Search the Community

Well, Well, Wellââ?¬Â¦.. So we had to endure another stuttering away SPL performance at the weekend against Motherwell. We didnââ?¬â?¢t really start the game at all and only lifted our performance when we went a goal down. I know it is easy to say, but it was a terrible goal to lose. We had a few opportunities to clear the danger, but Thompson dithered and Weir missed his tackle and we were suddenly a goal down. We did respond well to the set back by hitting the bar and having a header scrambled clear. The introduction of JCD ensured that we started the 2nd half at breakneck speed but unfortunately, JCD had leave the field after only 8 minutes due to an injury. Beasley was then introduced and he became our hero by getting a penalty after some brilliantly wing play. Boyd dispatched the penalty with aplomb, but it is worth noting that he missed two guilt-edged chances in the 2nd half. All in all it was a pretty poor performance from Rangers and IMO, and as I said in my rant of last week, we really need to decide on our ââ?¬Ë?strongest 11ââ?¬â?¢ and give them a sustained run of games. This ââ?¬Ë?chopping and changingââ?¬â?¢ isnââ?¬â?¢t doing us any favours and the quicker we get to playing a settled 11 the better. Another slight concern is the fact that in the majority of games this season, we have been slow to start games and improve significantly in the 2nd half. Maybe this is something that the coaching staff and look at and rectify. Bring On The Spaniards By The Scoreââ?¬Â¦.. Well, if we were in dreamland after the Stuttgart victory, we are in heaven after the destruction of Lyon in their own backyard. Last nights demolition of the French Champions was nothing short of outstanding and will have football fans, commentators, players and managers from all over Europe taking notice of ââ?¬Ë?The Rangersââ?¬â?¢. That team performance has to go down as one of the best in recent history, if not of all time. I am not just talking about Rangers European performances, I am talking about Scottish team performances. Let no-one take anything away from us. Lyon are a genuine force in Europe, they have fantastic players, they have won the French title in the last 6 consecutive seasons and we dismantled them in their ââ?¬Ë?Lyons Denââ?¬â?¢. Isnââ?¬â?¢t it ironic that their home is entitled ââ?¬Ë?Gerlandââ?¬â?¢Ã¢â?¬Â¦Ã¢â?¬Â¦ Our detractors tried to deflate us after our opening CL victory by claiming that Stuttgart were a ââ?¬Ë?pub teamââ?¬â?¢. I wonder how long it will take for Lyon to suffer such a relegation? Letââ?¬â?¢s remind ourselves that the self-same detractors were chuckling at our draw in the ââ?¬Ë?Group Of Deathââ?¬â?¢ and were claiming that weââ?¬â?¢d be lucky to get a single point. As we sing ââ?¬Ë?Champions League? Weââ?¬â?¢re having a laughââ?¬â?¢ (and a ball it is safe to say). We had to endure an initial onslaught from Lyon, but after we settled, the players stood shoulder to shoulder against the waves of attacks and started to impose themselves in key areas. Fergie, Hendami and Thommo were a brilliant shield in front of the defence and Beasley and McCulloch showed impressive stamina to help their full-backs and support Cousin who was superb as the lone striker. This may sound cruel, but watching Cousin (and JCD previously) shows why WS had to buy strikers. None of our other strikers could play this role as well. They all have other qualities, but Cousin showed exactly how you play this role. You work you ass of in the understanding that you will get kicked all over the pitch, run yourself empty and may only get one chance. When that chance presents itself, and at this level, you MUST put the ball in the back of the net ââ?¬â?? that is exactly what Cousin did and he set up RUN DMB for the killer 3rd goal. I cannot go on without mentioning the fantastic Rangers support. The Lyon fans were impressive but all through the game, the travelling Bears came through loud and clear and I was certainly proud of their efforts. The ââ?¬Ë?Come On Over To My Placeââ?¬â?¢ and ââ?¬Ë?Are You Watching PLGââ?¬â?¢ raised a wee chuckle at ââ?¬Ë?Chez Cammyââ?¬â?¢. So next in our sights are the mighty Barca ââ?¬â?? we welcome them to Ibrox with absolutely nothing to fear. We arenââ?¬â?¢t expected to take anything from them over two games, so hopefully the players will go into these games and play with a freedom that allows them to express themselves and after last night, you just never knowââ?¬Â¦. One last word on WS favoured 4-1-4-1 (or 4-5-1) formation ââ?¬â?? I wonder if the fan who was sat behind me at the Red Star game is still chanting ââ?¬Ë?4-5-1 is unaccptableââ?¬â?¢Ã¢â?¬Â¦ Time To Get Selfish? Am I the only one getting a bit tired of the ââ?¬Ë?great for Scottish footballââ?¬â?¢ comments that have followed our 2 astonishing (brilliant!) CL victories? The reason I say this is that if you were to conduct a straw poll of ââ?¬Ë?Scottish Football fansââ?¬â?¢, Iââ?¬â?¢m betting that the majority would be wishing that we got ââ?¬Ë?Donald Duckedââ?¬â?¢ in the CL. Now, I am not complaining about that attitude, it is their choice. I am simply saying that, like them, I only really care about my team and I am happy in the knowledge that our victories have been great for ââ?¬Ë?The Rangersââ?¬â?¢. Our latest victories have seen us add to our (as well as ââ?¬Ë?Scotlandââ?¬â?¢sââ?¬â?¢) co-efficient and has earned us a few more ââ?¬Ë?bobââ?¬â?¢ in the process. It is also safe to say that it has seen our profile rise in footballing circles. We currently sit joint top of the ââ?¬Ë?group of deathââ?¬â?¢ with 6 points from 2 games having defeated the German and French Champions. Itââ?¬â?¢s Worth Reminding Ourselves I will not tire in reminding ourselves that our current charges are a ââ?¬Ë?new teamââ?¬â?¢ who have been thrown together during pre-season so there will be grey skies as well as blue this season. Please remember this when having a say on formations, players ability (or perceived lack off), results and performances. I think it is fair to say that compared to last season, we have a better squad, a better chance of winning trophies and one thing that is most evident this season, is that we appear to have rekindled the famous ââ?¬Ë?Team Spiritââ?¬â?¢. WS has gotten a decent mix of youth and experience and of home grown talent and ââ?¬Ë?foreign importsââ?¬â?¢. What all the new additions seem to have though is a determination for the team and club to do well and they put this above ââ?¬Ë?personal gainââ?¬â?¢. It is also worth remembering that we have some very young and raw talent and given that, they are going to make mistakes. Christ, the most seasoned of pros make mistakes. So lets get of players backs and get behind ever one of them ââ?¬â?? we just might be on the verge of something special here people. Cammy F ââ?¬â?? We Are The Peopleââ?¬Â¦.

