JohnMc

Great read, good to see Germinal back on here! The Mackay appointment is just bizarre. Even if you ignore the texts and their content, you still have to ask how he's qualified to do the job of Performance Director? From what I can see Mackay has only ever coached professional players and has no experience of coaching children, far less devising and implementing a nationwide strategy to help develop future talent. Brian McLair made sense for the position, having worked as a youth coach and academy director at Man Utd, arguably as good a football academy as there is. Mackay's managed senior professionals at Watford, Cardiff and Wigan. The guy MacPhee who has joined Hearts as Assistant Manager was apparently in the frame for the job, again he makes some sense. But Mackay is just an all round puzzling appointment, he could be excluded for so many reasons.

It's been bugging me since Saturday night and I needed an outlet for it! I don't know where the 'Writer's' forum bit is anymore, I can't find it. So I've posted it in here, take it out if it's not suitable for the Rangers forum, publish it on the main site or ignore it and let it drop off the page, I'd an itch I needed to scratch and now it's done! I’ve read a number of articles over the last 12 months about how Donald Trump’s mastery of Twitter has played a huge part in securing firstly the Republican nomination and then the presidency of the United States. The Washington Post described Trump as the “master troll” and his use of Twitter clearly allowed him to garner as many column inches is it does followers. The ability to speak, or at least tweet, directly to the soon to be most powerful man in the world is one of astonishing things that we now take for granted. Up to this point politicians for most of my life have been otherworldly beings. Seen and heard only through the media successful politicians mastered sound-bites, oratory, a wholesome look and the ability to smile on demand. Social media is changing that. I went onto Twitter on Saturday evening to see what was happening in the world. My timeline is mixed and contains people from my professional life, allotment and gardener writers, photographers and naturalists, journalists, politicians of various hues and, of course, some football talk. Two stories caught my eye; the untimely death of the writer and journalist A.A. Gill and a Glasgow based MSP called James Dornan asking for an investigation into safety at Ibrox. Dornan seemed to be suggesting there was cause for concern regarding the structural well-being of Scotland’s finest football ground. Naturally I was alarmed by this and looked to find the source of his concern; I hadn’t expected it to be a delusional, obsessive Irish blogger called Phil Macgiollabhain. Who, and what, Mr Dornan chooses to read in his spare time is his business, but whom he chooses to re-tweet is an insight into his priorities and his judgement. Many people were rightly appalled. The blogger in question, like Donald Trump, has managed to find an audience for his bizarre world-views. He writes with an earnestness found only in the fanatically neurotic, it reminds me of David Icke’s famous appearance on Wogan when he was convinced he was the son of God. Like all of us he has a living to make and he’s clearly found a constituency for his world views in the unhinged, fringe of Scottish society, if he can make a buck out of them who am I to judge. Still, it was a surprise to find an MSP among them. The Sunday Times columnist, A.A. Gill, died of cancer at the weekend, he was 62. I didn’t always agree with what Gill wrote, but I usually enjoyed how he wrote it. Acerbic, humourous, thought provoking and challenging, Gill was a master of words and had been at the top of his profession for several decades. His death prompted me to buy the Sunday Times once again and read his final article, ironically about the diagnosis and treatment of his cancer. Being published the day after his death added to its poignancy but it was Gill’s insight into cancer survival rates that struck a nerve with me. The UK has the worst cancer survival rates of any Western European country, and, of the UK, Scotland has the worst rates of all. In Scotland you’ve a 46.6% chance of surviving cancer, in Northern Ireland it’s 51%, in Germany 59.1% and in Sweden it’s 64.7%. My mother was diagnosed with cancer earlier this year, like me, she lives in Glasgow, the centre of the developed world’s worst example of cancer prevention, detection and treatment. We should be ashamed. I try and avoid much of the faux outrage I see online. As a middle-aged father I long ago figured out where the importance of football really comes in the grand scheme of things. But I was genuinely angry at the priorities and choices being made by this particular elected politician. If we take Mr Dornan at face-value and accept his explanation that he’s concerned for the welfare of supporters then you still have to ask why the Retweet? Why not place a call to Glasgow Council, or to Rangers themselves, and find out if safety certificates are in place and up-to-date, surely as an MSP you carry a bit of clout and can get answers? Wouldn’t that have achieved more or is trolling now so ingrained in those who seek public office that what is seen is more important than what can be done? What offends me most though is that any MSP, MP, MEP or councillor in Scotland feels that this is a subject they should be engaging on. The lowest cancer survival rates in Europe news followed on from the report that Scotland's schools have recorded their worst ever performance. With three children at the local primary and a mother visiting the Beatson every fortnight I don’t care what delusional narcissist bloggers make up and I don’t expect members of the Scottish Parliament to care either. Here’s the thing, I’m exactly who you need to be reaching out too Mr Dornan. I’m not a died-in-the-wool unionist, I’ve voted SNP before, and may do again, but I voted ‘No’ in the referendum. I’m one of 55% that needs to be won over. Here’s a clue, trolling football supporters isn’t the way to do it. Focus on the things that are really wrong with this country whilst you have the chance, things that really concern your constituents and the vast majority of the people who live in Glasgow. There’s Japanese proverb; ‘When the character of a man is not clear to you, look at his friends’, maybe that might help you understand why so many were appalled by your Tweet. By the way Japan has a cancer survival rate of 58.2%.

