der Berliner

Ach well, maybe people should not jump to conclusions that quickly. The first line says it all: "It is understood ..."

If we go by that word alone, nigh half the squad would be away and we would have signed people from here to just left of the Saturn rings.

Anyways, he's a professional footballer. He does his job and quite well. If he wants to pursue his career somewhere else and a bit earlier than we think, so be it. No harsh feelings over here. In essence, very few players will ever show a heart-felt loyalty* to a club and break their necks to perform to the best of their ability. Whether they are actualkly (supposedly) Rangers-fans or not. Thus I do by default not expect any Klos or Albertz, Weiss, Laudrup or Gattuso feelings in every player at our club. And I sure as hell don't give Timothy any ammunition and want to chase him out ASAP. All I have to say is "Thanks for the memories and farethee well!"

*Thatswhy I'd keep Healy for another season (and get shot of Beattie).

We've got Alexander, who's a good one. I'd take Cerny off Hamilton's roster and would also acquire Foster as back-up (sic!) for our right side. Hutton ... who knows, the English market is quite "funny" when it comes to fees and wages, though Allan might be well off by now.

Ahem ... yes. I think I'll eat something funny if this pulls off.

I find it quite strange that one day the reprters write that Vaughan is interested, but all talks are being done by his agent. And the next day "he's talked to" Rangers. IMHO, this is all set and match here, as the agent will get his player (and himself) the most lucrative (monetary) contract and this will most likely be not ours, as long as EPL teams are involved.

What is surprising is that the Scots usually have a good u19 and u21 side and I remember them giving the Germans a really good run for their money last year, with more than half the team were Rangers "men" ...

Unless I am mistaken, the Scottish transfer window opens on July 1st, right?

I wonder whether the Turks actually know in which players they (according to the Scottish newspapers) are interested in.

Yeah, there was a thread either here or on FF, saying that it was pretty common last season to link us with any player who was interesting Bolton, this season/summer it seems to be the case for Wigan folk. I wouldn't mind much about not having heard about people linked with us before, if they perform like Bartley, Weiss, Papac or the like on a consistent level. Mind you, I did not hear/see much about Arteta, Boumsong, Cuellar, Bougherra either ...

So Healy is gone?

No, not yet. Matter of fact, I would rather keep him than Beattie, who is one of many veteran but journeyman strikers. Yet, Healy at least is also driven by living his dream and I think there are not many footballers who are Bears too who are as desperate to play for and see the club (sic!) succeed than him.

The longer we are interested and will look at Bosman players like him, the more likely it becomes that some low-key EPL or Championship team will wing in and snap him up on higher wages. Who knows where this rumour comes from, but I'd rather like us watching people and signing them up before the press gets a chance to write rumours about it for a month.

If either Boogie or Goodwillie move to the Championhsip, one would sure have to ask them about their ambitions. (Money-making aside, that is.) Then again, Boogie has won all that there is to win while at Ibrox ...

I get excited if the press people or board'ers tell us that he or someone else is at Murray Park / Ibrox. Or we do indeed get some quotes from our people. Thus far, it is all nice to talk about fees and how much we want him (or someone else), but it takes much more than that.

I would like Whyte to have waited till Bain was back from America. It just doesn't sit right not to wait a couple of days, do it face to face.

Well, I would assume that is what he did when he "only" suspended them for the time being. The "financial stuff" is only a rumour uttered by "a press source at Ibrox", so who's to say that ain't all garbage. In any case, as I have said elsewhere, this isn't the way we should be dealing with such topics. Take these people aside, tell them that their time is up and why (if that is the case), and ask them for the sake of the club to keep a lid on things.

Kyle Bartley could return to Rangers on a permanent basis after the defensive midfielder was told he has no future at Arsenal. (Daily Express)

From BBC Scottish gossip. Depends on any fees Arsenal may want ...

If they had some brains, they should rather play nice-nice with Whyte than bringing up more rubbish like that. Else, it could well be that only a new generation of commentators of these respective newspapers, radio and tv stations will gain entry into Ibrox, as the old brigade is being banned because of the lies and slander published over years.

Well, that Celtic-Fan-run Scotzine has a few more words to say about Bain, but after having had a few chats with the main writer, I would not take all of his writings on face value.

I would assume that any of the mentioned EPL teams can offer him higher wages than we do (and you have to keep in mind that his agent does the talking, and these may not have football brains driving them). The good thing is that neither of these teams can hope to offer him more silverware/prestige/fame than the odd Carling or the FA Cup for years ahead. Not so with us, Fortune permitting.

It looks to be in full motion, despite Bain being in the US of A with McCoist & Co. ...

Rangers Academy News confirmed the signing of the Norwegian twins Tom and Kim Skogsrud, but also confirms the release of a number of youngsters:

Meanwhile, several Reserve and under-19 players have now been released by Rangers, this includes Andrew Shinnie, Stephen Stirling, Archie Campbell, Wayne Drummond, Cristiano Kisuka and Steven Hetherington.

I liked the look of Archie Campbell and am actually surprised that we let him go for nothing.

According to FF Radio Clyde reported that we are in talks with Eremenko and his agent(s). Let's wait on that one for another 12 to 24 hours, right?

As I asked over there, you wonder who of Rangers is actually talking to Tomer Hemed and Eremenko while Bain is suspended?

Well, these are just rumours. I'd only start to worry (or getting excited) when people are flown into Ibrox or Murray Park for talks.

Cardiff's Jay Boothroyd, Brum's Seb Larsson ... both on a free. Add David Vaughan to the list, though he might not be on a free and now that they are down, Blackpool may want hard cash.

Wouldn't it be a steal if we can finally lay "hands on" Niklas Bendtner of Arsenal? He's just declared his interest in leaving the Gunners due to lack of playing time.

Sometimes, Wikipedia does help answer quick questions. I would think that we do not look at him, since he's just signed for Wednesday and English clubs will demand hard cash.

McCoist is also on the hunt for Maccabi Haifa striker Tomer Hamed. (The Mail on Sunday)

That one costs Euro 500k according to Transfermarkt, is aged 24 and has scored 12 goals in 31 games this season. Oh, and he actually called Tomer Hemed.

Comes from the same side as the Celtic Kayal ...

This Hibs Board link makes a wonderful read. I wouldn't be surprised if it looks like that on all other fan-boards too.

Dunno, but I recently read on the Rangers website that McCoist looks for 6 players in addition to keeping some old hands. Would have to dig that up though.