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We all know that when England get anything approaching a top quality player they must rush to proclaim him the best in the world. And much liek Celtic, repeat something often enough and it becomes fact. So for the past few years they've been proclaiming Cole the best left back in the world because he's good at attacking and plays for a team that mostly dominate games so he gets to show off his attacking. Now that Bale in recent weeks has put in immense displays of attacking full back play and at the highest level in Europe, above a level Cole has ever shown, where does that leave England and their desperated claims of having the best player in the world in a given position. FWIW, he wasn't even the best prior to Bales pretty meteoric rise.

http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/spl/rangers/rangers-may-finally-start-to-get-credit-they-deserve-1.1063478 I'm fairly sure we took the lead against Valencia ya clown! Still, some grudging praise is nice

Red, white and blue scarf tied tightly round his neck, Ally steps out of the echoing close into the crisp sunlit day. He exhales his hangover, and turns the stark winter air moist. He should have stopped drinking earlier on Sunday morning. He should be sleeping now. But he didnââ?¬â?¢t, and heââ?¬â?¢s not. A few miles away in town, one of the few remaining construction projects is running behind. The bosses, with furtive fears of administration, are offering triple time to the cash strapped workers. The site should be a buzzing hive of reluctant industry. But itââ?¬â?¢s not. On Old Firm day that which ought to be the case often isnââ?¬â?¢t. And at roughly 1:30pm, the away side lost the precious first goal. The half drew to a tentative close. Statistically speaking, an away win should never have been possible. As referee Willie Collum blows the half time whistle, the Celtic players walk towards the tunnel, punching clenched fists in the air. The fans join their players in frenzied optimism: around Parkhead tens of thousands of 'people' who understand the importance of the first goal; the importance of being the first to draw blood. However, a sidewards glance towards the Rangers fans shows despondency notable only by its absence. Theyââ?¬â?¢ve been here several times already this season. They watch the players follow their manager off the park ââ?¬â?? bloodied, yes, but unbowed. What they canââ?¬â?¢t see behind the resolute expressions is the determined machinations of implacable will. As well as an often neglected portion of skill, it is this invisible and limitless determination which has brought Rangers back from behind in 4 out of 9 games, and held the cream of European football to creditable draws. If it had a face, it would be rosy red with thinning silver hair. If it had a voice, it would be soft and polite and prone to saying ââ?¬Å?From our own perspectiveââ?¬Â. Walter Smith has overseen the best start to a Rangers season since the 1920s and Bill Struth. The Old Firm victory he tasted at the final whistle has not lost its sweetness for its familiarity. In the clamour of vitriolic noises about cheating and referees, an unholy choir led by defeated managerial neophyte Neil Lennon, at least one Celtic Fan doesnââ?¬â?¢t lend his voice. Instead he writes ââ?¬Å?Hurry up and retire Walter Smithââ?¬Â on Facebook and goes to sleep. While many column inches will be devoted to the patterns of play, horrific fouls, penalty decisions, missed opportunities and relative quality of the players, the difference between Rangers and Celtic at the moment is just one man. A man that tried to sign Glen Loovens, against whose thigh the ball ricocheted and, with a fatalistic sense of inevitability, tumbled towards goal - tipping the balance of the game irrevocably back towards Rangers. At the final whistle both Celtic fans and Rangers fans find it hard to imagine Glen Loovens as a commanding and worthwhile centre half ââ?¬â?? the former in their despair, the latter in their relief. Yet the man who typified Celticââ?¬â?¢s surrender would no doubt have started the game had he chose Rangers. He may even have been man of the match, and joined a list of names including Cuellar, Naismith, Broadfoot, Bougherra, Miller and Papac in becoming more, under Walter Smith, than they had previously ever been elsewhere. He perhaps should have. But he didnââ?¬â?¢t. A few hundred miles south of Glasgow, Dave steps out into a contrastingly warm early winter Sunday morning. He misses Glasgow, he wishes he was home in the stark winter air, under the cold and cloudless autumnal sky. Yet he has an odd satisfied expression on his face. He has spent half an hour scanning odds, and stumbled across a bet that he likes. Celtic Half Time, Rangers Full Time. It is a silly bet. Away sides donââ?¬â?¢t come from behind on Old Firm day to win the game. He got such good odds because itââ?¬â?¢s a result that should never have been possible. But it was. By 3pm, Rangers have shown why theyââ?¬â?¢re champions and Dave has collected his winnings. By 5pm he has drunk them. He should really be in his bed. And, actually, he is.

