UCF2008

I'd go for Gattuso or Lampard. Just the type of player we need in midfield. Esp. when Fergie gets injured.

OK while we're being f**kwits about it... Gordon Ramsay. - At least the catering side of Ibrox would improve. Might even be able to get Charlie Adam down a waist size or two.

Sounds more like you've had one too many Maybe need to take a nap buddy :cheers:

As much as I think the days of us making big-name signings are in the past - partially because of the JJB deal (less money to be made from a name), but also because we seem to be trying to make the big-name players these days as opposed to signing has-beens - As the '6th best team in the world' not to mention UEFA cup finalists, there's no doubt we could attract our fair share of the worlds best (OK, better) players. If you had your pick of household names (at least try to be realistic) who would you go for? Let's say the transfer kitty for this endeavour is �£10 million

I think Dick Advocaat nailed it when he compared Ferguson to Ballack. He's not the best attacking midfielder in the world or the best holding midfielder in the world, he's just a straightforward midfielder with a good level of skill and plenty of fighting spirit. It's just been his and our missfortune that due to constantly playing through injury and struggling to find his true level of form, we've been stuck with the 'poor mans Ballack' for the past 3 seasons. Hopefully this season can be different and he'll do enough to prove all the doubters wrong.

Couldn't agree more as it should be a great game. The missinterpretions of 'their' song amongst our support as well as the 'joe'-public issue are a worry nonetheless.

Have to agree that it's best for him to leave and free up the wages and place in the squad for a player who will actually get a game. Buffel is a very skillful player. The standout game for me has to be against Inter Milan at Ibrox in the CL. While BF was making f*cked up passbacks and stoating about like a headless chicken, TB was running riot and setting up chances at goal. Great player who I wish the best of luck. No doubt if Belgium qualify for the World Cup he'll be there to rub it in a la Sionko. Basically though, it's funny I should mention him because, add-ons aside, it's a similar situation. Good player ...on good wages ...doesn't fit in ...could have been a legend ...but wasn't ...best get rid.

Another thing which has bothered me, esp. since he came back from Blackburn is the way in which he deals with certain aspects of his leadership duties. All too often he berates the younger players (even if he's the one at fault) when he would do better to offer encouragement to those who look up to him. I have to admit that he didn't seem to do this as often last season, so hopefully that's a side of his game which has been brought into check.

RDB was a great player and had his fair share of good times at Ibrox. However, his final season at the club was a huge letdown, whether it was through legitimate injury or otherwise. As a result of this he'll struggle to be remembered as the Rangers legend he could have been. Ferguson, on the other hand, is already there. Although a fair share of our support have their doubts about him, it wasn't enough to put a stop to the despicable scenes at Fir Park which all but brought down the curtain on the short-lived PLG era. He still has my backing as captain of club and country as when he's 100% fit he's always been our best player. I do however feel that when he's playing through the pain barrier, most of the time it's like being a man down. This HAS TO STOP and if we're to blame anyone for it continuing to happen it has to be the manager. At the end of the day if he's not fit enough to play for Scotland, then he's not fit enough to play for Rangers. At least IMO that should be the case.

IMO we can't afford to send the likes of Furman out on loan this season as he's one of the few under 21's we have in the first team squad who can do a job for us. Because of the SPL under 21 rule I'd expect to see Lafferty in the squad for every SPL game, with the other 2 places taken by a rotation of Furman, Fleck and Lennon (unless we sign any other youngsters that is). One thing that does concern me slightly about Fleck is that with us having so many forwards ATM and Lafferty more than likely getting the nod ahead of him, his opportunities could be very limited this season. Could be an idea to send him out on loan. Unless he's happier to stick with the under 19's and reserve set-up that is.

The one thing that worries me is that because we didn't have top scorer in the league, some fans seem to be taking this harder than actually losing the league. Then when you look at the 3 forwards we've just brought in and take into account their (not so prolific) scoring records, I can't see this situation improving next season. We might well score more than the other lot overall (again), but if SMcD scores more than Boydy again, then all will be lost and of course, no matter how many games he's given, it'll all be Boyd's fault

Statistics aside, I'm sure that every fan, had they been told last Summer the outcome of the season just past, would have grabbed it with both hands.

If you were to look at the stats I'm sure that Boyd will probably be credited with roughly as many assists as the other strikers (esp. taking into consideration the amount of game time). I agree that a lack of width did cause us problems last season. Personally I thought Burke was excellent for most of the 5-6 games he wasn't injured. Beasley was going through a settling in period in the SPL ...then got injured ...then we struggled in wider areas mainly because McCulloch and Davis (even Nacho) aren't wingers. This combined with a lack of natural width in defence did make things difficult ...and yet last season was (at least statisticaly) our best in how long?

Agreed. The long-ball tactics are very frustrating. The distribution from defence needs some improvement. What's the point in having most of the midfield sat in defence when they just get in one anothers way and hoof it up the park?. It's too predictable and only makes it easy for the oppostion to retain possession. I don't think the formation is at fault. It's just the players don't stick to their task and make it difficult for themselves a lot of the time.