East Fife v Rangers 1986/87 For the Rangers fans of my generation, our League Cup tie against East Fife in 1986 was the first opportunity to visit Old Bayview. The game attracted over 10,000 fans who were shoehorned into the little ground in Methil. What I can remember from this game was that it was early in the Souness era and we went into the game on the back of an inconsistent start to the season, but we were odds-on to defeat the Methil Men. At the time, I was working beside an East Fife player - Stuart Burgess ââ?¬â?? who went on to play in the SPL for Falkirk ââ?¬â?? If I remember correctly, Burgess inflicted a serious injury on Colin West during the game after a horrific challenge and was on the receiving end of ââ?¬Ë?retributionââ?¬â?¢ from Terry Butcher. The game finished 0-0 after extra time and Rangers escaped with a victory after a tense penalty shoot-out (which was won 5-4). I am sure that we also missed a penalty in normal time, but that could be my mind playing tricks on me! The game wasnââ?¬â?¢t memorable for any reason, other than it was my first visit to Bayview. So what can the Rangers of 2007 take from the above game? Well, not to underestimate the opposition and not to take victory for granted. Also, it is worth noting that the League Cup campaign gave Souness his first trophy after we defeated Craptic 2-1 in the final. That victory gave is a springboard in the league as well. East Fifeââ?¬â?¢s greatest times were in the late 40ââ?¬â?¢s when they were managed by the great Scott Symon who guided the Fife club to ââ?¬Ë?Bââ?¬â?¢ championship and league cup glory. Further success was gained in the next decade including one season where East Fife led the first division championship race for almost the entire season, only to be pipped for the title by Rangers. For further information (itââ?¬â?¢s a decent read) can be gained from East Fifeââ?¬â?¢s official website - http://www.eastfife.org/details.asp?type=history6 Wunderbar What can I say about the marvellous start to our latest Champions League adventure? After a very nervous start, we came onto a game and in the 2nd half played some wonderful football. On a night like that, it is hard to pick out players for ââ?¬Ë?special praiseââ?¬â?¢ as the entire team were fantastic. However, the Stuttgart game demonstrated just how much we need Barry Ferguson and once again, BF shows us that he is one of the best midfield players this country has produced in the last 2 decades. His drive, desire, leadership qualities were there for all to see. In my opinion that was Fergusonââ?¬â?¢s best game in a Rangers jersey since he ran the entire Bayern Leverkusen a merry jig in the BayArena. Some people have questioned (rightly or wrongly) why Barry Ferguson hasnââ?¬â?¢t performed to this level since his return from Blackburn. In my opinion, this is the first time since his return that he has actually had players alongside him who complement his game. When Walter Smith returned he knew that his first priority was to fix the defence that had more leaks than a very leaky thing. His second was to ensure that he could surround our best footballer with players who complemented his style. In players like Thompson, Hendami, Thomson, SW and Lee McCulloch, Ferguson has players who, like him, have desire, drive, determination as well as undoubted ability. Hopefully this will see Barry Ferguson return to his best. After going a goal behind, the response from the players was phenomenal. Instead of letting the heads drop, we just rolled up our sleeves, pushed forward and eventually got our just reward. Charlie Adamââ?¬â?¢s goal brilliant but we can not go any further without a special mention to Alan Hutton for his storming runs for both goals. JCB was coolness personified as he blasted home the penalty. Dolly Demolished So Saturday was the latest instalment of the most one-sided rivalry in World Football. With the visitors firmly stuck in the 80ââ?¬â?¢s when they were a ââ?¬Ë?forceââ?¬â?¢ for about 25 minutes, they still believe that they are a ââ?¬Ë?rivalââ?¬â?¢ to the most successful club in the world. Meanwhile, we the Rangers fans treat them for what they are, a minor irritation from the frozen North. To illustrate to any reading Dollies how ridiculous there claims of a ââ?¬Ë?rivalryââ?¬â?¢ are lets sing a wee song ââ?¬â?? to the tune of One Man Went To Mow : 1 Year Since You Won, Since You Won At Ibrox 2 Years Since You Won, Since You Won At Ibrox 3 Years Since You Won, Since You Won At Ibrox 4 Years Since You Won, Since You Won At Ibrox 5 Years Since You Won, Since You Won At Ibrox 6 Years Since You Won, Since You Won At Ibrox 7 Years Since You Won, Since You Won At Ibrox 8 Years Since You Won, Since You Won At Ibrox 9 Years Since You Won, Since You Won At Ibrox 10 Years Since You Won, Since You Won At Ibrox 11 Years Since You Won, Since You Won At Ibrox 12 Years Since You Won, Since You Won At Ibrox 13 Years Since You Won, Since You Won At Ibrox 14 Years Since You Won, Since You Won At Ibrox 15 Years Since You Won, Since You Won At Ibrox 16 Years Since You Won, Since You Won At Ibrox The latest thumping of Abergreen was never in doubt after Lee McCullochââ?¬â?¢s stunning opener which seemed to spur us on to yet another fantastic 2nd half performance. SN then killed the game with his first goal for us which was brilliantly taken. His full debut was rudely cut short by a dreadful tackle by the ââ?¬Ë?hate-filledââ?¬â?¢ Zander Diamond. SNââ?¬â?¢s replacement Kris Boyd scored a good 3rd goal which was just the icing on the cake. One last question for any Dollies that have made it this far ââ?¬â?? when you sing ââ?¬Ë?Weââ?¬â?¢re Only Sheep Shagging Barstewardsââ?¬â?¢ ââ?¬â?? what part of that statement makes it acceptable and something to shout about? Artur Boric Surely I wasnââ?¬â?¢t the only one who had a wee chuckle at the best keeper in Europe (cough, splutter) gifting the Hibees two goals and 3 points on Sunday? Anyway, this isnââ?¬â?¢t a critique of his abilities, but to look at his indiscretions towards the Hibs fans. As well as giving them the finger, he celebrated both Craptic goals in an ââ?¬Ë?unsavouryââ?¬â?¢ manner. Add this to the FACT that he has already been warned by the Police after gesticulating at us (any MOPES reading it wasnââ?¬â?¢t for blessing himself) surely something has to be done? Never mind Artur, I am sure that youââ?¬â?¢ll once again find yourself in a park miles from youââ?¬â?¢re home where a pregnant woman will be getting racially abused by a mysterous gang of racist thugs and youââ?¬â?¢ll be the hero once again. Cammy F ââ?¬â?? We Are The Peopleââ?¬Â¦.