Super_Ally looks at our recovery powers this year and asks if this a trait we can rely on against better quality opposition... Don�t make me angry, you won�t like me when I�m angry! Much like Bruce Banner, it does not pay to aggravate this Rangers team. In our last three SPL fixtures we have gone two down at Pittodrie, a goal down at Tynecastle and again on Saturday a goal down at home to Motherwell. Come the full time whistle at the end of each match the Rangers have once again emerged victorious. Aberdeen, Hearts and (this season) Motherwell are traditionally the stronger teams in the SPL yet even if we suffer a setback you still expect this Rangers team to turn it around and secure the three points. Earlier in the year we also came from a goal down against St Johnstone to win 2-1 and after being pegged back by Hamilton managed to dig out a late winner courtesy of Kenny Miller. The never say die attitude of the players is an admirable trait though it would be nice to win a game without having to prove our strength of character in battling back from adversity. The most impressive result of the lot is undoubtedly over turning a 2-goal deficit up at Pittodrie to win 3-2 thanks to a Miller double and Jelavic winner. Games against Aberdeen have long been a tricky affair with their management and players admitting earlier this season that they lift themselves for games against Scotland�s most successful side. The opposition being motivated should not be an excuse for such a poor away record up there, with this season�s victory being Smith�s first since returning to Ibrox. If your opposition only have commitment and determination to trouble us with then by matching their approach to the game we should run out victorious more often than not through our superior skill and play. It is either a bizarre fluke of sporting competition that we have so often failed to translate this footballing superiority into victory or evidence of our inability to match their dedication and application to the game. Based on last month�s game the latter could not be levelled at the current squad. The defeat of Hearts may have been even sweeter, due largely to the fact that Kyle Lafferty�s winning goal was struck late in injury time. Recently, Hearts have so often been the third force in Scottish football and overturning a deficit against them could perhaps be argued as a greater achievement than overcoming Aberdeen after giving them a two goal start. However, our next two fixtures are against Valencia in the Champions League and Celtic at Parkhead. I doubt whether any fan would be as confident of us winning either fixture of having to chase the game. Celtic have almost equalled our start to the season, with 8 wins from 8 sitting behind us in the league due only to goal difference. Both sides have shown they have mental strength and character to win games when points might be dropped. There is hardly a better feeling in football than getting it right up opposition fans who have been rubbing your nose in taking the lead after you come from behind to secure victory. There will be many a fan looking for a more straightforward result next weekend for fear of their heart not being able to take the strain. Valencia will be an altogether different prospect. Unlike Motherwell, they will not fall apart should we peg them back or take a narrow lead. And despite laughable reporters suggestions to the contrary when we played them back in 1999, they are not the Aberdeen of Spain. A narrow defeat at the Nou Camp this weekend, their only league defeat of the current campaign, allowed Barca to draw level with them in the league and saw Real Madrid overtake them at the top of La Liga. They are a quality side and we will do well to earn a result against them without giving them a goal start. In this opening period of the new season we have more than established our credentials as potential league champions. Coming into the new season as the reigning kings of Scotland we have won 8 consecutive league matches. In fact, the only game we have not won was a highly credible draw at Old Trafford having us sit joint top of our Champions League group. After this midweek�s epic clash with Valencia we travel to Parkhead having won home and away, when we�ve played well and when we have not, picking up victory after victory when many would have expected us to drop points. Much like Marvel�s Incredible Hulk, it appears Rangers have had to be stimulated, aggravated, pushed into demonstrating our full and frightening force against our opponents rather than showing our desire, our commitment and passion from the kick off. Play the next two games from the first minute to the last, do not gift the opposition any advantage and we will see the team cement what has been an incredible start to the season.

Post your favourite videos stories [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KR-hiAyFFIA]YouTube - The Filth 2-4 Rangers (HIGH QUALITY)[/ame] :spl:

VALENCIA midfielder Manuel Fernandes last night insisted that they must beat Rangers at the Estadio Mestalla on 2 November if they are to overtake the SPL leaders and claim a place in the knockout stages of the Champions League. The former Benfica, Portsmouth and Everton player believes that it's a two-horse race for second place - and reckons it could go either way. Fernandes also claimed that he hadn't been taken aback by the quality of Rangers' display at Ibrox. We expected Rangers to try to hit us on the counter-attack so we were not surprised," he said. "I hope we can do better at home because I think we will need the three points if we are to go through. "At home I am sure you will see a better Valencia because taking three points is now crucial to us. It's between us and Rangers for second place now and a position in the last 16 of the tournament. "Manchester United are already ahead and they now have another game against Bursaspor. We have four points, Rangers have five and I think only one of us will qualify now. "We were favourites to qualify at the start and I hope we can live up to that billing in the Mestalla. But Rangers are making it hard for us and they have shown they are able to compete with us. "Maybe it will go down to the last game when they are at Bursaspor and we are in Manchester." The 24-year-old, a second-half substitute for Tino Costa, missed his side's equaliser on Wednesday night. "I missed Maurice Edu's own goal because I was still in the dressing room," he grinned. ''But I was happy when I came out and one of the other subs told me that it was 1-1. We created more chances but so did Rangers and the game was always in the balance. "It was no less than we expected from them as we knew they were a good side who would be backed by a big crowd. "The game wasn't a draw because we played poorly - it was a draw because Rangers played well. "We have great respect for Rangers and for Scottish football in general. It's not as bad as some people say.'' http://sport.scotsman.com/rangersfc/Rangers-v-Valencia-Spanish-praise.6593751.jp

MO EDU last night admitted he didn’t know whether to celebrate or commiserate after scoring for both sides in a Champions League roller-coaster clash at Ibrox. On a dramatic night of mixed emotions against Valencia, the American went from hero to zero as Rangers were held to a 1-1 draw by the Spaniards. Edu gave Walter Smith’s men a deserved 1-0 lead just before the interval only to cancel it out less than a minute after the restart by heading Tino Costa’s free-kick past Allan McGregor. “I’ve never had a night like this before,” said Edu. “It was pretty eventful. I’m excited about my first Champions League goal but disappointed to have given one away at the other end. “It was the first own goal of my career and couldn’t have come at a worse time. “Overall in the game we created a lot of dangerous opportunities and didn’t give up many at the other end of the pitch. So to score an own goal was a real downer. “I had a couple of guys in front of me when the ball came in and I thought one of them was going to win the header but they missed and it came straight at me. “I had a bit of a late reaction and before I knew it the ball was in the net.” Rangers were superb against quality opponents but Edu knows they could have done better. Walter Smith’s men remain in second place in Group C halfway through the campaign but passed up three glorious chances to see off the Spaniards. Twice in the first half Kenny Miller squandered gilt-edged chances to push the game beyond Valencia’s reach. The Scotland striker, on fire domestically this term, was denied by the legs of Cesar Sanchez when through on goal. Then he held his head in his hands after blasting wildly over the bar with an open goal at his mercy after an Edu shot had come back off the woodwork. Rangers did well to regroup after Edu’s mistake but debutant Ricky Foster also missed an open goal eight minutes from time. Edu said: “Coming into the game tonight most people would have been satisfied with a draw. We are pleased we matched a top side and put in a good performance but we are disappointed we didn’t get the win and the goal we gave up was a bit of a soft one.” Rangers’ goal was the result of a well-worked training routine with Edu drifting in at the back post to head home a Vladimir Weiss corner. The midfielder said: “We talked about varying our runs at corners before the game. For the first few I went near post so I tried to wait for this one and pick my moment. “It was a great ball whipped in. I just spun round at the back post and managed to pop it in.” Unfortunately, Edu didn’t get much of a chance to savour his first European goal for Rangers after almost being knocked unconscious by Valencia keeper Cesar Sanchez. The 24-year-old needed several minutes of treatment from the physio. He said: “The keeper came out to punch the ball but caught me on the head instead. It was all a bit blurry but I still knew I had scored. “I thought I’d scored another a few moments later. I caught it pretty well but was unlucky to hit the post. I thought it was going in.” Edu’s own goal could have destroyed his confidence but the encouragement he received from fans chanting his name helped him through. He said: “At the time we were playing so well so to give up the goal was disappointing. But we had enough chances to bounce back and score a few more. “I was aware of fans chanting my name and it definitely gave me a boost. “They were amazing all night and a key factor for us. It was a low moment for me but the best fans in the world got me through." http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/football/spl/rangers/2010/10/21/rangers-fans-helped-me-get-over-own-goal-nightmare-admits-maurice-edu-86908-22648295/

