SteveC

That sounds a sensible philosophy

Getting a bit carried away here over an internet forum - also he does not personally make the decision on all banning from FF. So does everyone who is a mod there have "deep rooted psychological problems", does every mod who has ever banned anyone from any site for "having an alternative opinion" have "deep rooted psychological problems" or are they just volunteers doing a rotten job the way they see fit? "not democratic" - I am only a member of 6 forums but none of them are democratic, none claim to be and none could function were they to try to be so. Been banned twice from FF, btw, once for being suspected as a tim (I think I was rubbishing Green at the time and saying he was a liar), the other for giving Leggat stick over attacking fellow fans in his puerile blog.

http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2015/03/27/canmnt-luca-gasparotto-looks-translate-successful-airdrieonians-loan-first-n On phone and travelling so haven't cut and pasted, sorry EDIT: Home now, so: For the 20-year-old center back, who finds himself at a turning point in his career, that attitude makes perfect sense. He isn’t dwelling on the past, nor is he getting too wrapped up in the future. After three years spent predominantly in the youth ranks at Glasgow Rangers, Gasparotto joined Airdrieonians in Scotland’s League One on loan this season. He flourished at Airdrie, becoming a fixture on the team’s backline, and had his loan extended to season’s end. “I’ve been fortunate to be playing week in, week out,” Gasparotto told MLSsoccer.com in a phone interview. “That’s why I wanted to go out on loan this season. “I’ve come a long way from where I was last year – just being with a different team, a different group of boys, playing at a high level. It’s been a good season.” His season with his new club – in which Gasparotto has made 21 appearances and scored twice – got him on the radar of Canadian head coach Benito Floro, who named the youngster to Canada’s squad ahead of upcoming friendlies against Guatemala (Fri., 4:30 pm ET) and Puerto Rico (Mon., 6:30 pm ET). “I’ve already had a pretty good career with the Canadian [program], and I want to keep going, so this is the next step,” said Gasparotto, who represented Canada at the 2011 FIFA Under-17 World Cup. “It’s going to be an exciting year, so I’m going to enjoy this week. I’m going to work really hard and try to make a good impression on the coaches.” READ: SKC's de Jong vows Canada will do better in World Cup qualifying The year, however, got off to an inauspicious start for Gasparotto and his Canadian teammates at the CONCACAF Under-20 Championship in January. Despite going into the tournament with plenty of hype, Canada won just one of their five group stage games and missed out on qualifying for this year’s U-20 World Cup. “We were all disappointed, the way it turned out,” said Gasparotto. “[We had] a lot of confidence and quite high expectations coming into the camp, and I think that was one of our problems. We overlooked some of the games. “If there’s one thing to take from it – we can’t overlook any team we play, no matter who they are. We need to take it one game at a time and not get too far ahead of ourselves. It was disappointing, but we’ve all moved on.” One player who might have helped Canada in that tournament was Toronto-born, Gasparotto’s teammate at Rangers. Aird has represented Scotland at the youth levels but was set to join Canada for the U-20 competition – until Rangers blocked him from doing so. As it stands, Aird remains eligible to play for either country. “Me and Fraser talk quite often. I’m always trying to get him to come play for us,” said Gasparotto. “Of course I’d like to see a good player play for our country. It’d be a good thing, and hopefully he does one day.” READ: Who made Canada's roster for upcoming friendlies? Gasparotto and Aird are throwbacks, in a way – while most other members of Canada’s current player pool have spent time with a Canadian professional club or its academy, the two Rangers youngsters went straight to Europe at a young age. For Gasparotto, it was an intimidating transition, but he feels as though he’s become a better player as a result. “It’s all just been a big learning experience for me. I moved away from my home, from my family at 16, across the world,” he said. “But I’ve enjoyed every minute of it, and I’ve really enjoyed playing in Scotland. “I’ve always been a shy player; communication’s not my strong point. But since I’ve been out on loan with these more experienced players, older players and at a higher level, you learn to communicate. ... I feel like I’m becoming more confident, more of a leader.” Before going out on loan at Airdrieonians, Gasparotto extended his contract at Rangers and will remain at Ibrox through the 2015-16 season. He’s hoping that all the lessons he’s learned in League One and with the Canadian national team program will put him in good stead as Rangers look to complete their climb back to the Scottish Premiership for next season. “I’m just hoping to get some more first-team time at Rangers in the future because I’ve enjoyed my first four years there and I want to continue,” said Gasparotto. “I don’t want it to come to an end.” Get all MLSsoccer.com's CanMNT coverage here But for the moment, his focus is on training camp with Canada, and attempting to ingratiate himself with the senior national team. While he knows there will be plenty of games for Canada in the next few years – CONCACAF Gold Cup, World Cup qualifying, the Pan-American Games and 2016 Olympic qualifying – he’s definitely not getting ahead of himself. “Every day I’m going to be here [in training camp], I just want to pick up things from the more experienced players,” he said. “The things the coaches are asking me to do, I’ll do them to the best of my ability… [i’ll] hopefully get some game time as well; that’d be quite amazing, and I’m really looking forward to it, if it happens. “It’s up to the coaches and who they want to play, and it also depends on the training. … If I get picked, I’ll go out and give it all I’ve got and hopefully take the opportunity that’s been given to me.”

