1. Lockdown - by all accounts some at Celtic went in to holiday mode in lockdown having won the league, whereas Gerrard & his team worked relentlessly to find out where things had been going wrong. Players were identified early for this season who could add to the quality of the squad and first 11 and just about all have worked out well.

2. Recruitment - Rangers appear to have went for players to fit the system rather than building a system to fit players. There was a bit of laughter about "levels" when we signed Balogun on a free on the basis he was Brighton's 4th choice CB whilst Celtic signed one of their regulars for a £2m loan, but the reality is Balogun suits our system more than Duffy suits Celtic's and has been a value for money signing. Every one of our summer signings has made an impact in some way.

3. Morelos - changing his role this season slightly has been a great move. In previous seasons we were over reliant on him and if he didnt perform we didnt perform. This season he has become a more complete player and allowed others to threaten teams in a way they havent in recent seasons. Whilst his own goal tally isnt as high, its been a worthy sacrifice for others to get in the box more.

4. Pre Season - with COVID making qualifiers just one leg & Rangers entering at the second round, it's the first time since he arrived that Gerrard has had a proper pre season with his squad. Every other year they have been back early for 2 weeks and then played 2 games a week until January, whilst this year our first competitive game was in August giving Gerrard around 6 weeks to work with - the improvement in the defence is evidence of the work gone on during this time. It also allowed him to implement the team shape & strategy which has worked so well to date and where the full backs have been so effective.

5. Old Firm - winning the first old firm game at Parkhead seems to have been the catalyst for the dynamic changing this season. Until then we had already drawn 2 games to Celtics 1. Celtic were probably still favourites at that point even if they weren't firing on all cylinders. Winning that game set us up for a run of games we won right up to yesterday, whereas Celtic have only won 7 games since.

6. No fans (?) - seen some debate on this, and whether no fans have helped us or not. Personally I don't think I buy it. If you break down our stats this year they are on a similar improvement trajectory from Gerrard's first season rather than a dramatic shift. Remember last season Rangers had only dropped 7 points in the league up to this point, as opposed to 6 this season. If anything you could argue that no fans in just now is helping Celtic, as given their form it would be far harder to play at a full Parkhead than Ibrox right now.

Any other thoughts?

2 and 6 are the major ones for me.

Our recruitment has been excellent in tackling issues from the last two seasons. It meant that the reliance on Morelos was over.

We've been pretty fortunate that the injuries suffered haven't all come at the one time exposing the squad too much.

Closed doors Rangers have settled into really well. Players look more comfortable with it than the opposition for most part.

bolt ya prickbag

Morning Smid, nice to hear from you again. Your after match comments and analysis have been missed. Hope you call in more often

As for any thoughts, aye, OTCAS

comment by JFK - The Rebel Treble (U8919)
posted 3 minutes ago
bolt ya prickbag
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Well that's not very nice is it.

comment by JFK - The Rebel Treble (U8919)
posted 4 minutes ago
bolt ya prickbag
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currently in waiting to hear about reconstructive knee surgery.

been waiting an hour. bleugh.

kneeconstructive surgery even.

Nightmare mate, I seem to remember you doing your knee in years ago at the 5s? Is it related?

Can imagine with everything going on just now it's a bit of a nightmare to get things like that sorted.

comment by Gersmid (U22273)
posted 5 minutes ago
Nightmare mate, I seem to remember you doing your knee in years ago at the 5s? Is it related?

Can imagine with everything going on just now it's a bit of a nightmare to get things like that sorted.
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I warned him his wee legs would fall off.

Did he listen? Did he fwck.

Good to hear from you btw

Our recruitment in the summer was outstanding.

A free pacey experienced CB, a creative player, two strikers that hit the ground running, decent cover for Borna and a good second choice keeper and on the other hand they totally fooked it.

Oh and eh Zungu.

I think the OF games have been huge, set the tone and then kept them down in the dumps after the wee stampy their fans had. We did not allow them a positive.

comment by JFK - The Rebel Treble (U8919)
posted 1 minute ago
currently in waiting to hear about reconstructive knee surgery.

been waiting an hour. bleugh.

kneeconstructive surgery even.
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It's grim


Smid Welcome back, make it a regular thing, particularly with all the celtic fans running off

I agree, much of this season has been put down to how poor celtic have been rather than how ruthless we have been. It's certainly true that the other may be weaker than in some other seasons but I couldn't be happier with the management team this season.