Mmmmmmmm, this is a hard one,obviously. Valencia are a cracking side and playing really well in La liga with quality all through the team,however the Rangers are playing well with a lot of desire and hunger,so I'm going for a draw. The Champions 1 Miller Valencia 1 Rangers 5/2 - Draw 21/10 - Valencia 6/5 More bets: http://sports.williamhill.com/bet/en-gb/betting/e/1484368/Rangers-v-Valencia.html

17 Oct 2010 ON very few occasions during my career have I walked off a football field and been left absolutely awestruck by the opposition. However, looking back to 1999, and my experiences against the Valencia side of that time, those two Champions League matches were certainly nights when I was left shaking my head at the stunning quality of footballer Rangers had come up against. I have to be honest and say I donââ?¬â?¢t know much about the class of 2010. The occasional pieces of La Liga that I do manage to watch on television, though, always showcase Valencia as being a very good side. It is widely accepted they are the ââ?¬Å?third forceââ?¬Â in Spain behind the heavy-weights of Barcelona and Real Madrid, but the current side would have to go some to be as good as their predecessors. Valencia split the big two the season I faced them; and the results they achieved back up my claim. After beating us in the first group phase, they went all the way to the final in Paris. They battered Barcelona in the semi-finals, with a first-leg 4-1 thumping in the Mestalla, before finally succumbing to Madrid in the final in the Stade de France. They lost 3-0 against a supreme Real team, but, essentially, Valencia were the second-best side in Europe that season. That says enough about what they had in their arsenal when they faced Rangers, and a very good Ibrox team at that, let me add. The ironic thing about those group games 11 years ago was that Valencia were dismissed, almost written off, before we played them in mid-September. They had endured a pretty woeful start to the Spanish season. On the flight over from Glasgow they were, quite famously, branded ââ?¬Å?the Aberdeen of Spainââ?¬Â in some sections of the press. That was a reference to their lowly league position, and a compar-ison to the Dons, who had made a slow opening to the SPL campaign. We were buzzing at Rangers at the start of that season under Dick Advocaat. We had clinched the treble in his first year at the helm, the league title providing us with access to the Champions League, and it was to give many of us our first taste of the big time. In our squad going over to Valencia we had players such as Sergio Porrini, Lorenzo Amoruso, Claudio Reyna, Giovanni van Bronckhorst, Jorg Albertz, Michael Mols, Gabriel Amato, Arthur Numan, Neil McCann, Craig Moore and Colin Hendry. We felt there was a good mix of exper- ience and younger, emerging players, certainly with enough about us to go and have a crack at the Spaniards, and also Bayern Munich and PSV Eindhoven, the other two teams in the group. The record books state Valencia beat Rangers 2-0; that doesnââ?¬â?¢t tell the story. They toyed with us and, even though the goals came in the second half, it could have been a really painful defeat had they been a bit more clinical in front of goal. In the midfield area, where we were very strong, they had Gaizka Mendieta, an absolutely superb player, and David Albelda was as tough an opponent as I had faced at that time. They moved the ball at such speed, they attacked from different angles, with Kily Gonzalez and Claudio Lopez looking menacing every time they had the ball. Advocaat was thorough in all his preparations for matches, but there was little he, or any of us, could do to combat them. By the time they came to Ibrox at the end of October, they were flying. Again they bossed the match, and they were two goals ahead at the interval. As I said, we were doing well ourselves, having beaten PSV back-to-back and drawn with Bayern, but Valencia were a notch above the rest of us. Mendieta was immense. He had such an ability to take the ball in tight areas, yet somehow lift his head and find a yard to make a pass. The biggest lesson I learned from Valencia was that, in the Champions League, possession of the ball is king. To this day, and it will apply on Wednesday again when they are back in town, it is the most crucial factor when trying to cope against sides of that quality. They get enough of the ball without you giving it back to them cheaply! Rangers will need to try to keep hold of the ball for as long as they can; even if it is just for periods of passing that donââ?¬â?¢t actually see you press forward, it allows the defence time to breathe. I would imagine that, even though the faces have changed, the ethos of Valencia will be the same. They have superb technique, an excellent touch, and they will try to pick Rangers off. In saying that, I have been really pleased for my old team with what they have achieved so far in Europe this season. To get a point at Old Trafford was outstanding. Some of the stuff written and said about the tactics they used was just laughable. I have watched many sides defend in numbers against Manchester United, but get opened up. Rangers just defended better than most. They were superb. Having followed that up with a win over Bursaspor gives them a very good opportunity of European football after Christmas. But first they must deal with Valencia ââ?¬â?? and that could be easier said than done. http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/spl/rangers/keeping-the-ball-will-be-vital-for-rangers-against-their-spanish-opponents-in-the-champions-league-1.1062001

