Frankie

Not yet... I will if I've got time later... Have fun mate!

Email already sent from me... Tories have nothing to lose up here anyway, and with Cameron doing OK down south, everything to gain...

:D He does have some free time on his hands and his pension could fund NbM for the rest of eternity.

That's what Spiers is suggesting - even if Salmond may not have realised it before publication. Mischief making by Spiers and I've emailed the First Minister to ask him about it.

I did find this article which proves Mr McLetchie's point... http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/scotland/article5928421.ece

That's funny TB as I've just checked the Times and can't find Graham Spiers mentioning it either? Must be having a long lie today; I'm sure we'll see it later.

I think we both know what will happen to Mr McLetchie unfortunately...

Added my own thoughts to the main site and Newsnow to ensure this buried article... http://www.gersnetonline.co.uk/newsite/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=773&Itemid=2

Thanks for posting that... Great news!!!!

Of course there are no guarantees in football. However, we can base our expectations on confidence in our the kind of virtues successful teams have. Virtues sadly lacking which means any confidence is minimal. To be clear I still think we can win the title and certainly haven't surrendered it. However, I think it is most unlikely based upon the evidence befoe me.

Sums it up perfectly.

I'd argue we won't win a damn thing because our players and manager are too cautious... That's are point so it's obvious that eventually we'll suffer from the same traits. You can't have one without the other. Criticism is natural when the team are playing bad continually. I'd see the point if we only had 20,000 at matches but our fans are buying season tickets and attending away matches in record-breaking numbers. Our loyalty and belief can't be questioned in situ - even if on forums etc we're struggling to be confident. And what happens then. The manager et al shirk responsibility again by moaning about that criticism. This is all one huge vicious circle and we need leadership to get out of it. That can only come from the club even if some fans are trying to apply positive criticism via projects like ours.

Cal, some fans (including myself) be 'gutless' but it isn't without good reason. And I don't see many people being gleeful about it. The facts are many problems still exist at the club. I agree some fans should try and rise above it (and many do) but having the same rubbish thrown at us week after week means people will get fed up. As such, unhappiness and negativity will prevail over optimism and positivity. That's sad but true. It's primarily up to the management and the players to change that. There is only so much investment and support the fans can provide without true leadership from the actual club.

Amen. And on that happy note, I'm away to my kip to dream of Marvin Andrews, Fir Park, Easter Road and helicopters...

Possibly. Certainly an unprecedented fixture list and awful officiating added to the challenge... Unfortunately, we haven't built on such a 'moral' victory. The Kaunas loss was unacceptable while our transfer dealings and financial management have contributed to where we are now. I see little evidence of improvement and more examples of the same mistakes (on and off the field). Like I say, I admire your optimism but am struggling to match it. At Ibrox on Saturday though I'll be shouting as loud as anyone trying to make others believe it. I'm glad you're able to do that here...

I must admit it is refreshing to read some positivity for a change even I can't share in it. Let's just hope he's right.

Such swings don't just happen automatically though Shroomz. It takes hard work, belief, passion and character to win back titles never mind win 3 out of 4. Some of these attributes are sadly missing from many areas of the club - even the fans; yours truly included. And they've not just went missing recently either. They've been missing for almost 10 years on the kind of level required to become the dominant force again.

Thanks for that Norris... Maybe you should get Rita to stock less OK magazines and more Rangers tomes...? PS: Cammy wrote a short book review at the time of the competition and he was disappointed with the sectarian stuff in it as well. I'm surprised Smith allowed this to pass but I guess it is just a sign of the times at Ibrox nowadays where upon we always have to talk about alleged past failings instead of positives. It wouldn't surprise me if this is a result of Jack Irvine's mob rather than the author who I'll admit to knowing next to nothing about. Birlinn themselves are usually decent publishers. I guess in some ways it could be argued that at least we're not ashamed to discuss the more contentious parts of our history. Personally, I'd rather we concentrated on the good.

Just opened the site now and it is fine for me mate...

I don't think he's afraid. Just far too conservative and hoping we have enough to sneak games via one bit of magic. Unfortunately, that also goes for the opposition and we are suffering from that lack of tactical ambition.

I've never watched the UEFA Cup final on TV. But from what I can remember from being at the game itself, I thought we played quite reasonably well over the piece. Conservative yes but we did try to get forward unlike games against Barca etc earlier in the season. The first half we did sit too deep but we looked comfortable defensively and Zenit looked to be struggling to break us down. As such, DA cleverly sat his team back himself for the 2nd period which essentially forced into the game as an attacking force which, in turn, created space for the Russians. Eventually they took advantage scoring from one of our usual poor thrown in set plays. After that we tried our best to to get forward and missed an injury time sitter before they scored another on the break as we committed men forward. All in all, nowhere near as bad or as defensive a performance as some make out.

Was injured for months at the start of the season but even so has fell completely out of the picture....

Of course criticism should be tempered when necessary but I don't even see Ferguson moaning all that often. In fact, I don't think he does it enough. The only player I see moan during games is Allan McGregor. We need more leaders prepared to take responsibility for their own game and others. Not complaints about the minimal few that do.

Yep, Ferguson's lack of mobility and Smith's lack of trust in Edu means we have a malfunctioning midfield. That causes problems defensively and offensively. Smith must change that if we're to challenge for the title.

I don't deny we are stifling Mendes' creativity with a lack of complementing players. However, the lad himself is not doing enough generally. He attempts the 'world cup' pass too often, doesn't get forward enough (when was the last time he was in the opposition box) and his work-rate off the ball is poor (in attack and defence). I've heard the same excuses given for Ferguson's poor displays - i.e. we don't have the attacking players for him to pass to. Partly true but that doesn't explain the generic lack of quality. Let's play Edu or Davis beside Mendes and utilise wide men and attackers in their preferred roles.