CammyF

That Was The Week That Was As we motor into the business end of the season, it gets tougher and tougher to dismantle the previous weeks results and performances, and I donââ?¬â?¢t know about you, but you require a degree in statistical analysis to understand and programme what games we have pending in any given week. Hence, please forgive me if my memory plays tricks on me and I review the wrong bloody week! Last week saw us chalked up two consecutive 2-0 away victories and whilst both were welcome, one did outshine the other. Looking for words to describe our performance in Lisbon isnââ?¬â?¢t hard, but if I had to use just one word to describe the performance and result, it would be AWESOME. What we witnessed against Sporting was an unbelievable performance and one which we witnessed happening AGAINST us on so many European occasions. We dictated the tempo of the game, we passed the ball brilliantly, defended stoutly and converted our chances when they presented themselves. I canââ?¬â?¢t be the only one who still canââ?¬â?¢t quite grasp the fact that we are in a European Cup semi-final, with a very decent chance of progressing. Now, Iââ?¬â?¢ll say this upfront, I donââ?¬â?¢t think we will win it, but we have a great chance. We will NOT change or personnel, tactics of formation for the semi-final. We will look to stifle the game at Ibrox with the priority not losing an away goal. Sunday saw us progress into the Scottish Cup semi-final with a ââ?¬Ë?regulationââ?¬â?¢ victory over Thistle. We deserved our victory and hats off to the fringe players who came in and produced a decent performance and result. I would also like to take the opportunity of offering my congratulations to Queen Of The South after their brilliant 4-1 victory over the Abergreen on Saturday. They deserved their victory and what about the JCD-esque celebration after the winning goal? Hopefully weââ?¬â?¢ll meet QOS in the final as I would like to thank them for knocking out Abergreen and Linlithgow Rose (in an earlier round)! So Whatââ?¬â?¢s On The Agenda This Week So after last weeks drama of UEFA and Scottish Cup quarter finals, this weeks fixtures throws up the little matter of an Old Firm SPL game at Parkhead on Wednesday evening and a Scottish Cup Semi-Final against St Johnstone on Sunday. We will know what to expect in both fixtures (lets not forget that St Johnstone knocked us out of the CIS Cup last season ââ?¬â?? at Ibrox) and we will have to be at our best to secure victories in both games. As the fixtures are coming think and fast, Walter and his staff may be thinking of altering the starting 11, but I canââ?¬â?¢t see much tinkering for the Old Firm game. Thomson is suspended which will be a big loss, but Hendami will slot into his position. I fully expect all the ââ?¬Ë?big-gunsââ?¬â?¢ to be back and the only position that isnââ?¬â?¢t cemented at the moment is whoââ?¬â?¢ll play the ââ?¬Ë?lone strikerââ?¬â?¢ role. In my opinion, JCD will start with Cousin replacing him ala Sporting on Thursday. As long as we come out of the 2 OF games ââ?¬Ë?levelââ?¬â?¢ (i.e. 2 draws or a victory and defeat ââ?¬â?? at worst) then we will have taken a huge step in securing the title. Letââ?¬â?¢s hope that we go for it as we have shown that we know how to defeat the forces of evilââ?¬Â¦..! Sunday may be the fixture that has the potential to trip us up on our quest for the quadruple. I know that may sound silly given that we have an OF game on Wednesday but I feel that if we get the desired result on Wednesday, WS will tinker with the team ahead of the St Johnstone game. That is not a bad option, but we mustnââ?¬â?¢t underestimate St Johnstone and we mustnââ?¬â?¢t not make the SCF given that we have gotten so close. As I said above, I canââ?¬â?¢t believe that the quadruple is so close, it is tangible, you can almost taste it. We MUST strive to win all 4, but the league is the priority. I know its greedy, I know its almost impossible, but please, please, please Rangers, lets make history, lets win all four!! Cammy F ââ?¬â?? Support The Dublin Loyal - We Are The Peopleââ?¬Â¦.