GARY HOOPER insists Celtic are the best team in the SPL - and they're ready to prove it by dumping Rangers. The hitman's double, including a 90th-minute strike, downed Dundee United yesterday. Victory pulled Celts level with leaders Gers on 24 points, and they are only second in the table because their goal difference is one less. Both Old Firm sides will put their perfect records on the line when they go head-to-head on Sunday. And Hooper, 22, said: "I feel we do have the best squad but I haven't seen all the teams yet. We're probably the best in the league in my opinion though. "We have a good team with all different nationalities bonding together and that showed out there against United. "Both ourselves and Rangers are now eight unbeaten and that makes it a big week. We have a great team spirit and we showed it out there. "We just kept attacking. We kept going and got the winner in the end. The fans played their part and I'm now looking forward to the Old Firm game. "If the whole team plays like we did here we'll have a great chance of making it nine games unbeaten." Hooper also has Kenny Miller in his sights. The Gers striker has scored 11 goals in club competitions this season after hitting the net against Motherwell on Saturday. Hooper now has five after almost six weeks out with a calf injury. He said: "The gaffer has brought me in to score goals. I'm proving that just now. "That is three in the league in two games now. I will just take it from there. My best tally in the Championship was 19. "The target for me is to beat Miller and to keep scoring. I'm near enough 100 per cent fit. Maybe a couple more games and I'll be there." Hooper was the one who hit the deck when ref Dougie McDonald pointed to the spot in the 70th minute yesterday. He'd been barged out the way moments earlier by Garry Kenneth but after play raged on he was felled after Dusan Pernis dived at his feet in the box. McDonald later changed his mind after talks with his linesman Steven Craven and restarted play with a bounce ball. Pernis did get a touch on the ball but Hooper reckons he was fouled on both occasions. He said: "It was a penalty. He got me first and then the ball. The linesman has only seen him get the ball and it was a bad decision. "There were two penalties as far as I was concerned. If I'd gone down with the first one it would have been a penalty and the second one was a penalty too. "It doesn't matter now because we have the three points and we can look forward to the Rangers game. The penalty decision certainly fired us up to go for the winner." Hooper had given Celts the lead after just 13 minutes after Anthony Stokes sent Mark Wilson scampering down the right. Wilson's cross put it on a plate for the Englishman to crash home high into the net. The �£2million ex-Scunthorpe star had other half-chances but after David Goodwillie's deflected strike had brought things level, he smashed home at the death. Hooper said: "It was a good performance. We showed good spirit and created a good few chances. I took two of them and the most important thing was we took the three points. "I wasn't surprised how tough United were because I've watched a couple of DVDs from last year. "They're a good solid team but we got the early goal and made it count before we got our late winner." Hoops boss Neil Lennon had made Shaun Maloney skipper in the absence of the injured Scott Brown. But the winner didn't arrive until Maloney was replaced by Paddy McCourt, who pulled on the armband then put in the initial ball that caused the confusion in the box for the goal. Lennon said: "Shaun has come through the academy and has shown great maturity this season. He's a player the fans can identify with. "He's a great role model not just for the fans but for the players as well. He's got a fight to get the armband off Paddy though as I think he is wearing it home! "We'd been toying with the idea of putting Paddy on but we were playing so well we didn't know who to take off. "But when it got so late in the game we felt we'd throw him on to see if he could create something. "Paddy makes an impact but the game should have been out of sight. The build-up play was breathtaking at times as well as the pace with which we attacked. "I always felt we may get something but their keeper was making great saves. We should have been two or three up at half-time but when we went in I was quite calm. "We had so much of the game and they scored with a deflection. For 30 minutes in the second half it was sheer quality. "Wave after wave of attack - and the fans have connected with the team and the team has connected with the fans. They had the whole place rocking. "It's important to keep the winning run going and it's important we get performances like that. "We went to watch Rangers on Saturday and they were impressive in the second half. "Something has to give next week. It's a challenge but we'll celebrate this result first." Read more: http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/spl/3184402/Now-well-see-whos-tops-Gers.html#ixzz12h53eaqX

His stock has been steadily climbing pretty much since he displaced Letizi. His stupendous save against Bremen in 2008 gave some idea of how much he'd bloomed since becoming our established number 1, and this season he's been absolutely fantastic at quite simply the highest levels - qualifying for the Euros, including another virtuoso display against the best team in the world, plus in the CL where he has kept 2 clean sheets including one V UTD. The guy is hot property now and also seems to have displaced Gordon as the national #1. He's been linked away in the past, to Newcastle and Benfica in particular, but thankfully he remains ours. The question is how long will that remain the case? He's a Premiership quality keeper, and surely the vultures will start circling soon. Every player has his price and that includes McGregor, so is there any realistic chance we can hold onto him past January? UTD and Arsenal are both really in the hunt for a new keeper, and while Given seems likely to go to Arsenal, with UTD having a scout at Hampden, could they come in for him? Or is there any chance we can keep him?

One of my all time favourite players together with Colin Stein. That tackle on Mick Channon and that wonderful full blooded trickle over the line still stand out in my mind as if it was yesterday. The tackle on Channon would have been punished today as it was from behind but it really was the most fantastically timed tackle you will ever see. As i remember it Forsyth slid his foot between Channons legs and knocked the ball back towards his own goal. One second earlier or later and he would have probably caught Channon and pulled him down for a penalty. Am i right in thinking he was a decent bowls player in later life?

