Frankie

My ratings now online along with MoM Poll... http://www.gersnetonline.net/newsite

It seems it's likely we'll play 2 OF games in a week in March. Hopefully we'll have a 4 point lead at least by then and 2 positive results in that month could secure the title... Exciting times!

I think most of us can guess the language used... It's certainly not for a family orientated forum like this fucking place....

I think Hutton will eventually sign for Man Utd in the summer now but it's probably best for our immediate continuity that he doesn't leave until then...

RIP indeed....

Just unfortunate coincidence with regard to the timing mate... Really annoying for us all but Barry certainly did give them a piece of his mind....

Someone has had too may drams over the festivities I think... The idea of me starting 6100 threads doesn't bear thinking about for the good people of this forum... In saying that, the counter does appear to be a wee bit slow in reacting. Probably a slight problem with the database after the server issues...

http://www.gersnetonline.net/newsite/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=571&Itemid=1 This was supposed to be for Xmas Eve but circumstances meant a delayed release... Some of the stuff I've had to stop from being published in the article comments section has to be seen to be believed. Celtic fans do not like Mr Edgar...

Sods Law - everyone on holiday with a busy fixture schedule and we get our first downtime of the year.

Seems the summer is the likely time now mate... A mate of mine was speaking to Ray Houghton the other week and he suggested the Hutton/Man Utd link was the strongest one by far.

OFFICIAL: Hutton to stay http://www.rangers.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Ne...1206047,00.html

Really is an excellent piece by Barry. While it may be difficult to turn down �£8million for any player in the current SPL financial climate, what does it say about us that we are considering it while we still remain in Europe and genuine contention for the league? Quite simply if he does go we must invest the money received into ensuring this kind of transfer is not required again.

By bmck: The Alan Hutton affair has resulted in a fury of figures for the average fan to digest. How much will be bid for him? How much would it cost to replace him? How much will Murray free up for Walter from the how much will be bid for him? How much will it cost to replace him be greater or lesser than how much Murray will free up, and by how much? How much would we value Hutton at, and would this much allow us to free up enough to replace him based on how much we think Murray will free up? Is this repeated refrain of ââ?¬Ë?How muchââ?¬â?¢ not better understood in term of the other important figure ââ?¬â?? our overall debt? Yes, increasingly complex speculations with plenty of hypothesising, and plenty of scope to get completely lost in a few pints into the discussion. But I think the danger in all this brutish number crunching is that we get caught in the cynicââ?¬â?¢s dilemma ââ?¬â?? plenty of speculations about costs, debts, transfer fees, percentages, budgets and the like, but none of the significantly more important issue of value. People have wrongly applied Wildeââ?¬â?¢s quote to economists, but the power in his aphorism is that it is cynicism that tends purely towards economics, and I think that itââ?¬â?¢s an overwhelming cynicism that is the real danger of our current situation. I think it is a Rangers fan disproportionately low expectations that knows the figures of Alan Huttonââ?¬â?¢s transfer, but not how much it would cost us in the less easily delimited world of reputation, ambition and vision. In pure economic terms, getting 8 million quid for a good, but ultimately promising, player is not bad going most probably. We have a ready made replacement in Whittaker, who, though not as good, would presumably be good enough for the SPL and could himself progress into a better player. So, it may not cost that much to replace him. Perhaps Murray would free up a portion of the money for a position we more severely needed, and the rest would go to the not ignoble more general cause: the reduction of our debt. I mean, you canââ?¬â?¢t keep a player when a lot of money is bid for him, and he wants to go, surely. But while all these things are to some extent true, they are the absolutely most pessimistic view of the situation. Tonight Alan Hutton is strongly rumoured to have turned down Spurs ââ?¬â?? perhaps this is because heââ?¬â?¢s waiting for Man United, but perhaps he thinks that he has plenty of scope to develop at Rangers. I think as a matter of general principle we as a club and a support should be reasoning about the departure of the most successful product of our youth system, a Rangers supporting Rangers player who is a first pick at club and country level in his early twenties, and who has played a starring role in our recent European adventures and minor successes, as a strictly worst case scenario. It shows the extent of our fall in our collective imagination: a club and support confident in their own stature, as a matter of principle, do not sell these sorts of players as a matter of course, though they can go if they really want. I canââ?¬â?¢t help but think that our expectations have been lowered disproportionately by the spin of recent years. We are far too quick to follow the clubââ?¬â?¢s, albeit to some extent necessary, obsession with figures ââ?¬â?? we are starting to live out Murrayââ?¬â?¢s, pragmatically understandable but to a fan convinced of our greatness unacceptable, cost cutting for a potential suitor. Just because we understand our financial situation, and understand Murrayââ?¬â?¢s cost cutting in terms of his own self motivation, it doesnââ?¬â?¢t mean that our expectations should be indistinguishable from his. It is our job to provide the demand for greatness, a continuing catalyst for Murray to put all his energies into making this so. It means fundamentally being disgusted at the cost, a cost beyond economics, of selling a player like Alan Hutton ââ?¬â?? it is the act of being disgusted in situations like this, even if economics prevails, that will maintain our all important tendency towards greatness in these more precarious and visionless days of supporting the club. If Alan Hutton does stay, I expect David Murray at least then to portray it as a sign of our continuing vision and ambition, and hopefully then it will start to filter out into our wider expectations again.

