Danny

Which begs the question, and perhaps Frankie can help us here, what are the players actually paid these days?

I've never been a huge fan of Papac, and certainly haven't subscribed to the cult figure status he seems to hold. God bless the Papac was always a bit OTT for me. But he's been a pretty dignified member of our playing staff, quiet and just getting on with it. He is indeed not a natural LB but he's played there for 5 years now! I always said we could do better but often got shot down for it.

I don't expect the level of the Premiership, where did I suggest that? And I don't think it's too unfair to call many of our performances amateur. When you see professionals paid thousands give the ball away time and time again, or fail to control the ball in a basic manner, is it really harsh to suggest that's amateurish? It's not quite the same as saying I actually expect the Dog and Nag's Inn select to give Rangers a game, it's a, how you put it...metaphor. You're being a little bit too meticulous here; we seem to be mostly in unison in this thread that the football Rangers produce is terrible, and watching them isn't the pleasure it should be. Indeed, quite a few have mentioned missing a game here and there, something I've been forced to do only once this year. But I see their point. Does that make us all your best friend who turned out to be gay? So are Hamilton, yet there was the best in the country being completely outplayed by them. And it's not the first time this season a diddy team has made us look ordinary. As you put it, if the best in the country is not good enough, what is?

Calscot, you have your opinion and I respect it. I wouldn't suggest any of the derogatory comments about you which you've imbued upon me for what I've said simply because I disagree with you. I also find it curious that you've only targeted me when plenty in this thread completely agree with me?

I say a couple of million because despite doing reasonably well at the world cup and having CL experience, we've never had to reject a firm bid for him. He really isn't hot property, but I do agree that a whole new back 4 is quite an upheaval. Surely we'll still have Whittaker and Papac?

Tannoch, you've kinda just reaffirmed my point. And that of Bear (and others). The football isn't just disappointing, it shouldn't just 'be better' - it's ridiculously incompetent. And I defy anyone to enjoy watching it. Just because we may win the SPL and we have a paper thin squad doesn't excuse players being paid thousands of pounds who each have spent their whole lives playing football producing this absolute dross. Good players like Naismith, Davis, Edu, Jelavic to an extent etc have been reduced to the level of amateurs, and only a winning mentality is the difference between us being in second place and us being mid table - we are that bad. There is categorically no excuse for being completely dominated by Hamilton. And like I said, there's a real lack of joy being taken out of following Rangers these days because of it.

We'll be lucky to get a couple of mill for him. There's a reason no major serious bids have ever come in for him apart from some speculation; he's not really that great. But yes the timing is rotten. Then again, he's never exactly been bleeding blue blood so I doubt he really cares about any impact such an announcement at this time might make.

Been wanting away for a very long time, and made no secret of it. His displays this season have been of a man who doesn't want to be here, and now it's formally public. My first reaction was 'bye'.

I've subscribed to this for a long time, and accepted it. But it just feels like the standard of football has become so poor that it's frankly not acceptable and is agony on the eye. I wouldn't mind boring effective tactically solid football, but this is just drivel.

I feel obligated to keep following and watching religiously, like a loyal duty out of my love of Rangers. But my patience is being tested and I wonder when like others in this thread, I won't be bothered missing a game here and there.

Don't get me wrong, we've not been Barcelona for quite a long time, but that absolute dirge at Hamilton just reaffirmed how terrible the football has been this season, and how much of a chore and duty it is becoming following Rangers, and certainly no longer a pleasure. How much is due to the players, the management, the state of the club, I don't know, but I just can't remember the last time I enjoyed a Rangers match. The word used today was sloppy, and for me that's generous. The fare on display is absolutely dire, and we were outplayed by Hamilton. One moment of magic and a good penalty save stole an undeserved 3 points for us. Wonder when Rangers will become a pleasure again.

I wasn't one of those, but initially I was happy enough to have Edu in there given his past form.

Craig Whyte is planning to increase the amount of money he gives to the next Rangers manager Ally McCoist, if he can seal a deal to buy the Glasgow club. BBC Scotland has learned that Whyte has listened to appeals by the club's chairman Alastair Johnston to provide more than �£5m in his first season. "Craig wants that as much cash as possible to go into the club," a source close to the deal told BBC Scotland. "That's been his goal, and one reason why the is taking so long." The Scottish businessman has been in negotiations to buy Rangers since mid-November, with several target dates for a completed takeover having come and gone. BBC Scotland has learned that the deal is unlikely to go through until the middle of next week. One of Whyte's promises was to provide �£25m over five seasons towards strengthening the playing squad. But the source close to the deal close toll BBC Scotland that the businessman has decided to make available "significantly more" than the average sum of �£5m to McCoist when he succeeds current manager Walter Smith at the start of next term. "Craig is determined to get the right deal for Rangers, for the manager, for the club, and the players. "He also wants to make sure it is the right deal for the Rangers fans." The Ibrox club's current owner Sir David Murray and the Scottish businessman have been involved in months of negotiations. Chairman Johnston has insisted progress has been made, although no agreement has yet been reached. The latest...

Ness and McCulloch - so much better options than the dire Edu.

Oh, and Portuguese football, as mentioned elsewhere, is pretty good.

Dutch football is pretty awful m8. It's no major achievement to be top of the league. The days of Ajax being the kings of Europe and PSV and Feyenoord being major football powerhouses are well in the past. Dutch football is probably below the Championship these days.

Getting sick of this crap again. When I heard Murray had agreed the sale, I dared to believe this might actually happen. What a fool I was. This is going to fail.

Was once the case big style. And even now I gather that the majority staff team does one thing, then others come on and overturn that decision. Great team.

All has gone quiet again on this. I almost let myself believe this was going to happen. How foolish, big mistake.

Difference is McGregor isn't nominated.

Don't agree Edu was any better, even if Derek Rae claimed he was. He passed the ball to men in the right shirts a bit more than usual, but contributed hee haw to the game. He doesn't dig in, doesn't create chances, barely passes, and struggles to control the ball. I used to really like Edu but he's been off form this whole season and needs to be dropped.

Great goalie, if not perfect. Can make clangers now and again, but what player doesn't make mistakes. When a player makes a mistake, it's a misplaced pass or a bad shot or a defensive lapse. When a goalie makes them, it costs a goal. Regardless, definitely one of our assets and makes some wonderful stops when needed. And revoltingly better than Alexander who's nothing more than a journeyman goalkeeper. Reasonable deputy but not on the same planet as McGregor, never mind league.

Noble sentiments Rab, but people don't change. You're pissing in the wind if you think you're going to get progress. Your forum, from what I experienced, was full of infighting. And that was just the staff. FF is hardly any better. You can try and change all this, but short of a Rangers forum revolution where everyone sees the error of their ways, I can't see success coming from this.

What about the staff? And if miraculously the powers that be all support his initiative, which is an achievement in itself, you'll have a hard time getting the same courtesy from FF.

The fact this proposal comes from RM, regardless of who on there devised it, is an instant block for FF - both forums have had threads crushing each other, particularly personal stuff at one another. I was once called, by FF, an 'enemy of Rangers, worse than Spiers'. And they slurred others. Actions mirrored on RM. No initiative will ever happen because, as MF says, it's the individuals who are the problem.