I don't believe the SNP is "anti-Rangers". I think a lot of people involved in the SNP do have a basic antipathy towards people signing 'Rule Britannia' and waving union flags. But then I'm not a member or supporter of the SNP and I've no time for either of those two things either. I suspect a fair number of 'bears' vote SNP, I'm sure some are fully supportive of Scottish independence, I'm sure some just didn't fancy the alternatives on offer at election time and some thought Nicola Sturgeon would make a better First Minster than Jim Murphy. Any 'poison' is clear to you perhaps, but not to everyone.

I'm surprised that you're surprised! Gersnet ran a poll at the time of the referendum and, from memory, it was broadly inline with the result. Remember, for most people who they support and who they vote for are two entirely different subjects. The only thing the colour of my scarf tells you about me is what football team I support. I voted 'No' in the referendum, I'd vote the same way if there was another one tomorrow. But in five years time, or ten, who knows. Things change so I keep an open mind. Two of the strongest SNP supporters I know are big Rangers men, one I understand is looking to stand in local elections for them. He's a good guy and would make a great councillor, I'd vote for him. That's got nothing to do with him being a bluenose though. Describing them as "evil" does you a discredit. I disagree with some of their policies, I think, on balance, things are better being part of the union. But I can respect their point of view and accept that parts of their argument is valid. They aren't "evil". Any attempt to group Rangers supporters as one homogenous group should be resisted, whether it comes from fans of other clubs or from fans of our own. We're a broad church and represent a wide cross-section of the population, we'd be well served reminding politicians of all hues that as often as we can.

Double post.

The thing that always needs factored into this equation though is on-field success. Put frankly Barcelona's local, national and international profile has been heightened far more by the presence of Cruyff, Schuster, Laudrup, Stoichkov, Hagi, Maradona, Ronaldhino, Romario, Figo, Eto'o, Xavi, Iniesta and of course Messi, whose value to Barcelona is almost unmeasurable, than by the rise in Catalan nationalism. The Catalan identity really only plays out locally, your average 10 year old in small town northern Europe couldn't care less, they care about Messi and winning the Champions League. If Espanyol could put together a competitive side their profile would rise, in the same way that Valencia and Athletico Madrid have seen their profile rise as their fortunes on the field did. The increased commercialisation of football in general since the creation of the Champions League has coincided with Barca, and Spanish football, enjoying a golden period. In the 80s it was Italian sides that ruled the world and AC Milan merchandise that dominated shelf space. Today it's Barca and Real Madrid that's more to do with the cyclical nature of football than political demographics. As for the lack of politicians willing to self-identify as Rangers supporters that is a problem. However it's our problem and for us to fix. The issue isn't Celtic supporters undermining us, it's Ranger supporters undermining us.

