26th of foot

The Sima offside call came 35 minutes after the incident, it was deliberate interference. The unanimous half time claim by all pundits that Rangers were denied a clear penalty meant a lifeline was necessary. The Sima offside call was the lifeline and, across the broadcast and print media they have grasped it for dear life. The penalty to Rangers must survive and the frame above showing Sima not being offside will be ignored because it is not helpful. Going forward, Clement will be ridiculed because he has spoken out.

Apologies for the tardiness of reply. The wife called me to the table to consume left over Cote de Boeuf immersed in a shallot and red wine jus. A culinary triumph of presentation over content, particularly when accompanied by a red Burgundy. Rangers mirrored the content, a lack of quality was superseded by a sauce of questionable refereeing. The decision in question was unanimously decried by all the panelists working for both BBC Scotland and Sky. Thus, Tom English, Pat Bonner, Lee Anne Chricton, James McFadden, Neil Lennon, Kris Boyd, ....... etc all declared penalty and as a consequence the already cautioned Johnston should have been the recipient of a second yellow card. Sellik know the value of seizing and maintaining control of the narrative. There is an offside call in the build up to the deliberate punching of the ball out of play but, that is not why a penalty was not awarded. VAR only checks for offside if there is a consequence ie a goal. The VAR check ruled out the penalty within thirty seconds. The time line is important because it took thirty minutes to find the possible offside and decide it was THE narrative. Clearly, Johnston punches the ball out thus, the worst Rangers should have received was a corner kick. VAR cannot acknowledge the hand to ball because then, it has to accept it is a penalty. VAR confirmed the Ref's decision to award a bye kick. Neither VAR nor the match officials awarded an offside free kick to ra Sellik.

Andy McGowan is spot on. It was 15 minutes into the second half and over thirty minutes since the hand ball incident that Sky clutched at the offside straw. Mike Conroy, former Referee and Sellik man has already decreed the VAR team would not have looked at the offside element unless a goal had been scored. Willie Collum was on VAR and he has a family. Collum awarded our last league penalty at Sellik Park in 2010 and he and his family received death threats that weekend. Two months later, the Refs went on strike because of constant inTIMidation from one club.

Producers, particularly Senior Producers. Producers dictate who appears on radio/screen. Kevin Kelly's daughter, Clare has been a long term Senior Producer at BBC Scotland. Billy McNeill's son has been a long term Senior Producer at Sky.

Compo, you have expressed a most natural emotion.

Sellik 1 Rangers 2 FGS : Sima.

Anyone else worried about complacency? In his sixteen games in charge, the Gaffer has appeared most practical. There is a growing concern this being his first experience of ra Yahoos he will continue his practicality. You know we go 3 or 4 up before half time and during the break Philippe's pragmatic approach sees him make three changes to rest players before Killie's visit to Ibrox on Wednesday. I appeal Clement waits to the hour mark after Tav' has converted our penalty to go five ahead before he rings the changes.

Here in deepest, darkest Lanarkshire we put considerable effort into worship of the cloven one to achieve the 55. Ah mean, we sacrificed a number of horned goats; after they had been fully utilised for recreational purposes. Beelzebub demands such obedience.

Clement has managed to navigate the team into the position where two out of the three possible results at ra Stade de Gadd suit Rangers.

Liam is a supporter of Aberdeen. Both his old man and brother, Rory are Sellik men. Fifteen years past, Rory was a serving senior Police Officer in Grampian and was exposed on the red tops front pages for his social media content. Rory regularly posted vile quips about the Ibrox Disaster. We cannot visit the sins of the father and brother on Liam but, we are all products of our conditioning.

The Aberdeen - Motherwell game has just been called off too. The moon howlers will be hard at work, figuring how this piece of information fits into the grand Masonic jigsaw? Time to sacrifice another goat.

Ah, the fickle finger of pernicious Masonic influence points the eased way for Rangers immediate future. All together now, let the moon howling begin ............................

Ganghuttery and Bawbaggery. The common currency within the PQ Gang Hut remains Rangers and penalties. Big Dick began the determined attempt to influence the League Cup match officials with his column in the Aberdeen Press and Journal, he had accrued the stats and concluded, 'bias was at work'. Rangers won the final with very little pre-match preparation and there were no penalty shouts for either side although, Bullish Barry claimed two stonewallers 48 hours after the event. The Rangers caravan had moved on to preparation for the Ibrox visit by the Perth Saints but, Barry continued to howl. The PQ AberTic alliance is seamless in transition, the Dandies troop off after giving their all against Rangers again and; ra Bhoys take the field in possession of the ball of conspiracy. There must be an old firm game on the horizon. Rangers visit ra Stade de Gadd on the 30th of December'23 and it is over thirteen years since Rangers were awarded a penalty in Glasgow's east end. Kenny Miller scored to secure a 1-3 win, Neil Lennon accused Kenny of diving and, Referee Willie Collum was the recipient of death threats that weekend. A couple of months later during 2010, Scottish Referees went on strike due to inTIMidation emanating from the separate entity. BBC Scotland's satellite channel has done any number of Scottish football documentaries, mostly Sellik related. A View from the Terrace has broadcast over 100 shows and recently did a two parter on Fergus McCann's saving of ra green'n'grey hooped horrors. All the usual suspects had their say ie Matt McGlone, David Low, Stephen McGowan, .... etc. You would think such a unique event like a Referees' strike would be worthy of examination? We know why they will not touch it because even a cursory examination will conclude Sellik and Sellik supporters(particularly those in broadcast and print media) and their demands, caused the withdrawal of labour. On Saturday, RAB Cosgrove and Tam the Token had BBC Scotland staffer, Paul English and stand up comedian, Marc Jennings as guests. Both are Sellik supporters and the show was reduced to faux guffaws over Rangers and penalties. Paul English has appeared as often as Susie McCabe and it is the same well rehearsed over conditioned patter, English even lionised Big Dick for his column. This is how you reinforce a perceived bias, pick the stats that suit you to the chorus of RAB's staged guffawing. The good friends of the show would not have it any other way, particularly Peter. Rangers have won three trophies from the last thirty-seven, this Masonic conspiracy must be applied harder?

