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When Rangers head off on their long-haul flight to Australia tonight, there will be plenty of time for Walter Smith to occupy himself with blue-sky thinking. Sleep is unlikely to come easily to the Rangers manager as he continues to mull over the financial nightmare that plagues his dream of landing the kind of player that will bolster a threadbare squad ââ?¬â?? and generate a ripple of excitement among the fans. Economy class will be the ticket with no chance of a Very Important Player upgrade. Michael Tongeââ?¬â?¢s name may not be on the passenger list when the plane taxis down the runway at Glasgow Airport. But by the time Rangers return from their tour Down Under on August 2, the Stoke City midfielder could well have landed at Ibrox on a season-long Ibrox loan agreement. The Englishman is one player definitely on Smithââ?¬â?¢s in-flight radar and a former Ibrox apprentice reckons the former England Under-21 star would be a shrewd acquisition. Barry Nicholson played alongside Tonge during a loan spell at Preston North End and reckons he has all the hallmarks to make an impact down Govan way. Tonge may carry a bargain tag, but Nicholson is convinced the fans will warm to player who carries a bit of quality. The former, Rangers, Aberdeen and Dunfermline player said: ââ?¬Å?I think Michael would do really well at Ibrox. ââ?¬Å?When he was younger he was very highly rated and he was one of those players who was talked about a lot when he was still a kid. ââ?¬Å?It has maybe not quite gone according to plan for him over the last few years, but he is a really good player. ââ?¬Å?He is very comfortable on the ball, he has good technique, he is a good passer of the ball and he is also able to create things. ââ?¬Å?When he was at Preston he made a good impression and I think heââ?¬â?¢d be ready for the step up to Rangers. ââ?¬Å?He is not really an out-and-out winger. I think if he went to Ibrox he would play the way that Steven Davis last season and always look to cut inside. ââ?¬Å?He is very clever at doing that and seeing the forward pass that can then open something up.ââ?¬Â The days of multi-million pound household names arriving in Glasgow are over, at least for the time being. Right now, the climate is one of prudence and purse-tightening, a fact reflected in the sheer number of players in the last 12 months who have swapped the SPL for the Coca-Cola Championship. Nicholson understands the reasons for this, but he remains a staunch defender of the Old Firm ââ?¬â?? and what they can bring to the table of any player with a hunger to parade his skills in a unique setting. He said: ââ?¬Å?Everyone I have spoken to recently seems to go on about the decline in standards in Scotland. ââ?¬Å?That may be the case, but you have to hope that there are some young players coming through who can help to change that. The Championship and the SPL are probably on a par in terms of the level the games are played at. ââ?¬Å?But the Championship is a lot tighter because there are more teams who are of a similar standard and with the same kind of finances available to them. ââ?¬Å?I still think that a player moving from Stoke, say, as Michael would be, and going to Rangers is a big step up. ââ?¬Å?Aside from anything else, Rangers will be playing Champions League football this coming season and that is a huge draw for most players. ââ?¬Å?Everyone wants the chance to play at that kind of level and even just in terms of size and stature, both Rangers and Celtic are huge clubs. They still have big reputations and while they canââ?¬â?¢t spend the way they did, they still give players the chance to play in front of 50,000 supporters week in, week out. ââ?¬Å?There are not too many clubs in Britain who can make that boast. At the same time, I can understand why so many players have moved out of Scotland to come down here. ââ?¬Å?Iââ?¬â?¢d have to say from my own point of view that I am enjoying my football down here. I wouldnââ?¬â?¢t be in any rush to move back, although I still keep an eye out for the SPL scores. ââ?¬Å?It would be nice to see the profile of the league rise a little and if there were some decent European results this season it would go a long way to helping achieve that.ââ?¬Â A flight of fancy that Walter Smith would definitely share.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/scotland/8828618.stm Not sure that this is particularly good news for us. I'd rather we didn't have too many players risking injury for Scotland given the limited size of our squad...

Northern Ireland striker Kyle Lafferty says heââ?¬â?¢s ready to hit the goal trail for Walter Smithââ?¬â?¢s men. Rangers striker Kyle Lafferty says heââ?¬â?¢s ready to repay Walter Smithââ?¬â?¢s faith in him by making fans forget all about the loss of goal machine Kris Boyd. Lafferty has endured a torrid time at Rangers since his Ã?£3.5m signing from Burnley two years ago and been in and out of the team. But the Northern Ireland striker ended last season on a high, blasting five goals in seven games as Rangers wrapped up the title. And heââ?¬â?¢s vowed thereââ?¬â?¢s lots more where that came from if he gets a run in preffered centre forward position. Speaking in The Sun about the imminent departure of ââ?¬Ë?Gers goal machine Boyd. Lafferty said he understands ââ?¬Ë?Gers fans anxiety about losing the lethal finisher. And while Light Blues boss Walter Smith continues to run the rule over potential signings with a striker high on the agenda, Lafferty says the answer lies closer to home. And that pairing him up alongside Kenny Miller next season could reap rewards as Smith sets about trying to win three-in-a-row in what will be his final season at Ibrox. ââ?¬Å?Any club would be gutted to lose a quality striker like Boyd, ââ?¬Å? the 22 year-old said. ââ?¬Å?All of the boys are sorry to see him go. ââ?¬Å?His record for Rangers speaks for itself and Iââ?¬â?¢m confident heââ?¬â?¢ll continue to score plenty of goals wherever he goes. ââ?¬Å?The boss is considering all his options, including spending money on a new striker now it seems he has finally got some funds available. ââ?¬Å?Iââ?¬â?¢ve seen a few names linked to the club and Iââ?¬â?¢m OK about that because I know whatever happens Iââ?¬â?¢m good enough to play for Rangers. ââ?¬Å?If I was given a chance to fill Boydââ?¬â?¢s boots I would be delighted if the boss felt he could rely on me.ââ?¬Â The striker added: ââ?¬Å?I learned a lot last year. I went through a spell last year where I didnââ?¬â?¢t score for five or six months, then all of a sudden I couldnââ?¬â?¢t stop scoring. ââ?¬Å?I feel as if Iââ?¬â?¢ve matured as a player- and coming through such a difficult time has done a lot for my confidence If Iââ?¬â?¢m given a a regular opportunity to play up front then Iââ?¬â?¢m confident I can produce the goals to get Rangerââ?¬â?¢s three-in-a-row.ââ?¬Â http://sport.stv.tv/football/scottish-premier/rangers/184609-rangers-lafferty-tells-smith-ill-deliver-the-goals-needed-to-clinch-three-in-a-row/

