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A new blog that I wrote today, give it a click smile.gif http://therabbitt.wordpress.com/2009/12/30/walter-smith-a-tactical-revolutionary/ Here's a little taster of the opening gambit...

Walter Smith believes Rangers are hitting title-winning form after notching up their fifth SPL win on the bounce. More...

Walter Smith believes his side's hard work is paying off after watching Rangers register their fifth straight win. More...

I love Stevie Whittaker. I love any baldy who can overcome their natural disablity and make a go of life, and not only that but actually play pro football and not only THAT, actually do it for The Rangers. I love the way that despite being (at a guess - I can't be bothered looking up wiki) about 15 years younger than me, my natural, manly, hairyness means I actually look younger. Wider, I grant you, but younger. I love the way he can bang in goals with an elan not seen in a Rangers full back for a long time. I was going to say since Gary Stevens but I don't recall him scoring that often, in truth. Great player though he was. I love Stevie Whittaker. So it is with a heavy heart that I have watched the object of my desire this year, lurching around the pitch, a pale shadow of the player I know he is. In an ironic twist of fate, the light from the floodlights, glancing off his reflective dome, have mirrored his passing and decision making: all over the place. The return of Kirk Broadfoot has certainly aided the team, but what about Stevie? It was agony to read posters advocating playing Andrew Little in ahead of the one they call 'Lombardo of the North.' Understandable given his form, but put yourself in Walter Smith's shoes: you have a player chronically out of form, what's the best way to deal with it? Keep him in there, encourage, cajole, hope it turns around while waiting for a first team alternative (Broadfoot) with whom to replace him? Or to drop him for an untried reservist, sending a signal to a man you paid several millions for not long ago that you rate him lower than Paul Robeson's voice? Well done, Uncle Walter, for getting the close cropped full back out the team ASAP but without fatally crippling his confidence. There's a key to Whittaker, I think. Like some footballing vampire, he seems to feast on goals, taking enough positive energy from each one to see him through another 2 or 3 games. No goals, though, and the confidence seems to seep away, the touch become less certain, the skin become paler. I don't know if he avoids the daylight or refuses any meals with garlic included, but this reliance of goalscoring to believe in yourself can come to no good end. Especially as there's no need for it! All Stevie Whittaker has to do is look up his goals on youtube to be reminded of what he can do, especially of course a famous night in Lisbon, and one this millenium too, I might add. He may never be the greatest defender in the world but at Rangers he doesn't have to be: adequate will do, as long as you can deliver the goods at the other end of the pitch. It doesn't have to be goals every week: no-one expects him to match Boydy, except perhaps in the premature male pattern baldness stakes. Effective and solid 3 out of 4 games, with a belter of a goal in the 4th. A long and prosperous career awaits you! In this festive season of goodwill to all men, I send a message of hope to the man untroubled by dandruff: in the words of Peter Gabriel and Kate Bush, Don't Give Up!

KEVIN THOMSON will sit out Rangers' trip to play Hibernian this Sunday as he recovers from a calf injury. The midfielder was forced off with the problem in the first half of last weekend's excellent 6-1 win against Motherwell at Ibrox. Thomson went for a scan on his calf on Wednesday and it seems unlikely he'll play any part in the three-game sequence Walter Smith believes could have such a massive bearing on Gers' season. The Light Blues take on Dundee United in midweek then Celtic next weekend and along with the Hibees clash, it looks as though Thomson will struggle to make any of those fixtures. His absence could pave the way for a return to the team for Mo Edu after he came through his comeback match unscathed on Monday. The American midfielder played 80 minutes of a 2-1 closed-doors defeat to Partick Thistle at Murray Park and suffered no ill effects afterwards. Edu has been out since May but is now ready to return, although it looks more likely that Lee McCulloch will start alongside Steven Davis in the middle. Rangers' only other absentees are Pedro Mendes and Jerome Rothen but the Portuguese star is back and training and expected to be back in action in around three weeks.

Hopefully this is crap, I thought we were not paying any wages? RANGERS could be hit with a �£350,000 bill to off-load wantaway winger Jerome Rothen next month. Rothen has made it clear he wants to rip up his loan deal at Ibrox five months early after falling out of favour with boss Walter Smith. But his club Paris Saint-Germain don't want his �£36,000-a-week salary back on their wage bill. At the moment Gers pay Rothen about �£18,000-a-week with PSG picking up the other half. And a spokesman for the French club said: "Jerome has a loan arrangement with Rangers until the end of the season and the terms of that deal have not changed. "If the player wishes to leave, or the club no longer want him, then that is a concern for Jerome and Rangers - not us." PSG boss Antoine Kombouare, when asked if he would take Rothen back, said: "The player wants to leave Paris Saint-Germain and as far as I know he's still with Rangers." Now Gers must hope a team coughs up �£750,000 to buy Rothen next month. http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/spl/2782264/Rangers-fear-350k-Rothen-pay-off.html