Rangers shareholders are working on plans for a new £10million rights issue before the start of next season. Sportsmail understands leading investors, including the Three Bears consortium of Douglas Park, George Letham and George Taylor, are prepared to put more cash into the club in return for new shares. And Dave King and other existing investors are expected to follow suit. The Three Bears loaned the club £1.5m on an interest and security-free basis this week to end any prospect of drawing down a second £5m advance from Mike Ashley’s Sports Direct. Rangers promised to utilise the cash until a ‘medium to long term’ funding package could be formalised. And discussions have already begun on a rights issue in July which would see existing shareholders pledge a sum of between £10m and £14m in return for new shares in the club. Sources insist chairman-elect Dave King will participate in a rights issue, which will also be open to the fans’ groups, after interim chairman Paul Murray confirmed the South Africa-based businessman had opted out of this week’s short-term loan while he seeks to convince the SFA and financial regulators he is a fit and proper person. Rangers are seeking a new Nominated Advisor willing to approve King’s appointment as a director following 41 convictions under South African tax laws. Failure could lead to the club being delisted from the AIM stock market. Interim chairman Paul Murray confirmed chairman-elect King had opted out of this week’s short-term loan while he seeks to convince the SFA and financial regulators he is a fit and proper person +4 Interim chairman Paul Murray confirmed chairman-elect King had opted out of this week’s short-term loan while he seeks to convince the SFA and financial regulators he is a fit and proper person It’s understood the Three Bears and other influential shareholders would prefer the club to remain listed but will invest more money in any case, calculating that a sum of between £10m and £14m could meet the club’s needs over the next two seasons and meet the doomsday scenario of Stuart McCall’s side spending another year in the Championship. Scotland striker Steven Naismith, meanwhile, has refused to rule out a future return to Ibrox if the club return to the Premiership. The circumstances of his departure in 2012 caused ill feeling, but Naismith – a first pick at English Premiership Everton – insisted: ‘I don’t know what will happen in the coming year never mind the future. ‘At the moment I love playing for Everton. Since I’ve been there it’s been a great adventure, from being a substitute and not having an impact to playing in most of the big games and having an impact. ‘I love it at the moment but, you never know, things can change so quickly in football. I’d never rule anything out to be honest.’ Backing the decision of the new Rangers regime to appoint Scotland assistant coach Stuart McCall as manager, Naismith said: ‘It was one of the best decisions the new board could have made. ‘I worked with him here with Scotland. He’s great around the squad, he’s straightforward even in this environment when he’s not the manager. He’ll still tell you: “It’s not good enough.” ‘I think it’s a great decision and hopefully from now until the end of the season he can reap the rewards of going in there and getting Rangers back to the Premier League.’ http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3010296/Rangers-shareholders-planning-10m-rights-issue-start-season.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490

Mbabu received lots of accolades from those watching who reported in to Follow Follow: Changed from 6pm to 2pm ko at dumbarton stadium. Good team out if anyone is about. Free entry. Hutton, Aird, Walsh, Gallagher, Robinson and the newcastle Lad playing, the full back, Mbabu. He's started really well. Murdoch and Templeton sitting in the stand in front of us. Mccall and his staff in attendance. ---- Mbabu must play. Total stand out so far. --- Aird has looked good because Mbabu has played so well.