Excellent participation in this and the Football Awards (which were posted a few weeks back) so thanks to everyone who took part. Anyway, some interesting results and it is always fun to gauge reactions at the end of the season! So without further ado: Gersnet User Award Results Most Knowledgeable User Winner: Bluedell Runner Up: Frankie User Most Likely to Change Your Mind in a Debate Joint Winners: Zappa/Frankie Runners Up: rbr, Bluedell, bmck, Craig User Least Likely to Change Your Mind in a Debate Winner: Wabashcannonball Runner Up: Calscot Most Helpful User Winner: Frankie Runners Up: Zappa, Bluedell Funniest User Winner: Ian1964 Runners Up: Zappa, Pete Most Frustrating User Winner: Wabashcannonball Runners Up: bmck, Calscot Best New Poster Joint Winners: Dr Preston Burke, Metlika, Flying Hippo, Danny, Runners Up: OnlyAnAmoruso, Wabashcannonball, Northampton_Loyalist, Andy Steel Admin Note: We think the above award just shows the strength of new poster we've had over the last year. That fact the award was so close with so many different nominations says a lot for new members' efforts to get involved and improve debate! Many thanks! User Most Likely to Start a Fight in an Empty Thread Winner: Wabashcannonball Runner Up: Danny Most Missed User Winner: JonC Runner Up: Norris Cole Best Article Contributor to the main site Winner: Frankie Runner Up: Super_Ally Best Mod/Admin Winner: Frankie Runner Up: Craig Overall Best User for 2009/2010 Winner: Super_Ally Runner Up: Frankie Super_Ally will be presented with our beautiful Gersnet crystal later in the summer. I spoke to him by phone last night and he was absolutely delighted with our prize and thanks all Gersnet users for their continued support of the forum. Gersnet Hall of Fame Winner: Super_Ally Runners Up: Bluedell, Craig Gersnet Hall of Shame Winner: Aiden McGeady Runners Up: Darrell King Admin Comments We'd like to take this opportunity to thank every Gersnet member for their contribution over the last year. These awards are just a bit of fun of course and we should hold every member in the same regard as different styles of posts and different opinions is what makes the place interesting. We're especially lucky here to have so many talented, intelligent, balanced and mature posters on here so the quality of debate is certainly well worthy of a daily visit; even if the quantity may not always satisfy newcomers enough to stick around. Those that do are rewarded with a cracking wee forum which is proud of its place in the online Rangers community. Conversely, we appreciate the forum/site isn't perfect so invite any feedback or suggestions for improvement. We're a bit disappointed that our off-topic Lounge seems under-used, so are especially interested in any ideas for the less serious side of Gersnet. Anyway, before I send you all to sleep, well done to those that did manage to win an award and here's hoping for another successful year for our team (and forum) in season 2010/11! We are the people! :robbo:

Seen as there is a strikers thread... Im a bit more concerned about our defence next season more so than the strikers. We have Miller, Lafferty, Velicka, Fleck and Naismith who can all play upfront and non are likely to leave. Granted the quality isnt the best its ever been but the numbers are ok. But with the futures of Bougherra, Wilson and Broadfoot not certain we should be on the look out for a centre half. Can Weir really perform another year? Will Webster be fit? (seems to have a jinx when pulling on the blue). If 2 of the 3 mentioned stay it solves a few things but if all 3 left we are in a mess. Papac can operate at centre half temporarily but if he does that leaves us without a LB following S Smith's departure. Whittaker can switch to LB but that means either Broadfoot (if he doesnt leave) or Little (who hasnt impressed) at RB.

HEARTS tsar Vladimir Romanov has launched an outspoken attack on Aiden McGeady and Celtic. The Russian-born Jambos owner has hit out after Spartak Moscow tried to land the Hoops wing king with an �£8.3million bid. Romanov blasted: "If McGeady moves to Spartak he will have to finally start playing football, not just pushing other players like in Scotland. "Also in Russia there are only 11 players in a team on the pitch, not 12 like in the Glasgow clubs." Mad Vlad's latest rant could spark a fresh probe from the SFA. It's also set to enrage Celts as they fight hard to keep hold of McGeady. Former Rangers and Russia winger Andrei Kanchelskis has warned McGeady it would be tough to settle in if he heads east. He said: "In Russia, everything initially would seem different - beginning with food at the training base and ending with relations between the people. "The pitches are mostly of worse quality than in Scotland - especially in spring and autumn. The teams play differently. Patience is going to be necessary to get used to it all. "A lot will depend upon his resolve to stay in Russia. To master at least the basics of the language is a must." Read more: http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/spl/3003949/Vlad-rant-over-Aiden.html#ixzz0qFSpQEMl

Manchester United's owners are �£1.1bn in debt - �£400m more than previously known - after borrowing extensively against their shopping mall business. BBC Panorama has found evidence that the Glazer family's debt levels may threaten their hold on the club. A spokesman for the American family has said it holds more than �£2bn in assets. But the extent of the debt owed by the Glazers is likely to fuel a continuing revolt by some supporters, who oppose their ownership of the club. Green and gold Details of the financial arrangements of the owners also come at a time when the sport's governing bodies are facing questions about Premier League debts that have reached a combined total of �£3.4bn and the growing popularity of leveraged buyouts in English clubs. Continue reading the main story These are people who tell us not to worry about Manchester United debt because they are great businessmen. In their core business in the US they got it absolutely wrong Andy Green City Analyst and Man U supporter Mortgage documents seen by the BBC show that the Glazers have borrowed �£388m ($570m) against shopping malls and �£66m ($95m) against their American National Football League team, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In addition to their mortgages in the US, a portion of the Glazer family's �£700m Manchester United debt will soon see them charged interest at a rate of 16.25%. Fans fear that, despite the club's record of success on the pitch, the Glazers' leveraged buy-out of United has saddled the club with debt and that may mean that there is no spare money in the future to buy a new generation of star players. Disappointed fans have launched the "green and gold" campaign that resurrects the original team colours in protest over the Glazers' ownership. Their numbers have reached 158,000 and former United star David Beckham has signalled his support. They point to the �£80m sale of star striker Cristiano Ronaldo last year and note that he has not been replaced by a player of similar quality. Yet ticket prices have gone up by more than a third. The club's management denies any lack of commitment to buying new talent and says that cash is available for Sir Alex Ferguson to buy players. Negative equity City analyst Andy Green, 37, is the disgruntled Manchester United supporter who first uncovered the extent of the Glazers' debts. Mr Green said: "They borrowed more money at inflated valuations right at the top of the cycle. "These are people who tell us not to worry about Manchester United debt because they are great businessmen. In their core business in the US they got it absolutely wrong." Man U's Nani The Glazers have defended their ownership of the team The debt levels at the club are also drawing the attention of other prominent football figures. Dave Whelan, Chairman of Wigan Athletic, told Panorama: "I don't think anybody can be satisfied with how Manchester United are being run... they have got somewhere in the order of three-quarters of a billion pounds worth of debt. That has got to be eliminated and eliminated quickly." The Glazer family's main assets are the shopping centre business in America, First Allied Corporation, along with Manchester United and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. First Allied is a private business and its accounts are not publicly available. But Mr Green discovered that the Glazers' shopping mall mortgages had been bundled with other loans as Commercial Mortgage Backed Securities. Those bundles are publicly traded and therefore require the Glazers to provide detailed information on all the mortgages, which are then publicly available in the US. Mr Green found mortgages - confirmed by the BBC - on 63 of 64 First Allied shopping centres, totalling �£388m ($570m). Most of those were taken out with Lehman Brothers before the US investment banking giant went bankrupt, triggering the global banking crisis in 2008. 'Watch list' While Lehmans collapsed, the Glazers' mortgage debt lived on and many of those shopping centres are not generating enough income to keep up with interest payments. With falling commercial property values, many are also now in negative equity. Banks have put 28 of the shopping centres on a watch list, meaning they are worried about the loans. Four shopping centres - one each in Ohio, New Mexico, Texas and Georgia - have already gone bankrupt. When they bought Manchester United in 2005, the Glazer family borrowed �£500m and paid the remaining �£272 million in cash. Mr Green found that the Glazers had remortgaged 25 of their shopping centres in the six months before the takeover. He believes the family borrowed against their US properties to pay for United: "At the time when they had to present a huge amount of cash over here in the UK they borrowed a huge amount of extra money in the US and publicly they didn't buy anything else that year." A spokesman for the family did not respond to questions about the mortgages taken out by First Allied. But with properties now worth about �£380m ($550m) but mortgages valued at �£395m ($570m), the shopping mall company now appears to be worth next to nothing. 'Commercial expertise' That financial picture has analyst Mr Green questioning how the Glazers will service their �£1.1bn debt. A green and gold supporter sells scarves Fans are wearing green and gold in protest over the Glazers' ownership United chief executive, David Gill, has said: "We're very confident the business model we have in place will ensure the club can continue to compete at the top of football for many years to come. "The owners have been true to their word since they took over the club in 2005. They've brought commercial expertise and commercial benefit to us in a numbers of areas, and we've seen our revenues grow significantly." The Glazers' most troublesome debts are held by Red Football, the parent company that owns Manchester United. They are payment in kind loans, or PIKs, worth �£200m and the interest owing on them will soon rise to 16.25%. Mr Gill told the BBC in January: "We don't worry about the PIK repayment. That's nothing to with the club." A spokesman for Manchester United told the BBC last week that the club stands behind Mr Gill's assertion that the debts will be repaid without involving the club. But sources close to the Glazers have confirmed that Red Football may use cash from Manchester United to pay off the PIKs in the future. The Glazers are said to be "comfortable" with the PIKs. The situation at Manchester United reflects the wider issue within the Premier League, where clubs like Liverpool and West Ham are struggling with huge debts and FA Cup finalists Portsmouth barely staved off bankruptcy. Both the Premier League and the FA declined requests for interviews on the subject of debt in football. Panorama: Man United - Into the Red, BBC One, Tuesday, 8 June at 2235BST and then available on the BBC iPlayer . http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/10237268.stm

