JFK-1

That seals it though chances are they may be a goal or 2 more. This is what I wanted. The Ibrox leg to be a formality. Could even afford to experiment at Ibrox.

I’m at work so can’t see it. Sounds familiar though. Dominant but struggling to break down a massed defence. I expect that to improve with game time but we must get an away goal with no reply here to make the second leg comfortable.

More important for his future than last season was. He has a chance to knock the yahoos off their perch and if he does that will raise eyebrows in England where they won’t be overly friendly impressed by Rangers beating anybody but them.

Yes almost comical isn’t it. He’s a rookie he’s an idiot but is a rookie idiot who built a team which went 11 games unbeaten and ended the season as highest scoring team in the SPL. Obviously only a rookie idiot could accomplish that.

It has to be a major push from day one. Vital to take all points from the opening games before meeting the yahoos. Kilmarnock away on the opening day might be a tricky one given they are now something of an unknown entity with a new manager. But we still have better players than they do all over the pitch so it’s up to the players and management team to make sure that superiority prevails by hook or by crook.

I was happy to see Gerrard say that any parties interested in Morelos better bid big and bid early. He isn’t going to tolerate a situation where we accept a bid too late in the window to sign a quality replacement.

Rangers have made a change to their Europa League squad list with goalkeeper Andy Firth now appearing instead of Jak Alnwick. The original squad list appeared on UEFA’s website earlier on Monday with Allan McGregor, Wes Foderingham and Alnwick all named – however it has since been updated to list Firth. Alnwick joins the likes of Daniel Candeias, Graham Dorrans, Jason Holt, Kyle Lafferty, Jamie Murphy and Jon Flanagan who have all missed out on places for various reasons. With no major reports of a move in the offing for Alnwick as yet, it may just have been an administrative error on UEFA’s part which saw Alnwick originally listed – with the original reports still naming the goalkeeper. As the squad registration deadline for the first Europa League qualifying round passed at midnight on Friday, it seems an odd mistake to have been made. Allan McGregor is expected to start in goal against St. Joseph’s tomorrow so it isn’t a huge change however it will be interesting to hear what the explanation is. Alnwick has only managed a handful of appearances for the Gers since his arrival and spent last season on loan with Scunthorpe United. The keeper has one year remaining on his Ibrox deal and with McGregor, Foderingham and Firth all at the club, and Robby McCrorie out on loan, there is plenty of cover in that position. If Alnwick’s removal is a hint at an upcoming transfer then it could also signal that Foderingham will stay at the club and challenge McGregor for the gloves. https://www.rangersnews.uk/news/rangers-remove-keeper-from-europa-league-squad-could-be-on-the-move/

According to an exclusive from the Mirror, Steven Gerrard has now rejected the opportunity to become the next Newcastle United manager. John Richardson’s piece states that Mike Ashley had targeted both Steven Gerrard and Patrick Vieira, at Rangers and Nice respectively, however BOTH have now distanced themselves from the job. Here’s a snippet from the Mirror’s latest ‘exclusive’, claiming the former Liverpool man has rejected an approach from Mike Ashley: The Chronicle claimed just last night that Gerrard ‘made the cut’ on NUFC’s shortlist to replace Rafa, also suggesting he’d be open to a Premier League return, but I’m inclined to believe the Mirror on this one. For me, Gerrard seems like the last manager/character who’d happily work under Mike Ashley. His Liverpool/Rafa links are one thing (he was hardly complimentary about the current regime when reacting to the Spaniard’s exit), but his winning mentality and drive for success hardly makes him a good match for Ashley. So, that’s now Gerrard, Vieira, Mourinho, Martinez and Wenger who are all said to have distanced themselves from the job. I wonder if Mike has taken the hint yet. http://www.nufcblog.co.uk/2019/07/08/nufc-exclusive-reveals-the-manager-whos-just-rejected-mike-ashleys-offer/

