ian1964

Neil Lennon believes Hibernian will put the rest of the Ladbrokes Premiership on red alert if they can follow up their Celtic triumph with victory over Rangers. The Easter Road side were expected to mount a challenge at the top end of the table this term but a run of seven games without a win saw them slide down as far as eighth. However, Lennon's men responded in stunning fashion as they followed up victory over Hamilton by shocking his old Parkhead side 2-0 on Sunday. And they can now fire themselves back into the top six if they topple Steven Gerrard's league leaders on Wednesday night. Back-to-back wins against the Old Firm would be a major achievement and Lennon believes it would have the rest of the top flight running scared. "I didn't see Sunday's win coming to be honest but it shows what they are capable of," he said. "It's lifted the place and it's a good marker for upcoming games. "They are big games. Obviously Rangers are in town tomorrow, then it's Livingston, Rangers again and then Hearts all before the new year, so they don't come any bigger. "The players don't need any extra motivation. They've got to drink up the feeling they got after the game and look for more of it. "I'm annoyed at the differential in the levels of performance. I know what the players are capable of and they haven't been showing that. "It just shows you what a little bit of confidence can do. "If we can overcome Rangers, we'll be back in the top six and all of a sudden we start to look a real threat again in this division, which is what we want." Hibs have not faced Rangers since their 5-5 thriller on the final day of last season. Gerrard admits it was that performance which rammed home the need to stiffen up the Light Blues' spine once he took over in the summer and Lennon admits the Ibrox outfit are no longer the pushovers they were last term. The Northern Irishman said: "There's never a good time to play a good team like Rangers. They're a different animal this season - difficult to beat and Stevie has added more steel to them. "They are very athletic, well drilled. "Off the back of beating Celtic, yeah maybe it's a good time for us to play anyone really in terms of the psychological side of the game. "But we're not getting carried away with one performance. We need to build on that now. "How do I think Stevie has taken to management? Excellent. He's been really impressive. They had a fantastic run in Europe. I don't think anyone envisioned that. "They're now top of the league and playing really well, so I don't think you could ask any more from the short period of time he's been in there." https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/neil-lennon-says-beating-rangers-13751294?1

Rangers v Celtic and Hibs v Hearts: Police Scotland warn footy fans to behave at upcoming Glasgow and Edinburgh derbies – or face arrest The warning was issued following ugly scenes at both of the recent matches between the fierce rivals SCOTLAND’S top footie cop today gave coin louts a final warning ahead of the festive Old Firm and Edinburgh powderkeg derbies. Assistant Chief Constable Bernie Higgins spoke out just days before the sides clash again in the derby double-header. He warned yobs not to repeat recent ugly scenes at a spate of games – or end up being arrested. Rangers will take on Celtic at Ibrox next Saturday at 12.30pm, while Hibs and Hearts kick-off at 5.30pm. Cops are bracing themselves for a bevy of boozed-up fans who plan to enjoy the festive fixtures. ACC Higgins said: “The vast majority of fans attend the match, support their team and enjoy the occasion and atmosphere. “However we are all too aware of well-documented incidents of dangerous, criminal and anti-social behaviour at football matches this season.” Hibs manager Neil Lennon was struck on the jaw with a coin at the end of the clash with Hearts in the capital on October 31. Objects were also thrown at two assistant referees. And Jambos keeper Zdenek Zlamal was allegedly punched by a Hibs fans. A 23-year-old man appeared in court earlier this month and plead not guilty. In October, assistant ref Calum Spence suffered a cut head after being struck by a missile during the Livingston v Rangers league game. And Gers ace Alfredo Morelos, 22, was pelted after scoring against St Mirren — just days after chaotic scenes at the Edinburgh derby. ACC Higgins added: "I’m sure the public will agree this is unacceptable in a modern Scottish society. “It’s really disappointing that a small minority are having such a negative impact on the game and potentially Scotland’s reputation. “The safety of the public is our primary concern and Police Scotland is working closely with clubs to ensure people attending can watch the matches in a safe and secure environment, and that we have measures in place to prevent, and where necessary, investigate and detect any criminal behaviour.” We previously told how ex-Celtic and Northern Ireland ace Lennon lifted the lid on the sectarian slurs he has endured for 18 years. Last night, SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster, said: “We know that the vast majority of supporters who attend our matches are very well behaved and set a great example. “However, it is important that we make the tiny minority of fans who misbehave at our matches aware that we will do everything we can to identify and deal with anyone who commits an offence, together with our clubs, the fans and Police Scotland.” https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/news/3641520/rangers-celtic-hibs-hearts-fans-warned-behaviour-glasgow-edinburgh-derbies/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1545153516 Maybe/probably should have a thread of it's own??

