ian1964

The bid is believed to be for £7.2M, and, according to SPL correspondent Daniel Gordan, it is believed that Rangers are satisfied with the bid, and it is now up to the player to agree terms, although this is unconfirmed, which, of course, contradicts DG's tweet..."still no news". Despite the claims of Rangers supporters, it is known that Liverpool are distancing themselves from false reports ostensibly circulated by Jelavic's father/agent that he was likely to sign for them. http://westhamclaretinmyblood.blogspot.com/2012/01/solid-gold-hammers-jelavic-bid.html

JUST what is it about a large section of Aberdeen supporters that makes them such loutish thugs? And why is it that the main object of hate for this rogue element of Scotlandâ??s football fans is all things Rangers? These not so dandy Dons have been trawling the bottom of the behaviour barrel for years now, but still they manage to find new depths to sink to. For now they have even gone into partnership with bunch a of neo fascists from, of all places, Germany. Plus a few from England who, if they were actors would qualify as central castingâ??s idea of the BNP. Why canâ??t everyone just get on with each other? Thatâ??s what used to happen back in the days when the delightful Dick Donald ran Aberdeen well and wisely. When auld Dickâ??s vice chairman, Chris Anderson dispensed wisdom in the same large measures as he poured a dram for visitors to what was then a pleasant Pittodrie. When it wasnâ??t as easy to get to the Granite City and trip there and back from the Dear Green Place was a long day, which reporters nevertheless actually looked forward to and enjoyed. But that was a long time ago. Lost in the mists of time in bygone days of yore. So far back that Aberdeen regularly made the trip to Ibrox and won there. Honest injun, they did. They could win just as often at Parkhead back then too. Aye, it really used to happen that way. The Aberdeen supporters of that era â?? of whom there were many more â?? made the journey to Ibrox anticipating a good day out with a victory to be celebrated with a stop off for a fish supper in Auchterarder, where Fergie led Willie Miller, Big Eck and co into the same chippy for their tea. Back then, with Aberdeen winning titles and cups galore, the idea that some scruffs would join up with neo fascists from the Fatherland and BNP lookalikes from England and ambush woman and children getting off the subway at Ibrox was so far fetched as to be beyond the imagination of even the guy who dreamed up Dr Who. So exactly where and when did it all go wrong for Aberdeen, who must now, by all the laws of common decency, be thoroughly ashamed of this element among their support? Itâ??s hard to say. But when you have a support which for years have sung gleefully about the 66 people who died in the Ibrox disaster and the terrible injury inflicted on Ian Durrant by Neil Simpson, who has been afforded sainthood for what he did to the best young player to emerge in the 1980s, then the next logical step is for them to team up with German neo fascists and BNP type thugs from England. There is no doubt in my mind that that particular group of evil Aberdeen supporters are a present day parcel of rogues in our nation. http://leggoland2.blogspot.com/

Motherwell's Michael Higdon hits leveller against Dundee Utd on Saturday before his alleged gesture STUART McCALL last night insisted players are facing trial by Sportscene and vowed to fight any ban dished out to Michael Higdon. The Motherwell striker will discover today if he is to face action from SFA compliance officer Vincent Lunny over an alleged gesture to his own fans during Saturdayâ??s 1-1 draw with Dundee United. The incident was flagged up on Sportsceneâ??s Sunday highlights along with Leigh Griffithsâ?? one-fingered salute to Hibs fans in the 3-2 defeat by St Johnstone. Easter Road star Griffiths has already been punished twice for gesturing to punters and is set to cop a third ban. But Fir Park boss McCall insists thereâ??s no comparison with the Higdon incident because the Scouser â?? who had taken stick from the Well support â?? could have been gesturing at him after scoring. And he fears BBC Scotland editors are now setting the agenda instead of Lunny. Ahead of tonightâ??s game with Dunfermline, McCall said: â??Higdonâ??s gesture was nothing. But the bottom line is who trawled through it? â??Is there a need for a compliance officer or is it whoever edits Sportscene? Is it trial by Sportscene? â??Are you telling me the compliance officer watches all six games in their entirety to look for things? â??If you have an editor who supports Rangers, Celtic or Aberdeen, do you think heâ??s going to put in incidents such as the Griffiths one (from his team)? â??Will we appeal any ban for Michael? 100 per cent, yes. For Higdonâ??s incident to be compared with the Griffiths one made me fall off my chair. â??It wasnâ??t a, â??Get it up youâ?? gesture. It was probably directed at me because of what I said at half-time. â??But I can guarantee one million per cent the half-hearted gesture he made wasnâ??t made at the supporters. I know that for a fact.â? http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/football/spl/2012/01/24/motherwell-boss-stuart-mccall-blasts-bbc-as-michael-higdon-and-leigh-griffiths-face-bans-over-gestures-86908-23714620/