STEVE CONROY will take charge of his first Old Firm clash when Celtic and Rangers go head-to-head at Parkhead on January 3. It will be 43-year-old Conroyââ?¬â?¢s first crack at handling an Old Firm clash ââ?¬â?? and the SFA are convinced he has what it takes to come through the biggest test in his refereeing career with flying colours. Conroy has taken charge of games involving both Celtic and Rangers in the past, but this is his first oppor-tunity to be the man in the middle when they are facing each other. The SFA aim to introduce a new batch of referees to the famous fixture. The only top-flight officials who have taken charge of an Old Firm clash are Craig Thomson, Dougie McDonald and Calum Murray as the recent retirements of Kenny Clark and Stuart Dougal have left the SFA short of referees with Old Firm experience. But Conroy is now believed to possess the credentials to cope with whatever the fixture might throw at him ââ?¬â?? and it is understood he has worked closely with refereesââ?¬â?¢ chief Hugh Dallas in recent times. He did, however, send Walter Smith to the stand earlier this season as Rangers dropped two points against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park. The whistler had earlier sent off Pedro Mendes in one of four red cards he has shown in 11 appearances this season. He has also issued 49 cautions in those matches. Conroy was also in charge when Celtic drew at home to Dundee United earlier in the season as well as in their recent victory over St Mirren.

In conjunction with our friends at Birlinn Books, we have five copies of the following fantastic book available to win. Flawed Genius: Scottish Football's Self-Destructive Mavericks by Stephen McGowan As Rangers manager Walter Smith once put it, Scottish football supporters have always liked their footballing superstars to come complete with very human flaws. But what is it that makes the seriously flawed footballer so intruiging? From Hugh Gallacher, the Wembley Wizard who died of shame, to George Best, Hibernianââ?¬â?¢s ageing lothario, to the Three Amigos ââ?¬â?? Celticââ?¬â?¢s trio of wayward overseas mercenaries ââ?¬â?? the great entertainers have always come with baggage. Never before have the individual stories of these mavericks of Scottish footballââ?¬â?¢s past been collated and told in one place. Flawed Genius does just that. Through the words of the men themselves ââ?¬â?? allied to testimonies from friends and close colleagues ââ?¬â?? Stephen McGowan recounts the in-depth stories of Gascoigne and Goram, Best and Baxter, Charnley and Cadette and the equally wayward figures of Paolo Di Canio, Andy Ritchie, Pierre van Hooijdonk and Willie Hamilton. Here, together for the first time, the colourful contributions of each and every player in the Scottish gameââ?¬â?¢s rich tapestry of flawed genius are brought vividly back to life. Stephen McGowan was born in Glasgow, educated in Fife and went on to complete an honours degree in Public Administration in Aberdeen. Realising that a job managing houses or hospitals wasnââ?¬â?¢t for him, he entered journalism with Dundeeââ?¬â?¢s DC Thomson & Co. From there his journalistic career took him to Dubai and Bangkok before he returned to Glasgow, where he has been a sports writer for the Daily Mail for the last nine years. To be in with a chance of winning one of the five copies available, just tell us from which club did Rangers sign Paul Gascoigne? Email or pm me now with your answer! Competition closes at midnight on December 18th. Admin decision is final! Members of Gersnet can also receive Ã?£2 off the hardback book (rrp Ã?£14.99) by calling 0845 370 0067 and quoting GSN1209 - postage and packing is free within the UK! An ideal gift for Christmas!

Boyd must be complimented himself for the work he has been doing recently, and that is coming from one of his biggest critics. He certainly has improved his all round game.

DaMarcus Beasley claims he longer feels the needs to leave Rangers after coming back into favour. More... DaMarcus Beasley claims he longer feels the needs to leave Rangers after coming back into favour. The American winger had previously stated that he would be forced to exit Ibrox in January if he continued to be denied regular first-team opportunities. With the World Cup at the back of his mind, Beasley knows he must play games in order to impress national coach Bob Bradley. Showdown talks with Gers boss Walter Smith appear to have done the trick, though, with the 27-year-old currently back in the side. He has bagged two goals in his last two games after being given a chance to prove his worth and admits he is now more than happy to continue his career in Scotland. Playing time "The gaffer and I had a talk," Beasley said. "I just needed playing time and he understood that, it was a man-to-man talk. Now he's giving me a chance to play. "I never wanted to leave the club, I just wanted to play. "Obviously the World Cup is in the back of my mind but we're not there yet. "At the moment I'm on the outside looking in so I'm just enjoying playing for Rangers and trying to retain the SPL title."

Walter Smith is not looking to strengthen his squad in January after giving winger Jerome Rothen permission to leave. More...

