Frankie

Nah, Barry is the tech man.....

Must be Boyd's turn to become a Ferguson for a couple of years... See you in 2011, Kris.

Must be Boyd's turn to become a Ferguson for a couple of years... See you in 2011, Kris.

Actually the apathy doesn't suit Murray whatsoever. He wants out. Yesterday. Indeed, the idea that he is attempting to remove himself by isolating himself from the fans, causing divisions and attempting to increase negative fan opinion is one that may have merit as daft as it may sound. Frustrate the fans enough to finally get their act together to remove him? At the risk of the club going under? Surely not? Maybe one for our Gersnet alternative theorists to look into...

Indeed, the fans certainly need leadership from somewhere. As it stands I don't see it from any of the existing groups. And outwith these groups the apathetic majority seem content with 2nd place.

Pleasing everybody is impossible. But ensuring the club is run efficiently to realise it's maximum potential is possible. As it stands Rangers FC is not realising it's potential. For that to be the case after 20 years in the job is extremely disappointing. More so when the chairman won't recognise it while trying to leave at the same time. Unfortunately not enough fans acknowledge that. And the ones that do are made out to be crackpots by the recipient of our valid criticisms. Meanwhile we lurch from one crisis to the next with the very future of the club in question.

We seen those guys when we walked round to our seats mate... Couldn't quite see what they were up to!

Murray doesn't have a big enough car to park in Bluedell's drive... I don't actually question Murray's support of the team in many ways. You'd be surprised at just how much he does know about the club and the passion he shows when talking about it. Unfortunately, unlike you or I, his passion for his overall business is stronger so, rightly or wrongly, Rangers are not always the focal point of his life and investments. He's not any different from any other football owner in the respect but perhaps if he left out the patronising stuff and kept his 'support' realistically non-emotional, fans would be less inclined to associate his personal wealth with that of investment in the club. Murray is a difficult person to read and that's why many fans are so emotional when it comes to their opinions on him.

Sign Janko!

Difficult to tell mate both in his references to bile and mice... I think we'd both hazard a guess at who he means but that's because you and I (and others) are aware of certain issues - past and present. For offline fans it gets quite cryptic and only lends weight to the argument that Rangers fans offend are are incapable of providing worthy feedback and comment on how the club is run. SDM shouldn't be frightened of criticism but look to accept the challenge and address the concerns. Instead he seems to have become bogged down in trying to maintain his own reputation as opposed to leading from the front by defending not only himself but us and the club. It's this kind of poor leadership that creates division. I hope he looks back at the last few months and realises his comments won't help the club or his own personal situation of wanting out.

�£3million is nowhere near enough for one of the country's best goalscorers. Boyd's overall quality can be debated and I'm certainly unsure if he'd cope with the stouter defences of the Premiership (if Brum were promoted) but as it stands we can't afford to sell him for that money even if we are struggling financially simply because his goals continue to be invaluable for us.

Double it and he'll get him...

I don't disagree with that mate but we're seeing signs of SDM being pushed into a corner financially. I see little alternative other than to approach the fans again (Milan friendly to test the waters) then to move onto other assets if key players can't be sold. IMO, Bougherra is a certainty to go and Mendes also likely. That will address the short term problems and remove the 'initiatives' above but without CL/UEFA participation such ideas may not be as unlikely as they sound.

Yep, was thinking about this just the other day. I'm actually more worried that the �£15million revolver may have changed and that's why we're suddenly hawking our players throughout the media. I can see another failed share issue on the horizon. Or a sold training facility.

