2 hours ago, Scott said:

Yes sir, when Rangers lift the cup it will be a Talisker day. 

Scott, after today's result at Parkhead I may have to hurry up and buy the whisky. I've also a bottle of 10% Imperial Russian Stout brewed by Courage in 1993 at home. Will have to open that as well.

When can rangers win it now then? Can't be many matches away now.

 

12 minutes ago, dkw said:

When can rangers win it now then? Can't be many matches away now.

I reckon about another 5 games, maybe fewer

12 minutes ago, dkw said:

When can rangers win it now then? Can't be many matches away now.

Need 20 points from 12 games but could be fewer if Celtic even with two games in hand drop more points. Rangers also have a much better goal difference. It is possible that Rangers could win the title at Parkhead on 20 March. Would be great to win it there but in someways it would be nice if Rangers went there as Champions and Celtic provided a guard of honour!

WATP

Cheers gents, looking forward to that day  I have some lovely messages to send out....

1 minute ago, dkw said:

Cheers gents, looking forward to that day  I have some lovely messages to send out....

You're welcome. Been waiting for this title for so long now. I'll probably get very drunk after they winning the title so probably won't be in a fit state for a few days. It's a shame that I no longer work as I knew loads of Celtic fans at work and it would give me great pleasure to send them messages. Will be on the phone to the Rangers fans in my family. Wish I could go up to Glasgow to be with them but given the circumstances.

Yeah we were gutted we couldn't go at Christmas,  love Glasgow for a long weekend. 

Please let this happen. @dkw Glasgow is a lovely place. One of my favourite pubs, The Pot Still, is in Glasgow. It has about 600 different whiskies in stock. If you like whisky, I recommend you visit it when next in Glasgow. It's not far from Glasgow Central Station.

1 hour ago, Boyne said:

Please let this happen. @dkw Glasgow is a lovely place. One of my favourite pubs, The Pot Still, is in Glasgow. It has about 600 different whiskies in stock. If you like whisky, I recommend you visit it when next in Glasgow. It's not far from Glasgow Central Station.

Been in there loads of times pal sometimes where we go from the station on the way to where we're staying. Everytime we visit I spend a few weeks planning where to go to eat and drink and stay. Love merchant city area, ended up in kelvingrove last time which was cool but a bit too hipster for me at times. Like hunting down the less touristy bars sometimes. 

 

The attempted murder of Rangers in 2012 was nothing short of scandalous. 

My old man was heart broken when Rangers were dropped into the bottom tier of the Scottish game. To cheer him up I bought him some season tickets and I went with him to all the lower league away games. It was a father son bonding exercise as we haven't always seen eye to eye. 

He wasn't much impressed, endlessly telling me that so n so were '' Never Rangers players ''. He hated the savage treatment of his team on the park, being kicked up and down for 90 minutes by suspected failed youth players from the east end. But the Rangers men never reacted. They probably knew that if they were to go two footed on a lower league player they'd have a hard time completing a 12 hour shift in a cast the next Monday, so, they must have took pity on the hammer throwers. It was an unbelievable level of restraint from what were clearly bigger and better footballers. Apart from Kevin Kyle, who got sent off inside 5 minutes if I remember correctly, when some lower league try hard gave it the biggun to Kyle and so Kyle replied with an elbow. That was the end of that particular discussion and that particular game for Kyle, but it had been coming.

My old man died a couple of years back, having witnessed opposition fans invade and assault his team's players with impunity. hanging effigies by the neck from the rafters of their own ground. Watching Celtic players tie Celtic scarves to the goal posts at Ibrox. Sustained and rabid social media campaigns against his club and her supporters from all and sundry. He witnessed a Club being pounced on at the first sign of weakness. As soon as that establishment club displayed symptoms of a poison in it's system, The governing body unsheathed its knife. Trying to strip titles and all sorts from what was a very proud Lion. An absolute credit to Scottish and British football, even world football it is an establishment club. 

As soon as said lion couldn't defend itself, the hordes of gnashing teeth...or lack thereof set about it, kicking the sh*t out of it, dragged it off it's throne, cut its main and threw it down a shaft, falling silent just for a moment to hear the sickening thump of its body hitting the bottom of Division 3. Content with their savagery and pleased with their deeds the hordes then went on to drink kestral lager from their plastic trophies in the Kings throne room. Singing their well known songs with glee! 

The Lion, lay motionless right up until kick off, being unable to register players 24 hours before the first game of the season. Curious thing though, if the Lion was supposedly dead or had died as the hordes like to exclaim over and over again, why the shackles? 

Andy Little and Lee McCulloch stepped up to get the job done that day in a 2-1 victory over Brechin city. It was the first battle in a long series of battles to get back to the throne, in a time when the hyenas of Scottish football were getting fat and comfortable. Rangers, began their first steps in what was to become a journey of betrayal and victory fitting of any herculean epic. 