GERS launch Apple app and dedicated web browser More... RANGERS have today become the first Scottish club to launch its own official app for Apple's iPhone and iPod touch. And the launch comes along with a custom internet browser theme featuring branding from Walter Smith's Double winners - a first in British football. The SPL Champions are ahead of the game in this area and fans can stay in touch with the club 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, wherever they are through the new and exclusive application plus enjoy the benefits of a dedicated Rangers themed internet browser. A wealth of information and pictures are available at the touch of a button on the Apple App and supporters can find out the latest news, up-to-date fixture lists, results of previously played fixtures, in-depth match reports and other key information direct from Rangers. Key features on the Rangers Apple App, which costs �£2.99 and is available to download from http://www.rangers.co.uk'>http://www.rangers.co.uk and iTunes, include: - The latest news from Rangers - Historical information about the club, including past managers and Rangers' home, Ibrox Stadium - Squad details including pictures and stats - Fixture list with upcoming match dates and comprehensive match reports from previous games - Support for posting to Facebook. The SPL Champions and Homecoming Scottish Cup Winners have also teamed up with custom browser specialists Brand Thunder to create a unique themed browser experience that offers supporters the chance to update their Firefox and Internet Explorer browsers with distinctive club branding. The new Rangers browser theme will utilise exclusive pictures and video content from the recently revamped http://www.rangers.co.uk and is delivered through a small download called a Boom! which does much more than provide a visual takeover of the browser. Booms! feature breaking news in the integrated toolbar, multimedia in the sidebar, easy access to all things Rangers and is available to download from http://www.rangers.co.uk. Rangers Chief Executive Martin Bain said: "We are delighted to announce the launch of the Rangers Apple App and the Rangers web browser. The club recently unveiled a pioneering online TV station - RangersTV.tv - and we are leading the way once again in this field. "Our supporters have a huge appetite for news and these two new ventures, allied to our existing club media platforms, allow them to stay in touch with the club night and day."

HE'S the little Spaniard with the big heart. But Nacho Novo's heart will shatter into a thousand tiny pieces the day he's forced to walk out of Ibrox for the final time. Novo knows the clock's ticking on his Rangers career. Out of favour and out of contract in the summer, the fans' hero may have to look elsewhere for first-team football. It's a chilling thought which sends a shiver down his spine - a fear he hoped he'd never have to face. Speaking at the launch of his DVD yesterday, Novo admitted: "You always have it in the back of your mind to go back to Spain at some point. "I was born there and there will always be a connection as I have a lot of family there. "People talk very well about me in Spain and they know me because of the platform Rangers have given me. "The day will eventually come when I need to leave Rangers and that will be really hard. "It's hard to say if I will play in Spain before I finish my career although I'm 30 now and only have a few years left." Novo could yet be offered a new deal by Gers. The Spaniard is one of three players chief executive Martin Bain is keen to talk to in the coming weeks. But the 'supersub' tag hangs heavy around his neck. He knows he only has a few more years left at the top before the sun sets on a career that's taken him from his homeland to Kirkcaldy, Dundee and Glasgow. Novo insisted: "I don't know what will happen in the future. "I'm just happy to be here and doing something for the fans who have been behind me 100 per cent. "The club will deal with my agent, but I just want to focus on playing now. If it happens, it happens. "Everybody knows I love this club - it has been like a family to me. "I've enjoyed every training session and every game I've played since coming to Rangers. "It would be better if everything was sorted out, but there is still a long way to go." It's almost ten years since Novo landed on these shores. Signed by Raith Rovers in the summer of 2000 he has gone on to carve a great career at Ibrox. Advertisement He revealed: "I have a lot friends in this country and I've been here so long I now start to think in English rather than in Spanish. "I love Scotland and I have loved my time with Raith, Dundee and now Rangers. "There are some unpleasant aspects, but that can happen in football. You expect that. "I think the Scots are nice people. "The climate does not bother me either because I'm from Galicia in northern Spain and the weather is similar. "They say the toughest Spaniards always come from the north." If this is to be Novo's last season at Gers, he's determined to sign off with another SPL title. Europe has gone and Novo insists it's time for Walter Smith's men to regroup starting with the visit of St Johnstone today. He insisted: "We need to think about winning the SPL now. "This is an important month with a lot of hard games. "At the moment Kris Boyd is on fire and we are playing well. "We need to do the same things as last year if we want to win the title again. "We've so many tough games in December, but I honestly think we can win them all. "Everybody should be hungry to win the league again and I'm positive about our chances. "You need to have players who are all desperate to win in your team. "If you don't have that kind of mentality you won't succeed, but I'm confident we have that here. "We have a lot of good players and we have come back well after disappointing results in Europe." Meanwhile, Gers boss Smith has confirmed he will make no new signings in January. He said: "The only way we will be able to sign a player is if we sell one, otherwise we won't. "There is no leeway for that in the transfer window, that's quite categorical. "We don't need to sell a player in this transfer window - but neither will we be bringing anyone in. "The challenge now of winning the league is more straightforward when you lose out on European football. "Of course, it would be normal for a team to stagnate if they go through three transfer windows without bringing a new player in. "But this year is better than last in the sense we haven't been told we need to lose a player." http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/spl/2768916/I-fear-the-end.html

http://sport.scotsman.com/sport/No-need-for-World-Cup.5917513.jp

Rangers manager Walter Smith says the decision to remain at the club without a contract was a straightforward one. More...

