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  1. From The Herald: The birth of the blues is a story of remarkable poignancy. Rangers are a solid, substantial club with its roots firmly planted in the soil of world football. Yet the beginnings of the club were truly humble and have been treated with an indifference, even an ignorance. Consider this for a test. Who founded Celtic? Most Scottish football fans would instantly reply: "Brother Walfrid". But who were the originators of Rangers? Some may mumble hesitantly: "Moses McNeil". Others would not hazard a guess. But the question receives its most authoritative answer in Gary Ralston's Rangers 1872: The Gallant Pioneers. This is the dramatic story of the formation of an institution and of the cruel fate that beset the four young boys who set the ball rolling for what soon became the leading club in Scottish football. "It is a sad, heartbreaking story. It adds an extra dimension to the formation of Rangers, just what these young guys went through. advertisement The sadness for me is that they created a club that went on to be known throughout the world yet they themselves led such tragic lives. There is something touching, even romantic, about that," says Ralston. The simple conception of Rangers can be traced to Kelvingrove Park. There were four fathers: Peter McNeil and Moses McNeil, 17 and 16 years of age respectively, and Peter Campbell and William McBeath, both 15. They discussed the possibility of forming a team during their constitutional walk. The club that has won 52 Scottish championships was therefore basically started as a street team by a group of boys who had been smitten by the latest sporting enthusiasm of association football. They were joined in their endeavours by Tom Vallance, later to become a legendary Rangers captain, but who was then barely 16 years old. Their triumph was to be the foundation stones of a Scottish institution. Their tragedy was to die in relative obscurity and have their deeds unremembered by the mass of supporters. Ralston, gloriously, resurrects them. But the sadness remains. The passing of Moses in 1938 did not rate a mention in the press of that week. He was buried at Rosneath which only recently has become a place of pilgrimage for Rangers fans. His brother, Peter, died in his early 40s. He was certified insane and had been sectioned at Hawkhead Asylum in Paisley. The business brain behind Rangers, Peter had been beset by financial problems and the pressure took a toll on his mental and physical health. Peter Campbell had a more sudden demise. At 25, the marine engineer was lost at sea after the steamer he was working on came to grief in the Bay of Biscay. William McBeath, chronically ill and mentally infirm, was certified as "an imbecile". His last days were spent in the Lincoln workhouse, his passing went unremarked in the press when he died in 1917. He was given a pauper's burial and lies in an untended grave. Tom Vallance, however, did have his days in the sun. As a footballer, Vallance was of the highest rank, almost certainly one of the most accomplished players in the 1870s. He never played on the losing side against England and was a commanding captain for Rangers. Yet, in common with his band of brothers who were part of the formation of Rangers, he was struck by misfortune. Vallance embarked on a career in the tea plantations of Assam. But he returned to Scotland suffering from black water fever. Why did Ralston include him in the pantheon of Rangers founders even though Vallance was not at the meeting in Kelvingrove Park then known as West End Park? "Because he was an absolute colossus," said Ralston. "The two people who were absolutely pivotal to Rangers' development were Peter McNeil for his work behind scenes and Vallance. At 6ft 2in, he was a veritable club giant on and off the field." The club these vulnerable human beings created went from strength to strength. Ralston is keen to dispel any misconceptions about the birth of Rangers. "There was no political or religious element in the formation of Rangers," he said. "I am fascinated about just how the sectarian divide came into Scottish football but that happened in the 20th century, probably from about 1910-20." He added: "The birth of Rangers was basically a result of young guys deciding to have a team to play in what was the new craze of football. There was no other agenda, no wealthy benefactors." Ralston, a journalist, spent three years uncovering the story from the debris of passing decades. It was a labour of love. "I wanted to do it because I had read brief accounts of the formation of the club and I wondered just what had happened to those guys. This is a story that has never fully been told before. I was helped by the fact that the internet has meant that it is easier to do the kind of research that it is necessary in pulling the strands of the story together. Basically, it was a fascinating piece of Scottish football history that has been under-researched." He emerged from his studies with a mass of evidence that he has distilled into a story that is fascinating for any observer of Scottish football. "The most important game Rangers have played in their history was the 1877 Scottish Cup final," he claimed. "Rangers took the mighty Vale of Leven to three games. That final was crucial because SFA annals testify to the Glaswegian labour classes rushing from the factory gates to salute their new heroes. These games won them an audience." That audience has endured 137 years on. Rangers sit unmoveable on the South Side. The stadium has been modernised to cope with the changing imperatives of football. More than 50,000 people file into their seats of a Saturday. Hundreds of thousands more follow the Light Blues through internet and television. There are no shortage of stories on Rangers. But the tale of the birth of the club had been allowed to lie in the darkness of the past. Ralston has brought it into the light.
  2. [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQLWF_ItzYs]Money Talks.[/ame]But it don’t sing and dance and it don’t walk. More and more I’ll acknowledge I’ve been concerned with the finances of Rangers FC. It used to be that it was only a game to me. Then David Murray came along and I even had a ‘Bank Of Rangers’ fiver on my wall, a big blown up thing that represented our financial might in relation to Celtic – and to be honest, I loved it. It was a kind of ‘We Are The People’ x 10; the ultimate partner for the trophies and happy days – we are much, much richer than YOU. GIRFUY as they say these days! Nowadays I feel that the off-the-park stuff is more important than it used to be; too important. I scrutinise the reports, I analyse what they mean, I interpret Rangers’ accounts and draw conclusions. I ask for views and points of view; I really do care about Rangers as a business, because I see it as Rangers’ way of securing its future at the level it we are accustomed to. But why? At the end of the day I got into all this as a young lad who loved football. Even in the early 80’s, I never cared about wages, sponsorship, TV rights, facilities, representation, communication. It just didn’t matter. I heard someone say the other day that back then they didn’t even care who the team manager was; just as long as Rangers were winning. I love the history of Rangers, but I have to be honest and say I’m more interested in the future. I worry about Rangers. I really do. And now I see what Rangers could be; much more than a football club and a business; more of a social enterprise, serving its community and a hub for all things blue, and the things we stand for. Rangers permeates all corners of life in the west of Scotland and beyond. Everybody knows our name. We are a huge and remarkable club. We are truly unique. And the more I think about it, the more I am beginning to find the financial and commercial focus on the club to be somewhat distasteful and a million miles from what the game should be all about. I know the world has changed from the 70’s and 80’s - I’ve seen it with my own eyes. I’m not hankering for a fuzzy-wuzzy past where everything was sweetness and light. I’m not pretending that everything was better in the 70’s or that modern life is rubbish. Far from it. But I do honestly yearn for the day when all we talk about is football. I bet a lot of people feel the same.
  3. THE Old Firm were today handed a massive Euro boost on the eve of the new SPL season. SportTimes can today reveal the door has been left ajar for direct entry into next season's Cham-pions League for whoever wins the title. It had been thought this season - when Rangers qualified automatically for the �£10million group phase - would be the last time the SPL winners would benefit from this money- spinning safe passage. However, Uefa have confirmed there is still a chance the 2009/10 winners will get an automatic group slot. If the winners of this season's Champions League gain entry into the 2010/11 competition by virtue of their own league position, Scot-land's champions will go straight in. This was last the case back in 2005/06. Barcelona won the Champions League by beating Arsenal in Paris - but they already had a group stage berth assured from finishing top of La Liga - so Celtic went straight in and avoided a qualifier. A Uefa statement said: "The position at which a club enters the Champions League is dependent on its country's ranking, which is determined by the sum of Uefa country co-efficients over the previous five years. "Champions from coun- tries ranked first to 12th automatically qualify for the group stages - for season 2009/10 Scotland was ranked 10th. "For season 2010/11 it has now been confirmed Scotland are ranked 13th. However, there is still a chance there could be direct qualification. "If the winners of the Champions League this season also qualify for the following season's group stages through their league position, an extra space would be created in the group stages. "The champions of the country ranked 13th - Scotland - would take this place." The news will add an extra edge to the Old Firm's battle for the flag, and history is for them in terms of the Champions League winners already having slots through domestic performances. In the past FOUR seasons the winners of Europe's ultimate prize have already had group spots secured from their league placings - and with the major operators now dominating the Champions League there is a fair chance it will happen again this season which would allow the SPL champions to sneak in. Meantime, new chief executive Neil Doncaster has pledged to bring summer football to the SPL - but only if the clubs want it. Doncaster has revealed he is ready to talk to those clubs who are in favour of a radical shake-up. There have been calls for an introduction to summer football after a string of poor European results in the past few weeks as they go into action early. "There will be no attempt to ignore the issue," said Doncaster. "But it's for clubs to decide what they want. We will consult and put options to them. But we are restricted by the international calendar. "We will be looking at options for next season. We will consult the clubs and we can't afford any knee-jerk reactions." http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/display.var.2525525.0.0.php
