JohnMc

I'm surprised at how defeatist you are, would you prefer to give up than fight a difficult battle? 'Fixing' what's wrong with BBC Scotland won't be done in a week, or a month, or even a year, it'll take time and patience. BBC Scotland already look foolish and petty, and if we can keep winning and playing the most attractive football in the league their foolishness will only be magnified, and external pressure from London or Manchester will help too.

I'd confidently say that a significant percentage of our support are barely aware of what caused all this and just want it resolved. One of the downsides of inhabiting a virtual Rangers world (and I assume this applies to all football clubs, political viewpoints etc) is the creation of echo-chambers. Twitter allows us to select who we hear from, people tend to gravitate to forums or blogs that represent our views, and over time we get fooled into thinking everyone thinks like us.

Quite possibly, but deal with the coverage issue first then deal with whatever comes next when it happens. Don't give up a fight just because it's going to be hard.

I've a lot of family living in the Isle of Lewis for example, all big bluenoses. What other form of commentary would you recommend they pursue? There are tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of Rangers supporters who don't attend matches, who have to work during games, who can't access any other form of coverage for matches that aren't televised on Sky or BT. My father for example, is in his mid-70s, there's no way he is every going to try and find an illegal feed on a closed Facebook group. He relies on the radio for a great deal of information and companionship and following the football is a big part of his life. He shouldn't need to be told to go and find another means of commentary he should expect to receive the one he's already paid for his entire working life.

Great Pod again this week. Colin's really pretty good hosting things.

The issue just now is about losing face. Both the BBC and Rangers have taken up positions that make compromise difficult without one looking like it's 'backed down'. If Rangers were to announce they'd reinstated media credentials to Chris McLaughlin they'd take a lot of criticism from a decent percentage of the support. If the BBC announced they'd decided to send someone else they'd be criticised too by some staff, external voices, other club's supporters and so on. Yet, fixing this is really quite straightforward in my opinion. The BBC agree to cover Rangers in the same way they cover every other side and the problem is solved. The issue is then how to 'sell' that to our support and those who who support the BBC's stance. That's where 'the statement' comes in. Both parties should be able to word something that allows both to save face, appeases those who don't want compromise or agreement and then all the rest of us who simply want normal coverage of our football club, coverage we've paid for and continue to pay for, can get on with things. It's not in anyone's interests this carries on indefinitely, particularly not the Rangers support who are the only people being properly inconvenienced here.

Many words have more than one meaning TBS, enjoy; possess and benefit from. "the security forces enjoy legal immunity from prosecution" synonyms:benefit from, have the benefit of, reap the benefits of, have the advantage, have the use of, have available, avail oneself of... When faced with the choice of no coverage or the BBC's coverage I'd rather the latter. Many supporters can't get Clyde where they live, the BBC then becomes their only option for commentary.

With respect those aren't the only options. It's not beyond the wit of both organisations to come up with a statement that allows both to save face and allows supporters to enjoy proper coverage of their club again. Intransigence just means no one moves forward.

It's Rangers fans who are being greatly inconvenienced RS, that's why Rangers should be trying to solve this too. There are tens of thousands of supporters who can't make matches and who rely on radio coverage to follow the game. The fault lies with the BBC, that doesn't mean both sides should try and solve this.

The longer we're successful the harder this will be for them. If Rangers and Hearts are still first and second in a couple of weeks time they'll look ridiculous covering rugby and darts while that match plays out at Ibrox. I suspect Hearts fans won't be too pleased at not getting a commentary to listen too either. Yesterday's coverage was a disgrace. Rangers and the BBC should both be trying to find a resolution to this. I don't need Richard Gordon's approval, I don't care what Tom English thinks of us, but I do deserve the same coverage as every other side. I have no other choice, no other broadcaster provides radio commentary. I think the SPFL is the next organisation that should be made to explain this, they control the contacts for broadcasting and currently the BBC aren't fulfilling one.

Is there a more iconic image of a Rangers player than the one of Alan Morton in full flight? It's used on that 100 years poster and it's just one of those wonderful images that captures something special. Photography is an art form and that image, right leg fully stretched, left leg as high is can go to control the ball, both arms outstretched for balance, captures the essence of the player and all that's beautiful about football. There's movement, artistry, concentration and timeless quality to it. The light blue of the jersey, the style of boot, the perfect timeless haircut, that heavy ball and the fact that you can see other players but not make the out, the photo is all about Morton and his dynamism. You can tell he's small from the photo, which helps you conjure up his personality and his courage. Images of the Colin Stein in Barcelona, Gasgcoine, arms bent in front of him, numerous images of McCoist, Hateley wheeling away after that header against Aberdeen, Papac in Florence in front of the support are all great images, but that one of Morton, a player most of us never saw and some will never have heard of, just embodies something special. I just love it.