Our Gaffer, Philippe Clement has remarked the league championship is a marathon whereas a cup is a sprint. When I was growing up, Sellik were better known as a cup team. They could raise their game over half a dozen games but could never match Rangers consistency over a season. The ECWC was a Euro' cup for countries' cup winners, a unique speciality.

Eighteen months after my last contribution to this thread, I have decided to conclude the story with discussion on the Barca'72 final. Our Europa Cup run to the final in Seville took over. Such excitement in our derring do, the prospect of securing another European trophy was all encompassing. The penalty shoot out defeat by Eintracht was hard to accept and my ardour for Euro' football adventure was suppressed even further by last season's Champions League group stage calamity. I had already drafted out my pieces on the Barca' final and over the ensuing winter break; hopefully, their postings will raise the Gersnet spirits? I split the story of the final into three parts : 1. The political waters surrounding the game. 2. The game itself. I was fortunate to attend. 3. The aftermath of securing the trophy. I feel as Rangers supporters we are in danger of losing the narrative in defeating the national cup winners of France, Portugal, Italy, Germany and, Russia.

The next goal is most important. We get it and a stroll down easy street ensues. 'Well notch and there will be a momentum shift. Come on Rangers, get the third and the weather conditions are easier to endure.

Motherwell 1 Rangers 2 FGS : Sima.

Please allow me to offer some much needed medical advice. Start with something red and robust, move on to the encompassing arms of a juniper laced thermal wave(tonic water is full of quinine) and, finish with Heverlee(keeps you hydrated and that mixture of bitter hops and honey will provide a sturdy platform). Take times three daily for a week and delusions of Fireman Sam(Lammers) as our saviour will dissipate.

Nurse, ........... Nurse, ............. Nurse, ..............

I wish the book and club every success. The tome looks like a cracking festive read and the perfect tonic to accompany a glass of Harris Gin. Throughout my professional life, I carried a battered copy of Neil Munro's 'Para Handy Tales'. A training area wood line, a range complex slit trench or, waiting for a pre-jump C-130; release Neil's words from it's plastic protection and, find yourself in a better place. There is a little known tale of FC Vital Spark being drawn away to Carloway in the Hochmagandy Cup. Para held the tiller steady. Dan MacPhail was akin to a Perkins, going up'n'doon and roon'n'roon in midfield. Sunny Jim's pre match ritual of running the Cuillin peaks and swimming the Minch kept him quiet during the goalless first half. He recovered in the second period and ran in a hat-trick. If Dougie was here, he wid tell ye himself.

I would like to wish all Gersnetters lots of pudding and pie. Can I share a wee Christmas memory from 1971? Christmas day was not an official holiday in Scotland until 1974. Easter and the risen Lord was the big religious festival but, we saw on the TV how much fun the English were having at Christmas and decided to participate. The 25th December'71 was a Saturday, a working day and, Scottish football had it's final Christmas day fixture list. I was a 14 year old schoolboy and when asked what did I want from Santa, my reply was to view Rangers at Easter Road. Santa was good to good boys and I travelled on the Tannochside Loyal RSC to the capital city. 25,000 squeezed into the old Leith ground and watched an attritional game. Large snow flakes began to settle on the pitch in the ninetieth minute as the ball was hoofed from the Rangers box. The ball was hooked on by Colin Stein and the Lone Ranger chased down his own ball forcing Hibs defender, Black to concede a corner. Tam McLean stepped up as the snow began to drive, the corner found Colin, Colin Stein's head and flew into the net. Winter was howling and the Bears were growling, we only sing and dance in blizzards.

Rangers 2 St Johnstone 0 FGS : Sima.

A real shame. I was looking forward to attending and being awarded the opportunity to boo Santa. We continue to endure in the time of Peter.

Reference the Liam McLeod statement on a poor standard cup final. I remember leaving Hampden four years past after losing the League Cup final 1-0 to ra Sellik. We battered them that day, created half a dozen good opportunities and credit to Foster their Keeper, he was outstanding. We were correctly awarded a penalty and Alfie failed to convert. To add insult to injury, Sellik's French centre back, Jullien scored from an offside position. The PQ Gang Hut told us the above circumstances were the marks of true winners. The aim of a cup final is to ensure when the game finishes, it is your club's name on the trophy. Liam the Squeal has been allowed to revert to his preferred prejudice reference Rangers on too many occasions. When Aberdeen last won the trophy at Parkhead against Inverness, the game finished 0-0 after extra time. It was a penalty shoot out victory and I do not remember Liam branding the match poor standard. He was allowed to convey his excitement.

Last Words. I left Hampden and whilst walking to my car I put on my radio and inserted my ear plugs. I heard BBC Scotland's Liam McLeod conclude his thoughts on his match commentary, he said : "Rangers have defeated Aberdeen in a poor standard cup final". Says it all, the true voice of the PQ Gang Hut.