BrahimHemdani
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Everything posted by BrahimHemdani
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Not arguing with any of that but those are not the reasons we had to go to the SFL.
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I'll answer that in three words: Juan Román Riquelme.
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Wouldn't mind having him though. Edit: or Henry for that matter.
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Yes but do you not agree with the general thrust of the article.
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What information do you regard as "deliberately inaccurate"? The fact that we have been exonerated in the BTC doesn't mean it wasn't accurate information at the time. I have said in another thread that I think there is a possibility that we might recover some TV & prize money but obviously not transfer fees that were due, albeit by oldco, because you can't expect the Clubs to repay that. Also our playing in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th tiers has indeed cost us money but perhaps not as much as might be thought as ST numbers and attendances were high for the last two seasons at least albeit at lower prices. And what of the Clubs in the lower reaches who have benefited; the corollary of us getting money back would be that they would lose money. Are they to unbuild the new terraces etc that they have put up? Of course we lost sponsorhsip and European money etc but how would you quantify that? The big issue would be the cost effectiveness of any such action; care would need to be taken to ensure that the lawyers weren't the biggest earners. Negotiation seems the best way forward to me.
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SO that was North America, a place which brought the touring Rangers squad mixed results and mixed fortunes during its stay in the United States and Canada over the last two weeks. Was the trip perfect? With over 14,000 miles flown, a few injuries picked up on the way and goals conceded in three games out of four – one of those a defeat – it’s hard to argue it was. But did it serve a purpose? Absolutely. Scorelines from across the Atlantic might not have been convincing but being there has allowed Gers to keep building well ahead of 2014/15. Despite what the world might think at present following the unrelenting happiness of the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony, Scottish people are naturally quite pessimistic. The old phrase which claims some are only happy if there’s something to complain about springs to mind and that’s certainly the case with certain Light Blues fans I know. While there are undoubtedly things Ally McCoist will wish had gone differently, he has more positives to reflect on than you might think. Following the intense schedule in Brora at the start of the month, further double sessions abroad – particularly in California – have helped increase fitness levels again. As the pool settles into a more regular training programme after the weekend, any lingering weariness will go and the players will get sharper as they freshen up. Although the team itself still has to click into gear, individuals within it gave enough food for thought during our fortnight away. Kenny Miller’s finishing might not be as consistent as he’s hoping it will become yet but his running and intelligence will help Rangers a lot this season. Nicky Law produced a fine finish to win the game in the final match against Ottawa Fury – Gers’ best display of their four – and he looks alert and hungry too. Ian Black falls into that category as well while Stevie Smith has continued his good form from the end of last term and looks as fast and direct as ever. Lee Wallace has made a strong recovery from the hip problem which ended his campaign early in April as he limped out of the Challenge Cup final defeat to Raith Rovers. But the biggest plus of all isn’t just Lewis Macleod’s return to action but the way he has come in and stamped his mark on the team already off the back of nearly six months out. Few were left in any doubt of how seriously under threat the 20-year-old’s career was when he took unwell at the start of the year. A bad reaction to a virus left him in real danger of having to think of hanging up his boots and there was a genuine chance he’d never have the chance to fulfil his very clear potential. Thankfully Macleod has made a full recovery and so far it looks like he has never been out of the side. Against Sacramento Republic, he grew in stature the more the game went on and I was impressed by his temperament as he kept his cool despite one heavy challenge after another. Four days later at Ottawa, his footwork at times was sublime and you’ll already be hard pushed to find a better piece of skill this season than his turn to set up Law’s goal. The way he stood on the ball then turned away from two men was so elegant and it was the type of move you simply don’t tire of watching. Already there’s a clamour once again in some quarters for McCoist to move Macleod inside and give him a more central role in his midfield. Over time, I fully expect him to take a place there and he’ll both flourish and relish the responsibility such a position entails. But for now, I don’t think it’s a bad thing for him to continue on the left side for the simple reason it’s an area he and the team profits from. Sitting narrower than a natural winger would, he allows Wallace to get forward with good effect and the two combine very well down that side. It’s worth remembering that when Rangers played their best football of last season in the early part of the campaign, those two players got a lot of joy together on the left. I’m not sure having someone else in Macleod’s present position would bear the same fruit and if he was central in a 4-4-2 shape, Wallace certainly wouldn’t get upfield as much. I look forward to seeing Macleod take command and dictate from the middle over time but for now he’s doing a lot for Gers where he is. And as McCoist’s team gets stronger in the weeks ahead, I’ve every faith the club’s most outstanding emerging talent can influence games just as much from slightly wider out. http://www.rangers.co.uk/news/opinion/item/7321-best-left-where-he-is An unusually critical piece from Andrew Dickson and he makes a very good point about McLeod playing LMF allowing Wallace more freedom to attack. He may well have been prompted to write this but it is true nonetheless.
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Thought I'd better put this up on a new thread as not many people are looking at the poll for venue thread now . The TV move to Monday night has just screwed us for the 29 September date. We could go ahead regardless on the Saturday or Sunday but that would mean two journeys for most on the same weekend. We could try an early dinner before the match or an after match session but neither are really realistic propositions. Or we could wait till around Christmas/ New Year which was the only other period that had any support but that might have its own difficulties with weather and restaurants gearing up for Xmas Lunches and Dinners and the home games v Livingston and Dumbarton are not very attractive anyway. Or we could just wait till the last home game v Falkirk on 25 April 2015 Suggestions welcome.