The article linked to at the bottom of this post was published back on April 25th five days after we convincingly beat Hearts 3-1 at Tynecastle prior to the current transfer window opening and is titled "Embarrassment of riches – Glasgow Rangers have so many options in key position" Today's result and performance against Oxford factoring in the situation of a fluid 11 littered with debutants playing our last pre season warm up before a Euro tie was more than acceptable. It's likely most or even all of us would have have accepted a comfortable 2-0 in this situation but what we got was a rout of a side who are at least comparable with the bottom half of the SPL. The Europa league at this stage is crucial for us. Making that group stage is a financial game changer for us. Potential funds for a major January signing for a final push on the title. Making the groups is my major hope for the season Euro wise. I'm not so concerned about results in the group should we make it since I want the league to be the priority and believe the Thursday/Sunday games were a factor in our failure to win the league. If we make it to the group stages and one of the games followed by an encounter with the yahoos on the Sunday I want that yahoo encounter to have priority even to the lengths of simply 'resting' multiple key players. Just making those groups is our major requirement and I would make that the priority till or if it's obtained. Since the opening of the transfer window window the side has indisputably in my view been strengthened. We had 4 debutants in the starting 11 against Oxford while reportedly all of them performed acceptably well. Add in to that other newcomers such as Lewis Mayo from the academy performing creditably we have a strength in depth that hasn't existed in a long time. And the window is still open for sometime yet with, currently, our greatest outlay being around 700K or so for Edmundson. I would think it reasonable to assume that more than that and possibly even much more than that was promised to Gerrard for this window even if Morelos stays. While losing Morelos who is young and a guaranteed source of goals when he's playing would be a bitter blow for what is a crucial season on a number of fronts not just for Rangers but for Gerrard too. If he can pull this off this season he will have ticked one box on the Liverpool manager application form. And I feel this may be his greatest chance to pull it off. If he doesn't pull it off this season the yahoos are then likely to pull out all the stops to get a 10iar making it even tougher next season. Regarding the potential loss of Morelos If that happens in the current climate I would expect it to be a minimum £10 million potentially comfortably more and a lucrative sell on clause. If that scenario unfolds I would expect a sizeable chunk of the money to then be spent on a replacement guaranteed goal source or at least as close to guaranteed as we can expect in the circumstances. Defoe is a guaranteed source of goals but there has to be quality back up for a guy who is at the outer edge of his career. As an aside Daniel Sturridge was reportedly at the Oxford game. We all discovered at the end of last season that we can indeed play and win convincingly scoring freely without Morelos. Since that time I would now rather lose Morelos than Tavernier if it had to be one or the other. We absolutely must retain Tav since he's probably the only one linked with any transfer out rumours who could throw a real spanner in the works of this strengthening operation. It would take more than we can afford to bring in an equivalent quality replacement and even if we did he couldn't directly replace the local and Rangers experience of Tavernier. However it all pans out before the window closes I do expect us to have tangibly strengthened even further and with that in mind have some minimum expectations for the season ahead predominately league games wise. We played some good football last season but displayed erratic inconsistency too often for a title win. Sometimes the stutters came in games against the lower league opposition playing a backs to the wall packed box strategy we couldn't break down. This time I have a minimum expectation that we have added good quality options which will provide the key to breaking them down, consistently. Another category of 'stutter' was against those just below us in the league who were also often to at least some degree playing the same backs to the wall strategy of the lower league teams in which where we were predominately dominant but still couldn't win. This time I have a minimum expectation that we will be at least as dominant against these sides while winning more of these games than we did last season. And as a little add on to that I suspect rather than expect that we may score even more goals than we have the in the past two seasons both of which we finished as top scorers with 76 goals scored in the league in 17/18 rising to 82 league goals last season. Perhaps we could hit the 90's this time. A minimum expectation I will be looking for us to again at least match the yahoos in our league encounters as we did last season and I would argue even overall outplayed them in 3 of the 4 games. We won on aggregate over those games. Bring all that together and we are surely looking at winning consistently and being top or within touching distance of top from day one. And realistically that's probably what's going to be required in this relatively poor league where the yahoos find it so relatively easy to be dominant consistently. I feel we can do it as thing stand though there is till time for the yahoos to make a significant response. Link to the article mentioned at the beginning. Embarrassment of riches – Glasgow Rangers have so many options in key position

