Gersnet Podcast 339 – Scottish Cup Final Preview

As Rangers prepare to face Celtic in this year’s Scottish Cup Final, Craig is joined by Alex to discuss why fans are so downbeat and what positives we can take going into the game. The latest transfer news and memories of the 2022 final are also covered!

The pod is brought to you in association with our partners: Forrest Precision Engineering and Football Prizes.

The Gersnet Podcast: the independent Rangers FC podcast, by fans, for fans. LIVE and FREE every Sunday on YouTube at 9.30pm with match preview shows ahead of each game as well. All available from a range of other platforms on the following day (including iTunes and Spotify).

[Music] good evening ladies and gentlemen and welcome to your J night weekly podcast see independent Rangers podcast made for fans by fans hosted by myself Craig gray um here tonight um Friday the 24th of May giving you your Scottish Cup Final preview pod um you can get his jet. co.uk and you can see forum and some nice articles has been put up and and also a wonderful history archive on social media you can get us overjet online on Twitter um where um you can see a lot of wonderful tweets as well and just before I introduce my guests first of all um I want to give a message from one of our partners that is Forest Precision Engineering they are a subcontract Glasgow based engineering company and have been a big commercial supporter of Rangers for many years but absolutely deleted at the backing your pod you can get them over at Forest precision.com and you can also visit the forest prision executive Lounge a sing your hospitality area within the historic mainst stand for information on how to B this unique intimate space you can email the club via Hospitality Rangers do.uk now it’s time to introduce my guest Mr Alec Anderson Alec Scottish Cup Final Eve you feeling good you feeling nervous yet feeling good Craig thanks how’s yourself um not too bad not too bad um it’s it’s weird I’ve thought the build up to this game has been really really weird so normally you get like the Jitters you know the excitement I’m actually feeling pretty neutral you know what I mean I think I’m actually think with my my head more than my heart than I do going into an old film game which is really really weird and I don’t know it’s just it’s just been weird I’ve not I’ve not tuned into anything really this week like your your radio your TV your muin I’ve just been focused on work this is really the first time I’ve had the chance to to sort of think about things today and um and you know I hopefully the team can do it tomorrow um just wanted to give everyone by the way away um on this day and it kind of fits in with the Scottish Cup team it’s happy birthday first of all to Mr Demarcus Beasley of course the legend of Leon um but Demarcus Beasley also on this day which was his birthday in 2008 scored in a Scottish Cup Final against Queen of the South and that was the last time ironically we done both a league and a Scottish cup double in the same season so is that fate or is that fate I like but relying on the gods of Demarcus Beasley heading into tomorrow that would do fine yeah if if if was Gods we need Demarcus will have them he’s man to have them on side I always like Demarcus absolutely fantastic um yeah that was at that game and it’s the same kind of scenario the same kind of scenario I think where you’re looking for the Scottish cup wi most Scottish Cup finals are been you kind of come out them either gutted because you’ve get beat or it’s it’s more relief than anything else a lot of Scottish Cup finals Withers have been kind of saving the season almost like the last one 2022 you l in Seville then that you you got to win that Scottish cup because it seems really unfair that the team would come come away from that season with nothing and I think in 2008 having lost in Manchester a bit ear it wasn’t the preceding game for that one but in 2008 I thought it was for us to lose to a first division team a lower league team as we would as we would be 8 years later in the Scottish Court final but for us to lose their team for a lower division in the Scottish Court final would have been a horrendous way for that team they been really unfair on them because it’s the longest the longest campaign ever played by rers up until that point you know and I just thought if we only won the game that day the the slag that have got for Scotland in general all the Rangers haters and the Rangers haters that tend to support Rangers as well you know we got a lot of our own fans are really down on the team all the time it just would have been totally unfair for the efforts to put in over that whole season and I think there’s a lot of that similar emotion going about tomorrow in h Scott Bowl One f Scott B 150 Scott bow CL you know live from the Ean Skelly Arnold Clark handing ball over in the Bonny Bonny banks for the the Bears the Bears against the Dodgers well Alec at least we win trophies in the seasons that we don’t win European finals so this is it this is it at least that’s something um first of all before we get into the game tomorrow we an insta signing before The Season’s even ended um and I wanted to talk about the that signing you know the potential new SS that are coming in have to of course signed a a fouryear deal earlier and I see him Deno now trans later which is I think going to have a bit laugh up here in glasg for the foreseeable future um I like the look I think heard reports this week saying that he’s going to be the Brazilian Taver or be at left back and so we’re definitely in in for a treat if that’s the case and I like I’m quite happy with a sing I think most of all though I’m happy that we’re doing business and Pro actively I think um it’s rare that Rangers announce signings or any te really announces signings before the end the seasons I think last year we announced Kieran D um the Hearts game the last game of the season the last home game and but he was a free agent so it’s like you can assign him at any point um heft is coming in for a fe so it’s quite rare that that happens and it looks if as well we’re going to get deals done for potentially four other players already and this is before the transfer Windows um opened now I’m not going to sit here and say that you know I’m an expert on AB Nikia quite frankly I’ve had enough to separate football after what’s happened to us this season um but you know I’m in a way we need to get excited but also I’m trying not to get too excited because we all get really excited for last season’s summer transfer window but I’m quite pleased with a sing and active in the transfer market moving forward to next season absolutely and if he’s the if he’s the Brazilian TI that’s quite good in his TI the the blue cafo so it’s coming full circle um our current manager Mr clont to you know they’re going to do their due diligence they’re going to know what they’re after they seem to have been after this guy for a while um I’m so tempted especially as a Battle Fever kind of ramps up and the E of the game to say I’m not interested I’m not interested in signings I’m I just want this we should all be kind of focused emotionally spiritually on this game but the fact the club itself is actually going to make signings is one thing and I you know proves why that’s say that’s kind of wrong of me but the other thing of course is well I do I’m going to go back in time 1989 when we lost the treble on the in Scottish C final to Celtic they were boosted by Morris Jones think Morris Johnson was going to sign for them now we ended up pretty really getting the last laugh when it came to that but the Boost you can get just from looking ahead to The Following Season before the Scottish got final anything I think we need we need anything just now to create a kind of a feel good Factor the problem with new signings is it might you might end up you know the players that are going to get replaced most players that are leaving W know by now I would imagine but you’re may be creating a kind of an uncertainty players thinking well