der Berliner

Saturday's closed-door match against Hertha Berlin will be available to watch for free on our YouTube channel: http://youtube.com/rangersfc

... so right now we have Silva as our sole strike-force, as long as Sima and Dessers are and might be away. Roofe is injured till sometime, while Danilo is out till April. I for one wouldn't mind Dennis, but I would assume/hope that we would not have let Lammers go without having a replacement imminent - given our dearth in that department.

"Transfer Centre 9" ... well, time will tell.

You would hope that all business - like the Silva one - is done behind the scenes, Shankland and Co. are being used as the proverbial red fish. I have yet to read any credible source on that Doig - Ridvan swap talk, rather on the contrary, it looks more like money for Ridvan than anything else.

Oh dear, a rumour ... Rangers transfer news as Leeds United attacker Joe Gelhardt wanted at Ibrox in January Rangers are interested in signing Leeds United forward Joe Gelhardt during the January transfer window, according to the Daily Mail. Simon Jones reported in the paper’s Transfer Confidential on 8 January that the out-of-favour attacker is also a target for Old Firm rivals Celtic. Philippe Clement has already brought in Fabio Silva on loan from Wolves this month but has been widely expected to seek extensive improvements to his strike force. Gelhardt looked primed to be the next breakout star at Elland Road two years ago but has seen his progression stall after falling down the pecking order. The 21-year-old has only made six league appearances in the English Championship this term, and has seen just a handful of minutes in the division since August. So he certainly looks like he needs a move to get some regular game time, and with Rangers in need of attacking reinforcements a loan move would make a lot of sense on one hand. https://www.ibroxnews.com/2024/01/08/rangers-transfer-news-as-leeds-united-attacker-joe-gelhardt-wanted-at-ibrox-in-january/ Mr. Gelhardt is a 21-year old English chap tied to Leeds till 2027, who has so far only excelled for Leeds youngsters. Maybe he's the next best England striker, but back in the day, we signed these super-talents as freebies rather than becoming a breeding ground for English league teams. Regarding Dennis ... Chris Jack has claimed Rangers checked out a potential January transfer deal for Nottingham Forest striker Emmanuel Dennis last week, although no deal is imminent at Ibrox. The Rangers Review journalist reported that Dennis is one of several names on Rangers’ list of January transfer targets after they received encouragement about a potential deal. He continued by saying that the Nigerian is one the Ibrox club have had a look at but clarified no deal is in motion yet despite the initial positivity. https://www.ibroxnews.com/2024/01/08/rangers-chris-jack-shares-whether-emmanuel-dennis-january-transfer-is-imminent-at-ibrox/

I'm old enough to remember the days when you could sign players at any time of the season ... AND in the summer too! 😎

Talk that the ex-Hibs man is joining Torino. So perhaps a Bullet Doiged? (Just noted that I never had him in the rumours ... probably a correct choice.)

Not surprising that the BBC quote said that Sima was in an offside position, yet ignored (probably like the SFA) that this position was no longer important under current rules when the handball was committed. As with the Kilmarnock game when the latter received no penalty for a blatant foul, Maeda's foul on Cantwell, wrong offside calls for Roofe, the penalty given against Souttar, lack of red cards, etc - there clearly are problems with the use of VAR in certain games, the quality of judgement, and the bias towards a certain team.* Not that this comes as a surprise. Obviously, the clan of Scottish officials is a small one and as people don't change much, it has been and is an in-house problem. No wonder that their association (clan chiefs and mouthpieces) "protects" their own. * As that team has had a bad time of late, like in seasons before, they get help from the officials - be it the men in black with whistle or monitor, or some shadowy figures called "compliance officer", who (wonder of wonders) has not been heard off after all the damage they did to our campaigns a few seasons back. (Maybe one should not give them any ideas ... ). The amount of recent help by the men in black springs you in the face and to deny that means that the "referee association" is complicit in this.