stifflittlefingers 5 Oct 2010, 01:59 PM Post #13 Occasional Substitute [ * * * * ] Posts: 498 Group: Members Member #17,424 Joined: 30 March 2008 hopes kenny miller scores a barrowed load against the Czechs ans Spain and then receiving an injury to put him out of action for a good few weeks. tinsoldier 5 Oct 2010, 01:12 PM Post #8 Member Avatar Off treasure hunting in Holland [ * * * * * * * * * * * * ] Posts: 14,188 Group: Snr. Member Member #480 Joined: 13 January 2005 McCulloch shouldn't be in the squad in the first place due to his utter pishness but it looks as though he will be out injured anyway (and he's suspended for the first match). I think Scotland may well come back from Prague with a point but the display will be similar to Lithuania i.e. turgid and defensive with Kenny Miller running about a lot to no great effect. Spain at Hampden? We'll get a doing if they are in the mood. danbhoy09 5 Oct 2010, 07:57 PM Post #36 Member Avatar Occasional Substitute [ * * * * ] Posts: 350 Group: Members Member #24,604 Joined: 12 October 2009 Favourite all-time player Henke The Gorbals Urchin 5 Oct 2010, 04:31 PM Just bring Shaun home injury free please .APOLOGY TO MEEKY Was just about to post that. That's the outcome I'm looking for. Would like Scotland to get some points, but as long as our players come back injury free, I'm happy. Well content. Happy if the huns lose some bodies. Rambo67 6 Oct 2010, 09:37 AM Post #40 Member Avatar THE SNIPERS CHOICE [ * * * * * * * ] Posts: 1,770 Group: Members Member #23,094 Joined: 2 March 2009 Favourite all-time player Henrik Larsson Heard on Clyde this morning that levein is not going to start with Miller Hunbelievable, waistcoat still calling the shots then :nono: james76 Yesterday, 11:20 PM Post #797 Member Avatar First team training [ * * * ] Posts: 117 Group: Members Member #9,195 Joined: 1 July 2007 Total hun influence tonight. Got to get rid of this 10 men behind the ball is a success attitude. IainG Yesterday, 10:11 PM Post #751 Member Avatar Off treasure hunting in Holland [ * * * * * * * * * * * * ] Posts: 14,669 Group: Snr. Member Member #8,425 Joined: 24 May 2007 I blame the hun influence on the way Scotland play these days. The huns have had a degree of success parking the bus or trying to nick a goal whilst defending for their lives and Levein seems to think this is Scotland's best chance of taking anything from games. On Tuesday he's gonna need a double decker! Estadio nacional Yesterday, 9:20 PM Post #705 Member Avatar Boston Globe CSC [ * * * * * * * * * * * ] Posts: 8,210 Group: Snr. Member Member #882 Joined: 22 April 2005 Naismith "The Czechs are quality, if you give them a chance they will cut you open." Classic hun fear football tactics, Levein shat it same as Smith does. paul88 Yesterday, 9:22 PM Post #714 Member Avatar First-team captain [ * * * * * * * * ] Posts: 2,466 Group: Members Member #23,942 Joined: 30 June 2009 Favourite all-time player Paul McStay Quiet Assasin 8 Oct 2010, 09:19 PM 'We had a few chances that we were unlucky with' 'Up until the goal we played well' Naismith is clearly on the glue. huns are truly deluded,they're so used to negative football it's all the know now Quiet Assasin Yesterday, 9:12 PM Post #682 Member Avatar Gallant Pioneer [ * * * * * * * * ] Posts: 2,824 Group: Snr. Member Member #24,627 Joined: 18 October 2009 Favourite all-time player Chris Sutton At least a couple of huns have run themselves into the ground. Estadio nacional Yesterday, 9:08 PM Post #664 Member Avatar Boston Globe CSC [ * * * * * * * * * * * ] Posts: 8,210 Group: Snr. Member Member #882 Joined: 22 April 2005 A style of football and performance thats national embarrassment. I blame the huns. sc0tsman Yesterday, 9:07 PM Post #657 Member Avatar Unseen ****** Hand [ * * * * * * * * * * * * ] Posts: 10,390 Group: Snr. Member Member #496 Joined: 14 January 2005 Scotland the new HUN of International football. paul88 Yesterday, 8:48 PM Post #576 Member Avatar First-team captain [ * * * * * * * * ] Posts: 2,466 Group: Members Member #23,942 Joined: 30 June 2009 Favourite all-time player Paul McStay the huns and that old bassa smith have a lot to answer for. :nono: remy mcswain Yesterday, 8:44 PM Post #552 Member Avatar Who's car we taking? [ * * * * * * * * * * * * ] Posts: 29,728 Group: Snr. Member Member #74 Joined: 1 September 2004 Favourite all-time player Celticsean Weir to blame for the goal. Just let his man run off him. Estadio nacional Yesterday, 8:41 PM Post #528 Member Avatar Boston Globe CSC [ * * * * * * * * * * * ] Posts: 8,210 Group: Snr. Member Member #882 Joined: 22 April 2005 Keeper nowhere. Quiet Assasin Yesterday, 8:42 PM Post #534 Member Avatar Gallant Pioneer [ * * * * * * * * ] Posts: 2,824 Group: Snr. Member Member #24,627 Joined: 18 October 2009 Favourite all-time player Chris Sutton McGregor should have claimed that. Ball floating 4 yards from goal is keeper's ball. Estadio nacional Yesterday, 8:35 PM Post #490 Member Avatar Boston Globe CSC [ * * * * * * * * * * * ] Posts: 8,210 Group: Snr. Member Member #882 Joined: 22 April 2005 Whittiker is phish, rank rotten lesdon67 Yesterday, 8:05 PM Post #443 Member Avatar First-team captain [ * * * * * * * * ] Posts: 2,570 Group: Snr. Member Member #10,169 Joined: 20 August 2007 See Weiry is still in the habit of "ushering" opponents by the throat. Jamsieboi Yesterday, 7:54 PM Post #415 Youth team player [ * ] Posts: 42 Group: Members Member #4,924 Joined: 15 September 2006 How can Naismith get in the team ahead of Maloney??? Dorrans and Morrison looking not to bad Bauhaus Yesterday, 7:35 PM Post #376 Member Avatar First name on the team-sheet [ * * * * * * ] Posts: 1,509 Group: Members Member #25,511 Joined: 9 February 2010 Favourite all-time player Paul McStay This is like watching Rangers, only more so. shamrock60 Yesterday, 7:09 PM Post #330 Member Avatar First-team starter [ * * * * * ] Posts: 1,103 Group: Members Member #1,753 Joined: 1 August 2005 When Walter plays that type of formation the media fall over themselves to praise his tactics. Levein will get slaughtered. :)

Ive been a critic of him since he signed, but thought ht looked great in pre season when I watched us in Australia. he looked a different player. He has carried that into the first 9 games this season and is proven me wrong and im glad to eat my words. He has to do it over a season to prove he is quality but he is going about it the right way. Awesome stuff. Take a bow son! I could never see this in Boyd but Naismith has much much more in his locker.