I’m not getting a game next season so chance to make down TOS tomorrow I would like just because we’re making new signings I would I wouldn’t think so I don’t think any new signing just now directly threatening on the team just now but I H I find it hard to concentrate in new signings as a supporter when we’ve got a game of such magnitude coming up but H it’s like you say I think the main thing is to know the club are doing their business early and they’re getting organized um because we’ll certainly appreciate it come to start next season well that’s it and I think you use that word they trusting come on and coping I think we saying the exact same thing last season and probably the same thing the season before it seems to be a minut go around this these Summers but I think this time and yeah I know the last season we said this time it’s going to be different and this time it’s going to be different it really needs to be different this time right if we keep saying it it will eventually be different okay that’s what I’m saying it will be different one day okay um the difference for me this time is you’ve got NS copin who is a man who has experienced in the role that he’s doing he’s actually got a proven track record I think Ross Wilson be Southampton there was a lot of Southampton fans that didn’t really like the job that he’d done they seemed to I mean he seemed to take credit for like the sale of Virgil Van djk when that happened like the second day that he came in and it was basically already done anyway but it was like technically on his watch um so there was that and then obviously Michael be as well who I think’s a better football coach and a football manager and maybe you know doesn’t quite have the eye for a player as guys like Corin wood who’s you know going to spend hours and hours and hours and scouting these guys and also Philip clont who let’s face it as a vastly experienced player and manager he’s played at the highest level played at a World Cup he’s managed um at you know the Belgian League was let face it the Belgian league has better than the Scottish League it’s a higher level than what we’ve got here and he’s also managed in Europe managed to take Bru into the last 16 of the Champions League that’s the type of stuff that you want to see eventually happen at Rangers so um we need to trust these guys that are in charge and look he’s already he’s already he’s one as a cup and he’s he’s got were first ever win in Spain just as soon as he come in the door really and I think I was you’re exactly right what you’re saying what we on the p in Sunday night myself in Grant with Brian and I just Bally started disappearing under the desk here when Brian said well in the same situation we were last season because you can’t help yourself you know I mean and there’s already people ranger supporters as I say um starting taking a bit B clont and if we lose tomorrow don’t get that will get ramped up as well I think people were kind of questioning his record at Monaco cuz he get rid of him after six months but there’s a whole back story there as well and the Very fact that he’s managed in Monaco I mean but if if you’re loving Brendon W saying he’s the you know because every R managers crap there for Brendon wers was brilliant well he was kind of eventually failed at Liverpool and then you know but that stood him in great stad for having the Celtic job so I think you can kind of fail downwards for leagan H to to Rangers these days unfortunately and still be able to have a massive a massive success so I it’s that horrible feeling of we know we said all this last season and the season before but uh you know and until we get some trophies in the door there still that that doubt is always going to be there but tomorrow will be a great time start no definitely would be I think um like I can understand fans feel a bit paved off and pated but for me unless we get absolutely cuffed tomorrow like seriously cuffed I don’t really think come will go into next season under a tremendous pressure not from our point of view anyway and because at the end of the day what the guys had to deal with is been like the fact that he’s managed to get half aune these players as America within itself so that’s common sense look that’s common sense that’s no that that’s that’s kind of like analysis almost I don’t know get you anywhere with the support you know what I mean you’re spot on absolutely spot on what what did I tell you I’m figh my head this week instead of my heart going an old F game that’s do um also as well some some big big event happening tomorrow and wanted to move on to that next obviously and they unveiling a solal statue um it’s going to be a really Po and moment for for his and for the Rangers fans as well um you know I seen some people you what people that just want all the time it’s like because pictures at the Statue were L online and stuff like that and like people going why H it’s like really I mean people are just excited people want it people recogniz in my opinion for this when they recognize it’s a big moment I don’t think they’re being you know disrespectful or or anything like that I think they’re just excited about it we’re happy that it’s finally happening um and it’s great at the end of the day you know his family were inv in the discussions about it they seem to be I mean they will be pleased with it they would have signed off on it um and for what the previews look like anyway it’s going to be an absolute belter and it’s the absolute least that this man deserves I think and wter Smith for me um it encapsulate sort of two generations of Ranger supporters and like I was a sort of a second spell that was kind of the m and then Smith that I sort of grew up with in my childhood but also my dad grew up with Smith the first time round and it’s very very rare in fact almost impossible that you get men in football who were your dad’s hero but then were also your hero as well it’s very very rarely that you get that and I think um that second spell just just really made them the absolute legendary has it just confirmed that legendary status but it’s been a long time coming and it’s going to be a really really great moment tomorrow at 12 when that’s un build absolutely beautiful and I overdue seriously overdue and you’re talking about your dad I think wter Smith was a a man who became like a second dad for a lot of us a surrogate dad for a lot of people as well amongst the support it wasn’t just the achievements it was the man himself and I we talking about Scottish Cup tomorrow first of all that second spell you’re talking about I think that was that’s when Rangers changed even before liquidation that’s I know there was money problems and what have you but that when I was growing up rers didn’t do Romance we started The League season well and we won it or we w we W doing well enough and we were never going to win it were either good and good right the way through or were bad and bad right the way through if we didn’t do the kind of last minute Glory Glory Celtic stuff and then Walter come in for that second spell and I have never known a more Romantic Period in in Rangers history it started Al Mich and helicopter Sunday that was something we just didn’t do that kind of stuff you know like Celtic would have won the league that day the fact that it was just it was really weird for that to happen with it was it was amazing but I think Walter come in and obviously because the mount financial problems for David Mor and for Rangers in general it really became a not not not a battle against the odds obviously had much more money than than most other teams in Scotland H but the stuff he was achieving it wasn’t just we won two trophies in every one of his four full seasons back in charge and that you know three of those seasons one of the trophies was the league title it was the ones we didn’t win it was losing an extra time to Celtic in the league cfal one season um losing with the last kick of the ball and a replay up at tanise in the Scottish one season this team just didn’t stop it was run same as it