der Berliner

Make no mistake, Clancy did us a favour here. Had he not reacted, the CO would have returned with a vengeance and hande him a 2-match ban for attempted cheating! BTW, the benchmark for "fouls" commited by Morelos is far lower than anyone else. His first yellow was laughable given what wen on elsewhere, while once a Yahoo got a yellow, the respective players' benchmark went up. Christie and Johnston could easily have walked too. So the decade ends with a much deserved victory, at their lair, which is even better. Where's my Carlsberg Elephant ...

The German commentator on DAZN sees the goal, says "it had to be such an equaliser for Cetlic" ... and after the slow-mo quickly says that it was indeed a hand involved and in Scotland there is no VAR and hence this goal stands ... https://twitter.com/DAZN_DE/status/1211276674320474112?s=19

If they get at us with pace, they look dangerous. Everyone needs to be switched on here, full 90 odd mins. Again lucky with their penalty, at best a 50/50, not least since the player did not react in the slightest. Then luck with their deflected goal. As if that Scum needs it.

Last game of the decade. Go and horse them, Gers!

Stewart not even on the bench. But Barker and Ojo, neither of whom I see as better choices in games such as these ... IMHO.

Trial by Sportscene has been quiet of late, why would someone highlight stuff being thrown at our players or Yahoos stamping on the opposition? The CO has shone with absence, but she was well occupied in clearing the basement of the game from any wrongdoers. Really! 24 (TWENTY-FOUR) cases were handled in December, of which ONE was in relation to the Premiership, i.e. Cosgrove's red card appeal. No time for anything else,as there were vile things that needed to be handled at games involving Gala Fairydean, Heston Rovers, Nithdale Wanderes, Rothes FC, Broxburn, St. Andrew's United and Hearts Ladies. Then again, would WE want to hear of her? https://www.scottishfa.co.uk/scottish-fa/football-governance/disciplinary/disciplinary-updates/

The fates will decide what this game and the remaining OF games will bring, could be total role-reversal. 9 points awaiting. It is match day 18, not 30. I seem to remember that 14+ points differences have been turned after the turn of the year. Just saying.

Usually the form-book goes out of the window in OF games, be it luck or be it bizarre refereeing. You would hope that everyone performs to his best abilities today and we get a similar game as the last one, but with more luck in front of goal. Though I would assume that the Scum will be up for this, not least in front of their Hooped Hordes. You would hate it if we get beat by another weak refereeing performance or some ill-luck again, not least when TLB and his mhedia lackeys falling over one another to rub it in. In saying that, even if they were to beat us, it means not much in the overall standings. We've got a game in hand and the next couple of months will see easier fixtures than we had in December (and in such a short period of time). Obviously, the same batch of matches awaits at the end of the season, so by that time, we should have build some cushion. Always optimistic. Can't say I look forward to today's game, but had some we snippet of a dream saying 7-0 to us, which would suit me just fine ... ?

Never understood the reasoning behind this loan, given the circumstances. Dundee FC maybe, or some English team where he starts without any package. Middleton sure is some impact player, usually was when used for the first team. Obviously, the left wing slot is covered by Kent, Jones and Barker now, but I think Middleton can also play through the middle, behind a main striker. It is, as with many players, more a thing of utilizing the squad we have, not going Plan A time and time again.

Scottish Sun

Killie ... the big problem for many teams in Scotland this last (two) decade(s) is that their managers have gone the physical and destructive route, so the players with a certain gift or talent were either ironed out or left for England or the OF soonish. Hence, the Scottish game as a whole has been in a down-spiral and descended into the wilderness on international level. Be that the national side or the non-OF teams in Europe. You check the international squads of the last decade and see that many if not most players selected either come from the OF or English lower league sides, have hardly played together and usually end up as expected. Obviously, the "lesser" teams don`t want to get pumped by the OF time and again, but I seem to remember that in the late 80s and 90s, the mid-table teams were always trying to play football too. If you check the record books, we did not exactly slaughtered any team even in our best NIAR years. These days, it is the usual brick-wall stuff every other week, with the only difference being which team has one or two players haring after any ball played from defence. You wonder what a neutral guy would make of games between Livingston and Ross County or Hamilton vs Kilmarnock ... feasts of football no doubt.

