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ANONYMOUS is here there and everywhere. And now it would appear He She or It, has joined that old red rag, the Guardian. It isn't long since I highlighted some chancer on the paper by the name of Glendenning, who had branded Rangers - the club that is, not the supporters - as Huns. Now the latest attack has by the paper, which the great Richard Littlejohn so accurately branded, one of the "unpopulars," has been directed at the Ibrox club's fans, and features the biggest managerial failure in Rangers long history, Paul Le Guen. Now - to quote Private Eye - as any fule know, Rangers got rid of the French flop almost four years ago after a short period because he showed, beyond debate, that he was ill equipped to handle the task handed to him by Sir David Murray. It was something I had predicted four years past in February when it was first announced Le Guen was to succeed the successful Alex McLeish. My view was based on research of his record, the resources he had needed for his undoubted success in France, and the circumstances in which he had managed. My conclusion was that he would not have similar resources at Ibrox nor would the circumstances there be anything like what he had experienced in France, and that he was, therefore, the wrong man for the job. It was a view which flew in the face of popular opinion and united most Rangers supporters against me when I expressed it at the time when LeggoLand was published in the old fashioned print form. Press pack pals thought I had gone bonkers, despite me explaining my reasoning, while Ibrox season ticket holders among my Partick pals just did not want to listen. In common with Rangers supporters everywhere, they bought into Murray's poetic prediction of riding a Le Guen moonbeam to glory. Their almost fanatical belief in him was there for all to see when Le Guen took a bow in front of the Ibrox crowd for the first time. The splendid red, white and blue Tricolour of France flew in all corners of Ibrox and the crowd loudly and lustily belted out the tune of that most magnificent of anthems, La Marseillaise. Stirring stuff! I do not think I can recall a new Rangers manager getting a more vigorous reception. Not Jock Wallace when he returned, or the legend that is John Greig when he stepped up from the captaincy, not Graeme Souness, or even the second coming of Walter Smith, when he replaced Le Guen. Rangers supporters believed Le Guen was the man to make them a force and any thought of the Frenchman not being what the Guardian's Mister or Ms Anonymous called, "Rangers-minded" never entered the head of anyone I met. It did not seem to be present among the crowd whose welcome for Le Guen was loud, long and genuine. Yet, with a fine and blatant disregard for these facts, the Guardian has chosen to use a fairytale in the London Times, linking Le Guen with the vacant manager's job at Hibernian, as a sorry and sordid excuse to try and blacken the name of Rangers again. What appeared in an Anonymous article in a Guardian supplement gave a perfect example of why so many folk do not trust this ailing and failing newspaper to tell the truth. This is the libel - for that is what it is - which appeared in the Guardian supplement.... "Paul le Guen, formerly of Rangers, but not considered 'Rangers-minded' by the more confused denizens of Ibrox, could take over at the significantly greener, Hibernian." Just pause for a moment, go back and read that again. Rangers supporters reading this may care to take a deep breath, pause for another moment and then go back and read that outrageous lie again. They may then feel like going to Google and researching the Press Complaints' Commission. Perhaps the Guardian's Anonymous is getting confused with his clubs. Perhaps he is thinking of the view expressed by the veteran journalist and long time acute Parkhead watcher, Hugh Keevins - who makes a welcome return to Sunday column duty with the Sunday Mail this weekend - and his view that there may have been many Parkhead fans who did not take to Gordon Strachan due to a lack of what was described as his Celtic DNA. This opinion was given at a time when, under Strachan, Celtic had won one title, were on their way to a second successive championship, and before he managed them to a third, the first man to do so since Jock Stein. Or - and maybe you believe this is the more likely scenario - Mister or Ms Anonymous in the Guardian, was just venting their spleen against Rangers and their supporters, because that is the sort of stance which is expected of such a newspaper. It has certainly never been kind to the Ibrox club, dating back to the time when current Celtic director, Brian Wilson, was its Scottish football correspondent for a decade from the mid 1970s to the 80s. But - and this includes Glendenning's Huns slur - this latest ,absolutely without any basis of foundation libel, should be the last straw. The very least that should happen is that the Guardian should be put under pressure to unmask the He, She or It who is to good reporting what Subo is to singing. And the first step in that direction is reporting the Guardian to the Press Complains Commission. http://davidleggat-leggoland.blogspot.com/

NEW SFA chief executive Stewart Regan has pledged to bring greater haste and clarity to the organisation's disciplinary system after admitting his unease at the timing of Allan McGregor's one-match suspension. Allan McGregor, who was outstanding for Scotland against Spain, trains with Rangers yesterday, but the goalkeeper will miss Rangers' SPL clash with Motherwell today due to a controversial ban Picture: SNS The Rangers goalkeeper will miss his club's SPL match against Motherwell at Ibrox today because of the ban imposed for aiming a kick at Aberdeen striker Chris Maguire during a match at Pittodrie three weeks ago. The incident was not spotted by the match officials at the time but was subsequently referred by the SFA to its independent video review panel. To Regan's discomfort, the judgment on McGregor was passed on Monday, both the chief executive's first day in the job and the eve of the player lining up for Scotland in Tuesday's Euro 2012 qualifier against Spain at Hampden. Rangers manager Walter Smith yesterday described