had been in N or row you know we lost 10 in a row in the last day of the Season it was running on fumes that injury time go Ali Mitchell you know a few weeks before had going to cost us the title but it just took everything right to the wire and it was Absolut that was the man himself I’m just going to I have go too much um but if I can’t go too much about B who can go too much but tomorrow going to Scottish C final I remember the 1996 Scottish C final I I saw Rangers lose the first three Scottish C finals I went to I was only 128 1982 83 and then I was 89 I went that we lost them all and then I I was back in fulltime education or whatever for a lot of the ’90s so the next one I got to was 1996 like I’ve never seen I’ve seen justor one go in Scottish Cal I’ve never actually been there we won the thing maybe I shouldn’t have bother going my sister had got his she she was working for lar in are manager for lad Brooks at the time and she’d got his complimentaries for the semi-final as well we actually ended up practically in the Celtic end of the main stand and had to got a swap you know for the semifinal which was good fun um but the final itself I went my sister’s flat to get her before we went up before went up to hamen and she’s got the picture of Richard goff’s autobiography and on it it’s Richard G lifting the Scottish cup I think at Park head 93 on the cover of the book and you’ve got all the Mad see all the Mad guys in the suits with their fists waving you know just yeah for Rangers captains throughout the years left in the Scottish cup I’ve got a picture behind me front the with John Greg same thing and I’m my sister I hope that’s us the day I hope that’s us and we get into the main stand that day and I kid you not our seats our complimentary seats were resting against the podium we’re actually sitting against the presentation podium so it’s all POS Folk the suit on but we like total Rangers not jobs everybody else is properly porh in this area right up to the director’s box so when Brian L scores the first goal my sister and I are G mental we but we were the only ones stood up everybody else is just sitting politely clapping and we turn around and it means there’s nobody else stood up between us and Walter was sitting in director’s box at that point and we just he was up in his feet and we just went wal and he just he just went to to his and sister I just went Walter wink Walter wink and we’re hugging each other and what have you but um I it was it was it was probably the most magical moment in my whole life supporting Rangers was just getting a wink for Welter Smith I never met him I’ve never I don’t like meeting the players or the managers I don’t I’m not interested meeting my heroes that kind of thing and I like to adore and and that’s it and I don’t think I’ve adored anybody in Rangers in Rangers history more than more than Walter no what a great story I think him the only final that I would have went under him would have been that that Queen of the and weirdly I went to the game with my mom I think my dad was just that scun after Manchester you take him you take the win you take the to see that first division M that nobody cares about um and obviously won that game I never went to the one the following year I think was at full that was one the M scored I never went to that game I remember watching that in the T and in fact I actually missed no’s go because I was in the kitchen getting a drink then I just feel the Liv like oh br what a h i it was just that was not a good game that that was not a good game we’re struggling that day against fer as well but we got it won the double that day got the job done you know I’ve no missed I’ve no missed a Scottish got final that we played in in the the 21st century if you like but I missed I missed I think we played with six in the ’90s and I missed all of them except except that one um but I was at 2000 f one you know perfect attendance record since then but we’ve not actually had we’ve enough Scot got finals this Century at all so it’s good to be back in it anyway no it definitely is um just before we going speak about the watch um tomorrow guys and want to give you another message from another one of our sponsors football prizes are an organization who specialized in football competitions and match draws um and if you go to our Twitter at jet online and you can see this week’s fantastic prizes and you can win one of two fantastic frame boots displayed by Mr Alan MCO and bich for just 395 there’s Maxum of 165 tickets and the competition closes on Thursday the 30th of May and so you can get over to a Twitter for that or you can go on to football prices. co.uk to enter that competition there right we’ done the history now we need to talk about the present a big game more it from Scottish CL final like absolutely massive actually I can’t wait to be honest I know get the battle favor on after I can’t see we’re going to lose to be honest exactly exactly first old from Scottish Cup Final for 22 years if you’re that way inclined um I wanted to ask you your memories of that game Al like I was four so I only get to see this through the prism of YouTube highlights unfortunately but goes down as one of the the greatest games in Rangers history and rightfully so tell us tell us your memories on that game ER I think myself and the fell I was sitting next to it I’ve still got massive um gouges in my thighs um and I do I mean it does get you pretty excited going to Scottish SC I’ve I’ve got absolutely nothing as you know I’m I’m a big W Li TD and I’m you absolutely nothing against that the man on man love but it was just I get smug my Biden memory is I didn’t have a ticket on the day of the game and I got a we phone call and from a very good friend who smuggled me in him myself and another has i’ never met before and he got his it was in the Press area right at the very front of the press area Mark ding was sitting just across from me um Robert meloy a story and he was sitting just behind me I remember that I’m sitting with this boy another you know another blo was fine and it’s like right again another that’s the two times I in the kind of shot and tie have to behave yourself but and SC got final and it was to to keep calm W allowed to jump up and down basically you weren’t allowed to jump up and down and celebrate like an idiot like I usually would see trying to keep calm when you’ve scored the last minute winner against Celtic in a 3-2 game and he Scottish got a final we’d actually made a pack cuz this like we’ already scored two goals me and this other boy were going to hold each other down you know as opposed to that’s by the end I think we’re drawing blood need to try and keep each other down not going in but H we and similarly tomorrow and that we hadn’t beaten Celtic in the league That season but so different I KN that no we hadn’t beaten Celtic in the league That season but the weird thing is we changed we changed manager obviously dick advocat moved upstairs we got michan in December big coming in December and he really did he freshened things up but it wasn’t anything Sensational and I think a lot of what happened that day really speaks to tomorrow Celtic Cruis the league I mean I think it were like nearly 20 points or something they won the league by but the two the first two old F games in the league under M we drew iooks cracking after new goal and we we drew him at parkhe head and that was the only game that Celtic had won at home in the league we took away the 100% record at home and they were so uped by that and we’d already beaten them in the League Cup semi-final I think was maybe February time we beating the league cup know the B conman classic you have seen that one as well as a goal for the ages so we’re really we were under the skin we almost had a kind of jinx on them despite the fact that they’ romed the league and we hadn’t we hadn’t beaten them in the league H That season and you could see we had an energy where the Celtic were getting really laggy and uh it got to it when it came to the final I mean during the actual final