HEHEHEHEHEHEHEHE 'Famous Aberdeen' right enough - well done QOS Cammy F

That was one of the best Rangers performances in Europe (away from home) in a long, long time. We passed the ball brilliantly, scored 2 wonderful goals and played a typical European performance. By that, I mean we played the way so many European teams play. We defended very well then hit Sporting on the break. Did I hear right last night that only ourselves and Man U have beaten Sporting in lisbon this season? As for the Tim infested media playing down Sportings ability - we fell their pain. BTW, anyone tape The Bill last night :fish: PS - if last night didn't make you proud to be a Bear (I'm proud of that fact every second of every day), then nothing will - WATP Cammy F

Not one failure in the team - can't pick anyone as that was what you call a superb team performance - take a bow lads Cammy F

Recently there has been much informed (but much more ill-informed) discussions regarding the short and long-term futures of both Old Firm managers. Some journalists have even gone as far as to claim that they know that Gordon Strachan will leave Celtc this summer, no matter the outcome of the SPL. Apparently, he has had enough of the baggage that associates itself with being an ââ?¬Ë?Old Firmââ?¬â?¢ manager. Funnily enough, we never hear of this baggage when a Rangers manager is ââ?¬Ë?strugglingââ?¬â?¢. Did this apparent baggage affect Alex McLeish or Paul Le Guen? Anyway, I digress. GS is in an extraordinary position as no matter how well he does (2 SPL titles, 2 domestic trophies and 2 last 16 appearances in the CL) will never be enough to appease the (growing) vocal minority (which will increase to the majority if we are to clinch the SPL title) as he isnââ?¬â?¢t termed ââ?¬Ë?Celtc Mindedââ?¬â?¢. Yip, once again that mysterious term or Celtc mindedness raises its ugly head. In this instance, I believe that the media have gotten it correct, no matter how the season ends, GS will leave Parkhead for pastures new. Liewell and his PR machine will go into overdrive and promise to deliver a ââ?¬Ë?Blue Chipââ?¬â?¢ replacement, with names from abroad being touted about, but I believe any new manager will come from much closer to home. In fact, I donââ?¬â?¢t think youââ?¬â?¢ll need to look much further than Motherwell. Mark McGee will fit most of the criteria Celtc are looking for, and most importantly to appease the fans, he is what can be termed ââ?¬Ë?Celtc Mindedââ?¬â?¢. Other names that will enter the frame and could become part of a management team are Mick McCarthy, Tony Mowbry, John Hughes and Peter Grant (see a pattern developing here!). Our manager is in a slightly different position. Walter Smith was brought back to steady the ship, to get us back challenging for domestic honours whilst continuing to progress in Europe. So far this season, it can be argued that he as ââ?¬Ë?over achievedââ?¬â?¢. If we finish the season with say the domestic treble, or even just with the much coveted SPL trophy, Walter Smith may decide that he has delivered and might want to take a step back. However, I donââ?¬â?¢t think he can as his successor is just settling into a new job at the moment and wonââ?¬â?¢t want to ââ?¬Ë?jump shipââ?¬â?¢ just yet. Some believe that Ally McCoist is being groomed as Walter Smithââ?¬â?¢s long term replacement but I donââ?¬â?¢t think Ally will be ready in 12-18 months. In my opinion, weââ?¬â?¢ll have another manager before Ally McCoist. As I said recently, I wouldnââ?¬â?¢t rule out Craig Levin, but I believe that our next manager will be George Burley. But, as I said above, I canââ?¬â?¢t see WS moving on until the end of next season at the earliest. This may come as a disappointment to the minority of Rangers fans who for some reason believe that we arenââ?¬â?¢t improving under Walter Smith. We have won our first trophy in 3 years, are leading the SPL, have a great chance of the domestic treble and are racking up the European coefficient points like never before. WS was brought in to steady the ship ââ?¬â?? he has done far more that steady us, he has turned us around into a very efficient team that is hard to beat ââ?¬â?? but I suppose, like our friends from the east end, some of us will never be satisfied. Cammy F -

