26th of foot

There are eighteen days to go, Rangers face six games, three League, two Europa Cup and, the final itself. A most hectic and intense period. It struck me in the immediate wake of events at Pittodrie on Sunday last, the build up had already begun. Of course, the Dandies are frustrated, twice in the last several months they have snatched a draw and a defeat from the jaws of time added on victories. Other clubs are fortunate in that they are lionised in such circumstance due to a never stop attitude but, Rangers are accused of being the beneficiaries of vague nefarious influence. Our accusers had to be patient such were the numbers involved. Applying the levers to Pandora's Box were Barry Robson, Wullie Miller, Richard Gordon, Liam McLeod, Jonathon Sutherland, Michael Stewart, Chris Sutton, Peter Martin, Neil Lennon, Mark Wilson and, former Referees, Steve Conroy and Des Roache. All of the world's ills can be comfortably laid at the door of Rangers; particularly if you construe a shirt pull inside the box as being worthy of an equity card and, your mindset is Rangers deserved nothing. According to Michael Stewart time added on events should not apply to Rangers because, "just like the Hearts game, Rangers were never going to score until the Referee's decision". Or, if Rangers do not stop we will apply sufficient pressure to ensure Rangers are stopped. Rangers can help themselves. Firstly have a serious word with Todd Cantwell, he is a creative player with a penchant for finding space to throw himself to the ground unchallenged. The former Norwich player has a grievance, his yellow card rate is three times higher in Scotland. However, he has established a reputation for fresh air surfing and he must be told to refrain. Secondly, the club's historic adherence to dignified silence must be up for serious consideration. I understand not wanting to confront every crackpot with an agenda; however, achievement on the pitch should not be surrendered meekly in serial continuing aftermath. Barry Robson's post match line, "another stoppage time penalty to Rangers is not a good look for Scottish football" was a feed from Alan Burrows. The current Aberdeen Chief Executive has a ton of previous with Rangers. His behaviour at Motherwell made him most attractive to the Dandies. His first publicised decision was to reduce Rangers supporters ticket allocation whilst NOT doing similarly to Sellik supporters. He knows the value of gratuitous kicks at Rangers whereas similar behaviour towards the establishment club carries sanctions. What did Burrows say after his club's six goal thrashing at ra Stade de Gadd? He has plenty to say about our club and there is a whole list of the usual suspects waiting impatiently to deliver the lines. Whataboutery is not a good look but events do not occur in a vacuum, Sellik were awarded two penalties, allowed ten minutes time added on and, survived their left back stamping his studs down on to a 'Well player's shin. Did the levers find purchase? They were not even picked up, let alone shouldered. Compare and contrast with a Rangers player having his jersey pulled in the opposition box during injury time? A true benefit of being the establishment club is the deflection you can effect on another club that ironically, you claim is the establishment club. Phillipe Clement has his hands full, getting a tune out of an assembled grouping not of his choosing and concurrently dealing with fixture congestion whilst under constant off field heavy artillery. The five games between now and the cup final will come under forensic investigation, the levers are waiting and most willing. To see it any other way suggests you have already seen Michael Matheson's season ticket for Firhill?

Il Duce's xi triumph. Ra Sellik took to the pitch tonight in Rome replete in their preferred Camicie Nere and paid homage to their spiritual leader by chanting, "we are finito Benito". Tomorrow, it is an audience with il Papa and a Fray Bentos purvey.

I thought your face rang a bell.

Stuart was a lovely man. He succeeded James Currie and successfully steered the chaplaincy into a wider ranging, all encompassing mission.

Jeremiah Colman? Of course, Norwich lost it's relevance when Colman's moved manufacturing of their mustard to Germany.

It is a close call but, on balance I would have to say the crossbar makes more of a telling contribution than Lammers.

Aberdeen 1 Rangers 2 FGS : Sima.

I want both individual and collective discipline.

