calscot

btw Loved the "Are you Celtic in disguise" song. Very droll...

BTW The ITV4 commentators were pish and usual ignorant Englishmen. They waffle for ages about how it was strange weather for Lisbon and more usual for Glasgow. I knew this was bollocks as Lisbon just happens to be on the Atlantic coast. So I looked it up and average rainfall for Glasgow for April is 60.5mm, for Lisbon it's 59.5mm. Idiots. Thing is they were waffling like this all the way through and were still waffling when Davis was just about to pass to Darche to score. I was out of my seat and wondering if the commentators were watching the same game. So I switched to STV for a while, but then Archie got on my nerves (as did the blue sides to the picture which were distracting) and then changed back. But the commnetary was still very poor.

Yeah the point comes from the CL games. BTW Celtic didn't win a single tie in normal play. They drew two and lost three.

It's up with the Lyon game for a top away performance. I loved our opening 15min but although we started getting pegged back, we looked comfortable for most of the game. They had two excellent chances that were unlucky not to go in but we had a couple too - one from Darche and one from Cousin. We were easily the better team overall and sometimes looked like the home team. Our passing was excellent although we still gave the ball away a bit too easily. Broadfoot and Hemdani were again guilty. I was less impressed with Davis than some others and Barry was a bit of a Jeckyll and Hyde - great one minute, rubbish the next. Thomson had a stormer though and it was obvious the ref was going to book him at some point even though I don't think he really deserved it. The ref was a bit fussy at times and became card happy at theh end. He was not bad overall though. Cuellar was outstanding again and one of his clearance headers was amazing. Papac was incredibly solid although got skinned a couple of time and needs to keep focused. MacGregor was confidence inspiring again although he didn't move for their best two chances. McCulloch did a not bad job and wound up a few of their players, but what a substitution in Whittaker. Goal of the tournament contender easily. He also did a pretty good job on the left wing and I sometimes feel he's better on the left than the right. Darcheville did his job brilliantly and took his goal with aplomb and what a replacement we have in Cousin. We definitely need both of them and they showed why Boyd doesn't get much of a look in, in these type of games. I wouldn't play him before these two fantastic signings. we've had some poor, boring games this season, but for me, the good ones like tonight and the rest of the results make it easily worth it. I haven't had such an enjoyable season since DA's first two.

Might just do that. What a fantastic result - and the Tims should be happy too as we've just moved them up two places in the URFA rankings and could easily move them up a few more.- but I assume the opposite is true. Anyone who continues to slag of WS, can GTF. It's been a fantastic season and if you haven't enjoyed it as a Rangers fan, I think it's time to take up knitting or something. Or maybe anti-depressants. At best you need to lighten up. Now we have to focus on the Partick game as we can't affford a Euro hangover and then at least a draw at Celtic Park is a must. We can't allow the team to get complacent and muck up a trully memorable season. The treble is within our grasp and a UEFA semi is way above expectations. I don't really care if we don't get any further but off course I'll be over the moon if we get to the final. A decent enough performance will keep me very happy. However, if we keep up the performances then I think we have a great chance against Fiorentina. We are definitely incredibly hard to beat if nothing else. Only one team has beaten us over two legs out of eight ties - and that's Barcelona. I couldn't believe Bayern got through after being 3-1 down in extra time, so they may still be favourites - but Zenit are the form team and I wouldn't bet against DA getting to the final. Wouldn't that be great if they did and we made the oppostion? I'd love to go to Pisa but tickets are going to be impossible aren't they?

There's no way Walter is letting anyone think about the final. The semifinal is all he'll let enter anyone's head and even then, they'll all be strongly reminded about a game at Firhill...