By Stephen Halliday THEY may have been the team which cemented his place as one of Rangers' greatest managers, but it appears the legend of nine in a row is wearing just a little thin for Walter Smith. As he operates under the fiscally restrictive conditions now surrounding the Ibrox club, Smith has revealed his irritation at the regular criticism aimed at his current team by some of those who helped him equal Celtic's historic feat of nine success ADVERTISEMENT ive championships in more prosperous times more than a decade ago. Richard Gough and Mark Hateley, two of the most influential contributors to Rangers' dominance of Scottish football from 1989 to 1997, were the main targets of a stinging rebuke from their former gaffer yesterday. Both men have been damning in recent assessments of Rangers' performances and results in the Champions League and SPL. It has not been appreciated by Smith, who not only believes his present group of players are being needlessly undermined by their predecessors, but feels compelled to point out that Gough & Co were anything but flawless. "At times I get a wee bit fed up with every one of them coming out with these comments," said Smith. "For me, Richard Gough and Mark Hateley are two who have made comments in newspapers recently and I get a wee bit disappointed by that aspect. "It's as if they had the perfect answer to everything in football. They didn't have. We used to have loads of managerial meetings and bust-ups to try and keep them on the right track. "And while they might be looking at the Rangers team just now and being critical, the team at the present moment has been successful. "It's more difficult for the players now than it was in the time when they played. "We've not played well this season, but I've maybe been too honest in talking about that, especially considering if we win our game in hand we can go top of the SPL. But by the standards we have set we haven't played that well. "I just get a bit fed up reading about all the rest of them. Okay, we maybe don't have a (Paul) Gascoigne, (Brian) Laudrup or a (Ally) McCoist from the early days, guys to pull us out of problems. But the boys who are here have had to work extremely hard to get where they are and have won trophies for this club." Smith also took a swipe at the oft-repeated maxim quoted by many of Rangers' nine in a row squad, referring to their off the field bond, which boasts that 'the team who drink together, win together'. "See that, that's a self-perpetuating thing," said Smith. "They tell everyone what they got up to. But if it was true, what were all the other players from the other teams doing? Were they all out in the pub?" The subject of squad harmony at Rangers has been under intense focus this week. Smith has had to contend with media reports of a training ground altercation between Kenny Miller and Madjid Bougherra and a dressing room row between David Weir and Kyle Lafferty during last Saturday's first SPL defeat of the season against Aberdeen at Pittodrie. They are issues Smith insists were quickly resolved and which did not cause him any concern in the first place. On the contrary, they provided him with a source of encouragement as Rangers seek to re-ignite their campaign at Falkirk today. "It happens at clubs," said Smith, "and it has happened loads of times in my time at Rangers. I don't see it as being to the detriment of what were doing. Players can get involved in clashes for different reasons. But sometimes you say to yourself that if we didn't have it, it would show there wasn't any great desire or intent about the place and there was a bit of apathy. "In the case of Davie Weir and Kyle Lafferty, then as captain of our team Davie has every right to have his say if we are not doing well, which we were not in the first half at Aberdeen. "None of these things are done for any other reason than to provoke a reaction. "Whether it is the manager or the captain, it's done for a reason. It's not the first time this season it has happened. "It's a natural dressing room occurrence and if we didn't have it, there would be something far wrong. "The Kenny Miller incident with Madjid Bougherra was mainly down to comments which were made in the newspapers about Madjid not coming back from international duty on time. "If someone did that in any walk of life you'd expect there to be a situation amongst them. Players generally meet up on a training pitch so that's where things spill over. But they've had their say now and they've done it. They have sat down and said what they had to say in front of each other, so that's it. It's finished with. It won't carry on or spill over into anything else." Smith is seeking a positive reaction from his players against their bottom-of-the-table opponents this lunchtime, adding that forthcoming fixtures will test his squad. "December is a big month for us with a lot of tough fixtures," he said. "We lost a long undefeated away record last week and we need to show we can pick ourselves up. We need to bounce back against Falkirk." http://sport.scotsman.com/sport/Nine-in-a-row-snipers.5886892.jp

Rangers striker Kris Boyd has emerged as a January transfer target for Turkish side Galatasaray. The club are reported to be ready to offer Boyd wages of up to �£36,000 a week. Boyd is out of contract at the end of the season but Galaâ��s Dutch manager Frank Rijkaard is set to offer Rangers �£500,000 to take the player in January, according to the Scottish News of the World. Walter Smith revealed this week that Rangers no longer have to sell players in the new year but, with Boyd yet to agree a new deal, the Turkish side are ready to make their move. The striker closed in on Henrik Larssonâ��s SPL scoring record on Saturday with two goals that took his tally to 151. Galatasaray hope that the prolific marksman can help them land the Turkish title and are prepared to treble the playerâ��s current deal. Turkish sides Kayserispor and Trabzonspor were interested in the forward last season but received no encouragement from Boyd, who has said he would like to remain at Rangers. However, the Ibrox clubâ��s financial situation means that there has been no improved contract offered and the lure of a lucrative contract abroad may prove tempting if Boyd doesnâ��t get the deal he wants. Walter Smith will not wish to lose a player he sees as key to Rangerâ��s SPL hopes. The Rangers manager paid tribute to his top scorer after Saturdayâ��s match at Falkirk and pondered how successful he could be if he stayed at Ibrox for life. "It's difficult to put his goals into perspective,â� Smith said. â�When you look at the age he is and the opportunity he has to keep adding to that tally, it's a fantastic achievement for a player to have scored that number of goals." Galatasaray are not the only club to be linked with the striker, who could return to the international fold under the next Scotland manager. Alex McLeish is said to be pondering a bid to take Boyd to Birmingham City, while Serie A side Livorno have also been linked with a move. http://sport.stv.tv/football/142322-kris-boyd-a-target-for-frank-rijkaard/

