Danny

I'm not sure a shot on target qualifies as a contribution - that's clutching at straws imo. I'd say 5.5.

Ok, we'll play this your way. By December you won't have expressed any opinion about him?

Incredibly it was not only not a battle, but she actually offered me the HDTV willingly. Football has won the day over the X Factor. The way life should be

So by December you still won't have made up your mind?

Damn, the missus will be watching the X Factor when I'll want the box for the free Milan game. She's getting her sister over especially. I have no chance

I posted a thread following his debut, which suggested he'd done ok if not spectacularly, and many of you said you couldn't judge after one game. Well that's been 3 now and if I am not mistaken he's been subbed every time. His one memorable contribution, the intelligent cut back for Miller at Easter Road. Otherwise it seems to me he's a willing worker who will do the sort of dirty work other strikers opt out of, and will always be available for a pass, but that his form has been average at best, his fitness not great and he obviously hasnt scored yet. With the signing of Jelavic I get the impression Beattie is now closer to a squad player than a first team regular, with Miller, Naismith and Lafferty all ahead of him. But the game is all about rotation so his experience will be valuable overall in the CL and in league games. I just don't expect many goals or inspiring play - he's kind of a striker version of Lee McCulloch but not fully fit or in form. Or am I being harsh?

It says a lot for this signing that I forgot we made it. I've heard mixed messages about how good this guy is, so I'll judge for myself if and when he plays for us. I do get the impression he's there for depth - but if he's not that great, like Broadfoot, I hope he doesn't still get a run in the team anyway and become a bit of a cult figure.

Totally shocked at this. My idol, a true gent, and imo the greatest ever Ranger. My thoughts are with him and his family and I know he can beat it. The one 'positive' is it's a mild cancer and been diagnosed early - his attitude is excellent and I wish him a speedy recovery.

Never a truer word spoken, but it doesn't go far enough. I'd have to say the forums as a whole are generally a pretty innaccurate barometer of the support in the real world.

It's a cracking game because the marking, defence and organisation at the back is so poor that you get open ended flowing football and lots of attacking play. But it's hardly great football - it's easy football. Ronaldo, Xavi and Iniesta I will give you - all 3 of them have done it at the world cup, Euros, and CL. Messi hasn't. As for your question: Arshavin, Fabregas, Scholes, Rooney, Drogba. All have done it domestically and at the highest levels. (btw, no one touches Iniesta for me - best player on earth by a mile)

Well you started it :D

Having watched it plenty last season, I'll respectfully disagree with you. And hit you in the face with a large smelly fish.

No, I use my eyes to watch. La Liga is why guys like Messi look so much better than they really are - defenses are like sieves and it's exhibition football. The space and time afforded players is unreal. That said, it has the world's best 2 players in it by far in Iniesta and Xavi.

tbh fwiw I can actually see were Hippo is coming from. The SPL is a total backwater league, and it's the OF alone who attract a slightly better calibre of player because they can afford to - not because the prospect of playing for Rangers in the SPL is the right level for incoming players. Look at Jelavic - openly admits he's here as a stepping stone to the EPL - clearly he isn't here because of the level of the league. Another example is Cuellar - he was clearly too good for the SPL and is now AT his level in the EPL. As for your Rooney argument, it doesn't hold water because the EPL is the best league in the world with some of the best players. You can't really logically compare the 2 leagues in any valid argument.

Tough choice. Edu is a composed and fairly slick player with great athleticism and can keep the game simple and efficient. Can also get forward to support the attack. McCulloch is a grafter who gives plenty of steel in there and wins a lot in the air. He does the dirty work others don't. My answer would be that it depends on who we're playing.

Just thinking about this - we've been after a big strong skillful goal getting target man ever since Cousin left, and of what little I've seen of Jelavic, he seems to fit the bill. Is he the Cousin type we wanted?

It's our away form that was half decent last season - our 2 points came away from home and our narrowest defeat likewise. It's at Ibrox we were horrible.

Setanta Ireland so streams are the only way in this country.

Screw the co efficient, fuck Celtic. Always.

It's looking good at the moment.

Valencia lack Villa and Silva, Utd are without Ronaldo. I guess I just hoped for something more exciting than this draw. It's not the worst ever, but not the most inspiring either imo.

With Weiss and Jelavic, and Davis in the right position, we're stronger than last season, but I'm not overly optimistic or indeed that joyous about our group.

Feeling slightly underwhelmed by this draw so far.

Then he shoots himself in the foot by saying Real Madrid have been the side to beat over the past 2 years...

tbf to him only Gallas of the above would be in their first team.