It would certainly put an end to all the uncertainty

Shows they hate us more than they hate Hibs but then we know that as they backed "Hands off Hibs" but tried to kill us. To think the yahoos have always claimed they lie down v. us.

I wonder if the guest speaker for May is Vuckic?

Its really hard to judge how effective a player is unless you have seen him over a large number of games. The ball is in play about 60 minutes per game. On average there must be 25 or 26 players = giving an average of about two and a bits minutes each on the ball (obvious different for certain positions and certain individuals). Indeed, for many of our games in our previous dominant state, quite a few defenders would hardly touch the ball. Oddly you can still have a good game without touching the ball as a defender. Imagine that every time the other team break, the opposing attacking midfielder has space and time to feed the ball to a winger, he is just about to do so when the holding midfielder moves across and puts him off playing that pass. An important contribution, without touching the ball, never seen on highlights, not mentioned on the commentary. This is why I am so hesitant on trusting my mainly TV based views of games unless hey are extremely easy to read (like us v Alloa, Cowden etc.) Trevor Steven, when commentating on the Indian Premier League recently, picked out a player as having an outstanding first half. Said player had not touched the ball once.

I'm in the "I hope it is the 16th" group. I would hope to make either but 23rd would be trickier and I'd need to get a sleeper to London thereafter to make it at all possible,

oops- checking thread would have been sensible :facepalm::oops:

Two comments on this. The bit about us selling McLeod seems almost contradictory to the rest of what he says and this line: " I’d like to have that energy and vibrance in our team next season. " Indicates he is confident of being manager next season === http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/stuart-mccall-dropped-every-player-5379440? Stuart McCall: If I dropped every player Rangers fans wanted gone - I'd have no team left 07:45, 22 March 2015 By Scott McDermott THE Rangers boss agrees with Ibrox fans that certain players aren't living up to their reputation and salary but McCall insists he can't drop them all. STUART MCCALL has family 
and friends who would 
love his job of picking the Rangers team. But the Ibrox boss admits if he agreed to drop every player they want out, 
he’d be left with no one to choose from. McCall fully understands the frustration of fans right now because he is one. He, along with his Bluenose family members, is suffering just like the rest of the Ibrox faithful. He accepts there is a feeling of anger among supporters that certain individuals at the club aren’t doing enough to live up to their salary and reputation. Stuart McCall can't bare to look at what's happening on the Ibrox pitch VIEW GALLERY But McCall insists he can’t simply discard a large group of players and throw kids into the mix – as he tries desperately to get them promoted to the top flight. He’s introduced young winger Tom Walsh to his first-team and full-back Ryan Sinnamon is now featuring on the bench. But as he got ready for today’s Championship clash at Hibs, he’s adamant he can get a turn out of Gers’ senior, 
under-performing stars. McCall said: “I’ve got family and a lot of friends who are Rangers fans. “If it was up to them, they wouldn’t have a team out there because everyone would be dropped. “For example, Kenny McDowall tried all different permutations up front with our five strikers. If you speak to supporters they’re so frustrated and disappointed with a lot of things. “People have said to me, ‘I wouldn’t have him, him or him in the team’. “But that would leave us with about two players and I can’t flood the team with youngsters. My job is to get the best formula, a winning formula, out on the park. We’ve got time to do it and it’s what I’m striving for.” Today’s opposite number, Alan Stubbs, doesn’t seem to have that problem at Easter Road as the Hibees continue to impress. They’ve wiped the floor with Rangers on two occasions already this season and when McDowall’s beleaguered side last went to Leith, they were hammered 4-0. While McCall wasn’t trying to justify that kind of display, he did compare the clubs’ business in January and insist Hibs came out of it in far better shape. He said: “Hibs have been terrific. They’re undefeated in 15 and they’ve won their last seven on the bounce. “But the key thing for them was the January transfer window. They kept their best young player, Scott Allan, while we had to sell ours, Lewis Macleod. Plus they were able to add 
five new players who have strengthened them. “I remember saying to Alan at the time, what a great piece of business it was getting Keith Watson in from Dundee United as he’s a solid SPFL player. Fraser Fyvie, Tomas Cerny, Franck Dja Djedje and Martin Boyle have also improved their squad. “While they were doing that, Rangers brought in five players from Newcastle and only one of them has been fit enough to play a significant part. “Alan was able to have a clean sweep of his playing staff last summer. It took them time to gel but right now they have energy and confidence. “And they’re hungry as well, so this will be a big challenge for us. Next season Rangers need young, hungry players. Of course you need to balance that with experience. “But I’d like to have that energy and vibrance in our team next season.” McCall is attempting to re-energise Rangers players who have been peripheral performers this season, 
such as David Templeton and former Hibee Dean Shiels. The latter was a top-flight Player of the Year candidate not so long ago but, incredibly, completed his first full 90
 minutes for Rangers this season on Tuesday night against Alloa. McCall is looking to give the 
Northern Irish playmaker a new lease of life at Ibrox. He said: “I spoke to Dean one-to-one before we picked him for the Alloa game. “I don’t know why he’s only had four starts this season. “He did well the other night, for his first full 90 minutes. “Everyone is in the same boat – when you get an opportunity you have to grab it. You have to show that you want to be out there, in training and games. “I know there are players here who want to be in my team. But they have to show it. “It’s okay being willing and 
wanting to do it. But there’s a big difference between that and 
actually producing.”

