Big Jaws

I take it by that you don't feel they are up to the current squads remit... i.e. you don't feel they have the necessary skill levels in any capacity nor are they even Rangers class?

Its a good piece if otherwise somewhat emotive. I think there is scope for the premise of the article but in saying that I also feel there is no particular need for the blunderbuss approach... If we are constantly intimating that there is a fringe support among us then it would only be fair to give leeway too.

I thought Morton played well... No Jim Duffy side was ever going to lay down to us in the same fashion they might had we been wearing emerald green but we did show them that its not as simple as that.

I debated with myself whether I should post this on a Friday night after a decent home result and a few sherbits rather than Sat afternoon or not... as I felt it might not gain the traction among the forum bears that I feel it deserves. In saying that I fully admit I am being a little facetious with the question. Kenny Miller, we already know quite early in MW's tenure, has earned himself a new contract. However should we also offer these two also rans a new contract too? The reason I ask is quite simply a morale question. The word coming out of the camp in the early days of the season was that John Eustace contribution was a vital component in the squads morale. Securing John as a player, for various reasons, never quite worked out and so John returned to whence he came. However... from my perspective his absence has left an opportunity for anyone within the current setup to make that role their own. Hey presto... as if by magic... a couple of characters emerge like a rabbit out of the magic hat. Those characters are none other than our own Dean Sheils and Nicky Law. Now I have to admit neither of these two players, with the exception of a sporadic deft touch here and there by Dean, have ingratiated themselves to me nor their vision or play styles. That however doesn't quite tell the full story though. The reason it doesn't is that, almost to a man, every single young and relatively inexperienced youthful player in our various squads has lauded each of these fellows as both exceptional talents and also as a crucial link in the chain towards the first team. My question therefore is; on this basis should we offer these two an extension to their contracts or do you feel that the endorsement by the youths it just a jobs for the boys routine?

MW interview on Talk sport the other day was a breath of fresh air he completely extracted the urine with regards to the Scottish press. There's a very noticeable difference in interview when its not partisan.

To all intents and purposes... Yes we were! However, although I'm appalled at the behaviour of those who made that happen, I prefer to discuss it in as detached a manner as I can. Kicked, cast and to a certain extent sent all have a negative emotive content when discussing what went on. Sent, for me is the least emotive and its for that reason alone that I use it. In other words I'm not raising the point just because I'm upset about it I'm raising the point because it is 'unprecedented'! In contrast, anecdotally, I once had a conversation with two blokes, a Brian Dempsey and a Dominic Keane who just happened to be among the guests of a wedding function I attended at the time of the east end fiasco in the 90's. Our table party made it clear which side of the old firm we favoured yet in spite of that they both took the time to sit and chat with us over a glass of cordial or two. We voiced our concerns with regards to whether or not they would be successful in their bid to arrest control and what it would mean for our game in general. We all agreed that in order for our game to maintain a high profile in terms of marketability and remain competitive, at home and in European/International competitions, both sides needed to maintain a healthy working relationship. Now it could have been a load of plausible old tosh that they were coming away with. However Dempsey offered more in conversation than was probably necessary by intimating that he was in regular correspondence with their then counterpart Murray and that as far as he was concerned it really couldn't work in the long run without that working relationship. There was no 'your club is deed' nonsense from our side of the table that's for sure only concern that should they be unsuccessful then by proxy the possibility might weaken us. As I say either it was all garbage or other people got involved in that clubs affairs fuelling the rabid loons on the terraces, or using their smoke for cover, to float the idea that it wasn't a necessity. Personally I think there is more to the story than meets the eye however if I were to type it I would be straying into the realms of conjecture, supposition and possibly even conspiracy theory.