More rubbish probably, but I'd rather keep Thomson at Ibrox to see if he recapture his best form. http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/2010/05/11/boro-boss-gordon-strachan-lines-up-swoop-for-rangers-ace-kevin-thomson-86908-22249947/ GORDON STRACHAN is ready to launch a shock raid on Rangers for midfield lynchpin Kevin Thomson - as the crown jewel of another huge recruitment drive from the SPL. Record Sport can reveal the Middlesbrough manager has placed Thomson's name at the top of a six-strong list of transfer targets based north of the border and believes the financial carnage at Ibrox may help him land his man. Strachan is aware the 25-year-old is about to enter into the final season of his contract and with the crisis-hit SPL champs unsure about future budgets Thomson, left, has still not been offered an extension. That means Rangers could face losing one of their most valuable assets for nothing in 12 months' time and Strachan plans to exploit the situation by offering Thomson a bumper long-term deal on Teesside. Long-time admirers West Brom are also monitoring Thomson's situation but Strachan has jumped to the front of the queue in his rush to prepare Boro for next season's Premiership promotion push. He is also interested in Hearts winger Andy Driver, Morgaro Gomis of Dundee United, Hibs defender Sol Bamba, Celtic full-back Mark Wilson and has already opened contract talks with Thomson's Ibrox buddy Nacho Novo. But, in Thomson, Strachan believes he could land himself the bargain of the summer for a fee of less than �£3million - around half of what Rangers boss Walter Smith would expect to rake in for the player in normal circumstances. Thomson, who recently became a dad for the first time, has already made it clear he wishes to stay at Ibrox and sign a new four-year contract . However, Rangers might be unable to offer any kind of long-term security unless a new owner takes over the club this summer. Six of Smith's squad - Davie Weir, Novo, Kris Boyd, DaMarcus Beasley, Stevie Smith and Kirk Broadfoot - are already out of contract but Thomson is one of another group of key players who, with only 12 months left on their deals, are also looking for clarity. And a source at the Riverside told Record Sport: "The manager has made it clear he plans to go in heavy across the border this summer because he believes the players are of a higher quality than in the Championship. "Novo could be the first to arrive but there is no doubt landing Thomson would be a major coup for the club. Gordon is working on putting something together and trying to take advantage of the uncertainty off the field at Rangers . "He knows he can offer the lad the kind of security Rangers simply cannot get close to."

The league flag will be unfurled tomorrow as Rangers are crowned champions for the 53rd time, a world record. It is two-in-a-row for Walter Smith's men and in many ways, perhaps the most remarkable of the the 9 championships he has delivered as Rangers manager. Rangers do not have their problems to seek off the field. A debt estimated circa �£25-30m, restrictive business plans imposed upon the club and an ongoing takeover saga. On the field, Rangers have not forked out a transfer fee on any player since August 2008. The squad has slowly eroded over that time with only loan deals supplementing the squad. The season began with a new Celtic manager in Tony Mowbray. High quality, high tempo, attacking football was promised. It is, after all, "The Celtic Way". Sadly, the Monkey Heid lasted only until March. By then, the league was lost and only pride was left to play for. Rangers though, stumbled toward the finishing line, but reached it with 3 games to spare. It may not have been pretty for much of the season with a number of results ground out through sheer belligerence - but given the circumstances, what more could we realistically expect? The close season holds plenty of fears and poses many questions. Will someone take over and wipe out/ drastically reduce our debt? Will that person(s) have Rangers best interests at heart? Will the manager have funds to strengthen the squad? Who will be our manager? Which players will move on to pastures new? Nevertheless, it is a time to celebrate. To rejoice at the achievements of a team who have stood firm against forces that would have floored lesser men and lesser teams. You can never quite get enough of that winning feeling, and lets hope we finish the season with three points. Motherwell showed on Wednesday night that they are capable of scoring goals and with the Rangers players no doubt looking to put on a champions performance, there could be some good entertainment on offer. The team that plays may prove difficult to guess correctly but I'd like to see one or two young players play a part. I'd go for the following: :na: :sw::kirk::sp: :nn::kt::sd::jf: :kb: Prediction: Rangers 3-2 Motherwell

