BrahimHemdani

A very fair point although a right and left footed player together might be better and a two footed player would be better still.

This may have been the quid pro quo for him not standing for the SPL Board.

Looking at the stats for the first two games: Wallace, Halliday, Waghorn and Kiernan have played the full 180 mins and Mackay 150 mins. The goalkeepers, both RB's, Hill, Wilson, Kranjcar, Forrester, Miller have played approx 90 mins; Barton 30mins, Holt 69mins and Windass, 81 mins. Hardie and Dodoo haven't yet played. I think Hodson will get a game at LB to spell Wallace at some point but don't know if Wilson and Hill who are both left footed could play together or whether that should matter vs East Stirling. So perhaps something like this: Fotheringham; Tavernier, Hill, Wilson, Hodson; Holt, Barton, Forrester; Windass, Miller, Kranjcar

There's nothing new in this, use of foul OR abusive language towards another player, referee or even a spectator or indeed no one in particular has always been an offence punishable by an ordering off (red card); but it is that it is rarely enforced. If a young up and coming ref sends a player off for swearing at him, he'll be accused of trying to make a name for himself but if one of the top referees does it then it might send a message that will percolate down.

He is the obvious choice for club captain but like McCulloch is not in any way a captain on the field of play.

To all intents and purposes Hill was the captain on the field. I do worry however about how deep he plays, his game is all about anticipation and he may be caught out for speed with a fast attacker running at him. Gilks could be heard in the stand!

Can't understand why Stuart Robertson didn't run.

I thought about the teams in all the other (non Rangers) groups as well. It may well be that the entire group stage gate receipts are pooled or it may just be luck of the draw. I'll see if I can find the rules or get clarification in the next few days. Good point about expenses though I doubt there were many police on duty tonight. Looked like the Annan subs were also their "supporters". However all monies shared or pooled will be net of expenses of that there is no doubt. A belated welcome to Gersnet; I see you have been busy in my absence. Like the nom de plum. Have you read Plausible Denial by Mark Lane (who died in May) who provides strong evidence of the CIA involvement in the assassination and who wrote another book Rush to Judgement debunking the Warren Commission Report.

Not everyone gets that honour Some clues: If you had been sitting next to me you would have been in the front row of the MF and offered and refused a Peruvian Chocolate Macadamia Nut when we scored.

Despite his gaols, Tavernier is a liability in defence; Hodgson looked solid to me. Gilks wasn't tested, Kiernan looked better for having Hill beside him and Hill himself was composed and commanding throughout but cannot be judged against this low class opposition. Wallace has started well getting forward at every opportunity, we are so lucky he stayed with us. Halliday was getting fouled constantly when he moved forward after Barton came on, a sure sign of a player who is troubling the opposition aka Naismith in the CL. I agree with those who say Windass was trying too hard but will be a good option. O'Halloran runs fast but what else does he achieve? I saw him go up the tunnel at the end; otherwise I wouldn't have known he was on the pitch in the second half. Waghorn will surely score another barrow load and miss twice as many this season but that's fine by me; though I prefer him WR. Mackay will also score more great goals and show just what we miss playing him on the left as a winger who can't go past a man or cross with his left foot. And then there is Niko Kranjcar. Wow, double wow!! Pure class. I am sure most of us did not expect to see a player of this quality in a light blue jersey in the near future if ever again. Congratulations to MW for going out and getting him. He doesn't need to look up; he just passes and expects the player to be there. Remind you of anyone? How about Ronald de Boer? Now we need three things. Kranjcar to get up to full fitness and stay there. Kranjcar to be motivated or MW to motivate him to perform week in week out (there has to be reason why chose to drop down to the second tier in the US). The rest of the team to get on the same wavelength (which was often the problem with RdeB, players like Lovenkrands didn't know where to go for the passes even when de Boer sent a signal). If any two of the above three things come to pass I predict Niko Kranjcar will be worth the admission money alone. No I haven't forgotten about Barton; who certainly left his mark on the game; as one unfortunate in a yellow jersey will nurse all the way home to the borders. There is no doubting his "enthusiasm" and he will be our first choice defensive midfielder if he gets and stays fit and keeps the heid. He displayed a range of passing that will transform our game. Nor have I forgotten Forrester. It's hard to see how he can be kept out our starting eleven; he can beat men all night, scores goals and gets back to defend. What else do you want. With Crooks, Rossiter and Holt plus Thompson and young Burt, we are going to have an embarrassment of riches in MF this season.

You are too kind my good friend and allowed me a bit of a rant and explanation(s) for my recent absence in these parts (which I have made known to Frankie). Sorry to disappoint some of my "fans" but I am indeed alive and well and looking forward to the season.

I would assume the gate money for all four games will be pooled; it wouldn't be fair if Annan got half of say £400,000 and East Stirling got half of whatever gate money they take at Ochilview, which will be a tiny fraction of that.

Seems we've learned nothing from last season. Our shambolic defense being cut wide open time after time. Will the 37 year old Hill be tbe answer?

Unbelievable that we are starting the same shambolic defence as lost us the Cup Final.

There's no 12, 14, 20, 22, 26, 27 or 28 either amongst others in the 40's; more signings?

Is it possible that the original intention was that the Club were paying hence the "guest" wording but that subsequently they and Mr Graham thought better of that plan.

I can agree with that.

Response from Gary Gillan confirming they subsequently advised their members neither NARSA nor Rangers are paying but adding "I don't believe he was already going tho. Not 100% sure about that".

I think that at the time it came out most people were of the opinion that the very best connotation that could be put on it was that it demonstrated extremely poor judgement and there were many myself included who felt that a person with such poor judgement in a social sense shod not be a director of Rangers FC. However that particular debate is in the past.

Well, I think that most people would take "a guest of the club" to mean the club were paying his way. If it had read "on behalf of the club" that would have been different. I'm going to seek further clarification.

How do you know it was made in jest; is that not just your opinion?

That's not a fair comparison.

What else could it possibly have meant?

As you may know I am in Peru at the moment but I have received some texts about this situation. I have asked Gary Gillan about it and he has replied "Hey Alan! He's been asked to come over and promote Club 1872, yes. My understanding is that he's been involved in its set up". I sent a follow up asking who invited him but haven't had a reply as yet. Obviously Mr Graham will be informed as he was one of the RST reps in the talks but as yet there have been no elections to Club 1872 so one wonders about the selection process for this ambassadorial role particularly in the light of recent history. I have said before that I believe that Mr Graham is being courted for a role within the Club and this would appear to be further evidence in that direction.

Who cares who's Celtic manager.