BearInTheToon

Exactly, I said the same weeks ago. I’m sure they had plans to release some but after the whole Turkish/Chinese debacle, I thought they’d shelf the idea and hope it all quietly disappeared...

Absolutely, they fucked up massively, lied to the fans (who have found them out on it) and are now hoping it'll all go away. Quite simply, they outsourced the production of the home tops to two different factories and the Turkish one produced a far lesser quality product (which they then insisted on selling at the same price). I have a feeling that in order to wriggle out of this farcical situation which they themselves have created, they won't end up releasing the pro kit this year and will blame the likes of coronavirus for impacting production processes. It wouldn't now stand up to release a Chinese pro home top when, like you say, the women's home kit is already made in China, as well as the Away and 3rd tops, which are all of noticeably superior quality than the Turkish home tops. It'd need to be produced in Portugal, as we all assumed it would be, and be an even greater improvement on the Chinese tops. And I don't think that'll happen.

That’s incredible. How did not one of the ten manage to bring it up? Fuck sake.

Surely to god someone took them to task for the whole pro/replica kit debacle around the home top?! The fans have been lied to on that one and along with their horrific customer service, it’s one of the issues which has most pissed me off. Please tell me out of the 10 people present, someone asked serious questions of that.

I was one of those who didn’t have their July 1st preorder home top delivered. Eventually got a refund in late August and I have to say, I’m glad. Finally, went to the store on Sunday for the first time and the difference between the home top and the away/3rd kit was really noticeable. I checked loads of the tops from each and the away and 3rd tops were superior in terms of detail, quality of stitching and fabric. I wouldn’t touch one of the Turkish home tops tbh (especially as it’s a lie/scam from Castore that those are the actual, proper replica kits). For me, it’s the Chinese away and 3rd top, especially, all the way.

Can’t help with the orange/grey top mate but what was the stock like in the store, generally? Was there much in the way of home, away and 3rd tops? Planning on taking my nephew through this weekend but just want to check stock levels make it worthwhile.

How was the stock for away and 3rd tops? Did you notice if they’re all China-made or have Castore started to sneakily introduce Turkish versions of those?

I was in the same position as yourselves last week, guys. So, I decided to up the ante a bit. I sent Greg Marshall a DM on twitter just letting him know the situation and in fairness to him, he got back to me within about 10 hours and asked me to keep him in the loop. As such, I sent another email to Castore via the concierge@ email last Tuesday and in the very first sentence, so that they would instantly see it/take it more seriously, wrote that "I'm emailing following direct contact with Greg Marshall, the official Rangers FC Supporters Liaison Officer, who is now aware of this particular case and has asked to be kept informed of how it is handled." I then went on to explain, again, that I'd sent 4 other emails (which were in the thread already) and had been totally ignored, that the top hadn't arrived, that Hermes were the only ones who had actually bothered to respond etc. Low and behold, I finally received a reply from Castore the following day, apologising for the error and that a refund would be with me within 14 days. And 4 days later, the full refund appeared on my card. @Bydo, you and I were in the exact same situation so for them to launch an investigation is shocking. So, I suggest giving them a scare and letting them know people at the club are watching, as it's totally unacceptable.

Have to say, having preordered the home top only to now have it refunded as it was never delivered, I won’t be buying the Turkish made top. Not when you see the difference in quality between that and other home tops, as well as the away and 3rd tops, for what are fairly basic elements. On top of that, I’m not buying that the quality Chinese tops were prematurely sent Pro tops. They’re either going to see a big drop off in sales or are going to have to do an about turn and start churning out better quality tops again.

Castore have scored an almighty, potentially crippling own goal here in terms of the future kit sales. If they’re seriously trying to say the Turkish kits are the ones people ‘should be getting’, when we now know that far superior Chinese kits of the same design have been on sale at the same price, I think a huge proportion of fans will refuse to buy them. If so, they’ll not get anyway near their 350k-500k target. They need to forget about their profit margins and prove they are indeed a ‘premium’ sportswear brand and ensure all kits are produced to the same quality as the Chinese versions.

It’s almost certainly going to be related to the injury he got against Motherwell a couple of Christmases back. Tbf, it’s completely normal that people who have had knee injuries have to manage them slightly differently to make sure they don’t flare up/have a build up of fluid etc. Shameful from the Scotland set up though. Rank fucking amateurs.

And not one fuck is given by me 👍 Just trying to create a healthy debate, mate.

It's all about opinions mate so, fair play. But I really think 352 is totally unnecessary in our league. It means an extra body at the back when most teams play just one up front. And for the more physical, faster teams, they'd pinned our wingbacks back and double up on them at times. I think we just need to get better at playing/find the perfect combination of players to play 433 which for me is a better option than even 4231, which can leave the midfield being overrun when even average teams pack that area.

