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Manager Paul Le Guen will leave Rangers of his own accord if results and performances do not improve by Christmas. (Daily Express) Rangers are considering a move to bring Scotland manager Walter Smith back to Ibrox if Paul Le Guen is sacked by Christmas. (The Sun) Im assuming both are nonsense as usual!!?

MURRAY MUST SPEAK - TRUST The Rangers Supporters�´ Trust have called for David Murray to break his silence over the crisis engulfing the club. The Ibrox chairman has so far kept his counsel as their season plunges headlong into disaster. A disastrous start to Paul Le Guen�´s reign leaves Rangers trailing Celtic by 15 points in the league, and the CIS Insurance Cup exit at the hands of St Johnstone proved to be the final straw for some angry fans who gathered outside Ibrox calling for the heads of both the manager and chairman. RST spokesman Stephen Smith said: "The supporters are looking for leadership and someone to take responsibility. It�´s puzzling that a manager, whose second language is English, has been left to fend for himself. David Murray has so far been reluctant to step in but he has to be seen alongside his manager. The current state of affairs cannot continue." ---- Must say, I like Stephen Smith. A point well made, i think.

Link: http://www.leaguemanagers.com/news/news-5595.html?LMAS=b82f197275c5ba27933ffee541946ff5

Ok, it's agreed, the team isn't good enough - but paradoxically most of the players are getting reasonable write ups at least every few games, they're mostly internationals or have played for big clubs and won stuff, so the question is, which ones are really not good enough? Letizi - He's played for years with PSG and so been around but he's not inspired much confidence, however he doesn't seem to have been too much at fault for most of the goals and he's not responsible for the inability to create chances and score against mediocre opposition. I think the main accusation is you could aim at him is that he doesn't save us in games. He doesn't pull of the top notch saves like Goram and Klos that keep the clean sheet that allows us to grind out that 1-0 win which is necessary to win titles. I personally don't think he's good enough and certainly worse than our other options. MacGregor - We'd all like to see him play in the first team but he's not quite proven himself yet. Can he step into Goram and Klos's shoes? Time will tell but he seems like one baby we shouldn't throw out with the bath water. We've no money and so could do worse than putting him in goal instead of Letizi. Klos - No-one can accuse Der Goalie of not being good enough. No-one. The guy is a class player and has proven himself time and again with Rangers. His last run in the team coincided with us losing about 7 goals in half a season. We don't know the true story here but the fact we're pay a guy who has saved us tons of points about 30 grand a week to do nothing, is to me, highly symptomatic of what is wrong at the club. Hutton - Showed early promise, it's rumoured he has a bad attitude and has not been the same since his injury. He's played better of late receiving a bit of praise, but his passing and crossing still leave a bit to be desired. Not the worst offender in the team but he is part of a defence that is leaking soft goals and doesn't seem to be the one who's getting the tackles in or shutting down the attacks from the right. In fact Novo had to cover for him in the against Motherwell. He's SPL standard but not quite Rangers standard except maybe as back up in a better first choice team. Bardsley - another one with an attitude problem and with his commitment only short term, I can understand why patience for him would be short lived. To me he doesn't seem to be any better than Hutton appart from the odd free kick. We really need a proper right back. Papac - An international who seems pretty solid and our defence has improved since his arrival. Quite willing to go forward too but maybe that's why we can get caught on the break. Still not cured our problem of dealing with cross balls. An improvement over other central defenders we've had recently but shows no signs of being a McLiesh, Butcher, Gough or even a Moore. Svensson - A young international who's had a terrible start to his Rangers career, although his freefalling reputation has been arrested by a good display in Italy. It's either get rid time for him or develop him for the future. Rodriguez - An experienced player who to me flatters to deceive. Seems to look solid in some games but we're losing goals almost every game and I can't remember many clean sheets this season. To me he's a mediocre player who could do a good job for the likes of Aberdeen, but not up to the job at Rangers. Smith - A young player who looks to have genuine talent, he's our best defender by far but I think would look even better in a decent team. Thrives on a good relationship and understanding with a talented left midfielder and looked better with Martin in the team. Seems to be one of the players committing to the game plan. Definitely a keeper. Burke - Brilliantly talented but so fragile that we only see him for glimpses. It's always so much more exciting when he gets a lot of the ball and he's also good at tracking back and helping out the defence. I think we'd have less problems if he was fully fit most of the time. Sionko - Looked like a young Kanchelskis in