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Erm...im all for given them a pay rise if they earned it, but last season was the worst ive ever seen from SPL refs.

Another Boyd thread I know, but I agree with Hately (as you all know) we would be mad to let him go. I hope he is more than a bit part or impact player (although it looks likely) Velicka loogs good, Miller the same as many expected although its still early and we havent seen anything of Lafferty. JCD and Cousin still here which suprises me. As Hately says in the article, if we want the player, just go and get him. Unfortunately we havent done this for a while, the possible exception of Lafferty.

http://www.newsnow.co.uk/A/282922963?-11344 Anyone who has read Gibbon’s masterwork knows, well, knows more than me, as it is a very long book, and I didn’t even nearly finish it. But, all in all, he seemed to think that Rome fell because they ceased to be strong, dignified and gentlemanly, and gave themselves over to self indulgence, prestige, and ultimately decadence. They became trivial, weak, and the barbarians sauntered in and broke up the most lasting of Empires. In truth, I couldn’t care less about Romans. To me it is happy irony that after kicking people’s arses for ages theirs, in turn, got kicked. What is utterly, utterly maddening is that something I do believe in, something whose vision is actually worth fighting for, seems, like Rome, to be burning, with resignations, guarded comments and media noise about infighting etc. When the RST came into existence, it faced two main hurdles in establishing its credibility. Their idea of democratic fan representation, however pure, set them at philosophical odds with the owner, and custodian, of Rangers, Sir David Murray. No matter your own thoughts on his contribution to our club, Sir David Murray is among the most intelligent, shrewd, and powerful businessmen of our time and simply does not suffer fools gladly. If, against the seeming odds against them, that they did make headway with Murray, and enjoy some success, the other main hurdle would present itself: how do ordinary human beings, pure in their vision, being handed big responsibility, a certain celebrity, and a massive task; not fold under the weight of the power that would be thrust upon them? In truth, the answer to both these things was simply gentlemanly personal integrity and industry. Instead of playing reactionary anti-Murrays they realised how much success he had brought and sought out the common ground - the general good of Rangers that they both shared. Philosophical differences (democratic ownership of Rangers and personal ownership are bound to collide) weren’t cast aside under self-indulgent happy talk – like gentlemen, they each seemed to argue their case, respectfully disagree where differences arose and generally get about doing the good that could be done. This gentlemanly approach, and conscientious industry, secured their reputation as representatives of many fans, and in creating (at what only could have been a massive personal effort from those involved) a scheme that, at once, fulfilled their objectives as well as benefiting the club; their integrity, energy and vision simply could not be denied. After all, ‘GerSave’ is a genuinely novel and wonderful idea. And all was well. Murray, who was, probably from his perspective, understandably quite reluctant about fan representation on the board, couldn’t even find it in his power to deny the RST their place – signalling at last year’s club AGM that a fan rep (or reps) would be appointed to the board. Much good was being done. This gentlemanly, yet tenacious, approach is taken in releasing statements. Under less strict decorous bounds than those inside Ibrox, they managed to respond to the hyperbolic media; but never usually with anything other than professionalism – just with a bit more tenacity. As a fan, it’s good to have someone willing to upset the media for your reputation – those inside Ibrox don’t tend to do it because theirs is a more precarious political position. I know some fans had reservations about the decorum in getting a lip reader to confirm what anyone who saw Neil Lennon perfectly understood. I know why they would have reservations and I think those at the RST had them too: but, ultimately, during a period where Rangers fans were receiving such negative press about sectarianism, it seemed the RST thought that such a clear example of media hypocrisy regarding sectarianism and the reputation of the fans was too much to miss. Whatever the reasons, they seemed to make an effort to do the right thing. But it’s a truth as big as Universes, empires, and as transparent as thoughts- all things burst into life – and as soon as they do, they begin to decay. We cope with the decay of thoughts by, in defiance of time, having new ones continuously – continual, tenacious, renewal is the only way thought proceeds; in fact it’s the only way empires stay strong and it’s the only way organisations like the RST survive. But half of the RST’s renewal, half its tenacity, appears to have resigned in the last month. In truth, we simply do not know the facts yet – but this very fact is itself another worrying symptom. The RST, as an organisation, will now be very much feeling the weight of the vision that inspired them; the obligation they have inherited - they represent the fans, they are the managers of a lot of people’s money. These fans voted in half of the people who have now, for whatever reason, walked away. As we turn back to the RST, we see statements thanking the members for their contributions - but no clear reasons for them leaving. And as the statements keep coming - the vague, guarded, explanations seem insincere: were these people troublemakers, throwing a tantrum? If so, why are they being thanked? If they are leaving over some issue (perhaps as the Daily Record’s strange article suggested) of a power struggle for getting a member on the board, then why procrastinate with platitudes? If these people are rogue arses, why not say that from the off? The fact that we’re asking questions like this at all, that questions like these seem obvious and natural, suggests that all is not well. People just abandoning all they’ve worked for is a massive step and it is a symptom of decay. But by the tone of the statements released, nothing is really amiss; there’s been no falling out. If that’s not the case though, and I guess we’ll only find out if the resignees go public with their reasons (via the announced SGM or other methods), then you have to wonder why they’ve felt the need to present it in this way. For an organisation whose name is built on calling a spade a spade; you wouldn’t expect them to present something as amicable that wasn’t. When organisations feel the need to ‘protect’ their members from all the facts, they can’t properly be called a democratic organisation – the RST is literally nothing, if not this. But this is probably drama, hyperbole – taking advantage of the Trust’s first real unsettled period to jump to far more drastic conclusions than is the case. I think there has been a lot of sentiment of this sort in discussion about the issue simply because people have invested in the idea of the trust and feel a part of the success they have achieved. To certain sorts of involved fans (fans spending money and having their name tarnished; and those who just dream about fans, one day, having a major say in how the club is run) the RST no longer fully representing them would be horrifying. It’s probably this horror that paints exaggerated scenes of discord among something that could all be perfectly reasonable: you hear oddly toned and badly advised statements being made – statements like the one about national team boycotts and hidden forces - that may have laudable sentiments but seem a little less gentlemanly than you expect; you hear crappy reports in contemptible rags about splits and power struggles then people like Malcolm McNiven resign; no immediate comment is released about why – and you simply jump to conclusions – you start thinking – please don’t let the virtuoso men abandon the outposts, please don’t let tenacious endeavour be replaced with decadent spin - that’s the decline that leads to fall! In truth, you probably only start thinking like this when you’ve read (parts of!) books like ‘Decline and Fall’ and have too active an imagination - your fear mixes with your amateur amblings in history and produces a modern day worst case scenario about something you actually care about. Thus, I really hope, after the SGM, and retrospect, that this looks like the stupidest of stupid articles and all of us who want the best for the RST can go back to being sane again. The Trust simply hasn’t let us down thus far, so I guess we’ll all look to the SGM with hope that this is all fearful idle speculation of the sort we so often despise in tabloids. On the other hand, if our fears are confirmed – several key board members have left, recent statements and intentions really have started to become petty, they really have been guarded and insincere in their response to this situation - then that is the sort of decline that does lead to fall. It’s our duty to read between the lines, and if the organisation that has so much of our support is not the same organisation as it was a month ago, we must speak up else we would join in the civic decadence of Roman Empire: we would be as responsible for it’s fall as those in power.