itself you could see them starting to starting to well I mean you know they were taking the lead a couple of things one kind of anecdote I remember when B BDI scored for Celtic he ran right up to the bit where I was kind of sitting just basically come up to they ran right the way down the park and come right up to the front of the main stand where the r support were and everybody’s like you [ __ ] yeah yeah get up you know up at the seat and went lifts his shirt up and reveals the most ripped massive Beast of a chest you ever seen your life everybody’s like good good go shot themselves in front was going to come in and G down but um it was an absolutely Sensational game and I think I think to remember as that Rangers team almost going to relinquish the league That season but kept themselves so they could beat Celtic in the cup hope of got this season might be the opposite we might know win tomorrow but there’s something to be said I know we no place at rers for any kind of L we just write off anytime that we don’t lose this team have been trying their best on four different fronts Europe included Celtic also CED out of Europe this season and I think it’s something to bear in mind and anybody who is thinking I’ve seen all this P going about rers Twitter doesn’t matter they Cho the League this team I’ll never forgive them or this kind of garbage look at how that 2002 final is regarded it’s deified it’s that one of the most Golden Memories in recent mang history didn’t win the league That season by even more than we had want it by this season so you need to go into that final tomorrow knowing that if you do win it it will change things amazingly and one we think to bear in mind is later on that month I went to the Champions League final Bay Leverkusen losing to Real Madrid the zadan goal Real Madrid are back in the Champions League final and Bayern Leverkusen just lost a European final during the week so maybe there’s some maybe there’s some omings there you know have you going get the r for this one no that’s that’s the whole thing it’s not me it’s not about me it’s about the teams it’s the teams that are in it although the one thing I would say is in Dublin this time so it’s a bad Omen who knows well we’ve got we’ve got the Beasley we’ve got the German clubs losing in European finals I think so here we go I know it’s happening it’s happening um on the team selection I think first and foremost obviously we got the the big news yesterday that red van was probably unlikely going to make it um and I know people are just going to get really angry and upset and they digester because it’s like he’s always injured he’s always injured but I feel really bad for the guy I mean when col say he’s coming up to him say you know with tears in his eyes and you know it’s not something you want to see Ever especially a guy like that who he does to be fair him he does give give it his all every the game I know he did struggle to settle I think initially here in Glasgow and but he he has been really good for his this season I think and you know it’ll be a shame if he doesn’t make it and B barisich I don’t know if he’s going to be F or not I don’t know if he just left him out the Hearts game because he just couldn’t risk another possible injury coming into this game um maybe there’s a reason that he didn’t bring barisich Off the Bench against dundy um maybe he had a feeling that this might might have happened um but with the way it’s looking right now um is it going to be Stalin is it going to be Robbie Fraser that plays at left back tomorrow they unavailable for me I think may be a b controversial I think I want players playing under natural positions I think’s done well enough I don’t think he’s been amazing but I don’t think he’s been trapped either but he’s an angel fan he’s going to give it he’s all Scottish cup fer against Celtic and at the end of the day if he was to play tomorrow I don’t think people are going to be getting the KN out if you know we get beat for them you know what I mean so I think the last game I BRS we were really supposed to go and take it to Celtic I was wanting us to do that we did play St at left back and from the Celtic goal in 20 seconds he gives the ball away with the ball and he’s he’s playing out a position um it happened again the first old FM game of the season where I don’t think Sterling’s that great at left back and just because it’s not his natural position um even though he’s still an absolute unit there um but I would love to see stering F forward I would like to see him in the Midfield this time um what about you Alec if it’s if they turn they available right we’ll do it on the premise at bar and Yas are both unavailable you need to make a decision stilling off back that’s that that’s the only premise under which I would have Robie f are playing at left I would if barisic is f again another controversial one I would play barisic I would I think it’s controversial Craig no don’t don’t listen to the noise mate that’s it’s got you’ve got to you’ve got to play barisich not the thing is right he’s not he’s not coming up against l so I mean should be all right and I think the thing that might sorry worry me about Robie Fraser is he’s coming up against James Forest most likely and although James Forest has lost a yard of pace he’s an older more experienced player so that might be a way bit of the can he take advantage of Robbie Fraser up there in his head um but I think Baris against Forest to be honest it’s not something that would would worry me as much as you know a bar against a so I want players played in a natural position um so hopefully hopefully we can have an actual left back playing at left back tomorrow that that’d be good and I hope it’s Yas you know hope I hope that’s just how we you know the manager just try to kind of you know overemphasize that and then he steps out tomorrow was tears in my eyes when I found out he wasn’t playing or it was a good chance he was going to be out but young remember remember his mom saw him to the airport when he was leaving B us that footage his mom seen him the tax to take him to the airport you’re thinking he’s only just turned was it 23 he just a young fell young but is that horribly frustrating thing where not only is he injured all the time he’s obviously just going to be injured all the time it looks it looks over like that but he’s he’s fit just long enough to show you that he could be brilliant for us that he’s he’s actually worth the money we paid to buy him when he’s at fil outt he’s he’s great y he’s he adds another dimension to us and I think he would be a fantastic Boon we need something tomorrow don’t go two goals down as we have done in every CL old firm Derby so far maybe try and avoid the red cards or make sure they get more than us uh although one of my biggest feels for tomorrow is Celtic be as like you know they’re they’re down on men as well but um I just think that the main thing for me is I something has to happen is different and it could be you get these stories that’s we’re getting the fantasy kind of hope hope hope above hope type scenario um you get these we stories like Derek Johnston get back 50 OD years you know starting as a 16 year old in the league C final he’d only played against Den fman C be or something before in the league I think he scored that game as well not very much experience but you know will W sees something as he did with Derek parley in the cers cup semi-final against Bayern the second leg and all these kind of iconic stories it could be just that we bit something different he’s so young he doesn’t get in any way nervous and he has a great game Robbie Fraser and Celtic don’t know enough about him you know to to be able to to get past him but what I saw of him against Hearts I have to say he looked like he’s got a long way to go he is really really raw at this level um on you know Common Sense would tell you it could potentially be a disaster to have the we fill in there be unfair on him as well at this stage in his development certainly first team development anyway I always been a