We don't talk anymore. It's so funny, RAB and Tam finished today's show with an old Cliff Richard song and dedicated it to Michael Stewart and the Rangers team. It is the third/fourth week in a row they have raised the ongoing situation between the former Sellik TV Ginja Ninja and Rangers. Even the regular stand in, Ray Bradshaw was keen to amplify the situation last week. The PQ Gang Hut appear determined to turn up and maintain the amplification at eleven on this particular matter. I suspect they hope the white noise generated will drown out their deafening silence on another, 'we don't talk anymore' situation? Four years past, Michael chose to utilise the Kenny Macintyre show to flash his credentials and ensure continuous PQ employment, "I don't like Rangers, I don't like the way they do things as a club". Why would Rangers and Rangers supporters want to engage further? Michael is a freelance, he retained his trial by Sportscene gig because every week, Rangers were the Accused and Mad Mick was unerringly consistent in finding Rangers guilty. Tom English is a staffer his designation : BBC Scotland's Chief Sports Writer and Broadcaster. Since summer and Brendan Rodgers return to Glasgow's east end, Peter Lawwell has demanded an apology for a penned English piece stating the truth reference Brendan's departure to Leicester four years ago. The Limerick man has refused, he stands by his stated opinion. Lawwell has banned him, he is officially not welcome at Sellik Lennoxtown Pressers and Sellik home games. We know PQ are big on principles, Rangers and Rangers supporters endured withdrawal of service because the club withdrew Chris McLaughlin's(another staffer) press credentials. However, in the Tom English case, PQ send whoever Peter wants and service is not interrupted. Time to paraphrase another Irishman; as Oscar Wilde said, this we don't talk anymore situation has become the lovers tiff that dare not speak it's name. While we are on the hoary old quotes thing, let's do another fave rave, George Orwell, "journalism is printing someone else does not want printed : everything else is public relations". Pq's desire to continually shout out Michael Stewart's self induced situation whilst completely ignoring the Sellik - Tom English spat is preferred PR. It's so funny?

Back in the day, a trip to Furryboots City was the seasonal highlight for the majority of west, central based RSCs. The club Secretary would book the bus into a Hotel in Stonehaven/city Masonic club for a purvey fish lunch, enjoy the game and, refreshment stop in Perth/Aucterarder/Blackford, pour off the bus back home around Midnight. A 14-15 hour day was endured for the Rangers. Then, Aberdeen FC and their supporters decided we were their rivals. I blame Lewis Grassic Gibbon and the Scots Quair; all that incest and repressed homosexuality, fair puts you off your cullen skink.

Oh well, saves all those charming Dandies screaming constant abuse and threatening his family in Torry. Big day in the PQ Gang Hut, digging out all those Sellik - Aberdeen half and half scarves.

Clement has started well and I get the need to look forward. Tannochsidebear's extrapolation is correct, the prediction is warm and comfortable. Let's hope it pans out? However, all that really matters at this moment is that we travel to Pittodrie on Sunday and do the Dandies in a most satisfying manner.

I agree Ronnie McKinnon was a player and since he was born during the height of the Govan blitz he was a hardy bugger to boot. However, I suspect even Ronnie would find starting in central defence and sitting on the bench a demand too far?

