Dare we dream?

I’m still at the take it one game at a time stage but there are moments of wandering thoughts and dreams of potential glory.

And why shouldn’t we? It's been a rollercoaster of a season. The lows of losing our manager and sporadic form. The highs of a new beginning and European successes. The mediocre league form after Christmas left some with even a resignation we are facing a story we have suffered through before.

But maybe, just maybe, greatness awaits this squad who so desperately deserve it. 55 created legacy’s and heroes in blue. 56 would cement it, a Scottish Cup would enforce it but Europe would be immortality in the throngs of a history built on winning. All through the season, I have continued to discuss the only thing that matters and that is winning. Finding a way to get the points, win the tie or progress through. In Serbia, Rangers did that.

It wasn’t pretty, we rode our luck but when things like that start happening, on 150th birthdays and 50th anniversaries, then you begin to drift into that dreamland state. Europe isn’t build for this. It isn’t set up for the ‘little countries’. Rangers aren’t supposed to be in the last eight of anything. In recent seasons we have been close but stumbled. The natural progression of the squad has taken the next step and it has been deserved. But it just feels different. I’m feeling it. In the air.

Sure emotions are high. Barcelona, Atalanta, Lyon, West Ham are probably all favourites. It would take a hell of an effort. But a favourable draw might just help. That said,  Dortmund wasn’t a favourable draw and we triumphantly found our way past that. You can play down Rangers achievements if you like, try and draw parallels to season before, claim we are lucky and you can even try and say we aren’t very good. Ten goals in two ties with German and Serbian clubs certainly say otherwise.

READ MORE: The astonishing €17.8m Europa League prize pot Rangers can win

Dundee await on Sunday and then it’s the international break. A break which will be the chance for everyone to ready themselves for the month of all months. A month that will make or break all of our dreams. A month that will decide whether this group of players consolidate the legacy they all deserve.

So why do they deserve it? 55 alone means they deserve it. One of the most important titles in the club's history and they went unbeaten bringing home the trophy in emphatic style. You can’t tell me that James Tavernier or Alfredo Morelos, here through the hardening years of the ‘journey’, don’t deserve the legacy of that immortal status. You can’t tell me that Connor Goldson, a man fresh from major heart Surgery as he made the trip north and has been a regular nearly ever since, doesn’t deserve that status. You can’t tell me that Ryan Jack, a man who has come back from serious injury, doesn’t deserve it and you certainly can’t tell me that Allan McGregor, a man defying all the odds to resurrect a season and maintain a status, doesn’t deserve it.

They all do and quarter-final European status is only the tip of the iceberg in a season that could be the stuff of legends.

Of course I'm thinking too far ahead.

Of course I'm setting myself up for a fall.

Of course I am. 

But after the ten years we had, why shouldn’t we dare to dream?

As the draw is made on Friday afternoon we are there in the hat and not many will fancy a crack at the Rangers. Not many should. Because this team are special, this team do have the tools and capabilities of doing something really special. Throughout the team, there is a special quality. McGregor, Tav, Bassey, Leon Balogun, Kamara, Roofe, whoever you want to mention, they might just be clicking right when we need it.

We must dispatch of Dundee before thinking about other challenges. At a minimum we have to keep that gap at three points come Sunday night. Sure we will be tired but we have options, Aaron Ramsey, Filip Helander, Borna Barisic, Kemar Roofe, James Sands and others will come into the mind of the manager. They should all be eager to grasp the opportunity. Sunday is vital. They are all vital.

READ MORE: Allan McGregor has defied Rangers critics and proved again why he's club's greatest keeper - Derek Clark

Then it’s April. Ahh, April. Celtic possibly three times which will decide who dominates Scottish football. A European quarter-final. A trip to Hampden. League destiny. Heart rate through the roof. Stress, anxiety, nerves, everything a football fan loves because we go back for more.

But what waits at the end? The place were dreams can come true - greatness, immortality. It’s all there for a group of players we have been through the proverbial ringer with. But a group of players who deserve the success. We’ll learn whether they have the capabilities to take the next step. We will see just what April will bring. One last hoorah for a squad who deserve to exit as heroes before a summer of change. But that’s April. Dundee first Steven, keep the eye on the prize.

That’s days away though isn’t it?

So let’s dream a little. Why not?

You have to be in it to win it and if you are reading this thinking just what is he gibbering on about, then put it down to emotion. The euphoria of a dream that we weren’t supposed to be allowed to see come to life.

The team and management deserve every bit of praise. We criticise when right, we praise when right but no matter what we are always there. It’s all there for us. Rangers are in that position and It’s deserved. The rollercoaster may just be readying to do another lap, strap yourself in and let yourself get ready.

Full steam ahead Dundee on Sunday.

What a club.