UEFA chief William Galliard last night praised Rangers' fight against sectarianism but warned their supporters not to ruin the good work in Lyon. Around 4,000 Ibrox fans are expected to make the trip to the South of France for the Champions League crunch tomorrow night. The situation at Rangers has been monitored in the past year and Galliard has been delighted with the club's efforts to silence the unwelcome minority who had attracted UEFA's attention. But Galliard warned there was no room for smugness ahead of the game in the Stade Gerland. He said: "We know the efforts being made by Rangers in fighting sectarianism. "I am confident the Rangers fans can keep the spirit in Lyon in the right way and the way they have been doing recently.

http://sport.setanta.com/en/Sport/News/Football/2007/09/28/SPL-Buffel-on-Hannover/ High hopes for Tam. I'm sure it'll work out.

Saw a similar thread on FF and wondered what the Gersnet users thought. Just say in a fantasy world that these 2 managers applied for the vacant managers post at Ibrox. Who would you prefer to become manager?

WALTER SMITH paid tribute to Kris Boyd after the striker notched his 50th and 51st Rangers goals in the 4-0 CIS Insurance Cup win over East Fife this evening. Boyd reached his half-century with a tap-in from close range and then added No 51 from the penalty spot after Thomas Buffel was fouled in the box. The striker, who moved to Ibrox from Kilmarnock in January 2006, has often had to settle for a place on the substitutes bench this season as Smith runs an eye over new strikers Jean-Claude Darcheville and Daniel Cousin. But the manager revealed that the Ayrshire goal machine remains a very big part of his future plans. Smith said: "It's terrific going from Kris. He's worked hard this season in terms of his fitness. "He has done really well for us and I think he's improving as a player. He has got his own psyche where he sees himself as a goal scorer first and foremost. "But since I've come back to the club he's also worked very hard for the team as well. We have no complaints about him at all. "We know what Kris can do. Fifty goals in two and a half years in a Rangers team that has not been that superior to the opposition is a terrific testimony to him." 51 goals in what, just under 2 years? And what age is he, 23? By that ratio, he'll get 100 every 2 years, meaning by the time he's 33 he'll have hit what, 500 goals? I've had a couple of beers after work tonight so my calculation could be, and probably is, miles off. Now obviously that ratio won't continue, surely, but it's still a top-notch strike rate. I, like most, don't rate Boyd all that highly due to his all-round game being a tad lackluster, but you can't argue with goals, and if he keeps grabbing them at the rate he has done since arriving, more power to him. So yeah, just thought I'd post this to congratulate Kris on reaching the half century tonight.

how about a new banner for celtics next visit to ibrox - "celtc - thick as shit since 1888"

Allan McGregor has committed himself to Rangers after signing a new three-year contract at Ibrox. The 25-year-old goalkeeper had looked to be on his way out last season, but was eventually given a chance under then manager Paul Le Guen when Frenchman Lionel Letizi was injured. He has retained his place between the posts under Walter Smith's tenure and is delighted to sign with the Glasgow giants. "I'm here for another three years now and I'm delighted about that," McGregor said. "I wanted to leave last year because I didn't think I was going to play. "The only reason I did get in the team was because of Lionel Letizi's injury. "It can take someone else's misfortune to give you that chance, so I'm glad it happened and that I stayed at the club in the end." Glad for him,and Gers,he certalnly deserves it :cheers:

In Pete's absence I'll quickly do this: Saturday, 22 September 2007 Falkirk v Motherwell, 15:00 Gretna v Dundee Utd, 15:00 Inverness CT v Hearts, 15:00 Kilmarnock v St Mirren, 15:00 Sunday, 23 September 2007 Hibernian v Celtic, 14:00 Rangers v Aberdeen, 15:00 Mark McGhee's Motherwell have been impressive so far this season and following their win in Aberdeen last week they make the trip to Falkirk who are conceding goals for fun despite trying to play a bit of football. This game doesnt look attractive on paper but probably wont be a bad match for the viewer. Id say a narrow 2-1 to Motherwell but a draw wouldnt send any shock waves. Gretna are now finding their feet in the SPL and may be getting used to playing at Fir Park. They entertain Dundee Utd who were my tip for a top 5 finish this season. Craig Levein has got something about him with this team and they are IMO back as a top 6 team where they belong. They have a winning streak about them and the chairman is getting on well with the manager and morale is high. I cant see anything other than an away win here. Hearts have finally kicked off there season with 2 good wins at Motherwell then against Rangers. They play a Caley side who are being beaten every week despite Craig Brewster returning to the team. Brewster has been a bit unlucky fixture wise since returning with trips to Hibs and Celtic so will expect better in his first home game in charge. I can see a draw here although Hearts will start as favourites. Kilmarnock v St Mirren - This has to be a banker home win. Killie have started well and have a chance to open up a gap between them and the bottom clubs here. The Saints are a never say die team but they dont have the quality to win every other game. 2-0 to Killie. Easter Road arguably has the game of the weekend on Sunday. Hibs are playing well again this season and are tough to beat at home. They have started well and like always will fancy there chances of getting something when the Old Firm come to the captial. Celtic are coming of the back of another away loss in europe despite a good winning run in the SPL. Should be an entertaining game and a score draw would be my prediction. Finally the other game of the weekend see's rivals Rangers and Aberdeen meet. The home side are on a high after getting their champions league campaign off to a winning start. They lost last time out in the SPL for the first time this season so that will be in the back of there minds and spur them back onto winnings ways. The Dons travel down to Glasgow with a disappointing return to Europe. They only managed a 0-0 with there Ukrainian opponents and now have it all to do in the 2nd leg. They havent won at Ibrox since 1991 and that will remain the same - I cant see anything other than a banker home win by 2 or 3 goals.

... for both players and fans tonight. Watching on TV both done themselves proud - its great hearing commentators when Ibrox really sings.

I like it, Lets Get Ibrox Bouncing tonight.