the situation as "embarrassing" and accused the SFA of ignoring "glaring discrepancies" in what he claims is a "flawed" disciplinary process. Within four hours of Smith making his comments at Rangers' weekly media conference, however, there was a response from Regan in the form of a lengthy statement in which he directly addressed the former Scotland manager's complaints. "In light of recent publicity surrounding Allan McGregor's retrospective punishment for violent conduct," said Regan, "I would like to clarify a few points which, hopefully, will better explain the process. "I can understand the media and supporter interest in the situation that arose at the start of the international double-header. The timing was unfortunate - and not how I intended to spend my first day in office - but the investigation process is designed to ensure violent conduct is eradicated from the game, while also providing a support network for match officials who may have missed such instances. "There are elements of the process that I, as a newcomer to the Scottish FA, am not entirely content with. I have already requested a tightening-up of certain elements which I believe will help improve the transparency and functionality of the procedure. It is my intention that formal notification of investigations will be made sooner and that a fixed timescale for any subseqeunt appeal is established. It should be noted that, compared to previous procedures, the current investigation system is now completed within a two-week timeframe and is therefore more efficient." Smith believes Rangers and Celtic suffer a disproportionate number of suspensions such as the one handed out to McGregor as a result of fixtures involving the Old Firm clubs being televised live more than any others in Scotland. Regan, however, dismissed that view. "While some of our more prominent clubs argue that their media exposure leaves them unfairly at risk of such investigations, I would point out that, adopting the same principle, they are also in a position to have a higher percentage of claims for wrongful dismissal acted upon," he said. "Furthermore, we have dealt with many cases from lower divisions using club television or analysis footage. "The process, when initiated by the chief executive, is referred to an independent review panel before being ratified by the chairman of the disciplinary committee. This is a far more streamlined process than previously was the case. It is the responsibility of the referee development department and disciplinary department to be aware of instances that may be worthy of investigation. This will be highlighted primarily by using television footage or feedback from the referee observers." While Regan seeks greater transparency in the SFA system, there will be no change to the anonymity of the pool of former players, managers and referees who make up the independent review panel. "It ensures a cross-section of opinion across the football family," added Regan, "but to reveal their identities on a case-by-case basis would be detrimental to the integrity of the process." Rangers' sense of disquiet over McGregor's punishment has been heightened by the serious ankle injury suffered by Nikica Jelavic during their match against Hearts at Tynecastle two weeks ago. The Croatian striker faces three months on the sidelines as a result of the damage caused by a foul from Ian Black. The Hearts midfielder was booked at the time by referee Craig Thomson, meaning no further action can be taken. "Allan has been suspended for not kicking someone while the lad who kicked Nikica doesn't get suspended," said Rangers captain David Weir. "There doesn't seem to be much logic to it. It wasn't even a tackle (from Black], he just kicked Nikica." Regan, however, will not seek to make any change to the procedure surrounding incidents like the one involving Jelavic and Black, insisting that to do so would undermine the match officials. "It has been mentioned that while the process deals with misconduct missed by a referee, it does not include instances where it is believed a referee 'maybe didn't judge properly'," added Regan. "This falls under the category of claims for wrongful dismissal, a procedure with which clubs are familiar. "It should be emphasised, though, that the investigation process is designed to assist match officials. To intervene in instances that fall between investigations into incidents missed by a match official and claims of wrongful dismissal would compromise the authority of referees in relation to the laws of the game." http://sport.scotsman.com/sport/Allan-McGregor-ban-prompts-SFA.6584285.jp?articlepage=3

Doesn't sound serious!

Walter Smith has slammed the SFA's disciplinary system in the wake of Allan McGregor's ban. More...

I am not holding my breath yet.

, McCoist: I'm ready for Rangers job but Walter Smith's enjoying life so much I could be waiting a while yet Oct 15 2010 By Hugh Keevins ALLY McCOIST should be ticking off the games on the fixture list with the excited air of a man about to be involved in a historic change of power at Rangers. But the Ibrox icon has admitted he's too busy watching another club legend enjoying himself to admit that the heir will eventually stop being spare and assume control at the end of the season. Walter Smith is about to face three games in eight days which could have a rocket-fuelled effect on what's supposed to be his farewell to the manager's office. The man who steadied the ship when it threatened to capsize during a time of upheaval has done such a good job his team face up to Motherwell, Valencia and Celtic with a so far flawless SPL record and remain unbeaten in the Champions League too. Whether it's a man savouring his last days of high office or the ageless exuberance of someone who has always enjoyed his work, Smith looks to be in his air-punching, jig-dancing element at the moment. McCoist said: "To be honest I'm loving it watching Walter loving it. "I would never tempt fate when it comes to this business of the takeover. If it happens, I'll be ready for the job. There'll never be any doubt in my mind about that. "But six months is a long time in football and I'm not counting my chickens about anything, on or off the park, until it actually happens. "Walter's thriving