So I didn't think my dad would ever see his team return to their throne. But a curious miracle of science happened, or maybe something else. Wonder of wonders, despite being dead for over 50 minutes, he returned. In the time of his coma, Rangers had appointed Gerrard as manager. I could see the confusion in his face trying to recall one of the best midfielders of his generation and then connecting him to the position of Rangers manager. As time went by and he recovered steadily just as Rangers did, he leaned over and said, '' There's something familiar about this Rangers team under Gerrard ''. I think I know what he meant. There is a scent, a musky old oak and varnish with a touch of whisky and cigars, a composure, a professionalism a fearlessness in the face of seemingly unsurmountable odds. It's like a recall to the days of Struth....Sorry, Mr Struth. A throw back to Souness and Smith. A Gallant swagger in the step, a cool calm head on rock steady shoulders. A cold steely knowing behind preying eyes fixed firmly on the prize. 

The existence of this Lion has been denied by the Hyenas and their equally horrid little minions for the best part of a decade now, a decade of showering themselves with self aggrandisement and self servitude. A decade of irrationally and feverishly screaming unintelligible prattle at an unmarked grave.

But on the 29th of December 2018, there was the first of many shuddering thumps to resound throughout the throne room. Half the Hyenas nervously shrugged it off as everyone else's over heated imagination while still swigging from plastic cups and eating the chocolate from gold foiled imitation medals. But the slightly more wiser half, went straight into a ptsd induced flash back. Since then the door to the throne room has received a fair few kicks, even still they toasted their kestral lager to their invincibility despite getting rocked by everyone and anyone in Europe. Making a complete spectacle of themselves is something of a speciality of theres. But the Lion, after its tour of Scotland had taken an impressive collection of scalps in Europe in less time. 

The door will come down with one more kick, and the hordes are sh*tting themselves! Because it's not a new club in the same way its not a new Lion.. It's the same proud and bold Lion of old. And they all know it! From the door to the throne, they know that Lion is the same Lion that won't flinch at the thought of having to wade knee deep through horde filth to reclaim what is rightfully its! 

It's not just a club or a history, it's an ideology, a way of life even a way of being.. A standard... a standard that not all reach but most attempt. It is a knowing and acceptance of something greater than themselves. It is quintessentially British at it's heart. 

So I don't know if my dad's team can still win the league at Shark head, but if they can, I know he'd love nothing more than the Rangers captain to take a page out of the Souness book of trolling and stick a Union Flag right in the middle of the pitch then stand there and give the eyes to anyone stupid enough to cross the white line in faux outrage. 

When the Red Lion of Govan roars after it's inevitable return, whatever residual bravado remains in the stomach of the supporter from the treacherous diddy teams will quickly turn into quivering bones, because they know what's coming next. They all do. 

55 and counting. 

 

Wow what a post☝️Hard one to follow. 
It really is a remarkable achievement. Not like many of Celtic’s over last 9 years as they benefited from the stitch up of sending rangers down to bottom tier, which not only meant they weren’t in the same league for a few years but also were put miles behind financially and squad talent wise so would take even longer to bridge the gap. 
This was a fair fight from the get-go, Celtic have no excuses and rangers have dominated.  

@Bridging The Gap Your post is one of the best and most moving I've read. You're right Rangers is an ideology, a standard, a way of life.  

I came from a Rangers supporting family on my Dad's side. He came from Larkhall a town which is well known for being ardent in its support of Rangers. I've followed Rangers as long as I've followed Chelsea and I've seen both clubs win trophies and have great victories: who can forget the 5-1 game in 1988 when Ray Wilkins scored that great goal. Chelsea has won a few trophies since that great night in Munich when we won the Champions League in Europe but I think that Rangers winning the title this season will give me as much pleasure as seeing Chelsea victorious in 2012. I'll enjoy a few beers and lots of whisky, make several phone calls to my Rangers supporting family members and to Chelsea fans I go to the games with and I'm not ashamed to admit it, shed a tear.. Over the years I've explained to the people I go to Chelsea matches with what Rangers means. They understand. I was at Ibrox for the friendly between the two teams and the atmosphere was superb.

Come the day when the title is won there will be bears and bearettes around the World and those looking down and all will be saying We Are The People.

You'll recognise the three people in my avatar. Three legends and sadly two of them are no longer with us but united in Rangers.

 

 

Edited January 31, 20215 yr by Boyne

What a fantastic post that is, shows how much a football club can mean to people. 

29 minutes ago, Boyne said:

@Bridging The Gap Your post is one of the best and most moving I've read. You're right Rangers is an ideology, a standard, a way of life.  

