andrew_2010

No wonder that "religious" crimes are on the up, when they arrest a student on his last night out before exams for dressing up as postman pat and having a tongue in cheek joke* to wind up his mates!! *which has nothing to do with religion

a very apt first post from "smug bluenose"...

I still think that we will be accused of being sectarian as long as hearts fans, killie fans, all fans of other teams continue to show a dislike towards the man (which is understandable), even if we don't. It's a horrible situation, and although your approach is the best (and probably the one I'd like to adopt) I still think certain people will try and insinuate things about Rangers fans. Think of it as an alternative to the song "If you hate neil lennon clap your hands" which some people feel the need to express...

Fair point! And in general I'd agree, but this Neil Lennon thing is going too far and is verging on critical... would perhaps highlight the nonsense that Lennons abuse/assault is religiously aggravated! P.S. I know we had NOTHING to do with the Tyncastle incident, but try telling the media that!

Well they can't be THAT bad if they came up with the ditty: "where in Ireland is Glasgow?"

Pretty simple: To the tune from the chorus of Sloop John B by the Beach Boys: "Because he's a Dick; Because he's a Dick; We Hate Neil Lennon, Because he's a Dick" No "sectarianism" there, just the facts. Pure and simple.

Sounds ominous... and from the state funded BBC no less?

Not to steal Calscots thunder... but, I had a wee look to see where these "rankings" come from... After a squint at their facebook page, apparently they use an ELO point system, which was initially developed by some dude to rank chess players. It has been adapted to be used for other sports (apparently) but it's all dependent on how games are weighted... Complicated, and fairly arbitrary based on the weightings... which are not listed on the site. Nor is the how long these points last for, or whether there is a time factor like UEFA/Bert Kassies scoring system. If anyone is THAT interested I suggest google... or I could hunt for the link again...

He did us a turn in Lisbon! Fair play to the guy, living the dream! Just like Davie Cooper did

regarding stockmarket rules... do you not have to announce if you have made an official bid, before it has been accepted? or was the "interest" he declared all those months ago enough to comply with his (Whyte's) legal obligations? This could be a very good week

Mission accomplished, the media have made the union jack sectarian. I'd love to see them try ban the Irish flag on March 17th...

I don't think any fan proposes supporting him the person. Perhaps condemning the terrorist treatment, and use it as an opportunity to gain some good press and wind up the bigots... I hope there is something starts "cos he's a Dick, cos he's a Dick, we hate Neil Lennon cos he's a Dick" (to shaggers tune) type song starts to make our point.

While they have all the momentum and support and public perception, this will never come to light and they will keep focusing on us. and keep kicking us while we're down. I fear a backlash to this lennon support on sunday from our fans, and it will inevitably lead to more bad press for us and positive press for them. It is the perverted twisting of any Rangers fans response to this that I am concerned about, and the only safe course of action is to join in. Do not think for one minute I agree with the rubbish those bigoted terrorist supporting scum are peddling.

I think people are being harsh on the people proposing we join in the applause. It would be clapping to condemn a threat on someones life. Also in the eyes of the neutral (well not really) media, and internationally and any non-sport related coverage, it would be a boost to our image, especially with this bullshit coming up at UEFA next week. Kinda like having to get on with a cousin you despise at a family do to keep the peace. It would also wind them up something rotten, and in doing so would expose them for what they are. I despise Neil Lennon, with a passion, but currently if you hate Neil Lennon it is because you are being sectarian (copyright scottish media/tims). This would blow any bigotry arguments out the water. I just think people are a not seeing the opportunity of helping the bigger picture...

don't know who makes banners for games, but surely something about hating Lennon cos he is a prick is called for. Hating Lennon is not sectarian. don't let the media twist this. We hate him cos he's a disrespectful, dishonourable arsehole of a human being!

what's JCGE?

ANTI-LENNON does NOT!! equal sectarian! you can hate a guy because he is a knob. we can't help what his background is. just read some bull about players getting sacked on bbc about all this...

This surely must be a joke?! I hope that this isn't given credible media coverage...

what is going on? have I missed something??