on life at the moment and Kenny McDowall and I are enjoying him feeling this good. If ever there was anyone who deserved to be as happy as he is at the moment it's the gaffer. "But there's no hesitancy on my part when it comes to accepting responsibility. "Maturity comes to everybody at some stage and I enjoy the fact that players will come to me for information or an answer to anything that's troubling them. "I don't think they'd be at a club like Rangers if they were relying on me to carry them but I appreciate the fact they've got respect for my experience of what the club's all about and what Rangers require of them. That's part and parcel of my job." Rangers returned to normal yesterday at Murray Park following the break-up of the squad for international matches. The domestic and European schedule that awaits them offers no time to reflect and insists on the team hitting the ground running at Ibrox tomorrow. McCoist said: "What happens between now and the end of the game against Celtic can only be described as monumental. "Trepidation? Definitely not. "Enjoyment? Absolutely. "What a time to be a Rangers supporter, never mind a player or part of the management team. "When we played, and defeated, Bursaspor at Ibrox two weeks ago I don't think I'd heard the crowd make noise like that for years. "There's a fans' realisation now that this tight squad they support can no longer attack the way it once used to. There's a tactical caution that's understandable and allowable in their eyes. "No other Scottish club can enjoy the varied challenges Rangers have on their plate right now and handling these matches should really prove why all of us deserve to be employed by the club." Motherwell's management team of Craig Brown and Archie Knox will act as a reminder to McCoist of what good guidance can achieve. Poking fun at his impression of them being Stadler and Waldorf, McCoist said: "I was so glad when they came out of that balcony on the Muppet Show and went back into the game. Wee Broon gave me the majority of my caps when he was Scotland boss and for that I am duly grateful. "He made a terrible blunder not taking me to France 98 but, sitting where I am now, I know no manager is free from making mistakes. Archie's a man I regard as a friend and someone I can call on a regular basis. "It's no surprise these two wily old men have lifted Motherwell to third place in the table. That's what good coaching does for you. "I thought Motherwell would miss Jim O'Brien when he left at the end of last season but they've come up with Jamie Murphy and Chris Humphrey instead and they've been marvellous. "If Rangers want to go into the first Old Firm game still holding on to maximum points then we'll need to remember that Motherwell got a 3-3 draw the last time they were at Ibrox." McCoist said: "I can understand why something like that would be said, but I can't see the comment having any basis in fact. "The league can look a certain why while presenting a distorted image. Look at the number of games Rangers have had to win by the odd goal this season. "Kilmarnock and St Johnstone lost by that margin and we had to fight to win by the odd goal at Hearts, with an injury-time strike, and Aberdeen. It also took another late, late goal at Hamilton. "It might look easy if you haven't been part of those games but we've had it tough all right. "But, like Walter, I'm really into this season. I feel the happiness of someone who's in a good place at work and at home. "But I'm also in football and I know that a week can change the complexion of everything in your professional dealings. "That's why we'll go into this monumental schedule of games we have staying tight-knit, guarding the players in training so they avoid stupid injuries and hoping to avoid any unforeseen mishaps." Ally McCOIST last night urged the Rangers fans to enjoy a good bucket at the weekend. Rangers Charity Foundation has allowed a bucket collection at Ibrox tomorrow in aid of the Davie Cooper Centre, an organisation that has now gained planning permission to build a park for special needs children named in honour of the Ibrox legend. Ally said: "It's hard to believe Davie's been gone for 15 years but if anyone has to support such a worthwhile project named after him it must be me. "It'll be a proud and happy day for me when I see the park for the children completed. "Rangers against Motherwell is the perfect day to hold the collection because Davie was a massive figure at both clubs."

LIVERPOOL supporters must be looking on in horror at the court room battles and legal wrangles surrounding the ownership of the club they support. However, in contrast to what Rangers fans have suffered, and continue to suffer regarding the sale of their club, the Scousers are getting an easy ride, with the Royal Bank of Scotland appearing to give the club greater support and understanding than seems to have been forthecoming for Rangers from Lloyds Maybe that has got something to do with the fact there are plenty of folk out there who are lining up to try to buy the Anfield outfit. Just as there was no shortage of interested parties when Manchester City went on the market. But, despite some big talking by some, which proved to be all hat and no cattle, and other shadowy and equally lacking in substance parties, nobody with the cash needed wants to buy Rangers. Which begs the question... WHY? For at the moment, with debts of around �£25M and falling, and with the way the market stands, Rangers could be bought for a knockdown price. Of course the revenue stream available to such as Liverpool, City, Aston Villa and the others in England, from massive Sky pay outs, plus megabucks via the Champions League, is not available to Rangers. Though, and even given the fact they suffer the problem of being a big club in a small country, Rangers remain a club with a massive tradition and they could provide a terrific platform for anyone who wished to own a big football club. Someone whose resources cannot compete with the Americans who are flooding into the market south of the border, or the others from various countries, but who, nevertheless, has substantial means. Indeed, right now Rangers represent a massive bargain. Almost a steal. So again the question must be posed. Two years