I think Rangers would try to find ways of saving money and keeping the Govan stand if pratical architecturally, could do that. We wouldn't need the pitch to rotate like in the Sapporo Dome. Other ways of saving would be to keep the seats we have and I'm sure there is other stuff we could recycle to save money. The Sapporo Dome cost 210M to build and there seems no way we can raise that kind of money. I think we'd probably max out at about 80M. That could take 20 years to pay back at about say 6.5M per annum. So if we increased our income by say 10M per annum that could give us about an extra 3.5M before costs towards the team. At the same time we could increase our average attendance by say 10k which could provide an amazing atmosphere in an enclosed stadium.

You can get to Portugal on a photo driving licence...

Think I'm going to change mine to 1-1. I think we can do it.

Archie to me is definitely anti-Rangers. He even twist things to make Rangers look bad and always sees things in the opposition point of view. I think I'll try ITV4, although English commentators don't seem to have a clue about Scottish football. There's also one English commentator who has been totally negative in Scotland and OF games in Europe. He really gets on my nerves.

Bar 1993 when there weren't any, this is the best chance we've had of a semi for decades. 0-0 first leg means we've got it all to play for and while Sporting are a good team, I think we've shown we are a bit better when playing on top of our game. A boring 1-1 draw will do me. I take it those odds are for winning the match and not the tie?

I think the idea of a Sapporo Dome type stadium is that when you roll the pitch out you should still have a hard, relatively undamageable surface, and an indoor, weather proof arena in which to hold many types of large event. It would be the top Scottish venue for rock concerts and many athletics events as well as the likes of boxing, Gridiron, cycling etc. Not to mention things like dirt biking, bmx racing and other sports of that ilk as well as events like car shows etc, where a football pitch sized indoor area could be readily utilised. It seems to me that the Struth and Govan stands would not have to be demolished as only the roofs need to be removed. One or both of the Copeland or Broomloan stands would have to make way for a new one which allows the pitch to slide under it. Replacing these as well as the roof would allow them to be bigger and also the corners to be filled in bringing capacity up to an achievable 70k. I still think it's a bit pie in the sky, although I do believe the capacity of the stadium WILL be increased - but not to 70k. 56k or so seems more finacially feasible. Like I said, the all enclosed option is an interesting one as it opens up possibilities for many other events which require large indoor areas with loads of seating. With the retractable pitch it will leave the grass undamaged. However, the funding for this type of development will depend on if there is really a market for these events to bring in a steady and reliable stream of cash. That's what part of the feasibility study will be checking out. I think an enclosed stadium would be a great asset in Scotland, where the weather is so intrusive. It would mean that Rangers home games would rarely be postponed and the fans wouldn't be freezing their nuts off so much. In my opinion, if they build it, they should have another pitch which slides in from the other side - a field turf one which would allow the teams to train indoors in the middle of winter as much as they like on a full size pitch without damaging the grass. Reserve games could be played on this too, saving money on hiring Broadwood. We could also allow the Claymores to play and train at Ibrox, bringing in more cash - and then hire out the Field Turf the on any spare evenings, like Dunfermline used to do. However, like I say, I think it's still an unlikely scenario, although a very interesting one. It would basically provide a unique venue in the UK and that's why it could really work.

Gisabeer, Maybe you should become a football manager. Smith is obviously rubbish compared to you and with 150 managers who entered the UEFA cup not getting as far as Walter - and therefore must be really crap, then there must be an easy job for you somewhere... Surely Smith must be doing something right? Or perhaps football has a lot more complexity than you appreciate...? I'm sure there are a lot of managers that have gone gray and had heart bypasses who wish it was as easy as you suggest.

I was thinking 0-0 too...

