calscot

Same as Super Ally. I prefer Scottish teams to win in Europe, even Celtic - outside the semi-finals of course. I also prefer teams outwith Scotland with a Scottish connection to win - so would like Birmingham to stay up, Man U to win the title and Everton to come 4th or 5th. But it won't bother me in the slightest if that doesn't come to pass. I sometimes like teams who play good football to be rewarded and so want Falkirk to finish in the top 6 and like what Dundee Utd and Hibs are doing. But supporting? Rangers and Scotland for me.

It depends how much it would wind them up when they can consider themselves superior for doing it when they got to the final rather than a "piddly" quarterfinal, and also superior for doing it first. Depends on how good you want your wind up to be...

Yeah, plays for Falkirk doesn't he?

A few fitness tests, rules of the game tests - and an eye test!!!, should suffice. If you have a 48 year old referee that is faster, fitter and better than say a lesser 44 year ref, why pick the second one? Besides, isn't ageism illegal now?

I agree, we can only really do it if we reach the final - and even then we are just copying them. Besides the final is in Manchester, so maybe we need some inflatable pints of Boddingtons or suchlike. So let's wait till the final.

I agree, except maybe give Alexander a game and MacGregor a well earned rest.

Ibrox Hampden Celtic Park Pittodrie Tynecastle Easter Road Rugby Park Rocker Park Craven Cottage Portman Road National Hockey Stadium - MK Dons

Although quite often not as great as he could be... I think Rangers look like a very good side when Bazza plays well, and then much more ordinary if he doesn't. The Lyon and Bremen games are good examples of this chalk and cheese.

Anyway, I think the real way forward, if we want to compete with the big countries is of course merging with other countries. A Scotland/Holland/Belgium league with six teams from each would be an interesting proposition. TV money from a combined population of about 28M, would also help them compete. If the teams did well enough in Europe then there should be 4 CL places up for grabs and one UEFA place. With the three cups providing other places. Have a combined cup with the top two or three teams from the home leagues which sorts out relegation and promotion to the merged league. This cup could take the first two in each league plus 2nd and 3rd bottom - bottom gets relegated. Have two leagues of four and then semifinals for the top two in each group. The finalists get promotion. Or something like that. Anyway the league could be PSV Eindhoven Ajax Amsterdam Feyenoord Rotterdam NAC Breda Heerenveen FC Groningen Standard Liege Club Brugge Cercle Brugge KSV Anderlecht Germinal Beerschot KAA Gent Rangers Celtic Hibernian Dundee Utd Motherwell Falkirk/Hearts Which gives plenty of big, interesting games.

I do agree about some teams merging, and think the best candidates in the top flight are Hibs/Hearts and the Dundee teams. It will never happen but when you do the simplistic projection of adding the two average attendances together, their could be a strong Edinburgh team with about 30,000 fans. With that money, a better stadium and a superior product on the park with more success at home and in Europe, could swell the crowds to 40,000. A three horse race instead of two would make our league far more attractive with eight more big games ie 12 instead of 4. Put a strong Dundee team in the mix with 20k fans and our league looks far less Mickey mouse and sure to attract much more TV money on top of bigger attendances round the country. With the extra income and interest, maybe Aberdeen could join the party too. I doubt many other mergers would work as the reason many teams are surviving at all is the fact they are local. If the likes of Ayr United fans wanted to support a team in Kilmarnock, why would they not already do so, to at least support a team in the SPL? Same goes for Motherwell and Hamilton etc.

Does it really matter how many leagues we have? England have 4 leagues but then have three Blue Square Leagues and then leagues below that. What is the difference? Surely having straight forward relegation and promotion in the ranks ensures that our teams and players are playing at the correct level which ensures they are as strong as they can be?

Got to agree with summer football. I'm sure Rosenborg benefit greatly from it and it doesn't stop the Russian teams doing very well lately. Have a winter break while the six nations is on so we don't get too bored... Do you not think we'd be better at attracting top foreign players if they could go on holiday to somewhere warm in winter instead of playing in the freezing cold? And as long as our pitches are well watered, (not too difficult in recent summers!) then there will probably be less injuries.