RANGERS directors will hold a board meeting today on the eve of what promises to be one of the stormiest annual general meetings in the club's history. At the board meeting, the directors will discuss how to deal with questions over how the club is being run which are likely to be raised from the floor at tomorrow's AGM. It follows statements made by manager Walter Smith that the club's bank, Lloyds Banking Group, was in effect running the in-debt club, statements refuted by owner Sir David Murray. Company turn-around specialist Donald Muir was elected to the board in October and is likely to be re-elected in Monday's meeting, but it could be opposed. There are fears among Rangers directors that it is the difficulties in other areas of Sir David's huge business interests (Murray International Holdings has debts of �£759 million) that are prompting the bank to keep a far closer eye on the club. Last week in Scotland on Sunday, Sir David confirmed that he was prepared to sell the club, and said that Rangers had to live within their financial means, but denied the bank was running the club. But sources close to Rangers have told Scotland on Sunday: "Senior directors believe that Donald Muir is on the board to pursue the agenda of the bank." Muir is employed by the Murray group, but it is believed the bank were closely consulted before his appointment. Rangers announced last month that they had made an annual loss of �£12.7m for the year to 30 June, 2009, with their debt rising to �£31.1m.

Monday at Ibrox guarantees to be the most intense Rangers AGM in many years. The club is in crisis, seemingly unwanted on the open market, and is facing a highly uncertain future. For Rangers shareholders, the following are the 10 most pressing questions to be put to the club's board during the (sometimes farcical) open Q & A session . . . 1 Who is to blame for Rangersââ?¬â?¢ financial mess? On this one, it seems that everyone is running for cover. The banking crisis has left Rangers looking like a house built on sand, although discovering, via the media or anywhere else, who exactly is to blame has proved taxing. Is it Sir David Murray? Is it the banking system itself (though few other British clubs are floundering quite like Rangers)? The banks ââ?¬â? and Lloyds in particular ââ?¬â? appear to be held up for particular venom, while Murray, whom many supporters hold accountable, still warrants scarcely a negative mention in the popular press. It is not for vengeance that some Rangers fans want to know who brought their club to its knees, so much as having the knowledge for it never to happen again. 2 Who is running Rangers ââ?¬â? the clubââ?¬â?¢s board or the bank? The clubââ?¬â?¢s board say they are running Rangers. Walter Smith says it is the bank. Alastair Johnston, the chairman, says the board are very much in day-to-day control of the club, with the ââ?¬Å?supportââ?¬Â of Lloyds. This is a murky area for concerned Rangers shareholders and a straightforward ââ?¬â? and accurate ââ?¬â? response from the clubââ?¬â?¢s directors tomorrow would help. The feeling persists that, while Rangers are indeed in daily control of their own business, the clubââ?¬â?¢s ultimate fate will be determined by their bankers. 3 What remaining influence does Sir David Murray have over Rangers? Murray, who stepped down as Rangers chairman in September, wants a clean divorce from the club as soon as possible (there has been fat chance of that) but until it happens he is still a near-90% owner. Is Murray still involved in key club decisions? Would he still have a say ââ?¬â? as he always did in his heyday ââ?¬â? in any January comings and goings? The former Rangers chairman, who is left clutching a stricken bairn he doesnââ?¬â?¢t want, currently occupies a strange twilight world at Ibrox. 4 Will Murray ââ?¬â? or the Lloyds Group ââ?¬â? be the final arbiter on who buys Rangers? Murray, with his vast shareholding, has indicated in the past seven days that he will still decide to whom he sells his stake ââ?¬â? but will he? There is still a perception that Lloyds are ââ?¬Å?actively trying to find a buyerââ?¬Â for Rangers, as if Murray is now almost an irrelevant bystander. The question is, when Rangers are sold, who will determine the suitability of the buyer? Murray has persistently stated that he will only sell to someone who will ââ?¬Å?be good for Rangersââ?¬Â ââ?¬â? can this still be the case? 5 For how long does Walter Smith plan to be the Rangers manager? Smith has told one or two in the media in private of his plans, but this is still a grey area among many Rangers supporters. Does he want to stay or go? Johnston has previously said that he would want the current Rangers manager to sign a new, extended contract, though that very issue has gone quiet for almost two months now. Someone should stand up and ask Smith tomorrow, what itââ?¬â?¢s to be: does he plan to stay or go? 6 Can Rangers afford to keep their best playing assets in January? Barring a Roman Abramovich figure suddenly appearing on the scene, Rangers almost certainly face a period of financial downsizing over the next two years. During the past two transfer windows not a single player has been bought, and more sales might even be considered in January. Many supporters also want to know when a new signing will next be made. 7 Does the board think that a supportersââ?¬â?¢ buy-out of Rangers is feasible? There has been quite a lot on message-boards and in the newspapers ââ?¬â? much of it unconvincing hot air ââ?¬â? about fansââ?¬â?¢ buy-outs, membership schemes, etc. A relatively small but impassioned group of Rangers fans dream of owning the club, and, given their current state of limbo, the Rangers board should come clean on what they think of such a proposal. 8 Does Alastair Johnston know of any imminent, credible buyer of Rangers? David Murray was undoubtedly right ââ?¬â? Johnston has moved to Rangers with considerable knowledge of the north American scene, both in business and sport and, given his life-long support of Rangers, should be as well placed as anyone to know of potential buyers who have the wealth and knowledge to back up their interest. Now is the time for the Ibrox chairman to tell the assembled throng what he really knows. 9 Is Dave King really a potential owner of Rangers? Standing among the enduring murkiness of the current Rangers situation is the elusive Mr King. He is reputed to have already invested some Ã?£12m in Rangers, and is said by many to still be interested in buying Murray out. Well, whatââ?¬â?¢s it to be? Moreover, would Kingââ?¬â?¢s chaotic and controversial battles with the South African authorities over various financial allegations deter Rangers from wanting him as their new owner? 10 What is the future of Ally McCoist at the club? McCoist, a Rangers legend, is also at the centre of much uncertainty. Both Walter Smith and David Murray have previously stated that, in an ideal world, the former striker would be the next occupant of the managerââ?¬â?¢s chair, but much has changed since those statements were made six months ago. If Smith leaves the club at the end of the current season, is McCoist still seen as the man to pick up the baton? The first-team coach himself has admitted little about his own personal preferences, but some Rangers fans wish to know where McCoist stands in any imminent post-Smith era at Ibrox. Duffyââ?¬â?¢s pipe dream for the people Is there anyone out there who has generated more hot air over his proposed plan to ââ?¬Å?saveââ?¬Â Rangers than the Florida-based Graham Duffy? The more this guy wafts through the pages of a gullible press, the less likely I find his plan to succeed. So far Duffy has revealed the following. First, he has not carried out any due diligence. Two, he wonââ?¬â?¢t be investing himself. Three, despite wanting 45,000 Rangers fans to invest Ã?£1,000 each in a buy-out, he admits himself this is ââ?¬Å?unlikelyââ?¬Â. Four, he has no idea if a majority of supporters favour a fansââ?¬â?¢ co-operative. But apart from all that, claims Duffy, heââ?¬â?¢s at the get-go to save Rangers. Those who succeed in business do their talking in private, then strike when the deal is ready. Mr Duffy happily babbles in public, even while his plans look, at best, half-baked. Folks, donââ?¬â?¢t hold your breath for salvation for Rangers coming out of Florida.