I don't think Walter Smith left a successful spell in the Scotland job to come to Rangers, to do a quick fix and leave. Where can he go from here except retire? He won't get the Scotland job back and he's already done the EPL with a lower end team. His reputation wasn't exactly enhanced in England with his difficult spell at Everton and so even with more success with Rangers, I can't see him in demand. He could go abroad but it would be with the likes of a Russian team that would be interested - and I can't see him up sticks at his age for such a culture shock. He left Scotland abruptly, telling of how he couldn't turn down his dream job, and now that he's got it and doing so well with it, I can't see him giving it up. I think he'll finish his contract and then sign for another 3.5 years. He's a friend of Sir Alex and has seen him build a dynasty at Man U and looks likely to win the Prem again and have a decent shot of the CL. That shows that age is no barrier and you can keep on managing while you still have the appetite and the nous to win things. I may be completely wrong but he looks too relaxed and contented at Ibrox - the job fits him like a glove - or a comfy cardigan and pair of slippers... All he has to look forward to is a place on the board - and he already found managing Scotland lacking in day to day stimulation. I think he'll stick around for another five years and so leave the job when he's turned 65. By that time McCoist should be well groomed to take over.

Gribz, I'm sure we talked about it a lot here. Whittaker was definitely an exciting player going forward for Hibs. He was more attacking than Hutton. However, he doesn't seem to have got his best game going at Rangers yet. The trouble with Whit at Hibs was that after he got forward, he didn't get back quickly enough meaning that after just missing a chance Hibs could be under pressure. That's why many thought he'd do better in midfield. He has attacking and defensive qualities but is stretched too much when he has to get all the way back to a right back position. Hopefully we'll see him recapture that form as we're really missing Hutton in Europe.

I think MacGregor's peers are saying he's not good enough to win. Players tend to vote for those that catch their eye. I don't think 'keepers usually register much on the radar for outfield players and to get votes they have to be even more spectacular to get a shout. Top scorers in the league get votes whether they are any good or not, it's an easy, lazy vote. McGeedy has shown more flair than most this season and has obviously caught the eye. Robson was probably one of the best shouts outside of the OF before his transfer. The proof of the pudding was that Celtic signed him. Cuellar has definitely been our most outstanding player this season, so while you might not agree with the choices, they are hardly a great surprise when you think about it. Anyway, Cuellar should walk it against that lot...

Can't imagine he'll be 100% though. It can take up to a week or two to really shake off the after effects of a bad cold or virus. He should have a faster and fitter central defensive partner to help him out, although he did have a great partnership with Weir. However, I don't think Weir is the best guy to partner Cuellar when he's lost a yard or two in pace, as Sunday maybe demonstrated. Maybe it's worked out for the better to have Dailly beside the Spaniard when he's not quite fully fit. Weir could also do with the rest, and maybe even another one against Partick to get him ready and fresh for the next OF installment.

As for anyone thinking we are embarrassing in Europe, what kind of state were you in after the Viktoria Zhizkov tie? Now that is what you call embarrassing. And I can remember many other far greater embarrassments than our run this year. We have accumulated our record coefficient points ever, and moved to 26th in the UEFA rankings, our highest for a while - and Celtic have dropped to 43rd, and set to drop further next year. It seems there's just no pleasing some people.

When Whittaker was at Hibs he looked like a good attacking right midfielder - while playing at right back. We discussed at the time that he would make a good partner for Hutton as they could overlap each other and also track back and cover for each other. We also knew he could back up Hutton for right back but the general opinion was that he looked a better midfielder than defender. Players can usually play in more than one position which many of our players have done well at. Ricksen did it before and I'm sure I've seen Neville in midfield now and again. Derek Johnstone played striker and centre half. Can you tell me which position we signed Dailly for as he's played striker, centre half, fully back and midfield sweeper in his career? Whittaker was bought for his flexibility and at the time, right midfield was a problem area with Burke always injured or ill and Novo really a striker. Those that don't remember or believe Whittaker was bought to at least cover for right mid, have short memories or are not very well informed.

Pretty much explains his poorest game for Rangers so far at Tannadice. He played not bad considering he was ill...