I was at an ICAS dinner a few years ago and John Reid was the speaker. He was quite funny which was annoying. They'd Rory Bremner the other week, I wonder if Paul Murray can do a Trump impersonation.

There was even some respect shown during the minutes silence, although the Broomloan seemed to think it was minutes applause to begin with. They're still obsessed with Ian Durrant though, strange bunch. I really enjoyed the match but the result shouldn't disguise the obvious deficiencies in the side and the performance. I'd been thinking the problem this season was our defence and our attack, but today made me realise the issue is our midfield. Halliday is my current favourite player, but, unfortunately, I'm coming to the conclusion he's just not good enough for the centre midfield, and I'm not convinced about Holt either. With the system we play if our central midfielders can't take the ball from the keeper or the defence then we either lose possession deep in our own half or we punt it long and often lose possession that way. Aberdeen, like most sides this season, pressed our midfield and we were unable to play through that. The most regular pass in the first half was Foderingham to Garner, very few of which he was able to do anything with. Two more accomplished, stronger central midfielders would make a huge difference to that side. We played quite well defensively, I thought Kiernan was man of the match, and Hill will be missed next week. Hodson is a better defender than Tavernier, but we do lose something going forward. Better defending wins it for me currently. Waghorn made a huge difference when he came on. Some guy sitting in front of me claimed special insight into Waghorn, siting lifestyle issues as necessitating a move every couple of years. I hope that's not the case as he's still our best forward in my opinion. Garner worked really hard, but for all his industry I didn't think he contributed as much as you'd expect from a centre forward. He's got little goal threat and without players running off him much of what he did petered out quickly. Certainly the Aberdeen defenders knew they were in a match and he closed down well but I'm still looking for more, maybe it'll come. I remain unconvinced by O'Halleron, he needs to lift his head more, when he has the ball he seems to have little idea what's happening around him. McKay though, I think, is arguably the most important player in our side. He set up Wallace's first half chance and Hodson's goal. Used properly McKay will always create three or four chances in a match and for a side like ours that should be the difference between winning and losing. He's not perfect but his guile, vision and range of passing remains superior to everyone else in the squad. So, basically, if we can sign Souness and Zidane in the Jan window we'll be sorted in 2017... As old Fidel used to say "Hombres, beating Aberdeen at home sure brightens up a cold December Saturday, viva la revolucion".

It's been a problem with time Pete, or lack of it. Needed to focus on other things. Thanks though and I'm happy to contribute when I can.

You're going to have to take that up with Castro, if I hear of a seance happening this weekend I'll let you know...

Although it seems a bit early with us only having played last night the Aberdeen match is on Saturday so I've stuck the preview on the site. I've not done one for a while so apologies in advance if my 'style' isn't to everyone's taste. I never feel there's much point in me talking about tactics and so on. So, yeah, boxing and communism instead. Any problems with it let me know.

