JFK-1

Generally in a situation like this I wouldn't be expecting the likelihood of a record breaking avalanche. We all know the tie is already over and even St Joes know that. So in general I would have been expecting a virtual training exercise with maybe 2 or 3 goals just to put a shine on it before they settled back to simply playing it out with minimal effort. But there are some differences here. Firstly I believe we have a manger who wont settle for a pedestrian performance in what still is a competitive match regardless of the fact it's already done and dusted. This in a team which has acquired enough depth to make the first 11 something of an unknown quantity. Everyone is going to have to produce their A game to impress this manager enough to remain a possible starter so I see them going at it full blast. We're probably looking at a minimum 5 goals with the possibility of double digits not unreasonable. Steven Gerrard is a born competitor always has been and always will be. Results will always be the major factor but right now he will also want to keep the fans excited to maintain the feel good factor which he is every bit aware of as we are. Plus it will do no harm at all to produce an impressive high scoring display to intimidate watching SPL opposition and we can be guaranteed they will be watching what's going to be coming their way in the weeks and months ahead.

Saw a couple of posts on a Sheffield Wednesday forum where they're distinctly unhappy about being abandoned by Bruce who only stepped into the job in February. This post illustrates their disappointment. But this one amused me more.

If they continue playing and winning impressively right up to and including Killie it will be ever more difficult not to become excited. And that excitement will climb to yet another level if the winning run were to continue right up to and including the first yahoos game.

At this stage I doubt even Gerrard knows what his first 11 will be. Such depth to the squad which we haven’t had in sometime time may even mean a fluid first 11. Horses for courses approach. There are some who will always start. McGregor and Tav as examples.

And if it pans out like that and they can't live with us who in this league can? I'm trying not to get too excited but that's becoming ever more difficult. On to Thursday which is likely to be a rout for the ages. Been seeing a lot of people including media people questioning whether the likes of St Joes should be in the competition. My view is they should be entitled to the chance and if the likes of them weren't in it then who would we get in these qualifying rounds? Likely far sterner opposition at a time we're not so prepared as we will be in a few weeks time after games against lowlier opposition. These are valuable warm ups for the real competition ahead.

Goal? No media reporting it.

Appreciate some updates guys. I can’t watch today.

Think it’s likely to be more given the step up in class.

It’s a friendly with the purpose being fitness but I feel a lot of ours will be going at it trying to impress the manager. It’s going to be a challenge for many just trying to get a starting spot in this team.

For me it would be more than embarrassing if we were to fail to dispose of progres again. Imagine the ridicule that would attract especially after spending millions on the squad.

Another 6 foot plus addition to the squad which is developing into a team littered with giants. My mind is drifting ahead to the opening game against Killie and while I will be expecting to beat them it very likely won’t be easy since they too will have some competitive Euro action under their belts. If I were wrong and they were easily beaten my excitement levels would dramatically increase.

Maybe we could steal their song with just a little modification.

That will be fun. Maybe it's shaping up to be our year including settling old scores.

Not a bad review of the game with one pundit predicting it could be 8, 9, or even 10-0 in the second leg. I agree with that. It could be a goal bonanza. https://play.acast.com/s/recordrangers/b6c4dc6e-1263-4236-bf8c-859bcd75763a

This time last year I would have dreaded it if Morelos were to leave. Now I feel that way about Tavernier. He’s key to our title ambitions.

In the zany world of Scottish football the yahoos appear to be more obsessed with our current signing activities then even we are. Of course much of their obsession invariably ends up at the same tired old place. "but they're skint" I can almost literally smell the fear. How glorious if we put them back in their place while "skint" Speaking of finances I'm hoping they fail to reach the CL groups again this season. That would leave them with an ever diminishing ability to outspend us and could very well result in some major belt tightening. As for the others they're mostly gradually accepting the reality that we have moved on to higher ground they can never reach and that the only potential for them league wise is 3rd. All aside from a few head in sand sheep types who remain under the delusion that they're at least top two. I suspect this season may spell a final end to that particular delusion. An example of that sheep delusion I stumbled across recently on a post titled 'Will We Ever Have A Better Shot At The League?' That deluded. The best shot they had at the thing was during the period we weren't in it and that chance will never return.