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Poll for the Venue for the Second Semi Annual Gersnet Dinner
BrahimHemdani replied to BrahimHemdani's topic in Rangers Chat
The TV move to Monday night has just screwed us for this date. We could go ahead regardless on the Saturday or Sunday but that would mean two journeys for most on the same weekend. Or we could wait till around Christmas/ New Year which was the only other period that had any support but that might have its own difficulties and the home games v Livingston and Dumbarton are not very attractive. Or we could just wait till the last home game v Hearts on 2 May 15. Thoughts please. -
There are so many holes in this statement that I wouldn't know where to begin.
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Poll for the Venue for the Second Semi Annual Gersnet Dinner
BrahimHemdani replied to BrahimHemdani's topic in Rangers Chat
The earlier poll resulted in a narrow win for 27/09/2014 v Hibernian, with the obvious caveat of moving to Sunday if required. Hope you might be able to join us. -
I think I have made my opinion clear on this as I have done in the past. It is in the best interests of all Scottish Clubs playing in Europe or who might play in Europe that all scottish Clubs perform well so as to boost the coefficient. In the past Celtic and others have benefited from our performances, most notably in 2007/08 and we and others have benefited from Celtic's performances most notably in 2002/03 & 2003/04. I just don't want to see Celtic win anything, that would be too much to bear. Now I'll get my tin hat on.
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Please see #16.
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Sweden are ranked 24th in the UEFA coefficients and Iceland 37th, so I'd say getting beat by an Icelandic team is worse. The only redeeming feature is that both the Swedes and the Icelanders play spring-autumn seasons which does mean that it is very difficult to play those teams in July when our Clubs have not had a comptetitve match and they are half way through their seasons. This shouldn't be underestimated. When we lost in Malmo, Scotland was 15th and Sweden was 28th; Rangers were ranked 33rd in Europe and Malmo were completely unranked (currently 233rd) so it WAS a TERRIBLE result for us. (Slovakia 25th/Maribor 217th). At the time I think we all felt that getting beaten by Maribor who were more not much more than amateurs getting paid about €1,000/month was a worse result but in hindsight perhaps Malmo was rock bottom. Interesting too that Maribor have climbed to 99th and are possible opponents for Celtic in the Play-Off Round if both win their 3rdQR ties. Looking at the last 5 seasons, Rangers have only dropped below Celtic because of inactivity in Europe these last two years (we're still 92nd), Motherwell have moved between 183rd and 191st, Malmo have never been above 216th (2012) but Maribor have improved every season since 2010.
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What do you wish for when they play each other?
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I take that as an immense compliment for which many thanks; in fact may I have your permission to use it as my epitaph alongside "....dots every "i" and crosses every "t" which someone wrote about me years ago. Yes, one sentence paragraphs seem quite appropriate on forums, I think because one often tends to skim read if it's a long thread in particular. BH (Pedantic Loyal).
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I understand that point of view completely and it is one that is held by a great many people, although the Clubs voted based on what was in front of them at the time. Nonetheless, my feeling is that we will be playing them again in the not too distant future (and some next season!) and that we need to move on. I will visit those Club's grounds whenever I can get a ticket becasuse I put supporting the team ahead of any feelings of ill will towards them.
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This is a very positive, if short term move, on behalf of the Board; his credentials are excellent.
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Quite so, as I said in#11, hard to understand why that is.
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I am proud to be Scottish as well as proud to be from Glasgow and a Rangers fan. I have amended the OP accordingly. Obviously you are entitled to your opinion, no doubt shared by many; personally I take no pride in the failings of any of Scotland's teams in Europe.
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Summer transfer window: Official ins/outs and transfer rumours
BrahimHemdani replied to Zappa's topic in Rangers Chat
"Nerlinger findet neuen Job " indeed! -
The Europa League seems to have slipped by almost unnoticed up to now but an excellent away win for Aberdeen at Gronigen (after an 8-0 agg drubbing of Daugava Rīga) and a penalty shoot out win for St Johnstone at home to Lucern gives Scotland two teams in the 3rd QR. Both Scottish victories came against seeded teams but a disappointing extra-time loss by Motherwell to the unseeded Icelanders, Stjarnan, admittedly second in the Icelandic Premier League in mid season, put a stain on an otherwise good night. Aberdeen and St Johnstone now take the place of their seeded opponents but whilst Gronigen were not seed in the 3rd QR leaving Aberdeen with a difficult hurdle against the 7th seeds Real Sociedad (7th in La Liga last season); St Johnstone theoretically have an "easier" game against Spartak Trnava (3rd in the 12 team Slovak league last season). Adam Rooney is the top scorer in the competition with 6 goals so far. Quality teams like Lyon, Inter Milan, Spurs and Eindhoven await in the 4thQL so a long way to go but it would be nice to have a Scottish team in the group stages. I'll say nothing about the touchy subject of coefficients no doubt I've done enough already!
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Have read that push services like CNN News and email are big battery drainers assume Tapatalk comes into that category as well, though I don't understand what information it is pushing through? I use most of the tips in the articles below. Like the sound of the battery management app; haven't tried it yet, although there's a certain contradiction in installing an app to save juice on others, I suppose it depends how well it works. I just wish the manufacturers would put as much effort into extending battery life as they do on the phones themselves. http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/10-battery-boosting-tips-for-the-galaxy-s4-1177372/1#articleContent http://www.androidcentral.com/top-tips-saving-battery-life-samsung-galaxy-s4
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Good to hear it was just a short trip to Cambodia; trust you got back safe and well. Thanks for advice.
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Poll for the Venue for the Second Semi Annual Gersnet Dinner
BrahimHemdani replied to BrahimHemdani's topic in Rangers Chat
Evening bump for the 7 day poll closing warning. -
I find Gersnet addictive enough using a laptop at home and a pc in the office so think I'll steer clear, thanks for all advice. BH.