Ginger hope you're well mate.

HB - you not keen on Zungu? Seen a few people say the same thing but not quite sure why.

comment by Gersmid (U22273)
posted 2 minutes ago
Gingerhope you're well mate.

HB - you not keen on Zungu? Seen a few people say the same thing but not quite sure why.
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All good bud.

Hope you're staying safe and as I said good to see you back on.

Nice hwns are better than cwnts like lauders

We've been more focussed as a club this year. Not celebrating wins like we've just won the league.

Also, I think a lot of our key players have all peaked around the same time. The likes of Goldson, Tavernier & Barasic are all around the same age.

Tweaks to the way we play as well, meaning that we don't rely on Morelos for goals as well has been important, imo.

Or Bluenose

I better be a kant

comment by Bluenose (U6456)
posted 2 minutes ago
I better be a kant
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And you do it so very well

comment by Gersmid (U22273)
posted 16 minutes ago
Gingerhope you're well mate.

HB - you not keen on Zungu? Seen a few people say the same thing but not quite sure why.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Slow and dottery. Came on a few times and misplaced easy passes and been out of position.

Looks capable of costly mistakes mainly.

1. Agree we did seem to just see it as one big holiday

2. Agree again Rangers recruitment was swift and most of them have worked out well

3. Morelos has always been a good player, he's got away with a few misdemeanours that in previous seasons have cost you

4. That's something for Rangers fans to comment on

5. Disagree, Rangers were overwhelming favs for the first old firm game, we were without a host of first team players and looked woefully short of form

6. Celtic wouldn't of been in this position if fans were allowed in, I'm not putting performances down to that but the fans wouldn't allow them to get away with being so poor for so long, I don't think it would mean we'd be leading the league etc but it would be nowhere near the gap it is just now

comment by Gingernuts (U2992)
posted 3 minutes ago
comment by Bluenose (U6456)
posted 2 minutes ago
I better be a kant
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And you do it so very well
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Thank fook for that. Finally something positive I can put on my CV.

HB - Fair enough, I've seen a different side to him if I'm honest. I think there's a player in there once he adapts to our game.

Ghod the last point is fair, particularly in the first OF game when despite losing Celtic seemed really ponderous and slow knocking it about at the back. With fans in perhaps and that intensity they would have been forced to play at a higher tempo. On the 5th point I agree, was meaning more that the aftermath of that game seems to have taken both teams in different directions. Celtic have only won 6/20 games since, whereas until then they had won 9/11. They were unlucky to be without so many players but I expected them to brush it off, whereas it seems to have set the tone for a crazy run of poor form.

I doubt he will be around long enough to get the chance. The manager has only had 4 midfielders for about the past month and hasn't trusted him to come into the side and has stuck with the same 3.

Can't see us taking up the option on him. I know what you mean though, first couple of games he looked like a he was gonna be a player and showed a good passing range.

our season has been a shambles from the very start

the Bolingoli incident, even in the Killie game the warning signs were there, Jullien getting bullied on the plastic pitch

then the Ferencvaros game, no strikers

we've limped from one catastrophe to another

Afternoon Smid-good to see you back.

Not going to answer all your stuff, but just to say I don’t think any limelight has been taken off rangers and their results this season. I think most people-especially those in the MSM-have been more than fulsome in their praise. They’ve also quite rightly put the boot into Celtic over our performances both on the park and off it.

Most Celtic fans on here have also spoke about the consistency of rangers as well, and how they deserve to be where they are. That doesn’t and shouldn’t detract though from how bad Celtic have been.

Ghod - been very strange on your side, personally think when he called out the players after the Ferencvaros game that was a bit of a turning point. When you say some of them dont want to be there then dont sell anyone and pick the same guys its not the best message to get out.

HB - fair point on trust but might be expected, especially if he is taking up the long term option. He only started with the team at the end of October and as an African coming in at the start of Scottish winter during a pandemic its probably the start you would expect. He's handled him a similar way to Itten and phased him in gradually whilst he gets up to speed. Personally dont think he's done anything wrong and not sure what people are looking for. I'd expect him to feature more as the Euro & Cup games start back up, right now there's no need to throw him in to places like Aberdeen, Motherwell etc when there's a tried and trusted settled group doing the business.