My Grandfather was ten years of age when Rangers secured the 1899 league championship and, he never let us forget it. Uniquely, Rangers won every league game that season and the club skipper, Robert Hamilton played every game as centre forward. His record over ten seasons is remarkable, reaping 184 goals in 209 appearances and notching another 15 goals in 11 Scottish internationals. According to the auld lad, Robert just wanted to shoot from anywhere on the pitch. Robert was a genuine lad o'pairts, finished football and entered tertiary education, became a teacher the a Headteacher, became a Councillor in his native Elgin for a couple of decades, spending the last several as the town's Lord Provost. He concluded as Chair of Moray Education Board. The club should honour Robert C Hamilton's legacy. Jimmy Fleming holds a few club records to this day; highest scorer in a single match(9), the most goals in the Scottish Cup(44) and, in a Queen of the South game at Ibrox he ran from the Rangers bye-line to the Queens six yard line, evading between six and a dozen tackles(dependent upon the number of wee goldies my Grandfather had consumed) before finishing high into the net. He scored 220 goals in 267 appearances over ten seasons. Another of this era with fantastic stats is Willie Reid, 195 goals in 240 appearances then, there is Jimmy Smith with 249 goals in 258 appearances and again, Bob McPhail with 261 in 408 appearances. My old man did not care for Jimmy Smith, referred to him as a bully. He loved Willie Thornton, Millar and Brand but, particularly lionised Jim Forrest. We know Jim was the John Lawrence decreed scapegoat for Berwick'67 and Dad was strong in his opinion that Jim's absence in Nuremberg cost the club the ECWC later that year. Jim was prolific scoring 145 goals in 163 games. I remember as an eight year old being in awe of his figures in 1965, 57 goals in a season. Jim only spent five and a half years at the club. My first real Rangers hero was Colin Stein, signed for £100,000 from Hibs in 1968. He notched two hat-tricks and a double in his three games against Hibs, Clyde and, Arbroath. We felt we were on to something amid the dark days of Jock Stein domination. Colin was a forerunner for Morelos, sure he had a temper and never backed down to challenges presented by opposition defenders. Colin missed the League Cup final 1-0 victory over Sellik because the Chair of the Disciplinary Committee, Sir Bob Kelly(also Celtic Chair) suspended Stein for six weeks which finished the Monday after the Saturday final. Waddell turned him into the Lone Ranger, support when it arrived came from Bud Johnson. This combination grabbed the necessary goals to secure the ECWC in '72. Colin chased down everything and this was never better epitomised on Christmas day 1970 at Easter Road. Shivering on that old high terrace, the snow fell in injury time with game locked at nil-nil. Stein went on a long run to get on the end of a ball into the box, knocking it into the net. He returned to the same pitch and superbly headed Rangers towards our first title in 11 years. Derek Parlane was the King of Ibrox Park for a time, notching a five goal haul and a four goal spread against the Pars and Killie respectively. He vied continually with DJ for the number nine spot. Derek Johnstone was a remarkable player whether it be in defence, midfield or, attack. DJ's 210 goals must contain the reminder that at least half of his 549 appearances were not as centre forward. We come to Hateley and McCoist. They are correctly remembered fondly as the partnership and I believe if Ally had not broke his leg on international duty in Lisbon, they would have secured Rangers the big one in season '92-'93. They were special. Mark could do it all, run in behind and beyond defences and score with either foot or head. Ally missed as many as he notched but importantly was always in position to miss in the first place. Ally's exceptional record is unrivalled at the club, 355 goals in 581 appearances. He had at least a dozen partnerships up front in his 15 seasons at Rangers. My front pairing is McCoist and Stein.

On matters concerning Rangers, my Grandfather and old man rarely agreed. We sat together in Section G of the old main stand for a decade from mid-60s to mid-70s. I was positioned between them and experienced the sniping growing to heavy artillery exchanges every other fortnight. If you view a photo' of Section G, I am the one of several hundred NOT replete in a bunnet. One player had both singing from the same hymn sheet, the Deedle Dawdle aka Wullie Waddell. Waddell was one of a number of Rangers who had their careers interupted by the several years of World War two. Post conflict, Rangers offensive capabilities were sustained by Waddell and Thornton MM. Rangers iron curtain defence were pitted against Hibs famous five forwards and any forward ball was latched on to by pacey Waddell. He dragged Rangers up the park and regularly released crosses for Willie Thornton to finish. Rangers domination in decade immediately after the was was built on solid defence but, it was Waddell and Thornton that created and scored the vital trophy winning goals. Wullie Henderson made a dynamic impact, his arrival saw Alec Scott depart for Everton. Direct running with pace and a feign followed by a low hard shot. Wullie was precocious and gallus with it, bags of swagger. Often, we hear Jinky did not receive the number of caps his play deserved. An inconvenient fact not parroted by the our separated brethren is that when Jock Stein took temporary controll of Scotland for 1966 world cup qualification, he selected Henderson more often than Jinky because Wullie was more direct and effective. He morphed into a probing midfielder, lots of give and go and, was important in both ECWC sides of '67 and'72. Tommy McLean arrived from Killie and he became the threat to Wullie in the way Wullie threatened Scott. Tommy was a thoughtful winger and possessed a range of chips and crosses to keep most defences on their heels. He formed a wonderful partnership with Sandy Jardine on the right flank and a most effective partnership with DJ up front. His crossing was pin point. Another player who benefitted from Tommy's know how was Alfie Conn. Sandy would overlap, DJ would stretch to the last man up front and, Alfie would come short with a ton of space to work within. I thought Trevor Steven could be the new Tommy and, apart from leaving for Marseille too early in his first spell and almost constant injury in his second; it could have happened, he was most gifted. I watched Brian Laudrup's Ibrox debut against Motherwell in the company of my Dad. After 20 minutes he turned and stated Laudrup's crouched start and stop, start surging running style was reminiscent of Waddell. In the 88th minute with the teams' tying 1-1 and, the 'Well had a corner; the ball was cleared to the right of our penalty area and, Laudrup took off running the length of the pitch. He laid the ball off to big Dunc' and he finished to secure a 2-1 victory. He had it all and gave the opposition the fear. He turned a Charlie Miller lob into the Dundee United box into a worldy nine in a row clinching header. I vote Brian Laudrup.

