Bill

So how long is long enough? Are you suggesting football fans are less able to show composure than others? No one has said anyone should "forget" about Sunday, that would be ridiculous. But what I think is important is for the reaction to be measured, to reflect the obvious progress we saw on Sunday and the fact we have arguably a more important game coming up in 3 days time. We have no entitlement to success but we now have reason to be confident. It will take skill and persistence from a lot of people until we lift those trophies. Until then I would prefer to see us fail with some dignity and for our reaction to be to go on with even more determination until we do succeed. All we did on Sunday was lose a game. It wasn't a failure. Failure was what led us into our financial crisis and eight years of pain.

We lost. They won. They have the trophy, we don't. Should we be wearing hair shirts for a week, a month or what? When do we move on? We have a big game on Thursday. Will agonising over Sunday's result and blaming players and manager help or hinder our chances in that game?

We lost a one-off game yesterday. But that's all that happened. By common opinion on all sides we were the superior team over the piece ... but we still lost. However, it's important we don't allow temporary disappointment to get in the way of rational perspective. It wasn't a judgement from God that we lost, nor does it condemn Rangers to permanent inferiority. We're a better team than we were and next year we'll be a better team than we are, which doesn't guarantee trophies but it will sure as hell improve our chances. What matters far more to me is that we return to being the best football team that our circumstances allow. I'd rather lose yesterday and continue to make progress than win and think we had arrived. Mind you I'd much rather we had won and continue to make progress.

Surely that was never in question whatever the result yesterday. Did anyone really believe beating Celtic would have confirmed the rebuilding job was over? There's a long way to go yet and if there's been any surprise this season it's been how well we've performed. I'd put us ahead of schedule but I suppose everyone has their own opinion of how much rebuilding had to be done. The club has certainly had its recent failures but they haven't been since Gerrard arrived.

Yup, that's the bottom line Compo. You can't build a time machine with all the whining in the world.

Many of us have had those thought these last few years - will I live to see another league win? Many have passed these last 8 years without that pleasure, maybe we'll be the lucky ones. Chin up.

Important points. At the end of the game yesterday I felt desperately low. Today, reflecting on what happened and where we are on this journey, I surprise myself by feeling much more pride than disappointment. We're almost there - you know what they say about the darkest hour coming just before the dawn ?

Agreed, there is a time for critical comment. This isn't it. Not after yesterday's performance. Criticism now is merely indulgence.

As you say, there's no way Tav bottled the penalty but I suspect there is a fairly widespread belief that, while Tav is a considerable asset, he's not necessarily the popular idea of a Rangers skipper. Hence the misdirected criticism on this occasion.

We've seen this same reaction to the other side going down to ten men several times before. It's a complete mystery to me why this apparent advantage has repeatedly seen us lose momentum.

A day's reflection often clears the head a little and if I were Gerrard trying to lift a losing squad I'd be trying to decide which of the positives from yesterday to emphasise first. I'd certainly be upbeat. We outplayed Celtic, we had better players all over the field and we were only beaten by an illegal goal. Sure, we didn't take the cup home but we should be going into every game now fully aware of these facts and in no doubt that our time is almost here. The support has to be part of that reassurance to and I'm sure I'm not the only one today feeling a mixture of disappointment, pride and expectation. Our upcoming trip to Parkhead is one to anticipate with confidence. I've always said if we were still in contention come January then this would be our year.

Exactly. Plenty of improvement to come.

Talking about mentality, you can only assume the celebrations by the Celtic players and fans was an expression of relief at escaping from what amounted to an absolute tanning on the park.

Good effort from the team today. Should have won it, deserved to win it. We're no longer second best but, as every honest supporter knows, we're not the finished article yet. Progress is the thing. However, the problem that dogged us throughout last season is still there to an extent - the inability to score when we're dominating play. That and the fact we're still not a 90 minute team. In this respect, our creative play today was a bit disappointing, with Ryan Kent struggling throughout the game to make anything happen and Steve Davis a huge loss.

That’s sectarian.

Why was the machine gun tower unmanned?

Right enough, you've changed my mind. Fuck it, win or lose, Gerrard must go.

It's hard to see past this line up if everyone is fit. Gerrard will have to decide whether central defence retains enough confidence after Wednesday evening but the rest really picks itself. It will be a battle.

I don't think there are many Rangers fans who don't believe Gerrard will deliver trophies. The only question is when. If it's not tomorrow, and I suspect it will be, then it will certainly be soon. Anyone in danger of losing patience only needs to ask themselves where we could possibly find a better manager. The teams we field in future will continue to improve, momentum is the thing.

There you go. It won't be easy or pretty but the tipping point is certainly coming and this could be it. If it is then, whatever Rangers goes on to do in future, this will be a day none of us will ever forget.

Rangers 3 Celtic 2 Morelos (hat trick)

.... or the terminally stupid "running a rule over"

Targeting, monitoring, tracking .... how many more meaningless words are there in the Book of Made-Up Media Shite?

Wednesday's game was disappointing to every Rangers supporter but it's gone now. Sunday is the thing now and no one benefits by not moving on.