DAVID Weir arrived at Ibrox as a stop-gap central defender on a short term salvage mission. It has turned into a quite remarkable three-and-a-half-year extension of his top flight playing career which will see him savour both collective and individual glory on Sunday. In the afternoon, the Rangers captain will step forward to collect the SPL trophy after the final match of the champions' season at Ibrox against Motherwell. A few hours later, Weir will be the centre of attention at a gala awards dinner in Glasgow when he receives the Scottish Football Writers' Association's Player of the Year honour. Weir, who will celebrate his 40th birthday on Monday, has earned the grateful and enduring affection of Rangers supporters for his contribution to the on-field success they have enjoyed over the past three years against a backdrop of financial uncertainty. His longevity and consistency has defied logic. The veteran defender has missed only three SPL matches since Walter Smith recruited him from Everton on an initial six-month contract back in January 2007. Six major trophy wins and a Uefa Cup final appearance later, Weir continues to shrug aside talk of retirement. "I'm keen to play on and enjoy it," he said. "But it would have to be right for me and not just for the sake of it. Until something is put in front of me, I can't give a definitive answer. "I genuinely don't know what will happen in terms of staying at Rangers. The manager has been asked the same question about his own future and I don't think we are in a position to answer. No-one knows how the land lies at the club or how it will lie. It's a case of wait and see. "There are six players out of contract, including me, along with the coaching staff. It's a strange circumstance, but that's the way it is. I would imagine it might be quite late in the summer before a decision is made about me." Weir may not be short of alternative options. He is close to completing the full set of coaching badges and is sure to be regarded as a suitable candidate for a step into management. While he maintains his policy of never trying to anticipate what the future holds, however, Weir is fairly certain he will not seek to combine playing with a coaching role. "I don't think player-manager is doable for me," he said. "It's a hard job. Playing is hard enough without being a boss too and having to compromise on both jobs. I'd never close any doors, but I'd say it is unlikely. "I just hope to stay in football. It wouldn't be through choice if I found myself out of the game. I love the game, whether it is playing it, watching it or talking about it. But there are a lot of people out of a job in football and chasing just a few posts. "Football is changing and you have to be realistic as a lot of people want jobs. I've done well out of the game, so I won't feel hard done by if I don't get a job. But I hope to stay in football one way or another." Wherever his career path takes him, Weir will always cherish the time he has spent wearing the colours of the club he supported as a boy. "It has exceeded expectations, without a shadow of a doubt," he added. "I just came to Rangers for a few months, to try and help stabilise the club. The target back then was just to make sure we finished second in the SPL. By Rangers' standards, what we were aiming for was not high. "So to go from that to winning championships and cups has been incredible. You can't underestimate the achievements here over the last three years and how the manager has turned the club around during difficult times. "You don't really get time to savour things here, because there is always another story breaking about Rangers and another game to get ready for. But maybe when the season ends on Sunday, we can take in just how big an achievement it has been to win the title again. "I don't really think about winning the league on a personal level, but I am looking forward to Sunday and the trophy presentation. It is a massive achievement. Retaining the trophy was huge for us. We won it last year after chasing Celtic all the time. "That was a massive sense of joy, but this year was a new challenge and a bigger test. It was a relief to win it because it was harder. I'm proud of this, because good Rangers teams in the past haven't won championships. Hopefully this means the current crop will be remembered as a good team." Weir's coronation as Scotland's top player at the age of 39, the oldest winner of the award, may be regarded as evidence of a lack of quality among his younger colleagues. He insists, however, that the Scottish game has cause for optimism. "I genuinely don't think we are in too bad a shape," he said. "I watched Sunderland against Manchester United last week and two Scots, Craig Gordon and Darren Fletcher, were the best players on the pitch. Then you look at the Championship, where guys like Charlie Adam are outstanding every time you see them play. "There is still Scottish talent out there, just maybe not the strength in depth of it that there used to be. But we do have people coming through, like Danny Wilson and John Fleck at Rangers. There are a lot of good things happening in Scottish football." While Weir was typically self-effacing when informed of his Football Writers' Association's Player of the Year award, he was clearly thrilled to see his name added to a star-studded roll of honour stretching back to 1965. "I must admit, I did look up the previous winners and that's when it strikes home what it means. It goes all the way back to the likes of John Greig and Billy McNeill, so to be in that company is great." :spl: http://sport.scotsman.com/sport/Evergreen-Weir-not-ready-to.6279136.jp

3 in his last 4 games - and only maybe one of them would Boyd have scored. Today's goal was all about power, pace, and quality under pressure, and he delivered, as well as an atrocious celebration again. Has Kyle Lafferty won you guys over at last?

SIR Alex Ferguson believes the capture of this season's SPL title has confirmed Walter Smith as a Scottish managerial great. The Manchester United legend took time to break from his own nerveshredding championship chase to hail the stunning achievements of the Ibrox gaffer. Ferguson, who had Smith as his assistant at Old Trafford, is involved in a frenetic flag fight with Chelsea as his team chase glory. However, the United supremo and godfather of management has hailed Smith after the Rangers boss extended his remarkable run of success. The Light Blues manager added another championship crown to his CV after seeing his side defeat Hibs at Easter Road on Sunday. Given the financial hardships and constraints he has had to work under, the success ranks as one of the Ibrox manager's most memorable. Ferguson believes Smith's quality is evident for all to see and feels the Ibrox gaffer should now be judged as one of the country's best managers for his work. Sir Alex told Record Sport: "First of all, you need to have ability and endurance to last such a long time as a manager. "Even more so given the fact that he has had to manage Rangers with the unbelievable expectation and with pressures on him all the time. "These are things that Walter has always had. "He has ability, has always been a great coach and, when he reverted to management, he proved the step up was at the right time in his career. "Walter has gone on to prove himself as one of the best managers in Scottish history. "The number of trophies he has got, which I think is now 19, tells you that." Ironically, Smith is at a decision time in his career at the same moment as speculation surrounds Sir Alex's future at United. Ferguson has yet to commit on how long he will stay in the Old Trafford job, while Smith is also undecided as to whether to extend his period at Ibrox as the club gets set for a massive upheaval. The Rangers gaffer will take a final decision at the end of the season or in the summer, but Ferguson says Smith has always enjoyed a love of the game which could play a part in swaying the decision. Sir Alex added: "The most important thing is that Walter has always kept his feet on the ground. "He has always had a great love of the game and never lost that. "These are the qualities that you need to be successful." http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/football/spl/2010/04/27/man-utd-boss-sir-alex-ferguson-hails-walter-smith-86908-22215090/

Bain says title win silences the critics More...

Telling it like it is. http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/sport/Alan-Pattullo-39Best-fans-in.6244649.jp :spl:

A decent and fairly complimentary article from The Herald. Steven Davis exhibits mind over matter as the creative brain of the Rangers team Davis has this season shown the skills that made him Aston Villa supportersââ?¬â?¢ player of the year Richard Wilson The worth of Steven Davis can be measured by degrees. No player has created more goals in the Premier League this season, and nobody at Rangers has performed with quite such refined technique and intelligence. He represents the imagination of a side that is predominantly, and convincingly, single-minded. Davis is a deft figure, and often unobtrusive when not striking at the heart of opponentsââ?¬â?¢ vulnerability. It seems at times as though he distresses teams with the subtle intent of his range of passing and incisive running. His burden this season has been to provide the sense of wonder, or at least some kind of ingenuity, when so much of Rangersââ?¬â?¢ game has been based on stern command. He relies on being astute, but perhaps his greatest quality is the diligence that frames all of his work. Team-mates remark casually of the way he turns up every week and produces every week, as though the relentlessness can be taken for granted. But then, naturally, this consistency of ambition and exertion is not without torment. In the 1-0 win over Hamilton at Ibrox earlier this month, when Rangers looked jaded in every sense, a stray Davis pass brought Kenny McDowall to the touchline. The coach immediately signalled to the midfielder to keep his head up, as though a moment of imprecision would feel like a small devastation to Davis. After the match, Walter Smith stood in the dressing room to address his players and asked who was feeling that heavy weight of fatigue. Davis, no doubt solemnly, raised his arm. Itââ?¬â?¢s my job to create things and Iââ?¬â?¢ve managed to get a decent number of assists and a decent level of consistency Steven Davis ââ?¬Å?When you see guys like Steven Davis suffering a wee bit, you know that itââ?¬â?¢s starting to get to them,ââ?¬Â Smith says, as if the endurance of the Northern Irishman is some form of guarantee. Davis might as well have said that he was exhausted with the sheer extent of the anticipation that surrounds him. He is recognised as one of the players in the Ibrox squad most certainly equipped with the attributes to succeed in the English Premier League, where he performed with distinction for Aston Villa and then a little more doubtfully for Fulham, and with that comes a demand to be constantly relevant. For Davis, this means applying his perceptiveness in the final third, or revealing occasional glimpses of extravagance. He brings an assiduous inclination to the business of being enterprising, as if the greatest satisfaction can be found in simply being central to something meaningful. ââ?¬Å?Thatââ?¬â?¢s the side of the game I like to play,ââ?¬Â Davis says. ââ?¬Å?Itââ?¬â?¢s my job to create things and Iââ?¬â?¢ve managed to get a decent number of assists and a decent level of consistency. Weââ?¬â?¢ve got other players to break up the play and itââ?¬â?¢s the [other] side of the game that Iââ?¬â?¢m in the team for. There have been certain games when Iââ?¬â?¢ve maybe done better, but thereââ?¬â?¢s still room for improvement.ââ?¬Â The self-effacement is a virtue, so that despite having become the youngest captain of Northern Ireland, and played in the Uefa Cup final and in the Champions League for Rangers, Davis continues to seek greater sophistication. His time at Murray Park is often spent practising free-kicks and working on his finishing. Davis, among the four nominees ââ?¬â?? with David Weir, Kris Boyd and Andy Webster ââ?¬â?? for the Cheque Centre PFA Scotland player of the year award, is a pensive figure. The panache on the field may come naturally to him, but then he also understands that it must be accompanied by a fastidiousness if his potential is to be fully realised. ââ?¬Å?Davo as a footballer is top drawer, in his all-round game, and I have never seen him have a bad day in training, never mind on a football pitch,ââ?¬Â says Webster, who has spent the season on loan from Rangers at Dundee United. ââ?¬Å?His ability, his awareness, his passing, his movement, his work-ethic is second to none. Sometimes, when you know you are a good footballer, the running about is the hard part. But his fitness levels are exceptional.ââ?¬Â If the need to score a few more goals than the three he has so far this season is a small regret, then he might be consoled by their quality. His strike against Aberdeen 11 days ago, in particular, was one of exquisite savagery ââ?¬â?? a curling shot lashed into the top corner from 25 yards. It is the scope of his ability, something of deep value, that distinguishes Davis, but his care of it that is perhaps more invaluable. We might call it attitude, or at least recognise it as a willingness to distrust any sense of conceit. When Davis made such an impression on his breakthrough at Villa Park that he was voted the clubââ?¬â?¢s player of the year, young player of the year and fansââ?¬â?¢ player of the year, it was as a central midfielder capable, with sleight of mind, of providing a vital threat from behind the strikers. At Rangers, he mostly plays on the right, with two more doughty figures in the middle, although with a licence to drift that causes his marker to be disorientated. ââ?¬Å?Itââ?¬â?¢s been a learning curve for me in the last couple of seasons, playing out there,ââ?¬Â he says. ââ?¬Å?I still prefer to play in the middle but I know the manager feels he gets a good balance with me on the right. Probably my best spell of the season was when I did play in the middle, just in December when the team was doing well. But I understand the reasons for playing me on the right and itââ?¬â?¢s a position I enjoy.ââ?¬Â He is a small, slender figure, as if delicate, but he carries the ball with an irrefutable sense of assurance. Davis is treasured at Rangers, but there is also a sense of him finding himself after his move to Scotland. He has grown in stature on the field, while winning his first medals as a professional, and become a father during his time at Ibrox. When his mother passed away last year, Ally McCoist and Ian Durrant attended the funeral, a gesture which he continues to appreciate. Davis supported Rangers as a boy growing up in the small village of Cullybackey, near Ballymena, but has found the pressure to win, to always be domineering, both a surprise and a stimulus. It has demanded that he reach for the best of his game, and limit the rest. ââ?¬Å?I didnââ?¬â?¢t realise [the demands] myself until I came up here, even although I was a fan,ââ?¬Â he says. ââ?¬Å?You probably take it for granted that Rangers and Celtic win. There are no easy games, youââ?¬â?¢re playing against teams who are always up for it and if you lose a game itââ?¬â?¢s all doom and gloom.ââ?¬Â Rangers have at least been able to rely on Davisââ?¬â?¢ ability to rise to the occasion.

- Walter Smith - February 3rd 2010 - Walter Smith - April 6th 2010 Two months of a difference, two markedly different appraisals of the situation, but both offered by the same man. Just which one do we believe and is the manager helping the cloud of uncertainty still hovering over a club which is just three wins away from the SPL title? On the face of it, Smith's words yesterday should brighten the sky for many bears. The SPL title is within our grasp and to let such a lead go now would be unfathomable. Our debt is decreasing while our closest rivals' is increasing. Our youth system is bearing fruit and our two best youngsters have either signed or are very close to signing extended deals. Meanwhile, we have various player assets that are worth a lot of money in income if we do decide to sell. Add in the likelihood of Rangers being Scotland's sole representatives in the Champions' League Group Stage, then surely our money worries are dissipating by the day? But niggling doubts remain. Smith tempered his comments yesterday by confirming that if the club isn't sold Lloyds Bank remain influential in terms of our strategy for next season and beyond. A strategy that precipitated Smith's doomsday predications of last year and suggestions our activity in the summer this year will be minimal given we need to work with the squad numbers again. That is worrying given we have several players out of contract in the summer - Steven Smith has rejected an offer while players such as Kris Boyd, Nacho Novo and Kirk Broadfoot have all yet to sign new deals; the SPL's highest ever goalscorer increasingly likely to move to the EPL for free. Similarly, key players such as Bougherra, Wilson, McGregor and Davis are continually linked with big money transfers out of the club. Potentially (and not unreasonably) that could mean as many as eight players leaving over the next 6-12 months and that doesn't account for natural degradation of young players moving on while the likes of Davie Weir stepping back. How do we replace these players - all of whom have played their part in our success - if we don't spend money? Therefore, it is extremely valid to ask how any owner of the club - be it SDM/Lloyds Bank or Andrews Ellis/Dave King - intends to address this situation. Our recent success since Walter Smith returned has seen money spent initially but that has dried up since then, even although it could be argued our subsequent settled squad has benefited us in terms of on-field continuity. With an estimated �£12-15 million about to be guaranteed from our CL participation and sales of any key players likely to add substantially to that, why is our manager so glum about the prospects of us using such monies to 'trade' our way through player turnover? If the debt is readily decreasing and success maintained with the SPL title, any owner would be foolhardy to risk a Scottish institution by grabbing as much of this profit as they can instead of sticking by already agreed payment terms. After all, allowing the squad numbers to decrease - both in terms of quantity and quality - means any future financial return is minimised and a sale difficult. Lloyds are surely not suggesting they want all of their �£25million back by January 2011 while a new owner would surely not expect to absorb said profits and keep the support of an ever-cynical fanbase? As always, there are more questions than answers. The only certainty about Rangers nowadays is uncertainty. Consequently, it is extremely difficult to look forward with any degree of positiveness when those that are in positions of influence seem as unsure and doubting as the rest of us. Given our current position in the SPL, this should be a time of aloof smiles and excitement about the future. Yes, the banter may be there but behind the smiles the stress remains for many of us. Is the SPL title the start of a new period of dominance for our club or simply the beginning of the end? The price may have been frozen but before I pay my �£400+ to renew my season ticket, I expect to know what I'm paying for. I'm not deluding myself as to the challenging future of our club so I certainly don't expect to be deluded to by those responsible for it. Too many doubts remain. Too much uncertainty prevails. It is beyond time for the key people in this situation to stop playing games and secure the future of our club.

