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4 games in 8 days isn�t fair on Celtic By ROBERT GRIEVE Published: Today Add a comment (2) DAVIE WEIR insists it's WRONG for the SPL to force Celtic to play four games in eight days. Neil Lennon's table-toppers are facing end of season fixture chaos. League chiefs could make them play St Mirren at home on Saturday, then face St Johnstone and Caley Thistle next midweek before their Scottish Cup semi-final with Aberdeen next Sunday. It's similar to the crazy schedule Gers had in the title run-in when they lost the league in 2008. Ibrox skipper Weir said: "Time will tell if Celtic handle it. It is very difficult and in my opinion it shouldn't happen. "I don't see how we have a season that lasts nine or ten months and yet they have to cram four games into a week. "I don't see how they can ever get to that situation. "There has to be something wrong with the set-up to get to that situation. "It's not an ideal scenario. We did it in 2008 and we didn't enjoy it. "The league told us we had to do it, so we did it. "I still don't think it is right. "They said to us the precedent had been set because Celtic had had to do it in a previous year." Gers are still hopeful the Craig Whyte takeover will be completed this week. Weir insists, however, the off the field situation is not affecting the players. He insists a solution MUST be found to Gers' cash crisis. Weir added: "We've been successful under these circumstances, but you wonder how far Rangers can be allowed to run down by the people who are in charge of it before you are taken out of the ball park. "As a player you don't think about next season. "I'm sure that the manager and the club hierarchy do, but as a group of players our only concern is trying to win the league." Meanwhile, Weir has also revealed he is not certain to quit Ibrox in May. He said: "There is a chance that I could stay on. "I will never say never. This is what I do and what I have done for the last 20 years. "I'd love to play for another five, ten years but it doesn't work like that. "I just do my best. I turn up, get myself in the best condition I can and do my best on the park. If somebody is daft enough to keep picking me, I'll keep turning up."

IT'S more than 11 years since he was the Hammer in Holland. But the Rangers badge has been nailed on for life. Tonight Jorg Albertz will again pull on the Light Blue top. Only this time he'll be wearing it in front of his TV at home in Moenchengladbach to cheer on Walter Smith's side. And he'll sit there praying someone can repeat his heroics of 1999 and bullet home a Gers winner in the Philips Stadion. The Ibrox side's star-studded attacking names of the past might be replaced by a team ethic based on defence. But Albertz is convinced they can still shock Fred Rutten's side and go all the way to the Europa League Final. Smith himself yesterday called for someone else to step into the Hammer's shoes tonight. Told of the comment, Albertz said: "I think I'm too old for it now! "I'd LOVE to be out on the pitch playing for the team but he's got a good squad and they'll work hard for each other. "Why can't the boys go there and get a draw or a win? "Walter's playing a little bit more defensively now and will hope they can sneak a goal there. "In the situation they're in that's not the worst thing to do. "I don't think they're in a position with the players they have to go out and attack and concede maybe two or three goals. "Hopefully they go out and get a goal and get a draw or a win. "Walter has proved so often in the past that he gets success. In Lisbon they scored two goals so why can't they do it again? "You don't have a Brain Laudrup or Paul Gascoigne who can decide a game on their own with a flash of genius. "You've got a good team that needs to work really hard together as a unit. "Do that and they can beat any team. You see it so often, an underdog beating the favourites. "It's why I think Rangers can go all the way to the final. Why not? "Do that and it would be one of the biggest successes for Walter himself. "This is not disrespectful to the team but he just doesn't have the big name star players any more. "Hopefully they can go all the way. Why not this year? "I'll watch the game here in the house. I'll just wear my blue shirt sitting in front of the TV - and hopefully I'm cheering." That was the case back in 1999 when Dick Advocaat's side travelled to Holland for a Champions League clash. Albertz's excited family had driven two hours from their home across the border in Germany to see him in action. But he was left simmering on the bench after being axed from the starting line-up. Disappointment soon turned to joy though when he replaced the crocked Claudio Reyna after 24 minutes. Then he proved a point to his gaffer by crashing home the dramatic 84th-minute goal to cue that famous crest-kissing and hands-on head celebration. Advertisement Albertz said: "Of course I was disappointed not being in the team. My family were in Eindhoven that night to watch the game but I knew the team before the game so they came knowing I wasn't in it. "They made their decision to go not just because I was playing but because they'd been Rangers supporters since I'd joined the club. "They wanted to be there for the team - but of course it's nicer when your son is playing as well. "I remember sitting on the bench in Eindhoven, desperate to get on to prove I should have been out there. "But the gaffer can only pick 11 to start the game. "I don't think he was doing things on purpose, although in my case it might have been a little bit different. I don't know. "I still had to stay focused so if the moment came when I was needed I was ready to perform. "When Reyna got injured it was my chance and I got into the game, scored the winner and of course it was a nice memory. "It was a very important goal because we won the game. "But it wasn't enough because that was the year we played the last game in Munich. We lost 1-0 and didn't get through. "So the goal in the end didn't help too much as things worked out. "But it was still a very nice memory for me and winning away from home showed we weren't too bad in Europe "That's in the past and now we're all looking forward to Rangers hopefully getting a good result." Albertz is still a frequent visitor to Glasgow and was back on the weekend for a dinner along with former Gers team-mate Lorenzo Amoruso. He didn't get to see the game against St Mirren on Sunday. But he did manage a quick word with Gers' manager-in- waiting Ally McCoist when he jetted in to see the first leg round-of-32 clash with Sporting Lisbon last month. He reckons the appointment of McCoist for the start of next season was the easy one financially - but will prove the right one in the end. Albertz, in the middle of some gardening back home in Germany yesterday, is also willing to dig deep to help his pal in any way he can. He added: "Not being disrespectful to Ally, he's a big name but not as a manager at the moment. "He still has to prove himself as far as that goes. "But it's very hard to get somebody in. "Everyone would love to work for Glasgow Rangers but they know the financial situation isn't the best and they can't buy any players they want. But I also think it's the best decision because Ally knows the club inside out. "He knows the players he's got around him so why not give him a try? "He's got a great teacher in Walter and I'm sure Coisty will have success with the club. "I spoke to him after the home Lisbon game. He's still a great character - the same as ever. "He's put a little bit of weight on, I know that, but he's a great guy and I love him. "If he needs anyone to watch a player, an assistant, phone me, I'll be there. I'll drop everything and be in Glasgow." Read more: http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/spl/3457055/Cmon-Gers-pummel-PSV-and-feel-like-THIS.html#ixzz1G9XJco8D

