Frankie

Completely agree S_A.... We have to keep the run going and all the pressure will be on Celtic who have already dropped 2 points.

Ross, Muscat, Ricksen, Vidmar or Hutton....

More difficult question given the dearth of good players since the DA era... The central defence is especially hard to pick as I can't stand Moore and I don't think JAB, Weir or Berg have played enough to justify selection. As such I'll go with Soti who did pretty well over the piece - especially in Europe. ____________________Klos____________________ Hutton_____Krygiakos_______Amoruso______Numan Reyna______Ferguson_______Gio______Lovenkrands ___________de Boer___________Arveladze________ I didn't pick Albertz because he only played for one season and Lovenkrands - while inconsistent - did a bit more over more years.

He's now at Murray park..

If you fancy attending, pm me and I'll furnish you with location...

Darrell reporting Cousin is imminent... http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/display.var.1605892.0.0.php I also think we'll sign Naismith at some point - possibly not today but he's still a highly probable.

Thanks for clearing that up Jon... My memory isn't what it used to be...

Mate, must admit I literally know hardly anything about his qualities... However, I do have a few French guys in my lab (as well as a friend in Switzerland) who tell me he will be a decent signing. I'll trust their judgement initially IF the information above proves correct. Like you say, we'll soon find out.

I've heard it from 2 different people in the last 30mins. One guy I know on FF who is very reliable given he works in the hotel. Another person who should know what players we're signing...

No member on here by that name as long as I've been admin. Fact is fen!an is irrelevant and easily replaced by something less offensive. Same goes for 'hun'. Both should go and the widespread use of 'hun' by opposition fans (not just Celtic btw) - literally very similar to fen!an - is hypocritical to say the least.

Apparently in Glasgow for signing talks and a medical tomorrow. :cheers:

No... That only happens if we accept an offer.

£1million is nowhere near enough.

I think we're all more than aware of the concerns of many of the Rangers fans when it comes to the reporting of certain issues by the media. Sometimes, these concerns are extremely valid and on occasion not so obvious or correct. Certainly, Rangers themselves, as well as the fans and players, haven't helped themselves in this regard. From players writing *** autographs; to the club taking too long to instigate positive dialogue with the fans; to the fans (or at least a small minority of them) still wanting to imbibe our great songs with daft add-ons - there have been many reasons why our media coverage isn't as positive as it could be. Certainly, we can have no complaint when we let ourselves down so damn easily. However, one does detect a small change over the last few days... 1. I have never seen the Rangers support (at large) react so strongly to a few idiots letting us down. I think the '*** Brigade' may find their attempts thwarted in the future to be foolish within our excellent away support. 2. Graham Spiers and Jim Traynor - strong opponents of sectarianism and some may say selective in their crusades - have admitted that Derry's Walls and the Sash are not offensive per se and we should not be challenged if these songs are sung correctly. 3. The new Scottish Executive administration have at last admitted the whole sectarianism campaign is over-publicised and no where near as bad as some commentators would have us believe. 4. The club have admitted their PR has to be better and after initial MediaHouse work on improving our overall image, they are now supposedly working upon a different strategy when it comes to lies, half-truths and rumour-mongering amongst the Fourth Estate. 5. Our manager, after being disrespected by one such mischief-maker, left him (and his employers) in no doubt that this kind of behaviour will not be tolerated by him. All the above shows that the Rangers support can achieve results when we feel hard done by. This is not to say we don't deserve criticism or negative stories - we often do and one would never suggest we don't - but it's good to know that we can work towards helping ensure the media do report accurately, do report fairly and if they don't our club takes action. We've had a very positive start to the season bears. A few decent results (if unspectacular), a few decent signings (if also unspectacular) and despite the problems at Inverness, this issue may well turn in our favour. As such, what this shows, is that when united, the Rangers fans (together with the club) can help turn around our fortunes. Yes, we still have many problems and many challenges ahead of us, but is it me or is the sun shining that wee bit brighter this morning...? WATP

In the hoose tonight - no pub for me...

We controlled the game and although I felt we sat a bit deep at times, we were solid enough and always looked like we could go up a gear if required. Thought Thomson did very well - especially in the 2nd half - and Beasley took his goal superbly. A reasonable start to the season and if we can sign Stevie Naismith tomorrow the squad is coming together nicely.

http://www.gersnetonline.net/newsite/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=465&Itemid=1 Kevin Thomson for me...

