The third side, Second Rangers, joined the line up for the Scottish cup semi finals yesterday as the long cup weekend got even longer.
After tonight’s clash between Falkirk and Ayr United the draw will be made for the semi finals, and there seems to be some debate about a preference of when to face the plucky Ibrox newcomers.
Frankly, I’d rather not play them at all. Let’s face it, they aren’t a pleasant lot to be around, and if I could choose…..and there was a time when it was possible……never to have to play them again, I’d opt for that every time.
But it seems some think we need them, even if the way they harp on about us suggests a less than symbiotic relationship.
So we probably will have to play them at some time.
The showpiece final is the dream of the SFA and the broadcasters, with Viaplay currently contracted to show cup games. If they could be emcouraged, along with those who negotiate contracts to take over all of Scottish football broadcasting, fans would save a fortune, and we’d probably get better exposure for our game.
And it wouldn’t feel so bad paying for it, as sending money to Sky who transfer it to EPL clubs to buy our players was, at least until the arrival of Angeball, a long , slow suicide for our game.
Whether or not our game will be scooped up by newcomers and turned around is yet to be seen, but at least it’s halted the ever decreasing spiral for now.
As for that lot, I’m hapy when they get their hopes high enough to make a spectacular noise when it hits the ground, so despite having to share a summer afternoon with them, the prospect of clinching a treble against them after the media have all but deified the talentless buffoon in charge at Ibrox would certainly amuse me greatly.
And the aftershock would be incredible.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not losing any sleep over it, a treble is a treble, no matter when it’s won.
It would just be more fun to lift the cup above the howls of anguish from over the river.
And it would set up a summer of recriminations over there.
The only concern about a final meeting would be with the officials, but another invite to a UEFa delegation would do the trick.
And a reminder that the whole world is watching, as it seemed to help Nick Walsh last time out discover refereeing skills he didn’t know he had…
It’s probably too late for John Beaton, certainly too late for Willie Collum, but the rest could still be saved….
Hang on, it is too late for Beaton, seen here greeting some old friends and adding to the evidence that subconscious bias is a problem in football
Rangers fan suprised by his idols before game. Fair play to them making this fans dreams come true #Heartwarming pic.twitter.com/rMRCJZuAqX
— 4 seasons, 12 trophies, history makers!!! (@ClarkKe01956140) March 12, 2023
Which reminds me, a quck quiz…. Where should the resultant throw in be taken from, in this clip from the weekends win over Hearts….
that’s right !
Here. Obviously.
Back at the ranch, and Daezen Maeda has vowed to get back to the team as soon as he can, posting his determination and thanks on social media…
“Thank you for all your messages of concern! It has arrived! Just one word! I’m ready to fight.”
At least, that’s what I think it means, translating the characters of Japanese, which represent images, into the prose of the English language is a little bit more difficult than most appreciate.
It’s possible there are four individual messages in that message. but I suppose the point is he wants to be back in the team as soon as he can.
A significant culture change at the club is that he won;t be back until he’s one hundred per cent, whereas under previous managers, and maybe because the squad wasn’t so strong, it would have been two paracetomol, a can of red bull and on you go , son.
Changed days indeed.
Calum MacGregor has , what by his standards, been vocal as well.
“Our football is always evolving, the players are understanding more and more about how to play the system and you can see them working it out even every day in training. We find different solutions to what we face in a game. You see them now starting to think ‘right, where do I need to be’ in relation to where the ball is.
“That’s the way we play football, you need everybody moving in relation and keeping the distances good to connect the game. As soon as you do that you have three guys at the top of the pitch with quality, pace, and who score goals.
“You can definitely see what we are trying to do coming together but by no means are we the finished article. We keep going and we always try and take the small details to learn and push ourselves as a group.
“We listen to the manager, we listen to each other, and we just keep trying to improve individually and as a group. And when we get the chance to play games we just try to come together and show all that and attack each game as it comes.”
“We believe that if we play our best game every time we go on the pitch we will be very difficult to stop. The reason this group has got so much better so quickly is because we work so hard every day in training.
When you have the right chemistry between a coaching staff who know what they want, and a playing staff that works to achieve that, then you have something worth watching.
It’s not about having the best players, it’s about having the right players, and that’s probably the biggest difference between the way Ange goes about his business compared to previous managers.
Elsewhere, and the dearth of grown up football content in both mainstream and social media may have be over, with the introduction of this place….
At two quid a month it looks like it’s worth a go, and when the wife gets in from work I’m going to borrow some money off her and give it a go….thirty years of marrriage and a reckless finacial policy means I’m not allowed money any more, as it seems I’m a “fucking idiot”.
Can;t understand why she thinks like that, every home needs at least one mini casino and a llama.
Speaking of anger and irresponsibility, is this ….
what you get when you feed this after midnight ?
Yesterday, we had this….
Hoop Hoop Hooray
And in yet another change to our scheduled programmes, we bring you recorded highlights of last years pizza rolling championships
Today
Caption: not what I meant when I said we are moving house!
The big hoose must stay op…haw, come back with ma hoose!
Edmiston House on the move to the winner in the Ibrox Confetti Sweepstakes
Caption
“In his mini casino, one fekin idiot loses his house”
Caption: unfortunately ‘organisational mentality’ was also included in the flit from Park Gardens to Hampden…
1690 theme park, next to Ibrox, scheduled to open in time for 2023/2024 Champions League qualifiers ! All Billys/Hillbillys welcome.
Caption.After betting his house on the dominos falling.Dave King pays up
At last, the big house is being moved instead of the goalposts!
“Suddenly Mason realised that his drawings for the Council’s new tram, and Mr Williamson’s house might have gotten mixed up.”
Craig white goes to extreme lengths to find his pound coin which he dropped through the floorboards
Another item for the Ibrox museum, Gaza’s house ( about as mobile as he is) to site beside some bike and a cup wi two handles.
Our house in the middle of our street
Caption; the SFA financial records for £1brox have been moved to an undisclosed area…
The big hoose is definitely going downhill.
If we move will it still be the same big hoose
As sweet as this treble is going to be, the fifth in seven years, what I’m most looking forward to is the meltdown that will occur in September. They have 1/3 of their squad that’s out of contract this summer including 4 starters from the League Cup final. As usual, they will ‘win’ the offseason and convince themselves that the 56th league title is theirs. All that is going to come crashing down on the eve of another European campaign less than 2 weeks after the summer transfer window closes. Celtic are going to go to Ibrox and expose just how bad their summer went and how far behind they really are. Their ‘record’ of 113 trophies or whatever it is will fall next year, and that will be apparent next September, and the recriminations will be beautiful to watch unfold.
Surely, if they win the league again that will be 110 titles?
It’s the same house, just the address is different
Semi-Final, definitely, for me.
I get the hope-killer of beating them in the Final, with a miserable close season to follow, however…
There’s Celtic fans (parents with kids, older ones etc) who are wary after beating them and don’t stay and celebrate and get away sharpish to avoid any marauding Huns.
If we beat them in the Semi, then, hopefully, it’ll be a glorious relaxing Hampden Treble Yell without the nasty baggage.
Also, if we beat them in the Semi then they’ll be over their despair before the end of the season. This will be fuelled when Hearts fight tooth and nail to keep us to a manageable score, under their well balanced manager (he’s got a fish supper on both shoulders). Conversely their big cus’ will scud them, ‘proving’ that they’re a far better team than us.
They will then have a heady summer dreaming of trebles and even quadruples before the pesky business of playing football brings a delightful dose of reality to them.
I’ve 2 words for Daizen’s command of English, “not good enough”.
Caption “Where do you want your new house, feck”. “You’re too late, mate, Ralph brought this one and you need to get up early to beat that Delivery Bhoy”.
I don’t like immoderate Mondays. 🙁
The throw-in was mental. If he’d gone much further he could have taken a corner kick!!!
It shouldn’t have been a throw-in; the ball wasn’t out of play.
The boy Lineker done good. 🙂
Caption: Tory prototype for new hospitals, making it virtually impossible for anyone who’s ill or injured gaining access.
They’ve been doing that for a few years now.
And the staff wonder why they’re expendable …
New rules in Scottish football…Celtic are not allowed to take quick free kicks,
but Hearts players can take throw-ins twenty yards from where the ball went
out of play.
Ange must go, Huns away, again, in Semi-Final.
It’s at Hampden
I was being ironic with the Huns being drawn first :. the home team, just like the LCF.
ironic? dont you mean ignorant
The self proclaimed “voice of all things celtic” seems to have f.ucked up. When was the last time the semi of the scottish cup was not at hampden.
the games at hampden park ya trumpet
Caption: Horse: See when I said you can put your house on me for Cheltenham…
Delighted that the cold ball has been consigned to history and that Scotland’s showcase end of season will not be sullied by bitter bigotry…as long as ITC win their semi.
but will it be the same ICT that lost to Queens Park in an earlier round?
Headline in today’s Daily Retcher:-
Alfredo Morelos tells Rangers ‘the truth’ about those Sevilla links
“I confess…I ate them all”
Caption
Mickey Rookie forward planning his escape route!
Comments still obscured lads. Problem is at your end. I have emailed you 3 times with no reply. I don’t want to give up on your excellent blog, but may have no choice if I can’t read the comments.
HH
INIQUITOUSIV
I think it depends on how you access the site. I don’t have a problem on a Samsung phone and I think Cha said the same using a Huawei. Of course, you’ll probably not be able to read this anyway so it’s a waste of time but so is complaining about this platform it seems.
Yes, that’s what I have.
I also use a Windows 10 PC and Edge Browser (Chrome and Firefox also okay).
What I have noticed in the last couple of weeks is a return of the old problem of the site being inaccessible.
It was revamped/moved server, which cured that issue but unfathomable moderation rules and obscured comments seems to be the legacy.
One small step (forward), one giant leap (backwards),
Ditto on the inaccessible part. I suggested the guys move the whole platform to WordPress which I’ve some experience of and seems more user-friendly but to no avail.
To be fair I see on Twitter Ralph is having a few family issues to worry about so I can appreciate his focus might be elsewhere.
I use Apple iPhone/ iPad & Windows on Desktop/Laptop.
Nae probs except for the intermittent semi anonymous viruses that
attack the Blog.
Just like the anonymous ‘Thumbdooners’ that haven’t even the courage to surface and hide behind the accepted anonymity afforded them by an innocuous ‘User Name’.
The site should change the settings to accept like/dislike gradings only from people who regularly post on the site.
Ban the Lurkers.
Comments still obscured. Will someone at Etims have the courtesy to reply to me regarding this issue? My address is iniquitous@verizon.net
Thank you.
Q:What’s the difference between RCs and R Soles?
A:One does deliberate (bad), the latter mends shoes.
Back to the sectarian abuse I see. Can we expect a return of your old FTP favourite next? Maybe you’d be more at home on Follow Follow
What I ‘give out’ on here is well merited to you RC hypocrites. I know, I was born into it and saw through it. Now go fukk yourself.
Go and practice coitus on yirsell ya bigot.
You’re nothing but a sad auld bitter man.
You may have divested yourself of the trappings of religion but you seem to have also lost any sense of humility or compassion. It’s not in your gift to besmirch or denigrate another man’s faith.
I’m a lapsed RC through choice. Still I would never condem followers of any religion if they hold their beliefs sincere. To do otherwise would be hypocritical.
Religion and faith mean different things to different people. Some find a moral framework for their life. Some use it a a crutch to cope with life. Some genuinely believe in Godhood / Divinity. It is a personal choice and as such it is nobody else’s business.
You just sound like the reformed alcoholic or former smoker that knows best.
Live and let live.
Finished yet? You know nothing about me and should perhaps mind your own business. Refer to your own final comment even. I respond in kind when any prick goads me and we’ve a fair few anonymous hypocrites on here. You even said it yourself, FFS!!!! Och just fukk off and don’t annoy me!
As long as you post your inane bigoted self opinionated shoite on a public forum then you’re fair game to attack.
You don’t get a free pass.
The guy’s a bell end, JimboH. Always moaning about anonymous lurkers then flies into a drunken rage when anybody questions him. I’ve said it before – no Tim worthy of the name would post the stuff he does on a Celtic site, definitely a crypto-Hun.
PS What was that ‘joke’ about anyway!!!
Today is the Christian day of solemnity for the baby Jesus’ stepfather, Joseph, and I suggest we all say a prayer for the poor blighted fellow TicToc and all those poor others who can’t tell a good joke from bad.
Lord have mercy on his soul.
Forgive him all for he know not what he do.
Oh he know what he do alright. Full of bigotry and hatred – all the hallmarks of a thick hun
Dear oh dear, I’m sorry to hear that.
Happy St Joseph’s Day, TicToc.
Let not thine hatreds devour thee.
With a bit of luck we’ll not only get a convincing result but also manage to see an attractive game of football at home to Hibs this afternoon. To be brutally honest, the only very remote chance the Leith side have of coming away with something is to set up defensively, close down space and revert to physical tactics, something that is prettt alien to them. However, I wouldn’t be surprised if they go 5-3-2 for this one.
Although things started off well, they floundered badly when they tried to take the game to the huns in their last league outing, a match in which they were extremely fragile at the back and lacked punch in midfield (wee Hendo had a stinker). All the orcs had to do was get the basics right, take a firm grip of the midfield and pounce on the multiple opportunities presented to them on a plate, it really could have ended up even worse than 4-1..
The Hibees have a pretty horrendous injury list going into today’s duel, with dangerman Martin Boyle, McGeady, Bushiri, Newell, Magennis and others already ruled out. Doyle-Hayes, on the other hand, might make a comeback after a lengthy spell on the sidelines in an attempt to inject added muscle and flair into their weak midfield but this game might come a bit too soon for him. If they do opt for two up front, our defenders have to be very wary of Nisbet’s skill in possession as well as his knack of scoring and setting up goals from different positions along with on-loan Frenchman Youan’s pace and finishing ability.
Mooy’s absence comes as a disappointment but this gives O’Reilly an ideal opportunity to flourish with Turnbull likely to come on after an hour or so providing us with more goalscoring options from outside the box. Don’t forget that Haksabanovic can also play the nº10 role to good effect. Hibs are particularly weak defensively down both flanks, which is something our lads will be quick to exploit so we could be in for a satisfying afternoon. I’ll be boring and predict a professional and workmanlike 3-0 triumph with Kyogo and Jota both getting on the scoresheet and Marshall performing all kinds of heroics in the Hibs goal to keep the score down, but a real hammering similar to their last visit to CP is certainly not out of the question. COYBIG
Yoker,
Yep, something like that.
Hibs the new Hearts.
5,4,1 then 5,4, time wasting to a new level and got exactly what they deserved.
It’s ingrained into them and the other teams. Why not try football? You’ll probably get beaten but you’ll improve your players and team.
No wonder they and the rest get pumped on the rare occasion they make Europe.
Hi Steve, good points. Thing is, Hibs don’t usually play like that but when they went down to ten men and somehow got themselves a penalty to go ahead, the parked bus became inevitable and the first half was pretty dire. We kept at it though, especially Jota, and fortunately we have plenty of special players who can come off the bench and dig us out of a hole. Haksabanovic is proving to be a brilliant signing.
Yoker,
It was as you say.
Maybe Lustig lifted us at half time.
As they say in Northern Soul…
‘Keep the Faith’
I never expected to see such a struggle and that first half was pretty dire to say the least but I knew Hibs would finally crack in the second 45 being a man down. No shortage of highly debatable refereeing decisions and well done to the lads for their resilience, which finally paid off. Jota certainly put in a shift and brilliant goals from the two subs. Haksabanovic looked very tasty every time he was on the ball and was finally rewarded with a trademark goal, cutting in from the left and finding the right hand corner, absolutely brilliant. A great player who has helped to dig us out of a hole a few times already this season.
From Beeb match report:
“1st yellow, was clear cut” Mm, Hun-speak for lucky it wasn’t a red. a straight leg studs into the shin with force, should’ve seen, at least, a red card review.
“His second was far more contentious, with Youan falling backwards and grappling with Cameron Carter-Vickers when he stuck out a boot to the defender’s lowered head.”
Jeez, the contortions of CCV and Youan, had nothing on this guy.
If I remember correctly, Youan had fouls previously that should have seen an earlier yellow card so, no, he wasn’t unlucky to be sent-off.
“held back Carter-Vickers at a Celtic corner and the defender tumbled” Tumbled? Think we might have rumbled this guy.
” Jota’s weak penalty squirmed under the body of Marshall, who will be disappointed not to have saved it” I don’t think Marshall was the only one disappointed with the goal. 😉
I wonder if this guy will be able to report on the upcoming Huns game, given our ban on their fans. 🙂
Cha
There were other words and phrases that showed clues to his bias.
I actually think they mean it as their last recourse to readers.
That and their gutless toadying to their owners.
Don’t click, let them rot
I don’t have a problem with clicking, as its easy to see when they’re being Hunbelievable.
Also, knowing they’re that bitter, Celtic winning eats them up, which is pleasing.
TicToc, JP Taylor managed to get me 2 tickets for the game against Hibs. I can’t thank you enough for your help brother. Tims helping Tims is a wonderful thing. HH.