Gerrard himself said Middleton needs to learn about positioning out of possession as well as a number of other things. It's always exciting when a young Scottish attacking player makes an impression on the side, it happens rarely enough after all. But I agree with those who say he's raw, I don't think he's ready for a starting place yet, he only joined the first team squad a matter of weeks ago. Gerrard's use of him has impressed, there's very little pressure on him coming on as a sub, the crowd are less likely to get on his back if he loses the ball (the Ibrox crowd are unforgiving even to young players), he can use his freshness against defenders who might be tiring or carrying a caution and all the time he's learning. In the end over the course of the season he might well be required to start a match, suspensions and injuries will happen, so he'll get a chance at some point.

I had the rare treat of driving to Aberdeen and back yesterday. I downloaded and listened to the Gersnet podcast during my journey, it was a big improvement on the week before. However, the three contributors were surprisingly confident about the Villareal away match. So much so that by the end of the show I was feeling upbeat about the match. Villareal aren't scoring goals this season, are languishing in the lower depths of La Liga and have no one of the calibre of Riquelme or Forlan playing for them now. Fifteen minutes into the first half I was cursing the podcast for raising my expectations as I watched us being schooled by athletic, pass and move Spaniards looking like it was a training match against a passing amateur side following a heavy night on the tiles. We literally seemed unable to make even simple passes at times. Ach well, that'll teach me I thought. Then, after threatening an anal hammering early in the second half, we turned into Rangers of old. A side that looks like it's on the ropes suddenly springs to life, Tav turns into Messi and Arfield, who I'd bellowed at minutes before for being rubbish, slots one away and all before is forgotten. Well, for a couple of minutes it was. Lafferty's goal was a thing of beauty, the first time cross from Barasic was exquisite, Laff's run and finish was high quality, my subsequent leap across the room worthy of a man half my age. And we could have won it. We could have lost it too, but let's not dwell on that. Others have said it, but it bears repeating, we were playing, and losing, to part-timers, not long ago. Last night we drew with the fifth best side in Spain. It feels good today, enjoy that feeling, you've earned it.

I didn't type that? I certainly didn't type it on the 17th, that would have been Brahan Seer levels of prophecy.

Hopefully will reach a favourable and mutually beneficial conclusion soon.

I see this morning's Record is giving a less than subtle clue that it was indeed Reid who made the call.

Pesky facts. Let's promote this new version of the truth, we live in post truth times, embrace it gentlemen.

Thomson was pretty high profile at the time too. He was on the SPL board and loved a press release and interview and had Jim Spence operating as his personal fluffer. I don't think he was Dundee Utd Chairman though, think he was MD or similar. Look, Celtic had the most to gain from our fixture congestion and were clearly at it as the fabled trip to Japan proved. I just think of Reid as being a cannier operator, I assume he'd get someone else to do his dirty work for him, arms length deniability and all that. But it would hardly be a big shock if it was him.

What makes you think that WB? MacKinnon didn't take up the role until late 2016 yet but BBC Scotland have been boycotting Ibrox since January of that year. Everyone I speak to says it's a Sport department decision and is being left to them.

I was speaking to a friend last night who told me that the BBC have in fact very recently appointed around a dozen 'Local Government' reporters with the remit to monitor and report on political and social happenings on a local level. So I stand corrected. Just the local sport guys to criticise then.

Funnily enough I didn't think of Celtic when I heard of this story, my first suspicion was Dundee Utd and Thomson. The fact it could have been anyone of half a dozen tells it's own story. To be fair to Peat he was trying to assist the Scottish club in a European Final, like a normal football person would. Ironically if it's ever revealed who it was they'll probably lionised by their own support.

