Zappa

We weren't far off it today in all honesty!

To be honest, I don't quite buy into the full-on hype about Andy Murdoch. He's a very good young player, but he isn't the finished article by any means and he's quite short of pace as well.

Hopefully we hold out and get him a loan deal to a decent club in a league no lower than our own rather than sending him out to lower divisions. Sending Ryan Sinnamon out to Falkirk for example, is a good deal for the lad and that's the sort of deal Andy Murdoch deserves.

Gough's only got part of it right. Yes, he must have been badly advised, but there's also the money side of it for the lad personally and last, but probably not least, the fact that the lad's as thick as mince.

LAST CALL! ... Remember to post your predictions before our 12:30 kick-off today!!! Do it here - Predictions for Alloa v Rangers - Championship match 2 (GPL game 4)

I see that Ryan Sinnamon went straight onto Falkirk's bench today, although he didn't feature. Elsewhere, Luca Gasparotto played the full match for Morton today at Easter Road.

If a UK based professional player is under 24 they're only available on a free bosman transfer if they're not offered a new contract by their club and are released by that club. Depending on various conditions/requirements in the club's league rules, if the player's been offered a new contract by his club and he rejects that offer in order to sign for another club, compensation is payable.

Presumably an alternative expression to HIVS (junkies).

It won't surprise me if they get Allan back on loan before the end of the transfer window and in the meantime they're not necessarily weakened much, if at all. The lad Dan Carmichael who Hibs signed from QotS impressed me a lot more last season than Scott Allan did.

Agreed rbr. This will hopefully be a good deal for all parties. As long as the lad gets enough game time for Falkirk it should be very beneficial to his development.

That wouldn't surprise me at all because Warburton will see Eastace as his no.1 defensive midfielder, but is clever enough to know that he needs a solid no.2 as back-up for Eastace. The lad Ball will give him that and also give him another good central defender as well.

Remember to post your predictions before our game against Alloa kicks off tomorrow! Do it here - Predictions for Alloa v Rangers - Championship match 2 (GPL game 4)

Good idea to get them today because this game could be a total sell out by the middle of next week!

Don't forget to post your predictions for the Alloa game on Sunday! Do it here - Predictions for Alloa v Rangers - Championship match 2 (GPL game 4)

Did you watch the two play-off final legs vs Motherwell? Bomb-scare is an understatement!

Total class.

This is a very professional way to go about our business and hats off to Alloa for allowing us to do it.

A source said: “It’s a reasonable coup for Warburton to convince Spurs that these players will benefit more from a season working under him in the second tier of Scottish football than they would at clubs in the English championship. “Not only are they working with a manager that Spurs know well but they are also getting the chance to play in front of crowds of around 50,000 every second week and that is also a big factor behind the decision. The feeling is, if they can cope with that sort of pressure then it can only help them deal with playing in front of 36,000 at White Hart Lane.” http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/rangers-boss-mark-warburton-seals-6241606 50k vs 36k

I'm delighted if it's true we've signed this lad on loan today. He's apparently a real talent and hot prospect for Spurs with a big future ahead of him.

Even if it were true (for certain weeks where expenses were unavoidably high) Charles Green and Imran Ahmad were probably regularly blowing 2 or 3 times that amount per week.

Don't forget to post your predictions for the Alloa game on Sunday! Do it here - Predictions for Alloa v Rangers - Championship match 2 (GPL game 4)

I got your PM mate. Thanks for the Ayr preview, it's much appreciated. Right, so here's the updated schedule folks. We're still looking for someone to write the preview for Airdrie in the League Cup in a couple of weeks, so roll up! _____________________________________________________________ Upcoming: AUG 16 - Alloa v Rangers - SPFL Championship - Rousseau AUG 19 - Ayr Utd v Rangers - Petrofac Training Cup R2 - Germinal AUG 23 - Rangers v Hibs - SPFL Championship - Zappa AUG 26 - Airdrie v Rangers - League Cup R2 - ??? AUG 30 - QotS v Rangers - SPFL Championship - Rousseau SEP 05 - Rangers v Raith Rovers - SPFL Championship - JohnMc SEP 12 - Rangers v Livingston - SPFL Championship - andthefoxsays SEP 19 - Dumbarton v Rangers - SPFL Championship - ??? SEP 22/23 - TBC v TBC - League Cup R3 - ??? SEP 27 - Morton v Rangers - SPFL Championship - ??? _____________________________________________________________ Completed: JUL 25 - Hibs v Rangers - Petrofac Training Cup R1 - Frankie (done) AUG 02 - Rangers v Peterhead - League Cup R1 - Pete (done) AUG 07 - Rangers v St Mirren - SPFL Championship - 26th of foot (done) _____________________________________________________________

