemar Roofe fired in his eighth goal in as many games after latching on to a through ball from Ianis Hagi – a wicked deflection off Conor McCarthy ensured Jak Alnwick was rendered helpless. Rangers doubled their lead five minutes later when Joe Shaugnessy was short with an attempted back-pass, which allowed Alfredo Morelos to run in and score his first goal in nine games. In the second-half Rangers controlled the game with some impressive possession play. Morelos tested Alnwick again from a tight angle, with Hagi unable to conjure up anything from the rebound. Then Roofe had his hooked effort cleared off the line by McGrath. Morelos then put Hagi through on goal – but the Romanian was forced wide and nobody could get on the end of his fierce drive across the face of goal. The win maintained Rangers’ 16 point advantage at the top of the table – although Celtic are still to play three games in hand – and they welcome the Parkhead club at Ibrox on Saturday. Steven Gerrard was delighted with the win, stating on Rangers TV: "We asked the players to really own the pitch out of possession, and can we get back to keeping clean sheets on the bounce. "We have done that and we have delivered that. I thought out of possession, we weren't really caused many problems. There were a few little nervy moments, but in the main, we have managed it really well. "Both number nines have scored a goal, I thought Joe Aribo and Glen Kamara were immense, and we have kept another clean sheet, so in the main, we are happy and we move into the weekend in a good place." Allan McGregor, who became the first Rangers goalkeeper since Peter McCloy to make 400 appearances for the club, played down his personal achievements to focus on a vital win. "I'm actually more pleased with the win. But it is a good achievement and it is one to definitely look back on when I retire, so I am pleased”, he said. Rangers now go into Saturday’s game with Celtic in the best possible shape. With trips to Pittodrie and Easter Road to come in January, Rangers will be looking to make a statement of their title credentials against their greatest rivals. RANGERS: McGregor, Tavernier, Goldson, Helander, Barisic, Kamara, Davis, Kamara, Hagi, Roofe, Morelos. SUBS: McLaughlin, Bassey, Defoe, Itten, Kent, Zungu, Patterson, Barker, Balogun ST MIRREN: Alnwick, Tait, Mason, Shaugnessy, McCarthy, Doyle-Hayes, Obika, McGrath, Connolly, Fraser, Erahon. SUBS: Flynn, Durmus, Dennis, McAllister, Foley, MacPherson, Morais, Erwin, Lyness. REFEREE: Alan Muir

He did, indeed, and on camera. He also swore at him. The BBC did not defend its journalist, and no charges were pressed. The BBC did not, as far as I recall, boycott the club for this outrage.

My team would be as follows: -------Macgregor------ ---Goldson--Balogun--- Tav---------------Borna ----Davis----Kamara--- -----------Hagi--------- Aribo---------------Kent ----------Roofe---------

But you're hardly objective when it comes to Morelos. ?

With confidence Rangers 4 Celtic 3 FGS Morelos (plus an early bath for clouting Broon)??

We shouldn’t be dropping players who have clearly earned the shirt for reputations.

There was talk of odds in another thread. Any chance of getting a price for a Place bet on this League? 1. Dado 2. Rousseau

Kai Kennedy is at ICT on loan, not Greenock Morton, dB ??

No. I also think they complement each other well.

Am I alone in thinking Roofe & Hagi are a good combination together?

Balogun's superior pace v Helander's superior defensive capabilities. It'll be interesting to see who he goes for.

I'll be shocked if Hagi starts against Celtic. I reckon Gerrard will bring Kent back in as he does more off the ball and perhaps he thinks that the team is more balanced when Kent plays.

I think part of it is due to squad rotation and injuries. Today's midfield played well individually but we're missing the chaos that Arfield's runs cause. It's also partly due to teams figuring out how to combat us and to lessen the threats (man-mark Tav) and also the worsening of the weather conditions doesn't suit us.

One for the compliance officer...

Here's our December's league results broken down ; 18 points from 18, 15 goals scored, 2 conceded - utterly outstanding. 4-0 v Ross County (away) 2-1 v Dundee Utd (away) 3-1 v Motherwell (home) 3-0 v St Johnstone (away) 1-0 v Hibs (home) 2-0 v St Mirren (away)

You were all taking the p*ss here... 11 Correct Scores, and 3 maximums!? Ugh. Correct Result (1 pt): Everyone who entered. Correct Number of Rangers Goals (1pt): compo, TinMan, BEAR, Yorkie, Dado, WB91, GS, BF, Bill, DJ, gisabeer, gaspard and r_s. FGS (2 pts): Rousseau, Dado, GS, BSRT, Devil, BF, Franc, CammyF and r_s. Correct Score (3 pts): compo, TinMan, BEAR, Yorkie, Dado, WB91, BF, Bill, DJ, gaspard and r_s. Dado, blueflag and r_s take the maximum! Latest Standings:

Outstanding post. Possibly out done by Sir Alex? Frankie - Please can put my PM function back? I need to ping you a message (apology)

Now on our main site - apologies for the delay!

An excellent OP and tribute to Jim McLean. Not sure he’d have ‘transformed ‘ Rangers in the 1980’s though. It needed a total outsider to come in and do that which Souness did in1986. I think McLean would have struggled to attract the calibre of players to Rangers which Souness did