AJF

Celtic in talks with Lyle Taylor, mere weeks after being branded hopeless by Celtic fans after he was linked with Rangers. Sutton also came out and stated he was a traitor... I wonder if his view will soon change

It’s easy to say we’ve improved because it’s a fact. That’s why it’s easy. Of course the expectation is higher and Rangers fans will be expecting the team to challenge for trophies, but the circumstances are wholly different to 8 or 9 years ago and the fans appreciate that, which is why Gerrard is being afforded some slack.

I never said we have been successful, I said we have improved. I feel we are heading in the right direction, but it's going to be very difficult to compete with Celtic in the short term due to various factors.

The number of signings under Murty and Caixinha was probably comparable in numbers to Gerrard though, at least, it wouldn't be far off anyway. I think Gerrard has tried to get a balance of potential vs. experience. For example the players you've quoted in Balogun, Defoe, Davis and McGregor are also balanced with signings like Kamara (24), Barisic (27), Aribo (24) who are all yet to hit their prime but are internationalists with their countries and have good immediate sell on potential. Then you have slightly younger players like Kent, Hagi and now Itten who they will be hoping to develop and eventually sell on at a profit as well. I think he has had to bring in more experienced players, certainly in the early days of his Rangers career, to try and get consistency.

Potentially, but there are also flaws in looking solely at win % as it doesn’t take into account how many games we lost under previous managers compared to draws now. Additionally, as you highlight, Gerrard’s relative success in Europe will also skew his win % in comparison to previous managers. Whether the gradual improvement under Gerrard will be enough to topple Celtic, I’m not sure, but I just get defensive when he is compared to the likes of Murty and Caixinha when I believe it’s clear there has been quite a drastic improvement it’s a touchy subject given what we’ve been put through haha.

I’ve seen that stat rolled out before but it doesn’t exactly paint a full picture, for example: Pre Gerrard: 16/17: 67 points (1.76 PPG) 17/18: 70 points (1.84 PPG) Since Gerrard: 18/19: 78 points (2.05 PPG) 19/20*: 67 points (2.31 PPG) So, there has been a marked improvement in our performance since Gerrard came in. How much of that can be attributed to increased funding or his ability you can’t say, but undoubtedly, we have improved. If we take the PPG from 16/17 (1.76) and compare it to the most recent season 19/20 (2.31), the difference works out to be over 20 points. That’s pretty massive. (I know, that is assuming the PPG stayed similar had the 19/20 season been played to a finish).

Caixinha was well backed though. He probably spent the guts of £10m on players like Pena, Herrera, Morelos, Jack, Candeias, Dorrans etc.

I’d imagine they can still sign players though, they just won’t be able to play them in matches (like we did with Hagi - he was signed and training with us before the transfer window had opened).

How exactly are you "bracing yourself"? It’s a figure of speech mate, not to be taken literally.

I’d guess Lille given they have apparently already agreed terms, I just think two strikers signed in one day points to him leaving.

That is my thinking. I’m bracing myself for him to be sold on Friday or Saturday.

I can see your point. Although, at the end of the day, I think the only way Morelos gets sold is if Rangers receive an offer they believe is acceptable. The club have seemed quite firm in their stance that they will hold out for what they believe is his true value.

Of course, there’s always the possibility our new strikers are the best thing since sliced bread and I will laugh at the thought of Morelos being superior... I doubt it though

Okay, firstly, when I said losing Morelos would 100% make us weaker, I didn’t mean “literally 100%” I meant definitely or unquestionably. Secondly, football is never as black and white as the picture you are painting. We could potentially have an inferior starting 11 this year, but due to other factors we may not drop the same points we did last season. Similarly, Celtic could have a stronger starting 11 but could drop more points than last season. Teams that we struggled against in the league against could get worse. Teams that we were comfortable against in the league could improve. There’s so many variables.

No, I’m not admitting that.

Rangers will 100% be weaker without Morelos.

The old “undisclosed fee” out in force again. Given he has had a few injury problems, I doubt we will have paid as much as that for him. Rumours on social media suggest £4m but I doubt anyone but the clubs know.

I’d imagine he will be signed predominantly as a striker, although the article does mention he has played wide right so it gives us another option. But I wager that Morelos will be sold after the Leverkusen game and we will bring in another striker, giving us 3 (Roofe, Defoe + another).

It’s a toast mate, literally a nip of whisky. “Ritualistic or cult-like ceremony” is hyperbole. I would make an educated guess that opposition chairmen and staff have the option to refuse Rangers’ invitation to take part - I’m just assuming those that do choose participate see it for what it is... a harmless, respectful gesture.

There were numerous Loving Cups commissioned and given to English league clubs to celebrate the coronation of the then King. Rangers were gifted one after they played in the benefit match to raise funds for the impacted families. It was the Stoke chairman’s one request that they toasted the reigning monarch which Rangers have respected ever since.

I’d have liked Kamberi to have joined us. Even though he may not be the exact required standard we need in the long term, he would’ve been ideal to bring in given the circumstances around Morelos and Defoe’s injury.

What is it with the Loving Cup ceremony people take offence to? It’s a small gesture to commemorate Rangers taking part in a benefit match following an incident in Stoke where dozens of miners lost their lives. Or is it the request to toast the reigning monarch that people get their pants twisted about?