Yorkie Bear

I see that Tony Adams has expressed interest in the Livi job. Maybe he has seen how easy it has been for Gerrard.

What is it with former England captains and Scottish teams? What next, Rio Ferdinand for the Hibs job when Lennon goes back to Celtic

Aberdeen 0 - 1 Rangers

FGS Morelos

Not wishing to get ahead of myself but the draw for the third qualifying round is at 1 o'clock this afternoon (UK time).

The sides we could meet are 

1 Olympiacos (GRE)
2 Ventspils (LVA) v Bordeaux (FRA)
3 Chikhura Sachkhere (GEO) v Maribor (SVN)
4 Feyenoord (NED)
5 Stjarnan (ISL) v København (DEN)

Belgium 3 - 1 England

France 3 -1 Croatia

JAMES Tavernier says it a “massive honour” to be named as the captain of Rangers as he prepares to lead the team out, in competitive action, for the first time since receiving the news.

The full-back was called in by Gers gaffer Steven Gerrard last week and asked how he would feel about wearing the armband this season. Tavernier led the side as a stand in captain during the 2017/18 campaign from February onwards.

Now he will take on the role on a permanent basis and while the news is still sinking in he admits it is not a job he will be taking likely.

Speaking exclusively to RangersTV he smiled: “I am delighted to be given the captain’s armband by the gaffer and for him to put the trust in me is a huge compliment.

“I found out last Wednesday morning when the gaffer called me into his office and asked what I thought of the idea and I couldn’t stop smiling, I was over the moon. I really am excited.

“He asked me where my head was and I said I was fully committed to this club, that I have unfinished business here and I want to see this club do well.

“I could never have imagined being named captain of Rangers when I first arrived here but I always knew one of my ambitions was to be a captain one day. I have always seen myself as a leader and this has come at a perfect time.

“The gaffer said the time I have spent here over the past three seasons and the work I have done since he has been in made him think I was the right man to lead the boys.

“The gaffer told the rest of the team the next day so I had to keep it a secret for a day.

“It was in tough for me though because of Lee Wallace, Waldo has been my captain since I joined Rangers so I made sure I spoke with him first to get his blessing.

“He is there for me if I need any advice or anything, he is a top lad and he said if I need any help in any areas then he is always there for me.

“Last season I stood in as captain and it was more a case of I could only influence things on the pitch and by that it was to try and lead by example.

“I am going to do the same this season but I have more responsibilities and duties off the field now so it is going to be exciting.”

https://rangers.co.uk/news/headlines/tav-honour-to-be-captain/

France 2 - 1 Belgium

Croatia 2 - 1 England

France 2 - 1 Uruguay

Russia 1 - 2 Croatia

Sweden 0 - 1 England

Brazil 2 - 1 Belgium

France 1 - 2 Argentina

Uruguay 2 - 1 Portugal

Spain 3 - 0 Russia

Croatia 2 - 0 Denmark

Brazil 3 - 1 Mexico 

Belgium 3 - 0 Japan

Sweden 2 - 2 Switzerland 

Colombia 0 - 1 England 

On checking on the Rangers site if tickets were for sale yet, I noticed that a ticket for the game on 12/7 for my season ticket seat was in my basket. No idea how this got there but I've paid for it now and got confirmation.

Uruguay 1 - 1 Russia 

Saudi Arabia 0 - 2 Egypt

Spain 3 - 0 Morocco 

Iran 2  - 2 Portugal 

Denmark 1 - 1 France

Australia 2 - 0 Peru 

Nigeria 1 - 2 Argentina

Iceland 0 - 2 Croatia

South Korea 0 - 3 Germany joker

Mexico 1 - 0 Sweden

Serbia  2 - 2 Brazil

Switzerland 2 - 1 Costa Rica

Japan 2 - 0 Poland

Senegal 1 - 3 Colombia 

England 2 - 3 Belgium 

Panama 0 - 2 Tunisia

Russia 2 - 0 Egypt 

Portugal 2 - 0 Morocco 

Uruguay 3 - 0 Saudi Arabia 

Iran 0 - 3 Spain 

Denmark 1 - 1 Australia 

France 2 - 1 Peru

Argentina 3 - 1 Croatia 

Brazil 4 - 0 Costa Rica

Nigeria 1 - 1 Iceland

Serbia 0 - 2 Switzerland

Belgium 2 - 0 Tunisia 

South Korea 0 - 0 Mexico

Germany 2 - 0 Sweden joker

England 3 - 1 Panama

Japan 0 - 2 Senegal

Poland 1 - 0 Colombia

On last season's results, it seems that home advantage is overstated, particularly for those at the top of the table. Hibs being the exception.

                                              games won

Celtic                      home: 11/19  away 13/19

Aberdeen              home 11/19  away 11/19

Rangers                 home 10/19 away  11/19

Hibs                       home 11/19  away 7/19

Kilmarnock           home 9/19 away 7/19

Hearts                   home 8/18  away 4/20

Motherwell          home 8/20  away 5/18

St Johnstone        home 5/19  away 7/19

Dundee                home 6/19 away 5/19

Hamilton             home 5/19 away 4/19

Partick                 home  6/19 away 2/19

Ross County       home 3/19 away 3/19

John Hartson and the like need to keep up these provocative statements to endear them to their own fanbase and, more importantly, to keep their name in the media. I never understand why the TV and radio persist with Hartson as when I have heard him (usually when there is a Wales connection) he always strikes me as someone who brings no insight into the game and simply states the obvious.