I think our fans may overestimate the ability of most of our players. I think we have a very good squad but it was cobbled together on a fairly modest budget, and we didn't exactly cherry pick from the cream of Europe. They should be good enough to beat United and probably thrash them on a good day, but with the Tangerines playing out of their skin and our players looking like they had bad Euro hangover, then in that situation, it's game on. I agree that many teams would have just thought it wasn't their day and not battled on like our team did. Many times this season our players have shown a desire that has resulted in them digging deep despite being off form. In the end we have to remember that all teams sometimes struggle against what on paper are weaker teams. Chelsea just lost the league cup to Spurs, Man U just struggled to beat Derby, and just look at the FA cup! Even just statistically we are due a bad result and there is only one Rangers team that has gone through a season and won every game. We have a good squad but we have no right to expect them to stroll to a win every week against the best of the rest in Scotland. It didn't happen during 9IAR or with our most expensive team under Advocaat, so why would it happen now? Sometime you have to battle hard for your wins, and our lads did just that - and yes, they won!

May as well continue. I've kind of covered the wings but to re-iterate, we have Beasley, Burke, Novo, McCulloch, Adam and Naismith, with cover from Whittaker and Davis (if he signs). Even Dailly can play right wing too, and Smith can play left. In the middle we have Fergie, Davis, Hemdani, Thomson and Dailly, with back up from Gow, Adam, McCulloch, Naismith. Furman is also the one coming through. We should wave goodbye to Buffel and Faye. So maybe we need one or two players to replace them? A creative midfielder is probably on most fans wish list. Full backs are: Whittaker, Broadfoot, Smith, Papac with cover from Dailly and Lowing. I think Adam can also play left back at a pinch, but I think we're a bit light in the backup department. Centre backs (assuming Weir retires) are Cuellar, Webster, Papac, Dailly with cover from Hemdani. Apart from the youngsters we look very light there and need a reinforcement or two. We're obviously well covered in goal. So it seems our weakness of numbers are in defence and centre midfield.

When it comes to strikers, I agree with Gribz. I think we may see Cousin change his mind and stay, and a few of his performances in Europe have shown how valuable he could be. Darche will be going nowhere due to being injury prone leading to a dearth of suitors. However, he's a great player to have around when fit. Having him and Cousin around to choose from is a great bonus. Boyd also has a place in the squad if he wants, if not quite a first choice in our preferred system. Novo has another year on his contract and wants to finish his career at Rangers, and he has also shown how valuable he can be. Then we still have Naismith who will hopefully continue to improve and mature into a great player. McCulloch is someone that can come in during injuries and play the lone striker role, although we probably don't think he's as good at it as much as Walter. Burke can also be considered a forward on the wing in a 4-3-3 and it's obvious the guy has talent, although how he harnesses it is another story. Beasley should be back next season and he's pretty good on either wing. We also have Gow, who although has not had much of a chance, if he bides his time, it will come. He has to decide whether it's better to be a bit part at a big club or a big part at a bit club. Then coming through the ranks are Lennon and Fleck. Lennon could probably do with going on loan for a season while Fleck should see his development continue in the reserves. So to me, we have a pretty strong and deep squad for places up front.

4-5-1/4-3-3 had pretty much got us where we are today. It didn't work for ONE game and Walter changed formation twice and eventually to 4-4-2 - and won... Basically he stuck with what has been working all season and changed it when it was obvious it wasn't the right formation for that game. There's no evidence that 4-4-2 would have seen off Dundee Utd that easily; give them credit for playing exceptionally well against our very tired looking team. If they can keep up that kind of level, them I'm sure they can finish 3rd and maybe do reasonably well in Europe - like Aberdeen did this year.

Buffel trying to join in the bouncy with the cup winning team was a strange sight. He seemed to be like one of those nerdy kids who is desperate to be part of the gang but always relegated to the fringes. Looks a bit like a Norman No-mates and I couldn't help feeling sorry for him...

I think I'd vote for Cuellar, with MacGregor second.

Hutton's just won the English league cup so will hardly be jealous - I think he'll be very pleased we won! It's likely he'll get an SPL winners medal if we win the league, so again he'll be happy.

