But what Rangers team will show up this weekend? Even at this relatively early stage of the season, there have been about half a dozen different versions on display, from the outstanding which swept the Jambos aside (did they have a game in midweek?) to the inept of last Saturday, with various levels of performance in between. Consistently inconsistent, thats Rangers!
St.Mirren will be looking to catch the Gers on another off-day, hoping we might be suffering something of a hangover from our Thursday night exertions. They are showing signs of being the Falkirk of this season, surprising quite a few teams and getting enough points on the board in the early part of the season to give themselves a safety net. I certainly can't see them falling away later on and going down.
But neither do I want to see them getting any favours from Rangers on Sunday. Other candidates for the drop like Dundee United and Dunfermline have already succeeded in picking up points at our expense so Gus McPherson's team will feel they have nothing to fear. Oh dear, in better days they would be afraid, very afraid.
Like all the troops who braved the wind and the rain in Livorno, I'd like to see Nacho Novo's efforts rewarded with a place in the starting line-up. He was the only one who looked like he might salvage something from last weekend's debacle and, if nothing else, his workrate opens up so many options for those around him. But will he be linking up with Boydie, will Dado be back in at the start after spending so much of Thursday night on the bench, or will Sebo get the nod ahead of the rest? I can't even begin to get inside PLG's head on team selections.
Sebo's late goal against thre Sheepies masked a multitude of shortcomings. To be perfectly honest, there was not a great deal of difference between the quality of our play against the Two Jimmies lot than that against Caley Thistle. The once defining matter was the result but the euphoria which followed us scraping through against Dolly & Co was more than a bit OTT and smacked of despairing relief, not genuine joy.
I'll take it but...
Our away form has left a lot to be desired but, when we can go to Italy and win more comfortably than the 3-2 scoreline suggets, we should be able to take a trip to Paisley in our stride. However, last week's disappointment has sucked us into the same points bracket as the nonentities battling for the mid-table positions. Defeat and the consequential self-doubt is not an option.
Recent events have led to many Bears doubting PLG's ability. It was a major topic of conversation (and heated debate!) among those who travelled to Italy and, while it does no harm to ask questions, too many appear to be in too big a hurry and jump aboard the Press Gang's bandwagon and point the finger in Le Gaffer's direction.
Yes, I've been puzzled, disappointed even, with some of his team selections but I'm prepared to give him his place for now. Ripping up the script and starting afresh serves no purpose other than to give our enemies more ammunition to fire in the direction of our club. If we are having the same debate a year from now I might begin to ask where it all will end but we really don't need to go there yet.
A good performance, a couple of goals and three points on Sunday will lift everyone and give us all that much-needed swagger which was so evident as we partied in Livorno and Pisa on Thurday night/Friday morning.
LITTLE BOY BLUE