On the back of another Kenny Miller double, this time contributing to the demise of Aberdeen at Pittodrie and firing Rangers back to the top of the league, the Scotland forward himself admits he is in the form of his career. Miller has already struck times in the SPL this season with just 6 games played, 11 in 7 if you count the first against Liechtenstein for Scotland. I will not try to re-write history. Miller returned to Ibrox to a hostile reception from the fans, none more so than myself. Even as rumours emerged that Walter might be interested in signing the striker who had served him so well as manager of the national team fans made their thoughts well known at games. Smith, though, is as strong a character as you will find in the Scottish game, (ask Killie chairman Michael Johnstone) and would not be dissuaded. The manager had an image for his Rangers team and would be his own man, making the signings he deemed necessary. Miller has had much to fight against, having scored for Celtic against Rangers prior to being re-singed from Derby and having a less than impressive scoring record for his previous employers north and south of the border. Whilst his work rate has never been in question, his allegiances, his touch and his composure were all very questionable. Miller�s effervescent style along with doubles against Celtic quickly saw many fans change their view on Miller more than repaying the manager�s faith in him. Again, though, I would be being economical with the truth if I were to say that he had completely won over all the fans. As has often been the case with Miller a rich vein of form and goals would be followed by an equal if not longer fallow period. He could not always be relied on to produce the goals. This season, however, Miller has produced goal-scoring form that even Kris Boyd would have trouble keeping up with whilst still contributing to all round team play and providing opportunities for his team mates. How then does this apply to Ulster hitman? Lafferty did not arrive with as much scepticism, nay outright hostility. Despite a modest goal-scoring record with former club Burnley, impressive outings for Northern Ireland saw Lafferty�s arrival greeted with much optimism. More so from fans across the Irish Sea. Lafferty did not have to contend with the baggage of being an unwelcome signing, a supposed traitor among the ranks. However, the first few years of Lafferty�s Rangers career have not been plain sailing. You would imagine that a player who has scored the goal that ultimately sealed the title on the last two occasions would be universally revered by his club�s supporters. But in truth that is not even close to half of the Kyle Lafferty story. Despite occasional flashes of quality from Lafferty he has all too often flattered to deceive. Combine this with moments of gross stupidity, on and off the field, and the rangy forward has all but eroded much of the cautious optimism that greeted his signing. Many of his more fervent supporters would argue that his cause has not been helped by a vindictive media campaign, but we should not allow a Ranger to shirk all responsibility of his behaviour and performances on the field. So, whilst Lafferty�s signing cannot be compared to the loud disapproval with which Miller�s signing met, the gaffer�s continued persistence to fit a toiling forward into his team has engendered much animosity toward the player. This is further exacerbated by a (by Rangers standards) hefty transfer fee. Particularly since the club, until this present season, have had no room for manoeuvre in the transfer window. Lafferty needs look no further than across the dressing room for the inspiration to overcome such adversity. Whilst the source of the hostility towards either player is markedly different, the road to redemption is exactly the same. Committed performances characterised by the skill and ability that Lafferty has so far exhibited all too infrequently and the kind of goal-scoring form required of a first choice Rangers forward can see Lafferty sharing the limelight with his more celebrated team mate rather than merely seeking to emulate a player currently of immeasurable value to Rangers trophy-winning aspirations.

Bougherra picked a shit time to have a bad game against Hamilton. Responsible for their goal, he was shakey and made a few key errors which I thought he'd eradicated previously. Bougherra is the one defender we look at for a level of quality Weir etc aren't capable of, but I recall the CL last season and Boogie was frankly anything but imperious in it. I am concerned what is going to happen if he has another of his untimely stinkers. Because Weir will get exposed beyond words.

I was in two minds whether to post this in Rangers Chat or Football Chat. Seeing as they're both ex Rangers men, I opted for Rangers Chat. Admin, feel free to move it if you have any issues. Anyway, this article is from The Daily Record. I meant to post it the other day after the Scotland game in midweek but clean forgot.

Well, I know the transfer window is closed & I know that we possibly don't have the cash to bring anyone else in, but if we did, I'd love to see us bringing in someone like Jay DeMerit, the USA international and former Watford player. He did really well for the USA at the World Cup out in South Africa against some tough sides and IMO he'd be a cracking addition to our squad given that Webster is looking like being injured half the season if we're lucky. So, if you're reading Walter or Ally, DeMerit is a free agent and looking for a job! Jay DeMerit with Wayne Rooney in his pocket, South Africa, 2010.

Aberdeen have been given the green light to seal the loan signing of Udinese defender Nikola Vujadinovic. More... Aberdeen have been given the green light to seal the loan signing of Udinese defender Nikola Vujadinovic. A Scottish Football Association panel agreed to recommend Aberdeen's application for a work permit for the 24-year-old after meeting at Hampden Park on Monday. Vujadinovic is a Serbian born Montenegrin, who can operate at left-back or centre-half. He began his career at Red Star Belgrade and had spells at FK Rad of Belgrade, FK Zeta of Podgorica, FK Radnicki Pirot and CSKA Sofia, before winning a move to Serie A with Udinese. Aberdeen director of football Willie Miller attended the hearing along with manager Mark McGhee. "We're delighted that Nikola has been given the green light to play in the SPL and we believe he will prove to be a quality signing, who can play in several positions," said Miller.

From todays Scottish Sun, Could we please have this pinned up in the ibrox dressing room, We are not even four games into the start of the season and these monkey heids, well lets just say hooper has the title in the bag for the manky mob, are they ever going to learn to keep there gobby players away from the media or was hooper listening to big shagmaarse samaras... GARY HOOPER has opened his heart on his injury hell and begged Celtic fans: Don't dare forget about me. The �£2.4million signing from Scunthorpe made a blistering start to his Hoops career with a goal against SC Braga on his Champions League debut. He was crocked days later in a pre-season friendly against Blackburn and Hooper hasn't kicked a ball since. What he thought was a routine dead leg was a costly calf injury which has taken four agonising weeks to heal. Celts boss Neil Lennon has spent almost �£10m on 11 new players as his Parkhead revolution gets ready to roll. Hooper - well on the road to recovery - insists he has no intention of being left behind. He insists Celtic will silence their early season critics WHEN they win the league. Hooper said: "A lot of players have come in while I've been out injured but that doesn't bother me. "It just means it's more competition for me. I have to pick my game up but that's fine. I scored a few goals before I got injured and I've no doubts I can do a job for Celtic. I just need to get myself back fit and into the team." Rangers have signed just four new players to Celts' 11 but it's been claimed Gers gaffer Walter Smith has opted for quality, not quantity. Hooper scoffed at that as he said: "No one can say anything until we lift the cup at the end of the season. "You can't judge whether a certain player is a good signing or not. People can say things now but what are they going to say when we win the league? "There are good players at this club and it's about getting it together as a team. "We're scoring goals and we're looking good, long may it continue." Anthony Stokes became the last player to check into Parkhead this summer when he sealed his �£1.2m move from Hibs on transfer deadline day. Hooper - among the first of the arrivals - reckons Stokes will prove to be the final piece in Lenny's jigsaw. The 22-year-old is desperate to stake his claim for a starting place alongside Stokes in a new-look Hoops attack. Hooper said: "I've never seen Anthony play but he's clearly a goalscorer. I'd love to play alongside him. Hopefully that's something the gaffer is thinking about. I was brought here to score goals and I'm confident I can do that." Hooper gave Celtic fans a brief glimpse of what he's all about with strikes against Lyon and Braga. Advertisement The striker went on: "I'm back fit and I'm looking to rejoin the squad next week. "I'm targeting the game with Hearts after the international break for my return. "I can't wait as it's been a difficult few weeks for me. "I started the season in good form with a couple of goals but then I picked up the injury against Blackburn and here we are four weeks later. "I don't like sitting in the stands. It's been frustrating because it was a nothing challenge but I felt it straight away. It set me back, there's no doubt about that. "At first I thought it was a dead leg and I tried to run it off but, of course, it was more serious than that. "When you come to a new club you're desperate to do well and hit the ground running. I had to accept what had happened and not rush things to get back. "For the first two weeks I did nothing, then I started running again and hopefully next week I'll be back training with the boys. It's been difficult training on my own. I'd been stuck in a hotel as well but I'm set up at home and hopefully my injury problem is now behind me. "Really, my Celtic career is starting now." Hooper arrived at Celtic Park with dreams of Euro glory but they were snatched away by losses to Braga and Utrecht. Hooper admitted: "It's been hard to watch and not be able to help the team. "The European games were a massive disappointment but overall our form has been good. We have played three games in the league, not lost a goal and won them all. "The main focus is the league this season and we've started well. Some of the criticism has been over the top. "We're out of Europe and that's a sore one to take but the focus is the league and we're doing well there. "The manager has brought in a lot of new players so it's unfair to criticise him. "I don't think he's lost a game in the league stretching back to last season. "He's a strong character and a massive influence but he needs to be because of all the new faces at the club. "Straight away he lets us know what it's all about. Winning, it's as simple as that." Read more: http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/spl/3123236/We-will-prove-Neils-spent-well-when-we-lift-title.html#ixzz0yQLkbThl