On a warm, Caribbean evening back in 1996 two of the most important figures of the 20th century met for the first time. Fidel Castro, the Cuban leader who died last week, and Muhammad Ali, arguably the greatest ever boxer, who died earlier this year. Both were hated and revered, worshipped and reviled by different people at different times during their lives. Castro’s recent death brought to mind their first encounter. In Havana, overlooking the harbour, in the company of Ali’s fourth wife, various assistants and confidantes, a CBS TV camera crew, a delegation from the Red Cross, various people from the Cuban state security apparatus and the greatest heavyweight boxer Ali didn’t fight; Teofilo Stevenson. The Cuban amateur won gold medals in the heavyweight division at the 72, 76 and 1980 Olympic Games. Ali, ten years his senior, won Olympic Gold in the 1960 games. Stevenson remained amateur and resisted the lure of the riches thrown at boxers in the 1970s, preferring to remain in Cuba. This certainly affected his bank balance but brought him a wealth of admirers, Ali included, as well as the position of national hero in his homeland. Stevenson and Ali had met before and although neither spoke the other’s language there was apparently a clear bond between them, so much so that Castro ordered Stevenson to accompany Ali and his entourage on their visit to Cuba as his unofficial representative. Although only 54 years old Muhammad Ali was already in poor health. Parkinson’s Disease had cruelly curtailed Ali’s motor skills, he even relied on someone to help him get up from a seated position, and his speech, a weapon that was just as mighty as his strength and movement, was almost non-existent. Ali would go long periods without speaking at all, his voice, when it did come, was slow, slurred and quiet. A polarising figure in his prime, in retirement and poor health Ali was more popular than ever. Ironically Castro was still in good health at the time. Despite living for a period in exile, taking part in a revolution, surviving numerous attempts on his life and smoking cigars most of his life he was surprisingly fit for a man in his 70s. His trademark jungle green fatigues were immaculately pressed and only his beard betrayed his age. Two people whose lives had been marked by struggle, conflict, and controversy, who had, in different ways, symbolised their nations, nations who had been in a state of cold war with each other for decades, would be in the same room as each other for the first time, to pay each other their respects. Aberdeen make the trip to Govan on Saturday for our second meeting with them this season. The red menace were, at one time, one of the finest sides in these islands. Their 1980’s side combined strength, speed and skill with an unbreakable team spirit. Guided by a genius, Govan born, ex-Rangers player. At their height they were a match for anyone and regularly put Rangers to the sword. They weren’t a likeable team though. Players like Miller, Strachan, Rougvie, Cooper and Simpson were aggressive and committed and so were hate figures for all but their own support. I didn’t like that Aberdeen side, but I did have a grudging respect for them. I’m not sure how much respect there will be at Ibrox on Saturday. Antipathy, conceit, anger and apparent hatred I expect you’ll see, but probably not much respect. That’s a shame. Another ex-Rangers player from a little further downstream of Govan manages this current Aberdeen side. Like Alex Ferguson, Derek McInnes didn’t properly fulfil his potential at Rangers, but he was a likeable and fairly popular player. It would be nice if he was able to retain that as manager of Aberdeen, but I wouldn’t be putting my mortgage on it. I’ve no special insight but it feels like there isn’t much respect at boardroom level either, that wasn’t always the case. During Aberdeen’s golden period the Director’s of both clubs were close and the relationships were very cordial. It might be coincidence, but Scottish football was in a far healthier place when our respective boards enjoyed each other’s mutual respect. Where things are at their worst though is at supporter level. The hostility seems to be real. In the past a section of the Aberdeen support seemed to revel in causing as much offence as possible. I’m a big advocate for freedom of speech but the crassness of celebrating the career defining injury of a young Scottish international never mind singing about the deaths of fellow football supporters in the place where those deaths actually took place never ceases to amaze me. It’s hard to respect people who do this. I doubt they care. They should though because there should be respect between our clubs. Not friendship or ‘special