In all my years of following Rangers that was one of the greatest nights ever, Ibrox was absolute dynamite.
After everything we've been through, I can't quite believe we're back in a European semi final. I'm almost feart to dream of more to come! 😁 Enjoy bears
After wildly celebrating their deserved title with a day/night of alcohol & fireworks, our friends across the city will have awoken not with joy, but with a gripping fear that a club that doesn't exist & whose name cannot be spoken, wins the Europa League on Wed 😂
I've no complaints, credit to Gio we were tactically sound until the sending off, & the application from the starting XI was what we asked for. That was a top class side we were up against. CL campaign will be sore but not as sore as not being there.
"Live It Up" is forever embossed as the soundtrack to the death of ten in a row and 55. When I hear them (or anyone) sing it, it reminds me of one of the greatest seasons of my life.
Why are they so strange? 😂
And let's lay off Borna eh? Anyone who has ever kicked a ball knows that if your are low on confidence, you keep it simple. I thought he was fine and the crowd were getting a tad fixated on him. He contributed well overall and allowed Kent & Lawrence cover to try things.
Saw the knives were out for McAusland at HT from some - I think he's a superstar, always available for a wide pass, rarely loses the ball, drives at players inside & out, tracks back, & contributes goals & assists. He's a sensational prospect & we'll do well to keep him.
Celtic are 3pts ahead & I'm reading on Rangers twitter that the next 5 years will be decided by next season's CL money. It certainly won't be a hindrance to the winners but please stop with the hysterical & simplistic hyperbole. There's 33 points to be played for. Have a backbone
I don't really get the spurned lover mentality re Gerrard at Villa, it's embarassingly small time. Apart from delivering a very special title rejoiced by generations, his leadership trackside post Slavia match defending Kamara is one of my proudest Rangers moments ever.
I also see that GVBs team selection on Wed is now universally panned with the benefit of 20/20 hindsight. I haven't spoken to one bear who either didn't pick that exact team or who voiced concern prematch.
Application & desire from those selected was primarily the issue for me.
Memo to Rangers board:
Tillman option? DO IT
Sands loan to buy? DO IT
New ticket website? DO IT
Fill in the corners ? DO IT
Hot Dog Delivery drones? DO IT
20ft gold statue of Andy Dibble? DO IT
20hrs later, prolific Scottish football rent-a-quoutes Michael Stewart and Graham Spiers have still to tweet a solitary word about Rangers getting back to the Champions League 😂😂😂😂
So the question then becomes how the narrative that offside played a part in the actual decision in real time, was "leaked" to Sky Sports?
Basically it looks & smells like a cover up for a massive mistake & it shouldn't be too hard to disprove (or not) by the recorded audio.
The manager is the real deal. That result is a pipedream under Beale.
I also recommend a new contract on triple the money for Lundstram. That was a Lunny masterclass & he's been superb under Clement.
1/ My opinion and mine alone – we need to be very careful as a support the seeds being sown - I think it’s an opportune moment to apply some balance to the hysteria. Take my posts in the spirit given, we are all bears and we are broad church so here’s just another opinion.
Answer: because Nick Walsh realised in a flash that he has a life to live and it would be made a misery for the foreseeable future if he was the man responsible for giving an overturned goal against Celtic to Rangers.
📝 Sky Sports News understands Rangers will write to the SFA for an explanation over why Alfredo Morelos’ first-half goal at Celtic Park was disallowed.
What did you make of the decision? ⬇️
So Leipzig away is on the same day we are moving home with a 2yr old. All I can say is that my wife is incredibly understanding lady & please take my name out of the "Husband of the Year" nominations. Maybe next year. Guten Tag.
A special word for the Easter Rd stadium announcer who repeatedly welcomed everyone to the game between Hibernian and "the" Rangers.
2 things:
- We are indeed The Rangers
- The Rangers are in to the next round
Focus will now fall on everything from recruitment to coaching, & that is only right after that shambles. But I refuse to believe that the squad available could not have done much more. That was 85% down to sub standard intensity, application & desire.
THAT'S what's unacceptable
Also I'm not too fussed if this is unpopular or puts noses out of joint, time to be honest with ourselves: Ibrox at 90 mins is an absolute embarrassment. That particular culture needs to change.
Seldom have there been 2 such seismic Rangers performances so close together, delivering such joy.
What a week.
Huge credit goes to GVB & the players & the same to the bears off it, in the stands & on the park we wanted that more today. Never count us out, that was glorious. 🇬🇧
Dessers plays like a youtuber playing a charity match. If Lammers was in a house fire he'd probably Cruyff turn back in to it.
And these were guys Beale thought would be central to a rebuild?!
A shambolic display so far, plumbing new depths.