Some weekend gossip ... Rangers will not face a battle with Celtic for the signature of Nottingham Forest defender Scott McKenna, with the Scotland international not on Celtic's list of targets. (Record) Meanwhile, Forest forward Emmanuel Dennis is reportedly keen on joining Rangers and is a more likely option for the Ibrox club than Brighton's Steven Alzate. (Record) (Given that Dennis is a striker (all-round attacker) and Alzate a DM (box-to-box type), they are not an "option for each other". But homework and the Daily Record are no option for one another either ... ) Twente Enschede left-back Gijs Smal, out of contract at the end of the season, is linked with Rangers. (Sun) Ridvan Yilmaz may be used as part of a swap deal in Rangers' proposed signing of Hellas Verona left-back Josh Doig. (Record) Rangers full-back Ridvan Yilmaz is on the verge of a switch to Serie A side Verona, but Rangers' hopes of Josh Doig moving the other way as his replacement are fading (Scottish Sun). And Rangers have been linked with a move for Dutch left-back Gijs Smal, whose contract with Eredivisie club Twente expires this summer (Daily Star - print edition). ... Scott McKenna and Gijs Smal will be added to the OP soon. The latter seems to be a likelier target than all other LBs mentioned so far, but who knows. Before this transfer window, I did not really envisage that "left back" would become such a talking point, nor that Ridvan would be willing to go to rock-bottom Verona after being given a constant run in the team. Who knows what is/was going on behind the scenes. IF he goes, I would hope we won't spend large parts of his money on a LB replacement. After all, albeit not perfect, we have Barisic, Balogun, Devine and even Sterling who can step in there if needed. IN - Emmanuel Dennis (24) -ST, Nigeria, Nottingham Forest, contract till 2025 - TM - TMstats - LINK IN - Scott McKenna (27) - CB, Scotland, Nottingham Forest, contract till 2024 - TM - TMstats - LINK (see Dennis above) IN - Gijs Smal (26) - LB, Netherlands, Twente Enschede, contract till 2024 - TM - TM-stats - LINK OUT - Ridvan Yilmaz - Hellas Verona - LINK (see Smal above)

This Alzate guy is injured right now. Imagine people claiming mistakes on our behalf would do their homework first ...

Scotsman's list of our transfer targets ... including some not heard of before this window ... Josh Doig – the Scotland Under-21 international has made a positive impression at Hellas Verona since his £3m move from Hibs 18 months ago. Rangers are said to have made an enquiry for left-back, and could look to reach a compromise with the Serie A side on their £5.5m valuation of the 21-year-old. (DB - it very much looks like Clement likes what he sees from Ridvan. Barisic is in his last months as a Ranger. If anything, I'd expect the latter being moved on instead of Ridvan.) Lawrence Shankland – the prolific Hearts striker would guarantee goals having netted 19 for club and country so far this season on the back of a 28-goal campaign last term. However, the question for Rangers would be whether they are prepared to meet the £5m price tag placed on the head of the 28-year-old, who has 18 months of his Hearts deal left. (DB - Who knows how Shankland would fare with us against packed defences? 18 months, an in-form chap in the Scottish game, 3m and not a penny more.) Steven Alzate – Rangers have reportedly held discussions with Brighton about a possible January move for the Colombian midfielder. The 25-year-old is currently on loan at Standard Liege, but according to Belgian outlet DH les Sports, his parent club are prepared to recall the player if they can sell him in the January window. It is claimed the seven-times capped international has been offfered to numerous clubs in order to make a sale before his contract expires in the summer, with Rangers among the interested parties. (DB - as stated above, he's currently injured with a "syndesmotic ligament tear", or a high ankle sprain to you and me, and he is back in Britain for treatment.) Kevin Van Veen – the former Motherwell striker is eyeing a return to Scotland after failing to settle at Groningen. He has claimed that Rangers are “still interested” in signing him after stating that he turned down their advances in the summer. Van Veen scored 29 goals for Motherwell last season but sources at Ibrox. (DB - possible Walteresque stop gap solution for a department ravaged by injury and poor scoring stats. Has a contract till 2026, so will cost money. Age is no benchmark these days, as we have seen with Defoe, Canniggia and even Hateley. Scottish stats are okay.) Million Manhoef – Vitesse Arnhem winger is another player to have been mooted as a Rangers target. The Dutch U21 international is highly rated and valued in the region of £2.5m. Rangers would face competition for his signature should they decide to make a move for him. The club are said to have been following him for 12 months and are now ready to pounce after Nils Koppen endorsed the move. (DB - the one exciting link so far, money's about right.) Owen Beck – Rangers have been thwarted in their attempts to sign the Liverpool left-back following his impressive loan spell at Dundee. He was recalled by the Anfield club to cover for injuries and is not available to go back out on loan, leaving Rangers to look elsewhere. (DB - no-goer.) Fredrick Oppegard – the PSV left-back is a Norwegian Under-21 international who has made five first-team appearances and who spent time on loan at Dutch top flight side Go Ahead Eagles last season. He was an unused substitute when PSV drew 2-2 with Rangers at Ibrox in a Champions League play-off tie back in August 2022. (DB - untried talent from the Netherlands. Will cost money, probably less than Doig, bigger potential for future profit.) Kai Wagner – another left-back on Rangers radar, the Philadelphia Union player is a 26-year-old German who has played 138 appearances in the MLS, scoring five goals, and was named in the league's Best XI in 2022. (DB - freebie with bags of experience. German defenders are usually technically sound and solid.) (EDIT: Brighton, AEK Athens, US Lecce, and some Bundesliga teams have registered their interest.) Jose Cordoba – one of two Levski Sofia players being linked with Rangers by the Bulgarian media. The 22-year-old left-sided centre-back is a Panama international and is also said to be attracting the interest of Besiktas, Panathiniakos and Eintracht Frankfurt. (DB - contract till 2026, who paid a whopping 110k for him. Given the interest and Scottish wheather, you would assume we are not his preferred choice.) Andrian Kraev – the second Sofia player credited with interesting Rangers is a 24-year-old, 6ft 2in midfield maestro who has eight caps for Bulgaria. He has six months remaining on his contract and would be available for a cut-price move in January. He has previosuly been linked with Kaiserslautern in the Bundesliga. (DB - can't remember any interest in him, yet the Scotsman manages to make two mistakes in the last sentence, "previosuly" and the small fact that Kaiserslautern is currently 15th in Bundesliga 2. That said, lots of Balkan players try their luck in Germany.) Elsewhere (I hear cries of joy already) ... https://www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/sport/24029333.sam-lammers-rangers-transfer-exit-offered-sunderland/?ref=rss&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