Regarding the BBC, or rather BBC Scotland, McLaughlin had his media privileges removed because of incorrect reporting et al, as has also been verfied by the BBC`s very own BBC Trust at the time. Even on the day he receieved a reprimand, he did it right in front of the cameras. The BBCeltland though closed lines behind him and declared heinously that their ability of reporting from Ibrox is impossible due to the "ban of one of their reporters" from Ibrox et al. Even when McLaughlin was off to pastures new elesewhere. Blatant lies, simple as that. It is the BBC Scotland (mainly Sports) department that drags the name of the BBC into the gutter and it is beyond me that the esprit de corps is more important to them than their own guidelines and rules. But you get that at times from journalists, who think of themselve as a higher species that needs to look after their own more than anything else. Alas, we got the Press Council over here that takes care of somesuch. As for the game on Sunday, it will be a totally different ball game compared to Hibs or Killie. I doubt we will be able to force the game unto them like we die at the LCF, they will be up for that one at home in front of the howling hordes. Controlled pressing and defending, then set the killer blows. In essence, Plan A will be done again, with exactly the same players starting bar Defoe, for whom Morelos will come in. Maybe we see a change and have Stewart instead of Arfield, as the former`s ability to pass, shoot and find spaces might be a better asset than Arfield`s more physical approach. It would also give us better balance on the right.

The ever reliable Morelos digs us out of this, but you also have to say that when Davis and Stewart came on, we look more potent. Might try that earlier in such games. Scum again scrape a narrow win, so getting anything on Sunday would be perfect. We've been playing consistent dominant football with the odd blib against Aberdeen, so if we keep that on, something might be on at the Scumhut on the last match day of the decade.

https://www.followfollow.com/forum/threads/olivier-giroud.101513/page-6 L’Équipe report that 33-year-old French international forward Olivier Giroud’s most likely and most preferred destination for next month’s window is to quit Chelsea for Inter Milan, after he revealed in an interview that it was “very likely” that he would be moving clubs.In a recent interview, Giroud also opened the door to a return to France, although he will not be going back to former club Montpellier, even though he is close to the club’s president Laurent Nicollin who he speaks regularly with.Last summer, Rennes and Bordeaux made enquiries, but were dissuaded by his €500k net a month salary demands. Aside from Monaco and PSG, it feels like only Lyon could offer to meet those requirements in January. OL’s main striking target for the moment is Valencia forward Kevin Gameiro, although it is by no means obvious at this stage that the 32-year-old will say yes to joining Rudi Garcia’s project in the middle of this season.Although Giroud has publicly praised Lyon in the past, his priority is to join up with Antonio Conte’s side, where he would face a less ferocious competition for places alongside Lautaro Martinez and Romelu Lukaku than at Chelsea, as Inter typically play with two strikers. On OL’s side, the fact that his profile is very similar to current forward Moussa Dembélé, may also discourage Les Gones.Further afield, Giroud has received approaches from the MLS, but France boss Didier Deschamps has warned him not to join this league, which only begins on 29th February. The clubs who had contacted the player are LA Galaxy and FC Toronto.Recently, Scottish side Rangers have also approached him, and will play in the Europa League knockout rounds, but their attempts have virtually no chance of success in attracting the Frenchman.Contacted by L’Équipe, the player’s agent Mickaël Manuello refused to be drawn to discussing speculation: “I never comment on discussions.“

Brickwall stuff at its finest. We knew it would be, but we go with effectively 6 defensive player, albeit Tav and Borna are wingbacks. There is hardly a blue jersey to aim at in the middle, and if so, it is croweded out by Killie folk. Stewart, Jones, and even Morelos would be good options for Kamara, Arfield et al.

Snatched from FB ... by David Mason, our club historian The history of Rangers Football club never fails to fascinate me, expecially when I come across pieces like this from Christmas Day 120 years ago. Rangers were the Champions having completed their fourth title in a row with the perfect season - winning every League game - a record! Nine months earlier the club incorporated installing William Wilton as the first Manager. The newspaper from which the picture came also included a lengthy poem proclaiming the club's great history (although only 27 years had elapsed). Little did they know just how much more would flow in that great river of Rangers achievements and memories. The final verse in the poem just about summed it all up: 'We fear not the keen blades of Sheffield, Nor the villianous rifles of 'Brum; The Celts and the Hearts we can vanquish; We've shouted, "Oh, let 'em all come!"; For we're climbing right up to the summit, And there on the top we will roost, As rampant and champion Rangers, The greatest the World has produced. Thank you for all your support both on this page and elsewhere as I strive to relate the history of our great club. Have a Merry Christmas everyone and a very happy New Year!

Sounds more like a Red Hering ... well Red Whale. Best not think about it unless some of our ITKs utter a word or two ...