Rangers stumble past St Mirren in a results over performance afternoon in Paisley. http://www.gersnetonline.co.uk/2010/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=379:st-mirren-0-1-rangers-player-ratings-and-mom-poll&catid=35:analysis&Itemid=67 :kbartley: I thought most of our defence played quite well yesterday but Bartley's goal helped him win the award over the others.

Darrell King The SPL today face another fixture nightmare after Rangers made it through to the last 16 of the Europa League. As similarities with 2008 begin to emerge, league chief Iain Blair has massive headaches to address in terms of the championsââ?¬â?¢ outstanding fixtures. The Ibrox side still have FOUR SPL games to be placed ââ?¬â?? a home match against St Mirren and trips to Dundee United, Aberdeen and St Johnstone. The midweeks of March 10 and 17 will now be handed over to Europa League action against PSV Eindhoven. With international commitments gobbling up March 24 and 27, next month is gone completely for Blair to schedule any Gers games. Even if they get knocked out of the Scottish Cup by Celtic at Parkhead next week they would be unable to play any of their games on cup quarter-final weekend ââ?¬â?? March 12 ââ?¬â?? as their four outstanding league opponents all have ties in the cup. It will now be into April before they can get dates for these matches and, if Rangers get past PSV and head into the last eight, it would appear impossible for their fixtures to be played unless they have the dreaded four-games-in-eight-days scenario. Blair conceded last week that the SPL are looking at playing games on the Friday and Monday of the Easter Bank Holiday weekend. RANGERS FIXTURES... Feb 27: St Johntone (h) SPL March 2: Celtic (a) Scottish Cup last 16 replay March 6: St Mirren (a) SPL March 10: PSV Eindhoven (a) Europa League last 16 March 13: Inverness (a) Scottish Cup last 8 or free weekend. March 17: PSV Eindhoven (h) Europa League last 16 March 20: Celtic (n) Co-op Cup Final March 24: International March 27: International April 2: Dundee Utd (h) SPL April 7: Possible Europa League last 8 April 9/10: Hamilton (a) SPL April 14: Possible Europa League last 8 April 16: Kilmarnock (h) SPL April 20: Free midweek SPL SPLITS INTO TWO http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/mobile/sport/editor-s-picks/fixtures-fear-now-true-for-the-spl-1.1087313

RANGERS and Dundee United may be forced to play four league games in eight days so that the SPL split can take place on April 16. The SPL faces a fixture backlog as a result of both sides falling victim to match postponements, cup replays and Euro ties. Rangers boss Walter Smith and United chairman Stephen Thompson, right, have been warned by the SPL about the threat of chaos. Rangers must fit in a game against St Mirren - forced off by burst pipes at Ibrox on December 18 - as well as rescheduled visits to Pittodrie, Tannadice and McDiarmid Park. United have played fewer matches than anyone else in the SPL due to the big freeze. An SPL spokesman said: "We're doing everything we can to avoid four games in eight days. "We could use bank holiday weekends to play on Friday and Monday." A lot will depend on how far Rangers progress in the Europa League. Sporting Lisbon aren't the force they were and it's not unreasonable to expect Smith's side to reach the last 16. SPL secretary Ian Blair has asked the SFA to help in future by scrapping Scottish Cup replays. This stinks of favouring Celtic to say the liest, they will be rubbing their hands in glee knowing that we will be forced to play these games, a complete useless friendly last night being played, rangers should go to town with the sfa on this