  4. Gary Caldwell says Celtic can make history by beating Dinamo Moscow in their Champions League qualifier. More...
  5. This summer may prove to be unique in the long and glorious history of the Rangers. It would require a bear older than myself to remember the last time we began a new season without strengthening the first team squad during the off-season with incoming transfers. In fact, the only business being completed at Ibrox was the removal of a few high earners from the wage bill. The likes of Ferguson, Hemdani and Dailly have left and have yet to be replaced. This should come as no surprise to us all. Even as last season was drawing to its exciting conclusion, Walter Smith was ominous in his warnings to the fans. The first team squad would be reduced to around 20 and supplemented by players from the youth squad like Fleck, Wilson and Shinnie. With the inability to agree deals for the likes of Adam and Gow, the squad has not been reduced sufficiently to allow any incoming transfers. The dearth of incoming transfer news within the media in addition to the moves being made across the city led to much agitation amongst our support. In a previous article published nearly 3 weeks ago, I urged fans to be patient and not to over react to the situation. Many fans were furious that Celtic had spent circa Ã?£7mil (including on their new management team) whilst we had yet to make any moves and to date have only earned a fee from the sale of Barry Ferguson. It is natural that, with the league being a relatively tight affair last year, fans would compare our attempts to strengthen with that of the side who are traditionally our closest challengers. However, whilst we have competed almost head to head for the SPL title for the last decade or two, that aside the situations at the two clubs could not be more different. Celtic began this season is a state of disarray, sacking a more successful manager than Martin O’Neill because their fans required someone “Celtic Minded”. Key first team players Hesselink, Nakamura and Hartley have been moved on and the replacements have yet to settle. This was most notable in the performance of Fortune in Celtic’s opening competitive game of the season where they fell to defeat in the home leg of their European qualifier. Fortune missed a couple of sitters that had he scored would have given Celtic a fighting chance of qualification. Now, of course, it is too early to be drawing any conclusions on the player’s they have added to their pool this close season but it does bring me neatly on to the main reason for penning this article. Whilst fans bemoaned the spending power of our city neighbours including the Ã?£4million buy of Fortune, in the article previously linked I cautioned against the time needed for new signings to settle. Although we all recognise that we are one or two signings away from a strong squad, the benefits of a relatively settled and stable squad should not be underestimated. Continuity in the squad and in team selection means the players get to learn each other's games inside out and the rewards are reaped on the football field. Since first having the initial thoughts for this article it proved excellent timing that World Class manager Arsene Wenger has spoken out in the media with comments that support my viewpoint: It is perhaps fitting that the Frenchman was speaking out about this just after I decided to pen this piece. The excellent spectacle that was this year's Emirates tournament was the ideal setting to prove Wenger's assertion. In Walter's first season he made us difficult to beat through defensive strength. Last year Smith turned us into title contenders. And the signs from the ties against PSG and Arsenal this weekend point to the experienced manager taking the next step in the squad's evolution without the addition of fresh faces. We again adopted the 4-5-1 formation favoured by Smith when competing against a higher calibre opponent, but the major difference this weekend was that we had the attacking wide players to break into a 4-3-3 in possession and play attractive, passing football. Last season (as for the last couple of seasons) we have had the highest quality squad in Scotland as evidenced by our League and Cup double. We have lost a few players who made little to no contribution last year and were most likely to have a similar contribution in the forthcoming campaign. We have hardly weakened our squad at all, whilst the likes of Kyle Lafferty, Pedro Mendes and John Fleck have all had a further full season in Scotland to help settle them into the game up here. I, like many fans, will be expecting a more consistent contribution from Mendes and Lafferty in particular. In addition to the greater experience of a number of the players within the squad, we have the returns of Thomson, Naismith and Stevie Smith to bolster the squad. We finally have some realistic competition at left back for the consistent Bosnian, Sasa Papac. We are very strong in central midfield especially when Maurice Edu, who had an impressive end to the season last year, returns from injury. The wealth of options up front, at least for the domestic game, is incredible. We have speed, height, power, work rate and goals from different forwards. You may struggle to find another club with the goalkeeping option of McGregor or Alexander. Sure, left midfield continues to prove problematic. We have half a dozen players who can fill that position, but not one who has made it their own. We can counter this with a change in formation to a midfield diamond. Or perhaps one of the players within the squad will step forward and command a starting berth on the left. And again, we start a season concerned over our centre backs. Can Davie Weir play another full season at the heart of the defence? After playing 60 games 2 seasons ago as we marched to the final day of every competition we entered it was the consensus opinion that he could not stand up to another full season of football. Weir powered his way to another 47 games (more than any other player in the squad) including all but 2 league games and shows no signs of letting up. That said, we would all prefer competition for the first choice pair of Weir and Bougherra. Arsene Wenger is obviously a strong believer that buying new players is not the only way to improve your squad year on year. And looking at Celtic’s disastrous opening to the season it is clear that having to begin a new era at a club by ripping up the previous squad to create a new team, even when backed by the money men at the club, is a gamble. Spending money is no guarantee of success. If we have to begin the upcoming season with essentially the same pool of players that won the double last year I will not be concerned. Walter Smith has previously demonstrated the veracity of Wenger’s assertion that you can improve your team with work on the training field and not just at the negotiating table. When Smith took over the national team from Berti Vogts the country was a laughing stock ranked in the 70s or 80s. Whilst Vogts handed out caps to over 40 different players Smith again demonstrated the effectiveness of consistency, finding his best squad and dragging the national team back up the rankings and heart-breakingly close to qualification for the World Cup. He followed that up by leading us to the top of our qualifying group for the European Championships including a victory over the World Cup runners-up France. I am not trying to suggest that a lack of transfer funds makes Smith’s job easier. Of course any manager can benefit from a transfer kitty if he spends it right. However consistency of selection also strengthens a squad’s assault on the silverware and the team that Smith has been building since he returned to the club has been growing as a unit season upon season and team unity will have never been higher. Regardless of what does or doesn’t happen in the transfer market this year I am eagerly anticipating another successful season under the guidance of the legendary Walter Smith.
  6. ..... at the impact of sports science: Having spent the last 5 years studying Sports Science and then Strength and Conditioning at University, it is always with great interest I approach any article or story regarding Adam Owen at Rangers. As Owen was appointed to his current position at Rangers I was coming to the end of my undergraduate degree and as a Rangers fan it is therefore unsurprising I am intrigued by any stories of the work Owen is implementing at Rangers and any training improvements or changes he has influenced. In perusing the newly re-launched official club website it will, therefore, come as no surprise that my attention was immediately grabbed by the ââ?¬Å?Blue Blogââ?¬Â section of the website and the first new post after the re-launch entitled Swapping Sand Torture For Science. It gave a wee taster of an interview with the Head of Sports Science at Rangers to be published in the new look club magazine. With the increasing physical demands of the modern game a greater reliance on upon sports science and a greater understanding of exercise physiology has become paramount at all football clubs. Everyone associated with Rangers Football Club is aware of the legend of Jock Wallace and the brutality of Gullane Sands. Anyone who has competed in football, or other sports for that matter, to any reasonable level will have their own memories of an unforgiving pre-season training regime. Players would often not see a ball for the first few weeks of training as they participated in running, running and more running sessions. Jock Wallace ran his pre-season training like a military drill sergeant and it cannot be argued it produced results. However, football, fitness training and our understanding of how the human body responds to training has advanced greatly since the days of unrelenting pre-season running schedules. No longer is it appropriate to have your squad sprinting up and down hills until the point of exhaustion and even being physically sick. Pre-season is the opportunity for the Sports Science staff to prepare the players for the coming season. Football is not like some other sports such as athletics, where there are obvious competitions for the individual athlete to prepare for. For example, Rangers competitive season begins early in August and will not end until May; a 10-month long league season. And with the nature of league football you need to be on top of your game from the first round of fixtures until the 38th and last. As such, it is difficult for the management team and the sports scientists to improve upon fitness attributes during the season. It is in pre-season where the bulk of the physical training must be conducted and then the aim is to maintain these levels of strength and conditioning throughout the season. So, spending your training session flogging your squad up and down hills will improve their ability to run up and down hills, but will it improve their ability to contend with the physical demands of a gruelling season of football? Training for any sport has to follow the principle of specificity. Is the training delivered specific to the sport? Is it specific to the individual, to their position, to their level of fitness, to their injury history? Is the training specific to the intended training outcome? If not, the performance improvement (or adaptation) will not be specific to the sport and the individual.
  7. Super_Ally explores the wide-ranging implications of the now defunct Rangers TV channel and asks just how important this could be with European leagues again being mooted... http://www.gersnetonline.co.uk/newsite/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=806&Itemid=1 Whilst all fans of the Bluenose persuasion revelled in the demise of the Irish Broadcaster Setanta with the knowledge we will no longer have to suffer a distinctly anti-Rangers agenda from what should be neutral coverage of the Scottish game, it does bring to the fore an important question. What now for Rangers TV? Many of us will have ââ?¬Å?Sky+ââ?¬â?¢edââ?¬Â the RTV coverage of the 2008/9 Double Winners and their celebrations. Probably the defining moment of RTVââ?¬â?¢s short lived run was wee Nacho Novo serenading the lovely Lindsey Archibald with a rendition of ââ?¬Å?Ha ha Samarasââ?¬Â and performing "The Bouncy" on Ibrox Uncovered. RTV took a lot of stick in the early seasons it broadcasted. Excessive repeats of the few programmes shown throughout the week, the same games from seasonââ?¬â?¢s past played again and again and again and various quality issues were often levelled at the channel. However, in recent seasons the programming did improve. There were still repeats of games, but this may well be put down to who owned the rights to show matches from various eras. Ms Archibald, taking over as the face of RTV from Ali Douglas, improved immeasurably over her tenure. Indeed, persons associated with the channel were committed to a project exploring the club's founders. It is sad therefore that just as RTV really began to turn into a quality medium for Rangers fans to follow the club, the Tannadice/Ibrox celebrations and Rangers Mastermind being particular favourites, the demise of Setanta has led to uncertainty over the continuation of a Rangers dedicated TV channel. Further confusion has arisen from the fact that the dedicated Liverpool and Arsenal channels are still broadcasting. It appears however, that there must be a difference in the deals struck between these clubs and Setanta that has allowed the Premiership sides to continue to run their own TV channel. However, it begs the question, if these clubs can run their own club TV station, why canââ?¬â?¢t the mighty Glasgow Rangers. A club with an enormous global fan base; a World Record making and breaking history; and a majesty and mystique appealing to commercial broadcasters must surely be capable of a similar provision? I can understand most fans holding this view point and so it is important that we realise that for many years MUTV, perhaps the fore-runner of Club Football TV, was run by Man United as a loss making venture. In this time of financial uncertainty across the globe and with the knowledge that Rangers are looking to reduce our costs, cut the wage bill and hopefully enhance profit margins, the club could not commit to a loss making project. It is even more distressing then, that in viewing the Portsmouth FC website I came across a stream for PFC TV. Free on the website, I didnââ?¬â?¢t even need to subscribe (though having subscribed to the Rangers website sometimes gives you full access to other clubââ?¬â?¢s pages as they use the same provider). Unlike the Rangers website and Rangers World, there was no fee and/or no monthly cost for this facility. They had an interview link with a former player. With the recent demise of Setanta and RTV I was intrigued and clicked the link. It was a perfect stream, good quality and no doubt highly informative to the Portsmouth fans. With the knowledge of the free availability of PFC TV on their website I do wonder how a club the size of Rangers cannot produce an equivalent service. Sure, there are some fans that are never happy and will knock it whatever, but I am sure such a concept would be welcomed by many. Even the possibility of improving the Rangers World service (something I am ignorant of) and/or transferring the programmes from RTV to this medium should be explored. The feasibility of this could be ascertained by the club. Surely it is something that is worthy of investigation. I know from perusing various websites that whilst RTV was initially not well received, since the cessation of broadcasts many fans miss their daily fix of Rangers news and the behind the scenes insights that Rangers Uncovered allowed us, something hitherto unavailable. With European Leagues again being mooted by the Spanish elite, Rangers should once again be ââ?¬Å?Setting the Standardââ?¬Â to emphasise our world-wide appeal by not just providing a valuable service to the clubââ?¬â?¢s loyal fans but by making the club instantly accessible to all via modern technology. The current economic climate across the world means more than ever our commercial and marketing ventures are crucial to our financial well-being. The replacement of Rangers TV and the upgrading of our club website/Rangers World would go some way to addressing that.