after Sir David Murray first made it known Rangers were up for grabs, still no serious and acceptable bid has been made.... WHY? And the answer....... Well, Rangers, whether they like it or not, have an image problem. A difficulty brought on by Murray's refusal to take on those whose actions suggest they have nothing else on their journalistic agenda than wishing to damage Rangers. Nobody needs names spelled out here. Everybody knows who the leading light is... and who his wee handmaidens are. Would that this campaigner against Rangers was so dilligent in his day-today duties for his ailing paper - at least it is in Scotland - once known as the Thunderer, and once upon a time highly regarded as a paper of record. For instance, the day before Rangers played Manchester United, he was nowhere to be seen in the splendid Old Trafford, Europa Suite as the reporters from every other daily newspaper who had travelled south, sat down in what was a pre official UEFA press conference briefing to them from Walter Smith. Is there nobody among the ranks of his superiors in London - where the Scottish sports operation is run from - who know what a mug he is making of them? Or does the Scottish editor either not know, or not care? Or is he too busy lunching with Richard Holloway, a friend of both the editor and the anti Rangers sports writer? This man has consistently attacked Rangers supporters for some of the songs he says he hears them singing, while he has with equal consistency, failed to hear any of the offensive songs belted out by the followers of any other club. Now, not for a moment do I think all Rangers supporters are blameless for the plight their club is in, and I have the record of a column I wrote four years ago attacking them for getting the club into trouble over their singing of the "Billy Boys." In it, I told them to stop it and coined the slogan - ***-RIP. It appeared in the newspaper I worked for at the time. Maybe that was because it fell in with the ethos of that paper's owners, Trinity Mirror, whose flagship paper, the Daily Mirrior, once splashed with a TROOPS OUT! demand at the height of he IRA bombing campaign on the British mainland and in Northern Ireland. Therefore, my credentials of being balanced and objective are clearly established. Not so the man from the Times. Fortunately his influence wanes with every plunge in that paper's circulation in Scotland since he joined, just as the Herald's sales figures hit the skids when he was there. However, the damage he has done to Rangers remains, and that is part of the problem - though not, as I have said, all of it - Murray is encountering as he tries to find a credible buyer. Murray indeed is also part of the problem. During his period as chairman - and through the spell when he vacated the chair but remained the most influential figure in the boardroom - there were many inside Ibrox who wanted to pick a fight with those they saw as being fervently anti Rangers. My information is Murray often sat in his Charlotte Square office and listened to their plans, gave them the go-ahead, only to call to cancel that green light before whoever it was he had spoken to, had reached the Maybury Roundabout. You reap what you sow, the Bible tells us, and Murray, by failing to stop what appears as a systematic campaign aimed at the club he owns, now finds it hard to find the buyer he so wants to unearth. Eventually though someone will come forward. Someone with shrewd enough business acumen to spot the nature of the bargain which is Rangers. When that happens there are plenty of people within Ibrox who will be only too happy to point the new owner in the right direction when it comes to those who seem to harbour hatred for Rangers. The Bible will be proved right in then end. It always is. http://davidleggat-leggoland.blogspot.com/

Sorry if this has already been posted,but I just read it and it made me smile:). by Alexander Anderson Can you keep a secret? Can I ask you to keep the following information to yourself? It's classified and - to be honest - even if you are thinking about repeating it to anyone, don't. They'll just think you're mad anyway. Stranger even than the revelations about Scientology made in Panorama last week is this earth-shatteringly, brain-fryingly explosive fact: Rangers, right now, are absolutely sensational. I know, I know - crazy, right? "Crazy talk!", I hear you say. "Rangers? Aren't they the purveyors of anti-football? Aren't they the team who cheat their way through games with the aid of an SFA-backed masonic conspiracy? Aren't they, at best, just benefitting from opponents lying down to them?" Well, yes, of course that's the recieved wisdom - especially in Scotland - and that's what all Rangers fans are quite happy for you to believe. See, we like our image. The Rangers support is happy to be painted as following an intrinsically evil club. Because that way we keep that club to ourselves. Ibrox is busy enough each home game and it's horrendously difficult getting tickets for away matches or cup finals (we've been in five of the last six domestic finals in Scotland AND a European final inbetween times - how can that not be a conspiracy!). So we don't need anyone else getting in on our secret. We're at that stage where everybody knows everybody and we all enjoy each other's company - we all look out for each other too. It's lovely following Rangers but it's is a private party and we don't want no gate-crashers. However, recent events have threatened to expose us and I've been forced to break ranks. I can't live under the pressure that's been slowly building since Walter Smith returned for his second spell as Rangers manager and which has become unbearable in the last week. The last six days to be precise. Going two goals down at Pittodrie on a Sunday afternoon was all well and good. Year after year we go to Pittodrie, fail to win against a club which hasn't done anything for 20 years, then proceed to win the title. It's the defeat or draw which always keeps us real, which always deflects attention from the glorious reality. Last Sunday, however, we stupidly went and scored three goals to win 3-2. Suddenly everyone's thinking "What's up here? Did Rangers do something exciting?". Last year we beat Hearts at Tynecastle after