As expected….come on, you didn’t really think we’d risk Scott Bain in goal this season…..a second goalkeeper will sign for Celtic this week to provide back up for Kasper Schmeichel. On a five year deal.
Finnish international Viljami Sinisalo is 22, and has been on loan from Aston Villa to Exeter City, and will be one for the future. And probably the odd game here and there, with a view to stepping into the veteran Dane’s shoes when he hangs them up. So one would expect he’ll be doing a but of yoga as well.
This kind of forward planning at the club hasn’t been seen since John Dowie of Fulham replaced Kenny Dalglish, with Jock Stein claiming the new man could get a place in any team in the world, apart from Fulham, where he was in the reserves.
Stephen MacGowan, the Daily Mail journalist who does for Celtic what the rest of the media does for “rangers “, says that the fee for Paolo Bernardo will be £3.5m, The hack added that personal terms were now being worked out, which means there’s still a chance the deal will fall apart.
And if you go to flight radar you’ll see a private plane leaves Norwich this morning, and is heading to Glasgow. So that must be Adam Idah on his way.
The new name in the frame for the hoops is Michel-Ange Balikwisha, who despite having two girls names is apparently quite good. The left winger, currently at Royal Antwerp, can actually play in any of the forward positions, and scores around about as many goals as he creates, the latter being the important bit here, as creativity could be an issue next season, especially in Europe.
The Yorkshire Post has some news on Matt O’Riley…..
Reports suggested Leeds had a £10m bid for O’Riley knocked back last summer and talk of interest from Elland Road resurfaced earlier this year. However, it appears the midfielder could have a pick of Premier League clubs.
Everton and Southampton have been strongly linked with the 23-year-old, while the likes of West Ham United and Atalanta have also been credited with interest.
However, TEAMtalk have claimed Leicester are in a strong position to fend off competition and secure the coveted midfielder. Atalanta are said to have held talks, but O’Riley is thought to be keen to test himself in the Premier League.
They missed out Juventus and Atletico Madrid, but it’s still a decent effort.
Sports Witness are reporting that O’Riley has agreed to join Atalanta, however, via the Italian hack who first broke the story….
Gianluca Di Marzio has come up with a fresh report stating that Atalanta insist on signing the 23-year-old.
The Italian club have already seen two offers for the Denmark international get rejected by the Bhoys. That won’t them off as Atalanta aren’t willing to give up on the player.
According to the journalist, Gian Piero Gasperini’s side are preparing to send a third official offer to Celtic for O’Riley shortly.
Di Marzio hasn’t mentioned the fee they are going to offer, but says intermediary Blash Hosseini is working to close the gap between Celtic and Atalanta.
The Dane has ‘already approved’ to join Atalanta and ‘has a basis of understanding’ for a long-term contract with them. The Serie A side have to agree a deal with Celtic to get this transfer over the line.
The plane for the US leaves today. O’Riley will probably be on it. and probably on the one back to Glasgow as well.
A couple of Celts have been told by the manager to up their game, and publicly as well, which is unusual….but it is the Record….
And Michael Gannon.
Odin Thiago Holm fired Celtic transfer warning by Brendan Rodgers in brutal ‘much higher level’ demand
Except, when you look at what Rodgers actually said, it sounds more like encouragement….
“They need to be a much higher level. If you’re going to play for Celtic, you have to be. Odin needs to do more. There’s something there, though, absolutely.
“And that’s why we persevere, and that’s why we stay with it, because he has talent, like Bosun Lawal, and that’s why we want to give them the opportunity, so I can see them in pre-season. But, it’s just running more. You have to run. Without the ball, you’ve got to run, you’ve got to be bright, you’ve got to be in good positions to press the game, then to get the ball and take the ball.
Though these things are probably best kept in house,
In other news, a defiant “rangers ” have announced they’ll be playing their first few home games of the season at Hampden, which will come as no surprise to anyone.
The plucky , cash strapped, newcomers are having a bit of trouble with their renovations at Ibrox and can’t use their own place yet, so they’ve borrowed Hampden for a bit.
The Daily Mail reports;
A joint statement from the SPFL and SFA read:
‘The Scottish FA and SPFL have today approved Rangers FC’s request to host the club’s home matches at Hampden Park, due to ongoing works at Ibrox Stadium.
‘The arrangement includes the club’s home matches up to Scotland’s UEFA Nations League fixture at home to Poland on September 5 and the SPFL Board has approved Rangers playing such matches away from their own registered ground.
‘As part of the agreement, Rangers have committed to fund an accelerated pitch growth programme to ensure the Hampden surface is ready for the club’s first home game.
‘The SPFL have confirmed that due to the Rangers v Motherwell match in the William Hill Premiership now taking place at Hampden Park on Saturday August 10, it has been agreed with Queen’s Park that their match against Livingston in the William Hill Championship, to be played at the City Stadium, has been moved to Friday 9 August.
Ongoing works ? Has the crane moved along a bit more ?
And as for the bit that starts “Rangers have agreed to fund...” it would perhaps be prudent to get the money up front.
Other clubs have been inconvenienced, and any costs incurred will, of course, be re-imbursed by the Ibrox club/company , which gies without saying.
Actually, it has gone without saying.
As indeed has any news about their season book holders, who will have to be allocated seats….
Or will they simply charge an admission fee and offer them some sort of discount further down the line ?
Next seasons books ?
Or will they be the recipients of the new Castore goody bags, containing match worn shirts and boots ?
Yesterday we gave you a snippet from one Very Disgruntled Bear…here’s the rest of it, courtesy of Vincent Kirk in yesterday’s replies;
Bit harsh on Aberdeen.
It’s taken quite some time, but they’re starting to notice that their board has been downing laxatives and stood over them with legs akimbo…..
Both mainstream and social media have spent weeks pontificating on the real cause of the problems at Ibrox.
Are the delays down to structural faults ? Asbestos ? Or, the most unlikely, a delayed steel shipment ?
As usual, it down to us to reveal the truth….there’s a massive standoff between the contractors and the club.
Why ?
They won’t let the digger in because it’s green.
Still, we sent a drone over Ibrox yesterday and it does look like it won’t be long before it’s ready.
Looks better already.
Yesterday, we had this….
The new product launch got off to a slow start – Birds eye kids fingers, only the best for the captains table!
The state of our club – Massive Thread
9 years worth of absolute fuckin disasters under the embarrassment that is the current Rangers board. Don’t believe me? Just read all of this.
Dave King becomes Chairman in 2015, immediately appoints Stuart McCall to see out that train wreck of a season. Play Motherwell in the play-off final, get embarrassed 6-1 on aggregate and remain in the Championship
King then gets rid of McCall and appoints Mark Warburton. We clear out plenty of dross, Warburton canters the Championship but then as he starts getting found out, he embarrassingly loses the Scottish Cup Final to Hibs. Hibs first SC win in 114 years btw
Warburton then signs so much dross albeit on a shoestring budget, gets found out even more against fitter teams, goes to Parkhead and gets pumped 5-1 against the scum. The writing is on the wall and he “resigns” in February.
Warburton 100% didn’t resign, Dave King sacked him yet the club for some reason just didn’t publicly admit that they sacked him after they caught him trying to work his ticket down to Nottingham Forest.
The club wait a few weeks before Dave King actually allows Stewart Robertson and Graeme Park to make the most bizarre appointment in our clubs 152 year history, bringing in Pedro Caixinha.
Caixinha immediately comes in, insults everyone’s intelligence claiming the absolute dross squad we had was the best in Scotland. He then loses 5-1 to Celtic at home, loses our 26 home record to Aberdeen and finishes 3rd. The tarriers win a treble.
Mark Allen is made Director of Football, Pedro then gets rid of a lot of dross in the summer, actually gets money to bring in his own dross and of course who can ever forget the most embarrassing result we’ve ever had in Europe, losing to Progres Niederkorn.
Pedro then argues with fans in the bushes, starts the season awfully, doesn’t win 3 games in a row, talks about dogs barking and caravans moving and eventually gets sacked after losing to Motherwell in a Cup semi and drawing with Killie.
Around this time there was a survey by Club 1872 and the UB about safe standing at Ibrox. 82% voted in favour of safe standing at the stadium. 7 years later, still no safe standing. What a spit in the face that is
The club then stalled on getting a manager, waited about 6 weeks then actually approached Aberdeen for Derek McInnes. McInnes turns the club down, a major blessing btw but what an embarrassment that is.
The club then actually give Graeme Murty the job till the end of the season. Murty spits the dummy out when he finds out he’s not getting the job, loses 4-0 to Celtic and 5-0 a fortnight later to them. Murty gets sacked and Rangers finish 3rd again! Tarriers win a double treble
King then appoints Steven Gerrard, recommend by Mark Allen. Gerrard clears out the dross like Pedro did. Gets us into the Europa League. Beats Celtic at New Year and has his level on points with them.
What happens come January? The squad shit the bed post post winter break, dropping all sorts of points against utter dross even despite Celtic losing Rodgers. Rangers go trophyless again as the tarriers seal a third consecutive treble under The Lurgan Bigot
We then go into the summer and sign so much dross like Hastie, Jones, Stewart, Ojo and Barker. Yet Gerrard actually again keeps us close to them and beats them are their own midden at New Year, putting us two points behind going into the break.
Mark Allen leaves the club and we replace him with an even bigger disaster named Ross Wilson.
What happens after the winter break again? Of course the usual suspects shit the bed, we lose to a pish Hearts side in the league and Scottish Cup, lose to fucking Hamilton Accies, gift wrapping the tarriers and The Lurgan Bigot a fourth straight treble.
James Tavernier even said at this time in the matchday programme that Rangers can’t cope with being put under pressure. Imagine that being your captain.
Then covid happens and no fans enter the ground. What happens? Of course we win the league without fan pressure. Yet we also blew the most gift wrapped treble we’ve ever had, going out of both cups to St Mirren and St Johnstone.
We go into the summer needing to strengthen going into our 150th year and Champions League Qualifiers yet what do the board do? Sign Lundstram, Sakala and Bacuna. That’s it.
We could’ve signed Joey Veerman but nope, the board focused more on the fucking Edmiston House instead of ensuring our squad was as strong as possible to retain our title and potentially get Champions League Footbal
Because the board did this, we lost to fuckin Malmo at home, got dumped out the Champions League and ended up in the Europa League.
Celtic were an absolute mess, needing to rebuild and appointed an unknown day Aussie as manager. The title was a gimme surely. Only this board could ensure that wasn’t the case.
The Rangers board then charge £117 for a 3-match package for the Europa League, more than any other club in the competition.
Gerrard leaves in November 2021. We replace him with Giovanni van Bronckhorst. Gio comes in, starts off well, gets results including getting us into the Europa League knockout rounds after Gerrard had us Conference bound.
The board then gutlessly say nothing about Celtic pulling all sorts of strings to get the winter break moved so they could get a transfer window and injured players back cause they absolutely dead on their arse and running on empty.
Then the winter break comes and what happens? Wilson panic loans Ramsey and Diallo to shut us up, signs dross in Sands. And what do the usual suspect losers do under pressure with crowds there? Shit the bed. A 9 point swing within weeks.
However that swing is ignored by some because Gio was tactically incredible in Europe, giving us some of the best nights at Ibrox ever. That man papered cracks with that run and stalled pressure on the board
In March 2022, the Rangers board actually organise a friendly with our biggest rivals on Australia. Yep, they actually organised that. A club who hate us and feelings mutual. A club who harboured a paedophile ring. That club.
The board also do fuck all days later to commemorate the clubs 150th anniversary. There was only a massive display at the ground, funded and created by the UB.
Gio gets us to the Europa League Final, we’re all buzzing, booking flights, hoping for access for Ibrox for the game, trying to get tickets, you name it. Yet what do the board do?
Of course the board give tickets to their fucking pals and don’t allow fans access to the stadium, the only club out of the six European finalists that year to do that. Once again shafting the support.
Rangers finish second, with the tarriers winning the title and a cup in their rebuild year. We also sadly lose the Europa League Final on penalties but days later, we win the Scottish Cup with that being our only trophy in the clubs 150th year.
We then go into the summer needing a major rebuild yet what do the board and Wilson do? Keep players that should’ve been gone, sign utter dross and chuck Gio under the biggest bus possible.