This is a new one for Scottish football - an actual judo move that Vladimir Putin would have been proud of. Referee then books the ninja assassin but also the other guy for being thrown over his opponent's shoulder😅
Just got my CTM email for Naples:
"Flight to Tunisia via Helsinki, then people trafficked to the coast where the Italian Navy will bring you onshore.
Flight back has been cancelled permanently & Italian residency is to be arranged."
Good news is that Scotland has moved up to 9th in the new UEFA coefficient ranking.
And that means the 2022-23 Scottish champions are guaranteed to go direct to the group stage of the Champions League.
1st: UCL GS
2nd: UCL 3QR
3rd, 4th: UECL quals
Cup winners: UEL final qual
If the Celtic board back down from the appointment of Bernard Higgins then they are absolutely dead in the water and at the mercy of mad extremists within their support. If they don't, then they will have a rebellion of mad extremists within their support. Both lovely.
A moment of brilliance from Arfield 👌the main issue tonight for me was no Morelos. We simply don't have anyone close to him in terms of lone front play. Sakala singlehandedly kept the crowd onside & will be a success at Rangers, you can't have that drive and fail. A massive win.
Just stop with the over analysis of whatever Clement said post match. As angry as we are he has to win a big game on Sunday and his comments will be with that in mind and the fragile squad he has to achieve that with. I think we know enough about him to know he's no mug.
So he's got to go now, that's Caixinha levels of disfunction. We've not moved one inch forward since the first half on the opening day. An expensive settlement eating into an already stretched budget too.
Team gave everything, a more competent starting striker in both legs & we go through. Lundstram, Souttar, Tav were immense, if they carry that level of form we'll be in a good place. Another very credible euro run & some turnaround from earlier in the season.
That was absolutely sensational from Rangers today, literally from the 1st minute. So many good performances & players on great form but Lundstram has been a colossus ever since Clement arrived. He's making us tick & will be hard to replace on this form if he goes.
"GET IT FORWARD, NAW FORWARD FFS, BARASIC NO BACKWARDS!! LUNDSTRAM YA LAZY C*** MOVE IT UP THE PARK, MATONDO DO SOMETHING YOU YA WASTE. SLOW, SLOW, F*CKIN SLOW. BACKWARDS AGAIN HOLY F*CK. THIS MOB ARE SH*TE TOO. WHERE WE GAUN HERE? SAME EVERY WEEK. Aw great goal yassss."
I see there's some pointed opinions about McAusland again cos he wasn't prime Marc Overmars last night.
When will the penny drop for some that youth players (even the best) will have oscillating form & contribution. It's part of development.
He's a fantastic prospect.
Saw the knives were out for McAusland at HT from some - I think he's a superstar, always available for a wide pass, rarely loses the ball, drives at players inside & out, tracks back, & contributes goals & assists. He's a sensational prospect & we'll do well to keep him.
Sakala is an asset to Rangers and anyone dismissing him as a dud will be proven wrong. If you're looking for Marco Van Basten technique then you will be disappointed, but he will do for me.
FAO Aberdeen fans:
I have 4 League Cup Final tickets for sale, Aberdeen end. £500 each. £600 if you say "fit" or "Ken" to me at any point.
DM me a picture of your sheep if you're interested.
1) The Rangers support should be getting a medal not Uefa fines for last night - the entire 6k(?) - whilst bevvied - were funnelled in to a tight enclosed space to fit through a 6ft wide gate with 2 stewards checking tickets - ridiculous risk but not an ounce of misbehaviour
What better way to spend Xmas Eve than to check in on the Rangers refereeing conspiracy - none of these merited a talking to from the referee never mind a yellow card, & the etch-a-sketch VAR graphics are conclusive apparently. But penalties and that. Merry Xmas mentalists
"£6m deal" or "£10m deal" my understanding is that the add ons are achievable so let's call it an £8m deal. Bottom line is that a £300k cross border steal signing, 3 x EL groups, a title win, an EL final, sold for £8m in his last year, is not something to lose the plot over.
We deserved nothing from that game, the cold truth is we are laboured, predictable & lacking any invention and we will surrender our title & a CL honeypot with a whimper unless something changes fast. Morelos, Hagi, Roofe ALL anonymous as a front 3 & that's unacceptable.
We are disappointed that our player Regan Charles-Cook has been subjected to racist abuse online following today’s match.
We will give Regan all of our support and will work with the Police & relevant parties to ensure these messages are properly dealt with.
#WeStandWithRegan
2nd half performance under big pressure should not be underestimated, 1-0 flattered Hearts. Kent was sensational & entertaining, he drove us to that victory & I'm delighted because I think he gets a raw deal from too many. Tillman an enigma magic & frustrating in equal measure.
The youth system exists to create first team players & generate profit, disappointing to see Patterson go as it reminds us of our place in the food chain, but the real news is that this should allow us to make moves in this transfer window & strengthen for this title tilt.
