It was podcast heaven on Sunday following Motherwell’s 3-2 win at Ibrox.
Going into the split Danny Rohl’s side were apparently the form side despite missing out on the semi-finals of the Scottish Cup.
While Celtic were seeing off St Mirren to book a place in the final Rohl’s squad were enjoying a jolly to Marbella.
No doubt there will have been some outstanding training sessions delivered but team bonding maybe featured too strongly.
Five days in the south of Spain for a group of wealthy young men is bound to be laced with plenty of temptations.
It looked like the Ibrox squad were elsewhere during the first half on Sunday as Motherwell played them off the park.
Stephen Welsh directed operations from central defence as Motherwell passed with accuracy and tested out the static home defence at every opportunity.
Motherwell were well worth their 2-0 half time lead, it could have been more as the home fans attempted to Keep Believing in reference to the club they abandoned in 2012.
John Brown appeared at half-time to the acclaim of the older bears. He may be a club Ambassador but he is no diplomat.
Bomber got ripped into the current squad which again didn’t include any Scottish players. When your options are Liam Kelly, John Souttar and Connor Barron it is easy to see why Rohl ignores the homebred bears.
LIVING THE DREAM IN IBROX FAN MEDIA?
There was an emotional appearance from James Tavernier for the second half. Everything slowed down to allow Captain Disappointed to take every corner and free kick. Alas there wasn’t a penalty. Unless they get awarded a penalty at home to Hibs on May 13 Tavernier’s last home penalty was the one that he skied over Vil Sinisalo’s crossbar.
Youssef Chermiti scored in the 51st and 70th minutes to level the match, a home win seemed inevitable at that stage.
With Tavernier chasing a glorious winning goal Motherwell broke down their left in the 90th minute.
Stephen O’Donnell advanced 50 yards unchallenged. He laid the ball off to Emmanuel Longelo who stepped into the penalty box with his shot glanced past Jack Butland by Manny Fernandez.
The former Peterborough ace is apparently a transfer target of Arsenal. Not if they’ve watched any of his appearances rather than listening to the spin of the obliging messengers.
Kevin Clancy signalled for seven minutes added time. He played 10 without any comment from Kris Boyd or Ally McCoist.
Results like that test the restrain of the chosen few in fan media. They have earned their place in the media circuit but deep down they are still fans. Hurt doesn’t begin to describe it, they despair at living through the annual title collapse.
Whether it arrives in the autumn or spring it is just as painful, as dis-spiriting. This year perhaps even more so.
THOSE NEVER ENDING BANTER YEARS
Celtic have been miles off it. Likely to finish 40 goals and around 15-20 points down on last season.
Stopping Celtic has been the driving force behind most Ibrox fan media. They might get that wish this season but it could involve a title party in Gorgie.
And the most ironic twist could come next Monday at Tynecastle. A draw or an away win could open the title door on Celtic, a home win and it is good-night to Rohl as his side lost another of their ‘cup finals’.
Russell Martin took some very critical questions from fan media in post match conferences.
They are still in awe of the lanky German. Grateful that he isn’t Russell Martin, Rohl wears a club suit and the brownest of brogues.
Reckoning time is coming soon for Rohl. And also for fan media to see if any of them have the minerals to call out the former Sheffield Wednesday boss.
RANGERS REVIEW
Derek Clark was in the depths of despair as he hosted the post match show with Blair Molloy providing comfort from Ibrox.
Clark put the blame for the performance and defeat on the five day ‘training camp’ in Marbella. It seems that there may have been too much time spent on team bonding compared to defending low cross into the penalty box.
Keep Believing was the mantra but they both know that defeat to Hearts on Monday will leave Rohl looking for miracles.
Soon not being Russell Martin might not be enough to keep the lanky German from falling foul of the baying mob.
FOUR LADS HAD A TEAM
Stevie and Kenny, the Temu version of the Mitchell Brothers were in the pits of despair as they reacted to Motherwell’s annual victory at Ibrox. It was a case of Deja-u. Again
Pre-match there were nerves. At half time it was concern. At full time it was all out despair.
To be fair their faces told the story at full-time. The Rohl roller-coater is heading in a very similar direction to Micky Beale and Phil Clement.
A lucky run of results creates delusions, reality returns and the lads realise that they’ve been had again. At least next season they won’t have to debate and justify Captain Disappointed.
HEART & HAND
David Edgar is one of the Commanders of Ibrox fan media. A pioneer from the Rangers Trust when the slogan We Deserve Better was launched. A few years later they were handed liquidation, Charles Green and the SPL Challenge Cup.
When David Graham, a regular on Heart & Hand got the Media gig at Ibrox Edgar was in the front door with a few others big hitters on the fan media circuit.
Some of the instant post match reactions are the stuff of legend. The phrase ‘it is the hope that kills them’ has never run truer.
The failures of two clubs this century is slowly draining the hope from Edgar. Hopefully he has a few more disappointments to discuss before this season ends.
RELATED READING
- Chris Sutton predicts Celtic’s title collapse
- Harrowing listen as the reality of the attack on the Green Brigade is laid bare
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