Here's a new article we've just published on the main site - http://www.gersnet.co.uk/index.php/news-category/current-affairs/419-the-good-times-are-on-the-way-back The good times are on the way back by Jamie Currie A few months is a long time in this crazy game that we all love. Andy Halliday commented post-match to Rangers TV: “ We are loving life.” He could be speaking for teammates and the fans as well. The stadium roared last Sunday afternoon when James Tavernier’s slick footwork left the Peterhead player bamboozled. Martyn Waghorn firing his shot over the crossbar followed. That roar wasn’t just any roar – it was symbolic. The fans now firmly believe the club is moving in the right direction both in the boardroom and out on the field of play. The positive energy surrounding Rangers at the minute is something that hasn’t been around since the week of the UEFA Cup final in 2008. It has only been reaffirmed with the sale of season tickets: the club has surged through the 30,000 barrier and are closing in on 35,000, which all things considered, is fantastic loyalty from the support. Frankly, those sort of numbers were only going to be whipped up if supporters saw change taking place, and to everyone at the club’s credit, especially the board for keeping to their promises. Off the field, the banning of certain shareholders’ voting rights alongside the pending listing on the ISDX market, are good moves on the business side. On the field, the prudent, sensible manner the management team and MD Stewart Robertson have gone about their business of rebuilding the decimated footballing operation has been first class. Between them, in the market, they have let 12 players leave the club; replacing them with eight and a net transfer spend of around £685,000. That is good business in anyone’s book. It’s not only the way the transfers have been conducted, the trial periods of Jason Holt, Reece Wabara and particularly John Eustace have been handled with the utmost professionalism, care and consideration. It’s that kind of professionalism and know-how that has been lacking in the transfer market for a number of years – all the way back to Martin Bain’s time as chief exec – where paying off players seemed to be the norm rather than trying to grab some sort of transfer fee for them. That goes back to what Mark Warburton has continually talked about when he referenced value, not only are the club capturing young, hungry players at a minimal outlay, but are looking to bring in guys like Eustace alongside model pros like Lee Wallace and Kenny Miller to help the younger guys on and off the field. It won’t just be those three who carry that responsibility. Davie Weir, who played into his early 40s, is there to give the players the best advice on how to look after their bodies in order to prolong their playing careers. So far, on the footballing side of things, everything has been positive. The players are happy, the management team are happy, but most importantly, the fans seem to be delighted and buying into what the new management team are trying to do. The exuberance from the three performances thus far, and the two domestic cup results to get the season underway and it seems like it is not going to take a dip anytime soon. That good form and feel-good factor only carried itself into the first home league match of the season as St Mirren visited Ibrox. The performance was very pleasing and the football was excellent at times. It didn’t take long for Ibrox to stand as one; Lee Wallace rifled a left footed shot high beyond Ridgers from a Barrie McKay corner. Wallace who produced a magnificent solo display added the second goal midway through the first half. The move was a thing of beauty: involving McKay and Holt, the latter played a lovely through ball for Wallace to run onto and calmly slot home between the legs of the helpless keeper. The 3-1 scoreline flattered the victors somewhat. But that was down to one of two minor flaws within the side. The defensive midfield position is one that has to be addressed – while Andy Halliday is doing a decent job in there, he often lets the opposing midfielders run off the back of him. He would be better utilised in one of the two other midfield positions. The only other flaw is the passing up of numerous chances, but as the season progresses you would imagine that the sharpness in finishing will improve. It was a good night of football and a good barometer of how far the side have come under Warburton, especially as Rangers lost the game against Hearts 2-1 around the same time last season. Warburton has sent the fans home happy in both the home games until now. As a fan, that is all you can ask for, to see the team win and be entertained. It is only a short period into the tenure of the new management team, but they seem to have caught the imagination of everyone. If it keeps continuing at this rate, the summer feel-good factor around the club will only continue to gain momentum. One cannot help but think this season could indeed be one to look back on and think: “Yeah, that’s when the Rangers came back.” http://www.gersnet.co.uk/index.php/news-category/current-affairs/419-the-good-times-are-on-the-way-back

Thanks guys, that's your names down for those games. Anyone else want to write a match preview?

Sorry Ian, I missed this post. Aye, no doubt mate. In fact I think ST sales are going to keep rising no matter what happens. There could be another decent surge at the end of the month when folk get paid.