craig

Scotland won't get far with a squad of one..... Although the U-19's do seem much more potent.

wasn't that long by your usual standards calscot

That is the thing, SDM is scared shitless to spend ANY money which actually hinders us both on AND off the pitch. If we had a policy of bringing through youth or speculating on young guys like Brown and Naismith then it could ultimately BENEFIT our financial state because if you tie up 21 or 22 yr old guys on long term deals on reasonable wages then 3 or 4 yrs into a 5 yr contract you could cash in on them in a market which is likely to be as bouyant as it is now, at least in England with the TV cash. These guys at 21 or 22 yrs old will only be BETTER players by then in a better team and have more exposure. An example... Brown - cost 4.4 million - 4 yrs later he has helped you win trophies, sell for 6 mill (not unreasonable in my opinion) Naismith - cost 2 million - 4 yrs later helped you win trophies, sell for 4-5 million - again not unreasonable in my opinion. So excluding wages you have just made profit of 3.6-4.6 million in 4 yrs whilst also having their services. Again, I know this is hearsay but I dont think those numbers are unreasonable. Yet our custodian is afraid to spend ANY money, which leaves us shopping the bargain basement. ZERO forward thinking from the powers that be at Ibrox. Look at Celtic and how much money they have made from Nakamura from shirt sales alone - again, even if he wasnt a first team player he would have been a good squad player and his fee would have been paid in merchandising sales. Forward thinking from Celtic whilst we are being managed/led by fear.

But Gribz.... did Celtic not make sell Petrov off for a tidy sum ? And he was also playing at Celtic. I think that Brown has as much potential as Petrov had (but maybe I am blinkered). I agree that the SPL gets held to ransom because of the quality of the league and its standing (was going to say the very same thing to Pete the other day when he mentioned Huntelaar, how much he cost Ajax and how much he would now command - he wouldn't command nearly as much if he had been at Rangers). But I think that Celtic could easily make profit on Brown in a couple of years time - he will have more exposure due to Europe and internationals. It is all hearsay for now but I would rather look at the bigger picture and what we could eventually see (sell a player for profit) as opposed to dealing in the bargain basement, make no money and then likely have to buy out their contracts, as has happened to us so many times in the past. Elmander is a good example of what I am getting at - and Huntelaar would be too. Quality is permanent and these guys would have made us a better team, gotten more exposure for themselves and possibly moved on at profit. Where we are dealing that isn't too likely.

Thing is though, he is a young kid and if he cost us 2 mill, we got him on a 5 yr deal and then he progresses as much as he has already then we could make PROFIT on him. Sorry but I believe that sometimes you have to speculate to accumulate. Scott Brown is a good example - IMO will end up generating a PROFIT for the Tims (excluding wages) because he will get more exposire at international level as well as in Europe for them in the next few years, he will progress as a player and in all likelihood will help them win things - IF he leaves them he will go for a profit IMO, which means he is good business for them. In the meantime we find ourselves scraping the Bosman barrel and invariably paying off contracts - sorry but I would rather pay a premium price for a Scott Brown or a Stephen Naismith with the hope that you will eventually sell them on at profit (or better yet see them progress professionally and see out their career at Rangers) than sign a foreign Bosman who simply doesn't produce and ends up COSTING you millions in paying off his contract.

I don't think points will be deducted though will they ? I thought Lex Gold said that they didn't have the power to deduct points ? As for the rest, I agree !

Is Bristol North of London Jon ?

The question said NORTH of LONDON. So they are included in the answers.

But Gribz... would you not also have said that Scott Brown was merely another SPL team's creative player ? Yet by all acounts he gave the World Champions a torrid time when introduced as a sub. I think you are being very harsh on all of these players who have yet to pull on a jersey for our club and have the chance to play at European level. Every player has to start somewhere. Even though Beckham was on the books of Man U he had to go out and serve his apprenticeship on loan to, I think, Preston (bad example I know but you have to give these guys a chance). And in the same post you then say that Darcheville may "possibly be a better player" - how much of him have you seen to suggest that ? His scoring record isn't that great yet it looks as if you are giving him the benefit of the doubt simply because he has plied his trade in a league other than the SPL. Not getting at you, I just find it confusing that we give guys the benefit of the doubt who haven't deserved it (Sebo...... just for you Gribz) whilst these other so called "lesser known" players are not given even ONE chance before they have even pulled the jersey on. Don't forget that guys like Naismith and Gow have flourished whilst playing with poorer teams. They will hopefully play better whilst playing beside better players - they will either do that or they will slide into obscurity - but if they slide into obscurity, at least in Gow's case, it wouldn't have cost us much to see if he CAN make the step up.

Gav, Ukraine still have to come to Hampden

In a manner it isnt off topic - and is quite the point of the topic. Pretty much every song sung will/could be taken as offensive to a certain group of individuals. It will be an absolute nightmare to control - good luck to the powers that be in achieving that !

I thought that due to the fact there are minnows in the groups that they only took goals against, say, the top 3 or 4 teams in the group - which means Faroes would be discounted totally - was pretty sure that they brought this in a few years ago. Could definitely be wrong

Don't think they count goals against the weaker teams in the group, do they ?

I have Boyd to score at anytime - Idont think that bet will be coming up. Also had first goal to be before 27 mins - out by 4 freaking mins !

I really should have guessed.....

Michael Johnston is the Killie chairman

According to the Killie chairman it is a fallacy about the release clause. So it depends on who you believe.

The rumour was that it was Bristol City.... but they then denied it. You have to be a bit coy - but if anyone at Ibrox honestly believed we would get this lad for 200k down payment and 200k a year later then they need their heads examined. I am all for driving the best deal - but FFS that was a joke of an offer. The club should at least have made an offer whereby Killie would have to CONSIDER it. The offer made by Rangers was a waste of time and a waste of fax paper - if I were the Killie chairman I would have thrown it in the bin as soon as I could stop laughing hysterically. It is nothing short of embarassing that this was our first offer for a player with plenty of potential.

To me Toshack always came across as an arrogant tosser. Good player but I never really rated him as a manager.

That as may be but your criticism of Super_Ally was based on Smith not having established himself whilst you included another non-established player. Fit and on form Smith would be my choice too. But right now Naysmith is an easy option.

But Fraser.... you had Hutton in your team and he hasn't established himself as an international player either......

In his eyes yes. I was looking at it from a business decision by Celtic - not much for them and they get a decent squad filler who only costs them 250k a year. For them I think it is decent business (not that I would want him at Ibrox) and for him he gets a much higher salary.

Not awe inspiring - but could definitely be a decent squad filler for them and I would imagine on low wages.

They will be spewing their undoubted paranoia Barry !

Fair point Frankie - what should happen is that the Celtic FD, when a disciplinary hearing is undertaken for a Celtic player, should excuse himself from the meeting and not be part of the decision - making in that process. Gordon Smith could do the same with players he represents.