SteveC

The first set of referees who had agreed to come changed their minds when they were informed of the reason why they were needed. I don't think it was the SFA who apprised them of the reason, btw. EDIT: "On 26 November, the Polish FA reversed their decision to send three sets of officials, stating they were now required for games in Poland, followed by the Portuguese FA, who had sent teams of officials to cover the two Sunday SPL games, only to board a return flight as soon as they arrived at Glasgow Airport. The withdrawals led to the last remaining Division One game being called off, and two of three Scottish Cup replays also being called off, and cast doubt over cover for the remaining fixtures.[28][35] Scottish broadcaster STV claimed the Polish referees pulled out after they realised they were providing cover for striking referees, having initially believed they were participating in an exchange programme.[36] On the eve of the strike, the Israeli FA stated it might not have sent referees had it been given the full story behind the request by the SFA, while the Luxembourg FA stated they had not been given the reasons behind the SFA's request, but that they had been following the dispute on the internet.[37] The SFA published the names of the referees appointed for the weekend fixtures on Friday 26 November, showing that the matches would be refereed by officials from Malta, Israel, Portugal and Luxembourg.[38] These appointments were thrown into confusion, however, when the Portuguese officials returned home soon after arriving at Glasgow Airport.[28] The Portuguese referees had been due to officiate the matches at Hibernian on Saturday and Motherwell on Sunday.[39]" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scottish_football_referee_strike

The wannabee right-on lefties were all supporting strike-breaking scabs at that. Funniest thing was that they couldn't complain as much as normal when they had a perfectly legitimate goal erroneously ruled out.

Hodson:

I remember everyone I knew calling them the Accies far earlier than that - all my life in fact and it is a distressingly long one. Anyway, here's the manager: Rossiter is.....well you know the rest

I increasingly feel that something horrendous happened this century, not only to cause the global economic collapse from which we've never recovered, but also to me personally. I seem to have slipped into an alternate universe that is part surreal but mostly malevolent and against all decency and common sense. I do not like it here, can I have my old Universe back, please?

We were probably playing a combination. that was last year's winners too, So we've knocked out the holders............

Where's Tannochside? i expected the first reply to be from him and reading "please Lord, make it soon"

Yes it is but it's not all as bad as the headline would make you think ("“There has been a lot said about them, but they are a fantastic team and they have held their own since they came back up.“They are doing very well..") and, to be honest, you'd expect him to be saying something like this. We have Barry saying that we haven't given up the league after all.

Aree you asking what lawwell and Petrie will do about sellick and Hibs?

We are trailing and it finishes tonight. They had a huge number of votes in a matter of minutes. I think they've found a way around voting more than once a day. By "they" I don't mean Feyenoord fans, obviously................

It is an excellent piece but it is in the wrong place to have any effect. It would need to be in the MSM and by someone with no connection to Rangers to be even read by the audience that needs to read it, far less taken seriously. Online football bloggers are probably not taken seriously in such matters while Rangers fans are not taken seriously in any context. Ergo, Online Rangers bloggers........... you get my drift.

VPN, change server...Wait till tomorrow.... they are gaining - we are at 52.12%

Agreed and Agreed. I'm tempted to say McKay, though, despite feeling guilty re a number of also-deserving-others.

Sheep drew 0-0 at home

Let's see... Patterson is a total cnut Nearly JfK, Nearly

Ask and thou shalt receive

We looked like a proper team in that first half. I'd like to see a 2nd goal asap though. For my nerves.

We should and are playing well. I did think of a certain poster on here when Miller missed with his lob....

1-0 Kiernan header from a free kick that I thought a trifle generous. Great free kick from the impressive Tavernier. Good choice, MW.

Atrocious "challenge" - that is, assault - on Halliday

Why put it like that? Clearly the manager prefers to pick him for today's game of football is what we know. "Favoured status" is nothing but negative speculation. Maybe he thinks he brings more drive, perhaps he wants him for dead ball situations, perhaps he has performed the better of the three in training. Whatever it is, it will be a footballing reason. No need to insinuate the manager has a primary school mentality. PS As it transpires, Forrester is sick.

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/joey-barton-reveals-rangers-regret-9412967 Joey Barton insists he holds no grudges against Mark Warburton and that he would sign for Rangers if given the choice again. The controversial midfielder admitted he is gutted his Ibrox career ended after just eight games following a training ground bust-up. Barton was the club’s marquee signing and joined on a hefty wage packet was paid off by the Light Blues after his move turned into a disaster. But the 34-year-old admitted it’s an experience he would try again after his eyes were opened to the size of Scottish football, and he reckons the Old Firm have “missed a trick” by not gaining access to the English football, like Welsh clubs Swansea and Cardiff. Speaking on BBC Radio 5 live Barton was asked if he would have stayed in England if he had his time but said: “No, I think I’d have signed for Rangers . Joey Barton once challenged Mark Hughes to a FIGHT in his office Barton's last game for Rangers came in a 5-1 defeat to Celtic (Photo: SNS) “It was an opportunity I couldn’t let pass. You want to make the best decision possible and weigh up the reasons you’re going to to do things. It’s a great football club. I’d do it again. “I’ve got no issue with Rangers. They are a fantastic football club. I’ve got no issue with Mark Warburton . No issue with Davie Weir. No issue with anyone on the board. “The only regret I’ve got is not playing football now. No player wants to miss football when they’re fit, especially not when you’re 34 and you don’t have another 10 years to play and you’re watching Match of the Day and reading papers and everyone else is playing football. “When you play eight games for any club - my last game for Rangers is a defeat in the Old Firm at Celtic Park - and nobody wants to do that, only play eight games for a football club. “You want to have more of an impact and more of an impression. For the amount of backing the fans gave me and the belief they put in me, and the football club to get me there in the first place, it’s incredibly disappointing. “Life is too short to look back and say ‘If I could have played that way or done this’. I’m focusing on the future. I’m fortunate I’ve still got that bit about me where I’ve still got an enormous amount of credibility south of the border and people want me to come to the football club. “My phone has been ringing with people asking where I’ll be in January.” Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell said an interview this week that the Hoops had the potential to be the biggest club in Britain if they had access to the English Premier League. And Barton - who played for Manchester City, Newcastle United and QPR - said: “It’s somewhere where if they get it right - and I believe they can do - it’s a phenomenal place. “It’s completely unique. The disappointing thing for Celtic and Rangers, and probably Aberdeen, is that there needs to be more competition. The way Swansea and Cardiff have come into the English league, those clubs have missed a trick. “Brendan Rodgers talked about if Celtic were in the English Premier League. You need to go up there and see the passion for football in that country and it’s a waste to have Rangers playing in the third and second tiers. You need them to be back.”

Some goal here: http://www.gotthebattlefeveron.com/2016/12/5/13847082/video-liam-burt-goal-hearts-under-20s

Yes, as I said, nobody of any worth

Jim Mclean had his eyes on Man Utd - really? I never heard that before. I thought Ferguson said no due to not being able to sign Catholics (urban myth?) or because we'd insulted his wife for being one/asked why he'd got married in a chapel or something like that - I seem to recall him talking about this.