lenny3k

Ordered myself a shirt and even treated the missus to one too

If there is any sort of trouble over in Belfast, it will all be blamed on "the locals" and the "vile sectarians of Linfield", no doubt whatsoever. As we saw when Hapoel came to Scotland, the Yahoos have their very own "UEFA behaviour code" and can do no wrong, being jolly craigsters and all.

You can bet your house that somehow partial blame will also find its way to our door...

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Basically, make sure you buy all your stuff from the megastore or the webstore, not from SD shops/web (Not that many people would anyway)

I reckon we'll see the new kit within days now after this announcement

Just think, first match back in Europe for 5/6 years, sold out and everybody has been able to buy the new kit, will be some sight

7 year deal ripped up new one year deal in place (allegedly).

Thats what i've seen too...

C****c trying to bully/intimidate to get a neutral venue?

Will most likely push for the home/away ties to be swapped round so they can try and kill the game at home in the first leg

Thank you for the welcome, I joined another forum a while back and absolutely got my head bitten of, so haven't joined anything since, it's nice to have a friendly reception

I'm sure a few here could potentially guess which forum

Welcome to the best one

I personally picked this forum as I only wanted to join one and after looking at a thread on FF where one user posted a fair question and it wasn't until the 3rd or 4th page somebody actually answered him I decided FF wasn't for me (the rest was waffle and people taking the piss because of his username and email address).

I basically joined a forum as I live outside of Scotland and have done pretty much the whole of my life and obviously that means I miss the vast majority of information/rumours etc... It also means there are only 1 or 2 people in my local area who support and are knowledgeable about Rangers to have debates with. This forum allows me to keep in the loop and in the few months I have been a member, I have to say I have no complaints at all. The vast majority or posters seem friendly and banter is taken as just that in the vast majority of situations.

Also, being that i'm in my late 20's, I find out from other posters things that happened before my lifetime I wouldn't otherwise know. I'm sorry if that makes you feel old, take it that i'm calling you wise

Long story short, no complaints from me and I agree with Scott7...

'taint broke, don't fix it.

As for Tav and Kiernan, the latter seems to be surplus to requirements (but is having problems with some sort of chronic injury) but I don't think Tav will be leaving any time soon.

I remember reading a book written by an ex-pro football player where he said that a lot of football players who suffer from 'chronic' injuries are not actually injured at all and are either suffering with a personal problem (Drugs/Depression/Divorce etc) or are out of favour with the management team... It protects both the reputation of the club and the player and I wouldn't be surprised if Kiernan falls into that category (Being out of favour)...

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Those EBT's paying for first class flights

Is Dorrans better than Broonaldo ? Serious question as I haven't seen much of Dorrans in all honesty.

Its a hard question to answer, Dorrans has a very good reputation as a consistent performer at the top end of the English Championship / bottom end of the Premiership and Scott Brown has a reputation as a top performer in the Scottish Premiership so, it could come down to how you rate the leagues, but at the same time, we signed the Championship player of the season last summer and we know how that ended up..

I personally think you get more with Dorrans but I may be just a tad biased as I've wanted us to sign Dorrans for many a year... IMHO he's probably a more complete player than Brown

I'm not too fussed about Walker when McKay is better, IMO, and especially since we can get him for nothing in a year. I'd like to get Dorrans, although I'm not sure he's the top quality player most seem to think he is -- at least he is a step up on what we have.

The thing Dorrans has, and its probably his main quality, its also a thing that a lot of other players don't have, is consistency and that is worth its weight in gold in itself.... imo of course

TBF it is a bit of a shambles by UEFA, once again no consideration given to the fans to allow travel arrangements, the draw could/should have taken place a week ago!

Agreed, all teams would have been known at least 2 weeks ago so can't see why they drag it out.

I think most will realise the lack of preparation and short break mean any progress in Europe will be viewed as a bonus

 

add in trying to bed in new players i think they'll be getting free reign here.

i hope thats how its seen, the last thing we need is for sections to be getting on PC's back before the league season has even started

The likes of Apoel Nikosia and Apollon Limassol can cause problems to team, even if the latter don't underestimate them. Some of them have good financial backing as well and some rather decent layers in their ranks, who always look to put themselves into the window too.

 

As noted above, we struggled against some of them in years gone by with quite a few superstars in our ranks, folk lauded as Rangers Greats now. And rest assured, if we sneak through the next round with a similar 1-0, 0-0 scoreline, all sorts of abuse will be hurled upon our current folk.

I would be more than happy to go through against the Cypriots with a 1-0 agg win, or on away goals as I personally think the first couple of rounds, being our first competitive games this season with a very much changed squad/team, will all be about results and getting the wins/qualification

If ground not up to standard WHY are they allowed to compete in Europe???

its blatantly rubbish, they just want to move the game to a bigger stadium to maximise the profits they can make from us visiting

We're not playing Apollon Limassol - we're playing AEL Limassol.

 

However, your point stands: Cypriot sides are no push-overs; APOEL have done very well over the last few years.