his first couple of games but from then looked like a Kanchelkis close to retirement. He's now injured and it's hard to tell if he's the real deal or not. One thing is for sure, he hasn't contributed to the cause at all this season. Hemdani - Gets loads of plaudits without to me seeming to do much. If he's doing so well, why are we not dominating the midfield against the likes of Hibs and Aberdeen? To me he's maybe a squad player but no more. His plaudits are more to do with how badly the rest of team are playing rather than how good he is. We need a genuine ball winner in midfield more on the lines of Keane, or Stuart McCall. Clement - Looks to have great potential without setting the heather alight, while he's injured the jury is out. Ferguson - Supposed to be back to his best and has definitely stamped his presence on a few games. But why are we still not dominating the midfield and why isn't he scoring goals every other week like he used to? A good player to have but I think we all lie awake at night thinking about who we could have bought for 5 million quid in these cash strapped days. Rae - a reasonable player who would do well for another SPL team but doesn't seem to be getting a shout at Rangers although we seem to be crying out for a no nonsense midfielder. Not sure if he's really good enough and PLG doesn't seem to rate him but I'd like him to get more of a chance till the other players show they are worth a pick. Adam - seems to have loads of potential and has a habit of popping up and doing some great now and again but he seems a bit light weight for a first choce and would be better as a backup to a more experienced player. Martin - shows great skill and pace - very promising youngster but he's greedy and too often we have nothing to show for his darting runs and displays of ball control. He'll grow better with age but seems a poorer, less effective version of Burke who doesn’t defend at all and seems very light weight. He’s not even a left footer. I can’t see him becoming a permanent transfer and so maybe he should be replaced by a proper left midfielder. Prso – a great guy and player but really looks to be on his last legs. Has the odd great game but too often looks slow, tired and lacking in touch. Hustles and bustles but struggles to get the ball into the net and should really have more assists. To me he should become a super sub and come on when the opposing defence is tiring to give them some hassle. Boyd – Does what it says on the tin – scores goals but not much else. He’s improving his all round play but it’ll take a season to make it natural for him. He’s the leagues top scorer and we’ve won more games with him in the team. Definitely should be first on the team sheet despite his faults but needs someone big to partner him upfront. Novo – was complete pants for a year but seems to look really lively now and rediscovered his confidence and as a result his form. Our best player against Motherwell but didn’t get enough service and seems a bit out of position. If he keeps up his form he’s definitely worth a shout at least as a sub. However he’s not the kind of player I’d like to see long term at the club, I’m hoping for a bit more quality. Sebo – doesn’t do what it says on the tin and really hasn’t fitted into the team at all. Looks like he works hard but provides little except one goal and a couple of unawarded penalty claims. Looked good for Vienna so don’t know why he’s turned so bad overnight. PLG seems to think that if he keeps playing him he’ll come good but he’s part of the reason we’ve dropped points when we couldn’t afford to. Maybe he needs to get up to speed in the reserves. Buffel – a complete enigma. Obviously has shed-loads of talent but can’t finish to save himself and fades out of games far too often. A luxury we can’t afford and definitely one of the players who is just not doing it for us. My conclusions: Out: Letizi, Rodriguez, Bardsley, Rae, Sebo and Buffel are the ones who should be shipped out. Klos will be going anyway. Squad players Hutton, Svensson, Hemdani, Sionko, Adam, Prso and Novo should be used sparingly as back up, with the youngers ones being developed. Martin could perhaps be kept as a backup winger to pad out the squad for a season. First team MacGregor deserves a proper chance in goal. Papac, Smith, Ferguson, Burke, Clement and Boyd are the only others I would keep in first team. In A big, experienced centre back who can dominate the area, especially in the air and organise the defence, perhaps even be captain. A mobile right back who can defend well, cut out attacks down the right and break out quickly and deliver telling crosses or passes down the line. An experienced, strong left midfielder who can beat his man, interact with smith, deliver crosses and track back and cut out the left hand channels. A tall, strong, experienced centre forward, target man, who wins everything in the air, holds up the ball and lays it off to Boyd or a midfielder or turn and beat his man. He should be adept at flick-ons and knock backs, and knows his way to goal and can finish with aplomb. A creative midfielder/forward who plays in the middle and can link play between the midfield and attack while also strong enough to be the first one to counteract a break. He needs to have a killer pass which creates goals and be able to shoot and score from 20-25 yards as well as nip in to support the strikers for the odd tap in.