I'm guilty of that from time to time. The BBC is such a vast and disparate organisation I think all criticism of it has to be in context. I refuse to allow the poor professionalism of a handful of BBC Scotland Sport producers cloud my enjoyment of From Our Own Correspondent, Last Night Of The Proms or CBeebies. They are unconnected and rightly so. Anyone who judges the entire BBC because of what comes out of some quarters of Pacific Quay is making a mistake in my opinion. I'm genuinely supportive of the BBC, I approve of how they are funded and the editorial independence that affords them. When they make mistakes, and they do, I think they should be criticised for it. We're in a strange period just now, one I think will be studied by future historians. The demise of the written press in much of the Western world has created a vacuum that's not been adequately filled in my view. There has never been a better time for politicians or powerful entities and individuals to to do harm, because there are few organisations powerful enough to bring them to book. When I was born there were two daily evening papers in Glasgow, as well as the plethora of morning ones. This ensured councillors were scrutinised, decisions reported, individuals held to account. Not today, The Evening Times now barely functions as a newspaper, the Herald isn't much better. Nobody is watching closely at the City Chambers. That's the case across towns and cities the length of the country. Bloggers and websites haven't filled this void adequately. Very little 'reporting' is actually done online, few can afford to put the resources and time required. That's not changing anytime soon either. Which is why I'm reluctant to criticise the BBC when they do some things right and very keen to point out when I feel they are falling below their remit. We currently need them more than ever. We need an independent, powerful, credible media, both locally and nationally. Our club was almost destroyed in full view of everyone. Sir David Murray's words were accepted without scrutiny by too many in the media for fear of falling out with him (his only dissenting voices were from Rangers supporters) and Craig Whyte was likewise allowed to buy our club without real media scrutiny. By the time he was scrutinised it was too late. I hold organisations like BBC Scotland partly responsible for what happened to Rangers. Not the dancing on our grave stuff, or the risible 'Men Who Sold The Jerseys' documentary, an abject lesson in bolting the stable door when the horse is already in the South of France, no I want to know why they weren't much more critical of SDM and why they weren't asking far more searching questions of Craig Whyte. I think we need a functioning BBC in our society, more than ever. An organisation that can afford to upset some powerful or wealthy people without being concerned their advertising revenue will be affected. I really wish our dispute with BBC Scotland could be resolved. On a basic level I want to hear the same coverage of my side that every other side gets. I'll not manage to see the start of the Villareal game, but I should be able to hear it, if only their was coverage. I think Pedro and Murty were lucky they didn't have to face interviews post match after a number of our home games last season. From our perspective though it might have helped focus a few minds on the ruinous road we were headed down. But on a different level I want someone in the media to scrutinise our club's directors. Ask them difficult questions, demand clarity, hold them to account. BBC Scotland Sport aren't doing that on any level. We should be demanding they do, and not just at our club either. So I'll defend and criticise the BBC simultaneously, whilst hoping that someone there realises the responsibility and opportunity they have, and does something about it.

A public celebration of ignorance is surprisingly in vogue these days. It's eye-opening just how many presenters, journalists and former players are willing to publicly proclaim they don't actually know the rules of the sport they're being paid to comment on. I can easily excuse supporters not keeping fully abreast of law changes but not people whose very livelihoods surely depend on understanding and explaining football to simpletons like me. You wonder when a BBC Scotland Sport producer might suggest, forcefully, that the pundits they employ go on refereeing courses so they can understand the rules of the sport? Maybe even the journalists too. The fact that Aberdeen and Kilmarnock are unhappy one of their players didn't get a red card rescinded for a clear breach of the current rules isn't reason for a full blown investigation. Go learn the rules, it's completely clear why Naismaith and McGregor weren't sited and Killie and Don's hammer throwers weren't cleared. You might not like the new rules but you shouldn't be ignorant of them. You can't help but feel that had it not been the current Rangers keeper and a former Rangers player involved we might not be hearing quite as much about it. I actually think Richard Gordon is an accomplished broadcaster, but he doesn't even try to hide his personal animosity towards Rangers now, knowing it is not only tolerated but welcomed by many around him.

Good performance and most importantly a great reaction to the Tims defeat. How we react to set backs, and we will experience set backs through the season, is the measure of how good a team we have. Coulibaly returning makes a big difference to our midfield, he's a find and a half, I'd have given Candieas man of the match though, as both Coulibaly and Kent went off. Candeias does the simple things well, his crossing is accurate, his work rate superb and his consistency overlooked by many of us. Like Halliday he's another player who is benefiting from better management and better players around him.

Popped onto Twitter yesterday to be greeted by a lot of notifications. Clearly my spoken views are about as popular as my written ones ?? Sorry if we've lost you listeners!