Can I also thank Barry for all his incredible work to get the place going... This guy is a true legend and I'm indebted for him time and time again for his technical expertise, hosting and generally being a great guy.

Unfortunately the server died 3 weeks ago and it's taken the hosting company this amount of time to get our existing data online. Barry and myself have personal commitments that meant we were both unable to force the hosts to speed the process up. We can only apologise for the downtime and thank everyone for their patience and loyalty. Happy New Year to everyone and I hope you all had a nice Xmas.

The cocaine story has been doing the rounds for years now... It's nonsense. Let's get that perfectly clear.

http://www.gersnetonline.net/newsite/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=569&Itemid=1 Charlie Adam for me... :cheers:

Done.....

I'm not necessarily talking about 3 central players. Ferguson and Thomson in a midfield 2, with the creative player given a free role to support the striker. Adding in a winger would up our creativity a fair bit.

After another not so glorious defeat in Europe under Walter what does the near future hold for the club? Some fantastic early performances have meant we exceeded most of our expectations in the toughest CL group but unfortunately we couldnââ?¬â?¢t go that extra two feet to snatch a draw and qualify ââ?¬â?? the whole campaign falling apart with JCDââ?¬â?¢s horror miss near the end last night. Down and out then ââ?¬â?? but still all to play for! Firstly, can I first say I obviously share everyoneââ?¬â?¢s disappointment at last nightââ?¬â?¢s result. First half we just werenââ?¬â?¢t good enough and while we managed to have plenty possession in the second, as has been the case for a few years now, we lacked the genuine creativity and width to cause Lyon problems. The two late goals made the result look worse than it actually was but one may accurately contend cancelling the game against Gretna resulted in a team who took 30mins to get into their stride while our inconsistency in selection must be addressed to avoid our constant ââ?¬Ë?Jekyll and Hydeââ?¬â?¢ displays during the actual game. On the other hand, itââ?¬â?¢s been just over a year since we were being turned over at home to St Johnstone so progress has been decent and we shouldnââ?¬â?¢t be overly critical in our analysis of the team. There is a lot to be proud of and the potential is certainly there for further improvement with a renewed challenge for the SPL. As such, we must all immediately lift the heads and move onto the next game which as we know is a tough home game against Hearts. How vital this game is cannot be stressed enough ââ?¬â?? Celtic being 5 points head but with us having two games in hand means in real terms weââ?¬â?¢re top of the table. Therefore, we must ensure we get the chance to develop that potential one-point advantage instead of stumbling right away as we have done too often this season. Unfortunately this will have to result in more changes in personnel. This means the invisible man himself Sir David Murray must again back the club with Her Majestyââ?¬â?¢s currency. Lurking at the back of the Directorââ?¬â?¢s Box last night and lurking in the shadows out with Ibrox on a day-to-day basis, itââ?¬â?¢s time Murray delivered on the grand promises of old. Around Ã?£12million was spent in the summer and thatââ?¬â?¢s a fair amount in todayââ?¬â?¢s climate but we need more. To help facilitate that Walter Smith needs to make a few tough squad decisions. Although all the following players have their positives and we could all make a case for them staying, they donââ?¬â?¢t play enough and unless the manager intends playing them, they have to be moved on to create funds for at least another two first choice players. Ehiogu, Webster, Hemdani, Burke, Buffel, Boyd and Cousin are just 7 players who appear surplus to to requirements, either via injury proneness, general attitude problems or simply not fitting into Smithââ?¬â?¢s way of thinking. We cannot afford passengers to if theyââ?¬â?¢re not going to be played ââ?¬â?? they must go in order to bring in the missing links that will affect our future. These are: 1. A creative attacking midfielder. Last showed that Barry Ferguson cannot play this role effectively enough. The skipper is a fine player but he plays better dictating things from deeper positions and thatââ?¬â?