Welcome back Jeremy, you've made a massive difference to the effectiveness of team and unleashed a Barry Ferguson of old. Hemdani has rightly been getting praise lately for doing a quiet, consistent job in midfield. However, I've always thought that despite not doing much wrong, he's not really excelling in the holding role. The young Frenchman has vindicated that opinion by putting in a tremendous display which really shored up the middle of the park, and allowed Fergie to strut his stuff and move up the field into attacking positions. Instead of trying to do two jobs, the captain had the confidence to get on with what he's good at, and we looked a much more potent force for it. It must also be said, Hemdani looked not bad in central defence and I'm glad he got the nod ahead of the mediocre Rodriguez. I'd still prefer a new, top class centre back in January to partner Papac, especially as Svensson still isn't quite there yet as he showed n a few dodgy moments against the Israelis. A new centre forward also is on my wish list as it patently obvious that Boyd is not good enough at holding up the ball and he vindicated Le Guen's skepticism of his all round ability. MacGregor in goal, Papac and a new Centre back in defence, Clement and a rejuvenated Fergusson in midfield and a big striker up front, would in my opinion, give us the solid, strong spine of a team that we need. That could easily be fleshed out with the likes of the reliable Smith, the exciting Burke, the goal machine boyd and Novo's identical twin brother as well as quite a few others who might play far better from a more solid base.

Link: http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/tm_headline=tough-rookie%26method=full%26objectid=18031720%26siteid=66633-name_page.html That's 3 players this week who seem to have come out of comas and started realising what it's all about playing for Rangers.

i think we will win this game against a very tough haifa team 2-0 to the glasgow rangers who is all going to the game i'll be there with my brother sitting in the broomie front first game the new smartcard is getting used and im shiting it just incase there is something wrong with it and i cant get in anyway i hope mr le guen plays a 4-3-3 ---------------------------------------letizi------------------------------- --bardsley------------j rod--------------------svensson------------smith-- -----------------ferguson-----------hemdani-------------clement---------- ---------------------------------------dado------------------------------- ------------------------------novo----------sebo-------------------------

http://www.sportinglife.com/football/scottishpremier/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=soccer/06/10/24/SOCCER_Rangers_McGregor.html Allan McGregor could pledge his future to Rangers despite finding himself down the pecking order at Ibrox. A string of impressive performances earned the 24-year-old the Bank of Scotland Player of the Month award for September in the absence of the injured Lionel Letizi. But he found himself warming the bench again when Letizi was drafted back into the team by manager Paul Le Guen. That prompted speculation that McGregor - whose current deal expires at the end of the season - could quit Ibrox. But his agent Willie Mackay believes he may still have a future with his boyhood heroes. "The ball is in Rangers' court," Mackay told Record PM. "Allan is a Rangers fan and I think he would consider staying if he was made a suitable offer."