This. We all know this place is renowned for flip-flopping like fuck but one, albeit brilliant, signing yesterday shouldn't paper over the cracks of the weekend. The manager set the tone with his tactics, formation and approach. He created an unnecessary, unjustifiable fear within the players. Also, I do think that we can't gloss over the performance of a good few players who in truth, haven't been on it for a few weeks now. There's this myth that some just had a one-off, bad day on Sunday but the alarm bells have been sounding for a bit longer re Goldson (though he was immense at home to FCM), Aribo, Ojo, Arfield and Tav. Again, questions need to be asked why some of them weren't rested more. Anyway, let's hope they all up their game after the break. Let's face it, they need to.

Yeah, just seen that now. Thank fuck for that and hopefully it makes all the difference to him.

I agree mate re Aribo being a mainstay. He’s going to be a serious player. Hopefully the break does him good as he’s been off it for a few games. But if not, we need to change things up. And King has come in as this EPL winning, scoring AM. Arfield on form, there’s no doubt. But he’s badly off the pace and is now away with Canada (I believe?). So more games, more travel, more fatigue...

So now that the squad is confirmed and we know who’s in/out, what do we reckon should be the line up we go with in the short-term for the coming games? It’s been clear for weeks that Arfield, Aribo and Ojo (Danes at home, aside) haven’t been at it and look fucked/off it. Add to that, Goldson has been up and down and Tav hasn’t looked himself either. Personally, I’d be interested to see Stewart in the Arfield role. Similar players, tidy feet, can pick a pass, find spaces between the lines. And for me, Aribo has had a hefty loss of form for a few games now, so I’d be interested to see King. SG has spoken a lot about having a squad/two players for every position. Yet, frustratingly, he hasn’t actually utilised it resulting in, for my money, players like Arfield, Aribo and Ojo looking like they’re spent/needing a break. If Aribo’s, Arfield’s and Goldson’s form picked up dramatically, they’d likely be first choices but based on the last few games, I’d be interested to see for a few games something along the lines of: McGregor Tav Katic Helander Barasic Davis Jack King Stewart Kent Morelos Subs: Fod, Goldson, Flanagan, Aribo, Arfield, Ojo, Defoe Thoughts?

And btw, if he has done his knee ligaments, that’ll be his Rangers career fucked. He’ll never be the same player/have the same pace. Said the same about Murphy this time last year too and it’s panned out for him exactly as I thought.

Unbelievable. What a fanny. Should be made to pay for his own scan/surgery!

Na, even Goram and Klos got beaten in those situations. Many times. Equally, they saved them numerous times too. As has Shagger. Point being, as a few posts above, if they’re up against a quality, composed finisher, it should be a goal nearly every time. And let’s face it, we would have been ragin’ had Morelos missed in the same situation, which kind of tells you everything.

SG/Beale shat it. Simples. Rather than having the players pumped with reassurance and an endorsement of what they do, he fucked with the team and gave them an inferiority complex. Shocking.

Not having that from the Gaffer. I love the guy but he should’ve come out and said he got it wrong. He set the mentality among the players and by changing, made them question how they normally did things. Baffling decisions all day. Undoubtedly though, Arfield, Ojo, Aribo, Tav and Kamara have been off it for weeks though and that just can’t happen. Also, regarding incomings, we need Kent. No ifs, buts or I’d be surprised. It’s clear. Loan with an ‘obligation to buy’ - I have no doubt Liverpool would accept. So get it done Rangers.

Na mate, he wasn’t schooled at all. Not at all. Lennon set them up exactly as would have thought. No surprises. Lennon didn’t beat us today We however, beat ourselves. Namely, Gerrard with his tactics, and the message that sent to the players, beat us. We cowered to them and that’s completely unacceptable.

Seriously, anyone even thinking about continuing to sing the sectarian shite in stadiums anywhere needs their head checked. Make no mistake, with this particular manager at the helm, and the direction that the club is heading, not to mention the fact it’s 2019 btw, you’re not only selfish/mindless, but your actions could seriously jeopardise the club financially, reputation-wise and possibly in terms of sanctions/points deductions. And it could seriously discourage our manager who won’t want his own pretty much immaculate reputation associated with such behaviour. The spotlight is now firmly on us as fans and I think it’s quite clear that the wider society (forget anything about taigs/SNP pish) won’t stand for it. Nor should it.

Check out the Rangers official twitter page. They have some cracking videos not seen on the website/YouTube etc