HE could have gone to Liverpool and he could have gone to Tottenham, but here he was in Renfrewshire. If either of those Barclays Premier League heavyweights had got their way last week Charlie Adam would currently be one of the most expensive players in Scottish football history, carrying a price tag of just under Ã?£7m. For the time being heââ?¬â?¢s still at struggling Blackpool and no-oneââ?¬â?¢s ever paid more than Ã?£500,000 for him, but yesterday Adam could walk the corridors of the Scotland squad hotel knowing that heââ?¬â?¢s been the talk of the steamie. Itââ?¬â?¢s only a week since Sky Sports News spent transfer deadline day hyperventilating over three main moves: Fernando Torres to Chelsea for Ã?£50m, Andy Carroll to Liverpool for Ã?£35m and Adam to Merseyside or London. Only one of those was not completed but it was still a January window which redrew Adamââ?¬â?¢s profile. For a day or two he was one of the most talked about footballers in Britain. Who would have thought it? There were times when Adam was cast out to Ross County and St Mirren on loan. Heââ?¬â?¢s been jeered and an easy target as a Rangers player and was allowed to leave for buttons. The reinvention from footballing ugly duckling to swan seems to have been made with no feathers ruffled. He was the same likeable, vaguely bashful individual yesterday that he has always been. ââ?¬Å?It is like any other window,ââ?¬Â he said. ââ?¬Å?Everybody goes mental; Sky Sports goes mental. But it is like any other day in a footballerââ?¬â?¢s life. There is always speculation. Thatââ?¬â?¢s what happens. It is crazy but it has gone. The speculation has not affected me. Iââ?¬â?¢ve just gotten on with it. Iââ?¬â?¢ve dealt with it.ââ?¬Â Adamââ?¬â?¢s remarkable improvement reached the point where Liverpool and Kenny Dalglish made two unsuccessful bids, the second worth Ã?£6.8m. Spurs claimed they made an 11th hour offer for the same sum which was accepted by Blackpool but the paperwork could not be signed off in time. In the middle of it all Adam himself made a transfer request, which was rejected. He was less than chuffed about being denied the chance to leave. It was a dizzying episode for the 25-year-old. Even if he hasnââ?¬â?¢t switched clubs he still has the baggage of being rated at a supposed Ã?£14m by Blackpool manager Ian Holloway. ââ?¬Å?How can you value someone nowadays? At the end of the day people will pay what they want to pay. It is important to me that I just keep doing what I can for Blackpool. You know that there is a lot of money in the Premier League and you cannot help what people want to pay. ââ?¬Å?Iââ?¬â?¢m fortunate, I played for one the Old Firm and I learned a lot of hard lessons there. I played a lot of big games and you have to be able to deal with it. So I think that stood me in good stead. Since leaving Rangers my career has just gone on leaps and bounds and that is what happens when you are playing regularly. Iââ?¬â?¢m getting enjoyment from playing in a good team, with good team-mates and a good manager. They should get the credit, too. If it wasnââ?¬â?¢t for them I wouldnââ?¬â?¢t be in the situation I am in. ââ?¬Å?You never know what will happen. Iââ?¬â?¢ll still have a year left on my contract when the summer comes and for me the focus is all on Blackpool. Iââ?¬â?¢m fortunate enough, I have played at Rangers, it is a massive club, and now I am playing in one of the best leagues in the world so how can I complain? It is nice to be complimented but you cannot be too excited or get ahead of yourself or it will be gone as quick as it has come.ââ?¬Â There must be embarrassment around Rangers about Adam. The club were shrewd enough to insert a sell-on clause which will give them 10% of any transfer fee above Ã?£500,000. Still, many will wonder why a player who was peripheral at Ibrox, and often a focal point for criticism from supporters, has blossomed so dramatically in a grander football environment. Did he feel he had proved people wrong since leaving Ibrox in 2009? ââ?¬Å?Yes, I do. There are certain people that I have proved wrong. I can have a smile on my face when I see certain people, knowing that inside they are hurting. You are always out to prove people wrong in this game. You canââ?¬â?¢t please everybody. When I step out on to the pitch Iââ?¬â?¢m there to prove and to show to people that I am good enough to play at this level.ââ?¬Â Like who? ââ?¬Å?I cannot name names, but there were people in football. You are always trying to prove people wrong.ââ?¬Â Did he mean the manager who sold him 18 months ago? ââ?¬Å?It is nothing to do with Walter Smith. I have got a lot of respect for Walter, for what he has achieved and for what he did for me. He gave me the opportunity to go to Blackpool and get regular football. I do not have any bad words to say about Walter. He is a terrific man and a great manager. ââ?¬Å?I never thought I was the whipping boy at Rangers. I got a bit of stick for my performances but you have to take it on the chin and get on with it. It was difficult but the most difficult thing for me was not playing. I would play one week and then not play for another four or five weeks. That was the hard thing. Fortunately now I am playing regularly in a top league and hopefully my performances have justified where I am. ââ?¬Å?I had periods of playing regularly under Paul Le Guen and Walter Smith but when you come through the ranks [at Rangers] it is more difficult to get in the side because the club spent money on players and the chairman wants to know why they are not in the team.ââ?¬Â He could afford to be diplomatic about his current club. His dad, also Charlie, probably revealed the familyââ?¬â?¢s feelings last week when he described Blackpool as ââ?¬Å?cheap-skatesââ?¬Â for wanting even more money for his boy. He claimed any transfer was blocked out of spite because Charlie recently took them to a tribunal over an unpaid bonus payment. No-one has enjoyed the flowering of Charlie Adam more than his father, who had reached a point where he found it too upsetting to come to Ibrox and witness his lad being jeered. ââ?¬Å?I have just bought a new house so he is down every week. He loves coming to watch and who wouldnââ?¬â?¢t when you are playing the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham? It was difficult for him to watch at Ibrox but that is the way it goes at the Old Firm. Someone has got to get the stick but I am enjoying the way I am playing and he is enjoying watching it.ââ?¬Â The same goes for non-relatives. The blossoming of Charlie Adam has been one of the most uplifting stories of the season. http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/more-scottish-football/i-can-have-a-smile-on-my-face-when-i-see-certain-people-1.1083899

Somewhere to stick the latest headlines for the latest installment of the silly season. I'll kick things off: Rangers line up Bosman for Killie Goalkeeper Cammy Bell http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/jan/04/rangers-bosman-kilmarnock-cammy-bell

Match scheduled for 2nd March has been brought forward after St Mirren game was postponed due to their draw in the Scottish Cup...