Back Down To Earth With A Bump Maybe itââ?¬â?¢s just the eternal pessimist in me, but wasnââ?¬â?¢t there something rather predictable and inventible about the 4-2 defeat to Hearts? Not just the result, but in the manner of the performance, team selection and a return to form from this seasons laughing stock / whipping boys that are Heart of Midlothian? Not too many of our players covered themselves in glory at Tynecastle with our normally reliable defence looking at sixes and sevens. McGregor and Hutton were awful and CC and Weir werenââ?¬â?¢t much better. Weir in particular has looked a tired and jaded defender of the last few weeks and maybe its time to rest his aging limbs. Without BF in midfield, we appear a rudderless ship. I know many Rangers fans believe that we are a better team without Ferguson, but in my humble opinion that theory was blown out of the water today. With no BF we have no fight, no guile and donââ?¬â?¢t appear as solid. Hard to blame the forwards today as they received very little service but I have to say that WS MUST pick his preferred front two and stick with them. This chopping and changing isnââ?¬â?¢t doing anyone any good so pick 2 and stick with them for 10 (or so games). Personally, I would plump for Cousin and Darchville. However, overall, we have had a decent start to the season and it will be interesting to see how the players bounce back from this set-back (lets hope thatââ?¬â?¢s all it is) against Stuttgart in our opening Champions League fixture. It will also be interesting to see how WS and his staff play this game. Will we go all out for a victory or will they play it cagey? For me, the next 2 games (Stuttgart, Abergreen) are MUST wins so Iââ?¬â?¢d like to see WS picking our strongest 11 and going for back to back impressive victories in the coming days. Rollercoaster One thing that is for sure, the result against Hearts wonââ?¬â?¢t be our only ââ?¬Ë?downââ?¬â?¢ of the season and as fans, all we can hope for is that we have more ââ?¬Ë?upsââ?¬â?¢ than we have ââ?¬Ë?downsââ?¬â?¢. Itââ?¬â?¢s safe to say that most of us would have been pleased with only one defeat and progression into the Champions League group stages if offered it at the start of the season. Lets not forget that we are bedding in a whole new team and unfortunately, weââ?¬â?¢ll have days like today at Tynecastle ââ?¬â?? itââ?¬â?¢s the nature of the beast and comes with the territory. As long as the players and management learn from these mistakes and as long as these knock-backs make us stronger and wiser we should ensure more highs than lows. We have a huge month coming up and at the end of that period we will have a much better idea of our best team / formation and a clearer picture of how our season is going to pan out. The reaction to the Hearts defeat has been predictable and as we know, life at Rangers is black or white ââ?¬â?? there is no middle ground. Last week we were flying, unstoppable, certain SPL winners and had a chance in our CL group. One defeat later, we are also-rans, garbage, and likely to get zero points in the CL. As usual, the reality will lie somewhere in the ââ?¬Ë?middle-groundââ?¬â?¢. Some of our new signings have shown enough to suggest that they will be decent purchases for us. Others still have some work to do to convince the majority that they have something to offer. However, as we are as a fanbase very hard to please, some of them will be written off no matter what they achieve at Rangers (just look at Peter Lovenkrands as an example). So folks, get yourself belted in and get ready to ride the rollercoaster that is Rangers FC. Estadio Santiago Bernabeu Just returned from Madrid were we visited the magnificent Estadio Santiago Bernabeu and have to say that the tour of the stadium is a must for all football fans. It was a privilege to have visited the home of Real Madrid and would highly recommend the tour. It cost E15 and unlike most stadium tours I have made, this is self paced and doesnââ?¬â?¢t include a tour guide. The only negative is that their isnââ?¬â?¢t anyone to ask question as most of the ââ?¬Ë?officialsââ?¬â?¢ situated around the tour area donââ?¬â?¢t speak English. However, you are given a brilliant tour ââ?¬Ë?bookletââ?¬â?¢ that is yours to keep. Tours run from 10:30AM to 7:00PM Monday to Saturday (until 6:30PM Sundays and bank holidays) ââ?¬â?? only closed Xmas and New Years Day. The tour starts with a lift up to the top tier for a panoramic view of the stadium (and surrounding area if you are interested) and you really appreciated the scale of the stadium when you are ââ?¬Ë?up in the Godsââ?¬â?¢. Then it is off to the ââ?¬Ë?Trophy Exhibitionââ?¬â?¢ which houses European Cups, UEFA Cups, League Trophies etc along with photos of famous matches, players etc. Next itââ?¬â?¢s a tour of the ââ?¬Ë?standsââ?¬â?¢ that includes the Presidential Box, Dug-Outs and a walk pitch-side and then to the dressing rooms via the tunnel. You only get to visit the away dressing room as the ââ?¬Ë?galactiosââ?¬â?¢ require their ââ?¬Ë?privacyââ?¬â?¢. From there you are directed into the press-room then the tour finishes in the club shop. One major factor in this tour is the Club Museum which hosts the ââ?¬Ë?Trophy Exhibitionââ?¬â?¢ and highlights why we really require something similar at Ibrox. The museum tracks the history of the club from its conception in 1902 up until the present day and houses all their trophies as well as shirts from players from every era of the club (not just at football but athletics, boxing, basketball etc). Another very interesting piece in the museum is a board that shows all players who have played for Real as well as their nationalities. There is one Scotsman by the name of Watson to have pulled on the famous white jersey. So all in all, the tour is well worth the E15 and it took us well over 2 hours to complete. There is no restrictions on camera or video equipment so you are free to capture all this history on film for future reference. Cammy F ââ?¬â?? We Are The Peopleââ?¬Â¦.

Do you think that Filip Sebo is finished with at Ibrox now that we have got 7 Strikers now. I think that's him finished with Glasgow Rangers

think about it

Say why you picked this partnership ? Anyway We have Boyd, everyone knows what he can do, give him a sniff you know he is either going to score or muck it up but the last two seasons he has showed he is a top striker by scoring 30 goals + each season. I think he has an extra yard in him this season but still not fast enough IMO and not good at holding up the ball. No doubt he is a top striker though Darcheville, seems to be coming a fans favourite, making a sub's appearance against Falkirk and scored 2. Sub's appearance against Kilmarnock, set up 1 and scored 1, last of all came on against Gretna and brightened up the game with his pace. Just mentioned there his pace, he is a heavy guy but my god he is fast, lets sum him up in one word, a TANK . He holds the ball up well as we seen in our recent european games. Certainly becoming a fans favourite, especially his celebration we all love when he salutes the fans Cousin, came in and scored of the bench on his debut. Scored 2 against Falkirk as well. Very good at shooting, loads of power behind it, but one thing is that he looks a bit lazy and un-intrested at times, a bit like Boyd. But the difference is if you get the ball to his feet he can turn on a bit of pace and trickery. Novo, well we all know what we Nacho is like, gives 200% every game he plays for the Gers, he knows what it means to play for this club. He is not the best player in the world but he trys his hardest all credit to the wee man. Been giving the title of super sub this season, rightly so, came on against Red Star and got us through to the champions league, also scored a great goal against Chelsea. Think the days of Nacho starting from the start are over unless he starts on the right wing. He has a masive amount of respect for Walter Smith and he knows he has to be pacient. Naismith, as had 10 minutes in a ger shirt but we have seen over the years and Kilmarnock that he has magnificent tallent. Scored a great goal at Ibrox last season for Kilmarnock to beat us 1-0 so no doubt he doesn't fear playing in front of 50,000 fans.

Perfect start to the SPL season - Played 5 won 5. We have the biggest squad with competition for places this decade and the team has morale and confidence about it. We have pumped 11 goals in our last 2 home league games and have just been drawn Barcelona in the Champions league. So everything seems rosey in the garden. But IMO we must keep our feet on the ground. We have a long long way to go in the league and the CL is about to start. Ive read a few people going over board IMO saying things are like the old days in WS era but I cant agree with this at this early stage. I dont want to put a downer on the mood but we have still to be really tested. We werent in a comfort mode against Zeta or Red Star at Ibrox and they dont have a patch on the sides that will come to Ibrox in the CL proper. Our realistic expections were probably just to qualify for the CL then see what we get. But financially we will be better off and we can take experience from this campaign. But the important thing is to go on and win back our SPL title so we are at the same stage next year expect with a more experienced side. I still feel there is a lack of creativity in the team that Im hoping Buffel will sort. We have a tough trip to Hearts next who have started poorly but got there season kickstarted away to Motherwell last week. This will be the first tricky test but with the way we are set out I think we can win there. Lets hope the was we have started is the way it goes all season but we cant forget how bad things were a short 9 months ago.