A quick guide to TM. I usually link the "profile" (or front) page of a player, e.g. Million Manhoef. Below his photo is a icon bar PROFILE - STATS - MARKET VALUE ... If you want to know where a player has played before, pitch- and/or club-wise, check out his STATS page. Preferably the "all seasons" options, unless you want to know how he's doing in 2023/24. Thus, Manhoef's ALL Seasons page tells you that he has mostly played as right winger, but also regularly in central midfield, left midfield or on the left wing. In the STATS part you also find the option (far right) with regard to his injury record.

Yeah, maybe. I was just checking his data at TM.

Emmanuel Dennis is currently loaned from Nottingham Forest (contract till 2026) to Basaksehir till 6/2024. And he's had an unknown injury since November. That's what TM says. Steven Alzate has currently a syndesmotic ligament tear, received in mid-December. Wow ...

Haven't read all posts since the game, but came across this article regarding the offside that never was. I do remember that at least one more offside that was given against us in their area with McGregor heading the ball clear and Goldson was flagged offside - but never should have. Rangers penalty controversy takes new twist as IFAB ruling emerges Stewart Wilson Sun, 31 December 2023 at 4:26 pm CET The Rangers penalty controversy during the recent derby against Celtic at Parkhead has taken a new twist after an IFAB ruling on the scenario has emerged. An incident in the first half was highlighted as Willie Collum did not feel that referee Nick Walsh had made a clear and obvious error by failing to award the Ibrox side a penalty following a handball by Hoops defender Alistair Johnston. Collum believed that Walsh had been correct just to give a goal kick because he felt the Celtic player's hand was in a natural position when it made contact with the ball after watching a replay back at Clydesdale House. Television footage later showed that Rangers forward Abdallah Sima had been in an offside position when John Lundstram played the ball in to him. But Walsh did not indicate that was the reason why the penalty was disallowed at the time and the goal kick was then taken by Celtic goalkeeper Joe Hart. And now a ruling has emerged which appears to suggest that Sima would not have been offside in this particular scenario. The IFAB rules outline that for the scenario of when attacking player in an offside position (Team A) runs towards the ball but does not play the ball or prevent the opponent (Team B) from playing or being able to play the ball, the referees decision should be that : "It is not an offside offence so the referee allows play to continue. The attacking player is only penalised if he/she plays the ball or interferes with an opponent." Ibrox boss Philippe Clement made his feelings clear at full time. Speaking to BBC, he said: "I'm also really curious why this handball wasn't given because it's a really decisive moment in the game to come back to 1-1. I'm really curious about that. "It's a clear handball so it's a penalty and I think everybody who sees that clear handball will say it's a penalty." When the BBC reporter then suggested that the VAR pictures showed an offside prior to the flashpoint. Clement responded: "Yes, but after the game. In the second half. We never got this information in the first half so that was not in account at that moment. "So it's strange we didn't get this information that there was an offside and that there was no clear signal that it was offside. "It's not an offside situation given with the ball there in the position which he was offside. "So it's an explanation afterwards to cover a decision that was wrong." https://uk.news.yahoo.com/rangers-penalty-controversy-takes-twist-152600257.html?guccounter=1