In their attempt to prove that Rangers are a new club they have, much like their support of the OBA, no idea that any investigation might/will affect them and their club just as much as it will any other Scottish club. In their rabid fervour it seems not to matter to them that UEFA/SFA/ECA etc etc have issued statements to confirm without any doubt that Rangers are indeed the same club as was established in 1872. I for one, would love for UEFA to investigate the actions of SFA in this matter; 5-way agreement & presumption of guilt, 1st division clubs, taking receipt of funds due to Rangers (transfer fees for Davis & Fleck) & keeping them (unless that has since been resolved and I've just missed or forgotten?), imposing punishments that a court of law declared were out-with their own stated terms, being party to the SPL's "blackmailing" of Rangers to give up TV rights before issuing a license a day before the league started... The stuff the OP relates to talks about "unprecedented" membership transfer between companies, when there clearly has been precedent; Leeds & Coventry for example. Obviously FA & SFA are separate but given their complaint is meant for UEFA, you would look further afield for comparative treatment. I remember reading an article a couple of years ago that read something along the lines of 40 clubs in England are now owned & operated under a different company number than since their inception. I've never heard of any that were sent to the bottom of their league system for doing that. In fact, us being sent to Division 3 is what is 'unprecedented' and so actually is worthy of investigation just not for the reason that mob would want! So as far as I'm concerned they should most definitely proceed. These are all important matters. Bear in mind though there are ramifications... should EUFA investigate and find against the SFA. Any punishment would be against the SFA and therefore affect all member clubs associated with the SFA.

If we play like we did yesterday I have absolutely no doubt in my mind that they will kick everything above the grass.

Its a tough draw for us. Footballing wise they're not a patch on us much like Dundee they are top heavy. However they are a big physical side and that could be the difference. If we can nullify their attacking midfield with our possession and get them tracking back to cover like we did with Dundee then they will be in trouble because their defence is piss poor. I'm looking forward to the challenge. EDIT: We're due to give some team a right spanking so it might as well be them.

I'm wondering if you thought the 20 year old kid on loan that I was referring to was Zelalem (whom I like incidentally)? I was in fact referring to Dom himself who in spite of how he looks is just a 20 year old kid on loan, I do agree with you on the position being needed despite who plays it. I'm fairly sure Matt Crooks is being brought in to fill the role for next season albeit whether as a squad player or as automatic first team pick.

I don't know why he was booked. When he scored he was directly in front of the Dundee support. If he would have celebrated there it would have probably been a yellow for gesturing towards them. As he made the celebration run he noticed this and so he curved his run round the back of the net towards the Rangers fans, he never crossed the advertising hoardings, never took his shirt off nor gestured to the away support, and from start to finish in total he was off the field of play for 8 seconds. I know the rules BH posted above but I have absolutely no clue why that is a booking. Its pure nonsense!

From his first two 20 minute cameo appearances I was one of those who noticed Harry Forrester carrying a fair bit of timber. From what I could see he wasn't fit never mind match fit. He's still a little off match fitness at the moment but my goodness he's got good feet. Some of the flicks and stuff he produced yesterday even when he switched to the left when Wallace and him combined to flick it over the defenders heads a couple of times brought a huge grin to my fizzog. We were by far the superior outfit yesterday and the reports of Dundee being the better team after 25 minutes left me wondering what game these folk were watching? The game I was watching saw merely the last 10 minutes of the first half where Dundee had some possession. At that point Dundee were trying everything, anything, to get the ball somehow. It resulted in them doubling up on Dom Ball in the mid field and simply because Dom isn't graced with the quickest of feet they successfully managed to win a few scraps off of him. They weren't able to sustain that for any length of time though. Big Dom was excellent yesterday and never looked phased even when they did double team him for that short period. He always made space for himself and showed for the ball at every opportunity. Big Dom will know himself that he needs to work on retention in confined spaces but given grass and good service to run on to the ball he looked a far more mature and accomplished player than a 20 year old kid who's on loan. We've certainly nothing to fear from any team in any Scottish division but if I was to draw attention to one aspect I think we could improve upon then I would suggest that from watching St Johnstone, Kilmarnock and now Dundee play at Ibrox that they play in a much more physical league in the SPL and at times we do look just a little light in that department. I've no real concerns about it though, as the manager has expressed, its a learning curve and each step takes this young 7 month old team closer to where they should be. Back at the top of the Premier League winning everything!

No chance... No let up!!!!

Just to add... Saints held Falkirk to a 0-0 tonight too.

Cant fault the lads tonight thoroughly deserved two zip win, and should have been more. Front three all put in a decent shift even Nicky Clark who's not my fav did a decent job... Forrester, King and MOH and young Burt showed some nice stuff. Perm any one from 5 in that midfield for MOTM.

Apart from one or two wayward passes we've looked fairly solid through out the team. Wee Harry has looked like he's very interested and scored a lovely goal while off balanced too. The fitter he gets the better. Provided theres no slip ups it would be nice to see MOH get a goal.