http://www.rangerssupporterstrust.co.uk/news/2006/271006.html Below are a few messages about 'Gersave' from some of Rangersââ?¬â?¢ greatest players of the past. The Trust thanks these legends for their kind support and emphasise that this Share Save Scheme is about bringing the fans together for the benefit of our great club. Tomorrow, will see a 'GerSave' brochure placed on ever seat within Ibrox. This is every Rangers fans' chance to join a scheme that will not only improve supporters' representation but is a wholly positive way of raising new money for the club. You can now download the new GerSave Brochure (PDF Format only - 450Kb) from the ShareSave part of our site. Be part of it! Gordon Smith ââ?¬Å?The RST Share Save Scheme is an exciting initiative that not only involves the fans but raises serious money for the club in a time where finance is ever-more important.ââ?¬Â Ally McCoist "I would urge all Rangers fans to join the Rangers Supporters Trust Share Save scheme. This is a fantastic opportunity for fans to be more involved and at the same time invest money in the club they love." Graham Roberts ââ?¬Å?Good luck to the Rangers Supporters Trust. The Trust is a worthy group of volunteers who once again remind us that the Rangers support is amongst the best in the world.ââ?¬Â Colin Stein ââ?¬Å?The Trust has shown that the fans can work together with the club in many positive ways, and for the benefit of each other. Long may this continue.ââ?¬Â John MacDonald ââ?¬Å?I would urge all fans to get behind this innovative new scheme to ââ?¬Ë?kick offââ?¬â?¢ a new era at Rangers.ââ?¬Â Tom Forsyth ââ?¬Å?The Trust have shown themselves to be innovative, exciting and genuine in their representation of the Rangers support. Together we can make a difference to our future.ââ?¬Â Colin Jackson ââ?¬Å?The Trust provides genuine, democratic representation for all Rangers fans. I urge you to join not only the Trust, but their innovative Share Save Scheme.ââ?¬Â

Its good to take our mids of the spl with a european game. I think a point will be a good result but there is no reason why we cant go over there and snaek 3 points. The only reason that Livorno got into the Uefa Cup this year was becasue of the match fixing scandal last season.I hope le guen sticks with letizi in goals to give him some backing here is the team i would play ..............................................Letizi...................................................... ...bardsley...................j rod...................svensson.......................smith... ....................ferguson..............hemdani..................rae......................... ................................................prso..................................................... .............................novo.......................sebo......................................... i would play novo because he has been performing well for the reserves and the last couple of games he has played for the first team he has played good. Him up front with sebo would be great on counter attack

And I'm not being kinky here... Scotland have a tradition of keeping poor quality managers in a job for a long time after their sell by date, so let's make sure we don't lose a prime quality one. Let's be honest, Walter Smith is not really among the best club managers Scotland has produced. He had great domestic success at Rangers but it was at a time when we were spending far more than our opposition and had possibly the highest wage bill in the UK. Celtic were in turmoil and Smith took advantage. Don't get me wrong, I think Smith is a good manager, worse managers than he would have lost one of those titles in the 9 in row years despite the gulf between teams. But one CL run apart, his European results and his struggle with Everton albeit with financial problems, showed where his level lies. Good and solid, well above average, but not a world beater. However Scotland have been very poorly mismanaged for two decades - since Roxburgh took the reins. We had a very good team at the time and although he got us to a couple of finals, we would lose to the likes of Costa Rica through terrible tactics and an overcautious approach. Brown was a slightly better manager but still average at best. He too couldn't bring the best out of a reasonably talented squad and he couldn't do that at Preston either. Vogts, just didn't have a scooby. He confused the players tactically and made them feel inferior, telling them how poor a crop he had to choose from almost on a daily basis. He also capped players who should never have donned a dark blue top. However, Smith seems to have galvanised a bunch of so called journeymen into a team with great self belief, who know if they work hard and do their job they can get results. It's night and day over those previous managers who would spin us tales of caution against the likes of the Faroes and then struggle against them. Walter has taken a team who ply their trade in the English Premiership (whom some would have you as the best league in the world) and in the top half of the SPL, which is still a decent league by European standards. The players are plenty good enough to give a team of postmen and bankers a good thrashing, and for the first time in my memory, they did so. We should definitely be better than the likes of the Balkans and Walter has taken us to the best of them and won soundly only letting in the most spectacular of goals. The win against France was unexpected, but we all expected the team to have a decent go (I was very optimistic for a draw) and history suggests we can claim the odd win or draws especially at home against the greatest teams in the world if we play to our full ability. History is littered with Scotland wins, draws and unlucky losses against the likes of Brazil, England, Germany, France, Italy, Spain and Holland. I think we've always had the players who could do something reasonable if they played to their strengths, but what we lacked was consistency and a bit of luck with the former being down to the manager. Walter Smith was always good at man management and basic strategy without being a tactical mastermind ("What's a tactic?"). He can definitely make a team play as a team. This really lends itself to international football as you only have a limited time with the players so intricate training sessions are a waste of time as are very unorthodox formations and tactics, since the players are more used to their different club systems. He has an advantage here over more tactically astute managers as he knows the stuff that really counts on this stage. This could make him achieve more acclaim as a Scotland manager than his many trophies for Rangers. He's shown what he can do, even that the job was made for him, so lets enter a period of stability and let him steer Scotland into an era where we at least punch our weight for a change. Give him a long contract and let him become a Scotland legend.