Now, January started with a few "bombshells" ... or let's call them "media brain-f...ts" Rangers are said to be in talks with Hellas Verona over a deal to bring left-back Josh Doig back to Scotland in January, according to Toro Goal. It is said that any deal would cost up to £5.2million with Italian intermediaries working to get the defender a move in the next 31 days, with fresh talks starting with Torino. While we also look to get Sima in on a permanent basis, with said media citing 10-15m valuations. Fabio Carvalho (Liverpool) might be a target for a January loan say others, after being recalled from RB Leipzig.

Still laughing about Johnston not being off ... three clear yellow-card offences, alas, the creep didn't manage to score later on.

There was, performance-wise, not much between the teams. One hit-and-hope volley through 6 players and one Kyogo-special. McCausland alone notched up three good chances, yet we again wasted too many for a game like this. In the end, they struggled to keep the result against 10-men. I feared the worst when Tavernier and Goldson started their short-passes in defence again, which promptly lead to danger. Neither player is the future for us, maybe we can use Tav in a more forward role in right midfield, but for all his penalties and odd-good flanks per game, we need to see better defending. And I am saying that based not on today's game. No hatchet job. Balogun solid as ever, they will say that this was a goal-scoring opportunity, and he was the last man, so going by the rules, we'd probably want a red card too. Lundstram and Sterling work well together, they kept them at bay and the passes were okay too. Sterling was even pressing late on near their box. Cantwell needs to make better, quicker decisions, especially in our half. Teams like the Yahoos will snap the ball off him and that creates danger. Dessers up top worked his socks off, had few chances and probably wasted the one where he should have hit the ball instead of waiting for the foul. Sima his usual self, dropped in and out of the game a little, but worked tirelessly too. Butland rock solid. No chance at either goal, steal of the summer. Star players then: McCausland and Ridvan! That young winger showed no signs of fear in any game so far, not even at the Scumhut. Ran his socks off, created goals, tried his luck too. That side of our attack is in safe hands. The Little Tiger likewise showed no signs of awe. Instead he gave us speed, agility and was always willing to have a go - both at goal and opponent. I think Borna's days are numbered. Another OF game this season wrecked by the men in black('n Green), we'll have to soldier on and will do so. Gut feeling says that 2024 will be good to us!

Games' done and the ref hands out yellows to them like confetti. 😂

look at McCausland, grabs the balls, runs half the pitch and it needs four Yahoos to stop him.

Honestly mate, 9 out of 10 of your posts regarding us and our team are purely Yahoo stuff.

Is Johnston the new Scott Brown? That would have been his third yellow card ...

Maybe we should swap Wright and Cantwell, the latter is somewhat off today ... and has a tendency a play himself into trouble in our half. Now Riley has a nose-bleed from nothing? What a farce.

Well, we play rather well, going by our standards. McCausland and Ridvan stand-outs so far, not impressed by the howling whatsoever. Overall, not that much football, mostly kick'n rush and counter-attacking. We carve out enough good chances, McCausland 3 alone, dunno why Dessers didn't attempt to shoot - and why there was no VAR. Same with Johnston vs Sima late on. What was it that saw Cantwell's goal chalked off? McGregor headed the ball to McCaulsand? Was Goldson offside when the Ridvan's cross came in?

My contempt for this lot hasn't lessened these last few years, so I hope we repay them in kind for the last OF game. While the omens look good, one never knows with OF games. Anyway, Clement has come in, cleared the mess that Beale and Co. left behind and has brought us within touching distance with the same players. No little feat. Whatever happens today, we've got two games in hand and quite a few ahead of us. So I expect the worst and hope for the best.