Gribz

I wouldnt say no to Weir being captain but I dont see Stevie Smith as a captain even in a few years time, isnt nearly vocal enough (yet) and seems more like a player who will just get on with his duties rather than be captain. Hutton on the other hand....his attitude is improving and he is on a great game at the moment.......

I agree with your post Mike, your last point raises more questions - Yeah it may take another 12 months to seriously challenge again but can you see the majority of Rangers fans giving Smith the time?? What do we want next season?? Where to we want to be?? I dont know if Im willing to accept slight progress and accept Celtic will win the title - we did this this season when PLG came in and it made us go backwards. We were locked in a battle for 2nd place and at one point we were a mid table side and out both cups. I want to see a leap of improvement next season when we are winning games with determination and our wins are convincing. It will come down to what happens in the summer and who we get in, then we can access our chances. But with this current squad including Gow and Broadfoot id expect another trophy-less season.

Exactly, people seem to think we have nothing to spend except on SPL players, this is a myth. Id soon rather have had Benni McCarthy for 2.5 million than Kevin Thomson for 2 million. There is always players out there on the cheap - look how we got Hemdani!! Again correct, Ajax are well known for having a great scouting network. These setup's are investments as if you find a diamond its a huge asset which can later make the club millions and easy cover the cost of a salary for a scout and his accommodation over a spread area. I read last week that Ajax even have a base in Florida - an area not known for football - but they are still searching!

We have to be honest and real now, the last 3 years have produced the worst Rangers sides that I have seen (the older posters may think different) and 2 title wins in the last day of the season has kept Celtic from being on 7 in a row and in the other 5 seasons they have won the league by huge margins. That is saying something!! This is the 2nd season in a row without a trophy and that for Rangers is a disaster considering the League Cup is a diddy cup and Gretna can manage a Scottish Cup final appearance while being a 2nd division side. The amount of players who have been in and out of Ibrox in the last few years is enough to set up a league in a small country, and some didnt even kick a ball like that Italian. We arent going to get stability like that but it seems that certain players were preferred all the time even if there form was shoddy and they simply cant be dropped. Even when one of our managers tried to drop a player in poor form he ends up out the door - thats the sort of stuff you couldnt make up and is a journalists dream. The other thing is we dont seem to play players in their preferred positions hence once again meaning we are going to struggle. In the past we have had a few great playmakers being the link from midfield to frontmen. Gascoigne and De Boer were in a different class at doing this and we admit we wont see this type of player with us again for a long time. But when we do get a few players in this role with a hint of talent they are not given the chance. Im talking about Namouchi, Lovenkrands and Buffel here. Lovenkrands shined in the european stage and in Old firm games and had pace to scare defenders but he was deployed on the wing most of the time. Namouchi was thrown out on the wide right or left depending what number McLeish drew him out of the hat and Buffel was the same. Since Smith has came in he has steadied the ship and made us hard to beat and score against. He did well in january singing two solid defenders and at the moment we are top of the form table and closed the huge gap on Celtic. Things are looking better at the back but in midfield and upfront we are still absolute rank rotten bar 1 or 2 players. I'll give Smith the benefit of the doubt as he only had a few weeks in January to buy players, but come the summer Im hoping for the same improvements in the others areas of the squad but buys like Gow wont convince me.

My list of In's and out's has got bigger. We almost need a full new team. We can brand as much names as we want but its Walter who is doing the looking and choosing. The only players in the current squad who id have in my team would be Hutton, Weir, Webster, Smith, Hemdani, and maybe Buffel and Sebo depending if they both got a run in the team in there preferred positions. Obviously a fully fit Prso would be in it but thats a no-go now and a pre 2004 Ferguson would be in it. Robbie Fowler is 32 today, he would score goals in the SPL for fun and could do it for 2 seasons no problem. I also think he would jump at the chance as he doesnt get much of a game at Liverpool and he is a Rangers supporter.

The scottish media are happy branding Rangers supporters as trouble makers and starting an anti Rangers campaign than anything else, yet the English media back all there clubs as they want to see tham all in Europe and dont want there country given a bad name. As soon as Spurs got Seville in the draw I said id be interested to see what happens here. 1 or 2 Man U fans got a battering, 1 guy in particular looked innocent and was covered in blood. But in the 2nd half I noticed a few casual look-a-likes standing watching the game right up against the police as if they were ready for it to kick off again. UEFA have to look into it. There isnt much difference between us, Spurs and Man U's situations except we are made out to be the bad guys.

The idea of outsigning the *** brigade with 'Rangers' songs is actually a great one. People looking on such as the media or away fans will see this and wonder what is going on and realise the real fans are stepping this up and outnumbering the neds. Even the neds signing may even feel embarresed that fellow supporters are doing this. Its like a protest and statement to the *** brigade that they wont ruin our team and as soon as they start those noises other fans come out with a real chant. It may cause a wee divide but if it means kicking the neds out, then good.