Walter Smith insists there is no problem with discipline at Rangers after recent controversial incidents. More...

Another interesting few thoughts on our manager for you to ponder from Andy.... http://www.gersnetonline.co.uk/2010/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=172:dr-jeykll-and-mr-smith&catid=1:articles&Itemid=67 Robert Louis Stevenson's short story of conflicted personality, "Jeykll and Hyde", continues to resonate in the Scottish soul well over a century since it was written. Just as his literary predecessor James Hogg observed in "Memoir of a Justified Sinner", the country and its' people are often faced with an unenviable position: making a choice when both choices are equally contentious. Be it over the rights of the established Church, over the desire to improve oneself or the desire to obliterate oneself in alcohol, the conflict (or lack of) between being Scottish or British, the pride in Scotland set against the despair felt when a ned gets on the bus: being Scottish has been and continues to be a whirlpool of contradictory currents, dragging one first this way then that. And the Rangers fan can feel right at home in this tradition at present, as they watch their venerable and quasi-venerated manager Walter Smith preside over another season. The Glasgow club are two points behind rivals Celtic, but hold a game in hand over their smaller city neighbours, having lost their first league game of the season recently, the final team in the UK to lose a domestic unbeaten record. And yet, and yet...happiness is easy, sang 'Talk Talk', but the Rangers fan would no doubt disagree. Poor performances, low scoring, and a lack of exciting football combine to leave the supporter slumped in his bucket seat, chin on chest, hands in pocket, curse on lips. The appalling weather which has seen an entire winter's amount of rain dumped upon Britain in two weeks of November seems a perfect metaphor for how the Ibrox faithful are feeling. Gloomy, damp, and with no sign of spring on the horizon. Smith has come in for his share of criticism over this. Some over the top, some more constructive. But the interesting point for me is, how do I criticise a man who has led my team to title after title, Cup and Cup? It's easy to say the past is the past, football is a results business and a great record won't get you a single point this season. All true. But loyalty has to count for something! And, after all, this is the same manager who dragged the team kicking and screaming over the winning line only last May. Rangers didn't win the league due to superior players in season 08-09, and Smith must take great credit for instilling the belief that they needed to clinch the title. Add to that the praise he regularly receives from those within the game, and you see the problem: We appear to have an experienced, respected coach, who is serving up dross. I can't join in the chorus of disapproval. Loyalty to the man in the hotseat is a given from me, be he Paul Le Guen or even Berti Vogts. And mention of the last name should show that automatic loyalty is not always a good thing! I can appreciate that, even as I staunchly support Walter Smith on messageboards and in conversation. But overall, taking the lack of an alternative who knows the ropes, the financial situation at the club just now, and the history that Walter and I share (romantic and fanciful perhaps, but I feel a bond - Smith came into Rangers when I was 16, I'm now 39; he's been a part of my entire adult life!) Walter Smith will continue to have at least this bear's support. On that point at least, I am not divided.