relationships’, but simply respect. Respect for the achievements of each club, respect for the time, effort and money the travelling support have invested in their side, respect for the players, some of who, however infrequently, are still capable for making us rise from our seats in excitement. As someone who nearly lost his club I fully understand what my football club means to me and the irrationally big place it occupies in my life. I’m sure Aberdeen fans feel the same way about their club, indeed I’m positive they do. I can respect that. Let’s start there. Aberdeen will probably go into the match as favourites. Although sitting one place and two points behind us in the league table they have two games in hand. Aberdeen’s form has been mixed since our last meeting. They were well beaten by Celtic last weekend following on from two victories away from home. They have players in their squad who are fast and direct and are adept on the break, something of an Achilles Heel for us. Our form is poor. We were well beaten at Tynecastle on Wednesday and although enjoying plenty of possession against Thistle and Dundee we were far from convincing in victory against two struggling sides. The elation and excitement I felt when watching Warburton’s first competitive match in charge against Hibs in the Challenge Cup in the summer of 2015 has all but dissipated now. We don’t close down the opposition anymore, we don’t pass and move, we don’t take corners short and we don’t create the same amount of chances. There seems to be a problem with belief and with confidence. I’ve no idea what our best side is now, Waghorn and Tavernier are shadows of the players they were last season, Holt no longer ghosts into space, McKay and Wallace can’t find each other and the defence bring me out in hives every time a cross enters our box. I don’t accept that Dundee, Thistle and Ross County are better than Hibs, Falkirk or QOTS, yet for some reason we’ve stopped playing ‘our way’ against them. Aberdeen are better than them though. They are quick on the break, and have players who are mobile and skilful. If we don’t improve our performance we’ll lose, it’s as simple as that. Despite his poor early season form I feel it’s time Waghorn returned to the side. We’ve missed his movement and running with the ball. McKay too, even playing poorly he creates chances for others. Hodson must be getting considered for right back, Tavernier can be a joy to watch, but defensively he’s not performing currently. Dodoo, with an assist at Dundee, two goals at Thistle and one against Hearts that looked fine to me should retain his place. Most importantly our work rate needs to rise. Hard work will compensate for many other failings and it really feels like we’re simply not working hard enough currently. Perhaps Aberdeen are the perfect opponents on Saturday. Rangers v Aberdeen is still a big match, third against fourth, a big crowd and a 3pm Saturday kick-off. If nothing else there should be some noise about the old place. If we can’t raise our game for Aberdeen at home then our problems go much deeper than simple loss of form. Aberdeen at Ibrox should be one of the highlights of our season, a fixture we all look forward too, a challenge and an opportunity to benchmark our side. Castro’s first meeting with Ali didn’t go all that well. Castro was late and Ali was tired. Ali didn’t try and hide his annoyance at his hosts tardiness either, the greatest boxer of all time wasn’t used to being ignored. Castro’s English is poor and he spoke through an interpreter, Ali’s illness meant he struggled to reply and he depended on his wife to speak for him. Castro could easily speak for two hours holding a crowd in rapture but was surprisingly poor at making small talk. Despite this they were both able to express their respect for each other, Ali did a magic trick, making a handkerchief seemingly disappear, a trick he’d learned and used to break the ice in the past. Castro then praised Ali for standing up for his beliefs, opposing racism and for being brave enough to visit Cuba as an American citizen. As the evening ended Ali’s wife invited Castro to stay at their home if he was ever visiting Michigan. Castro explained that much to his annoyance he wasn’t allowed to leave New York when he visited America to speak at the UN. This restriction angered him, but, he said with prescience, perhaps in the future as “times change”. Times do indeed change. Scottish football is at its lowest ever ebb, the standard of play and interest from supporters has never been lower. Until our clubs put aside narrow self-interest there is no chance this will change either. Perhaps we can begin on Saturday by showing each other some mutual respect.