  8. I was thinking of doing an article along these lines last week but never got round to it. Honest! I had already started. It was to be called David Murray what should we expect from you. Och well i have to agree with the guy what is the use of having a multimillionaire chairman if he isn't going to help us out. As the reporter says anyone with a bit of business knowledge could do what Murray is doing.
  9. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/scotland/article6342409.ece At last a good read from the repugnant reporter. Graham Spiers Rangers FC, the 2009 Scottish champions, resolutely remain one of the great institutions of British football. And compiling this list of Rangers' greatest 50 players has been quite a trip down memory lane for me. My own particular Rangers journey stretches back to just 1970, but in composing this list I have spoken to Ibrox fans whose recollections went back through the decades and, in one case, even to the immediate prewar years. The old Ibrox prior to its 1980 all-seated refurbishment was something to savour: the great oval arena with the huge terracing covering three quarters of the ground, set against the famous Archibald Leitch stand, with the grass below glowing in the early-season sunshine. Back then, as today, vast crowds rolled up, and, for a little kid, bounding up the steps to take in this sight made for breathtaking excitement. The club's history is littered with great players, as I hope the list testifies. This, naturally, is a highly subjective list, and I take full responsibility for its accuracy or whims. Thanks go to Robert McElroy, Jim B and Fat Rab for their advice, though I disagreed with all of them in the end. 50 Willie Johnston 1964-72, 1980-82, 393 total appearances, 125 goals Forgive the authorial bias here ... but His Eminence, Sir William "Bud" Johnston, has to be quoted in a Rangers top 50, if only just scraping in. A winger, a dribbler, a fiery personality with a wicked temper (but a lovely guy off the pitch), Johnston was everything to a young Glasgow kid dreaming of such wing wizardry himself. Johnston's colourful career had everything - too much to quote here - but when he took flight over 15 yards few would catch him, especially in 1971-72. 49 Arthur Numan 1998-2003, 118 total appearances, 3 goals Numan was the very epitome of the modern full back: quick, strong, intelligent on the ball and blessed (he's Dutch) with bags of self-belief. One of the first of Dick Advocaat's signings when he came to Rangers in 1998, Numan had just starred for Holland at that summer's World Cup and quickly became an Ibrox favourite. One of the club's greatest left backs. 48 Neil Gibson 1894-1904, total appearances unknown This Rangers player was once called "the greatest half back of Victorian times". Neilly Gibson was also once described as "Pavlova in football boots". He was an ever-present in the Rangers team that recorded a 100 per cent league campaign in 1898-99, so let not the years dim his reputation. 47 Ian Durrant 1983-98, 347 total appearances, 45 goals Many can still recall Ian Durrant's first, fleeting moments of greatness as a Rangers player in 1985. Craig Brown: "He had this amazing ability to streak ahead of the play, to ghost beyond defenders to latch on to through balls." Durrant was magnificent, one of the great Scottish midfield players-in-waiting before injury wrecked his career. His spirit and guts forced him back into the Rangers team in the 1990s but he was never the same player. 46 Colin Jackson 1963-82, 506 total appearances, 40 goals Tall, lanky, with legs the length of oars, Colin "Bomber" Jackson was a mainstay for Rangers for a remarkable span of years. "McCloy, Jardine and Mathieson, Greig, Jackson and Smith..." was the Rangers side of the early 1970s, reeling off the tongue like a poetic stanza. Jackson was excellent in the air, and no slouch on the ground for such a beanpole. 45 Willie Reid 1909-20, 217 league appearances, 188 goals Reid remains one of the great goalscorers in Rangers' history, his tally of 188 league goals is bettered by only three other strikers. The Great War called him away from Ibrox when he served as a gunner in France, but he was firtune enough to return adn resume his penalty-box exploits. 44 Barry Ferguson 1997-present, 420 total appearances, 60 goals Despite recent controversies, and some cynics who dislike him as a player, this writer stands by what Dick Advocaat once said: "Barry Ferguson could play in any league in Europe ... in Spain ... in Italy." A midfield player of poise, composure and technique, Ferguson's greatest gift is his comfort on the ball, and ability to take possession in tight areas and open the play up for Rangers. Currently does not have his troubles to seek but would have staked a claim for a place in any Rangers team of any era. 43 Paul Gascoigne 1995-98, 103 total appearances, 39 goals One of the most skilful - and troubled - players ever to play for Rangers, Gascoigne lit up the Ibrox scene for two and a half seasons before fading due to off-field problems. It was a memorable coup for Rangers when he arrived from Lazio in 1995, and in some matches of that 1995-96 season Gascoigne was unstoppable. Possibly the greatest case ever of brains being in feet. 42 Derek Johnstone 1970-83, 1985-86, 546 total appearances, 210 goals Johnstone makes it on to the list because he was a prolific goalscorer, had a fine touch for a big man, could run well and at ease with the ball, and who was "all Rangers" for so many years. A recent DVD of his exploits reminded many of what a complete striker Johnstone was. To his great credit he was equally adept at centre back, as no less a figure than Jock Wallace ajudged. 41 Graeme Souness 1986-91, 73 total appearances, 5 goals Hard, antagonistic, and prone to maiming certain opponents, Souness was no angel but was still a great Rangers player. By the time he triggered the great Ibrox revolution in 1986 he was past his best, but we still saw flickers of the great midfield enforcer of the late 70s and early 80s. A cosmetic surgeon has subsequently pottered with Souness's head but he is still a recognisably intimidating character. 40 Tommy McLean 1971-82, 453 total appearances, 57 goals "Wee Tam" was an enduring figure of Rangers teams of the 1970s. If you were positioned high up the terracing of the old, oval-shaped Ibrox, McLean's little legs seemed to flicker like highly-charged pistons as he scuttled to the byline to send in his looping crosses. An intelligent player whose dead-ball distribution was his strongest asset. 39 Mark Hateley 1990-97, 222 total appearances, 115 goals Hateley was a powerful and intimidating centre forward who overcame a difficult start to his career at Rangers, when he looked slow and lumbering, having been out of football for 18 months with an ankle injury in Monaco. Lithe and aggressive, Hateley turned into one of the great postwar Rangers strikers, becoming an icon in the club's success in the 1990s. 38 Bobby Shearer 1955-65, 407 total appearances, 4 goals Red-faced, chisel-jawed and with a sprig of wiry hair, you wouldn't have wanted to pick a fight with Shearer any time. "Captain Cutlass" raked in the medals during his ten-year sojourn with Rangers and was a member of the famous "Ritchie, Shearer, Caldow," line-up which was written in the hearts of many Ibrox fans of the 1960s. 37 Davie Cooper 1977-89, 540 total appearances, 75 goals A mercurial talent and winger of outrageous if fitful ability, Cooper's goal in the 1979 Drybrough Cup final will live long in the memory of many Rangers fans. Twisting, turning, duping opponents with his dribbling, Cooper has nonetheless become a mythical figure at Rangers, with many deleting from history his leaner times. The first time I met Cooper, in a TV studio two years before his tragic death at just 39, he said to me: "It wasn't all glory for me at Rangers." 36 Alex MacDonald 1968-80, 503 total appearances, 94 goals Come on down, Doddie, lamb-chop sideburns and all! "Alex MacDonald covers every blade of grass, his lungs are made of leather..." How man sports reporters wrote such a sentence while watching this compact machine of a midfield player? Perhaps David White's lasting legacy to the club, MacDonald was a midfield phenomenon who was adept at ghosting in on the blind side of defences. 35 Alex Venters 1933-46, 201 total appearances, 102 goals A brilliant, almost insatiable goalscorer, Venters arrived at Ibrox from Cowdenbeath already a Scotland international, and would go on to score 155 league goals - some of these "unofficial" goals during wartime - 18 of them in Old Firm fixtures. The Second World War came at precisely the wrong time for Venters (as well as for half of Europe) but he continued banging in goals during the unofficial war period, hence the discrepancies in his goals tally.
  10. Sunday mail: The thought of leaving Rangers after our double win did cross my mind, says Walter Smith IBROX lies silent. It's the calm after - and before - the storm. Not an echo of the euphoria that filled it six weeks ago, not a hint of the elation to come in another six weeks when the flag runs up the pole. The Blue Room at the top of the marble staircase lies dormant, set up for a wedding. Through the door, though? In a oak-panelled office reeking of history and basking in sunshine, Walter Smith is looking like a man who is still enjoying his second honeymoon. And nothing like a man many thought would have walked off into the sunset on May 31 as either a Double-winner or two-time title loser. Relaxed, tanned, rested ... and ready. In his first interview since winning the SPL and Scottish Cup in his second full season back, Smith reveals the idea of walking away at the top DID cross his mind. But deep down the 61-year-old knew his time wasn't up - and he didn't want to leave the staff he brought with him in the lurch. Despite the heart-attack high of Gers' last-day victory - and seven titles from his first spell as boss - he will walk back through the doors of Murray Park on Thursday hungry to do it all over again. Walter admitted: "When you get over the 60 mark it's a relevant question, whether or not you walk. Yes, it crosses your mind. "But I would have been more likely to leave after losing. What kind of person walks because of an image? That you want to be SEEN to be going out at the top? I don't have that kind of ego. "If I turn round and say I'm off? They will say: 'Great, you've reached a European final and won four trophies in two-and-a-half years. Thanks.' And that's it. "What does that mean to me in the end? I'm here for a challenge. "I know what it feels like when your time is up. It happened when I was here for seven years and it was time for a change. A team completely died. "I won't manage for seven years now but when is the time to go? It will be when I feel I don't have as much to offer - or when my team's not good enough and I take responsibility. That's not now." Smith's moral compass was also pointing him back towards work. He has absolute faith that the legacy he has put in place in the Rangers dugout, Ally McCoist and Kenny McDowall, would cope in his absence. But with Rangers still struggling financially Walter doesn't want to throw his sidekicks straight into a firefight without big enough guns. He said: "If I walked out I would feel as though I was leaving other people with a problem. And I have to be fair to my staff. "Ally, Kenny, Jim Stewart, Adam Owen and Pip Yeats make up a great staff. "If I leave - and I stress this isn't my decision - I would like to think the chairman would consider Ally taking over. But in the circumstances it would feel like I was leaving them with issues. "It's not just that though. When I returned people were saying: 'You won nine-in-a-row so why would you come back?' "The simple answer is people in football want to achieve. It was a challenge - and one I feel we have met." It's also one that he will instantly have to meet again - or face exactly the same Groundhog Day grilling about his future. Smith shrugged: "That's the Old Firm. You can win every year but then you have to do it again the following year. "All the managers I know have a competitive spirit - that keeps us going. If it's golf, or whatever, you want to win. "You need to have goals. If you lose that as you get older, fine, but I still have it. "Davie Weir once made a great point. If he makes a mistake now people say it is because he's 38 or 39. But Davie made the same mistakes at 28 or 29. What was it then? "It's the same for me - it doesn't just switch off one day. You will get a feeling but that's not now." The change in Smith and Rangers from this time last year is tangible. After a 68-game season and a break of less than a month he saw the black cloud sitting above his squad before the heavens opened on their darkest day in Kaunas. This time there isn't a cloud in sight. Nineteen games fewer played, a six-week sabbatical and the walk-on-water lightness of step that graces a winner. Smith admitted: "It feels different. Last summer we knew how difficult it was going to be. Liverpool thrashed us in a friendly and we were lucky to beat Raith Rovers. "We weren't good enough. This year it's so different. The season ended on a high and we've had a break that feels like the kind you used to get 30 years ago." And Smith is desperate to harvest what he has sown - especially when the shoots were so visible at the end of the season. He said: "People say I never play kids but I've tried to get a solid base of young Scots to benefit the club. "That takes time. If you buy a seasoned professional they will settle at Rangers or Celtic. "But it's different for younger guys. Look at Steven Whittaker. In my mind he was our most consistent player from January. "But previously he struggled dealing with the demands of the crowd and everything else. "That's what you're up against. I read one pundit telling me Kyle Lafferty was a bad buy and six months later saying if I don't play him we won't win the league! "Kevin Thomson was starting to dictate games before his injury while Steven Naismith has been unlucky. "But he will still be a very good Rangers player. Maurice Edu came in and did so well. "We have a good base of young players. We won't have a big-name buy but this team can be successful. "This side is as capable, if not more so, than the Rangers team that played in the Champions League and UEFA Cup two years ago."
  11. Manchester United have refused to be drawn on growing speculation they are about to sign striker Michael Owen. The 29-year-old, who is out of contract, did not return for pre-season training with Newcastle after his deal with the Magpies ran out in June. One bookmaker slashed their odds on Owen, who has also been linked with Everton, Aston Villa, Stoke and Hull, joining United from 20-1 to 5-2. "We don't comment on transfer rumours," a United spokesman told BBC Sport. Any deal for Owen would be subject to the striker passing a stringent medical, which could take place as early as Friday, given his frequent injury problems over the last few years. I just question the injury scenario Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce The former Liverpool forward scored 10 goals in all competitions last season, although an ankle injury and groin operation severely disrupted his season. His last league goal was on 10 January against West Ham. Since losing the Champions League final to Barcelona at the end of May, the Premier League holders have sold forward Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid for �£80m and failed to persuade striker Carlos Tevez to stay at Old Trafford. The departure of those two players has left United manager Sir Alex Ferguson with a shortage of strikers, with Frazier Campbell also likely to be sold. However, Ferguson did bring in winger Antonio Valencia from Wigan on Tuesday. United were also reportedly keen on Lyon striker Karim Benzema, who is set to join Real, while Bayern Munich forward Franck Ribery has been linked with a move to the Madrid club rather than the English champions. If Ferguson does capture Owen it would be reminiscent of his willingness to take a chance on players with either difficult reputations, such as Eric Cantona, or players that have suffered serious injury problems like Henrik Larsson. Even so, the move for Owen represents something of a gamble for Ferguson, given Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce ruled out a move for the striker given his injury history. "I just question the injury scenario," said Allardyce earlier this week. "I need a striker that's going to be available for 30 games next season. That's not happened for Michael over the last four years." After Newcastle were relegated to the Championship, Owen expressed his desire to remain in the Premier League. The Wasserman Media Group (WMG), the management company that represents him, sent out a brochure to a number of clubs reminding them of the talent that resulted in the striker scoring 158 goals in about 300 games for Liverpool and 40 goals in 89 appearances for England. 606: DEBATE If Fergie can get him firing again, (and if anybody can, the best man manager in the Premier League can) then we have got a real gem ogni strada No-one was available for comment at the WMG. Owen was widely reported to be earning more than �£100,000-a-week at Newcastle after signing a four-year deal when he moved from Real Madrid in August 2005 for a club record fee of �£16m, though his wages are unlikely to be a problem for the Old Trafford club. However, his time on Tyneside was plagued by injury problems, as he suffered a broken metatarsal bone, knee ligament damage sustained at the 2006 World Cup, as well as a double hernia operation and a thigh problem. The forward has made 79 appearances for the Magpies and scored 30 goals in four seasons. If Owen does move to Old Trafford it would revive the former Liverpool striker's hopes of resurrecting his international hopes and taking part in the 2010 World Cup. Owen has been marginalised by England manager Fabio Capello and has won just one cap under the Italian, as a substitute in the 1-0 friendly defeat by France in Paris on 26 March, 2008. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/8131801.stm
  12. THE hairs on the back of his neck will stand to attention. Blue blood will rush through his veins. When he stares up at Ibrox's main stand and that famous Champions League tune booms out, Kris Boyd will know he has finally arrived. At that moment he will be exactly where he wants to be. There isn't a lot the Rangers striker hasn't achieved in his time at the club. Top scorer every season, a clean sweep of domestic medals and 102 goals to his name at the age of 25. But the one thing he hasn't done? Start a match for the club he loves on the biggest stage of all. That's why Boyd will return to Murray Park on July 9 as hungry as ever - for a shot at Champions League glory. The hitman rattled in 31 goals as Gers became SPL champions last term but is now desperate to make his mark on Europe's top club competition. Rangers have been involved in eight Champions League games since Boyd's move from Kilmarnock in 2006 but he has only featured in two. And both those appearances came off the bench. But the striker believes he is ready for the step up in class after adding a new dimension to his game last term. He told MailSport: "I took massive strides in terms of becoming a regular starter last season. I've managed to change opinions and the Champions League is the next step. "I've done just about everything I wanted to do in my Rangers career. I have won the title, cups, scored 100 goals and played for Scotland. "But I haven't started a game in the Champions League and next season I want to be part of it. I want to stamp my authority on that tournament. "I feel I'm ready and believe I can play at that level. If I'm lining up at Ibrox with that Champions League music on it will confirm I've matured in to the player I need to be. "It will show I have grown in to the kind of man who can be successful at a club like Rangers. I want to build on that and show I deserve to be there. "Not only have I matured as a player but I've also matured as a person in the last couple of years. I'm the first to admit I had a lot of daftness about me early on in my career. "I was young and naive. I tended to follow other people and was influenced by them. But you have to grow up and realise what is right and wrong. "You need to do it quickly at a club like Rangers if you want to succeed." Boyd rarely passes up a chance in front of goal - as his 102 strikes in just 152 games for the club will testify. But one that did get away came in Gers' vital Champions League last-16 clash against Spanish cracks Villarreal in 2006. With the game tied at 1-1 he came off the bench and missed a gilt-edged chance that might have taken Alex McLeish's men in to the last eight for the first time in Rangers' history. But Boyd isn't haunted by it. Instead the memory of that wasted chance only drives him on to succeed at that level. He said: "I remember the Villarreal game well. We felt we had a real chance of going through and came so close. "I came off the bench in Spain and missed a chance late on - but I don't look back and worry about it. "Of course I think 'what if?' It would have been great to score the goal that took us in to the last eight. But it didn't happen and I've moved on. "If I worried about every chance I missed in my career it would drive me mad. These things happen and it's about how you come back from them. "I'm just hoping this can be my year in the Champions League." Last season was a pivotal campaign in Boyd's career at Ibrox. He came close to leaving in January as David Murray looked to recoup some of the cash lost by Gers' dismal Champions League exit to FBK Kaunas. So it says a lot about Boyd's character that he came back from that stronger than ever - finishing the season as Walter Smith's first-choice striker and breaking the 100-goal barrier. Now Kris wants to start this term the way he finished the last. He said: "I want to be the SPL's top scorer again. I'm known for my goals but it isn't easy doing it every year. "However, I would be disappointed if I didn't hit at least 20 every season. "You get a lot of chances at a club like Rangers so that's the least the fans would expect. "Most importantly it's about the team winning and we're determined to retain our title and win the cups. "A lot of people had their doubts about me as a player but I have improved. It's difficult when you're not everyone's cup of tea. "Everyone said I was reliant on my goals but I have gone a long way to proving them wrong by showing there's more to my game. "When you keep hearing the same criticism it gets you down but it's about how you react. Last season I realised I had to do more and it ended with a championship medal. "I like to think I'm more of a team player now. The most pleasing aspect is I haven't lost anything goal-wise. "Everyone thought that would suffer but thankfully it hasn't." http://www.sundaymail.co.uk/sport-news/scottish-football/spl/2009/06/28/kris-boyd-i-ll-know-i-ve-made-it-at-rangers-when-i-start-a-champions-league-match-78057-21478070/
  13. Very quiet on the Rangers news front right now, so thankfully we have Super_Ally showing us how the grandiose media coverage of the arrival of footballing God Tony Mowbray is somewhat flawed to say the least.... http://www.gersnetonline.co.uk/newsite/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=801&Itemid=2 With the arrival of Tony Mowbray at Celtic confirmed last week, we have been flooded with glowing tributes for the scintillating attacking football Moggaââ?¬â?¢s sideââ?¬â?¢s treat the viewing public to. Any right minded individual is fully aware that it was for reasons other than football that led to the Celtic fans revolt against Strachanââ?¬â?¢s tenure. The outgoing manager was more successful than the darling of the demonic hordes; Martin Oââ?¬â?¢Neill, whose Celtic team employed a long-ball brand of football reminiscent of Wimbledonââ?¬â?¢s Crazy Gang. So the talk of the ââ?¬Å?Celtic wayââ?¬Â of playing football does not wash with this bear. Not since the ultimately unsuccessful, eulogised and over-hyped days of Tommy Burns have Celtic played any kind of exciting passing football game. One must remember it was Frank Rijkaard who first popularised the term ââ?¬Å?anti-footballââ?¬Â when referring to the tactics and game plan employed by Oââ?¬â?¢Neilââ?¬â?¢s charges campaigning in European footballââ?¬â?¢s second tournament. Fast forward a few years and another Barcelona employee (Lionel Messi) was levelling the same claim against Rangers. What the two games have in common is a positive result for the teams with the more meagre resources. Sour-grapes from the big spenders of Europeââ?¬â?¢s elite leagues? It is the appointment of Celticââ?¬â?¢s new manager, someone used to not winning in Celtic colours under Tommy Burns, which has again brought this issue into the media spotlight and onto the back pages of the newspapers. I watched a report on the BBC website with great interest yesterday. Whilst it was sadly lacking in substance and real in-depth reporting, it was none-the-less eye opening. Of the three Celtic fans they questioned (I guess the rest are in hiding after Rangers won the double) they were twice given the answer of entertainment as their main priority for the incoming manager. With a distinctly British bias to the list, the names that spring to mind, when considering managerââ?¬â?¢s who have provided entertainment in recent seasonââ?¬â?¢s include Arsene Wenger, John Hughes, Pep Guardiola and of course Mowbray. Wengerââ?¬â?¢s Arsenal has not won anything for 4 years. Hughesââ?¬â?¢ Falkirk narrowly avoided relegation and suffered the ignominy of conceding 7 goals in one league game playing a slick passing game. Mowbray of course refused to change his sideââ?¬â?¢s style during last yearââ?¬â?¢s Premiership campaign and whilst the other promoted teamââ?¬â?¢s managers led their team through a creditable first season culminating in retaining their top flight status, Mowbrayââ?¬â?¢s West Brom were sent back at the first attempt with barely a whimper. Now I am not going to argue it is impossible to play an attractive game and win things. Barcelona played some of the best football in Europe in winning a La Liga and Championââ?¬â?¢s League double this year. In some of their European fixtures the football was scintillating. Messi, Xavi, Iniesta, Henry, Etoââ?¬â?¢o. The passing and movement was mesmerising. When it came to the crunch, in the semi-final against Chelsea they were fortunate to see off the opposition thanks to questionable officiating and a late goal as the beautiful football deserted them. And again, with Europeââ?¬â?¢s two form teams meeting at Romeââ?¬â?¢s Stadio Olimpico, the much anticipated quality football deserted both teams. So, yes, it is possible to play entertaining football and win. Itââ?¬â?¢s just very rare. Sticking to a strict mantra of playing attractive football does seem to be certain of one thing though. Ultimately, disappointment when the prizes are handed out at the end the season. Just ask Messrs Wenger, Hughes and Mowbray. Conversely, Ferguson, Mourinho and even Guardiola have shown flexibility. An aptitude to know when to sacrifice their footballing ideals to win the game. At a different level of competition, Walter Smith has shown the same pragmatism. Rangers battled valiant on four fronts 2 seasons ago. Competing for an unprecedented quadruple, we emerged with a creditable double. But not the two we wanted. Rangers could not tolerate another season without the big one last season. Again Smith emerged victorious with a double. This time he got his hands on the one we all wanted: the SPL Championship. Four trophies in 2 seasons, reaching the final match of every other competition competed for. That is the only measure of a manager and his abilities: silverware. History will look back far more favourably on Walter Smith than it will Tommy Burns. Mowbray would be better served aiming to emulate Burnââ?¬â?¢s nemesis than Burns himself. Hopefully, however, he will be fooled into believing the bewildering claims of the Celtic masses of preferring style over substance.
  14. Phil Vickery's column from the BBC. Makes a change to read an opinion from a sports writer who actually seems to know something about the game and can discuss the tactics and pattern of games rather than innuendo, comments about what the fans are singing and other such tedious nonsense. How come more supposed football experts in the press can not do this and merely rehash what happened and when or discuss anything but what actually happened on the field?
  15. Whilst every man and his dog is turning down the Celtic job, and bearing in mind that none of these names are even A-List are we still to believe that Celtic are some mythical, magical club, held in high esteem the world over? Martinez, Moyes, Coyle. None of these names seem enamoured with the prospect of the vacant hot-seat. Their current predicament got me to thinking; we often have the draw of their club over-hyped and the pull of the Rangers undersold. However, what does reality tell us? In the past decade or so, at management level we have attracted Dick Advocaat to Ibrox. He was assistant manager of Holland before succeeding Rinus Michels as manager, leading them to the quarter-finals of the World Cup. He also guided PSV to a domestic cup triumph and a league title prior to becoming manager at Rangers in 1998. A big name in football, out with the parochial Scottish game that struggles to look anywhere but within as the European game flourishes and continues without us. The manager who preceded the current incumbent, whilst not the roaring success that was hoped and expected was never the less, at the time, an extraordinary coup. Many of our ever impartial press laughed off suggestions of luring the precocious talent of Paul Le Guen to Govan. A man who had won 3 Ligue 1 titles on the bounce would be headed off to the likes of Real Madrid and was pie in the sky for Rangers fans. And yet, at the beginning of the 2006-07 season PLG was over-seeing the beginning of his Rangers tenure. Such is the extraordinary success throughout Rangers history, built upon managerial stability, that there have only been two other managers in our recent history. Alex McLeish and Walter Smith. Two successful Scottish managers. Smith is a big name in football, but as a Rangers man at heart, as with McLeish (who at the time had only the Hibs and Motherwell jobs to bolster his c.v.) it would be churlish to describe attracting either as a testament to our global pulling power for the biggest names in the game. A man who already has Rangers in his heart takes little persuasion. Moving on to the playing staff. Walter Smith brought the delights of Brian Laudrup and Paul Gascoigne to Ibrox. Laudrup was a member of Denmark's European Championship winning team. He played for some of Europe's greatest club's; Bayern Munich, AC Milan, Fiorentina and then Rangers. He is a great player in every sense of the word. The greatest foreign player to ply his trade in the Scottish game. Paul Gascoigne was a prodigious talent. The most naturally gifted British player of his generation? His exceptional skill and exciting ability to leave defenders in his trail, showcased for Newcastle, Spurs, Lazio helped build his profile. It was, however, his tears at a booking received in the World Cup Semi Final at Italia 90, an iconic football image, that the game's fans will remember him for. An undoubted star player of his generation. The impressive list goes on and on. Andrei Kanchelskis. A Russian international who won the double at Manchester United. Arthur Numan starred for a successful PSV side winning domestic honours and representing the Dutch in an impressive showing at France 98 (Numan started every group game), before losing to eventual finalists Brazil. One of the games top left backs at the time he came to Rangers. Stefan Klos was a two team player. With his first club, Borussia Dortmund, he won league titles and the Champions League before continuing his success with Rangers. The fact he was never capped is down to the legendary Oliver Khan and yet is still one of the most perplexing statistics of the last couple of decades. Ronald De Boer, a legend of Dutch football, who starred most notably for two of European football's great sides in Ajax and Barcelona, made it 3 when he became a Rangers player. He was subsequently followed to the South side of Glasgow by his twin brother Frank during Alex McLeish's reign. The quality of cult hero Dado Prso was late to be recognised, until the Croatian was plucked from obscurity to star for French club AS Monaco. Prso has the distinction of being one of only 4 players to score 4 goals in a single Champions League game along with the likes of Dutch legend Marco Van Basten. Even the current team, built more on defensive solidity and a good team ethic rather than multi-million pound signings and individual brilliance, can boast former Premiership stars in Steve Davis and another Champions League winner in Pedro Mendes (His Porto side defeated Prso's Monaco in the final). The above examples show what an enormous draw Rangers have for the game's elite. From the passion of the fans, the history of the club to the majesty of the Archibald Leitch designed Main stand. Advocaat's legacy of ensuring the completion of the multi-million pound training facility at Auchenowie only serves to enhance this reputation and sell a wonderful club to potential employees. And I haven't even spoken of the heyday of English football in the 80's when Graeme Souness brought their brightest talents, such as England captain Terry Butcher, over the border. Now cast an eye across the city to the poorer relation. The "new" stadium. Made of mechano and falls apart under a light breeze. The budget built version of our impressive Murray Park. Look at the uninspiring names distancing themselves from the Celtic manager's job. Look back through the same recent history at Parkhead and try and identify a Brian Laudrup, a Paul Gascoigne. Even a Dado Prso. The only name in their recent history that may jump out is Larsson. However, he was a man who forged his name at that club. Celtic just does not seem to hold the same appeal to the global stars of the World's greatest game. No bias, no blue tinted specs. Unlike our parochial media my assertion is based in a look at the facts and not my own misguided prejudice. It was with great mirth I read the recent comments of a Burnley fan responding to one of the bitter persuasion's assertion that Owen Coyle would certainly give up a chance at Premiership football to oversee the talents of Paddy McCourt or Darren O'Dea at such a big team. "You're not even the biggest club in your own city!"
  16. After a break for a couple of months, the 'Setting the Standard' project reaches its final stages with a couple of closing articles. The first one from 'Lord Nelson' below is a fascinating look at how Rangers could benefit from changes in the boardroom and is especially relevant with various rumours surrounding the ownership. The final STS article (which offers independent academic credibility for supporter opinions) will be published later this week before the overall expanded report is released next week for download. This expanded report has been printed and will be provided to Rangers FC for official comment. Anyway - onto the penultimate article Setting the Standard: Improvements in the Boardroom (Written by Lord Nelson) This article is going to look at one of the most important areas of the club - the place where the decisions that affect the running of the club - the boardroom. It proposes that two independent directors are appointed in a non-executive position to assist in the decision-making process. It was only 4 and a half years ago that the club was Ã?£74 million in debt and in a great deal of financial difficulty. We got out of that debt following the rights issue that was supported by Sir David Murray (SDM) and the cash from the JJB deal, but yet again the club finds itself in financial difficulty after such a short period of time. Our debt could be in excess of Ã?£30m in January, which is a lot when we consider that we only have facilities of Ã?£36m from the bank, and our outgoings will exceeded our incomings in the months prior to the receipt of the season ticket money. We were in the position that we were unable to even bring one player in on loan during the recent winter transfer window. Both situations arose due to overspending which the club canââ?¬â?¢t afford, but was authorised by the directors nevertheless. It is because of this situation arising twice that it is believed that the Board of Directors of Rangers would benefit from having independent non-executive directors appointed, who may force SDM to at least question and re-examine the level of spending and other decisions and bring a freshness and alternative outlook that can only benefit the club as a whole. Background For the purposes of good corporate governance, listed companies on the major UK exchanges are required to have independent non-executive directors. They do not work on a day-to-day basis but attend board meetings. They have no connection to the company but are involved in strategy and have an oversight of management (see Appendix A for a more in-depth description of their responsibilities). There is currently no requirement for Rangers to have such directors as the Plus Markets exchange where Rangers shares are listed do not have the same level of requirements as other, more primary exchanges. Our rivals across the city are listed on a more senior exchange and as such do have independent non-executive directors - Ian Livingstone, Chief Executive of BT and Thomas Allison, Chairman of Peel Ports as well the well known John Reid, and it believed that the former two would benefit their clubââ?¬â?¢s decision making with their vast business experience. The need for a strong set of non-executive directors was highlighted recently with the biggest loss in UK history following the Royal Bank of Scotlandââ?¬â?¢s near collapse, requiring support from the UK government. One of the causes of this is alleged to have been the inability of the non-executive directors to stand up to Sir Fred Goodwin, which highlights the need for a strong board, who are able to make their feelings known. If RBS can be close to collapse then what is to say that Rangers could not run into serious trouble? That is why as strong board of Directors as possible is required. The new directors should be independent of SDM so that they can stand up against him if they believe that he is incorrect and should not feel threatened or intimidated to give their opinions. They must be able to have his respect and should perhaps be regarded as ââ?¬Å?Captains of Industryââ?¬Â. The current position The blame for the current financial problems has to stay with the directors of the club. Matching the supportersââ?¬â?¢ expectations and keeping the club on a financial even-keel is admittedly an extremely difficult thing to do but with strong leadership, it can be done. We appeared to be in the position where we had to sell our top scorer in the winter transfer window and it is worrying to the support that the club finds itself in this position, and means the outlook remains extremely bleak even with Champions' League qualification for next season. Misleading statements It is believed that it was during the 2001 AGM that someone questioned the increasing debt level which was sitting at Ã?£28 million at that point. The shareholders were reassured by the Chairman at that meeting that it would be irresponsible for the board of directors to allow the debt to increase above Ã?£40 million, but in less than 12 months it had increased to Ã?£52 million, and eventually ended up at the well-publicised Ã?£74 million. It is therefore a myth that many have said that nobody complained when the debt was increasing. The issue was raised but it appears that the shareholders, and therefore the support, were misled. Following the cash that was received from the aforementioned rights issue and the up-front payment of Ã?£18 million received from JJB, the net debt was reduced to under Ã?£6 million in June 2006 and again the support were reassured by SDM in August 2006 that they would be ââ?¬Å?maintaining financial prudenceââ?¬Â. It is not believed that anyone can argue that taking the club to within a few million of its borrowing limit in such a short period of time is maintaining financial prudence, and yet again what the shareholders of the club were told does not reflect the way the reality of the situation. Having independent directors may result in more openness in the running of the club, which the support deserves, given the financial commitment they make each season. Options It would be in the clubââ?¬â?¢s best interests to try and ensure that this level of overspending is made more difficult in the future. (It is impossible to prevent when there is a majority shareholder in place). SDM has made it clear that he wishes to sell the club, but it is equally obvious that there are no potential buyers out there. Any solutions therefore have to be within the current set-up of SDM being the majority shareholder. The support need reassurances that the club will be run on a sound financial footing and there appears to be an inability for this to happen and therefore something has to change. What is required is for SDM to make a major leap and admit that mistakes continue to be made and accept that it would be helpful to have assistance in formulating the plans for the club. Conclusion The decision making of the directors of Rangers can only be enhanced with new, enthusiastic non-executive directors. It is acknowledged that SDM will always have the final say due to his shareholding, but additional, experienced businessmen could bring fresh and innovative ideas and perhaps help him prevent the club getting into a more perilous financial situation. APPENDIX 1 - The role of an Independent non-executive director An independent non-executive director should play the following roles: 1. Participating in formulating strategy of the company The board of directors is responsibility for the management of a company. It does not directly take part in the routine management, but it has to participate in the drafting of strategy of the company. They must use the professional knowledge or common sense, experience and specialty, vision and the advice they get from outside or the people and business relations they have developed to help directors solve related problems. 2. Oversight of management Oversight of management covers two aspects: one is to oversee the management and the company in implementing the rules, procedures and plans established, that is, to see whether the company operates along the established orbit; the other is to check the company to see whether or not it has established a proper and effective internal monitoring system, procedure and guide. The former to see whether the company follows its rules and system in force and the other is to see whether the current system is rational enough. 3. Independent stand It is very important for independent non-executive directors to air their affirmative and objective views, take independent decisions. As an independent non-executive director, the law demands impartiality in taking decisions by taking into account all available information, instead of casting votes according to the views of shareholders who have appointed you. First of all, an independent non-executive director must study and get to know all the information provided by the company; secondly, the voting and decision taking are not influenced, directly or indirectly, by individual interests; thirdly, he must honestly ask himself whether any private interests have influenced his judgement. 4. Protecting the interests of all shareholders As an independent non-executive director, an important task is to protect the interests of all shareholders. APPENDIX 2 - Disclaimers 1. It should be made clear that this proposal does not supersede or replace the requirement for supporter representation on the board, which is a separate subject and is not covered by this proposal. References: 1. http://www.cipe.org/ Further reading: The Higgs report - http://www.berr.gov.uk/files/file23012.pdf
  17. BOB MALCOLM has revealed sickening sectarian abuse has forced him to start a new life on the other side of the WORLD. The former Rangers star is no angel. He's made mistakes in the past and let himself down. He's the first to admit that. But Malcolm has matured in recent years - he's learned his lessons. Yet there are some who simply refuse to forgive and forget. And it's those twisted bigots who are driving Malcolm away to Australia and a new career with Brisbane Roar. The former Motherwell midfielder - who jets off to Oz in two weeks - last night revealed: "I will miss my family, but there is nothing else worth staying here for. "Since I got my driver's license back I've been pulled by the police seven times in three months, all because of the make of my car. "When I was last stopped the policeman asked me what I was doing. I told him I was moving to Australia because I'd had enough of life here. "I've had enough of walking along a street in Glasgow and someone screaming 'ya dirty Orange b*****d' in my face. "I've just had enough of all the hassle. It's the main reason for me wanting to give Australia a go. "I won't miss any of that, it's not worth it anymore. "I will come back one day because I like having my family around me. "For the moment though, I'm just looking forward to getting away." Malcolm, 28, believes it's the right time to try something new. A title winner with Rangers, last season he helped Mark McGhee's Motherwell secure an incredible return to Europe. Now he wants a new challenge and he said: "It's a new life I'm about to embark on and I'm really looking forward to it. "It's something new and it's an exciting time for me. I was asked to go to Australia last year, but I didn't want to miss out on Motherwell going into Europe. "But I now feel it's the right time to move on and try something new. "I've spoke to the manager here and my new manager in Australia. "It's a new challenge and I'm ready to go. I feel as though I've done everything there is to do in Scotland. Even if another Scottish club had come in for me this summer I'd have turned them down because it's time to try something different. "And I don't think you get much different than flying to the other side of the world to play your football." Malcolm will hook up with former Ibrox team-mate Craig Moore at Brisbane Roar. Indeed, he will move into Oz's house until he gets set up on his own. And with the A-League really taking off Down Under, Malcolm can't wait to get started. Ironically, his first game looks set to be against CELTIC on July 12! He added: "The Australian League is developing all the time and big Oz has told me it's a really good standard - I don't think it's too far off the SPL. "Of course, Oz is over there and Ian Ferguson is manager at North Queensland Fury. "On top of that Charlie Miller is there and big Scotty Wilson is also flying out this summer. "So I will have plenty of people around me and that should help me settle in at first. "I think I'll shack up with Oz until I find my feet so it should be interesting times ahead. "I will go over for my medical and if everything is okay I will sign straight away. It's one of those ones, don't knock it until you've tried it. "Danny Tiato is there and so is Robbie Fowler and Kevin Muscat. "The manager has said to me that the league in Australia has really taken off in the last few years and I can't wait to get started. "My first game will be against Celtic on July 12. "That should be interesting. It should all be a good experience." Malcolm insists helping Well into Europe and Gers into the last 16 of the Champions League remain his proudest moments from his time in Scottish football. He reflected: "I've achieved a lot and I will take with me many happy memories. "Obviously growing up as a boy I dreamed of playing for Rangers and I was lucky enough to get that chance. "To win titles and cups with Rangers was incredible and each honour is special in its own right. "Also, helping Motherwell into Europe last season was a major achievement and one I'm very proud of. "At Rangers you are expected to win titles and cups, but it's not every year a provincial team like Motherwell makes it into Europe. "The manager here built a really exciting team and I was proud to be a part of it. "But if I had to pick out one outstanding memory it would be playing my part in helping Rangers into the last 16 of the Champions League for the first time. "It was a major occasion in the club's history and I was lucky enough to be part of it. http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/spl/article2451771.ece Good luck Bob.............
  18. We're often told in football never to go back, it is never as good second time around. Advice Smith, a man whose place in Rangers history was already ensured, should have heeded? Season 2006/07 Smith returned 17 points behind in the league at and with his side already dumped out of both cups. The old campaigner acted immediately to plug the gaps with Weir and Ehiogu brought in to shore up the backline. By the end of the season he had reduced the arrears in the league to ensure 2nd spot. If the league had begun when Smith came in we would have finished first. Finishing up the season with 2 league defeats was disappointing, though the games were meaningless. He also won the two remaining Old Firm games, a sure indicator to the other half of the city that a real challenge would be extended from now on. Smith also succesfully negotiated his opening UEFA cup tie with a thumping four nil home victory. The European run ended prematurely with defeat to Osasuna of Spain, whom whilst not a Barcelona or a Real Madrid were a superior outfit to ourselves at that time. Walter's opening half season must go down as a relative success in as much as it could be having taken over a team and a club in complete disarray. League Runners up Season2007/08 Quite possibly Rangers most remarkable season since Smith's 92/93 team came within touching distance of a Champions League final. Having succesfully navigated tricky qualifying ties against Zeta and Red Star, we were drawn in the group of death with German Champions Stuttgart, French Champions Lyon and the superstars of Barcelona. In a group were many predicted we woudl struggle to get a point, the highlight must undoubtedly be destoying Lyon 3-0 in their own backyard. At the time one of only two teams to emerge from Stade Gerland with the 3 points (might need confirming). We were desperately close to progressing from the group of death but had to make do with a place in the UEFA cup. European progression was to ultimately prove our downfall on the domestic front. Magnificent victories against Panathinaikos, Werder Bremen and Fiorentina culminated in that final in Manchester where we were undone by a terrific Zenit st Petersburg side who went on to defeat Man Utd in the super cup. The exertions of Europe allied to an unwillingness from our own football association to accomodate such fixture chaos (as granted to Zenit) in addition to unscrupulous behaviour from our historic rivals earlier in the season, led to us having to complete 4 fixtures in just 8 days. An unprecedented fixture calendar ultimately contributed to losing the title on the final day of the season by just 3 points as the fatigue of fixture congestion told on our squad. The heartbreak of the impressive UEFA cup run and the league campaign was somewhat attenuated by a Scottish Cup and leagu Cup double. Only the fatigue enducing assault on all four trophies, allied to the fixture problems caused by the Scottish weather, Celtic's underhand behaviour and an uncooperative SFA prevented a more succesful campaign. The hurt felt at losing out on the league title in such difficult circumstances should not over rule the rest of the campaign. It woudl be churlish to describe a season in which we reached our first European final in decades, won both domestic cups and only lost out on the league due to exceptional circumstances as an unsuccesful season. League Runners up Scottish Cup Winners League Cup Winners Uefa Cup Runners up Season 2008/9 Walter Smith would have a lot to do to win over his detractors after the debacle that was Kaunus. Despite making the CIS cup final, defeat to Celtic will not have made that task any easier. However, last day title success as we romped to victory against our bogey side in Dundee United was the perfect response. In his first half season the league was already lost. Last year we through it away, although the hitherto unseen obstacles to being crowned top dogs in Scotland made it a nigh on impossible task, making the title success of Sunday all the sweeter. A potential league and cup double that could be completed against Falkirk this Saturday must also see this year considered an overall success despite the implications of the early European exit. League Winners League Cup Runners Up Scottish Cup Finalists (Potential Winners) Summary So, is the old adage true. Does going back never work out? Should Smith not have risked tarnishing his legendary status with the light blue legions? 1 league trophy, 1 league cup, potentially 2 Scottish cups, a European final and being in with a shout until the final 90 minutes of every other competition we have entered says no. You can talk about dodgy tactics, a playing not to lose mentality and odd formations and line ups. You cannot however argue with the statistics. Ask Smith himself, a Rangers fan, and i'll bet I can guess his answer. :spl:
  19. Thought I'd pick out five games that set us up for number 52. Others might disagree but hopefully get some debate. It's the nature of the season that I could also list five games where we almost blew it... Falkirk 0 - 1 Rangers (09.08.08) http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_prem/7548329.stm Bit of a forgotten victory this one but vital nonetheless. Just days after the Kaunas debacle, there was a horrible atmosphere surrounding the club, the fans reaching breaking point with an under-fire Murray. I recall a stream of posts on messageboards by Rangers fans stating they'd rather we lost the first game of the league season as it would put unbearable pressure on the custodian. Unsurprisingly Rangers played like arses, and had to rely on a McGregor penalty save and a second half Velicka strike to take three big points to get some semblance of normality back at the club. We won five of our next six games, only drawing at Pittodrie thanks to Corrupt Officiating Decision No. 1 of the season ruling out Beasley's late strike. Rangers 2 - 0 Dundee United (31.01.09) http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_prem/7858967.stm This match had dropped points written all over it at a time when Celtic were still 4 points clear. Rangers huffed and puffed without creating much in terms of chances until Fleck netted a high-pressure penalty with 10 minutes left. A last-minute Lafferty goal put gloss on the scoreline but I feel we'd have struggled to come back if we'd dropped further behind Celtic at this stage. Admittedly that sounds strange in a season when we clawed back a 7-point deficit not once but twice, but at the time the fans were all in agreement what a vital 3 points this was. Unsurprisingly speccy had something to say about the penalty decision. Roon ye. Hibs 2 - 3 Rangers (19.04.09) http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_prem/8003509.stm This is the game the bheasts had earmarked as the day we would fall out of the title race. It was also the game that put the shiters up me more than any other towards the end of the season. The monkeys had won the day before so the pressure was well and truly on. Drop points, and I didn't fancy our chances of taking the flag, but win and it would lay down a marker that we had the bottle to close out the title. Just as we had to yesterday, we came out the traps from the first whistle and scored three good goals and the final scoreline flattered Hibs IMO. I reckon the chimps' morale took a bit of a blow after we left Easter Road with all three points. Celtic managed two streaky wins from their next (last) five games while we romped home to take the title by four points. Rangers 1 - 0 Celtic (09.05.09) http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_prem/8032832.stm One of the biggest games in the history of Rangers IMO. We're all aware of the stakes tied in with this season's title. If we hadn't won this one I firmly believe we'd have lost the league as I reckon Celtic would have won their last three games, certainly the two home ones anyway. A draw would have kept Celtic a point ahead with three games left, while a defeat would have been game, set and match to the bheasts. While Celtic enjoyed the bulk of the possession, we scored and they didn't. This defeat killed them psychologically for me. Dundee Utd 0 - 3 Champions (24.05.09) http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_prem/8062744.stm Hey, hey, hey, it's a beautiful Sunday...
  20. MON THE HIBBEES !!! Back in our own hands, COME ON THE RANGERS. 90 minutes from history. Lets take this title by the scruff of the neck and WIN IT !!!! COME ON !!!!!!!!!!!!!
  21. CELTIC Football Club today announced that it is to mark National Famine Memorial Day on May 17, 2009. The day has been earmarked by the Irish Government to commemorate and honour the 1.5million people who either perished or emigrated from Ireland during the Great Famine from 1845 to 1851. As a mark of respect, the Celtic team will wear the clubââ?¬â?¢s Celtic Cross on their shirts when they plays Hibernian on Sunday. The Cross, representing a bridge between Scottish and Irish cultures, is the symbol of the clubââ?¬â?¢s charitable arm, established to continue the work initiated by the clubââ?¬â?¢s founder Brother Walfrid, an Irish Marist Brother. Celtic Chairman John Reid said: ââ?¬Å?Given Celticââ?¬â?¢s proud Irish heritage, this club is inextricably linked to the Great Famine and the subsequent immigration from Ireland. ââ?¬Å?Celtic Football Club, therefore, is proud to be marking National Famine Memorial Day in this manner as we pay our respects to all those affected by the Great Hunger, one of the most tragic chapters in modern world history. ââ?¬Å?The Irish Famine resulted in death, disease and displacement of people on an unimaginable scale, with the West of Scotland becoming a principal point of refuge. ââ?¬Å?The Famine is a lesson from history which should never be forgotten, but from the despair and death of famine arose new hope, new life and a new future. Part of that came in the shape of Celtic Football Club. ââ?¬Å?The desperate people who fled Ireland and their offspring born in Scotland, became the collective parents of Celtic Football Club. ââ?¬Å?The clubââ?¬â?¢s main inspiration, Brother Walfrid and Michael Davitt, the clubââ?¬â?¢s first patron, were both young children during the Famine in Ireland. ââ?¬Å?Celtic is a Scottish club with proud Irish roots, an organisation which represents a fusion of cultures between both countries. We are a club open to all and while we celebrate our traditions, it is important that we also celebrate our diversity. ââ?¬Å?During the past 120 years, Celtic has developed into a world-class football organisation which strives for excellence and success on and off the field. ââ?¬Å?However, while we always aim to build and grow, there will be one constant - we will always remain much more than a football club and we will always remember our proud heritage.ââ?¬Â
  22. This is probably the biggest game in our history...and i'm not going.(feckin work) We should have had the first leg done and dusted, but for a rediculous corner decision which led to a goal, Scunthorpe may have been playing in the League 1 final play off at Wembley. However, anyone who knows anything about the Iron, knows they love to do it dramatically and the hard way too. If your bored on Friday and looking for some entertainment, i advice you to watch this play off 2nd leg being played at the Stadium MK, which is being shown on Sky Sports 1 K.O 19.45hrs. Scunthorpe is my english team and i have supported them for the best part of 30 years toe to toe with Rangers. They are looking for some kind of pay off for a fantastic season where loveley attacking, flowing football has been played. A unbelievable Cup final game was already played at Wembley where we lost 3-2 to relegated Luton with an extra time winner and really should have won in the Johnsons paint trophy final. So, look out for Scunthorpe looking to put the score right and gain promotion to the Champioship, a league where we could more than hold our own. If you don't know much about League 1 football and want to give it a go, watch out for 'Hooper man' (young Gary Hooper, Scunthorpes answer to Gary Linekar). And Paul Hurst and Kevan Hayes, the trio light up Scunnys attacking play and it's a delight to watch. My prediction, Scunthorpe to do it on penalties. Come on!!!