FORMER Dutch golden boy Luigi Bruins last night revealed he hopes to resurrect his career at Rangers after being sold on the club by one-time Feyenoord team-mate Michael Mols. The 24-year-old checked in at Murray Park yesterday to begin a trial period with the crisis-hit SPL champions, along with Bosnian international striker Zlatan Muslimovic. Both players are free agents after ending spells at Red Bull Salzburg and PAOK Salonika respectively. Manager Ally McCoist has also invited American teenager Jamael Cox, a midfielder with Seattle Sounders, to train with the youth squad while he attempts to piece together his bargain-basement January transfer moves. And Bruins – a former Holland Under-21 star once tipped for big things – is determined to make the most of this unexpected opportunity to follow Mols’ footsteps to Ibrox. He said: “Rangers are a massive club and if you get the chance to prove yourself here then you don’t say no. “I had a great education at Feyenoord where I played with Michael. He was the man to contact for everything I needed to know about this club. “Michael raved about Rangers and told me I should grab the chance. He has tremendous respect for the club and I can understand that because he had such a terrific time in Glasgow. “But I am not naive. I realise times have changed in football and also at Rangers. But maybe it’s because of these circumstances I now have the chance to play here. “No matter what the problems may be, the thought of pulling on that blue shirt at the end of this trial is something that really appeals.” Bruins, who can play anywhere across the midfield and just behind a main striker, was hailed as a future star when he was lured to Rotterdam from Dutch club Excelsior. But he failed to live up to his early promise and was transferred to Salzburg last year. Bruins then played only three games in Austria before being released. Hitman Muslimovic is also determined to impress after arriving for a similar trial period. The 30-year-old hasn’t played club football since May but has remained part of the Bosnian team and has scored 12 goals in 33 international appearances. Estonian right-back Enar Jaager has already impressed on trial and he last night pleaded for Rangers to find the cash to deal him in. Leeds also want the 27-year-old but Jaager said: “I’m still in Glasgow and waiting for Rangers’ decision. “Hopefully it will happen but, as long as it’s not up to me, I cannot promise anything.” Honduran midfielder Jorge Claros is spending a second week with Gers as he bids to win a deal. http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/2012/01/24/rangers-trialist-luigi-bruins-michael-mols-sold-me-on-gers-but-i-m-only-here-because-they-re-skint-86908-23714621/

Should fit in quite well then!

I forgot to add a smiley. Losing Jelavic will be a blow no doubt,despite his poor form,but if this lad Celik is a bit of a goal scorer then it might ease the loss,but obviously we would need another striker as well.

Mervan 21, Claros 26, Jaager 27, Cox 19 and Bruins 24. Retirement home you say?

Now now Frankie,I didn't think you were a negative poster :smile:

Aye,but I've been at Ibrox many times when we were beaten

ZLATAN MUSLIMOVIC-GOALS

BOSNIAN international striker Zlatan Muslimovic jetted into Glasgow this morning in a bid to win a deal with Rangers. The 30-year-old attacker is out of contract after spending three seasons with PAOK Thessaloniki in Greece, where he netted 17 goals in 70 games. Muslimovic's international record of 12 goals in 33 games is more impressive and the powerful targetman is hoping to make Scotland his latest destination in a career that he seen him play for Udinese and Atalanta in Italy before heading for Greece. The striker arrived at Murray Park early this morning with his agent and talks will be held with manager Ally McCoist - but Record Sport believes that Rangers may have to sell players before he can offer a wage to the Bosnian. Muslimovic was joined at the Rangers training HQ today by American youngster Jamael Cox, who will spend a week training McCoist's men. Cox, a 19-year-old midfielder currently plays for Seattle Sounders, whose MLS season has ended. And Dutch Under 21 international Luigi Briuns has arrived for a week's trial and may feature in a bounce match against Carlisle tomorrow. http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/2012/01/23/rangers-in-talks-with-bosnian-targetman-zlatan-muslimovic-as-midfielder-jamael-cox-arrives-on-trial-86908-23713708/

Every chance Celik will be deployed through the middle as a striker?