going a man and a goal down. We the won a Cup final with just nine men on the pitch - and it was 0-0 when we went down to nine men. We beat both Hearts and Hibs by three clear goals away from home and destroyed Dundee United - the latest third force - by 3 goals at Tannadice and 7-1 at Ibrox. Yet still no-one noticed how exciting we were. Still, non-Rangers fans had the wool pulled over their eyes and accusations of anti-football were randomly hurled at us. Fine, Great. Seceret safe. But this season we're pushing it. Then there's Champions League home games. We haven't won one for 3 years. Despite making it to the UEFA Cup final 2 and a half years ago, we've managed to go longer than that without winning a match over 90 minutes. Genius! Rangers are probably the only club in history who've been to a major European final in the middleE of a 13-game un-winning streak in UEFA competition. These are the efforts we have to go to to keep our sensational progress a secret. Last Wednesday, however, our camouflage slipped: Our first home Champions League win in six attempts would have been careless enough on its own but - no - we had to go and keep a clean sheet too! Man, we've lost 13 goals in our last four Ibrox Champions League games and - bang! - "out of the blue" we "suddenly" restrict the Turkish champions to one half-decent shot on goal over 92 minutes. Bursaspor are top of their league, a league far superior to the SPL, with a 100% record - it's far too obvious if we put them in our back pockets "just like that". But the worst was saved for last. Today. At Tynecastle. We're playing at Saturday brunch-time - our third game in less than 6 days, our second straight SPL away game and we're a goal down wth 9 minutes on the clock. That's fine. That's cool. This is what's supposed to happen to an evil, boring, rubbish team like Rangers. And then, just to ensure we maintain our cover, we bring on Kyle Lafferty. Big Kyle's a man who's managed to win the title for Rangers two years on the trot, score four times against Hearts and four times against Dundee United and generally turn the tide in many a game but STILL be widely regarded as useless. Kyle's in deep with "the secret". He's an expert in making endless Rangers triumphs look lucky, bland or evil. I thought if anyone could be relied upon it was he. But NO! He guides a free-kick into the Hearts net for an equaliser. While every other Rangers player has been managing to hit the bar and the post and miss from close range and doing it in such a way to ensure the Hearts keeper seems like the hero and the Hearts team who can't get out their own box seem like they "deserve" to win, Kyle's stupidly exposed us for what we really are with just one kick. There's lingering hope of us hiding our true identity when ESPN commentators and radio pundits start assuming that five minutes injury time applies only to Rangers - that some SFA edict bans Hearts from scoring after the 90th minute. Everyone's forgetting that there's been multiple substitutions, three breaks in play for injuries and that Hearts have been time-wasting since the second half kicked off. Great. Fine. This is how we get away with being spotted as a great side. So why the hell did Seteven Naismith have to go and ruin it all with that stupidly obviously, sensational winner?! Why, Steven? Now it's all out in the open. How could you, Stevie? We're supposed to be "knackered" after our "European extertions". We're supposed to be tiring. Now everyone knows we're great. Everyone knows we're sensational and I have to come on here and ask for help. I need your ideas in how to suppress this truth before everyone who supports Celtic, Aberdeen, Hibs, Hearts and even Manchester United starts crashing our party, wanting to swap their scarf for a red, white and blue one. How can I keep my team's genius secret any longer? It used to be the sectarianism argument which always came into play after a great Rangers result but we've made far too many inroads n that front. So people began characterising our football, changing thw subject in myriad, random ways. But we just keep winning! Please someone tell me how to paint this Rangers juggernaut as evil. Or even just as "lucky". Seven wins out of seven in the league and Easter Road, Tynecastle and Pittodire all already done. What now - "Logic is a mason"? The only conspiracy or unexplained activity now left in Scottish Football is how Neil Lennon managed to get the Manager of the Month award for September. His side won all their SPL games, yes - as well as hammering six past Inverness Caley in the League Cup. But Rangers won all our league games, hammered seven past Dunfermline in that same League Cup and held Man United to a draw at Old Trafford before winning at home against a side who've spent �£40M on players in the last 2 years, all to finish thw month top of the SPL and our champions League group. Stupid, stupid, stupid. It's out there now - scoring a 94th-minute winner at Tynecastle has put the tin lid on it - we're a club who've made just one big- money signing in the last two years and he can't even play in Europe. And he was taken off injured today at 1-0 to Hearts!! We play great defence when we're up against sides with more money than us and when we're up against minnows at Ibrox we go all-out attack and bang in plenty of goals. When we go away in the SPL we always give our opponents a goal or two before beating them. We play every kind of football to suit every kind of occassion and we're going for our third straight league title. The secret's out - the Rangers story during Walter Smith's second coming has been romantic, heroic - sensational. I don't feel privileged anymore. Now it's just common knowlegde and, for me, it's totally cheapened the whole experience of watching Rangers. Perhaps. But, then again, if Walter Smith were to be named manager of the month every month it'd be too obvious. Mmmm. Yeah. Clever. And everyone on the radio's currently talking about some foul Hearts should have been awarded in the build up to our winner. Great - this is promising.. Maybe us Bluenoses will be allowed keep the magic of Rangers all to ourselves just a little while longer. Ahem. Because - yes - Rangers are rubbish, don't you know - just plain lucky, boring and rubbish.

