“It’s Old Firm week Jim, but not as we know it”

We have to admit to something intriguing here at Ibrox Noise. Last time there was an Old Firm match (not exactly long ago), the press was filled with constant anti-Rangers jibes. From Dorin Goian slagging off drinking culture, to other ex-players having a pop, the press seemed to be filled with constant slurs on Rangers.

“Must be Old Firm week” we said. We all said.

And yet look at the build up to the most significant Old Firm match since 1999. The media has been absolutely jammed with good Rangers news, Steven Gerrard this, Allan McGregor that – there has barely been a bad word said about the club the past seven days.

The only negative Rangers stuff has been on Celtic-minded websites – well, all these sites ever do is talk about us!

Why is this? Why have the mainstream media gone from dishing the dirt to bigging up all the changes at Ibrox?

Even well-known anti-Rangers rags are doing nothing but positivity on Rangers, which is even more remarkable given what Celtic are 99% certain to achieve on Sunday (notwithstanding an unlikely win for Hearts).

There has been so little mention of the Old Firm and even Rangers’ chaos from the past two weeks has barely merited a line.

We welcome this. We welcome positive portrayals for once – papers bigging up things down Govan way and speaking highly of what is happening.

Perhaps the Steven Gerrard story has been the difference – with arguably the biggest British football legend over the past 20 years very likely to be the manager, the press are unable to slaughter Rangers, and instead his influence, reputation and legacy have forced our normally vicious press to behave themselves.

After all, our press would want to be very cosy with someone like Gerrard, much like they are with Rodgers in the East End.

And that can only work in Rangers’ favour.

Whatever the reason, the change in tone from the press has been as stark as it has inexplicable. We usually expect a tonne of negative slurs by Friday on Old Firm week, but there’s barely been a single one.

Maybe things are changing…

We’ll see.