Yet Gio even despite that utter shambles from our board actually manages to get us into the Champions League, beating PSV away. Do the board back Gio after that? Do they fuck!
The club then charge supporters £150 for the three match package, more than any other club in the entire competition, once again ripping off the fans.
We then go to the piggery and get humiliated 4-0. Get humiliated in the Champions League, becoming statistically the worst team in group stage history. We also fall 9 points behind the scum, with another title gone.
Then John Bennett actually dares to come out, saying the squad is the best it’s been in his time at Rangers and everyone operating at the club is “the best in class.”
Before the winter break, we play against Aberdeen, Gio is under huge pressure and Michael Beale actually comes up to Scotland. Totally nothing dodgy about that right?
Rangers then also end up in a lawsuit with Hummel, with the club being sued for 9.5 million quid in lost kit sales. Yet another disaster.
Gio then gets sacked once the break comes around and he’s replaced by guess who? Michael Beale the board did Gio dirty and appointed that prick. A dud. A compulsive liar. An ego maniac.
Beale comes in under zero pressure and we win games at the start under him but play awful in every single fuckin one of them. Then comes a game that matters. Celtic in the League Cup Final. Beale bottles it, of course he does.
The club then actually dare to put James Tavernier, a captain who’s at the heart of constant failure in the Rangers Hall of Fame. Talk about wanting to vomit.
Then after the final, we win games again, play dreadful until we play guess who? Celtic. Beale goes to Parkhead and loses again.
Douglas Park, Ross Wilson and Stewart Robertson all leave the club, with “Mr. Best in Class John Bennett become Chairman and James Bisgrove becoming CEO. Another disaster in the waiting.
Beale then hands us our first loss at Pittodrie for 7 years before rolling up at Hampden the following week, once again losing to Celtic, gift wrapping them their 5th treble in 7 years. Beale then beats Celtic but of course in a game with no stakes involved
Beale lies through his teeth, claiming a lot of the squad will remain but then weeks later says it’ll be the biggest rebuild in years also throws Morelos under the bus, while Kent and Kamara get a lovely free pass
The Rangers board then actually allow the PE teacher full control of transfers, allowing him to sign utter dross like Lammers and Cifuentes. So Gio can’t get any say yet a rookie manager can? Wow
Rangers then lose on the opening day for the first time since 1998, get pumped out the Champions League off PSV, a team Gio beat the year before then loses at Ibrox days later to the most rank rotten Celtic side in some time.
Rangers then continue to play awful, with Beale’s sacking inevitable before the final straw comes when we get embarrassed 3-1 at home off an Aberdeen side coached by Barry fuckin Robson.
Beale gets sacked and we replace him with Phillipe Clement. Clement starts great, getting a bit of a tune out out a horrific squad, closes the gap on the scum and even wins the League Cup.
We then go into the January transfer window needing a quality striker yet what do the board do? They give Clement Fabio fucking Silva, a guy who isn’t even a proper number 9.
Clement however continues to have this utterly dross squad riddled with injuries overperforming until March when we lose 2-1 at home to Motherwell.
After the Motherwell game, the usual suspect, loser, shitebags like Tavernier, Goldson, Lundstram and Barisic once again fold under pressure, drop all sorts of points and gift wrap an awful scum side the title.
Then we get absolutely cheated in the Scottish Cup Final, with Sima’s goal wrongfully ruled and the board said fuck all like the cowards they are instead of calling it out.
The Rangers board then fail to get stuff ready for the upgrade to the Copland Stand which now means we have to play the start of next season away from Ibrox, having to play at that fuckin shitehole Hampden.
We’re now in the middle of July, 3 weeks to go until the season starts and we haven’t signed 1 player who improves our XI and so many losers still around like a bad smell, with Clement now being sold down a river like Gio.
From top to bottom, this club is an absolute shambles. A board who’ve appointed numerous dud managers. A board who continue to shaft fans at every opportunity. A board at the helm as Celtic are now level on trophies with us.
For as long as this board are in charge and as long as happy clappers defend them, all Rangers will win is the odd cup. Nothing else. We’re Aberdeen with a bigger stadium now. Fuck this board and fuck every single happy clapper who labels me a tarrier.