JELAVIC'S INJURY DO YOU remember when Kyle Lafferty cheated against Aberdeen to get Charlie Mulgrew sent off? And do you remember too, the number of times the incident was replayed on television? Can you also remember when Lafferty was sent off against Hibernian this season, and the amazing amount of airtime on television this incident was given ? Then, can you remember when Kevin Thomson was sent off against Hearts at Tynecastle last season, and the number of times his silly sideways lunge was repeated on the box? Now hit the fast forward button and let's return to Tynecastle and highlight the moment when a terrible tackle from behind - outlawed by FIFA - by Ian Black on Nikica Jelavic, injured the striker so badly he had to fly home for surgery and is not expected to play again for anything up to four months. But where have all the television replays been of the tackle from a match shown live on ESPN? That's a tricky one, for it has been hard to catch up with them, as on Monday and Tuesday night's Reporting Scotland - the licence fee funded national broadcaster - it appears we are in the midst of some old fashioned height of the Cold War Kremlin-style cover up. And as far as that modern phenomenon, which has fast become an old reliable, YouTube? Well, anyone trying to find the Black tackle which crippled Jelavic there will draw a blank, and be met with the message.... "The clip of the Black tackle on Jelavic has been removed from YouTube due to a copyright claim by the Scottish Premier League." That will be the same Scottish Premier League who have ensured Rangers must face five away matches on the weekends following their six Champions League ties. Does anyone detect a pattern here? Rangers player sins, his sin is missed by the referee, but caught on camera and his sin is shown over and over and over, again and again and again. Or, Rangers player sins, is caught by the referee and punished by him with a red card, and the sin, again caught on camera, is repeated on television over and over and over, again and again and again. As opposed to Rangers player is the victim of a bad tackle - one which many believe merited a red card ,but which was dealt with by a yellow - and is badly injured. And the result??? Blank screens! People are therefore robbed of their right as licence payers to see the clip again and again and again, over and over and over on BBC Scotland's Reporting Scotland at the peak tea time viewing hour, in order that they can form their own judgement. Rangers supporters though must be indebted to Keith Jackson of the Daily Record and Scott Burns of the Scottish Daily Express, for their interviews with Jelavic. It's taken Black long enough to issue a public apology claiming it was an accident, and that the Rangers man was too quick for him. But Jelavic, as quoted in the Record and Express, is having none of it. If the public were given the opportuinity by the BBC, the state funded broadcaster, to view the incident from all the angles - as was the case when Lafferty and Thomson sinned - then a judgement could be formed on whether Black was unlucky, and Jelavic even more unlucky. Or not! That would be justice. For Black, and for Jelavic. For, as I have often stated, for justice to be done, it must be seen to be done. One reporter, who has the inside track at Ibrox, says that senior Rangers sources are seething with anger. The speculation is one senior source is Walter Smith. He spent over �£4m of the meagre transfer budget afforded him by the club's Lloyds Bank paymasters on Jelavic, and the striker was showing every sign of forming an intelligent and lethal partnership with Kenny Miller. There was also - in a sort of perverse way - the bonus of the fact he is ineligble for Europe, meaning Rangers were hoping to look to Jelavic as an injection of fresh legs to the team for the next four away matches they have been ordered by the SPL to play immediately after Champions League ties. His loss in the Champions League - a tournament Rangers cannot possibly hope to win - was therefore balanced by the rest he would have ahead of SPL games, as the champions bid to retain their domestic crown. That benefit would have been seen next when the first Old Firm game of the season takes place at Parkhead a few days after Rangers must face the team settling Spain alight right now, Valencia. Now Jelavic - as a result of the injury he suffered following the tackle by Black, - will not only miss that match, but may still be sidelined when Celtic visit Ibrox on January 2. His injury may turn out to be a Marco Negri moment for Rangers. Whether that proves to be the case or not, in the interest of justice - for Black as well as Jelavice for it would give the Hearts man a chance to prove his claim of his lack of malice - the incident in which the Rangers man is the injured party should be given the same television prominence as those occasions when it has been the Rangers player who has been the sinner. Over and over and over, again and again and again. Pretty hard to disagree with any of that

WALTER SMITH has urged the SPL to follow Fifa's example by scheduling fixtures to assist leading clubs with their Champions League commitments. Rangers return to domestic action with a noon kick-off against Hearts at Tynecastle today, some 62 and a half hours after the dust settled on their 1-0 win over Bursaspor at Ibrox on Wednesday night. It is the first of five successive away fixtures the Scottish champions will play in the SPL immediately after being in Champions League action, with trips to Celtic, St Mirren, Dundee United and Inverness following their remaining Group C games. Having seen a benefit from Fifa's decision to switch international 'double header' qualifying matches to Friday and Tuesday evenings in order to allow players more recovery time ahead of their clubs' next games, Smith believes the SPL should consider offering similar dispensation to those teams representing them in Europe. "I don't want to get into fixture arguments with anyone," said the Rangers manager, "but, setting aside our own situation at the moment, they should have a look at the overall situation in regard to Scottish clubs playing in Europe to see if they could move games back a day. "Valencia, for example, have managed to get their league game at Barcelona moved back a day before they play us in the next Champions League fixture. They seem to be able to do that whether it is televised or not. "For us to play at Aberdeen last Sunday, then in the Champions League on Wednesday and now practically on Saturday morning certainly gives us a test, especially when other Scottish clubs are playing Saturday to Saturday with no midweek games. "You have to ask an awful lot of players to get the same intensity into their game. The same applies with international games when the boys go away for what are normally high-intensity and high-profile matches. Coming back from that is not easy. "From that point of view, it has been a big help having the international games a day earlier. It gives players time to recover for the following weekend with their club. That is recognition that something can be done to help clubs. "I would hope in