Changing Formation Well, the ââ?¬Ë?Walter Smith is too negativeââ?¬â?¢ brigade got their wish on Saturday when our esteemed manager finally changed his formation, tactics and preferred starting line-up. What happened? Well, we lost 3 very poor goals, looked nervous, didnââ?¬â?¢t play particularly well and can count ourselves lucky that we escaped from Tannidice with a draw. In saying all of the above, lets take nothing away from Dundee Unitedââ?¬â?¢s performance as they were exceptional. They were full of running (out paced us all over the pitch), creativity, movement and no little skill ââ?¬â?? we on the other hand were devoid of the above. So what positives can we take from Tannidice? Well, we ended the weekend 1 point better off than we started it (a very unexpected bonus) and we can take heart and encouragement from the (dare I say it!) ââ?¬Ë?Never Surrenderââ?¬â?¢ attitude of the players. A lesser team would have lost that game. For me, and itââ?¬â?¢s easy to say with hindsight, we donââ?¬â?¢t have the personnel to play 4-4-2 at the moment. Our midfield looked weak and were easily overran ââ?¬â?? that was a direct result of having 2 players exposed to 3 fast DUFC midfield players. Our wide men were terrible yesterday and contributed nothing to the game. When playing 4-4-2 you require genuine ââ?¬Ë?wide-menââ?¬â?¢ in midfield and / or in the full-back positions. Players like Burke, Hutton, Beasley, Adam even Naysmith or Novo (who were unavailable to play these positions for varying reasons) would be preferable to SW, Daily, McCulloch and Papac who were deployed against Dundee United. We left Novo and Boyd isolated upfront and offered them little service or support. Novo, as usual tried his heart out (and took his goal brilliantly) whilst Boyd was his frustrating self. He really does split the fans down the middle, but in my opinion did little on Sunday to enhance his reputation or chances of securing a continued starting place. Yes he took his goal well (his 50th SPL goal for Rangers) but continues to give the impression that he has never before been introduced to a football. He loses possession to easily for a striker and MUST improve his hold-up and link up play. Yesterday, as in the CIS Cup Final, De Vries showed how to play as a ââ?¬Ë?target manââ?¬â?¢. He hustled and harried our centre-halves and didnââ?¬â?¢t give them a minutes peace. In conclusion I for one hope that WS has learnt his lesson regarding altering / tinkering with his preferred formation and we can only speculate as to weather we would have emerged from Dundee with 3 points if we had gone 4-5-1. One thing that is certain, playing 4-5-1, we wouldnââ?¬â?¢t have lost 3 goals. Coming home from the game, we had a discussion on our bus regarding an eventual replacement for Walter Smith ââ?¬â?? personally, I think we would be mad not to consider Craig Levin ââ?¬â?? he has bought some fantastic players and has DUFC playing some wonderful football (and they look fitter than our squad at the moment). So Whatââ?¬â?¢s The Agenda This Week? So we can leave the disappointment of Tannidice behind and concentrate on this weeks upcoming fixtures. Thursday sees us in Portugal for the return leg of the UEFA Cup Tie with Sporting where we are trying to secure a semi-final spot. The tie is not beyond us and itââ?¬â?¢s surprising to see that we actually secured the best ââ?¬Ë?homeââ?¬â?¢ result of all the quarter final ties. We know what we need to do, keep the game tight and try to score an away goal. This game will follow a familiar pattern as itââ?¬â?¢ll be a carbon copy of the Pana away tie (hopefully with the same outcome). We will revert back to 4-5-1 and play with 3 defensive midfield players (Fergie, Thompson and Hendami) with McCulloch out wide left and possibly Novo out right. Daily will replace the suspended Weir alongside CC with Broadfoot and Papac playing fullback. JCD will start as the lone striker with Cousin replacing him if and when required. I cannot believe the stick we have taken from some quarters (even very close to home) over the first leg result and performance. As I said above, just look at the outcome of the other ties to see that we actually secured a decent result against a more than decent team. Some (thankfully small) sections of our support really need to think before they start ââ?¬Ë?booingââ?¬â?¢ the players. We have over achieved in Europe this year ââ?¬â?? we gave decent account of ourselves in the CL Group of Death and are doing superbly well in the UEFA Cup. Just have a look at our coefficient points tally to see how well we are actually doing. On our return from Portugal, we have a tricky Scottish Cup reply against Partick Thistle to negotiate. This game will NOT be a walkover, as the original tie at Ibrox proved. We will inevitably have to make changes in this tie and fringe players may have to be relied upon to ensure that we are still on course for a domestic treble come the end of the Sunday. Appeasement So Celtc lose another OF game and the fans are showing an increasing disillusionment with wee Chesney. Okay, a mass (sic) exodus to the car-park isnââ?¬â?¢t imminent, but of they continue to drop further behind us, it looks inevitable, Peter Liewell and John Reid hatch a wonderful plan to appease the restless natives. The biggest criticism of Wee GS from the Tims is that he isnââ?¬â?¢t ââ?¬Ë?Celtc Mindedââ?¬â?¢ (what ever the hell that means ââ?¬â?? well, I could give you my thoughts but thatââ?¬â?¢s for another day!!!!) so what do they do? Well, they got on the phone to the Lurgan Bigot and ââ?¬Ë?createââ?¬â?¢ an opening for him. As predicted, Lennon jumps at the opportunity and the Tims fall for it hook, line and sinker. Hey presto, they have their favourite bigot back (after Saturdays defeat, I wonder if thereââ?¬â?¢s room for their favourite Nazi, Mr PDC?) and a ââ?¬Ë?Celtc Mindedââ?¬â?¢ coach to keep Wee GS in check. Now, Liewell will tell you that Lennon is being ââ?¬Ë?groomedââ?¬â?¢ and that a ââ?¬Ë?real roleââ?¬â?¢ will be created in the summer. Cynical me just thinks Lennon needs the cash to pay child support for all the illegitimate children (I toned that down as this is a family publication) he spawned in his time in Scotland. Cammy F ââ?¬â?? Support The Dublin Loyal - We Are The Peopleââ?¬Â¦.