2-2 Arfield FGS

Manchester United face a bill in the region of £24million after the English Premier League club elected to replace Jose Mourinho as manager before the end of the winter transfer window. While the compensation package due to the 55-year-old will fall by 25 percent should Mourinho fail to secure qualification for next season's Champions League, United face a minimum liability of £18m to dismiss the coach who has led them to two major trophies and their highest Premier League finish of the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era.

Agreed. My point is Rangers will have to decide very soon whether he gets a new contract, I wasn't implying he will or should be recalled from Livi.

Thing is though, his contract is up next year so a decision will have to be made soon. It is a tough one to call, can he fit into our style? he certainly knows how to put the ball in the net! when you look at the likes of Sadiq then you would have to think he will be given a chance to see if he can play for Rangers!

and Premiership table proves it - James Black Our Rangers blogger responds to Gordon Parks' Sunday Mail column on the club's summer business. After a pretty rough couple of weeks for Steven Gerrard's side, Rangers again rose to the top of the Premiership table on Sunday after a nervy 1-0 win over Hamilton at Ibrox as they looked to get over recent disappointments against Aberdeen, Dundee and Rapid Vienna. With the European campaign over for the season, all focus now turns to the domestic scene as Gerrard looks to lead his side to their first title since 2011 - but I was left scratching my head in bewilderment reading Gordon Parks' MailSport column yesterday as he described Rangers' league showing so far as 'grim' while taking aim at Gerrard for praising Ibrox director of football Mark Allen for his work in the transfer market over the summer. Now, the former striker is obviously entitled to his opinion - and as a former pro, he has some great insight that many who cover the game lack - but Sunday's column was short-sighted. There's not a Rangers fan who'll disagree that there has to be some improvements at Ibrox in January if Gerrard's side is going to take that step and get their hands on the Premiership trophy come May but sitting two points off Celtic with 22 games left to be played is far from 'grim'. For the last few years, all we've heard is how Brendan Rodgers' side is some sort of unstoppable force domestically yet, just a few hours after Parks' column went live, Rangers are again top of the pile. I'm not really sure what it is that Parks was expecting from the Gers this season but scoring more goals than any other side in the top flight, and conceding fewer than everybody not called Celtic, doesn't really have me reaching for the white flag and preparing to concede the title before the Christmas decorations are packed away for another year. With 15 new faces arriving at Ibrox over the summer - and just as many heading in the opposite direction - and the added pressure of facing an extra 14 games in Europe this season, Gerrard has made an impressive start to life in management. The Liverpool icon will admit himself there are areas where he and his side can improve in the short-term but I'm almost certain that if you had offered him a run to the Europa League group stage (only to be knocked out on matchday six) and be very much in a title race then he would have bitten your hand off for it. I know I would have. Parks had a pop at Gerrard for his praise of Allen and claimed that only Allan McGregor has lifted himself out of 'mediocrity' since the start of the campaign. Apparently, Niko Katic is being 'found out' and Eros Grezda and Joe Worrall were scouted by Colonel Blink. We're talking here about three young players who, if they were Scottish we'd still be calling kids who need to be wrapped in cotton wool. At 22, Katic has moved to a new country with a new language at a club where there is more pressure on him to succeed than he will have ever experienced at Slaven Belupo. Grezda, 23, has started five games so far and has made a steady, if unremarkable, start to his Ibrox career as well as being a regular for his country after recovering from ankle surgery earlier in the year. Worrall is a 21-year-old England U21 international and is at Ibrox to get more game time to continue his development. Looking at the other new arrivals, Scotty Arfield has scored five times and created four assists in the league so far (Celtic's latest superstar Ryan Christie has hit the net five times and failed to register an assist but is being lauded as the next big thing across the city). Connor Goldson has been solid at the back since his arrival from Brighton and Gareth McAuley should prove to be a decent addition at the back as he uses his experience to help his much younger colleagues develop. Ryan Kent is another who has impressed since arriving over the summer although another who moved from Anfield, defender Jon Flanagan, hasn't been great as he fills in for Borna Barisic at left-back. Barisic is another who already looks as though he will be a fantastic signing for the Gers and the Croatian international has been a huge threat down the left for Gerrard's side either side of his injury problems. Ovie Ejaria and Umar Sadiq's loan moves never worked out but it's far from the first transfer which hasn't worked out and certainly wont be the last - Sir Alex Ferguson said in one of his books that a 50 per cent hit rate on transfers can be considered a success. Maybe I've missed something and they've changed they way that league tables are calculated but if being top of the table with a team riddled with 'mediocrity' is what passes for a 'grim' start to the season then I can only hope that it continues in the same vein over the next six months. https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/criticism-rangers-transfer-record-over-13744347