the future the SPL would do what they can to help any team in Europe. It would help all of the clubs." Smith previously locked horns with the SPL on the issue at the end of the 2007-08 season when Rangers played their final six league matches in a 19-day period prior to the Uefa Cup final. He dismissed the prospect of asking the SPL to make any changes to Rangers' schedule over the coming months. "We asked previously and were knocked back," added Smith. "I don't want to make a big fuss about this as it is done. The fixtures are out and five of our fixtures after Champions League games are away from home. "Circumstances like the ones we face this week are awkward but we just need to get on with it. Our games at Tynecastle are always high tempo and I'm sure this one will be the same. So it's a matter of us making sure we play in the same manner we have done in our last three or four games." Smith's immediate concerns ahead of today's match lie in defence where both Madjid Bougherra and Kirk Broadfoot will be assessed this morning after suffering hip and foot injuries respectively against Bursaspor. Andy Webster returns to the squad as a potential replacement for Bougherra. Nikica Jelavic, ineligible for the Champions League, is one player who will be untroubled by the presently hectic nature of Rangers' fixture list. The Croatian international striker is building what looks like a formidable partnership with Kenny Miller who spoke in glowing terms of his new team-mate yesterday. Miller, who was named Clydesdale Bank/SPL Player of the Month for the second month in a row, said: "As much as we miss Nikica on the European nights, it's good to have him eager and hungry to get back on the pitch when the weekend comes around. "He has settled in really well and got off to a good start. I feel the two of us have a good understanding already. I've been among the goals and he's scored a few already. I think the partnership can get even better. "The type of player he is, he will find the SPL easy to settle into. Goalscoring is his main strength but he is also good technically and holds the ball up really well. "Look at my second goal against Dundee United a couple of weeks ago, when he went through at 3-0 and no-one would have blamed him if he'd tried to score himself. "But he picked the right option, cut the ball back and gave me a tap-in. I don't think Kris Boyd would have cut it back to me in that situation, although he'd probably have scored, to be fair. But it can only help me to play up front with someone like Nikica." http://sport.scotsman.com/sport/Walter-Smith-says-SPL-should.6561908.jp?articlepage=2

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JOSH MAGENNIS has vowed to try and get pal Kyle Lafferty RED CARDED tomorrow. The Aberdeen striker hopes he's let loose on Rangers at Pittodrie. Magennis has a special plan for hot-headed Northern Ireland buddy Lafferty if he is. He said: "I hope to see Kyle's MAD side on Sunday because he's quite easy to wind up. "So I'll stand on his toes or something, get him riled up and hopefully he'll get sent off early." Lafferty has admitted his two-year Gers career has been blighted by too many negative headlines. If Dons' summer signing Magennis gets his way, there will be another one on Monday morning. The ex-Cardiff frontman - also pally with Gers stars Steve Davis and Andrew Little - grinned: "One game Kyle's head will go and he'll get sent off, then other times he'll score a hat-trick." Lafferty staked a strong claim for a starting slot with a stunning hat-trick in the midweek Co-op Cup rout of Dunfermline. Gers gaffer Walter Smith is keen to see �£3.25million hitman Lafferty prove his critics wrong and become a Gers success. He said: "Kyle knows himself that he needs to settle down a wee bit and he's trying. I hope he succeeds. "He has been a wee bit misguided at times, but he wants to do well here and what he needs to improve is his level of consistency." Striker James Beattie returns for Gers but Maurice Edu is a doubt with a knee injury. Nikica Jelavic missed training yesterday but should be fit. Read more: http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/spl/3152824/I-want-to-get-Laff-sent-off.html#ixzz10VtcDgDK

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Before and after this midweek�s 7-2 destruction of Dunfermline I have been discussing the impact of the domestic cup competitions on our biggest target, league trophies and European football. As a Ranger; fan, player or manager, we demand success in every competition. In every match. We have reasserted domestic superiority, winning 6 of the 9 trophies Smith and his management team have been able to compete for and this season we are chasing three-in-a-row. Our record in the domestic cups has been almost flawless since Walter Smith and Ally McCoist returned home and restored Rangers to our rightful position in Scottish football. Having rejoined a club already knocked out of both domestic cups and trailing in the league, it was not until his first full season (2007/8) back in charge that Smith could compete for silverware. And what a season it was, a European final, two domestic cups and narrowly missing out on the SPL title thanks to a lack of integrity of the league�s governing body and other member clubs. In the following season (2008/9) Nacho Novo secured Scottish Cup number 33 to sit proudly in the trophy room with the SPL title. We were unfortunate to lose out on a domestic treble with an extra time defeat in the league cup final. Earlier this year in March we regained the League Cup trophy continuing our dominance of that competition, once again completing a league and cup double last season. Our defence of the Scottish Cup was unsuccessful, losing out to Dundee United after a quarter final replay; leading on to the inspiration for this piece. Under the guidance of Smith, or McCoist (it is not entirely clear who has been in charge throughout these competitions), we have 2 Scottish Cups, 2 League Cups lost one league cup final and one Scottish Cup quarter final replay. But that is only half the story. In that phenomenal 07/08 season we contested a mammoth 68 competitive games, including a 5th round Scottish Cup replay against Hibs, a Quarter Final replay against Partick and a Semi Final eventually won on penalties after extra-time against St. Johnstone. The League Cup was also only won against Dundee United following penalties. In what could have been an unrivalled season we quite rightly cast accusations against the SPL and its member clubs for the way in which were hamstrung in our attempt to win a European trophy and regain some pride and recognition for our national football. We must, though, also accept that taking our eye off the ball in the Cups and often against lower league opposition did not help our own cause. It has been a worrying trend in Walter�s second tenure. The following season, 2008/9, we required extra time and a fantastic Pedro Mendes� strike to finally see off Partick Thistle at Firhill. Once more stuttering against lower league opposition, if not quite as apathetic as the season past. A worrying lack of concentration and adherence to the