Whittaker is definitely going to be used at right midfield. He will provide back up for Hutton but I sincrely doubt (barring injuries) he'll play there before him...

Our media reps do the bulk of these kind of statements with input from the rest of the board if and when required.

Following the game at Inverness and subsequent media coverage, the Trust wishes to make its position on the relevant issues absolutely clear. Firstly, we would like to stress that the Club and the vast majority of the support condemn the wreckless self-indulgence of a small minority of supporters. This conduct helps the enemies of the Club by offering them an easy target, allowing them to perpetuate the lie that most Rangers fans are bigots. The Trust again asks those who genuinely care about Rangers to consider how their conduct is perceived. Abusing the Pope and using the ââ?¬Ë?fââ?¬â?¢ word are obvious examples of behaviour which will ultimately see Rangers FC fined and drastically punished. Over the summer Trust representatives met with the Amalgamation of Northern Ireland Supporters Clubs, the Irish Football Association and political representatives who offered practical advice on the key issues. Elected Assembly member Gregory Campbell, a Rangers fan of long-standing, commented that he supported legitimate cultural expression but stressed that the vast and overwhelming majority of the Unionist community rejected support for terrorism or sectarianism in any form. We support that view. This issue highlights the clear and obvious need for the Club and the support to sit down together and identify precisely what is and isnââ?¬â?¢t acceptable behaviour. The Trust unequivocally deplores bigotry, racism and sectarianism but will challenge attempts to criminalise legitimate expressions of identity and culture. The fact that members of the chattering classes find these songs distasteful is unfortunate but ultimately irrelevant. Secondly, we deplore the sensationalist nature of much of this weekendââ?¬â?¢s media coverage, much of which amounted to deliberate distortion. For instance, media commentators suggesting either ââ?¬Ë?The Sashââ?¬â?¢ or ââ?¬Ë?Derryââ?¬â?¢s Wallsââ?¬â?¢ are ââ?¬Ë?sectarianââ?¬â?¢ are pursuing their own political agenda. Neither of these songs could offend any decent-minded person and we challenge anyone to point out sectarian words within either song. Finally, the Trust remains willing to play a full and active part in tackling the root causes of bigotry and sectarianism. Our view is that these problems are centuries old and not the result of a few football supporters singing songs during the football season. It will take more than finger-wagging to resolve these issues: unless we take into account behaviour and values within society as a whole, including politics, education and cultural factors, nothing of value will ultimately be achieved. http://www.rangerssupporterstrust.co.uk/rstsite/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=130&Itemid=1

I played in goals for Dundee Utd in the 1991 Junior tournament. We didn't concede a goal the whole way through (beating Rangers in the semi) but got beat 2-0 by Norwich in the final. As an interesting aside, I was actually credited with the goal against Rangers as my kick out was diverted past the 'Gers goalie by a defensive header.

All true but Murray's experience may prove telling. However, KB has done pretty well so far so I'd have no problem giving him his chance. After all, he needs to get that experience somehow - better now than away to Barca in the group stages...

ascender: 1. Yes, the stewards should be doing more. But trying to prove who was and wasn't singing would be difficult and trying to remove people en masse (even upwards of 5-10 people) could cause a riot IMO. 2. I completely disagree with refusing away allocations but we may have no choice should the minority continue to let down the vast majority. 3. The club and fans groups have tried to fix this problem. Everyone knows F T P and fen!an are outlawed and as long as we remove them all our songs (outwith the Billy Boys) are fine. 4. Sheets were handed out twice last season (away to Hibs and another game). Most fans heeded the warnings. A few didn't and won't. We have to continue to isolate those few asap. :cheers:

That team is fine by me, S_A. I'd maybe consider playing Ian Murray before Broadfoot but Murray seems well out of the picture under Smith.