I know Hateley hasn't made many friends with some of his columns about us in recent times, but I think he's speaking a lot of sense in his latest one. From today's Daily Record:

Unirea Urziceni coach Dan Petrescu is one of 20 applicants for the vacant Scotland manager's job. The Romanian former Chelsea defender's CV has been passed to the Scottish FA. But the hunt for the new man will not be limited to the 20 names so far put forward by the applicants themselves or their agents. The SFA board met on Thursday to discuss the process and it is the intention to appoint a new boss by the European Championship draw in February. Following its scheduled monthly board meeting, chief executive Gordon Smith would not speak of individual candidates. However, he said: "The matter was discussed extensively and vigorously. MY SPORT: DEBATE Who should be the next Scotland manager? "We will now initiate that process in the coming weeks. "It remains the Scottish FA's intention to appoint and present a new national coach in time for the Euro 2012 qualification draw on 7 February." The SFA gathering at Hampden was the first opportunity to discuss replacing George Burley, who was sacked last month after a disappointing sequence of results. Dundee United's Craig Levein remains the bookies' favourite to replace Burley, who lasted 22 months in the job. Levein has been reluctant to discuss the vacancy, but others have publicly declared an interest in leading Scotland. Out-of-work pair John Collins, the former Hibernian manager, and Jimmy Calderwood, who left Aberdeen in the summer, have said they would welcome the challenge. Meanwhile, Hearts manager Csaba Laszlo and Petrescu have also said that the post appeals. The 41-year-old Petrescu led the unfancied Unirea to the Romanian title last season and he was thrust into the spotlight in Scotland after his side defeated Rangers at Ibrox in their Champions League group this term. Some have already distanced themselves from the role at Hampden. Rangers manager Walter Smith has ruled out a second stint in charge of the national team and former Ibrox boss Graeme Souness insists he has no desire to return to management at any level. John Hughes has said he already has his dream job at Hibs, while Kilmarnock's Jim Jefferies has pointed out that he has already been twice overlooked by the SFA. Gordon Strachan has hinted that he would have been interested in the national post following his departure from Celtic in the summer, but Burley's sacking did not come until after the former Scotland midfielder was appointed manager of Middlesbrough. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/8392436.stm

WALTER SMITH has paid tribute to Davie Weir as the veteran defender prepares to make his 100th SPL appearance for Rangers. The 39-year-old will reach the incredible milestone when he leads Gers out at first club Falkirk on Saturday. Not bad for a man fast approaching his 40th birthday. Weir was Smith's first signing when the man who led Gers to nine-in-a-row returned to Ibrox in January 2007. Initially seen as a stop-gap, the defender has gone on to outstrip his manager's hopes and expectations. Smith admitted: "I envisaged Davie coming in and playing to the end of that first season and then maybe helping us out in the following season. "To carry on playing in the manner in which he has done is a credit to him. "Davie is one of the best professional players I've ever been involved with and one of the best lads I've worked with. "I admire him greatly for the way he handles himself and his situation. When you look at a player who is playing his 100th league game when his first came at 37, it's quite remarkable. "When someone gets to that age and younger players come in - and I mean guys in their mid-20s, never mind teenagers - he lets every one of them see that if there is a desire and a love for playing football like his, you can play into your late 30s. "Davie has been lucky to avoid serious injury, but it is not only about that - it also involves a love and desire for the game." Weir turns 40 in May, with many predicting he'll finally retire at the end of the season. The man himself has hinted this may be his final campaign in Scotland's top-flight. And should Weir hang up his boots in the summer, Smith has no doubts he'll be a success when he goes into management. He said: "When you love it like that it's a natural progression to go into coaching and management and Davie has already started down that path by doing his coaching badges. "I hope he does because football could do with people like him remaining involved in the game and if he does I'm sure he'll have a good career." Smith wants a reaction from his players following their weekend defeat at Pittodrie. The Gers boss believes their confidence has taken a battering in the wake of a torrid Champions League campaign. He said: "We hadn't lost in the SPL until the weekend, but we also hadn't scored an awful lot and hadn't created a lot of chances either. "That was apparent when we had the bulk of the play, albeit with Aberdeen down to ten men for a large chunk of the second half. After the first 20 minutes we had the majority of the game, but we didn't create as many clear chances as we should have considering the pressure we had. "A lot of the time creating chances comes when we have a good edge to our play, but that is something we don't have at this moment and have perhaps been lacking for a fair bit of this season. Advertisement "The slow starts are something that we have seen in a number of the games this season and it was there again at the weekend. "We didn't pass the ball well in the first 20 minutes and didn't get involved in the game until we lost the goal. "From my point of view I have to look at the reasons why that is happening and why it has happened in other matches this season. "I don't think it's a physical thing because we had plenty of time after Tuesday to recover and if it was tiredness it would hit us at the end of games rather than the start. "It's more of a mental thing than anything else and when you have had disappointing performances in big games, like the Champions League ones at home, then it does have an effect. "But we've had enough warnings this season and mentioned a number of times in the run up to Aberdeen that we couldn't afford to be slow to start. "We were, though, and it's something we have to look at." Smith insists his side will face a tough test against Falkirk in Saturday's live TV showdown. He added: "Falkirk played very well against Celtic and scored three goals, so when we look at the fact we haven't scored a lot away, we know it will be difficult.