Due to St Mirren drawing yesterday , our re-arranged game is further delayed meaning Bougherra misses the Hearts game instead

Fixture announcement The SPL today announced new dates for 17 of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League games postponed due to the severe weather and the League Cup semi-finals at the end of January. New dates will be announced in due course for Dundee United v Rangers and St Johnstone v Rangers while Kilmarnock v Celtic, postponed because of Celtic's involvement in the League Cup, has already been rearranged for Wednesday March 2 - live on Sky Sports. Wednesday 12 January Dundee United v Motherwell, 7.45pm Hamilton Accies v Celtic, 7.45pm (Live on Sky Sports) Tuesday 18 January Hamilton Accies v Hibernian, 7.45pm Kilmarnock v Heart of Midlothian, 7.45pm Rangers v St Mirren, 7.45pm Tuesday 1 February Aberdeen v Celtic, 7.45pm (Live on ESPN) St Johnstone v Hamilton Accies, 7.45pm Wednesday 2 February Hibernian v St Mirren, 7.45pm Inverness CT v Dundee United, 7.45pm Motherwell v Kilmarnock, 7.45pm Rangers v Hearts, 7.45pm Tuesday 15 February Aberdeen v Motherwell, 7.45pm Wednesday 16 February Dundee United v Hamilton Accies, 7.45pm Tuesday 22 February Aberdeen v Hamilton Accies, 7.45pm St Johnstone v Dundee United, 7.45pm Wednesday 23 February Motherwell v St Mirren, 7.45pm Wednesday 2 March Rangers v Inverness CT, 7.45pm

Someone else who has previous with The Establishment. :grin:

BBC. The sooner this guys signs a new contract the better. He's a no nonsense, steady Eddie player who has performed well over the last few seasons.

Celtic score first: 2-0 St Johnstone. Goals in 91st and 93rd minute. 1-1 Killie. Equaliser 84th minute. 2-2 ICT. Snatching a draw from the jaws of a 2 goal victory. 1-1 Dundee Utd. Another 2 points dropped with a 94th minute equaliser for their opponents. 1-0 St Mirren. Late victory earnt by 92minute Hooper strike. 0-2 Hearts. A goal in each half earns jambos a victory. First 4 listed were home games, last 2 away. Since Aberdeen 9-0, Celtic have won just 2 games and they have both been courtesy of last minute goals. They have been equally susceptible to last minute or late goals. This run of late goals to win or draw games they have been losing is unlikley to continue though. You can only ride your luck so far. They really are in truly horrible form. I expected them to win today. I just didn't expect them to makes such a meal of it and the fact that it went so long before they broke the deadlock left me hoping for more for St Johnstone. Looking at their current run of form though, if we can beat St Johnstone we will go into the Old Firm knowing that if we can secure a victory that we are more than capable of we will be 5 points clear with a game in hand. From a team that matched us win for win in the first 8 or 9 games, the wheels have fallen off badly and we could all but bury them with a win in the next two games. I dont expect much from the Motherwell team we played today when they travel to Parkhead on the 29th, but with Celtic's home form you never know. And in any case, 2 wins for the Gers in the next two and it wont really matter. It really is a shocking run of form and only a few late strikes has given it any air of respectability. Any worse and it would be the form you'd expect of a bottom 6 outfit. Lets take care of St Johnstone and bury them on the second!

Dec 26 2010 Mark Guidi, Sunday Mail NEXT Sunday's Old Firm clash is in danger of being postponed as Rangers race against the clock to make sure Ibrox is safe. It's understood the water damage caused by burst pipes in the main stand 10 days ago is still a major cause for concern. And if the derby was scheduled for today then police and health and safety officials would not allow it to go ahead. Rangers' last home game with St Mirren was called off because of the damaged pipes. They have not yet been fully prepared due to the freezing weather but sources at Ibrox insist the main stand will be ready and fully operational in plenty of time for the 50,000 sell-out clash. Gers are aware of the concerns and are working non-stop to make sure the stadium is in tip-top condition. They are confident the match will not become another victim of the big freeze. http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/football/spl/2010/12/26/old-firm-clash-could-be-postponed-as-rangers-face-race-to-repair-water-damage-at-ibrox-86908-22807738/

Will our game against Motherwell go ahead? The Lanarkshire club have called in plumbers to try and fix the problem at Fir Park and are hopeful their Boxing Day tie will go ahead. Plumbers are currently at Motherwell's Fir Park to fix burst pipes and leaks caused by the freezing temperatures which have gripped Scotland for several weeks. The Lanarkshire club are due to host Rangers on Boxing Day, in a match which is likely to attract a bumper crowd. A Motherwell spokesman told STV on Thursday the club were optimistic the fixture would still go ahead, despite similar problems causing postponements at other SPL grounds of late. The playing surface at Fir Park remains playable, with the managerless club having hosted Hearts on December 14. Recent snowfall has also been cleared from the pitch in preperation for Sunday's game. Rangers' home game with St Mirren on December 18 was called off because of burst pipes at Ibrox caused by the big freeze, while Hamilton have also had to postpone fixtures because of a fault in their undersoil heating system. Fears the Old Firm derby on January 2 may be postponed because of the problems at Ibrox however have been played down by Rangers, who insist the game will go ahead as planned unless there is a significant and more severe dip in temperatures between now and the match. The adverse weather has played havoc with the Scottish football fixture calendar, with a raft of call offs meaning some teams haven't tasted action since mid-November. http://sport.stv.tv/football/scottish-premier/motherwell/217041-motherwell-optimistic-rangers-game-will-go-ahead-despite-burst-pipes/

