CammyF

Rangers 3 v 1 Hibs Silva FGS

Yeah same mate - ended up in Govan corner or up in the club deck.

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/thomas-beahon-5553362a_betterneverstops-activity-7176816995571531776-pkSf?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_android

As a long-term season ticket holder in BF4, thankfully I'm not impacted by this (other than I'll be sitting right next to them next season), but think it's an inevitable decision. Know of people who are impacted and who have sat in BF5 for years and now faced with the choice of staying in BF5 and missing OF games, or taking a move to an as yet unknown location elsewhere in the stadium. External pressure from league and or SKY aside, it doesn't reflect well on our board, who in some fans eyes (rightly or wrongly) believe them to be weak.

Ferenc Puskas - 806 goals in 793 games including 84 goals in 85 international games.

Sakala would be an other good example, for sure. I just can't see how, currently, Ridvan would a good example of the player trading model we need.

Yet some Rangers fans still think of Hearts as our wee cousins from the East. Utterly pathetic club who's fan base are slowly but surely turning into a nationalist supporting anti-Rangers mob.

I think we have different opinions on what a successful player trading model for our club looks like, and that's fine, different opinions are allowed 😉 In my opinion, with our limited finances, we can't be spending £3.5-£5M on a player who we hope will eventually, over time, become a decent enough player to sell for a handsome profit. If we are spending that kind of money, it needs to be on players who will improve our starting 11 immediately. The punts we need to take are on low cost, or free transfers (no matter their age, Butland would be a great example, signed on a free transfer and already receiving interest from EPL teams), develop them, then sell them on at a profit. Or, bring them through our youth development. Recent examples would be ; Bassey, Kamara, Aribo, Patterson. Circa £50M raised on 5 players. At what outlay? Couple hundred grand? We have had more failings than success in player trading but with the likes of Butland, Cantwell, Dio it looks like we are on track to improve. We'll never get them 100% correct, but the less the outlay, the less (finacial) impact. I would also argue that European success, more so the domestic, will help elevate players profile and transfer value. Its imperative that we do improve as it'll be the only way we'll get finance to buy players.

Castore are our kit manufacturer and distributor, the original topic was on merchandise as a whole, hence Castore are not solely to blame. The entire merchandise falls under Rangers' control, so lack of merchandising options, outwith match day wear / kit is nothing to do with Castore and everything to do with Rangers. Your experiences with Castore quality and sizing are completely different to mine, Ive ever had an issue. Admit that I've only purchased a few select kits for one of my sons, a couple of items for myself and a few for relatives. As for the designs, especially 2nd, 3rd and 4th kits, they are never gonna please everyone. Simple tho, if you don't like them, don't buy them. Have read that Castore are "partnering" with Umbro to design / manufacture and supply sportswear, so maybe we'll be wearing Umbro next season.

I'm not talking rubbish- he was written off both on-line and at games. In fact some wanted Bassey and Patterson sacked for breaking covid rules. Good job we didn't sack them both.

I'm not though. Bassey is a fantastic example of the development model we require. Worth noting, he was written off (what age was he) by the majority of Rangers fans, then stormed into the team, played brilliantly and sold for a huge profit. If Tav goes, a £6M fee is wonderful business. He has contributed immensely to our club, hardly missed a game and will make us a profit. Ridvan may develop into a great player, but he has hardly shown any glimpses of being continually outstanding (ala Bassey). The initial outlay means we would need to sell for £5M to show any decent profit. Keeping him and playing him, in the hope he does improve sufficiently could trigger some of the add-ons, meaning we would need to sell him for £8-£10M. He just doesn't look like a £8-£10M player (neither does Dessers) but nobody can argue that Dessers contribution in under 10 months is far better than Ridvans in what, 2 years? In my opinion neither fit the trading model we are aspiring to and neither should be here long term.

Never saw the game but Nathan Patterson getting slaughtered on social media.

I believe Scotland as entertaining Northern Ireland in a friendly this evening, so a fitting photo (borrowed from a Facebook page).

Thanks for the information, most appreciated. I'll need to look for the companion you mention, sounds like a very interesting book.