Anyway, i'll note his provocative anti-Gerrard quote, ready to quote it back when Gerrard triumphs.

Russia 2 - 0 Saudi Arabia (Group A) 

Egypt 1 - 3 Uruguay (Group A) 

Morocco 1 - 1 Iran (Group B)

Portugal 1 - 2 Spain (Group B) 

France 3 - 0 Australia (Group C)

Peru 2 - 2 Denmark (Group C)

Argentina 3 - 0 Iceland (Group D) 

Croatia 2 - 1 Nigeria (Group D)

Costa Rica 0 - 0 Serbia (Group E)

Brazil 2 - 0 Switzerland (Group E)

Germany 2 - 0 Mexico (Group F) joker

Sweden 4 - 0 South Korea (Group F)

Belgium 3 - 0 Panama (Group G)

Tunisia 1 - 2 England (Group G)

Colombia 2 - 0 Japan (Group H)

Poland 3 - 0 Senegal (Group H)

Yes to the competition and the joker

3 hours ago, pete said:

I for one would love us singing it on his first game. Kerrydale street would be in meltdown.

Yes. Sing it on his first game and promise to sing it again when we get 55. Nothing like a bit motivation.

Interesting on seeing how the overall poll is moving. "Yes" is closing in on "No". By the time we appoint him, it could be that, ignoring undecided, the majority will want him. On the other hand, if it all falls through we will be sorely disappointed.

I’ve also taken the easy option – undecided.

I can understand why some at rangers think this is a good move. A big name (though not in management) which brings us a degree of respectability. We’ll certainly get some publicity in the English media and people will be following how he does at a big club and in the media spotlight. Also, between him and the DOF, they should have a great contact list.

It will be interesting on how he deals with the egos in the Rangers dressing room – maybe the moves on Miller and Wallace are a way to lessen this problem. Hopefully the younger players will look up him.

What I find more difficult to understand is why he would want to move to such a high pressure environment. It can’t be the money. I’m sure he could make more in the English Championship and many English teams would be only too happy to have Gerrard, with the kudos this brings. Maybe he is at the stage where he feels he needs a big challenge to see if he is cut out for a pressure management. For him, if it did not go well it may dent his Management career path but he will always be able to go back to punditry.

I think it shows he has some serious ambitions and hopefully he would  assert his presence at the club, not in a bravado Pedro manner but in an understated knowledgeable way.

It could go horribly wrong for him, and more so for us. But it could be the start of a momentous journey (as they say).

Time will tell (well, at least until Christmas)

2 hours ago, Crimson Dynamo said:

He was at the semi as well.

In which case, nobody can say he wasn't warned.

Would you believe it! Boabie’s tale of yore happened to be my first ever Rangers game.

My uncle (a Hearts supporter) had agreed to take me and my cousin (we all lived in Edinburgh). We were getting a bit concerned that we would not be there early enough (I suspect my uncle had gone for a pint or two). Anyway eventually we set off, me and my cousin resplendent in our new scarves, and got there in time. We stood on the terracing opposite the stand in what seemed to be a huge crowd.  I think Hibs scored around in the first half half time and while those around us talked of a Rangers comeback, it was not to be. After the match we visited his future father in law who lived near Easter road. I remember my uncle unveiling our scarves, much to the amusement of the father in law.

suggested questions:

How do we improve the standard of refereeing in Scotland?

What should be the priorities of maintenace/improvements to Ibrox?

Leaving aside individuals, what is the best fit for Rangers in terms of general philosophy - Scottish, non-Scot British or Foreign Manager?

9 hours ago, JohnMc said:

Sportsound was a fun listen last night. After the match Pat Bonnar, who remains someone it's impossible to hate, said something along the lines of 'Celtic enjoyed good possession' and was metaphorically set upon by Thomson, Gordon and McDonald. It was really funny. Stevie Thomson actually laughed out loud at the comment and Richard Gordon told him Celtic didn't touch the ball for the first 25 minutes other than to pick it out of the net. Even Scott McDonald was very critical of the performance and the tactics.

To be fair it's not like they could say anything else after a 3-0 trouncing by a side who apparently didn't play all that well. 

 

It simply underlined what some have been feeling for a while, this season Celtic are beatable. There's a lethargy and an arrogance to them and if we can only stay injury free and avoid the stupid defeats there's a championship to be won. 

I'm still expecting to hear from Rogers that Zenit only turn up when they play the big boys.

I'm not really bothered if they are booed or not. What i don't understand is explayers being applauded. I could not believe it when Boyd was applauded at the last Kilmarnock game at Ibrox.

This is a very important game for both Murty and the team. Do the last two results herald a new upbeat Rangers or were they a false dawn with our hope about to be dashed?

Hearts will be a good test for this. They don’t let many goals in so it will be a test for our free scoring players. They can be somewhat muscular so we need to be able to stand up to them. Needless to say a strong referee would be helpful, but I believe it is Mr Beaton, so we can park that one.

A good win here will really set us up. We can then await the Sunday result knowing that whatever the result we are on to a winner. We either pull away from Aberdeen and/or we get nearer Celtic. To be greedy, a nice result by Killie will leave Hibs trailing in our wake.

Any dropped points will have us questioning the team and manager once again. But enough of negative thinking.

Let us live in hope and as the OP says, Momentum!