http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/hi/sport/6028958.html Steven Smith was to begiven a call up to the squad but has a groin injury. Hard luck lad, your time will come.

What a corker from Riise. Stevie Smith it's over to you young man !!

... underestimated the quality, pace, passion and strength of the SPL? IMO, he has and this can be seen in some of his signings. He signed players like Svensson on merits that are not suitable for the SPL. A centre-half that cannot head a ball might look class in France, but in the SPL, he looks like a Sunday League player. Leading on from this, we had a very interesting conversation on the journey home on Saturday about the merits of employing an 'assistant manager' from Scotland. Look at most 'foriegn' managers in the EPL, they all have 'English - English based' assistants and when Souness signed for us, his first signing was Walter Smith. Cammy F

Think we're all getting a bit pre-occupied and are forgetting we have a tough game tonight. We've already been to EEP and not come away with a win so it won't be easy tonight. I think Le Guen must put out a strong team, try and get a good win and breed confidence. I would play :- ______________________McGregor________________ Hutton_________Svenson________Rodriguez________Papac Burke_________Hemdani_________Ferguson________Martin __________________Boyd________Sebo I'd play Hutton to get him match fit for Sat. Not sure if Smith is fit, he could prob do with a rest anyway. Please god don't let him start Buffel

Letizi is still injured so McGregor will be in goals.Papac has had trouble with his Visa so he will probably miss out. I doubt if Fergie will start, but he will play a role at sometime. So i think this will be the starting line-up __________________McGregor______________ Bardsley________Rodriguez_______Svensson_______Smith _____________Clement______Hemdani______________ __________Burke______Prso______Martin ____________________Boyd_________________

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/5323830.stm Great news, I think he's a superb player. He suffered a horrific injury last season and it's good news he's ready to fight for a first team place again.

I think some certain Rangers fans need to take a look at themselves. I cant believe some would have a blast at a team who are only 4 weeks and 5 games old. It can clearly be seen on the pitch we have came strides in certain play and its simply been a case of unlucky / poor finishing which has kept our goals 'for' down. We were impressive against Motherwell, played some awesome stuff against Dundee Utd and great against Hearts. Again yesterday we were unlucky. Only the away trip to Dunfermline has been poor, so 4 out of 5 isnt bad for a "new" team. There is no doubt we havent settled at the back. Steven Smith is a good promising wee left back and everyone will agree he is not quite Arthur Numan yet but he is a 19 year old lad. Hutton has been hot and cold and the last thing he needs is critisism. I dont know how many of the anti-Hutton brigade have ever had a bad brake but let me tell you now from experience it can take years to get your confidence and full abillity back. It looks like we are going to add a central defender in this week which wont be a bad thing as the central 2 are finding it hard to gel but they are certainly not any worse than some previous defenders. In the midfield we have 2 realible players doing a fine job sitting infront of the back 4. Ive always rated Hemdani as he quietly goes about his job and very rarely losses possestion. Clement is a bit of the same but puts himself about a bit more and these 2 look confortable in the side. Barry Ferguson still has to come back and id say there was a call for all 3 of these players to remain in the XI. In the final 3rd its been change week after week due to injuries which hasnt helped gain us consistancy. Sionko came out the blocks flying and looked a real find but hasnt continued but like I always say players need games to gel under new surroundings and fully get match fit after preseason. Buffel needs to be told a match lasts 90 mins and not 60 and practice some shooting and he could end up being the player of the year. But the others have all been doing a fine job. All in all is there any bear who would actually swap todays position for say 8 or 9 months ago??? Absolutely not IMO. I look at the bigger picture and I can slowly but surely see the jigsaw coming together. Anyone who demands a team to win 3-0 everyweek is unrealistic and doesnt know football.