That would be the best response. Clap with them and unfurl a banner saying rangers against terrorism. Because as much as I dislike Lennon, I do not condone this bomb rubbish, and this would get us some positive press, and anyone that says we don't need it should get their head out the sand!!

I am equally concerned at Murphy running the line...

I was catching up with an old school friend on Saturday, enjoying some drink and some banter. While I was in the bar, a group of about 10 or so "Aberdeen fans" were seated next to me. How did I know they were visitors to Glasgow to witness the now inevitable thrashing at the hands of Celtic, well I overheard them singing a song. I was offended, and disgusted. They were glorifying in the vile assault on one of Scotlands most promising talents which left every football fan wondering "what if" as too how good this kid could have been. It destroyed his career, and when you look at how good it was when he eventually recovered, it just pains you even more. These are the same 'tartan blooded' fans who claim to be the backbone of the scottish support. Now having been brought up in the Aberdeen area, I know full well the connetations of singing such songs. It is to antagonise, offend and disgust a group of people based on one denomination: The fact that they are Rangers fans. If we continually get told that Rangers songs are racists and sectarian (when they are predominantly used to wind up celtic fans) why, when songs are directed against us is it not? Rangers are not a race, or a sect, but why can the connetations of Rangers' songs be inferred, while others cannot? The easiest way to rid us of the threat of punishment is to stop singing the songs. But when singing a tune is interpreted as more than a highlighting of the ridiculous one sided "witch-hunt" and is infact seen as deep rooted racist and bigotted behaviour is laughable. This is what we are faced with. The condemnation of inappropriate songs is correct, but it is not just Rangers songs. The tribalistic nature is being peversly twisted so that anything Rangers do is sectarian, and anything anyone else sings is just "banter". I fear until this discrimination (that is the only word for it) is addressed, the problem will never disappear and potentially could having damning repercussions for football in Scotland. ... Just part of a never-ending rant...

And surely a delegate from Northern Ireland isn't a coincidence? Someone that "knows" what all the divide is about? Why no banning for the racists in Spain? or the anti-Semites in Poland/Netherlands? why nothing about praising terrorist organisations? If other clubs were under the same scrutiny I'm sure most folk would have let it lie, but if there was any singing of "banned" songs (I wasn't at either game) surely it would have been in protest after NOT singing the "banned" songs for months with only more criticism instead of praise. I know the excuse "but everyone else is doing it" isn't great, but in this case there is NO other club (despite others with worse track records) being put in the dock over this. Praise from police officials and uefa delegates and a report from a bitter "volunteer" tim is potentially causing this countless greif.

Lennon only "accepted" his ban as it resulted in an additional ONE game ban. He DID NOT get a four game ban. Maybe he did in "theory", but his lawyer, who speaks for the public interest and not any of his clients, be it Celtic or Neil Lennon, obviously worked that one out. It's THAT story that should be getting all the media scrutiny. That would like be like Naismith getting a ban from this review, but because he is already missing the saints game, it effectively means he gets no punishment. If you were a pro and were apparently given a red card AFTER full time, would you know that that means you have to leave the field of play immediately? even though there is no "play" on the field? the Diouf crime, although stupid and perhaps embarrassing given the result, was no worse than what Lennon himself did with his old mentor O' Neill the day the referee was TOO SCARED to show Lennon a second yellow and join Sutton and Thompson on red cards. There would have been a riot had that happened (not from us) and he could have easily had a couple of yellows at least from what I recall! Argh! So easily wound up... (a bit like the trouble maker in all this!) P.S. a player says something e.g. an Italian player, to get a rise out of you... is he red carded? banned? yellow carded? no. nothing. When the opposition responds with aggression, say a headbutt, what is his punishment? well in the famous example, if he had not been retiring, of course ZZ would have been banned on top of his straight red. Lennon is the one who reacted, no matter what McCoist said, it is Lennon and Lennon alone that is in the wrong and has to deal with the repercussions of his reaction.

It is a sham that Lennon's 4 match ban happened to coincide with the one he was serving. Concurrent bans?! Absolute joke! Glad common sense has prevailed with respect to our club though