I'm sure Tottenham struggled to beat one of the Limassol's in Cyprus in the past couple of years.... Not being negative, just hope the team don't underestimate the opponents

Second friendly against a team who are also in the European Qualifying rounds, smart move imo, although TNS are in the Champions League

If we win, can we swap positions

Rangers/Pogres v AEL Limassol/St. Josephs

I expect our opposition, now seeing who they have drawn, will be trying to move the tie to a bigger stadium... which will probably explain why the club has said to wait before booking anything

When is the deadline for new signings for early stage of Europa league...is it not today???

 

How will the signings of Pena, Herrera & Morelos work, given that their work permits don't appear to be 100% finalised yet???

Just found this.....

42.07 List A has to be submitted by the following fixed deadlines:

a. 19 June 2017 (24.00CET) for all matches in the first qualifying round;

b. 7 July 2017 (24.00CET) for all matches in the second qualifying round;

c. 21 July 2017 (24.00CET) for all matches in the third qualifying round;

d. 7 August 2017 (24.00CET) for all matches in the play-offs;

e. 1 September 2017 (24.00CET) for all further matches from the first match in

the group stage up to and including the final.

Found in this official document.....

https://www.uefa.org/MultimediaFiles/Download/Regulations/uefaorg/Regulations/02/46/71/42/2467142_DOWNLOAD.pdf

Looks like we have until 11pm tonight to register players for the first round...

When is the deadline for new signings for early stage of Europa league...is it not today???

 

How will the signings of Pena, Herrera & Morelos work, given that their work permits don't appear to be 100% finalised yet???

Correct, i'm pretty sure the deadline is today..

I would assume, going by the pictures of Morelos in training, his work permit has been finalised and granted as otherwise he would be training illegally..... I don't know that, i'm just guessing

The other two, I wouldn't be surprised if they have already signed and we will announce all today, maybe like a 'good news day' or something..... First (and potential second) European opponents and 3 new signings (may just be wishful thinking with all the excitement )

Why Rangers boss Pedro Caixinha hasn't moved for Sporting Lisbon youngster Ryan Gauld ... yet

Gers gaffer praises Scotland Under-21 star as having a 'cognitive ability above the Scottish average' but reveals he won't be making a move for him just now.

Rangers manager Pedro Caixinha has revealed his admiration for Ryan Gauld but admitted he won't be making a move for the Sporting Lisbon midfielder.

The former Dundee United youngster's future with the Lisbon side is in doubt and a move to Ibrox has been mooted over the summer.

But in an interview with Portuguese outlet O Jogo , the Gers boss has insisted the 21-year-old will not be donning the Light Blue for now.

Caixinha - who was interviewed after being back in his homeland speaking at a football seminar with Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho - said: “Ryan Gauld was suggested on loan, but I considered that we should not have more than two loans and in that position we are already covered.

“Gauld was not a necessity, although I recognised a lot of quality and competence in him. He has a cognitive ability above the Scottish average, thinks about the game in a different way. He wanted to leave here from a very young age.

"Mexican players do not want to leave because they live well and don’t want to stop eating their “taquito”, something that is now changing.

"They did not want to leave in Portugal either, except inside the UK.

"Ryan Gauld has a different mindset.”

Caixinha also likened former Gers starlet Billy Gilmour, who recently made the move from Ibrox to Premier League champions Chelsea, to the Sporting youngster, saying: “Billy Gilmour, who is 15 years old trained with us and I saw that he had a great ability to perceive the game, different from all the others and ahead of all the others.”

The Gers boss also revealed he was happy to take a vast pay cut to take on the role at Rangers.

The Portuguese, who joined from Qatar side Al Gharafa, admitted the challenge of helping the Ibrox club cut the gap on champions Celtic played a big part in his decision to quit the Middle East and make the move to Govan.

“It started with Pedro Mendes, who presented me with the possibility and I accepted the challenge.

"The financial question was never a priority, if it were I would never have come… there is a very significant difference between what I had in Al-Gharafa and what I have here.

“It’s the kind of project that I was pursuing, in which I believe, and a club with a dimension.

"Already we are forming a squad to face reducing the gap with Celtic, which is big and clear.”

Thoughts? Would you take him on loan as back-up? possibly with potential future buying options if he's successful?

Yeah, possibly keep as a squad player and given another chance. Although he will be down in the pecking order if Dorrans signs and Krancjar is fit. Dorrans, Jack, Kranjcar and Pena is a good looking midfield and not even mentioning the wingers who are joining.

The returning Rossiter too

Yeah, possibly keep as a squad player and given another chance. Although he will be down in the pecking order if Dorrans signs and Krancjar is fit. Dorrans, Jack, Kranjcar and Pena is a good looking midfield and not even mentioning the wingers who are joining.

Windass is a difficult one, I personally would also keep him. I think he's had a hard season with injuries and I get the impression he wasn't used to the higher level/quantity of training and that showed in both his and Crooks injuries.. I still believe there is a player in there, he's still young and I think with the right guidance, he could become a very important player for us.

If we did let him go, I wouldn't be surprised if in a season or two he's playing in a mid to upper Championship team. Given the team and level he's come from, i'm sure he's also not going to be on high wages so I think he might be worth a gamble