SPL may consider extended season due to fixture pile-up Blair faces an arduous task to reschedule numerous SPL games Scottish Premier League secretary Iain Blair says continued disruption to fixtures may force the SPL to consider extending the season. Four of Saturday's SPL games were called off due to weather-related problems, adding to several postponements earlier in December. "It's not something we're looking at this point in time," said Blair. "But if there's severe congestion and no other alternatives then it's something we have done once before." Blair is hopeful of rescheduling the outstanding fixtures but admits further cancellations would put the league in difficulty. "It (extending the season) is not the first port of call in terms of resolving the problems," said Blair. "We would see to what extent we can actually get the fixtures played. "The unknown at this point is progress in terms of the Scottish Cup for all the Premier clubs, because they only come in in January, and obviously we've still got Rangers in Europe and hopefully they will continue to be in Europe for some time. "What actually happens is that the opportunity to slot games in reduces and there does come a point at which you think, 'well the only way we can do this is by extending the season'. "But before we get to that stage, we would consider things such as having four games in eight days, which we try and avoid doing. We had a situation where Dunfermline had to play four games in a week, I know it happened to Rangers in 2008 and it has happened on one or two other occasions. It's a difficult situation, only a fool would say that it wasn't Iain Blair "I certainly don't remember quite so much congestion by this stage in the season previously. "There is still some flexibility in the calendar in terms of getting matches played midweek. We can schedule matches up against the Champions League and the Europa League. It's not something we like to do but that is a possibility. "There is a real difficulty in terms of those matches that are scheduled in that way, we're simply not allowed by Uefa for those to be broadcast live so there are issues then about talking to the broadcasters about the best way to resolve the whole situation. "It's a difficult situation, only a fool would say that it wasn't but if we were to get the matches played reasonably regularly from now on then I think we can cope with it." One further complication to the rescheduling process concerns games that were due to be broadcast live on either Sky Sports or ESPN. "We certainly talk to the broadcasters when a televised game is postponed," said Blair. "Nine times out of 10, the broadcaster selected the game because it's a game they want to cover and they will follow the game. "Very occasionally, there is simply a situation which doesn't allow that to happen, perhaps because we need the game to be played on a particular date and the broadcaster simply cannot cover for whatever reason on that date. Hamilton's match with Celtic was called off on Saturday morning Two of Saturday's postponements, Rangers v St Mirren and Hamilton v Celtic, fell victim to problems relating to burst pipes. "It's very disappointing and obviously the clubs are working to ensure that they don't lose games," said Blair. "Believe me, neither Hamilton nor Rangers would in any way have wished for these games not to take place. "But we have had some very extreme weather over the last two or three weeks and that's what's caught folk out and presented the problem. "I certainly wouldn't like to have been the maintenance manager at Ibrox to tell Walter Smith that he wasn't going to be able to get his game on because I know that he has expressed concerns about fixture congestion relatively recently. "At Hamilton, my understanding is that there was a burst pipe of some description, which was in close proximity to some electrical installation and the electrical installation was part of the undersoil heating system. "So there seems to have been concerns about the electrical system because of a burst locally. I don't think the burst was actually in the undersoil heating. As we do in any of these cases where something unexpected happens relatively close to the game, we will investigate the situation."

St Mirren come to Ibrox on Saturday realising getting a win in this fixture is most likely a pipe dream.Even although the Rangers team have been looking slightly drained over the last few games St Mirren have also been a poor shower. Water Smith hoped that his team could mount enough pressure to flush out any leaks in the St Mirren cistern. Bar we play like a bunch of tubes we should be able to screw the bunch of ballcocks A pipe A. Leak A. mess A. Plumber N.O. Game

According to The Sun... http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/spl/3256068/Kirk-KO.html I think a new centre back is a must in January.

I honestly worry about McCoist becoming manager.