I've not done one for a while. Is Aberdeen this weekend still free?

King isn't an employee, but I take the point you're making. What I'd say here though is there's no "whiff or rumour" in this case, the judge's summation speaks for itself. Look, I accept it's highly inlikely it's going to happen, I'm just surprised how relaxed most people seem to be about it.

No, that's fair. It might make removing him more palatable though.

I read it as a rebuttal, but fair enough if that wasn't how it was meant.

I'm not shocked. I'm a little surprised that Db, and then you rbr, tried to suggest that McParland hadn't done anything wrong. I'd hoped that as supporters we'd be a little more open to the truth now. Where I'm going with this is posting it on the best Rangers supporters forum because I couldn't see it on it. What I wanted was to bring it to the attention of the posters on Gersnet. I didn't expect the first reply to be 'nothing to see here move along' in a German accent. Maybe you think lying in court is acceptable behaviour for a senior Rangers employee? If it was up to me I'd fire him for this. Added to that our recruitment since he joined has been woeful, combined with his clear dishonesty I'd say he should be removed from his position instantly.

Well if you're not convinced guys try Google... First hit is this... "In a later ruling on legal costs Waksman recorded that Lee’s and McParland’s evidence about the meetings was “unreliable” and “false”, saying: “The events attested to by the Bolton witnesses concerning these meetings simply did not happen. True, I did not use the word ‘dishonesty’ [in his first judgment] but plainly, if their evidence on the facts on this issue was false, they must have known it to be so.” You know, there are times when we should circle the wagons, close ranks and protect our own, but there are also times when we should face facts and ask questions. If we've still not learned that after the last few years then we clearly are our own worst enemies. Bottom line the Rangers 'Head Of Recruitmet' lied to a court to protect an agent who stood to make a lot of money from a transfer he endorsed. That should trouble us more than it seems to be currently in my opinion.

No, it doesn't say that DB it says the opposite. It says, pretty clearly I think, that McParland lied to the court. It's a corcern not just because it does cast a big shadow over his character but also because it show's the influence some agents clearly hold over him.

Now, I'm not naive, I know stuff goes on in football and it always has. Agents and players and managers and coaches make money through various ways, sometimes not in an orthodox way. Favouring a certain agent could be done for a lot of reasons, that on its own doesn't mean corruption, however lying in court is something I'm very uncomfortable with. "Perhaps worse than the apparent breaches of regulations, certainly more depressing for lovers of our national game, were Waksman’s findings about the lying and dishonesty of these football men. Of Lee and McParland’s story about discussing McCann with SEM in a Liverpool restaurant in May 2007, Waksman summarised in his ruling on legal costs: “The events attested to by the Bolton witnesses concerning these meetings simply did not happen. True, I did not use the word ‘dishonesty’ [in his original judgment], but plainly if their evidence on the facts on this issue was false they must have known it to be so.” The full article is here - https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/nov/08/sammy-lee-sam-allardyce-fa-england-double-standards None connected come out of this well, only McParland now works for us though so he's the only one I care about.

Fans of smaller clubs hated them and hated the media for fawning over them and telling the whole 'fairy tale rise' story. Livingston get a bit of that too. German football culture is different from here. Their fans are very much part of their clubs, oligarchs and Arabian Sultans aren't welcomed with open arms and football isn't all about money. Maybe DB can confirm this but wasn't their a law that German sport's clubs had to be 51% fan owned? If you get the chance Dell read Tor! an English language history of German football. It's excellent, well written and enlightening (for me at least). For example I'd no idea that the West German football was amatuer up to the 1960s, German players would leave for professional leagues abroad but never be picked by West Germany again, they bloody won World Cups with amatuers. I was in Berlin earlier this year for the first time. My taxi driver from the airport was from Dresden, we got talking about football as you do and he told me the first football match he ever attended was Dynamo Dresden v Rangers in the Fairs Cup. He'd followed us ever since. We shared tales of following our clubs in the depths of our respective leagues as Dresden have hit hard times too. He got a good tip.

Was Warburton expected to turn up Pete? To accuse him of a lacking respect is a surprise if we don't even know if he's part of the process or not. Warburton isn't his employer, he's his line manager, HR and legal people will be handling this now, Warburton will be asked, and expected, to turn up when the need arises. in my experience of employees being suspended there will be some sort of review period for the suspension, it can't run indefintely. Yesterday's meeting was propably a box ticking formality and all sides know that. It seems fairly clear there is no way back for Barton. Personally I'm pleased the club aren't just paying off his contract and hopefully he'll move on in January in the normal way of things. I assume Warburton doesn't want Barton around the squad and the players, first team or youth, so this is the only legal way to see it through to January. Barton has already played for two clubs this year, there might be an issue with him playing for a third and that might be what's preventing him being released and moving to another side before January. The '3 club' rule usually applies to a season rather than a calendar year but perhaps lawyers are concerned about its interpretation.

