Gribz

Brilliant read and so Intriguing. Didnt realise there was a Rangers ICF book out and il need to get my hands on this. I used to go to West Ham home and away in the last 80s / early 90s just when it was dying out, but I wish i was a bit older then to take in some of the stuff I saw. I remember a lot of riots in and around stadiums up and down England. Leicester away was definatly the worst ive seen with petrol bombs being thrown by fans. Then after the game 100s upon 100s of fans being separated by a line of police barriers. As bmck says, if casuals remain casuals and stick to fighting other firms and not innocent fans (like our aberdeen friends, although im sure they are by far not the only ones) then its all ok. As Cammy mentions, Cass Pennants books are well worth a read.

Excellent read Cammy. I think coming from Aberdeen I know first hand the hatred towards Rangers from certain Aberdeen fans and have been in the wrong place and the wrong time on a few occasions. I assumed it really kicked off after the Durrant/Simpson tackle but was unaware of it before that. Around 1987 was the time i can remember back to. A percentage of Aberdeen fans are still stuck in the 80s and they cant accept they are a small club and was now always be miles behind Rangers and they resort to bile. I used to look forward to these games at Ibrox or Pittodrie more than OF games as more so than not id go to school and gloat on the Monday. Whats the song again...17 years since you won..since you won at ibrox.....

But its a nonsense time to have a friendly when the next meaningful internationals are in April. The Champions League is under way aswell as the Carling cup at the moment. This should have been a B international. Jon, how can you say Walcott isnt as much a blow to Arsenal as the likes of Ferdinand to Man Utd. Of course it is - its a 1st teamer being ruled out. It doesnt matter who it is or where he plays, the fact is they are another squad member down due a meaningless friendly.

Wenger will be FUMING!!!! and rightly so. It will spark off the club v country debate for friendlies - its an absolute joke now that Arsenal have to be without a key play coz of this. The FA should pay them compensation and pay the wages. There should also be a rule that allows teams to buy a player if this happens.

Sounds like the name of a biscuit maker

Have to say I was one who welcomed Miller back and he has been doing a fine job for us - could score 1 or 2 more though. He will be a miss for us simply as him and Boyd are forming something at the moment. I agree with WTD - id play Novo upfront with Boyd. I still havent seen enough of Lafferty to decide and Darchville has been terrible this season. Whats the status with Velicka btw? So promising in pre season but now he has disappeared.

Agree with Gav, get Smith first team football somewhere if it can help him. Dont know about Shinnie. And as Gav says get rid of Burke - total waste of space who is no longer a promising youngster. He has been inconsistant and lightweight for about 6 years now so that says something.

Its smack bang obvious WS doesnt play youngsters. And by youngsters I mean teenagers. The likes of McGregor, Broadfoot, Adam, Boyd etc are all young in there early 20s but Fleck, Furman, Lennon and Aaron are all a good 5 years younger than that. The same as Ferguson etc is 5 years senior the first batch of players i mentioned. I cant work it out though, a 17 year old would crave to play in the first team and have a total different respect/mindset than players 5 or 6 years older. I still go by the saying if your good enough your old enough. Id love to see Aaron and Fleck play albeit it when they are injury free.

Anyone going along? Id pay money just to get a glimpse of Maradona - IMO the greatest player of all time. Have to say this Burley / Butcher regime is reminding me of Vogts time. Who gives a monkey if Butcher hasnt forgiven Maradona for 86 From that squad with D Fletcher out id go with : _____________________Gordon____________________ Hutton_______McManus_______Caldwell_______Naysmith Brown_______Ferguson________Hartley________Maloney _________________Miller______McFadden_____________

What a wee dick. I wasnt expecting to be to bad but it was too annoying. That should be played in our dressing room before everygame to remind the players not to take the foot of the gas in games so we finish teams. Roll on the next OF derby

Just coz i praised Boyd in another thread you my mate now

Disagree about Buffel but that was discussed long ago. Sorry I just dont see how McCulloch could currently be a better option than Hemdani at CH following 1 game against St Mirren. Hemdani strolled games playing in a sweeping role for us and Marseille yet McCulloch struggles week in week out despite maybe 10 good games at the start of last season. Pace isnt everything - Hemdani's reading of the game would make him a better option for starters. I dont know WS goes with these options in the first place rather than tried players. Papac came to Rangers as a CH as did Broadfoot but to play McCulloch in there first would be crazy. So possibly Papac could partner Bougherra with Whittaker LB and Broadfoot continuing RB - although id like a natural full back in there. I suppose a lot will depend on what happens with S Smith.

Agreed although Dailly can leave if he wants. Its another example of WS not using youth and certain players - how long did Buffel try his best to win a place back! Now Hemdani who can play centre half doesnt even get near the bench. Id have Hemdani next to Bougherra 100 times ahead of McCulloch. McCulloch and Weir were paired in the weekend and if someone with pace came up against those 2 they would think it was christmas. Taking Evans on long may be decent but id rather find a long term partner for Bougherra. Even try Broadfoot there rather than full back.