Have we forgotten that Whittaker was bought for the right midfield role with the option of cover for Hutton. He was considered a full back who was great going forward but tracking back wasn't his best and many thought he would make a great right winger. Walter just played him in the position that many have vaunted him for, so complaining about him being out of position is just being picky and not seeing or remembering the whole picture. IMHO Walter changed the tactics for the Arabs as our usual formation does not seem to work against DU. He tried something different hoping for a different result but it didn't quite work out that way. He was also freshing up the team, trying to get some of the more fringe players to show some hunger and energy. DU are playing really well at the moment, especially against us and have a European place to play for. The were well organised, fresh and up for it. We've lost many games in the past against teams like that, with many managers and many formations and many team choices. Hibs used to be our bogey team and Aberdeen away was always a hard one. We've lost these games in the past and our 13 game winning streak isn't an SPL record for us for nothing. We've always lost or drawn games and can't win every week. It's easy to criticise on hindsight but few managers have achieved the results that Walter has this season and if you took away our dodgy early season form due to being a new team, we'd be looking at 100pt this year. I don't understand how anyone can be so persnickety about the tactics of a manager who, this late in the season is odds on for a treble and a good chance of a UEFA cup semi place. We may have played some good football with Advocaat but in the end it was ineffective. He never got us to a Euro quarterfinal and only won the league in 2 out 4 seasons with the most money an OF manager has ever had. He could sign players we've no chance of competing for now as our income then was in the top 10 in Europe. We have to live with the fact that the best players are unavailable to us now and we have to win by putting together a fighting team that can compete against technically superior players in Europe. At home, it always gets a bit turgid - including when DA was manger. I saw some terrible games where a �£12M substitution made no difference against a staunch St Johnstone team. We had some good games in Europe with DA but this season we've had good games: Stuggart at home, Lyon away and Bremen at home, but we've also have the knack of getting through when we're not at our best or luck isn't quite going our way. I'd like to see what DA could do on our current budget in such a short time. The Dutchman is a good manager but needs higher quality players than we can afford right now. Walter is performing miracles and many fans are judging him incredibly unfairly while looking through rose tinted spectacles at our past.

I think Hutton has definitely been omitted for leaving in January - even though most of us will disagree with that. Barry Robson is probably to recognise a "non-OF player" who played so well he was transferred to one of the OF. I think it's a difficult year to pick anyone that has stood out as even we're struggling to name a few Rangers players worthy of POTY. If Hutton's not included then Cuellar is the main man. Weir hasn't been consistent enough or exceptional enough to deserve much recognition above many of his team-mates. IMHO anyway. MacGregor I think, needs another year to smooth out some of his game before being a POTY contender, but he is defo the best 'keeper in Scotland. Nobody else has been consistent or exceptional enough in a Rangers top to really be considered. In fact, the reason we've been a bit ugly this year seems to be due to too many players being inconsistent, meaning that we very rarely have a full team that is on form at the same time. Hopefully that will change next year, and with a few high quality players coming in, we can win ugly when we have to, but win more aesthetically, more often.

Great post Cammy and I agree with your points. Dick Advocaat couldn't get us to the semi with a much more expensive and probably talented team with a reputation for playing fancy football. I think Dundee Utd did look great, especially in such a short time and on a miniscule budget. But, the fact that they are 25 points behind us having played 3 games more, have one trophy less, out of the Scottish cup and struggling to finish behind a Motherwell with even less money to spend, all suggests that they are still not really in our league. They've played well against us but the evidence suggests that they raise their game for Rangers and are not suffering from playing anywhere near as many games. They seem more like our bogey team than technical equals. I'm sure they will improve and Levein may be able to do far more with the kind of spending money that Smith has had but that does not mean you can guarantee he'd put a team together to make such a good go of the quadruple, including dominating a half decent Celtic side with a reputable manager. They ran a few rings round us at times but there's nothing to suggest they could do that to us or any other team on a regular basis, especially without us looking jaded and off form. I can seriously see us spanking them next season.

Don't know about MacGregor and Weir for SPL games only. We've let more goals in and had less clean sheets that Celtic, so McMannus and Boruc would have a good case to be before them. I think McGeady is top for assists stats and McDonald is top scorer so maybe they are using stats to help form the short list. Kind of shows how bad the rest of their team have been since this is the only prizes the Celtic team seem to be in contention for...