My Grandfather lionised Greetin Face Boab, he would continually play in a centre and if the ball was not hitting the net, he did it all himself. In 1928 Rangers had not secured the Scottish Cup for 25 years and reached the final to face Sellik. One player in the Light Blue's line up had a winners medal, Bob McPhail had won the cup with Airdrie four years previously. The hoodoo looked to be over, Rangers were leading 1-0 and dominating but could not get the second. Bob lost patience and sent a low raking shot past John Thomson. The cup was secure, Sandy Archibald added a double for a 4-0 victory. McPhail spent 13 years at the club, made 408 appearances, scoring 261 goals. Fantastic figures for an inside forward. The old man worshipped another Airdrie player transferred to Rangers, 'the wee Prime Minister' aka Ian McMillan. A part time player because he was a Geologist involved with the mining industry. He was compared to McPhail and the conclusion was he failed to notch the same number of goals. My old man would counter that Brand, Millar and, Forrest scored McMillan's goals, he made three Rangers players. I was a huge fan of two attacking midfielders from our ECWC side, Alex MacDonald and Alfie Conn. Doddy was all bustle, well nippy and, delighted in blind side running. In over 500 games he scored 94 and split the Rangers support down the middle. Alfie was elegant, he passed the ball into the net. He headed a last second winner at Ibrox in the '73 ne'erday game, was sold to Spurs for £145,000 then, returned to another Glasgow club of no consequence. Alfie split the Rangers support even wider. Bobby Russell is a player of mention, Ian and Barry Ferguson too, Ronald de Boer could play and the Geordie Genius was regularly sublime, his old firm debut goal at ra Piggery cannot be bettered. Gazza is deserving of constant eulogy but although more than capable he did not do it for us in Europe. We will just have to live with his league winning hat trick against Aberdeen to secure eight in a row. Jasper was truly mercurial, the best I have witnessed coming through. A strong running waif with a sublime touch. Ian Durrant lived all our dreams, a Kinning Park lad played for the club all his family and friends loved. He was/is immersed in our club. The Pittodrie assault by Neil Simpson was worth of a straight red card and should have been subject to sine die investigation. A two and a half year come back battle ensued, punctuated by a couple of Ibrox appearances that attracted crowds of twenty and thirty thousand fellow Bears to wish one of their own well. He was such a good player he adapted his game, the Champions League semi-final run in '92-93 was testimony. The thing is, we know how good he could have been? I vote Ian Durrant.

You are hearing the echoes within the hall of the mountain king.

The challenge is a most worthwhile exercise and it concentrates our minds during another international break. The team structure is the problem ie any formation will create a problem for any demographic utilising the forum. Continually, I reference my memories of thoughts often expressed by Grandfather and old man. My paternal Grandfather was born in 1889 and regularly attended Ibrox from the age of eight years. He left a collection of Wee Blue Books. He insisted the best Ranger ever was Neilly Gibson, better than Baxter. He played in bars not studs, he played on tattie fields and, he played with a heavy rain sodden laced bladder. He was known as, 'the Pavlova in football boots'. I suspect even Compo and Scott7 did not witness Neilly play? However all said and done, sometimes a firing squad must be assembled ..............