As the transfer window 'slams' shut (why does it never close softly given the usual anti-climax?) at last Scottish football fans across the country can judge the comings and goings at their clubs and decide just how competitive they'll be this season. Thus, at Rangers, after a summer of scaremongering and torment, do we have a stream-lined squad capable of retaining the SPL title or is Celtic's bloated brigade a better strategy for success? An immediate comparison of the two squads in quantity terms shows Celtic have at least 25 players available to Neil Lennon who have all played first team football and could be considered genuine contenders for their first XI. Meanwhile a look at Gersnet's own squad page shows we're less well endowed with only 19 players maximum who can be considered demonstrable candidates for our team. That is a fair difference in personnel numbers before each manager has to look to the McGinn's/McGowan's or Shinnie's/Little's in their reserves when injuries and suspensions inevitably take their toll. So, quantity-wise Celtic undoubtedly have the edge. But what about quality and how do other factors affect both teams' chances of success? Rangers, while losing several players over the summer, still have a strong core to their first XI. Indeed, McGregor, Bougherra, Davis and Miller can justifiably be considered the best players in the SPL in their respective roles. These four players will be key to our chances of success and the loss of any would be a huge blow at any given time. Nonetheless, they are backed up with other reliable and proven colleagues. Certainly, as it has been over the last two seasons, consistency of selection will be one of Rangers continued strength this term. Several players have experienced what it takes to win league titles and Rangers first XI is still very strong in every department. Add in a few signings with the potential to improve this, the loss of players like Wilson, Thomson and Boyd may not be the demoralising blows they seemed at first. In fact it could be argued that while Rangers do have a smaller squad, we do have a better one. Of course squads cannot be discussed without examining the people responsible for instructing them each week. In that respect Rangers have a big advantage on their rivals with Walter Smith and Ally McCoist now having worked together successfully for several years. They know what it is like to win (and lose) while dealing with the unavoidable stresses associated with such difficult jobs. Unfortunately, they'll have to be more flexible than ever with Rangers likely to play at least 6 more games than anyone else via their involvement in the Champions League. This is where our smaller squad will certainly be a handicap. Moving onto Celtic, while they definitely have the kind of numbers to make a strong challenge this year; they do lack other qualities when compared to Rangers. They lack the same core of proven players and the luxuries of a larger squad brings with it the difficulty of consistency of selection - a conundrum Tony Mowbray struggled badly with last season. Therefore, while players like Juarez, Ledley, Stokes and Hooper are solid buys, just how quickly will they gel and how happy will other players be when they are left out? Obviously this is where Lennon's managerial inexperience may count against him. He has made wholesale changes to the squad after not being slow to blame the players for their lack of success last year. Ergo, it will be interesting to see how he deals with any bad times that come his way as he'll be unable to blame them solely this time. Not to mention when players ask why they're not playing this week because of having to accommodate a rotation process due to squad size. All in all it is difficult to make a clear-cut case for Rangers or Celtic winning the title this season. Both have their strengths and weaknesses which will be key as the season progresses. Proof of just how tight this will be can be found by looking at the top of the SPL table after just 3 games. Quality versus quantity it is then - to the victor the spoils! :robbo:

Lafferty said: "I don't want to leave this club. It meant everything for me to join Rangers. "But I realise the only way I can make sure I stay at Ibrox is to perform well on a regular basis. "If my discipline isn't right, though, then I put all of my hopes at risk." SunSport can reveal Smith had a private pep-talk yesterday with Lafferty after his warning. Lafferty added: "I've ended up getting stupidly sent off and I could have lost the game for the team. "I'm really disappointed with the first red card of my Rangers career. "Now I'm just going to have to accept my ban and move on. "It's a massive season for everybody here and with three new signings the competition for places up front is intense. Vladimir, James and Nikica are quality signings and I've got my work cut out to get my place back. "I've got to work even harder to make sure I stay in the manager's plans." Lafferty reckons the red card from ref Iain Brines was harsh. He went on: "I thought it should've just been a yellow card each, but the referee seemed to make up his mind early on. "I know my initial tackle looked bad. But having watched TV replays I think the red was harsh. "I did go over the top of Liam Miller, but that was because I pulled out the tackle as I was going in. "I admit I reacted badly after being hit with the ball by McBride, but I think in that situation most players would have done the same."