I think it depends on the support from midfield in the 4-5-1 as to whether Boyd can play the role. For instance when we're playing 4 centre backs and only 1 player from midfield is supporting the striker (or supposed to be at least) then that definitely doesn't suit Boyd. If however the line-up was more attack minded (switching between 4-5-1 and 4-3-3 on the counter) I think it would work. Of course this probably depends on the level of the opposition.

Try wiki not but sure what language we is speak

Re: Velicka, What about the other players I've stuck in my reserve team? Do they deserve to be bit-part players? Of course not - most of them are internationals just like Velicka. We need a big squad and we've got one. I hope Velicka gets his chance and does well, but I'm just trying to be realistic here. As for Cousin - you could always argue that the headbut situation just showed he was fired up. Maybe the coaching staff just thought that missing the final was punishment enough and didn't give him too much of a hard time about it? As it turned out they should have and yes, it was stupid to do the same thing in the next game, but even the best players lose the plot at the worst possible times (zidane?). I just think he should be given the benifit of the doubt. Afterall, I recall Ferguson giving him his backing in the press - about how Cousin had been miss-quoted and how he got along well with everyone in training. Didn't see him doing that for certain other 'misfits'. Then again nobody was bidding �£3 million for Gow or Buffel so who knows I did find it strange though that in each case with Cousin, the story broke on the eve of the Lyon CL matches. Maybe the French press are just as bad as ours. OR more than likely it was our mhedia who were feeding them the bullsh*t.

I didn't say he wouldn't

I would like to see Boyd make it as the lone striker. It would be good if he could prove the doubters wrong and become the sort of forward I believe he's capable of becoming. I did say however, that last season and for the meantime there were and still are better options for the lone striker role. Lafferty is only 20 and hence WILL make AT LEAST the bench for SPL games ...ESPECIALLY as he cost �£3 million + !!! Remembering that we have the under 21's rule, at least we can make good use of one of them next season. He's got a lot of potential (that's why he cost so much) and has already established himself at international level, but there's no denying that this is a big step up for him and it could take him a season or two to earn himself a regular start (think Naismith). I take it you're a fan of KM - I'm not. I hope that when he's given an opportunity he does well as I do for all of our players. I do however believe we have better options and see him as a useful squad player. Judging by the chorus around Ibrox on several ocassions last season I get the feeling that a MAJORITY would agree (and maybe that's being kind). As for Velicka he's done well previously in his time at Hearts, but I don't recall any fans back then saying we should sign him - hence 'squad player'. ANY QUESTIONS???

JCD had constant injury problems last season and struggled to get a run of games without picking up a knock or strain. He wasn't the only one playing through the pain barrier, BUT as a striker trying to prove himself in his first season with the Gers, he didn't have the luxury of 'pacing' himself like some others got away with. Nonetheless he gave it his all, winning the respect of the fans in the process and gave a decent return. Hopefully, next season he'll have less injury troubles. Boyd WOULD be my 1st choice striker, but until he proves himself capable of fitting into the different roles required in some games (I'd love to see him starting more games in Europe for a kick-off) the other options will need to be used. :cheers:

That's what the subs bench is there for IMO Cousin is taking far too much stick for what amounts to no more than mhedia speculation and a sh*t-stirring 'Tic supporting agent. He's a good player and scored a decent amount of goals at all levels and in all formations last season. He's said in the past he'd like to play in the Prem. I'm sure he's not the only one amongst our current squad who's guilty of that. Until he's gone, as far as I'm concerned, he's still a valuable asset. As for Boyd, you'll notice that in the 4-4-2 he's there by default with Darche or Cousin as a partner. It's just the lone striker role, which I have to admit I would like to see Boyd play (at least in the future), but that's down to Walter giving him a chance and Boydy making the most of it. Then there's the new signings. Lafferty has got potential and will more than likely make the bench at least for SPL games next season, given his age. Vellicka and Miller are squad players ...I hope

Maybe, but I see no reason drastically change a team which took us to 6th in the world IFFHS Club World Rankings

-------------------------McGregor------------------------ Whittaker----------Cuellar----------Weir----------Smith -----------------------Thomson----------------------- Novo-----------Davis---------Ferguson------Beasley -----------------------Darche/Cousin----------------------- or -------------------------McGregor------------------------ Whittaker---------Cuellar----------Weir----------Smith Novo/Davis---------Thomson---------Ferguson--------Beasley ------------------Cousin/Darche----------Boyd----------------- RESERVE -------------------------Alexander------------------------ Clubfoot---------Webster----------Dailly----------Papac Burke---------Hemdani--------Adam---------McCulloch ----------------Vellicka/Miller----------Lafferty/Fleck----------------- *subject to change

They've all got their own individual strengths (and weaknesses). For all-round ability a 100% fit Ferguson is the best we've got.