task at hand continued last season. Hamilton Accies took us to a replay at Ibrox in the 4th round of the Scottish Cup. Again in the 5th round we edged out St Mirren in a replay with a solitary Boyd strike in the 86th minute. Perhaps it is an inability to take the Cup seriously that finally caught with the players as Dundee united knocked us out at the quarter final stage, despite having led 3-1 in the original tie. Costing us a shot at a treble for the second time in consecutive seasons. League Cup success was achieved more straightforwardly and of course with just 9 men as a fine Kenny Miller strike returned the trophy home to Ibrox. So, in spite of our current dominance of the domestic scene, I was sweating over whether or not to include Rangers in a midweek coupon. Could we be trusted to dispose of lower league opposition in the regulation time limit? Would we need a replay? Penalties? Would we succumb to shock defeat? Recent seasons have taught me not to dismiss lower league opposition, not least the Pars (who defeated Rangers in Durrant�s only game in charge and are a match for much of the SPL). Nine goals later and you make think "what are you worried about"? Was Tuesday�s game a sign that we are no longer treating this competition lightly? Our team selection might suggest otherwise. Smith has been loath to throw many youngsters into these so called lesser competitions or to juggle his selections too much. Often the meat of the SPL and Champions League team has contested the cup competitions too. As has been the case these past few seasons, we have been told to expect more squad rotation and more reliance on youths. It has, however, not always been forthcoming. It was, therefore, a pleasant surprise to see the likes of Kyle Hutton shine in midfield, many fans man of the match. Andy Little played from the start at right back and young Greg Wylde got a late run out. Fringe men such as Kyle Lafferty, probably not part of our strongest first XI, staked a huge claim with a hat trick. So what was the difference this midweek? A more professional approach from players and management alike? Walter Smith taking over control of first team affairs once more and no longer delegating to McCoist? A more sensible approach to squad rotation? Plain old lady luck? Perhaps only a sustained run in both the League and Scottish Cup will tell us more; however I will be keen to see us continue to dismiss lower league opposition without the embarrassment of routine replays, extra time and penalties. As stated at the outset, we have a more then enviable record in the past 3 seasons. Indeed it is success akin to our NIAR dominance of Scottish football. So once again, you may be asking why the fuss? However, as alluded to earlier, all these additional games, the energy sapping extra-time midweek in between testing SPL fixtures, can prove detrimental to our league title challenge and quest to ensure CL football in successive seasons. League trophies are critical to our future. To ensure we continue to reign as top dogs in Scotland, to maintain our reputation and to grant us entry into the Champions League providing us with the prestige of competing against Europe�s elite and the financial bounty it provides. If we want to avoid the fixture pile up of 07/08, contributed to in part by our inability to see of inferior, lower league opposition at the first attempt then we must continue with the attitude and team selection that served us so well against Dunfermline. We must make the fullest use of our squad, admittedly made difficult by the lack of experienced numbers and blood the impressive youngsters we have desperate to make the breakthrough at Ibrox.

Funny how our response to his non-signing has changed from then to now. Quite happy we never signed him now. Good luck to him playing Championship football while we play Champions League. http://www.tribalfootball.com/eagles...s-move-1134951

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When Fergie speaks, we listen, especially on the goggle-box where he still refuses to talk to the BBC. Thus, the quick couple of minutes Sky's Geoff Shreeves manages to grab with him, pre-match, take on an almost Frost/Nixon aspect. On Tuesday we were pre another Champions League. "Wonderful, marvellous, the greatest competition in the world," purred Fergie. He was talking up the first group match in front of the sponsors' board but we savoured his words as if he'd unlocked the secret of life's inner meaning. Then he signed off with his customary "Well done" to his grand inquisitor, strolled to the dugout, a wave here and an autograph there, and settled down to watch ... Well, what was that? Man U reserves plus England's fallen idol and Scotland's captain versus the anti-football specialists? The future of the greatest club side in the world versus our doughty representatives, defending as if their lives depended on it and turning row Z-ing into an art form? Hmm. It certainly wasn't the Battle of Britain, as billed. It definitely wasn't one of those "big European nights" that Sir Alex Ferguson so cherishes. It was all that was wrong with the Champions League. A tournament that rarely lives up to the hype. A contest that doesn't get serious, or even interesting, until March. A goose that was laying golden eggs just fine until UEFA, in their foolishness and greed, decided to stretch its neck. But it's easy to blame the organisers. What of Tuesday's participants? Man U will argue they at least tried to attack, to score goals and to win - that Rangers didn't really have designs on these things. Afterwards Walter Smith offered up an eloquent defence of his hard-up club's tactics, pointing out that, as with England's Premiership, only the super-rich few can win the Champions League. So Rangers have to park the bus. What a quaint phrase. Who coined it? Noel Coward, I think, when he was summarising an Anderlecht-Panathinaikos group match a couple of years ago. Another phrase popular among the likes of Coward and Alan McInally is: "Such-and-such set out their stall." When we first heard that one - perhaps back when Smith would argue the Champions League was more of a level playing-field - we were in no doubt that it involved a statement of defensive intent, but the statement bit was key: as if the team were handing out pamphlets warning of 90 minutes of pinch-faced parsimony from a basic wooden shack - the aforementioned stall. Now, when their frustrated opponents talk of a stall being set out - and both Fergie and Rio Ferdinand used the phrase on Tuesday - we imagine the structure having been dragged into the centre circle to stand next to the bus, with a "Back in 90 mins" sign in the window. This was how Rangers played the game at Old Trafford. Actually, there was more. There was a stall and a bus. By AIDAN SMITH http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/football/Aidan-Smith-Rangers-didn39t-just.6539053.jp I feel your PAIN

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For anyone who doesn't know, Collymore called our tactics on Tuesday night a disgrace. Here's Euan Camerons view on our tactics and Stan Collymore. The last line is a belter. Hats off to Euan.