We've a squad and it's a long season, he'll get his chance. I don't think there's any doubt McKay and Waghorn should be ahead of him and Forrester too, Miller is in good form as well just now. O'Haloran needs to bide his time, we'll get injuries and suspensions as the season progresses and he'll get a turn, then it's up to him to take it. Sometimes bringing in players like O'Haloran and and Garner helps spur on existing players. Miller's form has improved since Garner joined, whilst McKay hasn't dazzled this season yet he remains our best creater of chances for others and takes two defenders with him wherever he goes. Along time ago now we signed a player called Duncan Ferguson. He was a force of nature and arguably the most talented Scottish player of his generation. It didn't work out for him for a variety of reasons but one of the forgotten upsides of his arrival was the improvement in form of Mark Hateley. He was clearly brought in to challenge Hateley and Hateley's response was to provide his two best seasons in light blue. My point is that if nothing else O'Haloran provides competition an essential part of any squad.

Lafferty's problem isn't his ability it's his attitude. He didn't make it at Rangers becasue of that and he's failing at Norwich for the same reason. He has skill, he's strong and fast as well, but he's got broken bottles for brains and it's difficult to do anything about that now.

As I see it there are two issues that need addressed; the quality of football and the interest in our club. The question is does an 'Atlantic League' address one, or both, of those issues. The quality of football in the league we're currently in is poor. Scottish sides are regularly knocked out of Europe in the early, early rounds, even Celtic qualifying for Champion's League has resulted in their heaviest ever defeat this season. In my lifetime Scottosh club sides were competitive on the highest level, today we're simply not. The quality of player we, as a country, produce is also sub-standard. A succession of international managers have been unable to make a silk purse out of the sow's ear that is the Scottish international side, the SPFL and it's predecessors are largely responsible for that. Part of the reason for this is a lack of vision, organisation and strategy, further hindered by self-interest and a lack of finance. The interest in our club is also a concern for me. True, we're still regularly playing in front of sell-out crowds, but have a look around you next time you're at Ibrox, take in the average age of the fan present, it's 40plus. The next generation of football supporter, the kid brought up in multi-channel, hi-definition, super sunday EPL/La Liga/Bundesliga Live get's t watch Real Madrid, Messi, Aguero any time they want. Why is that person going to pay good money to go to Ibrox to watch sub-standard football played by ordinary players? At my north Glasgow primary school every boy in my year, without exception, supported Rangers or Partick Thistle. My sons today go to a different Glasgow primary school but one with much in common with the one I attended. In their class there might be half a dozen boys who identify as Rangers supporters. The 10 year olds today support Chelsea, Man City, Barcelona as their first team. They can see these clubs anytime that like, every match is live. Their players are glamourous, famous and pretty good at football as well. Local sides don't get much of a look-in. I've lived in Ireland, I've seen first hand what happens to local football when an entire population supports club sides in another country. If you don't think that can happen here then you've not being paying attention. Can the Atlantic League help address these issues; maybe. But it has a better chance than the current set-up does. The big risk to the Champion's League isn't the Atlantic League, it's the English Premier League. It already attracts more money than the Champion's League. There's an inevitability that an NFL style football league will emerge in Europe. Broadcasters want it, advertisers want it and certain clubs want it. Rangers currently have no chance of being invited to that. If an Atlantic League helps our club grow it's profile again, attract better players, play better football against sides also playing better football then we need to seriously consider it. There was a time in our history when the Glasgow Cup was a big tournament, it carried prestige, attracted big crowds to derby matches and was looked forward to by the fans. Times change. I think there will be a 'land grab' in football soon. Clubs will break ranks with UEFA, they'll decide to go it alone and to hell with the consequences. Something like the Atlantic League might just be the spark. I'd prefer us to join the English League but that's not likely as things stand, so the Atlantic League needs considered. Something has to change or, frankly, in a generation's time we'll be Linfield.