ST MIRREN bosses have leapt to the defence of one of their youth players after he was charged with being involved in shouting sectarian abuse at Celtic supporters. Club chiefs are backing the 18-year-old following an alleged confrontation with away fans in the moments after the Buddiesââ?¬â?¢ live TV clash with the Old Firm giants on Sunday. The Paisley Daily Express understands that key to the playerââ?¬â?¢s claim of innocence is that he actually is a Roman Catholic CELTIC fan! The youngster ââ?¬â?? who plays for the Paisley clubââ?¬â?¢s Under-19 side but was acting as a ballboy during the game ââ?¬â?? was charged by cops on Monday after they visited St Mirren Park to question him on the post-match incident. They acted after receiving a complaint from Celtic fans. But Saints general manager Brian Caldwell said the player is ââ?¬Å?100 per cent innocentââ?¬Â. He has now rounded up a list of witnesses willing to back up the teenagerââ?¬â?¢s denial. Mr Caldwell said: ââ?¬Å?We are totally defending our player. ââ?¬Å?Having carried out our own internal investigation and looked at CCTV footage of the incident, we are backing him 100 per cent.ââ?¬Â Mr Caldwell then blasted: ââ?¬Å?We feel the decision to charge him was wrong. This investigation is a waste of the policeââ?¬â?¢s time and money. Itââ?¬â?¢s a disgrace.ââ?¬Â It was originally claimed that five Celtic fans had witnessed the incident and were willing to back the allegation that the St Mirren youth had lobbed a sectarian slur towards them. However, the Express understands that four of them have now dropped their claims. The Saints starletââ?¬â?¢s career could be left in ruins if he is convicted of the offence, with one punishment available to judges a Scotland-wide football stadium ban. But Mr Caldwell added: ââ?¬Å?We have four or five of our own stewards who witnessed the incident and are backing our playerââ?¬â?¢s story. ââ?¬Å?Itââ?¬â?¢s a real shame for the lad to have to go through this when he has not done anything wrong. ââ?¬Å?Heââ?¬â?¢s grown up supporting Celtic so why would he hurl a sectarian slur at their fans? ââ?¬Å?His head is in a real mess right now and he is really worried. It should never have got this far.ââ?¬Â A police spokeswoman confirmed that a complaint had been made. She said: ââ?¬Å?An 18-year-old male will be reported to the procurator fiscal for an alleged breach of the peace with religious football aggravation following an incident which took place on November 14, 2010.ââ?¬Â A spokeswoman for the crown office, however, claimed the procurator fiscal had yet to recieve the police report. Mr Caldwell added: ââ?¬Å?Our hope is that once it goes to the PF they will throw it out." http://www.paisleydailyexpress.co.uk/renfrewshire-news/2010/11/17/saints-chief-backs-ballboy-87085-27666625/

I'm now beginning to slowly go off this guy now. I used to think he was OK but some of his remarks are uncalled for. Don't get me wrong, some of his comments are spot on but they're often overshadowed by his below the belt ones.

John Reid could step down as Celtic chairman at the clubââ?¬â?¢s AGM on Thursday. Reports claimed the 63-year-old former Secretary of State for Defence is considering his position and may make an announcement to shareholders at Parkhead later this week. Sources today linked corporate lawyer Ian Bankier with the post, should Reid move on. On the pitch, Gary Hooper was glad his late winner at St Mirren helped his side banish the memories of last weekââ?¬â?¢s defeat to Hearts. The striker pounced with 90 seconds of added time remaining to give Neil Lennonââ?¬â?¢s side a 1-0 win. It looked as though Celtic were set to end a week, during which they lost 2-0 to Hearts, with just a point until Hooperââ?¬â?¢s intervention. ââ?¬Å?We created chances, we kept playing,ââ?¬Â Hooper said after netting his 10th goal of the season. ââ?¬Å?We bounced back, kept at it and scored with a minute to go. ââ?¬Å?Paddy (McCourt) came on, set it up well, there was a deflection and I got a toe poke. ââ?¬Å?We got the points which we needed after Hearts and weââ?¬â?¢re back on the board.ââ?¬Â Team-mate Ki Sung-Yueng hailed Hooper as a ââ?¬Å?goal machineââ?¬Â saying: ââ?¬Å?Gary is brilliant. ââ?¬Å?He is a goal machine and has scored in the 90th minute two or three times. ââ?¬Å?He is a very good striker and is the type you need to win the league. ââ?¬Å?We need goals and the goal difference could be very important at the end of the season.ââ?¬Â http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/editor-s-picks/john-reid-is-poised-to-walk-away-1.1068429

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/scotland/9185209.stm:)