Interesting reading these approaching 30 years later,,,Some loss we made on Craig Patterson!

"not many of us could contemplate staying and playing another year in the Championship." I certainly don't want to contemplate you or many of your teammates doing so either, Lee. You aren't good enough for the Championship and have let us down, badly. "We always felt we were going to make it a seamless transition straight to the Premiership." - Yes you did, while doing f*ck all work to achieve it, you expected it to be given to you for nothing.

Can't be right, Merlin assured us that Ashley was bailing/ helping out.

I am very interested - thoroughly enjoyed the last one as did John (the guy I brought along). Problem is I just don't know my work/family situation at the moment and it won't become clear if I can make it for a few weeks yet, especially as the dates are so variable. Chances are I will be able to make it but I can't confirm at his stage.

It was even worse - he actually said we had been the victims of a fraudulent takeover and then went on to say that the wounds were self inflicted and sporting integrity meant we should have been demoted to the bottom tier. My laptop screen has a crack in it. I don't think these things are unrelated.

Also said we deserved to be sent to the bottom division for sporting integrity reasons and that it was understandable the way other clubs treated us.

"Mr. SuperBad" on "Follow Follow" posted that: "Some of you know me and know I tend to steer away from stuff unless it's a it's from a very highly placed source. This is: As the new board came in, our captain met with one of them and said that it was clear Kenny McDowall was leaving. He then said 'I'm getting my coaching badges and I'd like my name considered for the first team coach position when it comes up.' He then went on to compare himself favourably to Robbie Neilson and suggested he could do a similar job. He was not considered."

http://www.ibroxnoise.co.uk/2015/03/lee-mcculloch-ill-win-new-deal.html? Lee McCulloch has confirmed he fully intends to continue playing on till next season and potentially beyond. Rangers’ captain, 36, has come under increasing fire for his poor performances and has been subject to a barrage of criticism that he is ‘past it’. Given the quality of his displays it is hard to argue with this, but nevertheless despite it he believes he can win a new contract this summer (he is one of the dozen whose deal expires this year) and intends to fight for his place: “The new manager has come in and said: “Well, it’s up to yourselves to go out there and earn it. If you want to be here next season then go and earn your contract and show that you are worthy of one”. I think that is the best thing for it. It is a big motivation for me. I’m not getting any younger.” He continued: “It would be amazing, it would be brilliant to go back to the top and it would be nice. But at times football isn’t nice. So I would love to be here, but I need to go and earn that myself. I know that as does every other player here.” New manager Stuart McCall has promised wholesale changes, and it remains to be seen if McCulloch’s wishes to extend his time at Ibrox are his own wishful thinking or whether a 37 or 38 year old Lee McCulloch will still be plying his trade at Ibrox next season. Posted by Ibrox Noise at 09:00

Right, I am off to hospital for 24 hours, great timing, I know. Nothing serious - sorry to disappoint some folk - good luck to everyone going tonight, hope it is as great an atmosphere as I am expecting to be missing.

Some folk are not taking the news well: and I am not sure who frightens me more re our future: Ashley or this loonball element in our support

Now, now - he'll be crushed it isn't his beloved Chuckles back, play nice

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/31800809 Be afraid, be very afraid!

I wouldn't have said anything. Ally's interviews were as hard to stomach as his teams.