Thinker

I'm not sure it's a goer either, but not for that reason. There'd have to be more than one club from each nation and I'm sure Ajax, PSV, Feyenoord, Benfica, Sporting, Porto, us, them would all make the cut - so plenty of opportunity for the continution of old rivalries and derbies. I expect Ajax fans would miss playing PEC Zwolle about as much as we'd miss playing Motherwell (which is to say, a minority of traditionalists would miss it).

For me, a move to another league isn't so much about ambition and chasing "success", but more to do with a desire to escape the confines of a badly organised, tinpot, and often toxic SPFL. Ideally, I'd like us to take part in a league where the other clubs are operating at a similar level, have similar sized stadia and budgets, decent pitches etc. and who actually try to play football against us. I've no desire to see Rangers ascend to Europe's higher echelons alongside the soulless, corporate superclubs, but I have absolutely loved our involvement in the Europa League since Stevie arrived. Playing games against proper, well-known European names like Rapid Vienna, Feyenoord, Galatasary, Benfica feels like where we belong. 30 years ago I'd have jumped at the chance to join a British League, but things have changed since then in England, and (like the other "big" leagues) the EPL has become skewed and dominated by a few clubs that have rigged a clear run at UEFA's prize money every year. I can't see how we (or any of the also-ran Premier League teams) could permanently catch up with Man U, Chelsea, Man City etc. without entrusting the club's future to foreign money men. Having said that, I'd probably rather be in Everton or Aston Villa's shoes than in the SPFL forevermore. My preferred day-dream solution would be to see us join an Atlantic League or equivalent where we can escape to play against other teams currently "trapped" in smaller national leagues. I could get excited about games against Porto, Anderlecht, Ajax and the like, without feeling the need to sell our soul in order to compete.

I know what you mean, but it's easy to underestimate the bungling, amateurish incompetence of football's leading lights. It would be less embarrassing for them if this debacle was a cunning piece of misdirection, but it really does appear to be a straightforward story of greed and stupidity.

I wonder if there could be milage in forming an alternative "no dickheads" ECA. The "elite" clubs have been twisting UEFAs arm up it's back with this threat of a breakaway league for years, and now it's been faced down. And in pandering to them they've created a monster (or 12 monsters). Maybe UEFA are ready to listen to thoughts of fair-minded clubs who'd rather see sporting merit prioritised over dosh? Nah, probably not...

There ought to be severe consequences for him. Up until a couple of days ago he was playing along with the Swiss Model plan, blatantly lying and all the while participating in secret ESL negotiations.

It beggers belief that this grotesque carve-up wasn't enough for the ESLers. And despite showing themselves to be back-stabbing, lying traitors they still get to fall back on this fat reward. Once again, great work UEFA!

https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11668/12282080/man-utd-liverpool-arsenal-and-tottenham-join-chelsea-and-manchester-city-in-leaving-european-super-league And that's the end of that.

If these greedy bastards elite clubs were factored out of UEFA's decision making process, maybe there would be more support for Champions League and Europa League qualification being made more of an even playing field.

You'd have to assume qualification would be on the basis of revenue potential.

It sounds like a better format than the revamped "Swiss" champions league, but the lack of open qualification is a turn off. Having said that the existing Champions league is already skewed in favour of the big leagues whereas this suggestion is skewed in favour of the elite clubs - not much of a difference from a Scottish perspective. There's clearly still plenty of opportunity for a compromise between UEFA and their spoiled favourites.

Irrespective of your opinion of Tom English, this is an enjoyable and satisfying read: 'Rangers' Scottish Cup win over Celtic completes extraordinary Old Firm power shift' By Tom English, BBC Scotland

Was the term "Whataboutery" coined by Spiers? Whoever it was, I hate the word. It's most oftern used by arseholes to gaslight anyone making a counterargument to their bullshit by citing precedent.

100% with you on this to the extent that, back when we were drawn against Galatasary, I remember thinking that maybe it would be no bad thing if we missed out on the group stages if it allowed us to focus all our energies on the league. Very happy that the team exceeded my expectations and excelled in both!

Certainly, prematch kneeling in the UK is unlikely to reduce racism in Czech football. Do they take the knee in Prague? Are players and fans in the Czech league routinely exposed to messages highlighting the harm casual racism can cause? If not (and I suspect they aren't) maybe they should be.

Some good chat on reddit: and

I live nearby and can attest that plenty of public urination also took place. (Which is weird because, going by the tone of the media reports / government furore last week, our impromptu George Square title celebration was the first time anything of that horrific sort had ever happened!)

Plenty of Sellick taps on view in the gatherings I saw this evening. No point in trying to get their club to get involved - St Patrick is a separate entity.

it's true for next year if we keep Scotland's coefficient above the Ukraine's.

Helander for me. As well as the goal he also made a saving tackle in the first half which, whilst not as spectacular as Greeg's save, was still crucial for the result.

Martindale just keeps going up and up in my estimation!

The club's response should be a (leaked) letter: Dear head of PlodFed Given your dissatisfaction with the public statements, regarding social distancing / title celebrations, we made prior to last weekend's matches, we would be happy to do it your way this time. Please send us your recommendations on how we should address these issues and we shall act accordingly.

Apologies if this has been posted elsewhere: Link: Repair George Square Benches Accidently Damaged Rangers Football Club celebrated their World Record 55th League Championship yesterday! For a football club to have come through so much and emerge to again become the Kings of Scottish Football is a remarkable achievement. The Rangers Support have been with the club all the way and it was to be expected that there would be joyous celebrations to follow. During these celebrations, there appears to have been accidental damage to a small number of memorial benches in George Square. This, whilst clearly unintentional, is not something the Rangers Support would like to have seen done and as a result, we are fundraising to replace these benches as a true and sincere gesture of respect. If there are any additional funds raised we will donate them to the Anthony Nolan Charity which helps save the lives of people with blood cancer and blood disorders. If you are aged between 16-30 you can also help by joining their donation register https://www.anthonynolan.org/8-ways-you-could-save-life/donate-your-stem-cells

I'd like to thank this spambot for inadvertently resurrecting such a great thread. It chronicles a significant step towards the very happy situation we now find ourselves in. Who would have ever thought Lennon would rip the morale out of Septic and leave them a shambles? (Answer: All of us!)

On paper, tough draws for both the Ukrainian teams, which ought to help the UEFA ranking.

I was under the impression that there's doubt as to whether the club was contacted at all. When the initial "told to contact oldco" story was published, the board commented to say the whole thing was news to them (IIRC). I suppose it may have occurred during the spiv regime years, in which case it's practically guaranteed to have been handled badly.