ST MIRREN 1 RANGERS 3 9th November 2010 Now before we start on the game, letââ?¬â?¢s address a few other issues. Since I started doing articles about Rangers I have incurred a little bit of interest from Celtic supporters. Fuck knows what they are doing reading Rangers websites I donââ?¬â?¢t know. The responses fall into three categories. Firstly, brain dead cowardly bastard oneââ?¬â?¢s where desktop hard men suggest that they hope I die of cancer and the like. I sometimes reply and publish these just so that people can see that these results of inter breeding exist. They are allowed freedom of speech as they live in a country that allows them that privilege because our brave troops have fought and died so that they might remain free. More on that subject later. The second category of response comes from those who quote history, usually in very long emails, making their points well but from a very one sided stance. We are the 'Shame of Scotland' because in 1972 etc, etc, etc. It gets a bit boring reading it especially when the authors can only see it from their point of view and refuse to accept any blame on their own club or supporters. The third view comes from the decent supporters of their football club, who see the bigger picture and admit that both sides have their extreme supporters and wish to deal with football matters only. The first two groups will no doubt spout bile and go down the ââ?¬Å?Yeah, but they did it firstââ?¬Â route. Quite pathetic really. I genuinely feel sorry for some Celtic supporters who surely must be totally embarrassed by the events of the last few days. Lennonââ?¬â?¢s bleating and the resultant conspiracy theories are one thing and with three penalties on Saturday, it may even be working, some might say! The other aspects are enough to make any decent human being appalled. Reports suggested that Celtic banned the sale of poppies at the ground because it might upset some of the clubs Irish supporters. Unbelievable. That statement, if it is true, supports terrorism, does it not? I get stacks of emails condemning the songs that Rangers fans sing. Well to sing a song you must know the words, but songs are an instantaneous reaction. Preparing banners, albeit with spelling mistakes, is a pre planned initiative. The club stewards allowed these banners in and it would appear nothing was done when they were revealed. Did the decent fans boo them? I donââ?¬â?¢t know, I was not there. Did the police move in and have them removed and those holding them arrested? I donââ?¬â?¢t know but I have my doubts. The one good thing to come out of this is that some aspects of the media have, for once, not ignored the subject. TalkSport's Stan Collymore condemned the actions and it will be interesting to hear the comments from the Scottish media, the SFA and Celtic FC. I await with interest. Scotlandââ?¬â?¢s Shame has a new worthy recipient of the title, but then again no... it is Irelandââ?¬â?¢s shame! Anyway back to, for me, more important matters. If I was sensible I would have taken the train to Aberdeen for my Saturday night speaking engagement but no, that would have meant missing the St Mirren game, so after five and a half hours on the road on Saturday, I was out of the hotel at 7.30am to drive down and across to Paisley. Apart from anything else that meant missing a substantial breakfast at the hotel! I arrived at the ground and was parked up by quarter to eleven which at least gave me the opportunity to catch up with emails and confirm yet more trips north of the border to speak at dinners and other fundraising events. (Click here to book Jeff.) I received some good news from Stranraer. I am due there on Saturday 29th January and as Rangers' CIS Cup semi has been confirmed for the Sunday at Hampden, I will be able to do the dinner and still go to the match the following day. I love it when a plan comes together. I rang the Leven boys and was amazed to hear them loud and clear and obviously not driving. Fuck me, they were here. Unheard of, an hour before kick off and no pubs open. This was ground breaking. Durranty came out to drop some tickets off for mates so I was able to square up with him for Valencia tickets. Top man - I appreciate his help on that game because without it I would not have got my tickets as I am not a member of the Travel Club. Then again I could just have bought them at the ground in Spain, couldnââ?¬â?¢t I, which fucks up all the ideas about selling only to registered members! The game started at a slow pace and no goal within the first couple of minutes like last season! I had gone for Rangers/Rangers half-time/full-time. I was also going to go 3-1 but changed my mind. Fucking idiot! The ref, Craig Thomson, made Rangers take a free kick again to much derision from the UEFA 'B' licensed coaches from Fifa sat around me. The free kick had not left the penalty area before Papac played it. Fuck me, didnââ?¬â?¢t you know that? It was interesting to see Edu back home having not taken up the offer of a full time role as a Lucky/Lucky man in Valencia. We seemed to be suffering from a Spurs syndrome, with the after effects of a Champions League game making us look rather lethargic. Miller shot high and wide, then Weiss totally wasted a free kick by lobbing it high into keeper Samsonââ?¬â?¢s awaiting hands. Edu had a shot which flew about twenty yards wide. Pish. The game was littered with free kicks, no flow and virtually no atmosphere in the ground. Sunday lunchtime is not for football! After 25 minutes, the best move of the game so far, but Kenny only half connected and the chance was gone. My bet was looking dodgy. One thing for sure, they werenââ?¬â?¢t going to score. It's not difficult to see why they are bottom of the League. A mere shadow of the side that ran us so close in the CIS Cup Final last season. As usual teams are a bit physical in trying to stop Rangers and finally Hugh Murray was cautioned for another foul on Edu. Weiss was inconsistent, jinking in but also regularly losing possession, one run producing a free kick which Davis clipped onto the crossbar. The Manchester City loanee then got himself booked after a tangle and handbags with their full back Zanten. I forecast his early substitution for Lafferty. It just wasnââ?¬â?¢t happening for him today. Edu must have been wearing one of those trilbyââ?¬â?¢s his brothers were flogging in the square last week when he headed over with the goal at his mercy. Come on boys, half-time/full-time would have paid for my ticket and fuel! At last I got lucky - ball in the net just before half-time. Disallowed. Itââ?¬â?¢s a fucking conspiracy!! As the half-time whistle blew I noticed my mates adopting rather soft as shit behaviour. Bucket had his little bald head covered tightly by the hood on his coat and Scott had his nice posh 'designer' gloves on! It was a lovely day - what the fuck are they going to do when it gets cold? Well the Minister last week said that something needs to be done in Scottish football. Well could I suggest that hamster racing is not the answer! Broxy Bear finished last. Another fucking conspiracy. The world and hamster racing is against us! At least Cash For Kids benefitted. The attendance was announced as 5,674. We took more to Valencia. The second half started with the introduction of the seven foot flute player and within minutes we were camped in their half. The tempo increased, the fans woke up and Kyle created havoc in their defence. Own goal, oneââ?¬â??nil. A great move saw Lafferty square the ball for a Naismith tap in. 2-0, game over. It was like a testimonial now. They were very poor. Celtic will get ten against them and five penalties probably! I noticed a TV camera in front of us pointing in our direction and soon the texts started arriving, I had got a mention on ESPN. Hopefully they noted I was with the boys and not freeloading in the posh seats. To answer the sarcastic questions, my hat was orange, my favourite colour, bought in Valencia, because I was there and my glasses were not borrowed off Jack Duckworth. Have some fucking respect - he does not die until Monday! A mistake from a defender, wide awake Kenny Miller latched onto it and 3-0. This really is a two horse race, even more so than for the last Christ knows how many years. Maybe we should just play them every week! Rangers v Celtic every week - that would be interesting. We could sing our songs and they could practice their spelling on their banners. Boughie tried his best to make a game of it by nearly scoring an own goal, their first effort I think! The Scottish sport of clattering Alan McGregor was practised yet again, before a harsh penalty against Rangers. Walter, you really should start bleating to the press every week. We are going to be cheated against every week you know. The referees are against us! 3-1 and incredibly their announcer states the name of the scorer of St Mirrenââ?¬â?¢s consolation goal! Honesty but probably not the wisest thing to say. He could be joining Chesney on the dole soon. We passed away the closing minutes watching the steward seated in front of us. You may recall I donââ?¬â?¢t like stewards. At Killie I saw the fattest and St Mirren the softest. I am opening up categories. I am looking for the fittest (female) and the dirtiest (female). Well I spend a lot of time alone in Scotland! Suggestions willingly accepted! I wonââ?¬â?¢t be up for the Hibs game, but I am planning to make a suicidal journey from Heathrow next Saturday morning, 470 miles, in time to watch the Aberdeen game, before hosting a dinner in Glasgow on the evening. I am under pressure then to go to Leven on Sunday for their Remembrance Day activities. I will wear my B-L-O-O-T-A-I-N-E-D poppy with pride. AS WE APPROACH REMEMBERANCE DAY LET US REMEMBER FOR ONE MINUTE ALL THOSE WHO HAVE GIVEN AND PAID THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE. "LEST WE FORGET" http://www.jeffwinterentertainmentandmedia.co.uk/world/0910040.php