29 August 2006 RANGERS 0 DUNFERMLINE 1 Dunfermline's win over Rangers at the Broadwood Stadium meant that the Glasgow club remain rooted to the foot of the SPL Reserve League. Following on their 2-1 reversal at Tannadice last week, Ian Durrant's team fell to an Owen Morrison goal. The Ulsterman who has got himself into a valuable habit of scoring 69th minute goals against Rangers struck with a volley after Craig Wilson cushioned header from an Iain Williamson cross was nicely placed in his direction. The first half was played in awkward blustery conditions that were not conducive to good football. Nevertheless Darren Young shot narrowly wide after 12 minutes and following a series of corners he again was closet with a header that went over the bar. Roddy McKenzie saved from Moses Ashikodi before Dunfermline created another good chance just ten minutes from the break. Alan McDonough's driving run down the right set up Calum Smith but the 18 year old's attempt was deflected for another corner. Smith troubled Rangers on the restart making ground down the right before cutting inside and driving in on goal before releasing a shot that the keeper turned around the post. Rangers were giving as good as they got and were unlucky when a Brian Gilmour shot from distance hit the post. Young was the next to threaten and was a little unfortunate to see his 55th minute shot saved by Robinson. The Pars did however make the opening 14 minutes later with a 22 yard Morrison effort that gave Lee Robinson little hope of stopping the ball as it soared into the top right corner. The lead was preserved thanks to Iain Campbell who quickly mopped up after a fine McKenzie save when Rangers really should have struck. Rangers pressed for an equaliser and Dunfermline looked dangerous on the break but the Pars ran out victors. RANGERS: Lee Robinson, Jordan McMillan, Marvin Andrews, Antoine Ponroy (Andrew Shinnie 21), Oliver Bernard, Steven Lennon, Bob Malcolm, Brian Gilmour, Paul Emslie, William Stanger (William McLachlan 75), Moses Ashikodi SUBS NOT USED: Joseph Sagar, Martin Ure, Sam Woods, Andrew Little DUNFERMLINE : Roddy McKenzie; Greg Ross, Aaron Labonte, Iain Campbell, Scott Morrison; Craig Wilson, Darren Young, Nick Phinn (Iain Williamson 46), Owen Morrison; Calum Smith, Alan McDonough (David Muir 79) SUBS NOT USED: Greg Paterson, Clark Kay, Derek Howie, Neil Fenwick SCORER: O Morrison (69) REFEREE: Graham Chambers NEXT MATCH v Dundee United, Tuesday 5th September 2006, 2.00pm kick off at East End Park Bottom of the league:ffs: What is going on here? I guess the new french guy's are not doing too well.