🔵 | Everton are set to complete a deal worth up to £16m to sign right-back Nathan Patterson from Rangers.
The Gers academy graduate - who has made just two Scottish Premiership starts this season - will move for a club-record fee. Full story👇
Watching the game again, what an absolute gobshite Michael Stewart is, he never shuts up, incessant flow of non-insight. His commentary contribution matches his career honours list: nothing of note
Really shocked at how many players were off it tonight. Subbing Cantwell before Lammers was a nonsense & the first big Clement decision I can't understand. Think we can now safely add Cifuentes to the Lammers/Dessers axis of irredeemable shite too.
If we had been 8pts clear at the top at some point, got their manager sacked, won 7 of 9 pts from the 3 OF games & were only 1 point ahead with a game more played, what would we be saying?
Celtic & their fans' ability to live in denial should not be mistaken for mental strength
Listen, I'm no exactly Daley Thompson myself, but even I could stage manage a better video to make myself look like I'm ready and ripped. My 3yr old did a harder shift at her sports day.
Subway loyal today particularly bad, in the Govan rear it started on 76 mins. I know there will be some who genuinely need to shoot off, but the stadium was about 3/4 empty by full time. "Everything from Everyone" indeed 🙄 the culture needs challenged & changed.
Watching game back, Sutton's comments around the Silva penalty incident are a joke, I'd basically tell sky to shove the two bob or whatever we get from them. He's a Celtic mouthpiece intent on setting narratives in their favour.
Watch Dermot Gallagher confirm it's a pen tomorrow
Well fellow bears, this was the promised land we thought we'd never see, every inch we fought for, every victory big & small brought us here. Credit to Gio & the team, but there must be a moment to thank King, Park, Bennett et al for their collective drive financially & otherwise
So it wasn't to be, but we were here. An unforgettable run to the final, & beaten at the last kick. Don't think I've ever been prouder of my club & this support, "though the straits be broad and narrow its follow we will".
We"ll pick ourselves as we always do & on to Saturday 💙
Just done some early morning calculations, and looks like Rangers are able to become an independent country. I suggest setting up a sovereign fund and we'll take it from there.
So basically Celtic and the rest of the SPFL brains trust voted to allow us to get paid for doing nothing? 😂
And they still think the men who put them in that position, Doncaster and Maclennan, are fit for purpose?! 😂
A resounding victory for Rangers here, no question.
Memo to Celtic fans:
Rodgers referred to "Rangers" in his press conference today. In a normal way. Not "tribute act", not "the opposition", it was clearly "Rangers".
He's mocking you. Get the sharks
And by the way, I know Clement is rotating Dessers/Silva and why, but the difference in potency when Silva is on the park is night and day.
He has to be the one that starts in our key games.
Isn't it funny how "Rangers are skint" yet we're one of the very few willing to battle through a couple of games without fans through the gates. Methinks a few clubs are in much more fragile financial position than they let on.
We know Dundee are amateur, but the they are being allowed to be amateur by an SPFL board that fails time & again & should be held to account.
RFC made this point to all member clubs but laziness, obstinence or ignorance meant no traction.
It's a national embarrassment.
My da still can't say "Kuznetsov" so the chances of him singing "Tsamina mina, eh eh
Fashion Jr, eh eh
Tsamina mina zangalewa
He comes from Zambia" are pretty slim.
1) Quick mega thread - As some in our support have daily fits over transfers & haggling over £200k, I have had a cursory scan through the new UEFA financial Sustainability Regulations. They will definitely have an impact and will be shaping our financial decision making
Feel free to shoot me down, but I reiterate, it's just my opinion based on what I see, sense & guess. We are absolutely on the right track as a club financially, we are absolutely on the right track as a club footballing wise. Let's just stay the course, we've come too far.
I have it on good authority that as part of their development, after every round of fixtures all top flight referees are sent video footage of calls over the weekend & the associated audio.
This week is the first time ever they've not had it sent to them.
If true, it stinks.
Scott Wright should kneel down and pray thanks to the God of the Home Grown Rule every morning, noon and night, for his Rangers career lasting this long.
I wish we had another 5 or 6 Taverniers. This nonsense that we start a rebuild by getting rid of him is risible. He made a bad OF game mistake today as has Butcher, Gough, Greig, Souness & the list goes on. What we do is we build a team that takes the expectation & weight off him
Tavernier now has 12 G&A from 20 league games in a year where most would say he’s been poor.
At fault today - partially or not - for Celtic’s first and he wasn’t great overall. In a team that struggles to spread goals and assists through the team, can you afford to take his out?
I've said that Joe Aribo can do anything he wants in football at any level, but only if he adds the steel & killer mentality that his manager developed as a player. He was excellent tonight & I want to see him own games like he did for most of the 90 mins. An incredible talent.