take it on the chin tony.... some poor monkey's got a tony mowbray's heed

Ten points ahead. Two games in hand. Celtic about to part company with their manager. Celtic fans protesting outside Parkhead. Only the league to concentrate on now. Key players rested and others to return from injury. Fringe players given important match-time. The reasons are endless for why the fat lady should be singing but, while she may well be clearing her throat, this isn't done and dusted yet. Sure, we have every right to be confident and the players/management team have earned that right with some sterling work this season - in the face of adversity; both financially and in terms of the pressure created with constant speculation over the club's ownership. However, there is a long way to go yet and a cursory look back at season 2007/08 should frighten every bear who thinks the SPL title has already returned to Ibrox for the 53rd time. Of course the circumstances are different from then - no UEFA Cup run to worry about, no build up of matches and no resurgent Celtic to face twice at Parkhead without the officials that are supposedly helping us now! As such, not winning the league from this position doesn't bear thinking about. And that is exactly the spur why we need to regroup and stride forward to attain the goal of winning the championship! Recent months have seen a disjointed Rangers struggle in most games against a variety of opposition. Moreover, despite assurances from the management team and key players, it seems obvious legs are starting to tire and performances are less consistent and of a lower quality from individuals and the team as a whole. That's why the team was changed so markedly at Tannadice last night - we need refreshed and players need rested. Those imperative changes show clearly that the management team are aware of the stern test that remains between now and the end of May. Away games at Tynecastle, McDiarmid Park, Tannadice (again), Celtic Park, Easter Road and Fir Park are not games that will be won easily - and certainly not with the patchy form we've shown lately. Indeed, those teams who visit Ibrox will be just as eager to ruin any premature party we may have planned. To obtain results, we'll need all our best players to turn up and the fringe lads to contribute as well. Moreover, with the dirty bed sheets out last night at Parkhead, a change of manager there is likely so that could bring the kind of impetuous for Celtic to work hard and improve their results. Is this a bit of reverse psychology from a bear, confused with the upset of a Scottish Cup loss while laughing at Tony Mowbray disgracefully criticises us for negative, defensive football as his team loses 0-4 to St Mirren? Probably but the caution is genuine and the reasons for it more than valid. The fat lady isn't singing for this bear then and won't be for a few weeks yet. If we win our next three games by next Saturday evening the position will be a lot clearer though. I urge every Rangers fan to do their utmost to support the team to that goal and beyond. And I urge the players and manager to stand tall, improve your contribution and find the level required to retain the title. Go and finish the job! :robbo:

Took almost 2 years for the fans to chant his name - I don't Johnstone ever had his name chanted iirc. When Kenny Miller was on our radar far back as Spring 2008, well, we were all gutted weren't we? We all filled our heads with despair, that Walter and Ally had 'lost the plot', yours truly writing at the time that this was one of the biggest gambles of Smith's career. The day I saw Miller on our club's website in a Rangers jersey was a day which will stay with me. I was filled with horror, that this turncoat sub-par player was going to adorn our light blue. His club career had been littered with fairly average returns, with no period really standing out as good - Wolves, Derby, ourselves, and of course that lot over there had seen mediocrity with only the most sparing purple patch. I had a builder up, a fellow bear, and I mentioned to him my disgust at this signing - his reply was 'when's he been at his best?'. Answer? Scotland. Under the management of Walter Smith and Ally McCoist. I really didn't have a strong argument in protest - my feelings remained the same but he had a point and my mind was minorly open to Miller now. On Sunday he showed yet again why he's been one of the best signings Walter's ever made. He might not do it in every game, he might at times lose form (ok, *does* at times lose form) and occasionally his first touch is worse than Weir's punting. But he has never ever hidden, always works hard, has the stamina of a horse, and is 100% committed to the club he plays for. And when it really counted, and counts, he's produced the big moments on the big stage. Naismith's cross was fantastic, as was his run, but from that distance, getting a header as perfect as that took skill, guts, and sheer quality - and that's what Miller can be. Walter Smith and Ally McCoist get the best out of him, and truly now, having heard the fans chant his name, I hope he finally feels accepted. I got over myself by about October 2008 - looks like many of the rest of us are now finally following suit. There really is only one Kenny Miller and I am very, very glad I was so wrong about him.