I welcome it due to thinking that overall it may be of benefit to us more often than not. How many times have we had a crucial legitimate goal disallowed which VAR would have allowed. There was one against Ufa away which could have cost us the relatively game changing sum of money accumulated in the EL. One drawback for me is a game being halted for minutes at a time while we are in the ascendancy which is more often than not. That can result in a loss of momentum.

I didn't see it I have only seen the result and read some sketchy reports but 5-0 is a good result and especially so with all the rotation. Also nice that the newbies did well. It's already being derided by the usual suspects hubz/sheep etc as 'only league 1 opposition' My reply to that would be league 1 is where the bulk of your signings come from. And Oxford are a side who benefit to at least some degree from the English football trickle down effect plus have an average home attendance of 7,315 Only 5 out of the 12 SPL sides can beat that average attendance figure. Kilmarnock, who finished 3rd in the league, have an average of 6,895 Agreed they're no litmus test for our ambitions but as an example of what the 'average' SPL side might face at Ibrox this season I see it as a fine demonstration.

If the two window transfer ban is confirmed after appeal I don't see them making the top 4 next season. You can't lose a player like Eden Hazard so integral to that team while not replacing him without slipping back some. I imagine they must appreciate that and will accordingly give Lampard some leeway. As will the fans for his legend status alone and in fact perhaps that's one reason he was hired. The top 2 spots will again go to City and Liverpool while the 3rd and 4th will be up for grabs among a handful or so.

No one in Scotland is going to be challenging OF dominance. Challenging dominance means doing what they do, and that's winning cups and titles repeatedly. Not hubz nor anyone else in Scotland is going to do that. The best thing they could do to challenge the current yahoo dominance is stop going missing against them while turning up against us. And stop taking loans from them you then can't play against them.

I have never held any grudges against Warburton. He gave us a memorable Championship winning season following an overall downer of a season the year before. Right from day one of that season he had us excited and on the edge of our seats. And of course the unforgettable and unexpected win over the yahoos in the SC semi while we won the Championship with weeks to spare. He had us playing the best football we had in some years at that time which at it's best was a joy to watch. I feel that Warburton who I think knows how to operate in that league better than he did in Scotland could do a good job at QPR given some time. Time which has become a rare commodity at the higher ends of England's top leagues but which may be granted at a club like QPR. He took unfancied Brentford to a play off place while in his first managerial position and was only in the job around 18 months before taking his second managerial position at Rangers. QPR might be bracketed as a club who probably have a current main objective no greater than 1, staying in that league, and 2, give us a little excitement. Show potential to be at least in touching distance of a play off spot. I think given some time he's well capable of that and with enough time may even take that final step to the promised land. of the EPL. To my knowledge Warburton has never said anything disparaging about Rangers despite the fact he clearly had some dispute with the board. So do other ex club employees right now and they're being more vocal about it than Warburton has been yet they're not attracting the same spite Warburton sometimes does. We can't expect club employees and especially non Scots who didn't grow up following the club to have the same attachment to it that we do. There have been players who grew up supporting the club as fervently as we do then realised the dream of playing for the club but still voluntarily left for more lucrative pastures just like Warburton did and don't attract spite for it. Trying to get a higher paying job is a major objective of every adult beyond a certain age and especially so in a job that has a relatively very short career span in which to earn as much as possible. We can't fairly criticise anyone doing what most of us likely would in the same circumstances. I wish Warburton and his gathering ex Rangers contingent at QPR all the best for the season ahead.

