Well, it’s been a showstopping 7 days! Who could have imagined that when Filip Helander rose like a Saab Gripen to bullet that header past Joe Hart, we would have seen the outcome we did? Ibrox came alive with a crescendo of noise. Fitting that Copland Road would see a winner which witnessed the greatness of “Super Trouper” himself back in the day.
It’s been a Swedish theme for Rangers this past few weeks. Firstly came the Malmo debacle. A golden chance missed which I would say reflected on the transfer activity or lack of in the end. This brought out the usual suspects to play Sevco bingo. Who had the full house for Skint, admin, sevco, broke? “Money Money Money” being the keywords flung about by our red tops, desperate to impose the “We sold more players trophy” upon us as scant consolation for Celtic‘s abject defeat. As predictable as day follows the night. Also, as predictable as the meltdown from the media we witnessed this week.
I may be proved wrong; however, our rivals losing the 3 big players on deadline day, in my opinion, leaves them significantly weaker than when the window started.
If someone had said to me the club would retain our best players whilst adding some quality without putting our finances under pressure; I’d accept that. 2012 had a numbing effect on me. As long as we live within our means, I’m OK with that. We can never ever allow reckless spending to bring us down ever again.
Now back to the week we had. The only shock for me? ABBA comeback being almost as good as Big Fil’s display against Spain. Who doesn’t love a disco light or a stand full??
A good week for everyone who loves a bit of everything of the Yellow & Blue Nordic variety. A colossus display from our talismanic centre half and a sense of relief that the transfer window had slammed shut only a matter of hours earlier. We simply cannot afford to lose him.
Looking around the international scene and it’s been a hugely positive week for Rangers players on the big stage. Nathan Patterson continues to shine like a diamond, and I truly believe he will one day make the same transfer and impact we seen Tierney make at Arsenal. Hagi is being selected for Romania and growing with every passing game into the player we all know he can be. Steven Davis strolling it for Club and Country whilst Joe Aribo & Leon Balogun starred once more for Nigeria. Glen Kamara a mainstay for Finland and another whose stock rises with every display.
Back to domestic business, and it was pleasurable to read the gushing praise of Rangers’ 2nd half dominance to defeat our Old Firm rivals and leaving the coveted Angeball for dust.
Leon Balogun stating “take a chance on me”, as covid robbed us of both right-backs, leaving myself for one a little nervous. Proving myself and countless others wrong as he single handedly stopped the Japanese Messi & how the Champions laid down a marker for the season ahead.
That’s what would have happened if we lived in the real world. Instead, we had gushing praise from usual suspects about Brave Celtic and all their efforts.
My answer to that. Cry some more.
I said almost a year ago how we are fitter, better all over the park, and this would show. Nothing has changed my opinion since. All bluster and noise that was reminiscent of Ivan Drago, aka Dolph Lundgren. Flying out of traps and burnt out quicker than you can say “Voulez Vouz.”
Rangers are at their most dangerous when we are written off before a ball has been kicked. All the way through the 90’s, we witnessed Walters teams get over the line time and time again despite being up against world beaters that couldn’t get past the likes of Neuchatel Xamax.
I’m not going to delve into any of the unsavoury behaviour we witnessed on Friday apart from saying how proud I was to see the Rangers support unite. You poke a bear, be prepared for the repercussions. Avoidable being the key word.
What I will add is never ever let anyone tell you that our support is paranoid about media bias. We blew that argument to smithereens this weekend.
This season is arguably bigger than 55. A Champions league bounty is up for grabs. That is simply “the name of the game”. We need to get this right. This January window will arguably be the most important for us in the past 10 years. Failure simply isn’t an option. It really is a “Winner takes it all” scenario. Ross Wilson will know this more than anyone.
This team has my faith. You don’t have an unbeaten season and lose that class overnight. We have a European campaign pending for the 4th season in a row of group stage football in Europe’s 2nd tier. A remarkable achievement adding in 2 last 16 appearances.
We need to make Sunday’s result count. Defensively tighten up and remember we are the champions. We have the ability to impose our dominance and should now drive it home. We need to ensure our neighbours are sending out an “SOS” come May knowing what riches await.
Our club has liked to use key words recently. Relentless. Unity. Togetherness.
All key to where we want to go. Also, all 3 can be attributed to the Rangers support. We have backed heavily. Sold out strips and season tickets. And this weekend, we backed one another. If Castore doesn’t release a special edition set, they have missed a trick (I really hope they don’t read this one)!
We are the greatest club in the world for a reason.
Stay safe, stay humble and remember we well and truly are the people.
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