http://www.gersnetonline.net/newsite/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=464&Itemid=2 Quite incredible, isnââ?¬â?¢t it? Two difficult matches played; one decent CL Qualifier win at Ibrox and one solid away win against a physical side we couldnââ?¬â?¢t beat last season. Celtic also only draw at home after spending nearly Ã?£8million and we get a decent CL draw while they get a stinker! A great week surely?! Nope, instead of being able to gloat about being above Celtic for the first time in about a year (possibly longer), weââ?¬â?¢re once again having to fire-fight the stories of sectarianism from small sections of our away support. Despite being fined by UEFA twice and despite knowing that the SFA were keen to cement those censures with their own; the mindless minority continue to tarnish our clubââ?¬â?¢s reputation again. What are they trying to achieve with this stuff? Do they even have any answers to that question? They think they do but none can satisfy the concerns of the good, honest majority of bears who do realise that all these yobs are succeeding in doing is silencing our fans and suffocating our club. Take away our vocal support at games and remove the 12th man. Take away our points and second place may even be beyond us. Take away our money and, well, take away our very existence. Of course we get the usual replies from the type of person who wants to defend the ââ?¬Ë?F.T.P.ââ?¬â?¢ nonsense. ââ?¬Å?Iââ?¬â?¢ll sing what I want, where I wantââ?¬Â; ââ?¬Å?Weââ?¬â?¢re being persecuted anyway so who cares if we get sanctionedââ?¬Â; ââ?¬Å?Other teams get away with itââ?¬Â and that old chestnut, ââ?¬Å?Youââ?¬â?¢re not a real bearââ?¬Â if you want to remove the moronic add-ons to our favourite songs. One can understand some fansââ?¬â?¢ frustrations when it comes to certain aspects of the overall debate. Yes, there is nothing wrong with ââ?¬Ë?The Sashââ?¬â?¢ and ââ?¬Ë?Derryââ?¬â?¢s Wallsââ?¬â?¢ per se. Yes, we do appear to be the only club being pursued for this kind of offensive behaviour. Sure, some fans are too quick to castigate their own for being proud of the kind of ideals that they may not share. However, continuing to chant ââ?¬Ë?F.T.P.ââ?¬â?¢ at the end of a culturally expressive song has no relevance to any of these valid questions. Neither does it answer them. Indeed, it only makes our side of the argument weaker. I find it incredible that any Rangers fan cannot see that. Now, there is no doubt the whole sectarianism, discrimination and offence issue (or is it charade?) must be questioned. The fact the SFA have still not clarified what is defined by these terms and what kind of punishments will be issued is extremely disappointing. The same questions exist about who will be censured, what for and exactly what will the censures be. Even so, it would be astounding if Rangers continued to be the only support highlighted for their indiscretions. As such, fans of other clubs shouldnââ?¬â?¢t poke too much fun this week. Nevertheless, the Rangers support cannot afford to waste energy on our feelings of persecution ââ?¬â?? no matter how valid. Quite simply, we must isolate the idiots and remove them from our club. Pride, loyalty and dignity are all virtues of our club and the support. We should use those positives to modernise and ensure our club takes precedence. Rangers First indeed! Do the yobs who shout about ââ?¬Ë?F.T.P.ââ?¬â?¢ and ââ?¬Ë?fen!ansââ?¬â?¢ do so for the good of Rangers? I sincerely doubt it. After all, we (rightly) complain when fans of other clubs sing about the Ibrox disaster, the IRA and injuries to our players while referring to us as ââ?¬Ë?hunsââ?¬â?¢ and ââ?¬Ë?DOBsââ?¬â?¢. These issues are all worthy of complaint and they will surely tick the SFA Observerââ?¬â?¢s ââ?¬Ë?Thesaurus of Offenceââ?¬â?¢ in the coming season. As such, the best way to turn the attention away from us isnââ?¬â?¢t to deny our problems exist nor to blame others, but to face our challenges and win our own battles. In the last year weââ?¬â?¢ve been doing that and we can rightly be proud of the strides already made. However, the hardest part is still to come. Sometimes the last step can be the most difficult to make. But we can make it. And, as usual, we can make it together ââ?¬â?? united, proud, loyal and dignified. After all, at least weââ?¬â?¢re prepared to admit our problems. At least weââ?¬â?¢re prepared to make the changes asked of us. At least weââ?¬â?¢ll have the strength of character to improve while others deflect and deny. And weââ?¬â?¢ll emerge from this test to be stronger than ever. Weââ?¬â?¢ve never failed in the challenges placed upon us ââ?¬â?? not in over 135 years of success and prestige. Weââ?¬â?¢re not going to start now. We wonââ?¬â?¢t let the minority pull us down. We are the Rangers. We are the people. This particular opponent may not be green, red or maroon but it can be beaten. And it will. Ready.