A NIGHT RANGERS WILL NEVER FORGET 10:00 - 26 August 2006 As the latest clutch of mostly uninspiring European matches found their way onto our screens this week, a radio phone-in debated one of football's mysteries: how is it that Glasgow Rangers have won just a single European trophy? That victory arrived on May 24, 1972, at Barcelona's Nou Camp, when Rangers produced a glorious performance in the first hour of the Cup Winners' Cup final to lead Moscow Dynamo 3-0. Although the Russians rallied and scored two late goals, it wasn't enough to deny a group of players whose names were to be etched into the club's folklore. Author and journalist Paul Smith had a distinct advantage in his quest to interview Rangers' 11 European heroes in his entertaining To Barcelona and Beyond, for his father Davie was widely regarded as the man of the match on that epic night. Smith has written an intimate and, at times, moving portrait of the lives of the eleven before, during and after their European experience. Unlike the current Rangers team, as cosmopolitan a bunch as there is in British football, the 1972 vintage were all Scots. Most played for their country and, in an era when Scotland produced a good proportion of Britain's finest footballers, players such as John Greig and Colin Stein remain legends for club and country. Smith's stories of lesser lights including goalkeeper Peter McCloy and full-back Willie Mathieson highlight the strength of an unusually loyal team bond which has lasted more than three decades. Of course, there were also mavericks. Alfie Conn moved to Tottenham soon after the European triumph having been deemed surplus to Ibrox's requirements. Despite playing fewer than 40 games for Spurs, he became a cult hero, fondly remembered as the player who sat on the ball during a particularly fraught encounter with Don Revie's Leeds. Conn played in the North American Soccer League, as did Willie Johnston, two-goal hero in the final. Johnston's career post-Barcelona included one of the most notorious episodes in World Cup history. He failed a drugs test following the embarrassing 3-1 defeat to Peru in Scotland's opening game of the 1978 World Cup. Despite his protestations of innocence and his exemplary career, it's a millstone which he has had to carry around with him for nearly 30 years. On reflection, there seems to be too little recognition for the team that won Rangers' only European trophy, which seems bizarre considering the quality of opposition they had to overcome. In addition to Moscow Dynamo, effectively the Russian national team, they dispatched Rennes and Sporting Lisbon in the opening rounds before defeating a very strong Torino outfit in the quarter-finals. Yet perhaps their greatest victory was the 3-1 aggregate win over Bayern Munich in the semi-finals. Bayern were about to embark on a hat-trick of European Cup triumphs and half the side, including Franz Beckenbauer and Gerd Muller, were to become part of the West Germany team that won the 1974 World Cup. Poignantly, Rangers' triumph arrived little over a year after 66 supporters died in the Ibrox Disaster and it became a fitting memorial. Nevertheless, Uefa deemed the exuberant celebrations of Rangers' supporters on the Nou Camp pitch a suitable case for punishment. The club was banned from defending its trophy the following season. Meanwhile, that second European success has yet to arrive??? What memories!!! Dave Smith one of my schoolboy heroes. I wish we had him and Tom Forsyth in the team today.

Goalkeepers:Neil Alexander (Cardiff City), Craig Gordon (Hearts), Graeme Smith (Motherwell) Defenders:Graham Alexander (Preston), Russell Anderson (Aberdeen), Gary Caldwell (Celtic), Christian Dailly (West Ham), Stephen McManus (Celtic), Graeme Murty (Reading), Gary Naysmith (Everton), Robbie Neilson (Hearts), Steven Pressley (Hearts), David Weir (Everton) Midfield: Darren Fletcher (Manchester United), Paul Hartley (Hearts), Lee McCulloch (Wigan), Nigel Quashie (West Brom), Scott Severin (Aberdeen), Gary Teale (Wigan) Forwards: Kris Boyd (Rangers), James McFadden (Everton), Kenny Miller (Celtic), Garry O'Connor (Lokomotiv Moscow) Burke, Ferguson and Muarry miss out though injury

2nd time ive watched Man Utd in 3 days and couldnt be more impressed. They are well up for it. Against Fulham it was 5 going on 10 and last night it was 3 going on 6 or 7 as they hit the woodwork about 4 times. Ryan Giggs was awesome as was Ronaldo, and to think they didnt have Neville, Heinze, Scholes, Smith or Rooney playing they are flying! I havent seen a hunger in a Man Utd side for about 5 years when Beckham and keane were peaking. I fear for Watford on saturday.

Sunderland move for Rangers midfielder Rae tribalfooball.com - August 20, 2006 Sunderland are eyeing Rangers midfielder Gavin Rae. Niall Quinn, the Wearside club's manager/chairman, is under pressure after seeing his side plummet to the foot of the table after four straight defeats from as many games. He is keen to strengthen his side and Rae is understood to be in his thoughts. The Scotland international is now completely fit after a succession of knee injuries, but has yet to figure under Paul Le Guen and was on the substitutes' bench again during the 2-0 weekend victory over Hearts. The 28-year-old, signed by Alex McLeish from Dundee for a cut-price �250,000 three years ago, may be tempted to the Stadium of Light as he seeks first-team football to continue to figure in Walter Smith's international plans. Quinn would even take the powerful Rae on a season-long loan and Le Guen may give the move the go-ahead. Rae has made only 14 starts during his injury-plagued stay at Ibrox.