Nobody can really believe anything that is in the rHags

1-0 Manure,Valencia

Too much optimism in that post Zappa:)

Luigi Bruins

Rangers to go Dutch for Bruins Ally McCoist is set to hand a trial to former Dutch Under-21 player Luigi Bruins (Mail on Sunday, print only) http://sport.stv.tv/football/scottish-premier/rangers/294589-transfer-talk-west-ham-and-rangers-hold-jelavic-talks-spurs-chase-forrest/

What's this all about then? http://willievass.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/210112-Rangers-v-Aberdeen/G0000BeN81VKGJJA/I0000xxo9K22Tga4

THE usual suspects are already filling the airwaves and swamping the messages boards with calls for the head of Rangers manager Alistair McCoist. And all of them without a thought for what would come next should there be a knee jerk reaction inside Ibrox to the rants of some supporters. Nobody seems to have any sane and sensible idea of who would replace him. The truth is that when Rangers stretched their lead over Celtic to 12 points it created a false impression of the gap between the two teams. Celtic actually have a better, stronger and deeper squad. At the time of the 12 point gap Celtic had a game in hand, making it realistically a nine point lead for Rangers, plus there was the small matter of an Old Firm game at Parkhead, which history tells us was always more likely to result in a home win. As it did. Anyone with a decent grasp on reality realised that the lead would soon be chipped away at. However, while that is true, there was also no great expectation of the turnaround which has happened, taking place. The reason for that has been the poor form of Rangers at Ibrox. Another two points went astray there against an Aberdeen side shrewdly set up by that wily old fox of a boss, Craig Brown, who knew that Rangers are now more committed to attack than they were and aimed to use the Donsâ?? pace to catch them on the break. Which is what happened. Much was made in recent seasons of the cautious approach favoured by Walter Smith and, human nature being what it is, as the new man in charge it is perfectly possible McCoist chose to be more adventurous in an effort to win favour with the always hard to please Ibrox support. The fact is, the way the manager has got his team playing, particularly on home territory, is not working. For, while Rangers are committed to attack, they lack invention, which leads to them becoming over committed, which in turn leaves the back door open. Perhaps the arrival of Mervan Celik will give Rangers a cutting edge. They have certainly suffered from the loss of Stevie Naismith and, to a lesser extent, Kyle Lafferty. In the past though, the Ulsterman has shown his best form in the last months of the season. McCoist must be hoping Lafferty does that again when he returns from injury. As it is, the wild calls for the managerâ??s head are just that. Wild! If Rangers do not recover ground and do not manage to meet the unrealistic expectation of a fourth successive title, Alistair McCoist will not be the first Rangers manager to fall short in his debut season in charge. Scot Symon didnâ??t win the championship on taking over from Bill Struth. Willie Waddell didnâ??t either. In fact Waddell never won the crown, but did manage Rangers to the European cup Winners Cup in 1972. Jock Wallace took over from Waddell and didnâ??t triumph first time out. In fact, Wallace did not take the title in his second season either. So there is plenty of precedent for a new Rangers manager taking time to adjust to the demands on him, before going on to establish himself as a title winning manager of Rangers. â?¦..ANDâ?¦.. DAVIE WEIR deserved the applause and appreciation he got from the crowd when he took his leave of Rangers. The stalwart rock on which Walter Smith built the three in a row triumphs and run to the UEFA Cup Final, played 221 games for Rangers. Half of them in May 2008. http://leggoland2.blogspot.com/