I came from a Rangers supporting family on my Dad's side. He came from Larkhall a town which is well known for being ardent in its support of Rangers. I've followed Rangers as long as I've followed Chelsea and I've seen both clubs win trophies and have great victories: who can forget the 5-1 game in 1988 when Ray Wilkins scored that great goal. Chelsea has won a few trophies since that great night in Munich when we won the Champions League in Europe but I think that Rangers winning the title this season will give me as much pleasure as seeing Chelsea victorious in 2012. I'll enjoy a few beers and lots of whisky, make several phone calls to my Rangers supporting family members and to Chelsea fans I go to the games with and I'm not ashamed to admit it, shed a tear.. Over the years I've explained to the people I go to Chelsea matches with what Rangers means. They understand. I was at Ibrox for the friendly between the two teams and the atmosphere was superb.

Come the day when the title is won there will be bears and bearettes around the World and those looking down and all will be saying We Are The People.

You'll recognise the three people in my avatar. Three legends and sadly two of them are no longer with us but united in Rangers.

 

 

One thing I love about English football fans is that they get it. Sometimes they don't need to have it explained to them, they see the red white and blue and take it on board first time. Throughout the years since 2012 I've never seen the Rangers fans make a complete show of themselves, there has been a dignified silence from them over the years and its all built up towards this moment. The difference between the new generation of fans of the Old Firm is that one set has been on a journey through multiple league winning titles the club has never won before because it's always been top tier, putting the shoulder to the wheel in far flung places. While the other set of fans have had it far too easy for far too long and have been wrapped up in cotton wool being bedazzled by disco lights for ten years. This is the first time they will have ever known a challenge and they are apoplectic and entitled. 

When Captain James Tavernier lifts that trophy, the well wishes and praise will flood in from all around the world, fellow players and celebs alike, there was a hint of it when Rangers returned to the SPL. very unlikely footballers who you'd never think had a soft spot for Rangers were delighted to see them back. Same thing will happen but bigger this time. It'll never happen but if Gerrard could just lean over and ask the England manager to give his wingback a cap for his country it would round off a sensational story. Tavernier deserve to represent his country he'd wear the three lions with pride. Even if its an away tie to Tunisia or whoever, just make it happen!

My dad used to tell me all about Tam Forsyth and Cooper. He's met John Grieg a few times and always comes away impressed with him as a man. Always had time for people a great ambassador for the club. 

Always remember when my mother was in the Southern general I took my dad a walk down to Ibrox and he was telling me all about nautical college and how he never missed a game when he was a student there before getting onto the ships and going out to sea. We arrived at Ibrox just for a nosey to pass time before headed home and we were allowed in to see the trophy room for 15 minutes. It's a club that looks after it's people. 

5 hours ago, Bridging The Gap said:

The attempted murder of Rangers in 2012 was nothing short of scandalous. 

My old man was heart broken when Rangers were dropped into the bottom tier of the Scottish game. To cheer him up I bought him some season tickets and I went with him to all the lower league away games. It was a father son bonding exercise as we haven't always seen eye to eye. 

He wasn't much impressed, endlessly telling me that so n so were '' Never Rangers players ''. He hated the savage treatment of his team on the park, being kicked up and down for 90 minutes by suspected failed youth players from the east end. But the Rangers men never reacted. They probably knew that if they were to go two footed on a lower league player they'd have a hard time completing a 12 hour shift in a cast the next Monday, so, they must have took pity on the hammer throwers. It was an unbelievable level of restraint from what were clearly bigger and better footballers. Apart from Kevin Kyle, who got sent off inside 5 minutes if I remember correctly, when some lower league try hard gave it the biggun to Kyle and so Kyle replied with an elbow. That was the end of that particular discussion and that particular game for Kyle, but it had been coming.

My old man died a couple of years back, having witnessed opposition fans invade and assault his team's players with impunity. hanging effigies by the neck from the rafters of their own ground. Watching Celtic players tie Celtic scarves to the goal posts at Ibrox. Sustained and rabid social media campaigns against his club and her supporters from all and sundry. He witnessed a Club being pounced on at the first sign of weakness. As soon as that establishment club displayed symptoms of a poison in it's system, The governing body unsheathed its knife. Trying to strip titles and all sorts from what was a very proud Lion. An absolute credit to Scottish and British football, even world football it is an establishment club. 

As soon as said lion couldn't defend itself, the hordes of gnashing teeth...or lack thereof set about it, kicking the sh*t out of it, dragged it off it's throne, cut its main and threw it down a shaft, falling silent just for a moment to hear the sickening thump of its body hitting the bottom of Division 3. Content with their savagery and pleased with their deeds the hordes then went on to drink kestral lager from their plastic trophies in the Kings throne room. Singing their well known songs with glee! 