Today Rangers required just nine men to win a cup final. An unbelievable achievement; to secure victory whilst at a two man disadvantage. This current Rangers team are jam packed of that most inspiring of qualities; character. Walter Smithââ?¬â?¢s team epitomise this attribute with a never say die attitude. Our foes from the East End have attempted to tarnish our achievements this season as they see us marching to another league title to keep the League Cup company in the trophy room this summer. Tony Mowbrayââ?¬â?¢s side have not been good enough to keep up with our relentless accumulation of points and in their desperation have sought to stain our success with their accusations against the impartiality or quality of the officials in this country. All teams get decisions that do not go their way. It happens in all competitions, in all countries. But as Rangers demonstrated today, if youââ?¬â?¢re good enough you will still have the ability to overcome adversity and the occasional poor decisions. What our nine men achieved today was simply awesome. To defeat another side from the top division in the country with an incomplete complement of players on the field shows the winning mentality Smith has instilled in his squad. Never were the words of the fansââ?¬â?¢ chants more relevant; ââ?¬Å?We are Rangers, Super Rangersââ?¬Â. Thereââ?¬â?¢s is something super, something extraordinary about this Rangers squad. No other team in the country or perhaps even some earlier Rangers squads would manage to have secured victory under such circumstances. Both red cards could perhaps be described as harsh, but by the letter of the law both were also merited. The frustration comes with the lack of consistency from officials. Kevin Thomsonââ?¬â?¢s challenge was reckless, even foolhardy. But had the referee punished two earlier incidents in that passage of play for fouls on Rangers players; one on Thomson himself, the game would have unfolded differently and Thomson would not have gone seeking retribution as the referee temporarily lost charge of the match with his indecision. It does not excuse Thomsonââ?¬â?¢s subsequent behaviour but by the same token the refereeââ?¬â?¢s inaction should not be ignored. For me the Wilson red card is even harder to take. A slight tug of the arm outside the box. It was a free kick, maybe even a yellow card. But with Davie Weir also covering across it was perhaps not a clear goal-scoring opportunity. And to make matters worse, that issue of consistency of officials decisions again crops up. On numerous occasions this season we have won penalties or free kicks with players bearing down on goal only for the opposition player to be given a stay of execution with only a caution given or no card at all. To me, it was no surprise that the officials were not given a warm reception when collecting their medals. Down to just nine players then, with 20 minutes of the game to be played. As the commentators constantly reminded us, Rangers were playing for penalties. Not his Rangers side though. Not Walter Smithââ?¬â?¢s Rangers. We were playing for prizes. Playing for victory and playing for another trophy. Weir won the ball inside our own half and set substitute Steven Naismith on his way on the right hand side. The young forward looked up and picked out Kenny Miller with a pin point cross. The dynamic forward, who had been struggling all game with his finishing, guided a pinpoint header into the far corner with the keeper toiling to get across. All that was required now was to see out the final 6-minutes plus injury time. However, even in spite of their first half dominance, an off form Rangers and a numerical disadvantage, St Mirren did not seriously threaten our goal again. No team could realistically harbour dreams of winning a match against such odds. But Cup Final hero Kenny Miller stated after the match that he always kept believing. That the team still felt they could do it. And with Walter Smith in the dugout and the team of battlers we have out on the field, so did this bear. Winning in sport is a habit and it is a healthy one into which we have gotten into. Prior to the match, Smith said his favourite cup final victory was the 4-3 win over Hearts. League Cup triumph number 26 surely ranks up there with the best of them. Smithââ?¬â?¢s post match comments struck a chord with me: ââ?¬Å?As I said to the boys, it doesn't matter how many times you win trophies you can never win enough of them and that's where I'm fromââ?¬Â. It is a footballing philosophy that I can relate to and Iââ?¬â?¢m happy we still have Walter Smith leading us into each competition. In the post match analysis new Scotland manager Craig Levein uttered the words ââ?¬Å?arise Sir Walterââ?¬Â and surely that is another accolade that could come his way when he finally hangs up his club tie. Whilst the fans and players must enjoy the moment and soak up yet another trophy success on Wednesday it is up to Tannadice as we seek to progress to a Scottish Cup Semi Final with Raith Rovers. We also need to ensure we claim the 6 victories that will guarantee SPL success. The likelihood is that the league title will also rest at Ibrox again this season. If the players could secure the clubs eight treble they would firmly establish themselves in Rangers history books and confirm themselves as Super Rangers!

You won't like him when he's angry By Mark Hateley on Mar 11, 10 09:45 AM in walter smith If Tony Mowbray has learned anything from his first catastrophic season in Celtic's hotseat then it is surely not to wind up Walter Smith. I've lost count of the amount of mistakes the Parkhead club have made - on and off the park - throughout this incredible campaign but the single biggest blunder of the lot has been the complete lack of respect they have shown to the man in charge of the club across the city. Walter has had steam coming out of his ears for some time now because of a stream of insults and excuses spewing out of Celtic Park and he has responded like a man possessed. First things first.No wonder my old boss is quietly furious with the furore his rivals have been kicking up. They've blamed the refs, they've blamed the SFA, they've blamed the state of the pitches. They've accused everyone but themselves for the fact their team has performed so hopelessly since Mowbray took charge. All this crap about the "establishment" conspiring against them left a bad taste in the mouth of anyone who cares about the Scottish game. That is the kind of paranoid pap only the most deranged of supporters would cling to. But it seems pretty clear to the watching world from the comments which have been made during the last few months that Mowbray and his paymasters are buying into it too. It's pathetic. It's laughable. But it hasn't half given Walter a fire in his belly during what must have been the most trying and difficult 12 months of his career as a manager. It would've been understandable - given the financial upheaval which has been going on behind the scenes at Ibrox - if Walter had begun to feel drained by it all some months ago. He's been fighting a losing battle at boardroom level and has been left to fend for himself without any kind of support from the people running his club. Two years without buying a player? Working without a contract since January? Just about every other manager I know would have told the money men where to ram it some time ago. Walter stayed because of his love of the club - but even that will have been tested to the full. And then, just when you begin to wonder how he can possibly continue to motivate himself and his players... along come Celtic and their big book of excuses. In short, they have been an inspiration for everyone at Rangers. Walter has always been an expert in man-management but I don't think he could have dreamed for better ammunition than he has been given by Mowbray and the men running his biggest rivals. At the start of this season Rangers were as low as low could be after a disastrous, humiliating Champions League campaign. Confidence had hit rock bottom and I suspect even the great man's appetite for the battle was beginning to wane. He had been rabbit punched. He knew his group had been together for too long without new faces to freshen it up. He knew he would have problems picking them back up. And he knew Celtic were in a position to throw money at their team in an all-out attempt to win a two-horse race. What he couldn't have possibly bargained for, however, was just how badly the other lot would mess it all up. From Mowbray's mishandling of players in the early days of the season to his mass clear-out in January, it's been one cock-up after the next. Clearing out proven winners such as Gary Caldwell, Stephen McManus, Barry Robson and Scott McDonald was almost beyond belief. And it looks even more stupid now Celtic are 13 points off the pace at the top of the table and McDonald is still their top scorer a month and half after moving to Middlesbrough! Because of this list of ludicrous decisions Celtic have mounted a sustained and sinister campaign to cast some kind of doubt over the integrity of this entire Scottish set-up. And that is simply unforgivable. They have thrown accusations around on a seemingly weekly basis. The excuses they have come up with for their own shortcomings get more and more ridiculous by the day. They have attempted to blacken the reputation of the entire Scottish game but have succeeded only in making a mockery of themselves. But they were right about one thing. There is indeed something rotten in the state of the SPL - and it's festering away in Glasgow's East End. No wonder my old boss has taken it badly. Because of Celtic's attempts to deflect attention away from the real reasons why they are in such an awful mess, they have shown utter contempt for the magnificent achievements of Smith and his players. But, in doing so, they have also handed their rivals all the incentive they need to make sure they finish off the job. Rangers have been phenomenal this season and the way they have been playing in recent weeks suggests to me they have taken Celtic's nefarious smear campaign very personally indeed. I expect them to ram the point home now in the coming weeks. If they can win a treble then it will be a miraculous feat and they will deserve all the credit that comes their way. They have performed as a unit and a team with a single-minded determination to prove they are the best side in the country. No excuses. In all my time I'm not sure I've ever seen Walter so fired up. He'll want to win every game left now to leave no one in any doubt as to the quality of his team to wrap up a domestic clean sweep. If Rangers can do that then it will arguably be the greatest season of Walter's career and thanks to Mowbray and Celtic,almost certainly the sweetest.