See what your saying Pete but having a strong spine is important. We have had Ferguson out all season and now Thomson is out for the rest of the season but we are lucky enough to have enough cover. If WS hadnt signed 1 from Edu, Davis or Mendes then we would be looking for more cover as Ive got more chance in getting a game than Hemdani and nobody i know wants Adam or McCulloch in central midfield like last season. We do have a number of wide players also but Smith prefers to play players on reputation and out of position than put natural players in there position. Example is Broadfoot, Papac and Davis rather than Whittaker (albeit it injured), Aaron, Beasley, Novo. Never Mind about the fact he doesnt let youngsters off the leash. I wish Walter would spend a week with Arsene Wenger. They could learn so much from each other. Wenger showing how to play younger players and destroy teams and Smith showing Wenger an older experienced player helps the squad.

Credible draw with Leicester yesterday...typically i had on Leicester

It doesnt matter which 6 were chosen, its mad that only 6 get asked. The SPL must hypmotise (sp) employees to being inept (as Craig says).

This was banker draw of the day in Britain and it was 23/10. Pity i picked other bums in the coupon to let me down with this one.

Yeah Arsenal need a more solid spine. A better keeper, a proper no nonsense centre half and a midfielder who does all the dirty work. They will never gain 9 points on Chelsea now as at this rate they will lose another 5 or 6 games this season. I thought a few results against Hull, Spurs and Stoke would kick them on but its going the other way. Fair play to Villa btw they deserved that. Liverpools luck will run out soon and Man U will eventually get passed them

Nothing yesterday. 1 out of 4: Arsenal West Ham Newcastle Draw between Hibs and Aberdeen

Ridiculous, my folk just bought mine for 40 quid 2 weeks ago...i said to them to wait a wee while longer and it will come down to 20 quid. This is the problem with changing a kit every season...i hate clubs ripping fans off like that. Credit to Man Utd for keeping the same kit this year as last...and the money they could have made on new shirts is scary!!!

Liverpool jammy again, they played better in the first half but Bolton got a goal choped off at 1-0 and there was nothing wrong with it. Both teams missed sitters and it could have been 4-4.

I ws just gonna ask if you were at the game

I think he would possibly still be a better left back now than a manager.

My coupon will be a treble of 3 aways: Sunderland 11/5 Tottenham 6/5 Man City 6/4 Tenner pays 180 quid

Another big weekend, which will see the bookies collect another few tenners from me. Arsenal v Aston Villa - Villa deserved to win here last season but Arsenal nicked a draw. Villa were flying until they lost there last 2 league games. Arsenal have 2 great wins following a run of 3 without a win, the youngsters were awesome against Wigan in midweek 2-0 Arsenal Blackburn v Sunderland - Blackburn won at Sunderland in midweek in the league cup. I fancy a reverse here and a Sunderland win. Il be putting some cash on that. Blackburn 0-1 Sunderland Bolton v Liverpool - Liverpools luck has to run out sometime and they were well beaten by Spurs in midweek. Bolton are all of a sudden mid table and being tough to score against again. Bolton 1-1 Liverpool Fulham v Tottenham - 2 inform teams. Fulham are good at home and Spurs are the form team at the moment. It will be a tight london derby but I can see Spurs coming out on top. Fulham 1-2 Tottenham Man Utd v Stoke - Man Utd will be loving the fixture list this weekend as they have the easiest game in the top 4. Man Utd 4-0 Stoke Newcastle v Wigan - Not exactly an attractive game on paper but it could be a decent game. Wigan will have a go but Newcastle are improving slightly and need to crawl up the league. I have a sneaky feeling Wigan will get something. Newcastle 0-0 Wigan West Brom v Chelsea - West Brom will be relying on there home form to keep them up but they might aswell rule this one out. Chelsea are just too strong in every department West Brom 0-3 Chelsea West Ham v Portsmouth - Battle of the the 2 teams which could end up in a relegation fight. West Ham are in free fall after 5 successive defeats yet they are playing good football which is a bad sign. Pompey got a great win at Sunderland last week but are still gomsmacked by Redknapps departure which has been followed by Joe Jordan. West Ham have to stop the poor run. West Ham 2-1 Portsmouth Everton v Middlesboro - Boro won at Villa park last week and are now in the top half which is where the deserve to be with there performances. Everton have turned the corner after a poor start. This could be a cracking game. Everton 2-2 Middlesboro Hull v Man City - Hull have came back down to earth with a few defeats in a row but they have had very tough games in that time. Man City are in poor form despite the money behind them and Mark Hughes will be under pressure if they dont win this. Hull 1-2 Man City