Dave King and the Rangers board are confident Steven Gerrard will not quit Rangers this summer to take over at Newcastle United, Football Insider has learned. The club hierarchy are aware that the Premier League big hitters are readying an approach for Gerrard as they step up their search to replace Rafael Benitez. As revealed by Football Insider last week, Newcastle are weighing up a move for the Light Blues boss as they look at a younger profile of manager as well as more tried and trusted targets. Ibrox sources have told Football Insider that King and the board are convinced Gerrard is totally committed to Rangers and overseeing a second campaign from the dugout. The club chiefs recognise Newcastle are a major Premier League club but believe the uncertainty over the ownership and Mike Ashley’s lack of ambition will ensure the Liverpool icon stays put. Gerrard, 39, is about to embark on his second season at Rangers after a sold first year in which the club finished second in the league, made notable progress but failed to end their trophy drought and once again were well adrift of treble winners Celtic. The former midfielder has been backed by the club’s hierarchy in this summer’s market and seven new signings have already been secured, including the impressive recent captures of centre-back George Edmundson and goalscoring midfielder Joe Aribo. Gerrard has made no secret of his ambition to eventually manage in the Premier League, with his dream to take over one day at Anfield. But Rangers are convinced he wants to properly learn his trade at Ibrox and not follow former England teammate Frank Lampard in walking out after one season, at Derby County, as he heads to Chelsea. https://www.footballinsider247.com/ibrox-sources-rangers-confident-gerrard-wont-quit-for-newcastle/

Fanatik report Fenerbahce have given a deadline to Martin Skrtel after making their final offer to the Slovakian. Skrtel, who’s been heavily linked with a move to Rangers, will become a free agent in the coming days and will soon decide his future. His former Liverpool teammate Steven Gerrard is reportedly keen to bring him to Ibrox on a free transfer. According to Fanatik, Rangers are still interested in signing Skrtel, and Fener are set to hold talks with the player to see what happens next. The Super Lig club still have some hope of retaining the 34 year old and they’ve offered him a yearly salary of €2m. Skrtel now has until the July 3rd to accept this proposal from the Yellow Canaries. If the decision turns out to be a negative one for Fener, then the Turkish giants will enter the market for a central defender, with Huddersfield Town’s Zanka an option. Rangers, meanwhile are seen as a favourite to land the defender, and it remains to be seen if these are just old claims dragged back out or genuine new interest. Rangers a favourite to land Steven Gerrard target, talks held, Wednesday will be key

Seeing reports that it’s still a possibility. In general I would have ruled it out since it’s previously been mooted so many times with no result. But that’s exactly how the Defoe transfer played out.

Skrtel on the radar again. Might be the final piece of the puzzle. We have a consistently high scoring side so reducing goals conceded may take us that final step.

It’s developing into a team/squad that should be well capable of blowing away the also rans. Now we wait for a yahoo response.

He’s undoubtedly worth the 300K payed for him and while nothing is ever certain the chances are he will be worth millions in a couple of years or so. The frustration of Lee Bowyer over losing this prize asset for a relative pittance is understandable to a degree. Though I also sense annoyance that the boys decision was at least partly influenced by the chance to play for Steven Gerard. Another example if any more were needed illustrating the peripheral benefits of being managed by such a legendary figure. Getting back to Aribo hopefully he is the answer to a niggling problem. We know we can beat the better teams who actually try to come out and play us. The yahoos were outplayed by us in 3 out of 4 games last term while being beaten by us twice. As we all know a major points drain has been the problem of failing to break down park the bus strategies. Having watched Aribo in a number of compilations it’s clear he is a very strong and difficult to deal with individual. He’s also a ball winner who will scrap for it when we’re out of possession and has the ability to then go somewhere with that ball when he wins it. Signing him is a no brainer. Here’s hoping he’s the answer to our issue. If so I foresee a heap of goals coming our way from a team that already finished last season as top scorers. We need to go all out for the title this term and while it won’t be easy if we don’t manage it this season I suspect it could be even more difficult next season. The title has to take priority. I want us to make the Europa group stages but if/when that happens I want the group stages to be regarded as a side show with priority being given to the league matches. Just making the groups is the greatest earning factor, results are not massively important after qualifying. I think that key players should even be rested for group matches which are followed by a key Sunday match. We need 55 and we need at least the chance to qualify for the CL group stages. Accomplish that and we’re truly back.