The Lion, lay motionless right up until kick off, being unable to register players 24 hours before the first game of the season. Curious thing though, if the Lion was supposedly dead or had died as the hordes like to exclaim over and over again, why the shackles? 

Andy Little and Lee McCulloch stepped up to get the job done that day in a 2-1 victory over Brechin city. It was the first battle in a long series of battles to get back to the throne, in a time when the hyenas of Scottish football were getting fat and comfortable. Rangers, began their first steps in what was to become a journey of betrayal and victory fitting of any herculean epic. 

So I didn't think my dad would ever see his team return to their throne. But a curious miracle of science happened, or maybe something else. Wonder of wonders, despite being dead for over 50 minutes, he returned. In the time of his coma, Rangers had appointed Gerrard as manager. I could see the confusion in his face trying to recall one of the best midfielders of his generation and then connecting him to the position of Rangers manager. As time went by and he recovered steadily just as Rangers did, he leaned over and said, '' There's something familiar about this Rangers team under Gerrard ''. I think I know what he meant. There is a scent, a musky old oak and varnish with a touch of whisky and cigars, a composure, a professionalism a fearlessness in the face of seemingly unsurmountable odds. It's like a recall to the days of Struth....Sorry, Mr Struth. A throw back to Souness and Smith. A Gallant swagger in the step, a cool calm head on rock steady shoulders. A cold steely knowing behind preying eyes fixed firmly on the prize. 

The existence of this Lion has been denied by the Hyenas and their equally horrid little minions for the best part of a decade now, a decade of showering themselves with self aggrandisement and self servitude. A decade of irrationally and feverishly screaming unintelligible prattle at an unmarked grave.

But on the 29th of December 2018, there was the first of many shuddering thumps to resound throughout the throne room. Half the Hyenas nervously shrugged it off as everyone else's over heated imagination while still swigging from plastic cups and eating the chocolate from gold foiled imitation medals. But the slightly more wiser half, went straight into a ptsd induced flash back. Since then the door to the throne room has received a fair few kicks, even still they toasted their kestral lager to their invincibility despite getting rocked by everyone and anyone in Europe. Making a complete spectacle of themselves is something of a speciality of theres. But the Lion, after its tour of Scotland had taken an impressive collection of scalps in Europe in less time. 

The door will come down with one more kick, and the hordes are sh*tting themselves! Because it's not a new club in the same way its not a new Lion.. It's the same proud and bold Lion of old. And they all know it! From the door to the throne, they know that Lion is the same Lion that won't flinch at the thought of having to wade knee deep through horde filth to reclaim what is rightfully its! 

It's not just a club or a history, it's an ideology, a way of life even a way of being.. A standard... a standard that not all reach but most attempt. It is a knowing and acceptance of something greater than themselves. It is quintessentially British at it's heart. 

So I don't know if my dad's team can still win the league at Shark head, but if they can, I know he'd love nothing more than the Rangers captain to take a page out of the Souness book of trolling and stick a Union Flag right in the middle of the pitch then stand there and give the eyes to anyone stupid enough to cross the white line in faux outrage. 

When the Red Lion of Govan roars after it's inevitable return, whatever residual bravado remains in the stomach of the supporter from the treacherous diddy teams will quickly turn into quivering bones, because they know what's coming next. They all do. 

55 and counting. 

 

Very well said  WATP

Loads of great players in this picture. Picking an all time 11 from this lot would be a challenge!

18 minutes ago, Boyne said:

Loads of great players in this picture. Picking an all time 11 from this lot would be a challenge!

It would take a year just to settle on the first choice goalie. 

16 hours ago, Bridging The Gap said:

It would take a year just to settle on the first choice goalie. 

Indeed. I guess The Goalie would be favourite for a lot of people but then Shagger has done very well over recent years. Older Rangers fans may argue for Ritchie. I guess it's the same for fans of all clubs and down to how long you have supported a team. For Chelsea is it Bonetti or Cech as the best ever goalie.

I'm not sure who would be in my all time Rangers 11. So many to choose from. I'd have to have Davie Cooper in my side. A great player.

Not this season but Jaws after scoring that goal in the 1973 Scottish Cup Final.

Rangers are bossing the game tonight with good tempo and build up but Roofe is set to get into the game proper and bang one in. I really don't think Aribo should be in the middle of the park. I can see Rangers stepping it up another gear and getting a goal or two. 

Great goal from Hagi - come on Rangers!

Shagger's been amazing all season. Unbelievable

Hagi was the difference tonight, the wee man keeps on keeping on. 

Yet another clean sheet and maximum points. 

Ulster's Pirlo - MOTM (again)