A determined winger prepared to stand up the full back and hit the bye-line is a fine site. Scintillating wing play is guaranteed to get supporters out of their seats. In my sixty years of watching Rangers I have witnessed several players more than capable of stimulating such excitement. However, I will start with my Grandfather's view that Alan Lauder Morton was the greatest left winger in the land. The wee blue devil had a twenty year career, thirteen of those with Rangers and, throughout he remained part time. Morton was a qualified Mining Engineer and when Bill Struth made him him his first signing he insisted on retaining his profession. My Grandfather would eulogise the diminutive Morton's ability to take the ball and run the full back then, check inside before deciding to go again or cross. Climb the marble staircase and the life size portrait continues to gaze upon you. My old man worshipped Jim Baxter, his vision and passing ability were unrivalled. Jim had no pace, could not tackle a fish supper and, his right foot was chocolate. Dad lamented Jim's inability to curb over confidence but, when his arrogance was on show, he intimidated his opponents absolutely. I saw him as a eight year old at Firhill on a wet and windy evening under the floodlights. Rangers won 0-6 and slim jim tormented the Thistle players by wrong footing and immediately playing perfectly weighted passes. When he returned four years later I saw a lot more of him and his lack of professionalism had caught up, he retired aged 31 years. I loved Davie Cooper, his skill levels were latin. Again no pace but he had more time than any other player on the pitch. Every supporter agreed on Davie's skills and ability; however, he was Marmite to the support in terms of work rate and effectiveness. He had a number of spats with then gaffer, John Greig and Davie acquired the nickname, 'Moody Blue'. Anyone in any doubt, you can view his Glasgow Cup final goal against ra Sellik on YouTube. I would like to relate a personal story from 37 years past. I experienced a bad parachute jump in borderline windy conditions and broke my leg. I was returned home from Holland to undertake ten weeks of physio'. When the stookie was removed I was told to accelerate my recovery by daily walking around Strathclyde Loch. It was summer and during the second week I met the middle distance runner, Tom McKean jogging with his two dogs. I told him of my intent to start jogging the next week and he insisted I trap at nine am on the Monday morning. I turned up with the family hound, 'Sandy' and another dog named, 'Blue' brought his owner, Davie Cooper wrapped in a black bin liner ready to start his preparation for pre-season training. Four weeks ensued, from hirple to steady running and, several lunches in the Cave Bar(because it was next door to the Bookies) in Hamilton. Davie was a true Ranger. Other mentions should include Davie Wilson, Bud Johnson, Albertz and, Neil McCann. I retain a soft spot for Neil, he was a superb winger and Ranger. He made truly big contributions to the team when we won the league at ra Piggery in '99, against Parma in the home leg 2-0 victory, the last day league winning victory against the Pars and, delivered the cross that won us the cup in the last minute at Hampden'02. Conforming to the team structure means I have to vote for Jim Baxter despite my love for Davie Cooper.

Harold Davis was tougher than bullets, literally. He served with the Black Watch in Korea and took three rounds, two to the foot and leg, the other was abdominal. Two years of operations and recovery before being signed by Scot Symon at East Fife. Symon moved to Rangers and Harold follow followed for eight seasons. No nonsense on and off the field, including hanging his fellow Black Watch comrade, Jim Baxter from a dressing room hook. Davis was the, 'Iron Man'. Ian Ferguson and Stuart McCall were a central midfield pairing, they were both box to box bringing good energy by the truckload. Both had other excellent attributes but, an old Arthus Montford phrase best summed up the pairing, "tenacious tenacity". Hemdani glided across the surface in European games and was a must in Walter's UEFA Cup final appearing side. I thought the Scottish game exasperated him although he never gave up, best illustrated by his last kick of the ball equaliser against ra Sellik at Ibrox. He read the game extremely well. A player who read it better is current Bar'72 season ticket holder, the octogenarian Dave Smith. I included him as a possible centre back because he appeared as Sweeper in the ECWC winning side of 1972. Dave was a stroller, always had time. He was the definitive front sweeper when Matthias Sammer was being wheeled into kindergarten. At the end of season'72/73 he was deservedly awarded Scot's Player of the Year. A heads up, sweet left footed elegant baller, what's not to like? 755 appearances, 120 goals and, won three domestic Trebles are the statistics. Eighteen seasons as a Rangers player where Jock Stein's Celtic won nine in a row and both Hearts and Killie won the league too. John Greig achieved what he did because of force of personality. He imposed himself on both fellow and opposition players, the epitome of determination. He skippered the club and held it together through dark days on and off the pitch. Often in bigger games against top range Euro' opposition or ra Sellik, he was tasked with a man marking role, always carried out selflessly. He was as tough in the tackle as he was on himself. He played through injuries particularly in Barca'72 and securing the league at Easter Road'75. His presence on the park was a necessity for Rangers. Defensive midfielder, I vote for ham and egg.