Rangers Under 19's showed their intentions to wrestle the Youth League Championship from great rivals Celtic with a powerful and assured display against Hearts. Saturday 19th August 2006 - SPL Youth (Under 19) League Fresh from their midweek victory over Dunfermline at Rosyth the young Light Blues maintained their maximum points tally with a dazling display in front of the 60 spectators, who included Scotland Under 21 boss Archie Knox and ex-Ranger Bobby Williamson. Right from the first whistle Rangers made it clear that they meant business as they pinnned the vistors behind the ball as Lennon and Stirling linking up well to cause the Hearts rear guard all sorts of problems. The first clear chance fell to Rangers after 7 minutes when Paul Emslie let fly with a piledriver which Haraldur Bjornsson did extremely well to palm over the bar. It looked like the incecent pressure had paid off on the quarter of a hour mark when a sweeping move involving Lennon Stirling & Shinnie down the right saw Dean Furman hammer the ball home only to be ruled offside. It didn't take much longer for the breakthrough to finally arrive, another 5 minutes, as Stirling and Furman linked up tp provide a perfect cross for Stevie Lennon to finish in style with a diving header from only a few yards out. Furman was again to be a provider for Lennon 4 minutes later as he tee'd the ball up on the 18 yard line for the striker, though this time the shot went narrowly wide. With Lennon playing through the middle up front he was provided with plenty of assistance and it was the turn of Steven Stirling on the half hour mark who played a perfect pass through the Hearts defence to allow Lennon to race through on Bjornsson, only for the forwards first touch to let him down and give the keeper the opportunity to bravely collect the ball at the feet of Lennon. 4 minutes from half time Joe Sagar averted what would have been a travesty of justice when he pulled off a fingertip save from the head of Hearts defender Alan Lithgow who powered in goal bound attempt from a corner. Half Time - Rangers 1 Hearts 0 Stephen Frail made 3 changes to the Hearts side at Half Time, all to the middle and forward line, to try and take the game to Rangers but it was goalkeeper Bjornsson who made the most impact on 53 minutes when he was caught in posession inside his box and as he tried to clear he was challenged by Lennon, as the ball broke it favoured the Rangers man and Lennon then had the easiest of tasks prodding the ball into the gapping net to double the lead. Only a minute later with Hearts now showing more attacking prowess it was Joe Sagar who found himself in an identical situation only this time the break of the ball favoured the goalkeeper as the ball spun out of play. The changes made to the Jambos attacking line up paid off in 68 minutes as Gary Glen twisted and hit a half volley over Sagar and into the corner of the home net to bring Hearts back into it. Rangers substitute Ally Park was to make the match safe on 76 minutes when he collected a perfectly floated cross field pass from Andy Shinnie on the edge of the 18 yard box, unmarked he moved forward to steady himself and then unleashed a perfect curling shot with the inside of his right boot past the despairing and outstreched Bjornsson. Hearts treid again to close the gap a minute later but William McLachlan was the hero this time as he cleared the goal bound shot off the line. Steven Stirling was outstanding in the match and on 83 minutes he broke through the hearts defence down his right, the first cross was blocked but he regained the ball and his second attempt was perfect for Lennon to claim his hat trick but the strikers shot rattled the post to deny him. Right on full time Shaun Kelly found himself in referee Rodney Marshalls book when he downed Andy Shinnie with a clumsy tackle borne out of frustration. It had been a superb display against a side who had always made it very close, but this time there was a style and organisation about the performance which saw outstanding contributions from Rangers midfield and forwards. The standard has now been set for the Under 19's, a standard which if maintained will surely see the title back at Murray Park after a five year absence. The Teams; Rangers - Sagar, McLachlan, Donald, McMillan, Gallagher, Emslie, Stirling, Furman (Craig 86), Lennon, Shinnie, Woods (Park 71). Subs not used - Adam, Perry, Smith, Hadden Heart of Midlothian - Bjornsson, Kelly, McDonald, Brown, Lithgow, Mearns, Mackle (Divine 45), Forter (Baxter 45), Glen, Jonsson, Park (Hamilton 45). Subs not used - Amos, Stewart

............................................letizi......................................................' .......rae.....................j-rod..................svensson...................smith......... ...........................hemdani......................clement.................................. .................sionko................buffel.......................adam ......................................sebo............................................................ you will probably all agree with me with this team apart from rae