Smith wins August manager prize Smith has made a wonderful start to the season Rangers' Walter Smith has picked up the first Clydesdale Bank Premier League Manager of the Month award. The Ibrox club have made an impressive start to the campaign, winning their first four league matches to sit two points clear at the top of the table. Rangers have also reached the group stage of the Champions League, beating Zeta and Red Star Belgrade to progress. Smith will have to pit his wits against Barcelona, Stuttgart and Lyon in Europe's premier competition. Well done Walter,the first of many I hope :cheers:

... well, for the moment anyway ;-) , as we've got a very important SPL game on Saturday. We welcome Gretna to Ibrox for the first time (still doesn't look right - Rangers v Gretna!) and we must keep our minds on these type of games. Do we expect WS to 'rotate' his squad and bring in 'fringe players' like Gow, Broadfoot, Burke, Adam et al or do we expect WS to stick to his favoured team/squad selection ? IMO team (injuries permitting ) will be along familiar lines ; AMc Hutton Weir (who IMO needs a rest) / Webster CC Papac (or Broadfoot / new signing if Papac leaves before Saturday) Whitty Fergie Thomo McCulloch / Run DMB perm any 2 from JCD / Novo / Cousin / Boyd / a-n-other depending on transfers Cammy F

GOALKEEPER Roy Carroll yesterday pulled out of the Northern Ireland squad for the Euro 2008 qualifiers against Latvia and Iceland to concentrate on rebuilding his career at Rangers. The former Manchester United shotstopper made his decision after talking to international manager Nigel Worthington. Carroll, who moved to Ibrox in the summer after a difficult time at West Ham, will remain on standby but Celtic's Michael McGovern has been drafted into the squad. Looks like the big guy is bursting to get playing for the Gers,I hope he has a long wait,only meaning that AMc will be playing well by that comment.He's had a bit of a nightmare in recent seasons,but IMO he's a good keeper and still relatively young

I have to say i am very impressed with our tremendous start to the season. I expected an indifferent start given the amount of new faces we brought in but every player has knuckled down and restored the pride and passion that has been missing from Ibrox for god knows how many years. Even David Murrays moonbeam dreams couldnt have come out better than this. So lets take our hats off to the management and the players for the commitment and determination they have shown. It feels fantastic walking down edminston drive on match days again and i have a sneaking suspicion Ill be feeling like that for some time to come. Suddenly all those barren years when we knew things werent going to get any better for quite a while are just a mere shaddow in our past and we have a sense of direction. bill struth said himself the barren years will come and they did, but we have finally turned the corner and can look ahead without the fear and uncertainty of the past 5 years. So let the others come, WE WELCOME THE CHASE!