Can't see him getting in the team somehow...

Ok you got me, although it's pretty close. Bet they use the Grandparent rule to have the best Slovenians, Serbians, Montenegrins, Bosnians, Macedonians etc as none of them have a decent team... We also can't compete with a country with a much lower use of computer consoles among kids...

Papac is a good squad player and would be difficult to get rid of due to his wage. Buffel should just go for free as his wages have cost us more than any transfer fee over the last two years. Cuellar should be kept at all costs. Weir probably wants to stay on but doubt he can really do it for us next season when we should be raising the bar after a good first proper season with WS. Dailly is definitely worth another season as a squad player. Gow needs to work hard and be patient. Pretty much every other player bar Buffel and Faye (and the reserve keepers) has had a run in the team, so maybe it's his attitude that is keeping him out. Not impressed with the snippets he's given to the press. Burke is an enigma, and I'm not sure what to do with him. Sebo - hopefully get a mil for him. Hemdani - if he doesn't want to stay then get rid. He's had plenty of games and ironically played his best when he was picked less regularly. If he can't cope with the squad system of big clubs then he should move to a much smaller team. Davis, get him signed, although not for 4.5M. More like 2.5M. Faye - get rid, soon as. Cousin - maybe his first winners medal and the chance of more to come along with the juxtaposition of Fulham's relegation, will make him see sense and see him become a Rangers legend. Darcheville - good player to have in the squad although he is injury prone, THIS SEASON. So was Hateley when he first came. However, if we don't want him due to injury, who else is going to want him? He has a contract and I can't see him budging. Boyd - great player to have on the bench, keep him if he's willing. Hold out for good cash from Birmingham if he's not.

Maybe my analysis is a few years out of date as Everton and Spurs now spend a bit more money than both the old firm due to 50M worth of Television money. However, only a few years ago the OF were richer and better than all but about 4 teams in England. In fact, judging by Europe, the OF are still 5th and 6th best teams in Britain this season. Sometimes the OF struggle against Kilmarnock and St Mirren and so why should those English clubs fair any better? There is plenty of evidence to suggest they'd do a lot worse - especially when you consider the OF's recent record against top English teams. I also remember Bayern having a tough task against Raith Rovers of all teams before easily sweeping aside Middlesbrough in the next round. So yes I can imagine those teams meeting 4 times a season as I've been watching the OF doing it for decades. As for us using the grandparents rule, you're way out of order. Scotland were the LAST country in the WORLD to use this rule. Not long agao we used to only use the parent rule as did England, while every single other country in the world used the grand parent rule. However, England were not as "pure" as Scotland as they played two players from the channel islands and a Jamaican. So not only do England not rule out the Grandparent rule they have used the naturalisation rule as well. It's also a harsh statement as when you're comparing 25M males to choose from, from which you shouldn't need the Grandparents rule so much, with 2.5M and one of the smallest populations around when you can see the point more. In fact, name one country above Scotland in the rankings with a smaller population? You'll probably have to go quite far below us to find one. England have plenty of smaller countries above them. So basically I completely disagree.

I think it's a bit harsh. The English league has been dominated by two clubs for a decade and now it's only improved to three with the help of a Russian billionaire (which is a bit of a joke). The only reason they are in the last stages of the CL is the ludicrous amount of money they get from tv. Scotland cannot compete with England in terms of spectator population but I don't see how that makes us a joke? In fact the joke's on England when you consider how close we are to them, despite the huge population difference. The other joke is that despite having a decent enough product in our own country, that so many of our population choose to follow and invest in an already wealthy league in a neighbouring country. It'll never happen but what we really need is a third big team from either Edinburgh, Dundee or Aberdeen to at least semi compete consistently with the OF. That way we'll match the likes of the Portugese and Dutch leagues for competition - and the English league too.

There's not many people around willing to risk their millions in a club like Rangers in a league with far less earning potential than the likes of the Premiership. You'd expect a new owner to want the same income from the catering, the ticketing and the car parking that Murray makes, but I'll bet they are not part of the sale.