Gersnet was interested to note the comments of St Mirren manager Gus MacPherson after their weekend defeat to Rangers at Ibrox Stadium. As another manager attempting to bring the game into disrepute we'd like to ask him a few questions... The match highlights can be viewed courtesy of BBC Scotland here while the same organisation have an after-match interview with a clearly upset MacPherson complaining about one decision he felt influenced the game negatively for his team - that can be read and/or listened to here. To sum up Mr MacPherson's complaint, he felt David Weir should have been sent off for an early foul on St Mirren striker Michael Higdon. Bringing up mandatory meetings with the SFA, the St Mirren manager was frustrated with the inconsistent message given out by the football authority and the referees with regard to goal-scoring opportunities and other decisions. A few quotes and questions now follow: MacPherson: "I'm not wanting players booked or red-carded but there are laws to the game" Question: Given your obvious sporting principles, what do you want then if it wasn't a red card for Weir? MacPherson: "David Weir impeded Michael Higdon in the process of shooting, he affected how he was shooting. There's a decision to get made there. No decision was made." Question: As the video pictures clearly show, do you accept Higdon 'impeded' Weir 'in the process of defending', 'affecting' his ability to deal with the through ball. Why was that decision not made? Similarly, late in the game (no video highlight provided), a St Mirren defender stopped a cross illegally with his arm. Why was that decision not made? MacPherson: "We watch games, we go to games and we see clips on the BBC and we see a different set of rules getting applied. None more so than when we're coming here (to Ibrox)." Question: What different set of rules are these? Do you mean the free-kick given for a foul on your player but not the foul on a Rangers player immediately prior to it? What are you implying by the final sentence? Be a man and say exactly what you mean. We'd all love to see the evidence you have for such a controversial claim. MacPherson: "We're actually shown clips at the start of the season by (Scottish FA head of referees) Hugh Dallas and shown incidents of what's important and what the new guidelines are yet, when the games come along, when there's decisions to get made, they don't get made. A lot of football people at the meeting were actually questioning and arguing, which is healthy because that's what the game's all about. But then, when the games come along, you're looking for them to be applied in the correct manner and it's not getting done." Question: What is not being done in the correct manner? Do you mean hand-balls against your team not being penalised? Do you mean the officials being inconsistent in their application of the rules for aerial challenges - one of which you won a free kick from to score the opener last Saturday while Rangers were denied three identical fouls - one in your penalty area? Or do you mean the physical players in your team not being punished (see St Mirren Park - 8th April, 2009) where Rangers winger DaMarcus Beasley was taken off injured after 15 mins of the game after a variety of disgraceful 'challenges' on his person. Finally, given you've been involved in professional Scottish football for over 20 years - as a player and manager - why did you choose last weekend to infer dishonesty from the officials and what do you do to intend to prove this scurrilous accusation which calls into question the integrity of Scottish football? It has been most disappointing to note of late how many important figures who make life-changing amounts of money from the sport (either in the past and/or currently) are so eager to question the integrity of officials and authorities just because their team of choice can't win a football match. The fact of the matter is, every football club in Scotland (and indeed in the world) has its fair share of decisions go for and against them. Yes, it is frustrating and disappointing when it is the latter but for anyone to suggest an inherent bias in favour of one specific team at one specific stadium isn't just sour grapes but providing a dangerously paranoid platform for people to grasp to instead of addressing the real problems in our game. Therefore Mr MacPherson if you are concerned about the quality of the refereeing in Scotland (most football fans are) why not air your concerns in a more constructive manner at the mandatory Hugh Dallas meetings you seem so strangely annoyed about having to attend. Anything else is quite frankly insulting to any decent person involved in football. Shame on you for jumping on an already full (and broken) bandwagon.

http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/spl/rangers/solid-foundation-rangers-have-third-best-defensive-record-in-europe-1.1006765 Interesting and pleasing statistic!

CELTIC have sparked their second war in two weeks after complaining to the SPL that Falkirk's pitch isn't good enough for them to play on. A Hoops official called the top flight's beaks yesterday afternoon to ask for an independent investigation into the quality of the Bairns' playing surface ahead of Sunday's live TV clash. But last night fuming Falkirk boss Steven Pressley hit back at his old club. And in a thinly-veiled blast he questioned their bottle for the title battle if they needed diversionary tactics to deflect attention from their team. Celtic stoked the fires of last week's Old Firm match by complaining to the SFA over refereeing decisions. The timing of that move sparked outrage - and Falkirk are equally upset. However, Record Sport understands there is no danger of the plug being pulled on the game. Pressley told us: "They are obviously concerned about being able to adapt to the pitch. "I have no concerns about my own players. "Regardless of the condition of the pitch my players will be physically and mentally ready for Sunday's game." It is understood that SPL bosses have already had specialists run the rule over Falkirk's pitch as part of their ongoing grading system. The surface was used in Scotland's Under-21 qualifier with Azerbaijan on Tuesday night. It has been fighting a losing battle with the elements for the past two months and the undersoil heating is constantly on. Match delegates have been marking it down during that spell and that prompted the SPL to look into it. However this process took place BEFORE Celtic made their complaint this week. Angry Bairns officials feel their patch is no worse than Easter Road or Pittodrie. And nowhere near as bad as Fir Park - which has come under heavy fire. That opinion has been backed up by the SPL who - despite raising concerns at its condition - are supporting Falkirk's attempts to nurse it back to health. http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/football/spl/2010/03/05/celtic-spark-new-row-after-complaining-falkirk-s-pitch-isn-t-good-enough-86908-22086878/

Peter Lawwell today predicted Celtic would emerge from their current troubled times to a bright future. The Parkhead clubââ?¬â?¢s chief executive is acutely aware of the discontent of a support which has watched Tony Mowbrayââ?¬â?¢s rebuilt squad fall 10 points behind debt-ridden Rangers in the title race, which almost certainly brings with it a Ã?£10million ticket to next seasonââ?¬â?¢s Champions League. Celticââ?¬â?¢s turnover for the first half of this campaign is down by almost 23 per cent as a result of failing to qualify for the competition this season. And chairman Dr John Reid had warned that, if income is not there, then that inevit-ably has an impact on the ability to invest as much as they would like in players. However, Lawwell is confident the clubââ?¬â?¢s financial strategy and plan to find raw talent which they can develop into Champions League-quality players will pay off. So, while the going may be tough at the moment, he believes better times are on the horizon. Lawwell said: ââ?¬Å?I believe we have a bright future. Weââ?¬â?¢ve managed our resources well. We are stable. ââ?¬Å?We have strategies in place for further development of the club. ââ?¬Å?This is a club that will keep growing and we will see the fruits of some of our strategies two or three years down the line. ââ?¬Å?The financial figures gives us elbow room to support the manager. Every manager needs resources and the financial statement shows we have leeway to support him. ââ?¬Å?There aspects of this that are part of a long-term strategy. We will see the returns from that in the next few years.ââ?¬Â However, Lawwell knows the fans want immediate results, especially on the field. He continues to reject any suggestion the directors are more interested in balancing books than winning trophies. Crucially, the club did not succeed in bringing in at least one more experienced central defender after Gary Caldwell and Stephen McManus left, but Lawwell said: ââ?¬Å?We traded well in January. ââ?¬Å?Weââ?¬â?¢re in a period of transition and we have to rebuild. We invested heavily in the summer, too. We have a financial strategy that is working and allows us to support the manager in his rebuilding plans. ââ?¬Å?Weââ?¬â?¢ve brought in real quality, and still we get criticised.ââ?¬Â Robbie Keane was the big-name arrival in the last window, and Lawwell shot down reports this loan signing is being financed by major shareholder, Dermot Desmond. ââ?¬Å?Yes, Dermot Desmond, and the rest of the board supported that acquisition, but the wages are being financed from the club,ââ?¬Â he said. http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/editor-s-picks-ignore/peter-lawwell-future-is-bright-at-parkhead-1.1006915