December can be a testing time on Planet Fitba.
The weather isn’t the best and playing squads start to suffer from attrition.
Consequently, as with almost all sporting contests, the team with the most resources has usually risen to the top of the league by now.
People can get SAD and I think that football teams are no different.
If a week is a long time in politics, it can be an age in any sport.
Seven days ago the Stenography Corps were able to gush about “Rangers topping the league” and “Old Firm title race”.
Of course, it was pish.
However, that is the paradigm they operate within.
The C.P. Scott advice about fact and opinion appears to have passed them by:
“Comments are free but facts are sacred.”
They cannot bring themselves to admit that is the legal FACT that Rangers FC (1872) died in 2012.
That should be a sacred starting off point for any reporting on Sevco.
Indeed, during that wonderful summer six years ago the Ibrox clientele seemed to realise that.
Now the hacks and The People are in happy agreement.
They both pretend that it simply didn’t happen.
In the altered reality of what passes for sports journalism in Scotland a week ago the basket of assets was mounting a title challenge to the seven in row champions.
That’s what you have to write when you’re in the pish production business.
In the last two matches, Sevco has failed to beat Aberdeen and Dundee despite both of them being reduced to ten men.
Moreover, the latter was at the bottom of the league when the basket of assets visited Dens Park yesterday.
If Mr Gerrard provides a crash and burn spectacle this season then it will matter not jot to the Impecunious Chairman.
The ex-Liverpool Under 18 coach was hired for a glib and shameless purpose.
Moreover, that was achieved when the season tickets were renewed in the summer.
If some of The People are starting to fall out of with him now then it doesn’t matter as they’ve already bought their season ticket.
That is the same rationale behind the opening of the Sevco shop in Glasgow.
Of course, General Ashley’s legal sentinels have already taken note of this dignified event.
Yes, it will figure in the inevitable court proceedings next year.
However, the chaps in the Blue Room know that the revenue from this exciting new emporium is desperately needed right now in order to keep the lights on at Ibrox.
Mr Gerrard wants funds to strengthen in January as he doesn’t rate some of the players that…err… he brought in during the summer.
Sadly, he has been informed that au contraire any reasonable offer for any of his stars will not be refused when the window opens!
I suppose when you start to fall out with the Match Delegate then you’re probably starting to buckle under the pressure.
South of the Limpopo there is a Grand Plan and that is to stumble on for another while in the hope that things somehow improve.
Meanwhile, Brendan Rodgers got a serious reaction from his players in Saturday against league leaders Kilmarnock.
The first half performance from Celtic would have beaten any team in the league.
Of course, if all else fails Mr David Cunnighaam King has already reminded The People at the RIFC AGM that they have a hero amongst them.
Someone who can be called upon at a moment’s notice.
I understand that his his special powers include zip chewing.
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Most likely the best Christmas present for Stevie Gerrard would be his freedom as he bolts (or is pushed) out of ayebrokes. Hope you get that present Stevie, then they might bring back Pedro, who is sweeping all before him in Mexico.
It appears from the snippet of ”Rangers (sic ) TV ” that they are recruiting their presenters from the Day Release facility offered by HMP Barlinnie .
Class as usual Phil
HH
It’s sad but SG has burned his bridges in Glasgow. When, not if, but when he is eventually shown down the marble staircase, he will find he is no longer welcomed as one of us in a stadium he once regularly visited. You make your decisions and you live with the consequences. Such is life.
Strange for the ‘gerz tv’ to have a policy that the interviewer must be even more incoherent than the ‘Peepul’ being interviewed… at least he kept his dishevelled face partly hidden with the microphone.
That shop is only going to make their situation worse…
There will be minimum profit on ‘Timmy Bearz’ and dog bowls….and once the XXXXXL Orange ‘taps’ have sold out …that’ll be about it!
The rent in that location will be enormous (assuming it’s ever paid) especially if on a short term let.
Plus… big mike will want his own ‘markup’ on everything sold – so there won’t be much left for the Edmiston Drive Chisler to ‘re-route’ once he’s finished with them.
All it does is bring in a bit of money NOW. It will all have to be repaid via the courts with punitive interest.
I view that shop like one of those dodgy pop up firework stores you get appearing in October …. often in the more ‘hard to rent’ premises. They’re usually gone as quickly as the fireworks,
I see the ‘Rainjuurz Glasgow’ store lasting about as long as the current manager. Both will have vacated the premises by January.