It has been a few weeks since my last article. Christmas, New Year, birthdays, holidays and, of course, a tame Old Firm home defeat resulted in an enforced absence from the online forums for yours truly. There is only so much OTT criticism, anguish and upset that one can take when Rangers lose and I was depressed enough without the usual online debates spoiling my winter break. The rise in popularity of online forums and the strong debates contained within them is a fascinating topic though. The subject has provoked comment from a wide range of people: from journalists who mock them (yet take part in and host polemic radio phone-ins); to authority figures who have to deal with their email campaigns; all the way to Sir David Murray who has complained vocally several times now about their content – describing the content as offensive ‘bile’ as well as recently referring to the authors as ‘mice’. Funnily enough one understands his point of view to a degree. Some people are rather extreme in their opinions with their musings often flawed and unfair. Indeed, it could be argued the overall mood can be one of isolation, suspicion and paranoia. I myself find it easy to write something that afterwards I may find different to my true feelings. Forum posting (or article writing) can often be the ‘literal’ equivalent of jumping in with both feet so it is important to take a step back on occasion, have an extra breath and consider the whole issue before offering a view. Nonetheless, it is also unwarranted of journalists, authority figures and especially Murray to dismiss these places and/or generalise them and their users unfairly. After all we’re still fans of the club and the vast majority are honest and well-meaning in their opinions – even if frustration and negativity can cloud judgement from time to time. And this is where John Steinbeck and my questionable Standard Grade English Literature metaphors are relevant. It was in late November that Sir David Murray referred to some fans he’d met as mice. He felt that despite their criticisms on websites, they were quite different when in person. And to some extent he is right. I speak from personal experience of just how difficult it can be to work with someone like Murray. We’ve met now on several occasions and it certainly isn’t easy to justify one’s contrary position on certain issues to an intelligent, charismatic, successful businessman like the Rangers chairman. Far stronger-willed people than me have been left floundering by this man so of course caution is taken when formal debate takes place. Nevertheless, I’d also like to think Murray would concede these debates have been constructive in the past even if we may never agree on some of the issues. And that’s why his comments of last year were so disappointing. Sure, he may not get on personally with some fans but he must surely realise it is for the good of the club that supporter relations must be maintained at all times. More so in the face of current adversities. In the same interview Murray stated that he’d ‘been here for 15 per cent of the club's history and won 30 per cent of our trophies. Maybe they've overstayed their welcome.’ This comment really is quite incredible and does nothing to improve the problems which are obvious at our club. Of course he is entitled to point to his successes but to suggest the critics of the status quo (namely increasing debt, three years without a league win and constant attacks on our fans/club) are disloyal or should remove their support of the club is indefensible. Further, when one considers how he often refuses to defend our good name (and by association his) when we are slighted in the media; it makes these internal fights all the more galling. In the late 1930s shortly after the publication of ‘Of Mice and Men’, Steinbeck wrote that: “In every bit of honest writing in the world there is a base theme. Try to understand men, if you understand each other you will be kind to each other. Knowing a man well never leads to hate and nearly always leads to love. There are shorter means, many of them. There is writing promoting social change, writing punishing injustice, writing in celebration of heroism, but always that base theme. Try to understand each other.” These themes are all applicable to what is happening at Rangers. Despite his protestations, the ‘best laid schemes’ of Sir David Murray’s Rangers have ‘gang aft agley’. That’s not unreasonable criticism nor bile nor someone saying something they wouldn’t in person. It’s just a reasonable observation from looking at Murray’s overall 20 years in charge of the club. Yes, he deserves praise for the stats he quotes above but, of course, he also deserves criticism for the current situation. To conclude, I want to take this opportunity to wish Sir David Murray a Happy New Year. I also want to say that if he wants to talk ‘of mice and men’ then he doesn’t take umbrage at his critics’ views but accept the challenge, try to understand us better and know us well. Thus, let’s work together to address the club’s problems. That would be the action of a man. Using the media to join with them in dismissing our valid concerns without supplying credible means to debate our feedback isn’t. Indeed, such ill-conceived actions are that of one who enjoys cheese with their French wine.

Definitely not 6' 2" in my opinion...

Amen brother... Firefox is working fine at home but seems to be hanging here at work for 30secs at a time. Bloody annoying so I'll ask our IT chappie to have a look...

Check your PMs mate... :cheers:

Barry will have a look when he's back from his Xmas break...

We wouldn't get that for him now... McGregor is a decent keeper but has shown this season that he lacks confidence and the mental strength not to let off-field problems affect him game., Potential suitors will have noted that if/when they decide to make an offer for him. He's probably one asset that we can afford to sell for a decent price as Alexander did show he was an able deputy during his time in the team.

My fault mate... Can't remember a Sunday game other than OF games being played at the earlier time... When I found out I couldn't get online to change it. Apologies...

No but I am having Firefox issues... Having to use IE which is never a great experience...

Yeah, I can't see him wanting to leave. He said when he came back he was here for the rest of his career but, depending on what story you believe about why he left in the first place, maybe he'll be persuaded to leave again.... Personally I think there is no chance. However, Bougherra certainly looks likely - as do others.

Welcome back mate...

I know mate but sometimes it would be good if the money-men did back up us rank and file occassionally.... His opinion would be seen as credible.