kind of St war with the B team but I would I would I didn’t know I I was asking the question last week as well myself cig I really don’t know what happened with is Ru and Baris it’s just not been quoted at all at T Castle I suppose you could be rapping him in coton will but it makes you think why’ you play yma most because he needs he needs more game time in his legs I suppose at tank assle they had to get that in there but it’s it’s weird it’s just I don’t really know what’s going on at all and I don’t know how honest the managers be I’m quite happy for him to lie to as long as as long as it’s to get one over in Celtic but I would like to see y my starting first and foremost at left back then sself barisich but if it has to be Robbie F I think it should only be because we need to get Sterling Midfield MH no I agree on Kamal Ru actually he put up an Instagram post like two hour ago saying something about last the dice tomorrow so I think he’ll be in the squad so hopefully double six is he injured his dice H yet something it might it might be tumbling this time tomorrow who knows who knows I would I wouldn’t put it past him I wouldn’t put it past just Glory fantastic if it starts to tomorrow he could always go through the halfway line and a he mud like he done a couple year ago um would be good um but I think do you know if he has to play has to play I do think if I do think that the manager will probably just go away St at life back just because he’s kind of done it before and it’s it’s a more safe option um even if that means no Happ minut too but we’ll see what happens speaking of Midfield anyway Al like Mr John winstrom you’ll come back into contention uh for this one tomorrow I’ve been fairly vocal on him the last couple of weeks it’s safe to say um I think what I do with the manager does is probably going to be two different things um I I don’t think he should play for Rangers again an tomorrow to be quite honest um I’m still really really angry with the way that he conducted himself at Celtic park I think first school you know he’s not piing up his man and it was w a couple of things before second goal the own goal you know it’s not as if it was was like a last Stitch you know defense to try and stop the ball going in it was just get his body P all wrong and I get that these things can maybe happen but then the red card for me it’s it’s unforgivable and I don’t I don’t think it’s one of those ones where it’s he just went into do the player and I don’t think he’s just went in to like intentionally get himself sent off I actually think he got the red card probably from a good place in a weird way like I think he’s went in for the challenge going or back the game I know I’ve made two Monument efforts I want to show the fans that you know I’m really still up for this and I think he’s just got it horribly wrong but that tells me that I just don’t think that he’s got the mentality to deal with these high pressure scenarios in games against Celtic anyway I think if he plays tomorrow I’ve just got a really bad feeling that he might be all over the place mentally again um I know you’ve said I think you said last week in the P that you would still like him to play and because we we know what he can do and to be fair to him he’s best game in Celtic was at handing a couple of years ago but I just don’t think he’s got it up there for for these old FM games I just don’t um but what’s your what’s your take on on that like you said I mean it was it was an icon two years ago it’s a long time ago um so maybe doesn’t count anymore but he an absolute icon for a tackle that he had in that semi-final against Celtic at handed in the Scottish cup which is is what we’re playing tomorrow um is I mean I well I know for a fact for me uh I’m quite happy to admit and it’s not a big admission that the night we beat light is the greatest night of my life as a rang supporter that was absolutely phenomenal greatest greatest moment ever in terms of just R an actual my my favorite communal event never mind H Rangers match it was just amazing H grown men crying and all that kind of stuff and John lrom was the the best on Earth long time ago in football I feel as if the the buildup that people are talking now as if this whole thing of I never want to see him playing for r again which no he’s going a good chance he’s leaving anyway so it’s this one game we’re talking about so it kind of dramatizes that but I think there a that’s been talked as if that was something that just happened this week or the last two weeks after that old firm game that was the buildup to that game the buildup to that game all over Rangers Twitter all over social media was from so many Rangers fans was I don’t want to see lrom playing he’s going to get swamped he’s going to give the Midfield away he cops it all the time so you can say fair play RS knew that was going to happen it wasn’t just they would just been smart after the fact but I think it got to the point where it was almost a self-fulfilling prophecy CU John Lun was just bad at parkhe heads he was broken you know it was actually broken and I can guarantee you in in another world or sorry in that very same world had he not made that tackle on Johnson that assault because there you go lrom he’s got a chance to nail somebody he’s got a chance to get in there get something gotten he can’t can’t even do a slide and Tackle he can’t even get stuck in it’s a harmless area of the park you know it’s not as if it’s in front of his own goal and he’s going to get sent off why is why is he checking out of that tackle all that stuff I think would have been going through his head as well and that’s part of the deal it’s been a Rangers player if you can cope with that that thing that your own fans basically hate you um for for half your career then that’s you know that’s what we saw Al M the great coming through that growing that extra layer of skin and what have you and that that that is part of the deal that’s what makes you bad enough we’re talking about I mean I think I think I’ve got no problem what if he doesn’t play I think the manager will make the decision that has been made I trust clont and but I can totally see why he would play him and I can totally see why he wouldn’t I’m I’m kind of non Plus either way I just feel as if we’re talking about the Scottish C we’re talking about Walter Smith at 2009 final I went to when we beat Fook I’m sitting up the back of the North Stand and and I’m know I don’t do the confrontation stuff you know in crowds and what have you face to face one-onone I’m quite happy to whatever but you know you don’t want to show yourself up you don’t want to you know shame the supportting that kind of stuff but there was a voice was my M before I knew it Walter Smith brought on he brought on Christian da at the end of that game you know it wasn’t going well we win one nothing but we kind of hanging on and as a guy in front few RS in front of him kind of mouthing off the whole game and he must have been really we and all that so I was feeling brave and I I was like you know I think his mother still had him in the stroller know the rain Z and all that I was going to [ __ ] say something um he’s making he’s try to go all that and holding on back she but she’s the best fight on SE anyway the I just yday he like Walter what what are you what you bringing him one for Christian D up front what you putting Christian D up front and just because I happened to know I must have heard somebody said like he scored a hat trick in his debut for the United when he was 16 you know he’s like I said when was that when was that I said don’t we won the [ __ ] League last week we won the league six days ago you know I mean people there’s a thing at Rangers it gets to the point where it’s like it’s good to hate your own you know and I never understood it because the kind of Macho ship is sailed the minute you decide that you’re following 11 man in the country and just giving them your love you know what I mean it’s it’s nothing tough about following Rangers it’s the easiest job in the world and it’s