ian1964

1-0 SHEEP,Maguire

IT is a measure of the way the Scottish Football Association operates, and the manner in which it is scrutinised by the nation's media, that the wider public is no longer made aware of decisions taken and verdicts reached by the game's governing body. Take for instance the case of the last Old Firm game played at Ibrox, which took place as long ago as last February. It is a turbo charged encounter with referee Dougie McDonald sending off Celtic captain Scott Brown and Maurice Edu bundling in a last minute winner for Rangers. The fact that there were fireworks came as no surprise as, in the build up to the vital clash, Celtic, via their official website, appreared to seek to crank up the pressure on referee McDonald with an anonymous rant. The press gave it massive coverage and SFA President George Peate was quick to respond by branding such an anonymous attack as "cowardly." What followed in the game's aftermath led to then Celtic manager Tony Mowbray being referred to the SFA General Purposes Committee for remarks, critical of the referee. Not long afterwards, while on international duty with the Republic of Ireland, Aiden McGeady was interviewed by a Scottish journalist and added his critical comments, and the General Purposes Committee was again called in. However, the most widely publicised event came when the official Celtic website again leapt in, and just over an hour after the end of the match it launched a full blooded attack on Dougie McDonald's integrity. The crux of this was that "no fair minded person" would agree with McDonald's decision to send off Brown, with the clear implication being that as McDonald had taken the red card decision, he was not fair minded. Daily newspaper journalists working in the Ibrox media media room, filing match reports, plus stories with the views given to them by the managers and players in post match interviews, quickly became aware of the content on the official Celtic website. Having picked up on it they then incorporated it into those reaction reports and the "no fair minded person" allegation formed the main thrust of the stories which led the back pages, from the red tops, through the middle market papers, to the broadsheets. The general line taken by the media was that Celtic could find themselves in deep trouble with the SFA over the website attack, an natural assumption to make, especiall given president Peat's obvious disgust and anger at what had appeared there prior to the game. But afterwards? How did the media follow up on things? Well, it would seem they all just forgot about it. Something which had been splashed all over the back pages for a couple of days and which jammed the lines to the radio phone in programmes, just slipped off the media's radar. Of course the increasingly secret service which is the SFA hardly helped. In the past any decisions by the General Purposes Committee - which deals with offences such as what managers and players say in media interviews - were made public. Now, according to my information, under chairman Rod Petrie, who is also chairman of Hibernian, that has changed. No news of decisions taken by the General Purposes Committee are made public. News however, has a way of leaking out, and I can now bring you the decisions taken by Petrie's Committtee regarding what appeared on the official Celtic website, and what was said by Mowbray and McGeady. McGeady, said Petrie's committee, had no case to answer. As far as Mowbray was concerned, by the time the committee sat in judgement, he had left Celtic and was no longer within the SFA's jurisdiction. And, in the case of the much more serious matter of the statement published on the official Celtic website Petrie's committee decided the appropriate punishment was a censure. Many may think this is a poor way for the Scottish Football Association to defend and protect the integrity of Scotland's officials. A set of circumstances has come to light again this weekend via a splendid exclusive by Mark Guidi in the Daily Record which reveals that Steven Craven, the linesman at the centre of the rumpus over last Sunday's penalty decision u-turn, has been threatenen, while his two teenage sons have been subjected to verbal abuse. Guidi's superb story also lifted the lid on just what happened between McDonald and Craven during that Dundee United-Celtic flashpoint. According to what he wrote, it was McDonald who, on second thoughts, overturned his own decision without any input from Craven, something which now explains the mystery of why Craven moved to take up the position of a linesman at a spot kick - behind the goal line. The Daily Record story also goes on to say that Craven feels he has been hung out to dry and used as a scapegoat by the SFA, and that he is ready to quit. How much of his decision to stand down relates to the latest occasion in which the SFA seems to have failed to protect and official, and how much to being the latest official who - along with his family - has suffered threats and abuse after being involved in a decision which went against Celtic, is unclear. Craven is probably weighing them both equally. Willie Collum, his two linesmen and the fourth official, therefore know what awaits them should they be involved in any controversial decisions while taking charge of the first Old Firm game of the season. On a wider perspective though, it will be interesting to wait and watch what the outcome is of the SFA's Rod Petrie led General Purposes Committtee's judgement on Dundee United manager Peter Houston's rant at Dougie McDonald . And whether Petrie's committee make public any of the decisions they may take regarding the fall out from events at Tannadice. Or indeed, whether the nation's media suffer another bout of collective amnesia. http://davidleggat-leggoland.blogspot.com/2010/10/sfa-try-to-keep-celtic-verdict-secret.html

Game just kicked off,fuck me how many empty seats:),of course it's no the Rangers that are in town:spl:

No problem mate,I just don't think the BHEASTS should be spoken about in the Rangers chat:) The KDS quotes are worth a read all the same,MUTANTS

I started a thread in the football chat room http://www.gersnetonline.co.uk/vb/showthread.php?t=21760 ,also posted the KDS reaction to it which is hilarious,maybe one of the mods can merge the thread

When we hump them tomorrow TLB will proceed to cause a riot and show himself up for the thug that he is

KDS Reaction: pablo5 Today, 12:56 AM Post #22 Member Avatar Whatever it is, there's not enough of it [ * * * * * * * * * * * * ] Posts: 22,455 Group: Snr. Member Member #1,558 Joined: 16 July 2005 Favourite all-time player Allen Woody Excellent. Now we've got The Huns, the refs, the SFA and the Polis out to get us. If that doesn't pull the support, the manager and the team together I don't know what will. Also, the main event which endangered public safety and might have lead to a riot was the way the ref handled the penalty incident. If the club has any sense they'll point to the fact that objects were thrown on the pitch before Lennon's celebration, but not afterward. FrankieT Today, 1:23 AM Post #40 Member Avatar First name on the team-sheet [ * * * * * * ] Posts: 1,650 Group: Members Member #8,658 Joined: 7 June 2007 Is this one of those hun letter writing campaigns? lubo's left peg Today, 1:33 AM Post #46 Member Avatar Occasional Substitute [ * * * * ] Posts: 306 Group: Members Member #26,955 Joined: 9 September 2010 Favourite all-time player Henke Can someone please tell Tayside Police to join the back of the queue, just in behind the SFA, the media, honest mistake merchants and the huns. FFS trying to skip the queue? Where's the dignity? junglejamesie Today, 1:59 AM Post #58 Member Avatar Hey Neil, heard the one about a hun with a tenner?... [ * * * * * * * * * * * * ] Posts: 21,259 Group: Snr. Member Member #89 Joined: 1 September 2004 Still a proddy country, timmy. And dont you forget it.... JJ 1888bhoy Today, 2:56 AM Post #67 Member Avatar Considering retirement [ * * * * * * * * * * * ] Posts: 7,370 Group: Snr. Member Member #11,524 Joined: 26 October 2007 feck the SFA, eff the huns and eff every other anti-Celtic establishment that we have to endure ona weekly bassis, eff the the entire lot o ye's wi a big black boaby in yer holes mon the Celtic :rocker: Bawman Today, 3:54 AM Post #72 Member Avatar Class is permanent [ * * * * * * * * * * * * ] Posts: 15,882 Group: Senior Member Member #106 Joined: 1 September 2004 I fecking LOVE this. The huns worst nightmare is arising. A successful ****** running Celtic. Hooped 4 Life Today, 5:15 AM Post #76 Member Avatar Bringing Passion Back [ * * * * * ] Posts: 1,247 Group: Members Member #24,663 Joined: 25 October 2009 Favourite all-time player Henrik Larsson Priceless! Huns everywhere from pleb in the street to high ranking officers are lining up to have popshots at the wee man. Time for us to stand united behind Lenny and defend him in any battle he comes across. No respect to sfa, no respect to police, no respect to rangers and no respect to anybody who slags off our full of passion, proud manager. Get it right up all of you stupid skint jealous smelly dodgy sphincter Huns. Guaydo Today, 6:38 AM Post #85 First team training [ * * * ] Posts: 262 Group: Members Member #3,670 Joined: 21 April 2006 Getting scared of the Ginger Guardiola! Morons CMC88 Today, 7:38 AM Post #90 Member Avatar Club Captain [ * * * * * * * * * ] Posts: 3,227 Group: Snr. Member Member #9,621 Joined: 23 July 2007 Scummy bastards , always lying. GIRFUY ya monkey hun carrots. Section 408 29 minutes ago Post #121 Occasional Substitute [ * * * * ] Posts: 315 Group: Members Member #23,615 Joined: 26 May 2009 paulmck1888 23 Oct 2010, 09:16 AM Now the linesman at the centre of the controversy on Sunday has offered to resign. Why would he do that? Something stinks here. http://sport.stv.tv/football/scottish-premier/celtic/204426-linesman-craven-offers-resignation-to-sfa/ Two things here. 1. Attempt at blackening the Celtic support.Insinuating fear from a Celtic support backlash. 2.Backs SFA into a corner.They have to refuse his resignation therefore justifying and backing up his decision from Sundays game. Machiavelli has nothing on this mob. Get Tayside Police to fingerprint a certain Mr Hugh Dallas as his dabs appear to be all over this. Neil must be absolutely pissing himself about this. He has practically got an entire country on the run. Mr Reid should now step up to the plate and come out all guns blazing in defence of Neil , the supporters and above all the Club.Time to take a stand both publically and politically against the sectarian forces which are daily in operation against us as a Club whether it eminates from the media , the SFA or now more worryingly the establishment in the form of a regional police force. At which point will political parties decide to start coming out to condemn us. Antsplan 18 minutes ago Post #126 Member Avatar Club Captain [ * * * * * * * * * ] Posts: 3,843 Group: Snr. Member Member #336 Joined: 6 November 2004 Absolutely hunbelievable. Makes me f'in sick. Craig Bellamy scores at Ipox, drops to his knees, booked Misser scores at CP, every Hun leaves the field to celebrate, not a single player booked. Lenny celebrates a last minute goal, in the furore of scoring a goal the on field master plan to cheat us falls apart, this confuses the match officials who fail to book the ****** for celebrating. Not to worry the polis will get him six days later They really are an easily offended/wound up bunch.

Algeria international and Glasgow Rangers defender Madjid Bougherra was named Arab footballer of the year 2010, following an online poll organized by the Saudi TV station MBC. The 28-year-old centre back cleared over 45% of the votes cast in which more than 75,000 Internet users participated. Bougherra beat Oman international and Wigan goalkeeper Ali Al Habssi who scored 16.6% to second position. Another Algerian, VfL Wolfsburg midfielder Karim Ziani came third with 12.37%. http://www.goal.com/en/news/89/africa/2010/10/22/2178744/algerias-glasgow-rangers-defender-madjid-bougherra-named?

VLADIMIR WEISS last night gave Rangers an Old Firm boost by hinting he may stay at Ibrox. The on-loan Slovakian is due to rejoin Roberto Mancini at Manchester City in the summer, but he refuses to rule out a permanent move to Glasgow. He said: "The question of my future is a difficult one. "I have a contract in Manchester until 2013 and I would like to return there, if that is possible. "But I am very happy in Glasgow - Rangers are a club at the highest level with excellent training facilities. "More people know me here and the interest in football is enormous." Read more: http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/spl/3193536/Vladimir-Weiss-hints-at-permanent-move.html#ixzz13AdPX2ZS

I think the BHEASTS are seriously under estimating us,they really do think they have a better team than us,which IMO will make humping them all the sweeter and their pain will cut deeper than ever before:)

Post your favourite videos stories [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KR-hiAyFFIA]YouTube - The Filth 2-4 Rangers (HIGH QUALITY)[/ame] :spl:

It's strange that so many still believe the 5-4-1 is a defensive line up!!!!!!!. However oor Wattie will decide and I don't care what formation he chooses as I believe we will batter the BHEASTS in their own midden

THERE must have been long queues outside dentists after so many who are loathe to acknowledge anything good about Rangers were forced to pen their praise through clenched teeth. There must also have been a few laptops taking a fair old battering from those scribes who were forced to finally admit that this Rangers side can compete with the best. In doing so, Rangers restored some of Scotland's tattered pride in the wake of the way the Scotland manager has gone about things with the national team...something which does not suit the agenda of some in the press pack. But Rangers have shown Scottish football is not as bad as some doomsayers would have us all believe. And I must admit that at club level, I have come close to believing in the myth of everyone being better than poor wee Scottish sides. It was a statistic from Tuesday nights Champions League matches which gave me pause for thought. The result was, Ajax 2, Auxerre 1, and it was the first time a Dutch side had won a Champions League match for over two years. That's not some wee country from Eastern Europe which only joined UEFA after the Iron Curtain was breached and the Berlin Wall tumbled. That is Holland, whose national team were the World Cup runners up in the summer. The Champions League is indeed a demanding arena. Maybe that put into some sort of context the statistics relating to Rangers which were dug up, and emptied like manure over their head in the build up to Bursaspor's visit to Glasgow three weeks ago. But it is ever thus with Rangers. Praise is always grudging. Also qualifued and hedged. And if there is a statistic which can be manipulated to demean the Ibrox club then it is odds on to be published somewhere. When Walter Smith conjured an tactic which wrong footed that most street savvy of gaffers, Sir Alex Ferguson, at Old Trafford, and Rangers held to a goalless draw a Manchester United team which contained England's captain, the Scottish skipper, English Player of the Year Wayne Rooney, the man who had held that title the previous season, Welsh wizard Ryan Giggs, plus countless other internationals from around the globe, the anti Ibrox mob chose to highlight those who were not playing rather than those who were. Next came Busaspor, and the Guardian's Glendenning saying the 3-1 offered for the Turks to win was the best bet of the night. There were many in the press pack who agreed and piled in. And lost their dough. Rangers employed the same formation as at Old Trafford, but in a different way, and won. Afterwards we were told that Busaspor actually were not in fact very good after all. Mmmm And so to Matchday Three and Valencia. Spain has the only league which is a serious rival to the Premiership, and Valencia led it for two months. On Saturday they went to the Nou Camp and were ahead for a long time before finally being edged out 2-1 by Barcelona. There can be no debate about their pedigree. And no debate either about the merit of the way Rangers performed ,and the claim that on another night at least one of the two chances missed by Kenny Miller, the brace squandered by Stevie Naismith and the one ballooned over by Ricky Foster, would have gone in. On the other hand, Valencia, as anyone would expect of such a terrific team, had their moments, notably near the end when Allan McGregor saved magnificently after Maurice Edu's lapse of concentration. The game was an epic. One of the best I have seen at Ibrox in half a century of watching European action there. The previous night I was enthralled and engrossed as Real Madrid saw off AC Milan. It was a smashing match. Real were impressive, and as they get more used to that master tactician, Joe Mourinho, will get even better. What a joy it would be to see Walter Smith pit his wits against wee Jose. Wednesday's encounter was even more entertaining, more absorbing and was played at a pace more like an old fashioned English cup tie than the cat and mouse stuff of the European stage. Valencia, in the Spanish style, played many more passes and had a higher success rate with them than Rangers. Rangers completed 269 passes, with a success rate of 67per cent against Valencia's success rate of 82per cent and 589 completed passes. Many of Valencia's completed passes were made square in defence and in midfield were short, while Rangers, though never just hoofing it, employed the more direct approach, which remains a potent weapon for British teams when employed with the sort of intelligence Rangers showed. Of course Rangers have been here before at the halfway stage of a Champions League group, with qualification a possibility, only for the backside to fall out of the Ibrox world. Three years ago is the most recent example. Third spot and a place in the Europe League is surely a more realistic target, though what was once Mission Impossible is now within the realms of the possible - if still not probable. At the outset of their campaign, I thought Rangers might be lucky to improve on the two points they managed last year, and even after a victory over Bursaspor added three to the one smuggled out of Old Trafford, my belief was that they may not pick up another. Now, after three matches, the Scottish Champions have five points, and have proved Scottish football is not as bad as some would have us believe. In the process, Rangers have also provided plenty of work for dentists, after so many of those who were forced to praise them did so through gritted teeth. http://davidleggat-leggoland.blogspot.com/

Celtic penalty row linesman on verge of quitting believing SFA are blaming him for Tannadice boob Oct 23 2010 Exclusive by Mark Guidi STEVEN CRAVEN is set to quit as an assistant referee because he feels the SFA have hung him out to dry after last Sundays controversial Tannadice clash. Craven believes he was made the scapegoat for Dougie McDonalds U-turn over awarding Celtic a penalty against Dundee United. After the game it was inferred Craven had instigated the chat with McDonald that led to the penalty not being given. However, its understood McDonald knew immediately he had got the decision wrong and, off his own back, made his way to Craven to ask for his colleagues opinion. SFA ref chief Hugh Dallas has applauded McDonald for changing his mind. But the lack of a detailed explanation has left Craven in the lurch. And Record Sport also understands he was disgusted with the SFA for marking him down in the supervisors report. The fallout from Tannadice has led to a week of turmoil for Craven and his family. He has been the victim of threatening remarks and his two teenage sons have suffered serious verbal abuse. That will lead to him resigning and when he takes charge of a reserve game at Murray Park today it will be his final match. A source close to Craven said: Certain people have been happy to make out the assistant referee asked for the referee to come and see him as he felt he had made a mistake. Thats not correct. Dougie felt hed made a mistake and told Steven this as soon as he approached him. The referee appeared to want it look as though Steven instigated this. Steven did have doubts about the penalty award but did not want to interfere with Dougies decision. It was only when Dougie ran to him that he offered his opinion. Steven has felt for a while he hasnt had enough support from the SFA and this is the final straw. He feels he has been made the fall guy to protect others. Its felt theres been a cover-up. The pressure on refs intensified last night when Celtic boss Neil Lennon insisted they have to stop getting major decisions wrong against Celtic. Rookie whistler Willie Collum will take charge of tomorrows Old Firm derby and Lennon said: We are not putting any extra pressure on him. I just hope he gets the big decisions right. Its a difficult one for him considering the recent history of controversial decisions that have gone against Celtic in these games. Lennon believes Celtic have been getting a raw deal in Old Firm games for the last 18 months. He said: Ill put those mistakes down to human error but you cant keep getting those big decisions wrong. http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/football/spl/2010/10/23/celtic-penalty-row-linesman-on-verge-of-quitting-believing-sfa-are-blaming-him-for-tannadice-boob-86908-22653090/

NEIL LENNON last night piled Parkhead pressure on Old Firm debut ref Willie Collum. The Celtic boss warned: Make sure it's not about YOU. Lennon believes Celts got a raw deal from Scotland's whistlers last season. The Hoops even lodged an official complaint with the SFA. Lennon has now demanded rookie Collum is at his best tomorrow, adding: "It's a difficult one for him. I just hope he has a good day and we're not talking about him after the game." Collum hopes the PLAYERS help him by behaving, but Lenny hit back: "The players' job is to win the game. "He's got two assistants and a fourth official to help him out. I don't think he needs players to help." Lennon was criticised by Dundee United boss Peter Houston for running down the touchline after Celtic snatched a late winner at Tannadice. He added: "Was I surprised by that? No, just disappointed. A lot of managers celebrate last minute goals." Meanwhile, SFA refs' chief Hugh Dallas vowed to fight to keep linesman Steven Craven in the SPL. SunSport understands Craven considered quitting after the furore surrounding last Sunday's game at Tannadice. But Dallas said: "I would be disappointed to lose one of our best and most experienced assistants." Read more: http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/spl/3193407/Neil-Lennon-piles-the-pressure-on-Old-Firm-ref.html#ixzz13ALicGRV

CELTIC boss Neil Lennon is set to be hauled in front of the SFA - after Tayside police complained about his behaviour during last Sunday's win over Dundee United. Lennon clashed with ref Dougie McDonald and the fourth official after the whistler's decision to reverse a penalty award. But the Hoops boss also sprinted down the Tannadice track when Gary Hooper netted the last-gasp winner to celebrate. This has been viewed as a potentially inflammatory gesture which could have incited crowd trouble at a fixture which has grown increasingly stormy in recent seasons. In response to Lennon's celebrations, Celtic fans rushed forward towards the track, causing security concerns. It was this incident which provoked the police to act. After discussions among top-level officers working at the match they have decided to formalise their complaint. The match commander has drafted a letter to send to both the SFA and the SPL outlining their displeasure at Lennon's behaviour and will now leave it up to SFA beaks to act. Read more: http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/spl/3193447/Cops-put-Neil-Lennon-in-the-dock.html#ixzz13AKX9TIG

Why This Weekend's Old Firm Game Means More To Celtic Than Rangers Neil Lennon's men must prove a point against stalwart Walter Smith By Andrew Southwick Oct 22, 2010 9:15:00 AM In tribal warfare, young men must prove themselves in battle. In the most tribal football match of them all, fledgling Celtic manager Neil Lennon must prove himself against bitter rivals Rangers. Each half of the Old Firm own perfect league records, they both are laying claim to the throne of the best team in Scotland, and they both absolutely and unconditionally hate the sight of each other. Everyone expects a classic. Chances are it will be more of a battle than a game of football that will epitomise what struggles to still be known as the beautiful game. What it will undoubtedly be, though, is intriguing. After eight wins out of eight for both sides, we all want to know who will blink first. For Celtic fans, after two barren years without the league title, the excitement is at fever pitch as they begin to believe their side has the credentials to finally be champions again. However, by 2.30pm on Sunday, they may just realise questions have been asked of their side that they simply can not answer. For Rangers manager Walter Smith has been here before. Taken his side into the lions' den, even when written off, and emerged triumphant. With 20 years of management behind him, and an Old Firm record to be envied by those before him and those who will follow him, he knows what to expect. Best of all for Rangers and Smith is that they don't need to win on Sunday. Celtic, despite what they'll say should the final whistle not signal rapturous celebration, do need the win. Not for the three points – it is only October after all and three Old Firm games are still to come. Celtic need the win for a more important reason than that. They need to extinguish the doubts that they are championship-winning material. In a season where, even as defending champions, Rangers have exceeded expectations, which in turn eases the pressure on Smith's men. Celtic may be matching them on league points, but look where Rangers have picked up theirs. Away to Aberdeen and Hearts, straddling a Champions League game, was a cruel fixture list. Winning all three games when behind in two of them was an awesome show of power. They have rarely failed to exert anything but total dominance at home. Even when the plucky visitors have taken the lead and tried to wobble the Gers, as Motherwell did last weekend, back they come stronger and angrier. Rangers won that game 4-1. In a Champions League group where they are meant to simply be erasing the nightmare of last season, they remain unbeaten with only one goal conceded, and that was to Valencia who until recently were topping arguably the best league in the world. Smith doesn't have to go for it at Parkhead. He can, to coin a phrase that best described their European trip to Old Trafford, "park the bus". If Rangers were to simply adopt a 4-5-1 formation, subdue anything Celtic wish to throw at them, and frustrate the home support, then they will leave Glasgow’s East End knowing that their opponents' credentials are still in doubt. The fact Celtic won the last Old Firm encounter - the first with Lennon in charge - means little. The question needing answered is “can they do it when it counts?” And last time, it didn't. Lennon holds an outstanding record of never having dropped a league point since taking over the hotseat towards the tail end of last season. He has matched Rangers all the way in the SPL this season. While the fixture list was kinder, trips to Motherwell and Dundee United have been banana skins for the Old Firm in the past. However, Lennon has failed in every big test that has come his way, and he's only been the manager for a few months. Failure in the Champions League qualifiers this summer, embarrassment in the Europa League, and even humiliation in the Scottish Cup against Ross County last season. Celtic have not proved to be battle hardened at all under Lennon. This weekend, Celtic fans finally want to know if they have moved on from the Gordon Strachan side that held all the aces but ended up with the joker. They want to be satisfied that the meek surrender of Tony Mowbray's tenure is not going to be repeated. But, can Neil Lennon do it when it matters? What if Smith plays 4-5-1 – can Celtic open them up and get the goals their support will crave? Do his new signings have the bottle for the big clash, when they have wilted already when the going got tough in Braga and Utrecht in those European embarrassments? Do they even have the discipline to cope? Their manager is certainly no role model on that front. Lennon has it all to prove on Sunday. The most important day in his managerial career may simply be the beginning of the end should Celtic once again fail to find an answer to Smith's probing questions. http://www.goal.com/en/news/461/scotland/2010/10/22/2177683/why-this-weekends-old-firm-game-means-more-to-celtic-than

I'd keep the successful 5-4-1, we have the opportunity to change to 4-4-2 if we need to

I'll go for the 5-4-1 formation

BHEASTS 1 The Champions 3 Miller,Naismith,Davis :spl: :robbo:

VALENCIA midfielder Manuel Fernandes last night insisted that they must beat Rangers at the Estadio Mestalla on 2 November if they are to overtake the SPL leaders and claim a place in the knockout stages of the Champions League. The former Benfica, Portsmouth and Everton player believes that it's a two-horse race for second place - and reckons it could go either way. Fernandes also claimed that he hadn't been taken aback by the quality of Rangers' display at Ibrox. We expected Rangers to try to hit us on the counter-attack so we were not surprised," he said. "I hope we can do better at home because I think we will need the three points if we are to go through. "At home I am sure you will see a better Valencia because taking three points is now crucial to us. It's between us and Rangers for second place now and a position in the last 16 of the tournament. "Manchester United are already ahead and they now have another game against Bursaspor. We have four points, Rangers have five and I think only one of us will qualify now. "We were favourites to qualify at the start and I hope we can live up to that billing in the Mestalla. But Rangers are making it hard for us and they have shown they are able to compete with us. "Maybe it will go down to the last game when they are at Bursaspor and we are in Manchester." The 24-year-old, a second-half substitute for Tino Costa, missed his side's equaliser on Wednesday night. "I missed Maurice Edu's own goal because I was still in the dressing room," he grinned. ''But I was happy when I came out and one of the other subs told me that it was 1-1. We created more chances but so did Rangers and the game was always in the balance. "It was no less than we expected from them as we knew they were a good side who would be backed by a big crowd. "The game wasn't a draw because we played poorly - it was a draw because Rangers played well. "We have great respect for Rangers and for Scottish football in general. It's not as bad as some people say.'' http://sport.scotsman.com/rangersfc/Rangers-v-Valencia-Spanish-praise.6593751.jp

Rangers are not the only ones who can feel relieved about the fact their performance at Old Trafford has turned out to be a building block rather than a precedent. If there was plenty of praise for their defensive discipline and workrate in chiselling out a goalless Champions League draw against Manchester United last month, it didn’t come without a shudder running up the spine. Was this the only way they could survive in Europe? It seemed that Walter Smith’s gameplan would be an unchanging five at the back in all six group games, camping his team in their own half and hoping to steal a goal from maybe one chance per game on the counter-attack. A campaign spent feeding on morsels. Manchester made all-out defending fashionable in Scottish football – the national team took that to its logical conclusion by playing without a striker in Prague – but already there are signs that there can be another way. Hallelujah. Two goals against Spain at Hampden were followed by Rangers’ eye-opening performance against Valencia on Wednesday night. Here was evidence that a team with plenty of Scots – six of them were in Smith’s team at Ibrox – can compete against one of the best sides in Europe through more than simply bedding in their own penalty box and defending for dear life. Rangers’ defending wasn’t an end in itself, as it had been at Old Trafford. It was the base from which they had the courage to attack. The confidence they drew from holding Manchester United and then beating Bursaspor has resulted in them emerging from the cowering position they were reduced to by beatings from Unirea Urziceni, Stuttgart and Sevilla last season. Maurice Edu and Steven Davis may have been key personnel for them against Valencia, but so too were the Scots: Allan McGregor, Davie Weir, Steven Whittaker, Steven Naismith, Kenny Miller and Ricky Foster. “We’ve heard all the stuff about us parking the bus,” said Weir afterwards. “Well, hopefully, people will have looked at the Valencia game and realised we can play a bit.” In fact, the bursting counter-attacks of Naismith, Davis, Edu and Miller were not especially surprising. The shock came in that they could mount so many of them without the defence being exposed. Neither Rangers nor Scotland can be cavalier while Weir remains an essential member of the teams – his inevitable lack of pace determines that they must play deep, and that drags the midfield back too – but Tuesday demonstrated that a side can play five at the back and still launch repeated and dangerous attacks if they have quick and hard-working midfielders and forwards. It needn’t be the effective but unedifying shift seen at Old Trafford. Rangers needed that performance back on September 14, though. It allowed them to return with far, far more than a single Champions League point. Here was a group of players beaten and mocked during six winless matches in the tournament last season. Suddenly, the same unit was holding its own with one of the tournament favourites. It was a relentlessly defensive display from which they emerged to beat Bursaspor and then, creating even more chances, draw with Valencia. The fact that they had 19 attempts on goal on Wednesday was incredible. Still, regardless of the feelgood factor legitimately swirling around the club about possibly holding on to second place in Group C and qualifying with Manchester United, the key statistic may be that only one of the 19 resulted in a goal and that it was not a winner. Anyone with even a cursory knowledge of Smith could not have been remotely surprised by the way he took out a pail of cold water and doused down some of the exaggerated claims being made on behalf of his Rangers side the other night. Smith wasn’t being curmudgeonly or contrary when he downplayed his team’s prospects. Rather, it was the natural reaction of a manager who has been here, and been wounded, before. Today Rangers are on five points halfway through their group campaign and are perfectly entitled to crow about the fact they have beaten the champions of Turkey and remain unbeaten against the two best sides in the section. Five points from an available nine amounts to a hugely satisfying platform. But they have been down this route before, only for their hopes to turn to ashes. In 2007 they beat Stuttgart, and then Lyon, and then held a formidable Barcelona team at Ibrox: seven points from nine. Many claimed they were home and hosed. What happened next? They didn’t take another point. Something similar happened to what many would consider a far more technically gifted Rangers side under Dick Advocaat in 2000. They beat Sturm Graz 5-0 then won in Monaco to have six points after two games. They only added two more from their remaining four fixtures. As Davis said at the start of this week, each of Rangers’ remaining games in this campaign have the potential to deliver a defeat. Smith knows that five points from three games might soon become five from four, then five from five. Their next two games are against Valencia in Spain and then against Manchester United at Ibrox. Even the last game in the section, away against Bursaspor, contains quiet menace. It would be a surprise if the Turks don’t take a point somewhere in the campaign. If Valencia win their next two games, against Rangers and Bursaspor, they would be on 10 points. In that event Rangers would need to beat United at Ibrox and Bursaspor in Turkey to finish above them. Valencia openly fancy themselves to have replaced the Scottish champions in second place by the time the group is finished. Still, Smith knows Rangers are far better placed than they or others expected. They have coped with one of the best teams in England, one of the best in Spain, and the best of all from Turkey. They won’t be worried about a wee dose of realism about the challenge still ahead. http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/spl/rangers/rangers-entitled-to-crow-after-excellent-first-half-of-champions-league-campaign-but-walter-smith-will-be-realistic-about-challenges-ahead-1.1063052

CELTIC and the SFA are at loggerheads after the Hoops again complained about refs to Hampden beaks in the build-up to an Old Firm game. SunSport revealed yesterday that angry Celts chiefs had written to demand answers over Dougie McDonald's penalty U-turn at Tannadice on Sunday. Just eight months ago they complained to the governing body days before a game against Rangers at Ibrox, over what they saw as a string of high-profile derby decisions going against them. No one from the SFA was available for comment last night. But it's understood they are livid over what they view as Celtic creating unnecessary mischief by leaking a private letter to the media in the run-up to the opening Old Firm clash of the season. Celts, though, want a full explanation as to why McDonald awarded a spot-kick against Dundee United for Dusan Pernis' challenge on Gary Hooper, only to change his mind on the advice of linesman Steven Craven. They were also left deeply unsatisfied by the comments of refs' boss Hugh Dallas 24 hours after their 2-1 win. He claimed that Hoops gaffer Neil Lennon had 'accepted the decision was correct' in a post-match chat with McDonald. Lennon had to be calmed by the fourth official before being spoken to by McDonald on the touchline at the time of the incident. And yesterday Lennon told the club's website he still feels aggrieved. He stated bluntly: "I accepted the explanation, but still the decision rankles with me. "I did the interview after the game and then I went to see the referee. I accepted his explanation of why he changed his mind. But I still don't agree with it." Willie Collum will take charge of the Old Firm derby for the first time this weekend. Meanwhile, Rangers chief executive Martin Bain will today have a conference call chat with SFA counterpart Stuart Regan over improving disciplinary procedures. Bain, at his club's AGM on Monday, slammed the events which saw Allan McGregor charged and then punished with a one-game ban over an incident with Aberdeen's Chris Maguire at Pittodrie a full two weeks earlier. The news broke as the keeper was preparing to play for Scotland against the Czech Republic in a Euro 2012 qualifier. And his ban was decided on new man Regan's first day at the helm and only 24 hours before McGregor was outstanding against Spain. Read more: http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/spl/3191673/Beaks-reffed-off-with-Celts.html#ixzz133rgk174

KYLE LAFFERTY has lifted the lid on his secret signing talks with Celtic - and revealed he told Gordon Strachan he could NEVER join them. The Rangers striker snubbed the Hoops in July 2008 when the Parkhead side looked favourites to sign him. Instead Lafferty joined boyhood heroes Rangers from Burnley and he said: "Gordon Strachan really wanted me and I think there were two or three transfer windows where he tried to sign me. "But once I heard Rangers wanted me too my mind was made up instantly. "I had to be honest with Gordon. I didn't want to tag him along. I thought it was the best way to be. "I didn't want to tell Gordon I wanted to play for Celtic knowing deep down that I didn't. "My heart wouldn't have been in it if I'd gone to Celtic. "So I had to be straight with Gordon. "I respect him as a manager and I genuinely appreciated his interest in me. "But it was an easy choice for me to join Rangers - and it's been the right choice. "Gordon thanked me for being honest with him. I think he's a nice guy and he's someone I regard as a top manager." Lafferty had to play a waiting game before Gers boss Walter Smith was given the go-ahead to open talks with the Northern Ireland striker. He said: "Celtic made a few offers for me at the same time as Rangers. I think there was a bit of a bidding war. "But deep down I knew where I really wanted to go. Being a Rangers fan I didn't want to go to the other side of the city. "Signing for Rangers was the realisation of a boyhood dream and it's been fantastic to have been a part of two title-winning teams." Read more: http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/spl/3191687/I-could-not-be-a-Celt.html#ixzz133rAxsM3

Just take a look on KDS on their pre match build up:),fuxsake they're even complaining that Weir should get hammered for grabbing players round the throat