BrahimHemdani

He has a short memory.

I am sure we have all been saddened by the devastating images we have seen from Cumbria over the past few days and whilst I am sure that football is the furthest thing from the minds of the good folk down there these images of Brunton Park show just how bad it is and how long it might take to get back to normal. Just imagine if the Clyde burst its banks and the water came flowing down Paisley Road West. I don't think there's anything we can do that would make a significiant difference to the people themselves, even the Government's £50 million looks like a drop in the proverbial bucket right now; but I was wondering about a wee collection for the Football Club? I would be happy to start it off with a tenner and could collect the donations in a similar account to the Gersner Dinner Fund. I'm sure we could quickly raise £500 -£1,000 just as a gesture of solidarity in a football sense. Apologies if I'm out of order with this.

Looks like "someone" succeeded.

The "ss" certainly LOOKS wrong but I also found this to support the blogspot verison that the "ss" is the UK spelling: verb (used with object), focused, focusing or (especially British) focussed, focussing. 7. to bring to a focus or into focus; cause to converge on a perceived point: to focus the lens of a camera. 8. to concentrate: to focus one's thoughts; to focus troop deployment in the east. verb (used without object), focused, focusing or (especially British) focussed, focussing. 9. to be or become focused: My eyes have trouble focusing on distant objects. 10. to direct one's attention or efforts: Students must focus in class. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/focussed?s=t

I'd certainly give Germinal an award for best match preview (more than once).

Rangers should be represented at this auspicious and prestigious occasion by a Director of the Club or at least someone who played in 1972. Surely John Greig, the greatest ever Ranger would be a more fitting ambassador than a person who has no direct connection with the Club though he often appears to be a guest in the Directors Box.

Yes thanks Jordan not Jason. Your idea is certainly creative but not sure if Zelalem has the qualities needed to play in front of a back four where you have defensive duties. I certanly would like to see us play two up and we need to se if Hardie can do it at this level because if he doesn't get a chance in the Championship I doubt he'll get a chance in the Premiership.

If they get a game ahead of loan signings.

The Reverend Rab, nice one

Agreed especially on the respective positions of Vuckic and Law. I think most would also agree that Law is at his best in a more advanced role. But also agree that Walsh is certainly worth a turn and if CMF is his preferred position and if the Manager is about giving youth a chance as we keep getting told then I would rather he gave OUR youth a chance than helping out Arsenal and Spurs. There is also young Jordan Thomson and the boy Roberts on the left wing sorry LMF both of whom have looked good in the short clips I have seen.

I find it hard to accept that Law "hides", whenever I've watched him he always seems to be looking for a ball out of defence. Neither he nor Vuckic may be the best at tracking back but they are both essentially attacking midfielders and without their combined 21 goals (a third of our total) last season I doubt we would even have reached the play-offs. That said I accept that neither made much of a contribution once we got there.

Maybe I just like players who put the ball in the back of the net, like Vuckic and Law!

Law's numbers last season speak for themselves.

Isn't that the point though, Law is a proven goalscoring midfielder. I agree and have already said I would have Shiels ahead of Zelalem any day of the week. Shiels at least tries adventurous passes and has scored 3 goals, Zelalem does neither.

That's a bit unfair, FS, and you are intelligent and clever enough to know that. Law is averaging 50 mins/game, Zelalem 75 mins. Law has only played 90 mins in 2 league games, Zelalem has played 90 in 4 league games. Law has not played more than 31 mins in 5 of his last 6 league games. Law has not been a regular starter other than in the Cups. Zelalem has started every game except either side of International duty. Last season when a regular starter, Law was stop scorer with 13 goals and had 9 assists in 54 games.

You can find all that information and a lot more besides on this useful site: http://www.transfermarkt.com/gedion-zelalem/leistungsdaten/spieler/228370 As you point out 2 of Zelalem's 5 assists were in his first match v Airdrie, hardly the best of oppositon. Oduwa has done slightly better in terms of Championship match assists, but the difference is marginal; 4 assists in 16 games for Oduwa v 5 in 12 for Zelalem or 3 in 11 ex Airdrie. http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/nathan-oduwa/leistungsdaten/spieler/240355

He has one assist in 8 league games since the end of August. We lacked a spark, says the manager, where is the spark supposed to come from, I would ask? Making easy passes 10 yards isn't getting the job done, in fact it makes it easy for the opposition to get in formation behind the ball. Send him back, and save £6,500 per week. With the possible exception of Waghorn we really only have one "senior" player in the starting line up. I would play Law, who is a proven goal scorer, when fit, and task him with playing further forward to back up the loan striker. Meantime I would give Shiels a run.

I will be in Marbella from the 17th to the 27th of January, so if anyone does want to go over for the game v Barcelona I can help with transport, hotels etc. There are still advance purchase tickets available for €63 + €3 processing fee, which works out about £47. Not sure how long the advance purchase 10% discount is around. I have chatted with Antonio Tapia and he will be happy to meet for lunch or dinner.

Miller does do a lot of work off the ball and also directs the traffic; I have often felt that he would do well as a deep lying centre forward. However, that is not his role in this team, where he is being played as one of a front three and we have others in CMF. A striker needs three basic qualities IMO. Awareness/positional sense, tick that box. Speed X and sharpness X. Anyone can see that Miller has a football brain but sadly the speed and sharpness in front of goal are gone. Can we really afford a wage for someone just to be a good influence in the dressing room, is that not Weir's job primarilly?

He was effective in that role in the first two games of the season and it's difficult if not impossible to understand why he received an upgrade. He scored 5 goals by 16 August and none in the last 3 months. He has 3 assists in 9 league games since early August, during which I make it that he has averaged 51 mins but commonly plays less than half an hour. Nice work if you can get it as TB suggests. We need a quality striker for next season, not one who with all due respect to his fine career, is well past his sell by.

Why indeed.

It's well known hereabouts that I agree with those who take the view that Mr King is not "fit and proper" in terms of the SFA guidelines and I was astonished with the SFA decision but I also agree with the comment that this seems a pointless exercise at this stage. I don't know the legal technicalities but tend to agree that if the SFA followed proper procedures I doubt the Court would or could set aside their decision. That said I follow the Rangers whoever sits in the boardroom as I have done through these past four traumatic years.

Probably non-attributable comment from DB.

I think we'll keep it where it is then. :

You want to hear what they say about me, mate.