great fun it’s a declaration of undying undying so try to be cynical about it and hard about it I’ve never really understood and I was The Following Season The League Cup Final those boys coming in like you know older guys sovet rings and all that and it was that kind of one of the things I first realized the older guys could be you know proper B pots you know and it was a the guy was just St having a pop at everybody in the crowd you think Smith’s brilliant you think Smith’s great you think W Smith’s great you know he’s fit tded it’s totally defensive it’s crapped and that was the game we won you know we beat we n men and they got up and left the same as the boy SC got got up and left before the Trophy presentation because they were just raging with this guy Walter Smith the season earlier that season we played for for the 2009 Scottish cup we played four for up I was up at the the game get canceled the Sunday postponed because of the weather had to go back up midweek remember beaten for for we scored the first goal Dem Marcus be ined that game and there’s guys St there shouting us shouting oh we could hold on for one nothing seal up at the back we could hold one for one nothing that kind of side of the I know better he’s fit [ __ ] not all the greatest people every single player who achieves anything does anything good for Rangers ever every figure every manager ever there is always a body there’s a constituency within the support that doesn’t just hate them but wants to be heard and seen hating them because they think it makes them cleverer um John lundstrom it was a disastrous game against Celtic get parkhead but if we think he’s the problem the game the week before the weekend before that he basically was involved in three of the goals three of the four goals we scored against K two assists and one direct kind of interference in one of them and this whole thing he only plays for three or four months and then he Chucks it we can he get a player to play for three or four weeks this season so it does for me that John lrom turns up for few months he’s the wrong player the wrong position he doesn’t have the skill set he never has had that we actually requiring that position that’s not his fault but um the fact that we actually need Cent we might need more cover at Center half and John can drop in there may a bit handy to have him involved tomorrow but I I don’t really I don’t care whether he plays or no I’m I’m not that first either way I trust the manager to make the right decision but I would I think it’s more pertinent to say just now that I would have no problem whatsoever if John lundstrom plays tomorrow I don’t get the ACT hate for him the kind of level of B that’s thrown his way from Ranger supporters when there’s so many more players who just because they don’t turn up at all seem to seem to get away with but I would prefer to have just to be or stop R Raven um I’d be quite happy if John lrom alongside Sterling and we’re pushing Dandy up maybe into the 10 I would I would be quite I quite fancy that but if it’s maybe just cwell or we’re going to go cwell or Lawrence again at 10 then maybe H it’s you want Sterling up alongside D Andy in the sitting too and I’d be quite happy for for lunch to take a back seat mhm I think maybe part of the issue l in these games as well is he does just look a way bit too slow when you compare it to the Celtic Midfield and again that’s not necessarily his fault that’s just as you say I mean that’s that’s the type of player he is um maybe question should be asked as to why we signing types of players like that and why we’re contining to play them instead of other players but caugh up everybody else he’s been he’s played under four managers in three years yeah you know it’s it’s that that that’s going a negative effect I saw folk oh I the minute the day get sent off against Al he did he did sell the jerseys tried that but but oh my God I’m getting it’s like 2002 final I think big Lorenzo scored the winner The Following Season won the treble but Alfie saved his that night and were gash against Alice in the second leg as well when we had the the fall 11 in the park but it’s like he’s get right back to that we scor absolute Stoner against in fman in the league cup like the same week the same month or whatever and then he comes eventually he’s scoring winners in European semi-finals to put us into finals so it’s not as if the guy’s always been crap and has always s the jerseys I feel as if it’s been too much the pil on and we really don’t need that kind of atmosphere tomorrow listen with the hen Riot all firm riots at Scottish C final 1909 it was at the end of the the replay and fans get together rangers fans and Celtic fans United to fight the Pol and fight the ambulance and get it try to get the money back they thought beinged out of 1980 and extra time we on the par Rangers fans fighting the Celtic fans I think tomorrow will be the first time as an old FM Scottish C final Riot if H you know everybody reads on their phone on Twitter at half pass one that loms in the team and it’s just the Rangers fans attacking the Rangers bench you know for picking them you know I think the manager I think the manager knows what he’s doing I thought he’s his defense of lrom in the presser was kind of difficult to tell if he meant I’ll pick who I want the fans will not tell me who to pick or if it was actually him saying I am going to pick wiom I mean terms or you know no know you mean I think as I say my kind of feeling is that both left backs are injured stilling probably going at left back I think that’s what the manager would do and I think if that’s the case he probably will be looking to to play Lun mfield and the problem is as well the options I mean the people that have got coming in rasing and I do like rasing but you know that’s other problem yeah he just so quiet I think the thing that he’s got over lunchroom for me is he’s probably a bit more energetic but it’s like if that’s only thing he’s got going over somebody then there’s a problem and that’s a long term issue that we’re going to we’re going to have to solve but it’s kind of like what you know what do you do for this for this one match tomorrow and I I I don’t know what the manager’s thinking I really don’t you can’t AC guess of him probably part part of the reasons to why I like him as well because you can’t second guess and you know I like it when he lies as well PR that’s what you want that’s what you want for your manager it’s you want do you want a midfielder who can put in a slide tackle you can put a slide to tackle and no you need you need a bit of that you know it’s it’s it’s exact opposite of what we got under B where be was just giv it look at me I’m a manager you know clont is just try to win the next game he’s just in it he is the job you know rather than try to impersonate somebody who’s going the job no I well that that is very very true um I was going to mention this slightly um but we might might just do it a little bit quicker and Todd cwell and right now talk about the controversial meals he’s been having this week the shush buers I could maybe do a couple of them tomorrow regardless of the result um would you play them tomorrow I don’t know um I’ll speaking to Scott obviously that’s podcast as well and he’s really he’s he’s CW’s biggest fan he want to go dat stuff like that all um he said to me you would you would play him button Saturday would you like that yeah probably because I think if we’re going to play a 10 out of necessity I would rather him start the game than Lawrence I think Lawrence is better coming on and Mak an impact in these games if he’s even fit um I think if we’re playing a 10 start count but I kind of like the idea the you I like sort of two sers and then dandi maybe he doesn’t need to necessarily play a 10 but maybe because I think that we’re going to need to do something different against Celtic tomorrow whether that’s tactically or the shape or whatever we’re going to have to do something differently to beat them tomorrow because pretty much every single game not