Rangers Trust In Meltdown Jun 12 2008 By Alan Marshall CIVIL war has broken out among Rangers fans fighting over a prestigious place on the Ibrox board. The Rangers Supporters Trust has been plunged into meltdown after all six of their directors resigned after a bitter internal dispute. Ibrox chairman Sir David Murray had earmarked two associate director positions with full voting rights for leaders of the club's two main supporters' associations - The Trust and the Rangers Assembly. The Light Blues' supremo was hoping to make the appointments ahead of this summer's agm, however, that plan has temporarily been put on hold. Trust chairman Malcolm McNiven, vicechairman Scott McMillan and fellow board members Callum Renton, Derek Howie, Stuart Franklin and Andy McGowan have all stepped down from their positions in recent weeks. They decided to resign following a dispute with fellow Trust member Mark Dingwall, editor of the Follow Follow website and Rangers fanzine of the same name. It's understood Dingwall, a candidate for the Scottish Unionist party whose motto is Proudly Scottish, Proudly British, was feeling increasingly marginalised within the Trust while the board were unhappy at the militant direction he wanted to take the supporters' group. A Trust source said: "David Murray had offered us a place on the Rangers board but there was no way we could accept it while people like Mark Dingwall were still part of the organisation. "If he wasn't going to step down then the entire board thought they would resign and leave him and his cohorts to go it alone. "Dingwall wanted the place on the Ibrox board for himself but that's never going to happen because Murray and him don't have a working relationship. He thrives on negativity and militancy when the best way for the fans to have a proper say in how the club is run is to change things from within." Ding wall refused to comment other than to refer us to Trust spokesman David Edgar, who said: "The resignations are true. Over the past month six have resigned from a board of 20. "Various reasons have been given for doing so. Initially, some felt the Trust was going in a direction they weren't comfortable with. "But we've had people leave with differences of opinion before and the people left amicably. They are still Trust members. They just felt where it should go wasn't necessarily where it was going. "We understand that, thank the guys and it is up to us to get in new blood." http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football-news/scottish-football/spl-football/rangers-fc/2008/06/12/rangers-trust-in-meltdown-86908-20604164/

Rangers striker Kris Boyd insists his frustration at being reduced to a fringe role in Walter Smith's team does not mean he will ever want to leave Ibrox. The 24-year-old former Kilmarnock frontman has started just 19 matches this season, coming off the bench a further 12 times, but has scored a remarkable 20 goals. That record makes him comfortably the club's leading scorer, even though Boyd has started fewer than half of Rangers' matches in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League. He was left on the bench throughout last week's Old Firm clash with Celtic, and has played in just one of the four matches Rangers have contested since his two goals as substitute saved the day in the CIS Insurance Cup final. There is no guarantee he will be involved against Dundee United at Tannadice in the SPL on Sunday. But Boyd told the Daily Record: "Look, the team has been winning so nobody can say the gaffer has got it wrong. I certainly am not saying that. "But I don't think he or anybody else at the club would be happy if I wasn't frustrated. Of course I'm frustrated. I want to play. "But although I'm not happy about not getting game that doesn't mean I want away." He added: "I'm committed to Rangers and I want to be at Rangers for the rest of my life. I'm happy here."

Daily Record

Barry Ferguson should worry about his Scotland slot, warns Craig Brown Mar 27 2008 Scotland skipper Barry Ferguson has been warned his days as an automatic pick are in danger by former boss Craig Brown. The Rangers midfielder missed George Burley's debut game as Scotland boss after withdrawing through injury. And with Stephen McManus standing in as skipper, and the Celtic duo of Scott Brown and Paul Hartley performing well in the Scotland midfield, Brown has warned the 30-year-old he may find his time as a first-choice player under threat. "I said before the match that, of the seven named call-off players, I don't think any more than two would be first-choice players anyway," he said "He will obviously have to consider the reintroduction of the captain Barry Ferguson, but of the others, I think they'll have to fight for their places. "The two central midfield players, Brown and Hartley, did very well, so even Barry might find it difficult to be an automatic selection." Stop talking out your arse Craig Brown!! We might have accepted your comments if there were better players than Paul Hartley or Scott Brown to select. Neither of these two played anything more than OK ,Gavin Rae looked more at home in the midfield i'd say.

another day another conspiracy theory emanating from dhimland! Boruc reckons referees treat celtc players differently...and their lapdogs at the daily record lap it al up. 'see, ah telt ye!' is the cry in many a republican slophouse all over Scotland...and remember the timmy banner at a recent OF game 'blessing your self is not a crime'...who the fuck ever said it was? but then why let the facts get in the way of a good bit of moral outrage...and the great unwashed can further revel in their 'victim' status. What never ceases to amaze me is how despite evidence of poor refereeing decisions affecting all teams ( BTW, I never saw the boruc incident at the end of the hibs game but i do remember Kirigiakos getting sent off at an OF game for 'applauding' )...its celtc's belief that they are picked upon and there's a conspiracy against them...and therefore, the establishment want Rangers to win the league. Celtc are never just beaten on the field of play...there's always 'dark forces' at play working against them. I know all this has been said before ad nauseum, but it just never stops from these __________ ( fill in blank )

Daily Record are doing a promotion and, by using their code, you can get Setanta Sports for 2 months for �£1. Link: http://setanta.com/offer/

Walter Smith admits Jean-Claude Darcheville has a chance of playing in Rangers' UEFA Champions League tie with Lyon. Darcheville was initially ruled out of Tuesday's game by Smith after suffering a hamstring injury against Motherwell on Saturday. The Rangers boss expected the striker to be sidelined for two weeks with the problem, but the Frenchman joined in training on Sunday. He is due to travel to Lyon with the rest of the squad and Smith has been 'amazed' by Darcheville's recovery. Still a doubt "Jean-Claude amazed us all and he'll be with us when we go to Lyon," Smith told the Daily Record. "After the game on Saturday I didn't think he had any chance of recovering in time, but now it looks as though there is the possibility he could take part against Lyon. "He is still a doubt, but he has a chance now where before yesterday morning there was no hope. "He says he's had a similar injury before and recovered well, and it looks as though it's happening again. "But we won't know for certain until closer to the match. He might still miss the game, but at least there is the chance of him making it." Should we gamble on a player, in a game where we will be lucky to get a draw,who may then miss important Domestic games ?

Morrison confirms Scots choice By Graeme Bailey - Created on 31 Jul 2007 BARCLAYCARD FOOTBALL CREDIT CARD The card that rewards true fans: 0% on balance transfers for 12 months (2.5% handling fee applies) 14.9% APR (typical variable) Apply now. Related links Team Pages: England Scotland Middlesbrough Player Pages: James Morrison Middlesbrough's James Morrison has confirmed his intention to play for Scotland. The Darlington-born midfielder has played for England at youth level, but the 21-year-old has now opted to play for Scotland following talks with Scots boss Alex McLeish. "After having a chat with Alex McLeish I have chosen to play for Scotland," he told the Daily Record. "I was born in England and I believe I could do a job for them but it was a question of how long I wanted to wait. "But I've got the chance to help Scotland now and I'm really looking forward to pulling on the shirt." Don't know anything about this guy,but if it helps Scotland then great :cheers:

Just had a quick swatch at the back of the Daily Record and I see we're interested in him. He's a bombscare waiting to happen! God please no!!!!!!!!

Libor Sionko remains keen to quit Rangers after expressing his frustration at the silent treatment he has received from Walter Smith. Following Smith's return to Ibrox as manager, Sionko appeared just three times for Rangers and claims he has only spoken to the former Scotland coach once. Though he has 12 months remaining on his contract, the Czech winger feels he will have to leave the club due to his relationship with Smith. "This is true," Sionko told the Daily Record when asked if he had hardly spoken to Smith. "I've only spoken to him once in all of this time, when I returned from national team duty after a friendly in Belgium. "He told me he had watched the game on television and that has been my only communication with the coach in six months. "These last six months have been really difficult for me and if this continues I'd prefer to change clubs. "If Mr Smith tells me he will give me a chance and he is counting on me, then I will stay. However, he has not given me this assurance, so it is better to switch clubs. "I don't believe my situation at Rangers will become better." Regarding his next club, Sionko admits there has been interest from several clubs in France. He added: "I know there has been interest from Paris Saint Germain, but that was in the winter. "St Etienne? I don't know if that is still valid and there have only been hints so far from Toulouse. I don't think there is much chance of him getting a game next season so it will be in everybody"s interest if he goes. To be honest i think Sionko could be the one that got away. I think that he may hit form and do a job for us. I guess we will never know.

The silly season has officially started. I glanced at a colleagues Daily Record this morning only to see a backpage "exclusive". Apparantly WS is to break the bank and the club wage structure to secure the sigining of Bayern Munichs' Claudio Pizzaro. I'll believe it when I see it!

MediaWatch ââ?¬â?? Murdo MacLoud awakens the People? Well, itââ?¬â?¢s been tempting to focus this weekââ?¬â?¢s instalment of MediaWatch on the intense coverage of Scott Brownââ?¬â?¢s signing for Celtic. It would be nice, perhaps, to spend a bit of time watching just how many times the tabloids, and even the BBC, were willing to contradict themselves in the name of a good headline [1]. But I think there was one article with a typically sensational and somewhat inflammatory title that may have furthered the Rangers cause despite itself ââ?¬â?? an article chiefly quoting Murdo MacLoud, no less [2]. Now, articles on Gersnet are largely un-edited and we do our utmost not to preclude people from giving their opinion, even if it doesnââ?¬â?¢t agree with that of the majority. Despite this, the consensus among our participants seems to be that the appropriate stance towards our Chairman is one of healthy criticism. As our previous articles have outlined (see Sir David Murray Report Card etc) Murray has done much good, but in current times serious questions have to be asked about his management of our club. And these questions are being asked with increased frequency in all areas of our support: from websites to the RST. However, I am not alone in holding a suspicion that the slumbering masses of Rangers supporters still hold the view that Murray detractors are mere troublemakers, and hold the view that Murray has invested significant portions of his own money in Rangers and will ultimately buy us out of our current predicament. Iââ?¬â?¢ll expand my suspicion by saying that I believe the majority of such supporters get their Rangers news chiefly from places like the Daily Record. I think weââ?¬â?¢ve started to entertain the illusion that Rangers supporters online (in places like Follow Follow & Gersnet) are representative of the entire support, and that thus, by and large, Rangers supporters avoid the Record and are sceptical of Murray. What may be true online, even in the Fanzines, going by newspaper sales alone, doesnââ?¬â?¢t seem to be true in general. The media, and especially the Record, have been almost unaccountably uncritical of Murray during his tenure. Rangers fans, by and large, lapped up Celticââ?¬â?¢s bad old days of struggle and toil ââ?¬â?? we enjoyed, truth be told, the one-upmanship it afforded us in the larger cycle of winning and losing. Iââ?¬â?¢m quite sure no Rangers supporter actually wanted to see them go under. But their famous ââ?¬Ë?biscuit-tinââ?¬â?¢ mentality was a source of constant fun ââ?¬â?? the term, remember, was one created by the media for no other reason than it could either effect smirks from Rangers fans, or incredulity from Celtic fans ââ?¬â?? both of which sell papers. We enjoyed, then, Murrayââ?¬â?¢s famous quips about spending a tenner for every fiver. But the fact that this arcadian dream had soured has long been true for those online, but the general Record-reading population still buy the propaganda (literally, from the Record) that the moonbeamed solution is just around the corner, despite all the evidence of past seasons to the contrary. Thatââ?¬â?¢s not to say your average fan is to blame ââ?¬â?? most people simply have more, or other, things to do than critically examine the papers and the situation. They have bills to pay and kids to feed and whatnot. Itââ?¬â?¢s easy to let your opinion by approximately guided by the general impression gained from whatever newspaper you read. But the problem with this is that if there is no critical analysis of the situation ââ?¬â?? if itââ?¬â?¢s not forced down your throat along with your coffee in the morning its far too easy not to think about it. The Internet can provide some of this, but itââ?¬â?¢s not until the tabloid media turn, in their typically horribly sensational way, against Murray that your actual average Rangers fan may become unsettled. It happened with Celtic, and it will happen with us. And so, it is with a very much afflicted sense of happiness that I turn to the article in question: ââ?¬Å?Biscuit-Tinââ?¬â?¢s Changing Directionââ?¬Â by Colin Duncan [2]. Both title and subtitle (ââ?¬Å?Exclusive Celtic signing sensation ... Now itââ?¬â?¢s Celtic who can splash the cash while Gers buy on the cheapââ?¬Â) are of the sort that I typically use this column to berate ââ?¬â?? sensational and purposefully inflammatory. But to the somewhat cynical Internet supporter the main response is not one of indignation, but of relief tinged with sarcasm: ââ?¬Å?What, its ââ?¬Å?Changingââ?¬Â? It changed years ago ffsââ?¬Â or something along those lines. But the truth is that if this rather simple message, so obvious to a lot of us, is now entering the public domain of tabloid sensationalism ââ?¬â?? if David Murrayââ?¬â?¢s spending policy is now a legitimate target of tabloid hype then the truth is that it makes the gravity of our situation apparent to your average Rangers fan. Phrases like ââ?¬Å?Three times in the past few months the Ibrox men have been close to securing deals for signing targets only to be gazumped at the 11th hour by their Old Firm rivals.ââ?¬Â while being deliberate half-truths, will do as they are designed and, irk Rangers supporters. And from the ashes of this sensation there will arise a desire for change. I hope. And I also hope that they will turn to those genuinly interested in Rangers ââ?¬â?? organisations like the RST. So, it may turn out that while articles like this, quoting people whose opinions generally do not matter to Rangers supporters (like Murdo, though I think heââ?¬â?¢s a nice guy), are annoying for all the reasons they typically are, they are the very thing that may spark the slumbering People into action. [1] See the Recordââ?¬â?¢s ââ?¬Å?Celts Land 4.4m Brownââ?¬Â where the article both claims ââ?¬Å?CELTIC last night won the race to sign Hibs midfield dynamo Scott Brownââ?¬Â and ââ?¬Å?Reading have emerged as a serious possibility with an offer that is believed to be marginally higher than Celtic's.ââ?¬Â It took both James Traynor and Keith Jackson to write this particular piece of journalistic genius. [2] http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/tm_headline=biscuit-tin-s-changing-direction%26method=full%26objectid=19110261%26siteid=66633-name_page.html

Lads, the following is a new column I'm thinking of starting - the idea is basically just to keep an eye on the media and summarise the different approaches to their reporting of the news to try and get a more balanced picture. I'm undecided how worthwhile it is, so I'd welcome your thoughts for improvement or indeed if its just a waste of time: Mediawatch ââ?¬â?? the signing of Darcheville Introduction to the column for first time readers In this regular column Iââ?¬â?¢m going to cast a skeptical eye over our friends in the media. Itââ?¬â?¢s a poor manââ?¬â?¢s attempt to de-sensationalise newspaper jargon to get at the news underneath. Iââ?¬â?¢m certainly not free from bias ââ?¬â?? to paraphrase Wordsworth Iââ?¬â?¢m a ââ?¬Å?[Rangers] man writing for [Rangers] menââ?¬Â ââ?¬â?? but Iââ?¬â?¢m going to do my best to be free from the tendency towards sensationalism and spin we so often encounter when we have the misfortune of reading the papers, and try my best to be a suitable antidote for those tired of reading the same old nonsense in them. Where theyââ?¬â?¢re good, I shall even praise them! Daily Record Thereââ?¬â?¢s nothing quite like the signing of a new player to whip the tabloids into a frenzy. None moreso than the Daily Record. Every single hint of a fact that points to the playerââ?¬â?¢s tendency towards Ronaldo-esque greatness is not only highlighted, but made the central point of the article. Iââ?¬â?¢ll save you the hyperbole, the main points of the article are as follows: ââ?¬Â¢ Rangers handled the affair well, according to the Bordeaux president ââ?¬Â¢ Darcheville is a 2-3 million rated player, according to the Bordeaux president ââ?¬Â¢ The Bordeaux president only offered him a one year deal ââ?¬Â¢ Weââ?¬â?¢ve signed him on a two year contract ââ?¬â?? this fact, and the lure of playing in a foreign league in front of large audiences, he says persuaded him These facts are joined together with the usual references to who he turned down, both in the past (Liverpool) and in the present (Monaco/Bordeaux) to increase our sense of having captured someone important. The fact that he has only netted 37 goals in 5 seasons is played down by explaining Walter Smith is after his for his rocket-like pace and subtle touch ala Prso, which Walter rather more understatedly explained by saying: ââ?¬Å?Iââ?¬â?¢ve been to France a few times to see him and there is no doubt in my mind we are getting a quality player capable of doing a great job for us.ââ?¬Â But these are small points. Despite there being evidence of the usual signs of hyperbole the largest part of the article is made up of quotes, and the Daily Record is generally at its best when sticking to things people having actually said. You can read the article here: http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/tm_headline=gers-have-got-a--pound-3m-hitman-for-free%26method=full%26objectid=19076077%26siteid=66633-name_page.html The Herald Darryl Broadfoot paints a slightly different picture of the signing, as you would expect from a broadsheet. He sets the focus on the fact that this is the third time weââ?¬â?¢ve attempted to sign Darcheville. Perhaps in an attempt to palliate the sense of sensation in the tabloids, his main points are largely concentrate on his, according to Darryl, negative history. The main points being: ââ?¬Â¢ Previous attempts to sign him broke down at the negotiation stage (note Darryl is unwilling, like the Record, to claim that it was because we didnââ?¬â?¢t have enough money, even if it is the case) ââ?¬Â¢ He used to be fat ââ?¬â?? earning unfavourable comparisons to Ronaldo in France ââ?¬Â¢ He didnââ?¬â?¢t do too well at Rennes ââ?¬Â¢ Or at Forrest ââ?¬â?? the manager branding him a waster ââ?¬Â¢ His next manager, at Lorient, also considered him selfish and wasteful ââ?¬Â¢ The manager after that liked him. He scored 25 goals in two seasons. ââ?¬Â¢ He then moved to Bordeaux from whom we signed him: the support apparently never liked him because he stated his intention to make tons of money So, we see a perhaps intentionally bleaker side of Darcheville in the Herald ââ?¬â?? and though I tend not to like the trend in broadsheets to see pessimism as essentially the same thing as ââ?¬Ë?high browââ?¬â?¢ journalism, it provides good foil for the happy clappy image presented in the Record. You can read the article here: http://www.theherald.co.uk/sport/headlines/display.var.1387462.0.0.php Conclusion All in all thereââ?¬â?¢s not too much to complain about today, and I hope this summary, and the contrast between the two approaches, has been in some way beneficial towards an understanding of our new signing. The following video is some of Darchevilleââ?¬â?¢s finer moments:

Anyone heard of him? Is he left or right sided?

Sometimes, in between studying literature, I take some time off to actually read some, for pure escapist enjoyment. Even for just half an hour or so - keeping the brain ticking, but without the strain of rigorous analysis. Sometimes I think most of us do it with football - while we are dragged through the peaks and troughs of our club's every new wave, we sometimes watch a game in Europe in which we have no emotional investment just for the pure, unadulatered, pleasure of the sport. I went home at lunchtime today for a while, just to get out the office, and had a wee read. I was reading Edgar Allan Poe's 'The Mystery of Marie Roget' the fictionalish account of the contemporaneous murder of Mary Rogers (The Beautiful Cigar Shop Girl) in New York. The first great detective, Dupin, famously examines the newspaper accounts of the sensational murder, and sifts through them, applying pure reason to reach at the truth of the affair. One phrase, articulating something most of us feel, inevitably stood out: 'We should bear in mind, in general, it is the object of newspapers rather to create a sensation - make a point - than to further the cause of truth. The latter is pursued only when it is co-incident with the former.' I thought how great it would be if this were to be legally emblazened at the top of all newspapers, just to remind of us their job. It is our fault they do this - as Poe says 'the print which merely falls with ordinary opinion (however well founded this may be) earns itself no credit with the mob'. But that doesn't make it right. What happens, though, in modern life, when people implicitly say this of the media? Its not hard to be reminded of Steve McLaren who after a 3-0 victory, deemed not good enough by many, refused to answer press questions. The media's response the next day was SO vitriolic that even other areas of the press began reporting on the extremity of the reporting. We've seen it recently too - PLG who seemed to be a concerted effort not to endear himself with the press never had a sympathetic word for him amidst the whole confusing and misty Barry Ferguson debacle. So the press - our gateway to truth we're not party to - always have an agenda. One of, I think, the most interesting examples of this lies with us. Over the last few years lacking success, we have seen a quite subtle shift in the media in giving us various smallish digs. David Murray had been the master manipulator during our success, but his relative anonymity of late has seemed to lead to an increase in the press' antagonististic attitude towards us. The reaction was quiet at first, Murray's dignified silent approach is still favoured by the majority. Indeed, it still is - but the active few who had seen this pattern emerging were, not co-incidentally, people involved with the most active rangers supporters organisation, the RST. Just prior to, and indeed, during the first UEFA lead bigotry charge against us we had seen several statements from the trust about media issues. Not willing to take the cheap digs at the good name of decent rangers supporters, while acknowledging the dross, they made several statements highlighting press bigotry. Then, as with McLaren, when we were brought to bear on these charges they dropped all self-restraint and went at us full throttle, and its largely persisted to the present day. Aside from the RST, continuing to try and work with the positive aspects of the media while highlighting the bad, who has been standing up for us? When we look at Murray's recent press statements they are all responses to criticisims of - well, who? - him. His commitment to the club was questioned under McLeish with challenges from demonstrators after that cup game, and not soon after McLeish was gone and his good name was restored by appointing PLG in a whirlwind of press attention. Next the idea of his commitment raised again with the lack of investment in the squad - he announced, in a whirlwind of media attention, the JJB deal. The common element in both these things of course is that they succesfully deflected media criticism, and both have made no improvement to the situation. Next he was criticised, by the RST, of not supporting his manager - the press took up on this and he appeared again in a blaze of glory shouting at the players, with players appearing in the papers. We next hear from him when defending himself about the suspicious circumstances of PLG's departure. You'll have noticed the pattern that David Murray's press appearances occur when he is attacked. In this same time Rangers fans have been physically abused in Europe, had the memory of fans abused by travelling Aberdeen supporters, villified in the press and have taken all sorts of (often appauling) constrains on their freedom and slurs on their name. On all this Murray has had nothing to say. Certainly nothing that will persuade the press. So whats the solution, then? Revolution always has, and always will, be with the people. No, we're not talking storming the Daily Record and battering them over the head with a cut up David Murray, but we're talking, as with all revolution the struggle for autonomy, or freedom. When all the Rangers supporters representatives joined to commit to self-regulation of the fans they declared unequivocally their independence from the moral judgement of the media. Many people have saw this as a move to appease the media - the media may even see it this way - but, infact, the message was that there's a problem in our support, the nature of which we decide, and that it is our domain to deal with. While this achieves the END, the freedom from bigotry, that the press use to justify their slanderous rants, the MEANS by which this is achieved involves us turning to a new authority, ourselves. Because where the media will quite happily see no difference between nationalism and bigotry, we will, and the people have spoken and they are quite adamant that rangers at least be allowed to be the 'quintessential british club', and while the media, in their vanity, suppose that we are bowed to their pressure, publish the fact that they've had a moral victory over the hordes, they are also publishing the evolution of a Rangers support, led by the RST, growing in self-dependence from the media and the hier-archy of the club. While Poe ultimately seemed to get parts of his assessment of the murder about Mary Rogers wrong, his pursuit for the reasoned truth led him to some startling discoveries missed by everyone at the time. His main premise was that we should always read critically, especially when dealing with the press. And those of us reading the press critically at the moment can just see the slightest glimmer of a small revolution's birth amidst the Rangers supporter that will usurp their moral authority and give it back to the people.

I remember this boy being mentioned last year. Hopefully the hype will stick and we can have a Klos mark 2 for the next 20 years.

Thomas Buffel has revealed his intention to quit Rangers and ply his trade in a stronger league. The 26-year-old is under contract at Ibrox through 2009, but is keen to move on, possibly as early as the summer. Buffel, who was close to joining Hannover in January, will not feature for The Gers again this season after undergoing knee surgery. "I have played more than 80 games for Rangers over the past two years and I have won the league and League Cup," Buffel said in the Daily Record. "But I still have the ambition to play my football in a stronger league. "I had the chance to play in the Bundesliga in January and I could have earned more money there than I do in Scotland. "But I felt that I should not start out with a new club when I am not fully fit. "Had the situation been different I might have moved although there was a real chance that Rangers might not have let me go." Meanwhile, Buffel is disappointed with how things have gone for him since Walter Smith took over from Paul Le Guen. He added: "Sometimes your career depends on details. I rated Paul Le Guen very highly. "But when Walter Smith succeeded him, the train departed straight away."

Great news :thup:

Wonder when that meeting took place, seems to me that Smith was contacted either before PLG left or on the same day to have had a meeting with this guy so fast.

this is a rangers come and get me plea imo

Now the transfer window is speedily approaching time to catch op on the transfer Gossip. TEVEZ WANTS TO STAY West Ham's sulky Argentine striker Carlos Tevez says he wants to stay at the club - not surprisingly, as FIFA rules actually prevent him playing for another team thus season. He stormed out of Upton Park last weekend after being substituted but insists he's ready to play under new owner Eggert Magnusson. "If the new owner wanted me to leave, that is what I would have to do," admitted Tevez. "I'd respect what he wanted as it's his club, but I'd prefer that he and manager Alan Pardew wanted to keep me." Meanwhile; West Ham are the latest club to be linked with West Brom's Curtis Davies, who is expected to be sold in January. The Sun says that the Hammers will make a �£5m move for the England Under-21 centre-half. CHELSEA RIGHT BACK AT YOU... It remains their problem position - with Paulo Ferreira struggling to convince, Khalid Boulahrouz preferring to play at centre-half and Geremi little more than a stop-gap measure. Micah Richards is one name that keeps cropping up, but The Independent suggest Jose Mourinho is likely to look to the continent. The names in the frame are Seville's Daniel Alves and Valencia's Miguel, who also replaced Ferreira in the Portuguese national team. Miguel told a Portuguese newspaper: "Chelsea is Chelsea. It's good to know that they're interested in my game if the news is true. I'm very satisfied to hear that, I really am." PAVON TO LIVERPOOL Real Madrid defender Francisco Pavon is being strongly linked with a move to Liverpool, who could get him for just �£500,000 in January as he is out of contract next summer. The rumours started in the Spanish press on Thursday and have been picked up by the Daily Mirror on Friday. The 26-year-old is clearly not in the plans of Real boss Fabio Capello. AND THE REST Celtic could make a move for Falkirk star Anthony Stoke,s who is on loan from Arsenal...Blackburn are ready to make a move for Liverpool left-back Stephen Warnock...Watford have hinted that they're ready to cash in on Ashley Young...Aston Villa's list of transfer targets includes Jermain Defoe, Robbie Keane and possibly Craig Bellamy. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Celtic consider Stokes bid Celtic have confirmed talks have been held with Arsenal regarding a potential bid for Anthony Stokes. The striker is currently on loan at Falkirk, who are hoping to hang on to the Irish teenager until the end of the season. But Falkirk could be gazumped by the SPL champions after Celtic's chief scout Ray Clarke revealed the club are nearing a decision on a bid for Stokes. Gordon Strachan recently praised the 18-year-old prior to the CIS Insurance Cup meeting between the two sides in which Stokes scored. And Strachan could now use the money from the January sale of Stephen Pearson to fund a bid for Stokes, who has netted 13 goals for Falkirk. Clarke told the Daily Record: "What we said to them (Arsenal) was that we would watch Anthony Stokes on four or five occasions and then make our decision. "To be fair to the lad, we've just about done that, and my understanding is we'll maybe have one more good look at him in action. "Once the Champions League group campaign is over with next week's final match in Copenhagen, we'll sit down on all our activities and the manager will decide the way ahead."

Rangers midfielder Jeremy Clement says his summer move to Ibrox is a stepping stone to bigger things. The Frenchman followed former Lyon boss Paul Le Guen to the Old Firm club back in the summer in a bid to get regular first-team action. The 22-year-old branded the Scottish Premier League 'a minor league', but stressed that he was aiming to improve as a player with The Gers. "Lyon are the best club in France and one of the greatest in Europe," Clement said in the Daily Record. "I have nothing but happy memories of them. "But I wanted to get more playing time and that is what Paul Le Guen offered me at Rangers. "So I headed over to Scotland - but it is fair to say that their championship is a minor league. "However, Rangers are a big club with a huge support, so joining them was a good opportunity - before I revive my career at another club one day. "But while I wait for a move to come around, my aim is to make progress." Meanwhile, Gers captain Barry Ferguson insists there is no extra pressure to emulate Celtic's achievements in Europe. Rangers' Old Firm rivals caused a sensation on Tuesday when a 1-0 home win over Manchester United saw The Bhoys reach the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League for the first time. The Gers themselves are within reach of the knockout stages of the Uefa Cup after victories over Livorno and Maccabi Haifa in Group A. A result over Auxerre in France on Thursday should see the Glasgow side follow Celtic in playing European club football in the New Year, and Ferguson is hoping to mirror Celtic's European run. "There is no extra pressure on us because Celtic are in the last 16 of the Champions League," Ferguson said. "We did it last season, reaching the last 16, and hopefully they can go on and do even better. "Of course it would be good if we could match them (Celtic) by reaching the last 16 of the Uefa Cup. "But, at this stage, I am just concerned about getting the right result against Auxerre."