DCK Dastardly might just pick up his ‘Murtphone’ before then to sound out the sevco manager with the best record against Celtic.
I’m not sure he’d accept the offer another time. He looked a broken and let-down man after the last stint!
Personally, I’d love to see him back! The top flight could do with a bit more touchline gymnastics to liven things up!
Mr Gerard’s outburst about his team on Sunday ‘Not being Rangers’ was the most factually correct thing said by anyone representing them recently. Unfortunately as we know, he was talking in metaphorical scouse football-speak as opposed to stating a fact based on uk business and company law.
The new club denial mentality that has allowed the ‘continuation’ myth to… eeeeer ‘continue’… will alwAys be the millstone they have to drag around…. and the thing that sticks in the craw of fans of every other club in Scotland.
We all know the truth. You’re just not allowed to say it.
I listened in to the radio Clyde super sport programme one night last week. A caller ( probably a Celtic fan but he didn’t say so – they just assumed he was) reminded them that Rainjuurz hadn’t been away from Europe for 5 years as this was Sevco, a new club and it was their first time in Europe proper….
The host (who loves to voice his own opinions in aggressive tones rather than just ‘host’ impartiality) immediately retorted …
“Oh! It’s one of ‘those’ calls”.
“That old chestnut!” Etc etc etc
Cue ridicule, defensive responses and rapid changing of subjects..
This is the usual approach taken when anyone dares speak and remind them of the truth. Most get cut off before getting that far.
Hearing the truth just does not fit their model for football in Scotland and it’s discussion.
I’ll be listening in tonight from far away! Monday’s are great when it’s been a ‘poor’ weekend for them and even better when it’s also been a good weekend for Celtic!
10 pts clear by January and still in Europa league !!!
HH
Your Radio Clyde reference
Should be a request show!
Chestnuts roasting on an open fire
Mike Ashley nipping at your nose
Yuletide carols being sung by a choir
That your not Rangers Anymore
Everybody knows a turkey and some mistletoe
Help to make the season bright
Tiny tots with their eyes all aglow
Will find it hard to sleep tonight
Surely the zip chewer isn’t that daft?? Oh yes he is!!… Oh no he’s not!!.. etc etc
A truly haggard bunch of happy?? shoppers gathered at the new,soon closing,trfc shop. Although I couldn’t sit through 17 minutes of it!!!,30 seconds was more than enough.
I said by Xmas we’d see sg speed of into the distance chased by enraged bears,I don’t think I’ll be that far off,especially when we batter them on the 29th.
Thanks Phil🍀
Just wanted to say…
I watched Dundee v Sevco….and was very impressed with Dundee’s right back….( Kerr..?)…
Their whole defence was really solid and composed…but this guy was really good.
Worth a punt Celtic…?
We need to think better than that if CL progress is to be a reality next season.
Dundee are not bottom for no reason.
Although a very poor sevco side made them look ok.
Brendan can bring out the best in players but not perform miracles.
We need more of the likes of Benkovic for our purposes.
I think your doing a dis-service to young players like Ajer and Christie who have surely proved that big bucks aren’t always the solution.
Agreed…?
Oh and Benkovic will cost us well in excess of £10 million I would have thought…and we won’t be buying lots of those.
Hail hail
Yep, Gerrard already feeling the heat. An exit from Europe and failure to overcome Accies will see a full blown crisis.
King has gone all in with the appointment of a big name, but Gerrard is learning on the job as a manager.
Apart from further loanees, adding to the current 5, where will the cash come from to add the quality the fans crave?
Another couple of young loanees being mentioned in despatches but that’s not going to do the job. Solanke also still in the frame, his wages will add a hefty sum to the monthly wage bill if he comes North.
If Saturday’s Celtic turn up at Ibrox on the 29th Dec there will only be one result.
I suspect that Stevie G is well aware of that and if further points are dropped in the meantime then a Celtic win will end all talk of an Ibrox title challenge.
Stevie was keen to make the loan deals for Ejaria, Kent, Coulibaly and Worral, permanent.
Again, whose going to pick up the tab?
Will be interesting to see what value potential suitors put on ‘ the petted lip’. It may be a long way from the £25/30m being bandied about in the media.
Time will tell.
I’m certain the vast number of dog bowls being sold via the ‘gers shop’ will more than cover the weekly costs for the likes of Solanke…