just this season but last season as well it’s followed the sort of same pattern structure they start fast they’re on top they score a goal or two goals we come back into the game and by the time we come back into the game it’s too late and the game’s done and so we need to try and do something different um I I don’t know maybe I’m fighting for me my front three tomorrow would probably be MCO and Des and one off cwell or Sila um I don’t I would like to see sort of three sets or two sets in Dand if that kind of makes sense um and if you are going to play Camp well play in a sort of drifty wi position or something like that you know if if that’s what he’s wantan to do let’s hope he does he take the half of his getting played like he seems to have done before but either him or Sila and to be fair to Silva I know he’s been getting a lot of slack as well actually thought Silva was pretty decent at par minus a that he miss and he can cause he can cause Alistar Johnson problems and he did do that and I know he was diving about the place the fre each dra I BRS but he still made the penalty against Johnson he still got front of him for that chance so he can’t cause them issues but that’s is the thing we don’t know what the team’s going to be you would like to think the man going to know that St I mean he should know but too many we’ve we’ve got too many players in these positions that are that can do enough to get you excited but think ah but you’re thinking if he could have a good day tomorrow you’re not thinking he’s a guaranteed you know there’s so many of them like Silva spot on he’s getting slag rotten for you know a couple of chances he missed couple poor executions taking a dive as opposed to you know put his seed right through the ball Etc at parkhead but NE else was in park he was actually getting involved he was actually giving Celtics something to think about you know Des does the same he kind of his physicality whether he’s getting on the ball or not but we can’t well for me it’s the same thing I think yeah it’s there is the two semi-finals against Hearts both competitions this season two semi-finals can’t gets taken off at half time against HS The League Cup semi-final because he’s not doing what he’s supposed to do he’s not having an effect on com Scott right and that’s it gamees transformed score three goals in 20 minutes and that’s it done the the Scottish cup semi-final against hars uh can’t well lays on the winner for Des and and basically has a really decent game and so it’s and I don’t know it’s the posturing makes me worry about his his temperament you know his attitudes you know I I’m the guys sticking up for John lrom who you know did literally sell the jerseys in the last game at par head but can’t well I feel also it’s I think it’s touch and go with him sometimes you know the I see everybody below 30 as a as a we boy you know anyway so I feel kind of abusive you know actually having a proper pop he’s get but it’s he’s on social media and they can of talking tough at the wrong time thing makes me worry about his mentality if I don’t mind him being I’ve seen this last Sunday and the Pod I don’t somebody being a bit spiky and a bit knocky if they can if they can back it up if they can lift his level and you’re AB spot on we need a spark we need something tomorrow that’s going to change it and change it early even us just scoring the just scoring the first goal to not go two goals down and a bonus that be a total difference but to get the first goal tomorrow would be absolutely massive and if we just try something that Celtic can a head round for the first 50 minutes 20 minutes um I could see cwell being at the center of some new kind of tactic for me you’re right what you’re saying I’m not talking about Dy playing a 10 as such it’s it’s more that in front of the sitting too because I think he has played there this season once or twice once anyway he can hit them he can he scored a couple outside the box got a good dig on him but also I just say because the two team have got to park head both under clont this season he has put K well and then um Lawrence in that in the 10 but mostly to set on K McGregor which they failed to do properly I think Dandy could do that properly but that’s just my you know I’m not basing that in anything that’s really happened this season you know I’m just I’m cutting in past and kind of a n idea to give me something to hold on Hope wise tomorrow but something like that we could do something like that I would I would give SE going talk about se but I would I would give him a start and I would I would have him a coand on the right hand side but even then as I’m saying that I’m thinking tav’s really slowing down he’s he’s he’s dying a death this season he’s running himself into the ground he’s been bad defensively I know he’s he’s not a Defender um By Any Man means T but I don’t know if we need cover in front of him and I’m thinking about stering may need be needed wide right but I would rather stering I’d rather have stering in the middle besides you know um for me be lrom i d Andy in front of them but I also can see the manager going with that and that’s maybe where where can’t well comes into it but you’re absolutely right I I I think we need to try something different but it’s whatever you do tomorrow because the players have been on it enough just Tak a chance I that’s it but we’re all confused about what this team might or might not be I think the thing with me for CW is can he really take the game by the scuff X see when you’re down in the dumps when you’re getting beat like see if you’re getting beat one nil tomorrow right and count on the pitch 10 15 minutes to go is he going to be the guy to like rally the troops get the team together do something completely the bo blue completely magical and I don’t know he’s just he’s not been that type of player before c seems he seems to be a bit of a confidence player where if he’s on his game and he’s doing everything brilliantly the pressure’s off him like he’s proved the last two League games he’s had brilliant you know and I kind of joked about it it was like I watch C turn into Prim M the leag finished and he kind of has because he done the exact same last season as well and we just want you to take the game by the balls and just do something when the chips are done like come on and that’s the fact he’s been kind of posturing and what have you even he’s when he get interviewed by Luke Shanley after that goal against and D and he’s saying to him did you mean it or no is I couldn’t tell whether he was refusing to answer the question because you know he’s raging at the manager there was definitely kind of huffiness involved but was I kind of I don’t want to get I don’t want to start doing the bany thing of of course I’m me it or whatever because that feels inappropriate just now that would be fine if he meant it because we just you know we lost at parkhead and S a disgrace you know we’ve probably lost the league now and I’m really embarrassed about that we got knuckled down with all the fans some or was it yeah well the manager should have started me but I should have got off the bench par that’s what he gets I’ve just shown him what I can do it was difficult to tell you know why why he was in the H you know or what why he was being so kind of serious in that answer and and in one respect it’d be absolutely acceptable and the other it’ be totally unacceptable so and he’s definitely having his problems with clont and cl’s trying to sort him out um has been try car it and stick him more season so I don’t know but he’s it’s what you can imagine and I could very well imagine if we score the first goal tomorrow that would be fantastic the play scores crazy it becomes that kind here we go this could happen and you can imagine Todd cell being that guy who steps up and does that thing different um but I I I probably I probably wouldn’t you know start him on the basis of the team I was talking about before the Midfield I was talking about before H but that means he should and probably score a hattick list I’ll take