¢s where he must play alongside the ever improving Kevin Thomson. Having an attacking, creative player to feed off the recycling skills of Ferguson and the combative nature of Thomson is something the team has been missing for a long time. Is Thomas Buffel the answer? I doubt it and because of that we must find someone who can play that role consistently with the quality required to unlock defences home and away. 2. Another centre-half. As I wrote last week, we have a dilemma regarding Davie Weir. His effect on the team has been admirable but last night his limitations were exposed. As such, if Webster cannot prove his fitness (or legal position) we must find another experienced ââ?¬â?? quick, physical and aerially competent ââ?¬â?? to compliment Carlos Cuellar. Short-term pain for Weir; long-term gain for the team. 3. A left back. Not as crucial as the first two priorities but if Steven Smith cannot resume playing quickly; another left back would give more balance to the side. Sasa Papac has done well for periods this season but his limitations affect the team and too much important is placed on our right flank. Alan Hutton cannot be expected to deliver our only wide threat indefinitely. 4. A winger. With DaMarcus Beasley out for the rest of the season and Chris Burke almost as anonymous as our chairman, we have an obvious requirement for width. For all his physical positives, Lee McCulloch does not provide that and that results in all too predictable long ball tactics. Letââ?¬â?¢s utilise McCullochââ?¬â?¢s threat properly by having him win headers in the 6 yeard box, not 30 yards from goal out wide. A new winger (right or left sided) would help facilitate that. Unfortunately, buying 2-4 players of the quality required would cost a fair amount of money. Having already spent Ã?£12million, the chairman may not share our eagerness to build the team further. His medium-long term future is questionable and we have direct experience of his lack of genuine vision and ambition. However, we also know of Murrayââ?¬â?¢s ego and the great business skills he does retain. I have personal experience of the chairman scoffing at suggestions heââ?¬â?¢s not a real Rangers fan and how he supports the team as much (if not more) that any other bear. Is that emotional support compatible with more financial support? Well, we need both. At the same time, while these requested changes to the squad may well be imperative, we must also keep changes to a minimum. Weââ?¬â?¢ve already brought in several new players and our general inconsistency is testament to how the manager is taking time to find his best players. His initial target was to make us hard to beat and that target has been achieved. Now itââ?¬â?¢s time to move to the next stage ââ?¬â?? weââ?¬â?¢re hard to beat defensively but we need to make teams worry about our attacking threat again. Bringing in a new creative player (all suggestions to E. Chester, Murray Park please) is imperative to this development. The potential of players like Whittaker, Thomson and Naismith is exciting and all three will play an important part in every game between now and next summer. But they need help. For all their positives every one of them lack the experience to affect games in a creative sense so we must take that pressure off them and bring in an experienced player who can. Despite all the above I cannot stress enough itââ?¬â?¢s not all negativity at the club. Improvement has been obvious and just need to build on that. Our fans have been incredibly loyal in recent years without any success. Season ticket sales are still at record levels and no-one can question the financial backing or emotional support we give. Itââ?¬â?¢s time to repay that faith. Starting from the chairman right down to the dressing room we need to build on the relative advancement weââ?¬â?¢ve seen since January. Letââ?¬â?¢s move in the dead wood quickly and effectively. Letââ?¬â?¢s take the game to all our opponents. Letââ?¬â?¢s bring the title home. Time to get the battle fever on!

http://www.gersnetonline.net/newsite/index.php?&xt_resultsId=33&Itemid=1&mosmsg=Thanks+for+your+vote%21 Whittaker for me...

This Saturday 15th December the RST will be giving a presentation in the Glen Rangers Club. The presentation begins at 12noon so it would be appreciated if you could be there and seated for then.

I had a sneaky feeling JCD would maybe make this game mate. I agree if he's fit enough for the bench he should be fit enough to start. Similarly, if he's not fully fit, we have too many important domestic games coming up to risk him in this one - no matter the benefits. PS: Got your text last night but was in a meeting in Glasgow so couldn't answer. My battery then ran out and I forgot to lift my mobile this morning after leaving it charging overnight.

Great stuff Cammy... Now on the main site!

Ascender: I've heard the rumours as much as the next guy. However, as jonnyk and ian1964 will attest, another of our friends is very pally with Kenny's Dad. In the last 2 weeks, he's told us there is no truth in the rumour whatsoever.