Cammy F

Old Firm Reaction Well another Rangers OF victory and another case of Masonic Conspiracy. Read any of the unbiased Scottish media today and youââ?¬â?¢d believe that Rangers cheated their way to victory with the help of another Brother In Black. I havenââ?¬â?¢t had time (nor the inclination really) to refer to my various oracles and on-line search engines, but I can take a guess at this, I do wonder if any Rangers OF victory has been met with a simple, ââ?¬Ë?Yip, the best team wonââ?¬â?¢? I would say it was highly unlikely. The latest OF game wasnââ?¬â?¢t particularly a great game of football but it encapsulated so much of what makes the OF game an OF game. Celtc got beaten and try to lay the blame at everyone elseââ?¬â?¢s door assisted by their lap-dogs in the media. I hear that Robert Mugabe is lining up Peter Liewell as his PR machineââ?¬Â¦. Anyway, the officials have a hard job and canââ?¬â?¢t get everything correct Ã?© Tommy Burns in a recent interview after Celtc benefited from a dubious refereeing decision that saw them steal 3 points from Love Street. But, I suppose, Timââ?¬â?¢s being Timââ?¬â?¢s this is only true when they benefit. IF anyone else does, its obviously a conspiracy. Saturdays officials werenââ?¬â?¢t the best, but I canââ?¬â?¢t see how anyone can claim that they were ââ?¬Ë?anti-Celtcââ?¬â?¢. It was heartening to hear Rangers finally praising the supporters groups who turned Ibrox into a sea of red, white and blue on Saturday. A lot of people put a hell of a work into designing banners, placing flags and cards in designated areas and this is sometimes a thankless task. So, hats of to TBO, CDL, EE and UB. Some people have talked about amalgamating all the different supporters groups, but I think Ibrox benefits from having supporters groups in different areas. One thing that I would like to see is the club helping these groups with displays, banners, finance etc ââ?¬â?? maybe something for the RST to champion? Some of the banners were outstanding and none more so that the ââ?¬Ë?voodoo no workyââ?¬â?¢ banner. This has gotten Timmy in a right tizz and some online forums are pleading with the SPL to deduct points from us due to the ââ?¬Ë?sectarian contentââ?¬â?¢ of said banner. This is even below their usual ââ?¬Ë?bottom of the barrelââ?¬â?¢ petitions ââ?¬â?? they mustnââ?¬â?¢t have any ambulances to chase this week - http://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/200...ident-at.shtml - maybe they should stick to weeding out the sectarian, ââ?¬Ë?politicalââ?¬â?¢ and offensive songs sung by the vast majority of the patrons of the Broomie on Saturday. Back to the game, and whilst it was fantastic to claim our 4th successive OF victory without conceding a goal, we still have some major work ahead of us if we are to claim our 52 title. We have the distinct prospect of having 7 of our remaining 9 games played away from home and have the distraction of the UEFA and Scottish Cup as well. There is no doubting we have come a long way in a relatively short space of time but having come this far, me must ensure that we wrap up the title. It is ours for the taking, you can sense the expectancy and one very comforting thought is that WS and his backroom staff have reinstalled the famous ââ?¬Ë?Rangers ethicââ?¬â?¢. Our players give us all and there is an obvious togetherness about the squad at the moment (which had been missing for sometime it has to be said). So there is no time to bathe in the plaudits or rest on their laurels, they have a job to finish. Question: Heard someone say that in his managerial career with Rangers, Walter Smith has faced Celtc 37 times and lost only 7 ââ?¬â?? anyone know if that is true? Mad March Gives Way To Madder April So its good-bye to mad march and hello to madder April as we welcome Sporting to Ibrox on Thursday for the UEFA Cup Ã?¼ final first leg. This game will bring the usual and unique European atmosphere that only Ibrox offers. It is thought that Sporting donââ?¬â?¢t travel well and that the home leg offers the best opportunity for us to progress. However, I would be surprised if Walter Smith alters his tactics or formation for this encounter. I donââ?¬â?¢t think there will be many, if any, changes from Saturdays starting 11. Maybe Papac for SW ââ?¬â?? that is all the change that I can foresee ââ?¬â?? I fully expect ST and SD to shake of their injuries and start on Thursday. After Sporting, we have a wee jaunt to Tannidice to play DUFC. I fully expect this game to be a sell-out considering the amount of DUFC fans at Hampden recently declaring their undying love, devotion and support of the tangerine terrors. OK, that was tongue in cheek, but at least we know after Hampden that this will be a very tough game and weââ?¬â?¢ll have to be at our best to collect another priceless three points in our title quest. Scott Brown Whilst I donââ?¬â?¢t usually write about opposition players, especially Celtc ones, I thought that Iââ?¬â?¢d give you some insight into the current mental state of Scott Brown (no jokes please). Super Ally his written a fantastic article comparing Scott Brow and Kevin Thomson (http://www.gersnetonline.net/vb/showthread.php?t=6578) and hopefully this can add some further information to SAââ?¬â?¢s opinion and thoughts. I have a friend who I like to call ââ?¬Ë?The Hibee In The Knowââ?¬â?¢ ââ?¬â?? he is a life long Hibee and has a friend who is on the Hibs board and he lets me know if / when any Hibs players are linked with Rangers and vice-versa. Anyway, he told me that it was 99% certain that SB would follow KT to Ibrox in the summer and a price and been agreed. Come the summer, the Hibs board decided that the agreed price wasnââ?¬â?¢t enough and spoke to SBââ?¬â?¢s agent and informed him to ââ?¬Ë?auctionââ?¬â?¢ the player. SB was raging as he had his heart and mind settled on a move to Rangers. Rangers rightly played hardball and refused to budge on price and wages and lost out to Celtc. Now, SB is convinced that he has made the wrong move going to Celtc and is currently looking for an escape to the EPL in the summer. If Birmingham stay up and West Brom as promoted then SB will have two EPL managers looking to purchase him. SB hasnââ?¬â?¢t shown his true potential this season (for varying reasons) and If my ââ?¬Ë?Hibee In The Knowââ?¬â?¢ is correct, Celtc and SB are ready to cut their ties in the summer. Would SB still fancy a move to Rangers and more importantly would Rangers consider a move for SB? Well, never say never as I am led to believe that Rangers and WS in particular donââ?¬â?¢t have an issue with SB. However, the price and wages would need to be attractive to Rangers. Cammy F - Support The Dublin Loyal

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EY8Ds6-18Uk&feature=related Cammy F

Was talking to a Tim today about this and simply responded by saying 'thats why your paranoid' - left him flumoxed Cammy F

No real failures today - CC, Weir, Thomson were the standouts tho Cammy F

Or This ? Come On Over To My Place - Hey Timmy, We're Having A Party Cammy F

They should have a perminant smoke screen around them - ugly fookers. Cammy F

When Broonaldo (sic) tried 3 times to barge JCB off the ball and only succeeded in bouncing of JCD three times. Cammy F

When a Tim in the Broomie Rear was leaving he tried to throw his scraf onto the pitch - it rebounded off the railing and landed right back in his arms....... Cammy F

Peter Liewell claimed today that the above clips were generated using �£30 software or it was Rangers fans (DOB's) dressed as Celtc fans. NBM refused to comment as it only comments when those DOB's are out of order or at fault. The BBC asked Liewell how they should respond and will run a 30 minute story on how 8 million Tims went to Suville and none got arrested (a lie by the way). Cammy F

They are going to be busy the morra - they also have a Jock Stein banner with the legend - Is It Cold In His Shadow? Eh, Timmy it's not - 108 and counting...... :uzi: Cammy F

Typical Tim - can't even get an insult correct - Gastle Greyskull - home of the good guys - thanks for the compliment Alan Cammy F

Lets all do the Anton.... One of my fave OF games - Parkhead, New Year, 3-0 up under 30 minutes and I';m in teh crowd scene after the 3rd goal... http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=VfJitVzzzak&feature=related Cammy F

In a word, NO!!! Will maybe have a think about it over the weekend, consult my oracle of Rangers information and get back to you......:cheers: Cammy F

Christ, can't remember - possibley the League Cup Final 1983 (ish) when we won 3-2 and Ally McCoist scored a hatrick..... That was 25 years ago, taking an average of 4 OF games a season since, I could have been to 100 - that can't be right, can it? Cammy F

The look on McCoists face sums it all up for me - if I was ever lucky enough to have played and scored against those ******** I would like to think I'd celebrate like McCoist did every time he put the ball into their net!! Cammy F

http://youtube.com/watch?v=3cS0WcR2p-0&feature=related Not songs, but pure delight from the goal scorers Cammy F

A couple for the older generation : If I had the wings of an eagle if In had the arse of a crow I'd fly over Parkhead tomorrow and sh1te on the B******* below, below Green and white sh1tre, green and white shite hello hello Green and white sh1tre, green and white shite hello hello Green and white sh1tre, green and white shite hello hello Green and white sh1tre, green and white shite hello hello Green and white sh1tre, green and white shite hello hello Cammy F

Yes I would - KT did play well on Saturday, but I feel that the 11 I posted above give us more flexability and will cause Celtc problems. It's a hard decision as to who to leave out especially when it comes to OF games - I just feel that a midfield 3 of Fergie, Dailly and Davis is better suited to the OF game as I feel that Nacho MUST be deployed wide right as he has a great record against Celtc. Hey, its all about opinions tho Cammy F