PATIENCE is rarely a virtue when it comes to the Old Firm but Walter Smith believes he's now reaping the rewards of a slow-burner approach with key members of his squad. The Ibrox boss is only too aware that a quick-fix is normally the order of the day at Rangers or Celtic. But after adopting the strategy used by Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United, Smith feels the long-term approach taken with the signing of guys such as Steven Naismith, Kyle Lafferty, Kirk Broadfoot and Steven Whittaker is now paying dividends. Whittaker has blossomed into a genuine top-class performer after a tentative start to his Ibrox career, Lafferty is finally coming good while Naismith has arguably been the best player in the country during the first four months of the season. And Smith said: "Patience and the Old Firm don't go hand in hand but I felt we had to look longer term because of the position we were in. "In the past, we looked for players who would be instant successes and the pressure was on us to do that. Now we have to look a bit further into the future. "At Man United, for example, they bring in younger players and the older ones in the group handle that situation and help bring them on. "Cristiano Ronaldo scored five or six goals in his first two or three seasons then all of a sudden he was into the 20s, 30s and 40s by his last season. "You have to allow these players time to mature. The same thing has happened with a number of our players although we had a problem with Naismith in that his injury interrupted the process. "With Whittaker, he has met the demands of playing for the Old Firm and it has improved him as a player. "Some players don't handle the constant pressure but the majority of the group we've got have handled it extremely well and revelled in it in many ways." As he geared up for tonight's visit of Hibs, Smith revealed the obstacles players must overcome if they are to meet the unique demands of playing for the Old Firm. He said: "Players in their late teens and early 20s often produce a good performance and then go down a bit. "With Naismith, you could see his level of ability, but he might not be the same in another game. "The main thing players gain here is a consistency of performance and you can see it with Naismith now. "Whittaker and Broadfoot have raised their levels too and young John Fleck is coming in just now. "He has been here for a few years and knows the demands but it takes these players a while to impose themselves on games. John is going to have to start where Naismith started." Colin Calderwood brings his struggling Hibs side to Ibrox on the back of three straight defeats, including a brutal beating in Sunday's derby at home to Hearts. But Smith has warned his players to be wary of a backlash from the Easter Road outfit who roll up in Govan with nothing to lose. Three points pretty much looks a given for the SPL leaders on paper although Smith admits he is still concerned by the damaging effect of his team's gruelling Champions League campaign. The Gers boss feels his side's mental focus has been blunted in recent weeks on the back of tough European assignments. It's a an affliction not just confined to his own team, with Chelsea, Spurs, Arsenal and Group C rivals Valencia all losing at the weekend after being on Champions League the previous midweek. Smith said: "It is not always a physical thing. It is a mental thing. Look at Spurs. "How do they go from beating European champions Inter Milan to losing at Bolton? "Mentally, you are not attuning yourself to the game. "We've handled our matches after Champions League fixtures OK but have been slow to start them. "At St Mirren the other day we had 76 per cent possession in the first half but we never had the edge to go any further. I don't think their keeper had a save to make other than punching the ball into his own goal. "You need that extra edge and we got it for the first 25 minutes of the second half. "It's a natural thing to happen and it is difficult to counter. "Man United do it by changing players and they've also got to a situation where they are well used to it. It's normal. "For us, we have to expend a hell of a lot of energy in the Champions League and we need to do it in every game. "Tottenham are in their first year in the contest and they are seeing it as well. It is a problem. Last season, we dropped a fair number of points after European games and it was a bit of a concern. It still is as we have a hell of a run of fixtures right now. "The edge has come off the team in spells. "We scored the first goal against Inverness and then just played within the game. The edge was missing. "But we have a small group and can't really change things round. "We've been a bit flat in several matches. We have Hibs and Aberdeen next. They have both shown us before that they will make it difficult and these two games are dangerous ones." TeamNews Vladimir Weiss is in line to play against Hibs at Ibrox tonight despite struggling with injury. The Slovakian winger has been troubled with severe bruising on his heel but has trained over the last couple of days and will be available for selection. Rangers manager Walter Smith has no fresh injury concerns but long-term crocks Andy Webster, James Beattie and Nikica Jelavic are still sidelined. BETBOX Kenny Miller can't stop scoring in the SPL and has six in four games against his former club (including a hat-trick this season). Back Miller to score two or more at 5-2. http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/football/spl/rangers/2010/11/10/walter-smith-rangers-long-term-policy-of-investing-in-youth-has-paid-off-86908-22705747/