Frankie

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.

I've honestly no idea... Rangers are impossible to gauge from game to game. 2-2

Mountain - molehill.

I'll make my mind up after the game if I like him...

Thanks for that mate... Now online: http://www.gersnetonline.net/newsite/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=564&Itemid=2

http://www.rangerssupporterstrust.co.uk/rstsite/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=161&Itemid=1 Once again the Trust has another fantastic competition for new and exisiting members - win a pair of tickets for Wednesday night's crucial Champions' League match with Lyon. The competition is open to all existing members of the RST and any new members who sign up before the deadline, which is 9pm on Tuesday evening. To win, all you have to do is send the correct answer to the question below; their name, RST membership number and contact telephone number to: scottRST@hotmail.co.uk Any new members joining online should still send an email to the above address, stating they have joined online as they will not have a membership number as yet. The question is - who scored the opening goal in Rangers' recent 3-0 win against Lyon in France? Any correct entrants will be entered into a draw which will be made at 9pm on Tuesday evening where the lucky winner will be contacted immediately. The winner can pick up their tickets from the 'Wee' Rangers Club before the game on Wednesday evening.

If the fans can't motivate themselves for this game then they need to have a look at themselves... We need to be the 12th man here!

Offline? On holiday? At work? Catch up on the latest Gersnet news on your mobile via our RSS feed. Simply enter the following address into your phone's RSS reader and click update to keep abreast of all Gersnet info online. http://www.gersnetonline.net/newsite/index.php?option=com_rss&feed=RSS2.0&no_html=1 :cheers:

I agree in his previous spell as manager Smith didn't really bring through many youngsters. But we must remember he didn't do that because he had the financial backing of a chairman who was them ambitious and hungry for success. Times have changed so Smith will have to play younger, home-grown players. I'm a firm believer that if these guys are good enough they'll break into the team. Then it's up to them to take their chance.

Hurlock: From watching Broadfoot in previous seasons he does seem a reasonable player - especially when played in his preferred position of centre-half. However, it is debatable whether or not he has the quality required to be a first choice player both in the SPL and particularly in Europe. Of course, as you suggest, no-one can make an accurate judgement until he's given a run in the team.

A loud bell goes off in my house when I get daft admin emails... :fish: Nah, usually get to work early at this time mate. Means I can sneak off at the back of 3 missing the traffic in both directions... If we can call this 'work'...

Welcome to Gersnet mate. I agree the league should always take priority - especially when one considers the value of finishing first in terms of immediate qualification for the CL group stage. Not only does finishing 2nd in the league represent failure, having to play risky CL qualifiers is a genuine financial gamble. In fact, I don't see why European success (relatively speaking) and SPL success have to be mutually exclusive. We can and should be doing both. Time for us to start winning the league again. Anything else is unacceptable.

I'm the one criticising him. Not him or his form/contribution directly but just that we may benefit from not having to play so deep if we replaced him. I agree pace has never been his best asset but I'm just trying to be devil's advocate more than anything else with this article.... Heard the German lads name a few times now but I also don't know all that much about him. Certainly seems interesting enough though.

Hold on! What's this - criticism of one of our best players since January? Surely not! Let's take an analytical adventure of exactly why this fan feels it's time to replace the big man at the back. And where does German defender Frank Fahrenhorst fit into the equation? http://www.gersnetonline.net/newsite/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=562&Itemid=1