I've never read too much into their being a huge conspiracy against Rangers in the media or elsewhere, every football club's fans believe that. Not denying we are often attacked, just not to maybe the level some would believe. Recently though, and I rarely read the papers, I've noticed the press constantly looking to talk up Celtic, even when they continue to fail. Recent articles in different newspapers have spoke of a parkhead revolution and quoting todays Daily Mail, "Neil Lennon hailed all-rounder Beram Kayal as the pick of his European stars". How can any such statement be written about a squad of unknown players who have just been embarrassed in the CL qualifiers and have only just beaten mediocre Europa League opposition? You can only just imagine if we were in such a position - it would be 'solid' or 'an improvement on previous embarrassment." The press can write what the hell they want. Only last season some papers were printing guff about Hinkel (correct me if I'm wrong) claiming the last old firm game would prove who was the best 'once and for all', and hinting that there was some justification in this, forgetting we had just controlled them the whole season. The irony is despite all this talk of Celtics big expenditure, we have at the last minute probably signed 3 players of vastly superior quality.

Walter Smith hopes to conclude the signings of James Beattie and Tommy Smith before Saturdayââ?¬â?¢s SPL opener with Kilmarnock at Ibrox. The Rangers manager says he has not totally given up on his pursuit of Rapid Vienna striker Nikica Jelavic ââ?¬â?? but that deal appears to be all but dead unless the player lowers his financial demands. Beattie is set to cost around Ã?£1.5million from Stoke City and was on his way to Glasgow for contract talks with chief executive Martin Bain. Rangers are believed to have offered Ã?£900,000 to Portsmouth for Smith and were waiting on an answer from the Championship side before entering into wage talks. The Rangers manager confirmed today: ââ?¬Å?We are in negotiations with Stoke and Portsmouth for the signings of James Beattie and Tommy Smith respectively. ââ?¬Å?It is difficult to say just how long it will take to conclude these signings ââ?¬â?? but we hope to complete both deals in time for the weekend.ââ?¬Â Beattie would look the more likely deal to be pushed through, with Pompey boss Steve Cotterrill insisting of Smith: ââ?¬Å?He isnââ?¬â?¢t a players weââ?¬â?¢d be looking to lose. ââ?¬Å?Heââ?¬â?¢s a good player, and whatââ?¬â?¢s been offered wouldnââ?¬â?¢t be the figure weââ?¬â?¢d put on him if we did want to sell.ââ?¬Â Jelavicââ?¬â?¢s protracted transfer from Rapid Vienna has rumbled on for the best part of two weeks. Rangers have tabled a transfer package of close to Ã?£4million for the 24-year-old, with a Ã?£16,000 a week wage offer, but he is sue a slice of any sale and senior sources at Ibrox, privately, have all but given up hope of his arrival unless there is a change in stance on his behalf. Smith explained: ââ?¬Å?As for Jelavic, I admit that one is looking more doubtful as there are complications there that we had not foreseen. ââ?¬Å?Things have not gone smoothly ââ?¬â?? but we have by no means given up on bringing him to the club.ââ?¬Â Smith will also arrange a closed-door game for Honduran international Georgie Welcome early next week in order to make a final decision on whetherââ?¬â?¢s heââ?¬â?¢s worth a deal. He was denied a work permit to play in a second-string game against Glentoran this week and could face red-tape issues. Arsenal kid Nacer Barazite also remains on trial. Smith said: ââ?¬Å?Welcome has been unfortunate in that he is not allowed to play in any public games and so we are in the process of arranging a closed-door game and we will make a decision on him after that. As for Nacer, we will continue to look at him.ââ?¬Â Smith also confirmed that he will continue to work right up to the closure of the transfer window on August 31 as he bids to beef up his squad. ââ?¬Å?We have only 14 experienced players in our squad right now and it is obvious that we need to add more in terms of quality and experience,ââ?¬Â he added. ââ?¬Å?We have been working on a number of other deals, but these players are in demand elsewhere and that has made it difficult. ââ?¬Å?But we will keep working on things until the closure of the transfer window ââ?¬â?? and we hope to be able to bring in another couple of new faces above the players I have discussed.ââ?¬Â Meanwhile, Kenny Miller should be fit for Killie despite suffering from shin splints. Smith said: ââ?¬Å?Kenny has been struggling, but the fact he has not played midweek for Scotland should allow him to be OK for Saturday. ââ?¬Å?It is not a chronic condition with him so that bit of rest should have sorted things.ââ?¬Â But the Rangers manager confirmed that Lee McCulloch, who is in any case suspended for the SPL opener, will need up to a fortnight to recover from the virus he is suffering from. Smith said: ââ?¬Å?Lee picked up the virus coming back from Australia and we expect him to take another couple of weeks to make a full recovery.ââ?¬Â http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/editor-s-picks/walter-smith-confirms-beattie-and-smith-deals-1.1047824

Hardly a day passes by without another player being linked to Rangers - be it in the unofficial media such as newspapers or forums - or even via official comment from Smith/Bain and stories on the club website. Given we've not paid a fee for a new player since Maurice Edu in 2008, yet have raked in millions since then from Champions League money and player sales, that would suggest we do have some sort of budget to strengthen our squad. Indeed, different figures have been mentioned - ranging from a couple of million to �£5million and beyond. Of course the club are consistent in trying to play down such figures and definitely don't seem keen on alluding to any kind of budget - even although they have confirmed (or alleged) reasonable transfer fees and wage packages for potential players. For example, Chris Eagles was supposed to be close to arriving on a deal worth around �£2million and �£15K per week over 3 years. That totals up to not far from the unsubstantiated �£5million 'warchest' oft talked about amongst the support. On the other hand, many fans are rightly cynical when it comes to such issues. Time and time again we're told money is available yet no players come in. Further to that, the hard luck stories are run out when the window eventually closes - 'he didn't want to come', 'we couldn't match another club's offer', 'SDM's private jet is under repair' etc etc. As such, it's difficult to argue with such people when the facts tell us we have the weakest Rangers squad (in terms of numbers) for over 20 years and an overall dearth in quality that will affect our competitiveness for the rapidly approaching season. Therefore, the issue perhaps comes down to two different scenarios: 1. Do we indeed have a reasonable total budget (say �£5million for fees and wages) and are bluffing a weak position to maximise our activity? 2. Or have MIH/Lloyds/HMRC, absorbed all of income limiting us to another Jerome Rothen type loaning signing if we're lucky? I'd like to gauge your opinion so we can come back at the end of August and see who has been proven right! Are we bluffing or have we already folded? :box: