26th of foot

Zappa, I wouldn't mind doing Hibs away, if that's okay?

I agree about Preston, I suspect it was his turn. If you remember last season after our 2-0 defeat at Tynecastle; Cosgrove's last caller was, 'Gordon the Jambo from Glasgow'? Clearly, it was a Pacific Quay Producer in a fit of triumphalism. Further, the two minute conversation allowed the tick box of 'Sevco', 'you let your club die' and 'you're not Rangers anymore'. Rehearsed and planned. We will only put an end to it when we ridicule those participating.

Our manager should hollow the base and wear the trophy as a hat, it would look quite magic.

It was the evening of the 24th July 2015, and BBC Radio Scotland were hosting the usual suspects expressing their opinions on the start of the new season the following afternoon. The vast majority of the discussion centered around the Premiership, quite right too. Who would secure the title, relegation, and the progress of our representatives in European football were talked through, opinions differed most on candidates for relegation. How would Hearts fare on promotion sparked even more outpourings; Allan Preston, Tom English, and Michael Stewart were agreed on a top six finish. Oh, and all chorused, 'Hearts are a model club'. The last couple of minutes were designated for Championship discussion and the objective Host of ra Show demurred to Players' Agent, scratch golfer, and big, BIG, Jambo, Allan Preston. You see, Allan had watched the vast majority of Jambo fixtures the previous season on behalf of BBC Scotland. The former stalwart of Dundee United reserves was unequivocating, "Hibs to win the title quite comfortably, by more than a few points". The Host asked about Rangers chances? Preston barreled on, "they finished third last season, three points behind a settled Hibs in second place. They've brought in too many players, they take time to settle, don't know each other. They'll make the play-offs and hope they don't face Motherwell again". The murmur of encouragement within the studio grew as Allan culminated, "Hibs will win at Easter Road tomorrow, Rangers won't be able to handle the pace and width of David Gray". The show ended amid self satisfied sniggers. Well, the next day arrived and Rangers appeared quite comfortable with the pace and width on display, by Rangers. We won 2-6, knocking Hibs out the Petrofac Cup for a second successive season. I guess our adhesion that afternoon was the result of good fortune? The good fortune continues in the Championship. After a quarter of the games required, Rangers have a 100% record of nine games played and 27 points secured. Despite not being a model club, we should make the play-offs. Fellow Gersnetters, please do not be concerned, I am determined not to be Hubristic or triumphalistic. I know two out of our next three league games involve visits to both Paisley and Leith. Let's hope our good fortune is maintained? After the five years we have endured, I hope this forum will indulge my indulgence and join me in enquiring of Allan, how do you like them Biscuits?

This forum is comparatively small, but continually punches far above it's weight. After eight years, I am still mildly surprised when I hear/see//read something on main stream media that began as a cultivated acorn on Gersnet. I shouldn't be, even some of the transient members have been most worthwhile contributors. Reference the listing as a FBA finalist, most worthy and much deserved. However, the inclusion of Donegal's Moutain Rescue volunteer(true); is akin to the Rangers Tax Case Blog being a recipient of the Orwell Prize. Now, after the ruling of two high profile court cases(and a third expected), who on main stream media continues to lionise that particular stream of invective? Let's stay clean.

At the game, my first thought was Law attempted to nutmeg the Falkirk player and was upended as he ran to the left, hoping to reconnect with the ball. I have watched the highlights, and Tom Taiwo's touch on the ball is the inside of his left foot as the ball continues through. Law does run to his left, and Taiwo sticks out his knee and upends Law. It's a free kick. I have just finished watching a recording of last night's BBC Scotland's Sportscene. It is hosted by Jonathon Sutherland(Aberdeen fan), and the two contributors are Scott MacDonald(former Sellik player), and Pat Nevin(season ticket holder at Easter Road). The highlights were promoted five minutes before broadcast by Jonathon Sutherland standing in front of a head and shoulder image of Peter Houston, and saying, "find out in a few moments why the Falkirk manager was seething at Ibrox yesterday"? During the four and a bit minute highlight package, commentator, Rob McLean agrees with Houtson initially, "the Falkirk defender gets the ball first", then on the replay says, "and a considerable amount of the man too". All three; Sutherland, Nevin, and MacDonald agree with Houston, ball first, not a foul, "Peter is right to feel aggrieved", chimes charmless Pat. The only mitigation offered is that it was too quick an incident in real time for the ref to pick it up correctly. No replay of four wonderful goals and no discussion. Further, no showing of Keirnan's jersey being vented from the neck line to waist, and no showing of him standing on the touchline for a minute waiting to be brought back on by the ref. But again, Peter wasn't seething about that incident.

When Gordon's brother, Bruce was Editor at the Daily Record/Sunday Mail, he bent over for Peter Lawwell. Thus, by proxy, Bruce was taking the big wooden one from Dermot. Of course, we shouldn't visit the sins of the brother upon Gordon, but what did Gordon say then? Last week, that other doyen of diddy clubs, Jim Spence was advocating both Aberdeen and ra Sellik have growing too large for Scottish football and would be better leaving for the richer pastures of England. And Gordon says ....................... ?

Peter Houston is a cnut. This time last week, he was a guest of BBC Radio Scotland, doing the colour commentator role at Cappielow. Yep, BBC Scotland paid him for appraising his team's next opponents. Peter wanted the Morton players to get closer, and be more robust in their challenges. Thankfully, Jim Duffy's after match comments brought balance to Peter's usual bitter commentary. What really shone a bright light into Houston's dark corner of a mindset, was the post match discussion of the sacking of Jackie McNamarra. Four fellow professionals have lost their livelihoods, and dearest Peter slots seamlessly into his, 'me, me, me, routine'. Not even a cursory commiseration, straight into a two minute tale of how badly he was treated by Thompson at Dundee United. I suspect Peter Houston will be appearing on Sportscene this evening and the four minute edited highlights will be most carefully edited by a BBC Scotland Pacific Quay CSC Producer?

Disabled Rangers supporters are Rangers supporters, they deserve the same access and level of comfort open to the rest of us. Whatever it takes, find a way to pay for these most necessary accommodations. Personally, I have no problem with the club articulating the requirements and setting out a (graduated) payment plan added to our annual season tickets. Get it done, soonest.

Ah, you're looking for a modern day Gregor Stevens. My other candidate would be Jim Steele. We had him on loan from Southampton for a month in 1976, he played four games, was booked four times. Plean RSC made him their Player of the Year.

A long time ago, I spent 4 weeks on exercise some 200 klicks east of Darwin in northern Australia. In the week's build-up training, I attended the Safety Brief, usually a 30-40 minute reminder reference, 'actions on' injury/fatality/casevac/lost perrson,......... etc. A full day later, we were still on flora and fauna; salt water crocodiles, fresh water crocodiles, stone fish, box jelly fish, sea wasps, sea snakes, sea crates, ......................... the taipan, eastern brown, the tiger snake, the mulga, .............................................. funnel web spider, the redback, mouse spider, ...............................a six inch millipede that bit you on the hand, you lost the hand, ................. it went on forever because the country is toxic on stilts. My advice to you is the same as that given to my soldiers, anything bites you, bite it back. Join Frankie in the Bluebell and enjoy those throbbing, thrumming engines between your thighs.

Oh, you'll still have a smile on your visog, Friday night in the Bluebell remains hairy arsed leather clad biker night.

Are we one of the smaller clubs? Only last week, the man who strides across Scottish football commentary like a colossus, Jim Spence opined both Aberdeen and ra Sellik are too big for Scottish football. Further, he suggested both should leave and seek the necessary competition in England.

A mirror. I want Ally to continue to feel uncomfortable until he donates all those penny shares to a supporters' group.

Toxic Jack lifts the phone and tells BBC Scotland's Senior Football Reporter, Chris McLaughlin to amplify the latest piece of misinformation. Ever wondered why dearest Chris has NEVER subjected himself to the Cosgrove and Cowan show? Ever wondered why he no longer appears on the Saturday evening discussion section of the show? The answer to the second question is simple, Richard Wilson. Thus, the first question demands another question, when and where is McLaughlin up for scrutiny?

Non, non, Charlie est un homme de Normandie. Il boit et se mange calvados parce qu'il est le chocolat.

I am sitting on a wharf, waiting to board a ferry to Martha's Vineyard, and folks are casting glances as I continue to chuckle over today's Sellik news. An official club communication to an entire section of the Main Stand at ra Stydome, reminding them of necessary ablutions. Apparently, body odour is impacting on the match day experience. It confirms what we all know, they are mhanky barstewards. Then there's a twitter storm at Abergreen receiving another penalty last evening; apparently, the refs and the SFA are determined to stop five in a row! Further, some are awakening to the possibility that Ronnie might be a dud. I am sure my fellow Gersnetters share my concern for the safety and welfare of those "heavy handed Dutch police" tomorrow evening?

Ah, I am filled with immense well being at the mental imagery of Black in a coracle, paddle in hand, on a railway line, with an express hurtling towards him.

Back in the day, football magazines would occasionally need a filler and the Shrewsbury Town story would be pulled out the drawer. Shrewsbury's ground, Gay Meadow sits on a bend on the River Servern and has endured a frugal existence. They employed a chap in a coracle on a peppercorn fee to retrieve every ball cleared into the river. Maybe Dearest Ian has been given a wicker meshed flotation and a paddle, I would bet on it?

I watched the game via a link to Rangers TV and agree the production is pretty poor. However, to watch Rangers live whilst seated on a Cape Cod deck is a wonderment. Listening to Tom Miller giving shout-outs to service lads watching live in Afghanistan, Cyprus, and Belize is incredible. My professional days ended 20 years past, and the lengths I would go to, to access the World Service in Oman, Borneo, Hong Kong, ....... etc to find out the Rangers result! Anyways, the game itself; I thought we lacked both tempo and intensity. We appeared quite narrow too, but that might have been Livi funneling our penetration into central areas. They doubled up on both flanks when we were in possession. It might be we will get the wee bit extra space and width away from home, as there is more of an expectation from a home crowd to see their favourites go forward?

The support your local team mantra is most associated with Cosgrove, years of spouting such pysh on BBC Radio Scotland. The continuous drone of lament about the number of Rangers Supporters buses leaving Perth every week, harmonises with the gleeful reporting of only 11 Bears trapping for the Perth True Blues AGM. Fair enough, if you believe Big Stu' to be a man of principle? Last year, his beloved St Johnstone won the Scottish Cup, he is pictured cavorting around with his then 3 year old son. Lovely, his son is fully decked in Saints favours; however Big Stu lives in the East End of Glasgow, has done for two decades. His son should support his local team, ra Sellik!

I am sure Ally will be advised by some PR firm, and I hope they have advised him to donate those penny shares gifted as part of Green's drive to sell season tickets, to a supporters' group. It would be a start.

Currently, I am in the States, New England area for a month. I have traveled all over the country these last 25 years and the thing that is most startling is the number of football(soccer) pitches evident, even in the smallest of towns. Further, you see mid-20s to mid-30s guys walking around with soccer tops, Bayern Munich appears to be a firm favourite in both Maine and Rhode Island. Another piece of anecdotal evidence is most Sports Bars have one screen showing the game, and both my hotels have had a soccer channel on the room TV. It's growing.

Invest in a pair of flip-flops?

Dearest Graham remains a mentalist. I blame the cheese, these days ra Bhoy in Corduroy is the Laird of Dunlop. Currently, Graham aspires to consume the moon.