Slightly off topic, when I was a youngsters, I joined a programme collectors club and alokg with programmes i purchased at Rangers games, I managed to build myself a decent collection, including the programme for the Rangers v Stoke benefit match where we received the Loving Cup. Also had every Rangers News from around 1979 to 1990, all FF, No1, Blues Brothers, Aye Ready fanzines as well as sporadic fanzines from clubs all over the UK I stupidly stored these in my loft unprotected, and a lot got damaged. Will need to dig out what I managed to salvage and pass them on to someone who collects such things.

Love topics / threads like this, learn so much! Obviously my past hero's are a little more recent than others as I'm a little younger (and it's been a few decades since I've been called young, so thanks 😀). As for Weissmuller, I grew up being taken to the local Star cinema to watch reruns of the old Tarzan films by my Grandparents. Was only later I found out he was an Olympian. Born in Romania and represented USA. 5 gold medals in swimming and a bronze in water-polo, not a bad haul, then stardom in films. One of the best competitive swimming records of the 20th century and set world records during his career.

Multiple Olympic gold-medalist and, eh, Tarzan.

We have been blessed with some great keepers in our history. In my era, this one rates up there with the best.

There was a discussion on FF recently staring the the entire Fanous Five and Iron Curtain players never actually faced each other very often. Any of the resident Historians confirm or deny this?

£6M for a player we signed for £250,000 and who has captained with distinction would be hard to turn down. It's exactly the trading model we require. Ridvan is the exact opposite - paid a high fee for him, he's failed to deliver and we will be hard pushed to break-even. I understand that players require time before a judgement is made, but try telling that to the likes of Dessers, Sima, et al who were written off instantly, and some, like Dessers is still being written off even though he has contributed more and been here less time than someone like Ridvan and who are lauded for mediocrity. Weirdly, the fans in our support who continue to write the likes of Dessers off are the ones who tend to laud over Ridvan.

For Hibs at home and OF game? Sink or swim for the lad, but I'd go with Barisic.

The potential issue with keeping him around is he doesn't play (I hope we are signing a better left back) and or worse, keeps getting injured and we'll never recoup the outlay, nevermind make a profit. If there is interest in Ridvan from Turkey and its £3M or higher, I think we need to take it. Regarding Tav, there are rumours that 2 or 3 Saudi teams are looking to bid for him. Reported fee of £6M which would be hard to turn down for a player of his age. Whether he'd fancy life in Saudi is another matter entirely, as from what I've heard he is really settled here.

The lack of merchandise is a disgrace and I don't think all the blame can be laid at Castores door. Things like accessories should be produced and sold by Rangers. There is a market for these things (golf merchandise, key rings, eggs 😀, kids t-shirts, ties etc) we should be exploiting it. Retro tops / trackie tops etc is another sector we failed to capitalise on. Regarding Castore - I have only really bought kits for one of my lads and everything I've purchased has been 1st class. I've purchased a 1/4 zip training top and Castore hoody for myself and again, both have been 1st class. I understand others have had issues with Castore, but my personal experiences have been excellent. Whilst the merchandise department has been very successful and one of the better operating "pillers" of the club, there is room for improvement

I think the major frustration for me is the fee we paid for him (that's not his fault), I was expecting a player who'd burst into the team and outperform Barisic. Facts / stats show that's not been the case and he has spent more time injured (or settling in?) than he has playing. His performances have improved recently, then dipped against Benfica which was probably a mix of the quality of opposition and the fact Ridvan looked mentally and physically gone. In all honesty, we'll struggle to make much of a profit on him and I'd sell for "break-even". However as said previously, with Barisic going at the end of the season, it's unlikely we'll sign 2 left backs as money / replacements required elsewhere (unless we pick up a loan or our of contract player). Especially if the increasing rumours of Tav leaving are true. But that's a separate discussion for another thread.

The sensible thing to do is replace both 😀 however, can't see us buying 2 LBs in the transfer window as there are other areas of the squad that require strengthening. Quite a conundrum especially if Ridvans injury is serious and he's out for a number of months, he'll not have teams queuing up to buy him.