Totally deserved and well recognised. He was superb in a few games and stood out in the win at Celtic. He has got back to his best form and is playing better now than pre leg break. But, and there is always a but - he HAS to maintain it!!!

He certainly has been one of the brighter aspects of this dull season and if he continues playing at the level he has been doing then I hope he stays another year. I just worry about long term though - are Broadfoot and Svensson the answer??? Webster hasnt signed up yet and I hope this is wrapped up quickly.

I only managed to catch the first half and nobody really stood out in the first period.

Ive never heard of him but he sounds a bit of a mealler who can through himself around!! Im not sure if another centre half is what we are looking for at the moment but if he is better than Svensson and Broadfoot then fair enough. Im not over confident with Broadfoot coming in BTW.

How about that from the Hammers!!!!! I fancied West Ham at the start. What a fookin game, ive never been screaming at TV like that for a long time. Arsenal were awesome first 25 mins but West Ham rid the storm and scored with a peach of a finish from Zamora even though he was slightly offside, but its luck like this we deserve now. Arsenal battered us again 2nd half and Robert Green was world class in goal, some of his saves were unbelievable, the shots were in but somehow he managed to whipp them away. Then Boa Morte had a chance to make it 2-0 at the end!! Great game! West Ham fans were singing "1 shot, we've only had 2 shot....." while we were 1-0 up after Arsenal had about 15 shots The victory over Boro gave us a lifeline now we have blown it open between 3. Newcastle and Bolton does us favours beating Sheff U and Wigan so theres only 2 pts between 4 team.

It makes it much more interesing now for the neutral but id rather Utd get it rapped up to get my winnings. It just wasnt Man U's day at Pompey but they could have nicked a draw at the end. But all Man U have to is win until they go to Chelsea as they still have a huge goal difference. Also Chelsea have the tougher run-in. They have to go to Arsenal and high flyer West Ham

I never got my coupon on but West Ham, Newcastle were 2 of my teams. I really fancied West Ham to steal a win and they did just that.

Yeah just saw this, one guy got an absolute pelting and has face was smashed. 2nd away game in a row in europe for Man U.

Chelsea down 1-0 Man U down to 10 men - Scholes being silly with 2 yellows

Prefer round neck to V neck but it looks ok. Is this the 3rd season running we are bringing out a new kit? What happened to the days of keeping a kit for 2 or maybe 3 seasons?? My all time favourite is still the shirt we had 94/95 & 95/96 with adidas written across the neck.

Boyd cant play upfront full stop But seriously he cant play upfront on his own when the link between midfield and strikers is non exsistant but a Buffel type player to set him up would be different.

Yeah thats what i was thinking but im sure they have interviened with us about singing at SPL games and Im sure being UEFA they can intervine with EPL matches.

Agreed on that I was more keen on Scott Brown only.

I think it would be a cracking idea, same as bringing back the home nations tournament. Even if it was once every few years in the summer when there isnt a WC or Euro Championship. I dont think the English would go for it as they have a good set up and wouldnt risk losing a Euro place to Rangers or Celtic even though we are likely to qualify through the SPL.

But in doing this he is over doing it. I do see what your saying about him but its not just once or twice he is taking the ball off his own players and shouting at them - its every game. Surely he has to take a new approach. Its not just the poor players he is taking the ball from either, I remember Hearts away this season when Hemdani did a great bit of work at the back and broke out of defence only for Ferguson to run up to him put his hand on Hemdanis chest and stop him and took the ball off him - i couldnt believe it. Also quite a lot of fans were excited by Kevin Thomsons arrival but he has been poor for a 2 million pound player. We have to ask why. Cant he fit in the same side as Ferguson and Hemdani or hasnt he settled etc? I just think there is more behind the scenes than we know and BF has a role in this.

Im a Fergie fan to an extent Ian. When he gets his finger out (which to be far he has done since Walter came in bar the last few games) he is a great player, but he is inconsistant and doesnt get enough goals these days. I also dont like his way in dealing with things at times and seems to think he is immune to being subbed or dropped. TBH when he was handed the captaincy was the day he changed. He takes on too much responsiblilty and wants to dictate too much. I 200% think he will still be a Gers player next season - theres no doubt about that, but id be interested to see how we performed without him.

Im going to do 7 homes again, its been successful 2 weeks running and both times i havent posted them up here so Im not letting you's in on this weeks tips

No worries Ian, good timing!! I think 500,000 would be cheap for him as he is only 24 and a fairly good centre half. Playing along side Weir or Ehiogu will take him on leaps and bounds and set him ready for a long term centre half for us. He isnt in the mould of Gough but could certainly be a leader for us over the next 6 seasons or so.