I've lifted this from RM because it's an honest summary after today's defeat in Aberdeen by a Bear who attended & it sums up a lot of what I'm thinking myself:- Beaten by a make-shift Mark McGhee side – our embarrassing away form continues Written by Muff "Only 4 goals scored away from home in the league this season - a truely shocking stat! Doesn’t help when Walter Smith has a tactical nightmare once again, the players fail to turn up, and cannot hit a barn door. So today, the manager started with Kevin Thomson, Kenny Miller and Madjid Bougherra on the bench . Steven Whittaker, David Weir, Kyle Lafferty and Lee McCulloch kept their place. In midfield, not one player was in their proper position, and Kyle Lafferty partnered Kris Boyd. We are told by the manager that David Weir would not be able to play three games in a week, yet he starts today, with Madjid Bougherra on the bench? Steven Whittaker continues to get a game, whilst Madjid Bougherra is on the bench, along with Andrew Little (who the manager think’s can play right back), and Jordan McMillan is nowhere to be seen – 17 minutes gone, and once again Whittaker fails to close down, and we are 1-0 down. It happens EVERY WEEK! Why does he continue to get a game, whilst better players are left out? Lee McCulloch kept his place in the team, whilst Kevin Thomson sat on the bench? Both had terrible games against Stuttgart, but the two previous matches – St. Mirren and Kilmarnock, Thomson was the better of the two, and played not too bad. Lee McCulloch had a complete and utter nightmare today, and was eventually hooked – yet will still start the next game. Our central midfield pairing was Lee McCulloch and Steven Naismith – what fucking idiot came up with that one? The both of them are simply not good enough. They got in each others way, failed to look for the ball, gave away fouls – well McCulloch did, because Naismith was too scared to put the boot in....they hid – bunch of fucking fairies. Steven Davis failed to show up, he was absolutely hopeless, and his inconsistacy is a major problem. Did he complete a pass today? John Fleck, who impressed in a central role the other week was shunted out onto the left, where he is completely wasted, and one of the worst partnerships in Scotland, was tried out once again, and completely failed. Kris Boyd and Kenny Miller had been linking up well in the league, yet Miller found himself on the bench? Kyle Lafferty would be better in a circus, because he certainly aint a football player. The least said about him, McCulloch and Naismith, the better. Kenny Miller did well when he came on, the typical Nacho Novo substitution was a joke, and Kris Boyd and Danny Wilson played well, Boyd especially, but he has to take his chances in these so-called bigger games. For the first 35 minutes of the 1st half, we were terrible. Second best, couldn’t win a tackle, couldn’t hold on to possession, and couldn’t find one of our own players. Our set pieces and delivery are a complete and utter disgrace, and clearly not worked on. It took us the best part of 35 minutes to get going, which is unacceptable. A side with no pace, balance, width, creativity....too many players lacking the very basics, too many schoolboy errors! Absolutely no drive, passion, commitment, ability, leaderhip or fight. Better 2nd half, and there was only one team on the park, but that doesn’t matter when you fail to take your chances. Yet again, that bead rhattling bastard, Craig Thomson fails to give Rangers a penalty, yes he should be slated for it, but we had more than enough chances to put them away. Today we had enough chances to win 2 games, and we didn’t take any of them. Anyone blaming Kyle Lafferty obviously doesn’t have a clue, or has not played football! Kris Boyd went for goal, he got it horribly wrong, and the ball came to Lafferty at about 100mph, whilst on the rise. Even Edin Dzeko would have struggled to convert that! Kris Boyd made some good chances for himself, and didn’t take them, the one in the 2nd half especially. Lee McCulloch had a good opportunity but failed to get it on target, Kenny Miller had a few snap shots, and missed the target, and both Boyd, and Papac missed chances at the end. Our pathetic run at Pittodrie under Walter Smith continues, our players continually fail to repay both the management and fans, and the management team had yet another howler – tactically inept, a dinosaur, and his two puppets, who don’t have a clue! An all round poor performance from everyone, and they are dragging us down even further. Another chance to put the pressure on one of the worst celtc sides EVER, and yet again we fail. I hope the players enjoy tonight, because I certainly won’t, not that they give a shit."