BrahimHemdani

I have left home without my ST more than once and been helped out by those good folks in the TO. I could tell you numerous stories of guys who had a few too many on the European trips and either didn't make it to the match or slept through it. Never ceases to amaze me that grown men will spend say £500 to travel, then drink so much that they miss the game.

Alves has all the right experience but seems to get sent off at least once a season in recent times. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruno_Alves Nonetheless he should have a couple of seasons in him at our level and might be just the leader we need. Cagliari Calcio are doing reasonably well for a promoted team in Serie a, sitting 12th of 20; but they are losing more or less 2 goals a game and have the third worst goals against record in the league. No way of knowing how Alves has performed in those stats but he appears to have played 90 minutes in every game. https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/bruno-alves/leistungsdaten/spieler/13121

Their drinks tend to be a bit pricey, Pete, which is why they offered to do Budweiser at a special price for us; and I'm trying to play fair with them and us by including a drink in the £17.50. However, as I said, I don't think it will be a big deal either way. Looks like the majority will be on red wine and only 2 or 3 on beer so it will not be an issue, I'm sure. With the GBP/EUR as it is right now, you're on a winner anyway; so the drinks should be on you.

Some experienced reinforcements before 29 June would be big plus IMO.

You don't usually sit on the fence.

I think the following players will be getting told their services are no longer required: Hodson, Kiernan, Hill (reluctantly perhaps), Senderos, Halliday, Crooks, Windass, Garner, Forrester, O'Halloran, Dodoo (might be saved by his age and long contract) and quite possibly Waghorn as well (simply because he hasn't produced under PC). I think he'll keep Tavernier (though I'd have Hodson or someone new), Wilson, Wallace, Holt, Miller. Mackay will be sold. It seems Rossiter will get a chance to prove himself and hopefully Kranjcar will come back to anchor the midfield. The big question is how are we going to persuade all those not required to leave without it costing a small fortune in pay offs? I think next season's team will be built around Foderingham (unless he has a new goalkeeper in mind); Tavernier (or again someone we don't know), Wilson, Hill (or again a new CB), Wallace; Kranjcar plus Rossiter/Hill and one or two newbies; Miller and a new striker. Thoughts?

Getting back to the OP, I've started a new thread on those who might be staying and those who might be on their way. I agree that it would be well worthwhile giving Alnwick a couple of games to see what he's like.

When we played in Pamplona vs Osasuna, IIRC the game was brought forward from the Thursday to the Wednesday night (after most folks had made their travel arrangements) and the KO was about an hour after my plane landed, via London and Madrid. A mad dash to the hotel (fortunately close to the ground) and a quick march to the stadium and I saw the whole match. That then left all day and night free in Pamplona on the Thursday before heading home on the Friday. I don't rememeber it ever happening the other way, though back in 1961 (long before my travelling days I hasten to add!) there was the fog postponed match vs Vorwärts Berlin. "The Rangers-Vorwärts tie scheduled to be played at Ibrox Stadium in Glasgow was finally staged at the Malmö Stadion, Malmö, Sweden, the East German side having again been refused visas to enter Britain. The original match in Malmö was abandoned due to heavy fog (Rangers were winning 1-0) and the match was replayed the following morning." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1961%E2%80%9362_European_Cup

Try to stay of the sauce with all those students on a Friday night It's bad enough that happening but being caught on here, whoops. A quick deletion might have been advised!

Haven't noticed your match report as yet?

I agree with Pete and can't argue with much of what you say here except that if you would like to go back to the match thread, you will see the video of THAT tackle and the freeze frames posted by Pete. It was a one footed, (left leg bent out of the way) clean tackle and Miller's momentum carried him over Simunovic's hip. I think it would be fair to say that most though certainly not all on here eventually agreed with that view. If Simunovic was playing for Rangers we would have been lauding him for a great tackle. We need a CB like that.

Partick Thistle 1 Rangers 2 FGS the ever reliable Kenny Miller.

I will meet you guys at the John Greig Statue as well asap after full time; it will work out well in terms of the first drinks if a bunch of us arrive at the same time. I'll ensure the wine is "breathing" and the beer is cold. For anyone else, you really can't miss the restaurant, which sits right in the junction of PRW and Govan Road (opposite Glasgow's Grand Old Opry, for the C&W fans).

If I've got my sums right that's 5 red wines, 3 beers and 2 soft drinks, with GS apparently not drinking? So I'll arrange a bottle of red for the wine drinkers; I'll try to agree pints for those who requested though the original idea was bottles of Bud (see post 48) I don't think it will be an issue. As I said, after the "free" starters it will be whatever you want. The two soft drinks also noted. This will be a last opportunity for anyone who still wishes to join us to post here; I'm happy to take any more bookings up till midnight tomorrow. A final reminder that there will be no refunds after tonight unless in exceptional circumstances and no refunds at all after I give the final number to the restaurant which will be noon next Thursday 11 May 2017. Thanks

I care about this web forum.

I gave my opinion in the full and certain knowledge that most if not all on here would disagree. I'm equally sure that if you conducted a poll of fans on the question of "Sir David Murray - a good or bad thing for Rangers FC?"; the vast majority of ordinary fans would say that overall he was a good thing.

Are you comfortable with the description of "disreputable" from a legal standpoint? Is that not slanderous and would the defamation not be actionable since it has been published? Are you satisfied that you could defend any such action by proving the truth of the adjective?

I don't believe that Sir David was duped any more than the next man but he had made it clear he wanted out for several years and it's clear he had had enough and made a wrong decision. But to suggest he was somehow duplicit in everything that has followed stretches credibility beyond breaking point. SDM gave us the best Rangers team most of us have seen since the early 60's and for that I will be eternally grateful. I would welcome him back with open arms.

You'll be welcome. Post to the dinner thread please.

Extremely well expressed IMO. Post of the day, factually accurate description of the tackle and the applicable law. Again i would suggest that if we had a defender who could tackle like that; we'd be eulogising him.

Come along and meet us at the dinner on the 13th.

I disagree. If you review the slowmo in the video Pete has just posted you will see it is a clear one footed tackle that directly wins the ball. It was dramatic but I don't think it was dangerous.

I agree with the substance of what you are saying. As far back us 2010 John Gilligan tried to get a bunch of HNW Members on board but not one would step up to the plate. Leaving personalities aside if some Chinese or Arab multi billionaire came along with some loose change to invest for the kudos of owning Rangers and perhaps marketing in their country but didn't want day to day involvement would that be acceptable? In other words much like DK but with a lot more money but not a "Rangers man" what would your view be?

It's not obstruction within the meaning of the law if the ball is within playing distance but it was a deliberate elbow IMO.

If Brown brought his elbow up deliberately which he did then it's violent conduct in the same as it's deliberate handball if your arms are in an unnatural position and the ball then strikes your raised arms. Agreed it was a fantastic tackle. We need a player like that.