LIVERPOOL have emerged as contenders to sign Rangers striker Nikica Jelavic, with the player’s father claiming that Anfield is his son’s preferred destination. With just nine days remaining of the transfer window, the interest in the forward looks set to intensify this week. Ally McCoist confirmed yesterday that talks had taken place between Rangers chairman Craig Whyte and his West Ham United counterpart David Sullivan but the Ibrox manager insisted he was unaware of interest from any other clubs after the Croatian was also linked with Fulham and Queens Park Rangers. Jelavic featured in the Rangers side who fought back from behind to draw 1-1 with Aberdeen at Ibrox yesterday. McCoist said: “I spoke to Craig today and I believe Craig had a conversation with David Sullivan. But Craig was very keen to point out that absolutely no offers had been made at all. I think it was just a pretty informal chat they had.” On speculation linking the player with other clubs south of the border, he added: “That’s news to me, I’ve certainly not been told. The only team where there has been an indication of interest is West Ham.” But Jelavic’s father has revealed his son is holding out for a move to Liverpool. Philip Jelavic said: “Yes, we know about the interest of West Ham, and Queens Park Rangers. But Nikica has five or six clubs interested, including that of the great Liverpool. As for West Ham and QPR, I think that Nikica is more ambitious than that. I think it’s most likely that he will sign for Liverpool. But there are still a few days until the end of the transfer window, so we will wait and see.” McCoist insists Rangers are looking for a lot more than the reported £6 million West Ham are prepared to bid for Jelavic, who moved to Ibrox for £4m in August 2010. The Ibrox manager was non-committal about claims that he would try to sign Grant Holt of Norwich as a replacement. “With the greatest respect, he’s someone else player and if I did have interest I would phone Paul [Lambert] down at Norwich.” http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/spl/nikica_jelavic_s_father_says_rangers_striker_is_holding_out_for_liverpool_move_1_2070922

The Champions 3 - Jelavic 2, Aluko:awesome: SHEEP 0 :spl:

THE man believed to have worked undercover on behalf of Piarra Powarâ??s now discredited FARE, Keiron Brady, can now be revealed as an IRA supporter. This bombshell news comes after a number of emails between Brady and Jim Slaven, the founder and leader of the Glasgow based extremist Irish Republican movement, Cairde Na hEireann, were leaked. In at least one of the emails Brady boasts that he works for the Show Racism the Red Card organisation and in others discusses how Celtic supporters should behave and the songs he believes they are entitled to sing. I have seen a number of these shocking emails. I say, shocking, because they were sent by a man who bragged about being involved with an organisation, Show Racisim the Red Card, which is dedicated to wiping out bigotry and hatred. Brady signs his emails with the IRA battle cry sloganâ?¦. Tiofachd Ar La! The man he was writing too, Slaven, is both a well known and controversial figure in Scottish based Irish Republican and IRA terrorist supporting circles. He once organised and led a march through the centre of Glasgow to honour a number of dead IRA terrorists. This march in support of the IRA was given the go-ahead by the Labour controlled Glasgow City Council. Those Labour seats will be up for grabs in just over three months from now when the local elections take place. But that is a subject for another time and one to which I will return as the election date closes in and Labour tries to woo those it does not even like . For the moment it is the shocking link Keiron Brady has with terrorist supporters, exposed by his emails, which are the main focus. Plus his relationship with FARE, whose chief executive, Piarra Powar is married to BBC Five Live luvvy, the Celtic supportering Aasmah Mir. She, in turn, is a pal of Odious Creep, who continually championed campaigns against Rangers when he was employed by the Herald and the Times of Londonâ??s Scottish edition. Creepâ??s last furious and damaging attack on Rangers came a year ago, after someone â?? believed by many to be Keiron Brady â?? went undercover on FAREâ??s behalf when Rangers played PSV Eindhoven in Holland. FARE in turn were being paid to work on behalf of UEFA. Both FARE and UEFA have continually refused to deny that Keiron Brady was the man working on their behalf as a spy. Now, given further revelations regarding Bradyâ??s links with IRA supporting organisations, there are even greater fears than ever that, if it was him in Holland, Brady may even have acted as an agent provocateur. Brady, as well as sending emails to Jim Slaven, is also believed to have posted on the Celticminded website, one of the most extreme Celtic fansâ?? sites, under the user name God Save Ireland. The site is run by Scott McMenemy, who has had links with Slaven. Some even believe there is a link between Brady, Slaven and Donegal based, Philmacgiollabhain. Of which, more at a later date. Plus â?? also at a later date â?? where Celtic stand in all of this. â?¦â?¦AND WHEN I highlighted the link between Philmacgiollabhain and the Heraldâ??s local government correspondent, Gerry Braiden, I certainly opened a can of worms. I immediately received more information about Braiden. Which I will reveal to you. HERE! SOON! http://leggoland2.blogspot.com/

DAVID WEIR will fight back the tears again today and bid an emotion-charged farewell to Ibrox. But amid the heartbreak of formally ending his astonishing five years as a Ger, there will be huge pride. Pride, he says, at being a part of one of the club's greatest-ever teams. Weir's way with the Light Blues has been a path to remarkable glory... Three SPL titles, two Scottish Cups, three League Cups, a run to the UEFA Cup final, 230 appearances. Little wonder the 41-year-old regards the group of players he's leaving behind as very special. Weir had a lump in his throat yesterday just talking about them â?? and thinking of the ovation he's likely to get from the fans. The three-in-a-row skipper said: "We were struggling to get second place and qualify for the Champions League when I joined. "We were third and Aberdeen were second. "That was Walter Smith's target back then and it tells you how far the club has come. "I would never have believed that I would stay here for five years, although I've never looked that far ahead in my career. "I was just delighted to get the chance to play for Rangers. "I came here in a short-term capacity and to stay for five years has been a bonus, a real privilege. We have won leagues and won trophies in circumstances that Rangers never had before. "I think what we have achieved is unheralded given all the various issues that have been going on. "We have had to sell players and maybe not been able to bring players in. It has been an incredible achievement from the bunch of lads who have been here. "I think over time it will go down as one of the great Rangers teams ever. I genuinely feel that. "There is a culture of winning and we have learned that primarily from Walter Smith. "I think he has educated the boys how to win and that is a great thing. "We have been criticised for not being nice to watch and not scoring enough goals. But when you win the game it doesn't matter. "As soon as you walk through the door here you realise the expectations. "You can either fight it or accept it. The vast majority of lads went with it. "I have learned a lot of great things here from a lot of great people." Class act Weir will only take a bow on the pitch after being persuaded by Ally McCoist. The former Scotland stopper â?? deep down embarrassed by all the attention â?? didn't want it. His preferred scenario was leaving Murray Park yesterday lunchtime without fanfare and heading home. For once though, Weir wasn't a winner â?? and he reluctantly accepted the invite to receive public acclaim. He said: "Of course I am emotional. I've been here five years, I have made a lot of friends and had great experiences. But I know it is the time to leave. I came on the condition that if I wasn't playing I would go. We are now at that stage. "I have it right in my head and it is the right thing to do. "It would have been the easiest thing in the world to stay here until the end of the season. I love coming here, I love coming to my work. But I wasn't comfortable with it when it became obvious that I wasn't playing. "That was the agreement I had and it's the right thing to do. That wage could be utilised somewhere else, maybe with someone who is playing. "It is the manager's choice if he wants to bring in someone else. But I just wanted to be fair to the club. "I didn't want to wait until February and then hold my hand up and say I wanted to go. "I'm not looking forward to Saturday, to be honest. I wanted to sneak out after training, but I was talked out of it. I'm not comfortable with the adulation. "On the plus side I will be closer to my family when I leave and that's why it is the right decision." Weir is not the type of player who harbours regrets. But if he had one it would be the fact his last game in a Gers shirt was a defeat â?? against Malmo last July. He said: "The highlight is winning things. You learn that quite quickly here. That is what it is all about. "You have got to win here." Weir admitted he intends becoming a coach or manager once he finally hangs up the boots. But he played down talk of him returning to Ibrox one day. Weir said: "I want to play but I want to be a manager as well. "You never say never in football â?? but coming back has never entered my head. "A great manager has just left and hopefully Ally will be here for years to come. "I hope there will not be a job up for grabs for a long, long time." Boss McCoist â?? who wouldn't rule out a bench place for Weir today â?? said: "Davie deserves a big, big send-off and the thanks of everybody at the football club. "And indeed the supporters. "We had a meeting down the stairs and the players showed their appreciation of what he's done for them and the club. "I've been lucky to have played with a few right good captains â?? and Davie would most certainly be right up there with true, great Rangers players." "Davie's got old school class and dignity â?? everything you'd expect from a top player." Read more: http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/spl/4075844/Im-so-proud-to-have-been-captain-of-one-of-the-greatest-teams-in-this-clubs-history.html#ixzz1k4OSijzJ

Pity we can't get a more detailed match report