When he was introduced to those attending Ibrox for a league fixture against Hearts, he was referred to in the match programme as, 'William' and the PA announced him as, 'Billy'. This was the week after our catastrophic Scottish Cup dismissal at the hands of the mighty Berwick Rangers and Billy Jardine played right side of midfield. We won 5-1 and on his next start at the Stadium three weeks later against Ayr United, he scored. The programme notes contained the information he was known as, 'Sandy' and was a promising inside forward. He held his place in the 1967 ECWC final team against Bayern Munich. He was 18 and looked most comfortable in a game we dominated and unluckily lost 0-1 in extra time. Sandy played and won the ECWC in Barca' in '72 and, played in the first Euro super cup final against Ajax in '73. How many Scots have played in three Euro' finals? He established himself as Rangers right back in 1970, pairing up with Tommy McLean on the right flank. Sandy had genuine pace, competed in the Powderhall Sprints in all three events. He played for Rangers over 18 seasons and was rarely injured. Over a period of three and half seasons in the early 70s, he played 171 consecutive matches. I have witnessed other fine right backs at Rangers; Gary Stevens, Alan Hutton and, James Tavernier. However, Sandy Jardine is THE man.

Five minutes was enough for Martin Bain to secure the necessary monies for his villa and bijou vineyard adjacent to Sir Duped's. Bitter Vintage Loyal RSC.

The merits of Corky was a fairly regular topic for heated discussion between my old man and Grandfather, neither of the two rated him the best. The former loved Ronnie MacKinnon whereas the latter could not see past the Meek(Davie Meiklejohn). I grew up believing Ronnie McKinnon was the epitome of the modern day centre back. He was fleet of foot, could hang in the air and, possessed an innate elegance. His leg break in Lisbon was heartbreaking. A process of elimination ensued. Colin Jackson, Derek Johnstone, Dave Smith and, eventual winner, Tom Forsyth fought it out for a couple of seasons. Bomber was a male model who could head a ball as far as he could kick it. Dave Smith was a Rolls Royce of a player. Signed as a midfielder, he fitted in as Sweeper, either in front or behind. His positional sense ensured his lack of pace was never an issue and range of accurate passing was top of the range. Two of the ECWC winning goals were created by Dave Smith's vision and ability. DJ was a John Charles-esque all rounder and as such he became undervalued in all positions. He turned out as centre half, midfielder and, centre forward for both Rangers and Scotland. Tam Forsyth aka Jaws was Soldier Blue, he tackled, you stayed tackled. This belie his wonderful timing eg the Wembley tackle in '77 against Mick Channon. We move into the late 70s and mentions must be given for Jim Steele - five appearances, five bookings and, five Player of the Season awards. Gregor Stevens was aided by the chain saw he carried on to the field of play. Sandy Jardine played sweeper in '78/'79 season. Craig Paterson dominated, John McClelland only played in the sun and, Dave McPherson endured. Souness arrived as did Butcher, Roberts and, Richard Gough. The Scots international raised in South Africa but born in Sweden was outstanding and his central defensive partnership with John Brown was superb. We went through a dozen stoppers, notable mentions for big Amo, Craig Moore, big Marv', Alan McLaren, Bjorklund and, Petric in the next thirty years. My pairing would be Richard Gough and Ronnie McKinnon.

It is a special Rousseau tactic to fool the opposition.

Does the sight of Gazza snapping on a marigold rubber glove stimulate a warm frisson of nostalgic excitement? Do tell.