Arguably we do need great defenders specifically against the yahoos which is a 6 pointer each time we play them in the league. Last season we scored 5 more goals than they did but conceded 7 more than they did. Squeezing each such margin could be the key to taking us to the title. If we can score as many goals this season as we did last and perhaps even more while reducing goals conceded then at a bare minimum we should be looking at leaving the also rans trailing in our wake right from day one. Plus if we make the EL groups while I want the league to get priority improving our co-efficient can be conducive to avoiding a big gun in the qualifying rounds and especially so if we're looking at CL qualification. At the end of the day improving the quality in any area of the field can only improve our chances and I believe there will also be another striker before this window closes. There can be no doubting the board are Rangers men to the core and I feel they have decided this season is make or break as far as stopping 10iar is concerned. I myself tend to feel that if we don't do it this season it might slip from our grasp. I'm becoming ever more confident it is achievable this season. A lot more so than I was at the end of last season. We have quality all over the pitch of a standard high enough to eclipse sheep, hubz etc and I feel at least match the yahoos.

Filip Helander has 'agreed' personal terms with Rangers as his move to Ibrox inches closer. Steven Gerrard revealed last night the Light Blues were on the verge of a new signing, who later turned out to be Bologna defender Helander. And Goal are now reporting that he has agreed terms, but a transfer fee between the clubs is still to be confirmed. The same report suggests it will be in the region of £3.6million. Helander has plenty of experience as he played for Verona for a year, before moving to Bologna in Serie A. Gerrard is keen on bringing in defensive reinforcements as they look to stop Celtic's dominance in the league. The 6 foot 4 centre-half has received 10 caps for the Swedes and will likely partner Connor Goldson in the heart of Rangers defence. https://www.footballscotland.co.uk/spfl/scottish-premiership/filip-helander-to-rangers-latest-16564908

Whilst Rangers fans were celebrating a comfortable win and solid performance in Gibraltar, a BBC Scotland tweet suggested the broadcaster was in mourning. Rangers were rampant in the second half scoring four goals in an energetic, powerful display which earned the adulation of the club’s supporters. But according to the national broadcaster, Rangers “avoided a Europa League upset by beating St. Joseph’s in Gibraltar”. The tweet has since been deleted. MORE

Yes indeed. And despite the shaky start in terms of breaking them down the vast gulf in quality was always pretty much on display. Did McGregor even make a save? And that arguably wasn't our strongest 11. I can foresee a rout to put this one in the shade coming next week at Ibrox when we will have gained a bit more match fitness from a testing match against the quality of Marseille on Sunday. We may be looking at 4-0 by halftime. It wouldn't matter what we fielded against them this tie is already done and dusted which is an opportunity to get as many as possible up to speed. Maybe give Aribo a run from the start to see what he can do. Though not at the expense of Ojo who should be given a sustained run at this point to see if he can maintain or even improve on his recent display.

Safely feel our way into it in our first competitive match of the season on a horror of a plastic pitch?

I am going to get carried away. Th boy looks as if he has everything required to be a standout. He’s big and strong very athletic and has a great touch. Was being dished up some physical treatment by St Joes in what little I saw but it didn’t effect him. Good sign for the treatment he’s likely to get in the SPL. A lovely goal topped off an encouraging debut.

Avoided a Europa league upset? That really had to be said? Did it ever look as if that was even a remote possibility? While I didn’t see it I did follow live reports and there was never a hint of an upset on the horizon yet that apparently is what they use as a headline.

3-0 finishes it as a contest. Second leg a formality. Good to be able to relax. Bring on Progress.