We can only presume that people who recognise a player when they see one have been scrutinizing Edmundson for months. They must think he’s worth the outlay.

I'm excited about the forthcoming season since the team appears to be being strengthened in all the areas most of us would have complained about. With that in mind I expect even more impressive performances and just as importantly consistently. I also feel that holding on to Tavernier for one more year is essential because he would likely be irreplaceable no matter how much we got and this season is too important to put ourselves in that position. All in all I tend to get the feeling that the momentum has shifted in our favour (marginal gains?) and even the media are grudgingly drifting into that frame of mind along with the bookies. We're currently 12/5 for the title and that's miserly pricing in comparison to the past few years. We played some brilliant football for significant periods last term sprinkled with the inconsistencies which as often as not popped up against teams we really should be beating. If that deficiency can be resolved that all alone would likely put us in a commanding position for a title run. Much will depend on what the yahoos do but as it stands they don't look to be in any frame of mind to up the ante. If they were they should have been pushing the boat out to secure a top young Scottish talent like Turnbull who was pretty much guaranteed to recover the transfer outlay and wages on his next transfer. Yet just like with McGinn they let it fall apart due to apparent penny pinching. One reason Gerrard wont leave anytime soon is that he too senses the shifting momentum as will Tavernier who may be reluctant to make his last big move at this time when we could be on the verge of something special. I view the hiring of Warburton for the second Championship season as the point the rebuild began. Tav has been in there since that time and could feel he has to stay at least one more season to take this journey to it's ultimate conclusion. Gerrard came to Rangers to prove a point, to prove that he can manage at a high profile side and he wont be leaving till he's proven that by winning something. Ideally bringing the yahoo title dreams to a halt which even in England would be seen as a remarkable achievement given the state of affairs when he took over. If he can take that title this season I suspect his stock would rise even higher than that of Lampard who is allegedly being offered the managers seat at one of the biggest clubs in the EPL. If Gerrard can pull off a title win at a time when the yahoos are seen to have the upper hand both financially and squad wise he will have done his Liverpool ambitions no harm at all. I expect an exciting season with some sparkling football surpassing even the impressive displays of last term. This may be the best remaining chance to stop them. If they got a sight of 10 iar then they might indeed go ahead and pull out all the stops.

Rangers are ready to sell striker Joe Dodoo this summer after Steven Gerrard made up his mind to let him go, Football Insider understands. The Light Blues manager considers the attacker, 23, surplus to requirements and has sanctioned a permanent sale rather than another loan move. Ibrox sources have told Football Insider that the club will now listen to offers for Dodoo, who has struggled to make an impact since signing from Leicester City three years ago on a free contract. The attacker, 23, had a creditable campaign at English League One club Blackpool last season, scoring six goals and supplying four assists in 25 appearances in all competitions. But Gerrard considers the club to have superior striker options irrespective of whether main man Alfredo Morelos remains beyond the summer window. Dodoo, who was brought to Rangers by Mark Warburton in 2016, has one more year remaining on his contract at the club. Capped by England at Under-18 level, he scored five goals in 27 appearances for Rangers but has spent the last two seasons on loan at Blackpool and Charlton Athletic. Rangers will now listen to offers for Dodoo this summer, with English lower league clubs set to be interested in the versatile attacker, who can play down the middle and on both flanks. https://www.footballinsider247.com/rangers-to-sell-striker-after-gerrard-makes-up-his-mind-ibrox-sources/