Frohe Weihnachten to all resident Bluenoses!

Maybe the CO has finally grown some balls?

They didn't ask about Griffiths stamp on ...wasn't it Cosgrove too?

Pictures and short clips of interviews on the Women`s twitter account: https://twitter.com/RangersWFC

THE fixtures have been released for the Scottish Women’s Premier League 2020 campaign. The Gers will kick-off their season as they welcome Hearts to the Hummel Training Centre on February 23rd. Full fixture list: Feb 23: Rangers v Hearts March 15: Spartans v Rangers March 22: Hibernian v Rangers April 5: Rangers v Celtic April 19: Forfar v Rangers May 3: Rangers v Motherwell May 10: Glasgow City v Rangers May 24: Hearts v Rangers May 31: Rangers v Spartans June 14: Rangers v Hibernian June 28: Celtic v Rangers August 2: Rangers v Forfar Farmington August 9: Motherwell v Rangers August 23: Rangers v Glasgow City August 30: Rangers v Hearts September 6: Spartans v Rangers September 27: Hibernian v Rangers October 18: Rangers v Celtic November 1: Forfar Farmington v Rangers November 8: Rangers v Motherwell November 15: Glasgow City v Rangers * Fixtures are subject to change https://rangers.co.uk/news/women/swpl-fixtures-announced/ Rangers Sign Demi Vance RANGERS Football Club are delighted to announce the signing of midfielder Demi Vance from Glentoran on an 18 month contract. The 28-year-old has joined the club after a successful season last year, which saw her named Women’s Player of the Year by the Northern Ireland Football League. More here: https://rangers.co.uk/news/women/rangers-sign-demi-vance/ Rangers Sign Jenna Fife RANGERS Football Club are delighted to announce the signing of Scotland international Jenna Fife on a two-year-deal. The 23-year-old goalkeeper joins Rangers from Hibernian Ladies, where she has played her football since 2013. Read more here: https://rangers.co.uk/news/women/rangers-sign-jenna-fife/ Hay Signs Contract Extension RANGERS Football Club are pleased to announce that Brogan Hay has signed an 18-month contract extension. Hay, who joined Rangers from Glasgow City in 2017, has committed her future to the club with signing her first professional contract. Read more here: https://rangers.co.uk/news/women/hay-signs-contract-extension/ Rangers Sign Kirsten Reilly RANGERS Football Club are delighted to announce the signing of Kirsten Reilly on an 18-month contract. The 24-year-old midfielder joins Rangers from FA Women’s Super League side Bristol City. Reilly has also previously played for Hibs, as well as a spell in America playing for the University of West Alabama. Read more here: https://rangers.co.uk/news/women/rangers-sign-kirsten-reilly/ Brownlie Signs Contract Extension RANGERS Football Club are pleased to announce that defender Emma Brownlie has signed an 18-month contract extension. Brownlie, who joined the club in September, has committed her future to Rangers until Summer 2021. Read more here: https://rangers.co.uk/news/women/brownlie-signs-contract-extension/ Cunningham Joins Rangers RANGERS Football Club are delighted to confirm the signing of goalkeeper Megan Cunningham from Celtic. Cunningham joins the club on a one-year contract ahead of the 2020 SWPL campaign. The 24-year-old joins the club with experience of Scottish Women’s Football having also had spells at Hamilton Academical and Glasgow City. Read more here: https://rangers.co.uk/news/women/cunningham-joins-rangers/ BTW, Megan Cunningham saysa few things about the Scottish women`s game and whatRangers`investment might mean in this interesting interview / article: Gers Can Help Make League Stronger https://rangers.co.uk/news/women/gers-can-help-make-league-stronger/

Will update the Rangers Ladies thread over the course of the week. Next season starts February 20th or the like. Fife and Cunningham are goalies from Hibs and Celtic respectively. Info can be found primarily on Wikipedia.

Jack has done that now, Kamar less so, Aribo plays behind the striker for Nigeria. That wasn't the point though. At Motherwell no-one pushed into the area around the penalty spot and about 3 or 4 time in that game alone, the ball ended up there with only Motherwell men around it ... Morelos playing it in or having a shot rebound there.

Not having watched it thus far, you would still hope that SG and Co. switch systems according to opposition at hand. We've been lucky that our players are of better quality than those of years gone by, and that we suffered next to no injuries. But 3 attackers against an 8-man defense can quickly become rather difficult, and we toiled quite a bit this season already.