http://www.gersnetonline.net/newsite/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=487&Itemid=2 One of the most interesting items to come out of last weekââ?¬â?¢s club AGM was Sir David Murrayââ?¬â?¢s concession with regard to finally having a ââ?¬Ë?democratically electedââ?¬â?¢ Rangers fan on the executive board of the club (1). So what does this mean for the support? To being with, I feel we should concentrate on the key phrases ââ?¬â?? ââ?¬Ë?democratically electedââ?¬â?¢ and ââ?¬Ë?executive boardââ?¬â?¢. This is important as to give a proper idea of what kind of candidate we can expect to see nominated as well as the organisations responsible for these nominations. As it stands, via the Rangers Supporters Assembly (2), we have an ââ?¬Ë?officialââ?¬â?¢ organisation while via the Rangers Supporters Trust (3); we have an ââ?¬Ë?unofficialââ?¬â?¢ organisation. The Assembly actually encompasses all of the other bodies involved with the fans (from the Trust itself, to the Alliance, Association, NARSA and ORSA). Obviously, all these initials and groups can be confusing so weââ?¬â?¢ll try our best to keep it simple. The Assembly is also the official fans body in the eyes of the club. Set up by, then chairman, John McLelland to combat the perceived threat of the politically astute new Trust in 2003; the Assembly has an office within Ibrox Stadium and an annual budget of around Ã?£30,000 to carry our itââ?¬â?¢s duties. President Jim Templeton (interviewed here by Gersnet earlier this year) has been in charge since its inception and continues to represent the Rangers supporters at board level. His duties do not involve the executive business of the club and he does not attend the formal business of these meetings. As such, because of their official ties and because their remit isnââ?¬â?¢t as wide-ranging as many fans would like, the Assembly doesnââ?¬â?¢t seem to have the same credibility as the wholly independent Trust. Moreover, because the Assembly doesnââ?¬â?¢t have a ââ?¬Ë?one member ââ?¬â?? one voteââ?¬â?¢ system like the Trust, it also suffers from not being truly democratic in its approach. Indeed, while the Assembly conveys a sense of representing all fans not many fans are aware they are members or know how to raise issues through their reps. Flawed is perhaps the best description for the Assembly. On the other hand, the Trust is different in its workings. The organisation prides itself on being both democratic and open. All board members are elected (although co-option is also a necessary part of its constitution) and ratified by the membership. In addition, every member can attend and raise motions at their AGM. As part of the Assembly and through its regular dialogue with the club, the Trust also ensures it retains a professional, working relationship with the club to ensure its members opinions are constantly on the agenda with the powers that be. Recently, the chairman and secretary of the Rangers Supporters Association joined the Trust board as they felt their members (all RSCââ?¬â?¢s) were better represented by the Trustââ?¬â?¢s outlook. Jim Templeton was also co-opted at the same time but has since resigned for personal reasons. All this background information means that we essentially have two organisations vying for one RFC board position (initially at least). The Trust has already announced their chairman Malcolm McNiven (4) has been nominated to the club for the role. This was unanimously backed by the Trust board and is expected to be ratified by the membership at their AGM this week. Jim Templeton is also widely expected to secure an Assembly nomination although ââ?¬â?? unlike the Trust ââ?¬â?? the topic wasnââ?¬â?¢t raised at their AGM and so far no vote has been held of their committee. As such, if Mr Templeton is nominated by the Assembly, doubts remain as to the clarity of his candidacy in terms of David Murrayââ?¬â?¢s ââ?¬Ë?democratically electedââ?¬â?¢ comments. It certainly does seem the Trust vehicle satisfies those terms more effectively. Where the Trust nomination arguably does lack credibility is in its actual representation per se. Although it does have approaching 5000 members, it does not match the ââ?¬Ë?umbrellaââ?¬â?¢ nature of the Assembly which claims to (sometimes indirectly) represent the whole RFC support. Of course, while members of the Assembly, Association, Alliance etc are active members of the Trust (and vice versa), itââ?¬â?¢s this lack of unity across the spectrum that can cause confusion and division from time to time. Certainly, what is clear, is that the Trust are the only organisation who have been interested in genuine supporters representation in the terms SDM spoke of and their attempts to unite the different groups under their ethos are admirable. The Trust has been lobbying for a supporter on the executive board for nearly 5 years and thereââ?¬â?¢s no doubt they (and they alone) have managed to persuade the club chairman into his AGM comments. We can of course look at the two potential candidates as well. Both Jim Templeton and Malcolm McNiven come from business related backgrounds. Similarly, both are successful in their careers and both have worked hard to represent their members as office bearers of their organisations. Indeed itââ?¬â?¢s very difficult to separate their CVââ?¬â?¢s on first glance and one must delve deeper to find the differences worth of debate. The first again comes down to credibility. On all the major issues that have concerned Rangers fans over the last 5 years, itââ?¬â?¢s the McNiven led Trust that have been most vociferous and constructive in their work. From their unmatched media function; to fully in-depth safety reports on the Stuttgart/Pamplona disgraces; to bringing money into the club (via the impressive GerSave initiative); to open and full dialogue with the club administration ââ?¬â?? the Trust have been more active, more open, more vocal and more constructive in their work and achievements. While the Assembly works hard and often doesnââ?¬â?¢t receive the praise it occasionally deserves, they simply do not offer the same independence and results of the Trust. Especially when one considers their budget which seems to yield little compared to the Trust who are actually raising money for the club in their activities. That conclusion ââ?¬â?? however empirical it may be ââ?¬â?? raises another important question. If McNiven were to be elected onto the Board of the club, would the Trust lose that independence and credibility? Moreover, how could fans who are not members of the Trust feel they were truly represented? This certainly isnââ?¬â?¢t easy to answer either. What is clear is that part of McNivenââ?¬â?¢s initial remit would be to address those very issues. His initial main responsibility would be to formulate a workable and democratic system of membership and election to which he himself would voluntarily submit when it was in place. Having him organise this from his current unique position of independence and democratic background would ensure the kind of credible results all supporters want. Once this is in place then we can then move onto the issue of ensuring that year on year we have the most suitable person representing all of us. Further, instead of having several different organisations pulling in different directions, we should have one unified group acting in the best possible interests of us all. This should be in the form of an organisation where everyone can be involved in how it works as well as the decision-making processes. Due to the hard work of the Trust, the first steps have been made. These will define the direction for the future. Letââ?¬â?¢s begin by having a learned democratic, independent supporter outlining genuine supportersââ?¬â?¢ representation. Malcolm McNiven is the best choice of pioneer and his nomination should have widespread backing. Iââ?¬â?¢m confident that if we put our trust in him we will secure the kind of open and unified representation many of us have wanted for a long time. Not only that, his previous record will help ensure the hardest questions are asked of the board while innovation, imagination and ambition are once more part of the executive board of Rangers. With the current positive results on the field, having a supporter on the board of the club can only enhance our future. As a well known Rangers supporter once said ââ?¬â?? ââ?¬Ë?there can be only oneââ?¬â?¢ ââ?¬â?? letââ?¬â?¢s make sure itââ?¬â?¢s the right one. References 1 - http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/r/rangers/6961230.stm 2 - http://www.rangersassembly.com/ 3 - http://www.rangerssupporterstrust.co.uk/ 4 - http://www.rangerssupporterstrust.co.uk/rstsite/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=136&Itemid=1

C'mon guys - we just gotta do this at Ibrox:

Week 4 Saturday, 25 August 2007----------------Time Kilmarnock v Rangers---------------------12:30 Celtic v Hearts--------------------------15:00 Falkirk v St Mirren------------------------15:00 Gretna v Motherwell----------------------15:00 Hibernian v Aberdeen--------------------15:00 Inverness CT v Dundee United------------15:00 The first thing to note about this weeks fixtures is that Rangers visit to Rugby park, has a Saturday 12.30 kick-off. Beware all you guy�s who are dragged round the shops on Saturday morning. Rangers must be oozing with confidence after their 7-2 hammering of Falkirk, but Kilmarnock could prove to be a snake in the grass, as they too have remained unbeaten in their first three games. Steven Naismith will be looking to promote himself for a move to Ibrox but the current form of the Rangers strikers make this look improbable in this transfer window. Rangers should do the business and hold top spot. Parkhead will host their version of the Mad hatters ball when Wee Cheney meets Mad Vlad as Celtic get a visit from Hearts. Hearts have had a poor start to the season, with only a draw against lowly Gretna getting them off the mark. Celtic have recovered from an early hiccup against Kilmarnock to score seven goals in their last two games and should prove too powerful for hearts. Still we live in hope of a surprise result. Falkirk manager John Hughs will have dried his eyes after greet�n like a Bairn, after their 7-2 thumping against Rangers, and will welcome St Mirren to Westfield park. The Buddies had an excellent win against Inverness at the weekend, but Falkirk have been playing some of the best football in the SPL of late and should send Gus McPherson�s team home licking their wounds. Falkirk win. Gretna welcome the visit of Motherwell to Fir park or is it the other way about? Seemingly Motherwell keep claim to the home dressing room with Gretna staking claim to the home dugout. Motherwell have been playing well recently and were robbed in extra time against Killie. Davie Irons asked his team to show more steel but I don�t expect the steel men to buckle to the Weddingmakers. A Motherwell win,home or away. Hibenian v Aberdeen looks like the best bet for a draw on paper and probably will be one. I have a sneaky feeling that Hibs will win easily as Aberdeen are like a pint of Guinness. They don�t travel well. Considering Hibs lost so many key players since the turn of the year they have actually had an excellent start to the season getting two wins and a draw under their belt. Aberdeen�s have had a stuttering start and up until now only seem to be able to produce any form for forty-five minutes. A Hibs win for me. Inverness have had a disaster of a start to the season and have already lost their manager. Neil Warnock, Craig Brewster and Owen Coyle are top of the list to fill the role. Caley hope to have a new man in place possibly before Saturday, so he can asses the situation before the transfer window shuts. Dundee Utd lost their only away game this season to Kilmarnock,so they still have to prove they can pick up points away from home. Inverness will be hoping for the new manager effect, but to get anything from the game they will need to tighten their defense who went AWOL at the second St Mirren goal on Saturday. A draw for me.

RAGING Red Star Belgrade captain Ognjen Koroman has warned Rangers defender Alan Hutton to expect the beating of his life in next week's Champions League return tie. Hutton complained about the rough tactics employed by the Serbs at Ibrox. But Koroman, who was booked after clashing with Hutton, said: "Rangers didn't have a single thread of fair play in them. While Djordjevic was down on the ground they didn't kick the ball out and in the tunnel they used cheap tricks to try to provoke us. "David Weir also hit Raskovic in the head from the back. How more rude and arrogant can someone get? You can tell Alan that he doesn't even need to leave Glasgow because if he does he will get the beating of his life." You've got to laugh

Its been an interesting few weeks for us watching our new signings find their feet and one in particular has made me think about Sebo's position at the club and its also cemented the opinion that I've had of him. Firstly, let me say that I'd be delighted if Sebo made it here. He seems like a nice enough bloke, he's worked hard in the summer on his fitness and everyone has been willing him to do well. But watching Cousin since he signed has made me realise that the argument about Sebo not having enough time to prove himself is somewhat flawed. Cousin started here with a couple of substitute appearances, probably totalling no more than 40 minutes. But if we take the Red Star game as an example, he showcased his own potential in 25 minutes in a way which Sebo has failed to do over a season with us during which he made 33 appearances, albeit only 7 starts. From when Cousin came on, he showed eagerness to get involved, which is something Sebo also does. However, from there the comparisons end. Cousin showed an awareness of what was going on around him. He showed good vision and played a few passes to other players with precision weighting and pace. He also had a couple of efforts on goal which was more than we'd managed all night up until that point. But in all, he just looked like a real player. Like someone who would bring something to our squad. And since then I think he's gone on to prove that he can be a real success here. The thing with Sebo was that I was looking for him to do something special during one of his appearances. Just a flash of brilliance which would make us all think that the lad was worth hanging on to and it was only a (short) matter of time until he'd "come good". But that's just never happened IMO and it is a shame. We all looked for something to take from his performances but never really got it. We started to talk up every little thing he did and it got to absurd levels following the Celtic game last year where he was asked to do a certain job (noise up the opposition) and he did it well. But anyone with half a physical presence could have done that job, it just so happens that last season we were lacking a physical element to our game, something which WS has since addressed. It certainly didn't make me change my mind on what I'd seen so far and I was a bit surprised to see how many fans still cite that performance as an indicator that Sebo can develop in to a good striker for us. The lad is still young enough that he can improve as a player. But to do that he obviously needs time and games. And I don't think he'll get that here. Regardless of all the other strikers who are now ahead of him for a first team place, no-one knows better than WS that at Ibrox you have to deliver and you don't get much time to prove yourself. Maybe a loan deal is the answer, but unless he sets the goal-scoring charts alight at his new club, he's still going to face the same problem of trying to break in to our first team when he gets back. The move just hasn't worked out, for whatever reason or reasons. I think its now in the best interests of everyone if we move on and I wish him luck wherever he ends up.