that definitely take that he can have as many shushers as he likes I think I think the whole social media I know’s he’s kind of been compared to F because both of them are posting really weird stuff on Instagram and that see Fabio Silva right that guy just seems completely spaced out in a world of his own right I don’t think he’s got a clue about his surroundings of what’s happening right I think I he’s just to be the most child guy on the planet he’s probably sitting in his G night before games playing his PlayStation listening Bob Marley do all sorts completely Zed no got a clue what’s happening I think the difference with Camp well is he kind of knows what he’s doing there’s no really he knows the backlash that he’s suppos have been gotten and he’s trying to be funny and he’s trying to be clever I think if you’re comparing both of them their sort of social medias I think that’s that’s probably the main difference I think fabiio is probably bit innocent he’s not probably got a clue what he’s doing but I think cill probably does mean it and for me that makes it wor the two them need to work they need that’s the problem is it’s this team modern football in general but the way Rangers are operating especially an old firm game they need everybody to work to work back to do defensive stuff and I think that’s cl’s biggest problem we can’t well and it’s discipline General and his tactical the way deploys himself almost and Silva last week it was just so culpable for not getting back you know I in the season game at T Castle but that that that’s kind like that that Miss against H he had in the semi-final there the moments you go no absolutely no way this boy hasn’t got it plus he’s he’s telling the fans to shut it and all that when he scores a goal you’re not getting it at all and you’re a danger to yourself and that’s why I’m you know I would have see my left M cin right and and Des up front with that kind of lrom um Sterling and and diamandi in in the middle because I’m just we just need folk who are going to get ripped in you know and no stop getting ripped in all game you know and have nothing going on up here you know that’s I’m the man and you need all out teamwork no that’s too I think just on that last we’ll do a quick one about you know mentioned I mentioned this on Twitter like how how how would you start that front line because for me I think this could go the whole hog I I think this there is a big chance this game could go to extra time I think the issue for me with starting sea is that you’re probably only going to get 60 or 70 minutes out of them and if you look at how the old film games have went this season we have started bad in pretty much every single one of them now the big injury problems that we’ve had have really only been for the last two or three game I mean the game at Park head but we didn’t start great the game at I we didn’t start great we never had a fully fit Squad but you know attacking options were a lot better back then you know for that game par we had minutes started we had M could come on and you know it was the same the game I BR in the fth of September so for me it’s kind of like I know people have W you know we want to start fast we want to do this we want to do that but we’ve not been starting well against Celtic regardless of whether we played a good Dynamic pce front three or Sila left wing stering right wing and up front but not started well either and I just may think the manager could maybe try and be a little bit clever about things and maybe just go take a step back and think this is maybe going to go for the whole hog and I think I think as well as if we are in a position with 20 minutes to go we we not to done well you know it’s a draw at least you know it’s looking as if it might go extra time I do think Celtic will tie out because there is no way that K McGregor and kogo for a start are going to last 120 Minutes they might not even play the full 90 minutes um and we have seen the way that we have finished games against Celtic and I think if we had a SEMA coming into extra time bringing on guys like Tom Lawrence Scott right and Celtic don’t have two of the main players to to sort of rally the troops and you know it’s guys like a instead of Kum McGregor I think we could run all over the top of him an extra time but at the same time you kind of just want to go and absolutely do them the more as well so Bal take it anywh you can get it but bad bad starts are definitely a thing that Celtic game at I Brooks and the three each came and think my mother well beaten us I were the two games I kind of thought no that’s it really one and a half games if you like thinking that that that’s there’s no there was no real excuses here that was you know you’ve let yourselves down whatever in a normal season if you have a couple of games like that you’ll be okay if you if you just two games like that but that was that that was I just think they get distracted whatever um for me I just feel as if the biggest doing we’ve had this season you’re Absolut Celtic Tire second half every game we’ve done better in the second half every game the biggest football thumping we have biggest paston we had this season was the 10 minutes between SEMA given us the lead against Real betus and the B and I I scored my second goal was making it two the way they came out as B I thought we’re going to get we just we wound them up here we’re really angled them they’re going to beat his 51 we shouldn’t have scored you know they’re going to absolutely doers but we’d had the start and that had given us the belief we’ got that goal first we got the first goal and then played his after the park hit the woodwalk they score a goal equalized and then we get another one you know the 20th minute we next go and made them it took them a bit longer to get the second go BS but that really got under the skin and I think it just shows the power the power of a good start how it just gets your rhythm going it gets you going SEMA obviously not in any way fit looking for a repetition at the same pitch in the same competition he did it in the semi-final against Hearts sea come on for that quarter of an hour he lasted and that was it we’ scored the first goal in that point I remember that day after the first minute thinking oh we haved a chance on goal we usually we a crazy chance on goal on our own goal within the first 60 seconds this last couple of months and thought Oh and the next time we actually scored we’d gone ahead after not doing that for once and we didn’t have the defensive muck up and next time we’ve taken the lead and then SE is off and it goes downhill a bit but you know it’s Hearts running great that day but just getting that start gave us the basis and I think that’s a massive thing tomorrow list I think this go anyway I could think we could it could go to penalties um I can imagine Celtic doing that thing where all season they’ve just been you know one goal beat us by one goal beat us by one goal tomorrow they go absolutely scalers you know could be a hammering we take off in water I can also see us um going out there and just doing something different because it’s become such a routine this season in the league that if we take that lead that could be enough to just completely screw them up and screw up Celtic and just give us a taste or something that’s been so long since we’ve had it the players will just find a new level of energy to make sure they get it and let’s hope they can do I think that’s a good way wrap up there Al thanks very much for joining me um we’ll be back um are you going to be doing your post match uh tomorrow after the game I assume yes yeah last last post match for J that be good hope to go a BL of Glory that’s it that’s it that that would be good and after that we’ll back on on Sunday it’ll be John calling and Rob and to review the game but Al thanks very much for coming on been pleasure as usual no pleasure Craig thanks very much no problem guys thanks very much for tuning in and um I let’s do it tomorrow like I said earlier for fful supr let’s go have a good night guys