  23. Tom Boyd led Wim Jansen's side to the championship in 1998 to prevent Rangers completing a decade of dominance, but he is convinced that if Gordon Strachan's leaders claim the flag for the fourth successive season then they can consign their arch rivals to the wilderness for years to come. Richard Gough, who inspired Rangers to those nine successive titles between 1989-97, has argued that debt-free Celtic will go on to at least match that achievement if they retain the trophy. Rangers are around �£30 million in the red and desperately need the �£15 million which comes with the automatic qualification for next season's Champions League money. However, failure to win the championship and claim that revenue could leave them disappearing in Celtic's rear-view mirror. "Who am I to argue with Richard Gough?" said Boyd. "I certainly hope he's right. "If you believe the financial problems that Rangers have at this moment in time then this title is crucial to them. "Celtic are on this three-in-a-row run and if Rangers financial position is as bad as people say then they won't be able to afford the better quality players if they don't win the league this season. "The money that the Champions League brings in is colossal and it would be one of the most vital championship wins in Rangers' history for those reasons. "There was a lot of pressure on us in 1998 to win the title and stop 10-in-a-row and that was evident in some of our results. The financial position that Rangers are in now makes this title every bit as intense for them as it was for us then. "Rangers need the money to compete and automatic entry into the Champions League. We didn't have that back then as we had to negotiate the qualifiers and that money wasn't guaranteed. "There is an added pressure for Rangers because a lot could hinge on their success or failure in this title race." Murdo MacLeod won four championship medals with Celtic, including last-day successes in 1979 and 1986. Now an analyst for BBC Scotland, MacLeod believes that the current side surrendering their advantage would constitute capitulation. His main concern is that Hibernian's top scorer, Derek Riordan, signed and discarded by Strachan in seemingly arbitrary fashion, will have yet another say in this season's denoument. Riordan scored in the 1-1 draw against Rangers which handed Celtic an unlikely lifeline on Wednesday, and he will be out for revenge at Easter Road on Sunday. "If you're ahead with two games to play then I think you can only throw it away," said MacLeod. "You're at the stage with two games to go when you say: 'Let's win at Easter Road and then at Celtic Park'. That's a situation you would take all the time. "Derek won't hold back on Sunday, though. He'll look back on his time at Celtic and not be happy with the amount of games he played. "He felt he didn't get a chance. He's certainly capable of scoring and I'm sure that possibility is in the thoughts of a lot of Celtic fans just now. "I think he'll have a point to prove. Derek knows how tight it is in the title race but he has more affection for Hibs than anyone else. "He won't look at Celtic as one of his old teams that he has a soft spot for. He is a big Hibs man and, 100 per cent, he will be wanting them to win." http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/scottishpremier/celtic/5325733/Title-outcome-could-affect-Rangers-Celtic-battle-for-years-to-come-says-Tom-Boyd.html
  24. PREMIERSHIP heavyweights Arsenal have invited Rangers to take part in the prestigious Emirates Cup at the Gunners' breathtaking stadium in August, with French Ligue 1 side Paris Saint-Germain and Atletico Madrid from Spain completing the four-team line up. Walter Smith's men will open the tournament with a mouth-watering clash against PSG at 2pm on Saturday, August 1 then close the competition with a glamour tie against Arsenal's all-stars at 4.15pm on Sunday, August 2. Former Rangers midfielder Jeremy ClementRangers will receive 9,000 tickets for both matches but there will be no reunion with former manager Paul Le Guen as the French club have announced he will leave at the end of the current season. However, ex-midfielder Jeremy Clement could feature while top-drawer talent like Robin Van Persie, Andrey Arshavin, Cesc Fabregas, Gael Clichy and Theo Walcott should be on show for Arsenal at the Emirates. Rangers Chief Executive Martin Bain commented: "We are delighted to be playing Arsenal and PSG in the Emirates Cup this summer. It was an honour to be invited by Arsenal, who like us have a rich history and proud traditions, and we look forward to renewing our friendship in London this August. Our fans will give the team great support in these two high-profile matches and there is little doubt it will be an entertaining tournament." Rangers Manager Walter Smith commented: "The Emirates Cup will capture the imagination of our supporters and everyone at the Club is looking forward to competing against Arsenal and PSG. Arsene Wenger's side are one of the best in Europe and their young team will provide a stiff test for our players. However, it is a challenge they will all relish and our fans will enjoy both matches at the state-of-the-art Emirates Stadium." Arsenal Chief Executive Ivan Gazidis commented: "We are delighted to be once again hosting the Emirates Cup in August 2009. Rangers, Atletico Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain all have great pedigree and will contribute to an exciting weekend of pre-season football.Arsena star Robin van Persie "The tournament will provide a very competitive level of preparation for all the teams ahead of the 2009/2010 season." TICKET INFORMATION Tickets will go on sale to season ticket holders on Monday, May 25 from the sales channels below. Season ticket holders can buy one ticket per season ticket for each day, and up to a maximum of four tickets for each day in one purchase - all with a valid Rangers number. Subject to demand, season ticket holders will then have an option to purchase a second ticket for each day - details will be communicated following initial season ticket holder uptake. Every ticket purchased will require an individual name and unique Rangers number along with a contact telephone number and address. At this stage, supporters clubs are invited to apply for tickets before June 12 but the allocation will be subject to season ticket holder uptake. Please note that club applications will only be accepted where each ticket applied for is attributed to a named member with a unique Rangers Number. SALES CHANNELS HERE�· 0871 702 1972 Rangers ticket centre Prices: Adults from �£25 - �£40 per day / ticket Concessions from �£15 - �£25 per day / ticket (under 16 or over 65) Emirates Cup 2009 Match Schedule Saturday August 1, 2009 Rangers v Paris Saint-Germain (2pm Kick-off) Arsenal v Atletico Madrid (4.15pm Kick-off) Sunday August 2, 2009 Atletico Madrid v Paris Saint-Germain (2pm kick-off) Arsenal v Rangers (4.15pm kick-off)
  25. WALTER SMITH insists that Rangers wonââ?¬â?¢t crumble and gift Celtic nine-in-a-row glory. The Ibrox boss hit out after Gers legend Richard Gough confessed to his fear that the Hoops stand on the brink of history. Former Light Blues skipper Gough reckons losing the SPL crown to Celts could spark a catastrophic collapse at Ibrox. But, on the eve of tomorrowââ?¬â?¢s vital Old Firm clash at Ibrox, Smith claimed Gough is WRONG. He said: ââ?¬Å?I can never remember thinking winning four-in-a-row would mean going on to win nine-in-a-row. ââ?¬Å?Itââ?¬â?¢s difficult enough to win one. Youââ?¬â?¢d have to win four, then win four again and then start on the ninth. ââ?¬Å?It is always difficult to find that level of consistency. ââ?¬Å?You donââ?¬â?¢t go from four to nine in five minutes. ââ?¬Å?I donââ?¬â?¢t think anybody here ever thought of doing nine in the midst of two, three or four-in-a-row. ââ?¬Å?Itââ?¬â?¢s a good theory but there is a lot of assumption in there.ââ?¬Â Smith is focused on four games rather than four titles as the championship race enters the final furlong. Victory would thrust Gers two points clear of the Hoops but even if that happens, Smith reckons the tussle will go to the wire. He said: ââ?¬Å?The Old Firm game tends to dominate everyoneââ?¬â?¢s thoughts, but it would show a disregard to the other teams we still have to play if we said this was a ââ?¬Ë?must winââ?¬â?¢ match. ââ?¬Å?We canââ?¬â?¢t run away from the fact that itââ?¬â?¢s going to be a vitally important match for both teams in the quest to win a championship. ââ?¬Å?But I donââ?¬â?¢t think we can disregard the others teams. The three remaining matches we have will be extremely tough. ââ?¬Å?But, if you have thoughts of winning the championship, then youââ?¬â?¢d want to win this game. ââ?¬Å?I find it difficult to separate one Old Firm game from another. You always have that bit of tension and nervousness before all the derby games. ââ?¬Å?It is the same every season and the intensity increases as the season goes on. ââ?¬Å?If you are asking me if this one is any more important than any other, Iââ?¬â?¢d have to say no. ââ?¬Å?But it IS a vitally important game for both clubs.ââ?¬Â Smith insisted heââ?¬â?¢s NOT worried by Tom Murphyââ?¬â?¢s appointment as a linesman tomorrow. He clashed with Murphy after a draw at Motherwell earlier this season, but Smith said: ââ?¬Å?Yes, it is an interesting decision, but I have no problem with him officiating the game. None at all. ââ?¬Å?I said what I said after the Motherwell game. He has since officiated other games for us so I donââ?¬â?¢t have any problem with him officiating this one.ââ?¬Â But the Gers gaffer IS annoyed that Gers must play two games in less than 70 hours next week. They face Hibs on Wednesday night and Aberdeen on Saturday lunchtime while Celts have FIVE DAYS between their games. Advertisement SunSport first revealed Gers were unhappy with the timings back on April 21 and Smith confirmed: ââ?¬Å?I felt it was unfair of them to ask us to play two games within two days when it was not necessary, especially after what happened to us last season. ââ?¬Å?That aspect of the split is an unfair one from our point of view and we have expressed our concern.ââ?¬Â Smith threw open the gates of Murray Park to allow Gough, now 47, to train with the first-team yesterday. He said: ââ?¬Å?Richard is the same as before ââ?¬â? fit but hopeless. But, seriously, he is in good nick and it was good to see him.ââ?¬Â Gough was joined by another ex-Gers captain, Barry Ferguson, for a full session. Fergie was returning from his calf injury but wonââ?¬â?¢t be considered for the crucial lunchtime clash with SPL leaders Celts. And Gers are also sweating over crocked left-back Sasa Papac as he battles knee ligament problems. Smith said: ââ?¬Å?We have a doubt over Sasa for Saturday. ââ?¬Å?He has strained ligaments on the outside of a knee. ââ?¬Å?It is causing him a problem, especially when he turns. ââ?¬Å?We are keen to have him and there is still a possibility we will have him. ââ?¬Å?But if he misses Saturday, he will be fit for the next week. ââ?¬Å?Barry is progressing but needs a few more daysââ?¬â?¢ training before he is up to match fitness. ââ?¬Å?I would hope that would be in the next few days. ââ?¬Å?Hopefully once Barry comes back that will be him fit and he would be fit for us in the remaining games of the season.ââ?¬Â Meanwhile, Kirk Broadfoot hopes to find a cure for his foot problem after visiting a specialist yesterday. Smith said: ââ?¬Å?Kirk is seeing a specialist in London. Heââ?¬â?¢s had a bit of trouble with his foot and hopefully he can find a solution to the problem. ââ?¬Å?He is now pain-free, except when he kicks a ball, which is a problem for a footballer!ââ?¬Â http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/spl/article2417724.ece
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