I agree with you that they treat it as an objection as it gives very little to work with. However it is an answer whether they like it or not. They are going to write shite anyway so what difference does it make?

Latest edition of the podcast was up to its usual standards... yet again RR 'Mike the Stat' played a blinder going on a mazy run in the 90th minute with Alex McLeishs Nacho's. Shane dropped quite a few notables, Stu's face was all over my 28” monitor and while I'm at it... Venkman... Dr Peter Venkman... Really Paul? To quote the man himself... 'Well, I'm sorry, I'm just not getting any reading'. All good stuff

The repetitive questioning, in order to extract statement that the journalists can sensationalise, can and does become tedious fairly quickly. The vast majority of time spent during these Q and A sessions is, depending on your perspective, wasted doing precisely that. He could just funnel them to yes, no and I'm not discussing that answers though.

The first time I ever seen Davie Cooper play was in a midweek (March, Tuesday) first division game for the Bankies against Alex Ferguson Saints at Love St during the 76-77' season. My auld man had got wind that we were going to sign Cooper for the 77-78' season and wanted to see who we were buying. Since we went to the games together obviously it was only natural that I had to go too. Saints won that game 3-1 but the scoreline didn't reflect the natural talent that was playing on the left wing that night. Quite frankly Cooper was outstanding and both myself and my da left that game with a broad grin on our coupons. Fergusons team won the league by 5 points that year and were promoted along with the Bankies in second place to the Premier League. Rangers first two games of the 77-78' season were losses... opening game away to Aberdeen and at home to Hibs. For me it certainly didn't look promising however that as they say 'is all history' what a season that turned out to be and what a player we had with Davie Cooper.

I'd disagree with you there Rousseau. For me his touch was good during August/September of course there were one or two occasions where it was a little sloppy but over all during that time it was reasonably good... but after that it got particularly poor.

Personally I don't mind the swearing sometimes its necessary especially to set up the gags that you lot get away with. Not all the bears are sitting in the stands eating sweeties and passing round fluffy bunnies although my young brother often shouts round the Govan Front stand for folk to come give my auld uncle a cuddle cause he's cold all to the auld uncles great embarrassment I might add. Ha ha ha The last show you did with 'Mike the stat' was excellent and he seems a good addition to the team. Keep up the good work guys.

I don't think it has anything to do with tiredness. Don't ask me what it is that's going on there as I haven't a clue. If I was to take a guess at it I'd say its in his head somewhere. Some say he's not played well the last couple of games I'd dispute that and say its been a bit longer than just the last couple of games even though during the time he was still managing to score a goal or two. For me I noticed his control/touch getting a bit sloppy during the October/November dip and as yet it still hasn't returned. I'm not offering any answers but it might be down to where he's been being played. You've more time to control/trap the ball out wide when you get it but when you're through the middle it has to be instant. It might be hocus pocus but one of the players Wagghorn sites as a role model Andy Cole practised without a ball as apparently the body remembers shape/position apparently he did this so that he could control/trap/turn and get a shot off and the body wouldn't find itself in unusual stress positions. As I say it might just be hocus pocus but then again it might not and anything that helps a player do any of that has to be worthwhile.

I've got a couple that I think were outstanding the first is Brian Laudrup skip to 5:30 in the vid for it. Rangers 2 - Celtic 1 Scottish Cup Semi-Final 1996 Alex Clelland throw in on our own 18 yard line to Gasgoine, to Laudrup, to Dury back to Laudrup Goal! Theres not much to say about my second choice other than its probably the best I think I've ever seen and was Davie Cooper's 78th minute goal at Hamden in the 1979 Drybourgh Cup Final against Celtic to put us 3-0 up. Its very difficult to find decent footage of it but even from what you can find its still absolutely sublime!

Zelalem most certainly creates a polarised set of opinions from the fan base that's for sure and that's why its necessary to discuss in an article. The ad hominem responses are unnecessary at best. I don't believe it a pseudo-intellectual piece but what I can be absolutely sure about is that its most definitely not a twitter esque sound bite piece either. I'd rather spend 10-15 minutes of my time reading a reasoned thought out piece than wade through screeds and screeds of pithy sound bites. I guess that's why I was drawn to this forum rather than others as it offers thought provoking verbose opinions in posters styles and articles.