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" I hope he stays but i must admit having 9mill to spend on a play-maker would make me really think about letting him go.

Striker Jean-Claude Darcheville has vowed to stay at Rangers and fight for a first-team place despite the arrival of plenty of competition this summer. Gers boss Walter Smith has bolstered his attacking options with the triple capture of Kenny Miller, Andrius Velicka and Kyle Lafferty this month. However, the veteran French forward insists he is happy to remain at Ibrox and prove he deserves to start games next season. Darcheville, who was the club's top scorer with 15 goals last season, said: "The fact Rangers have brought in three new strikers doesn't worry me - it excites me. "I see a lot of potential at Rangers. I love the club and I am settled in Scotland. I don't want to leave."

Evening Bears, I've been a Liverpool fan since the mid nineties and I'm delighted both clubs are meeting again. Was there for Walter Smith's testimonial and even saw Michael Owen miss an open goal from 6 yards at the Copeland end.. anyways I'm wanting to go down early on the day and get my photo taken with Stevie G, Torres, Carragher etc and I've never done this before. Anyone know when would be the best time to head down?? cheers

Will keep these posts separate from the main thread as the thrust is linked directly with Gersnet... http://www.gersnetonline.net/newsite/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=649&Itemid=1 Tennis, golf and RFC supporter group splits boring you? Time for The_Insider to tell you of the latest info he's heard regarding any comings and goings at the club. It's all good, clean fun so please don't get too excited (or more likely depressed) at the gossip we bring you in this light-hearted look through the transfer window... As usual we'll start with the players Rangers are interested in. Despite downmarket red-tops claiming war-chests of Ã?£20million, the money currently available to Walter Smith is nowhere near that amount. As it stands, despite raking in around Ã?£30million last season (from Hutton/Europe) the manager only has Ã?£6million to play with ââ?¬â?? plus any income from players who do leave. Kenny Miller has already arrived ââ?¬â?? much to the disappointment of many Rangers fans ââ?¬â?? so around Ã?£1.6million has already been spent. Because of this arrival Peter LÃ?¸venkrands will now definitely not be coming back to Ibrox. Not sure that will cheer up those of us still depressed at the return of Miller but I donââ?¬â?¢t think weââ?¬â?¢d have coped with two average ex-players coming back in one summer. Moving on, as he was in January, Kyle Lafferty is still very much in Smithââ?¬â?¢s sights. Able to play wide or in attack, the big Northern Irish player may be beyond Rangersââ?¬â?¢ current budget though. Rangers have offered Ã?£2.2million but Burnley are holding out for around twice that fee ââ?¬â?? with Celtic and Wolves the other clubs seriously interested. Rangers are also now monitoring the Dundee Utd midfielder Morgaro Gomis. The former Montpellier and Chelsea youth player has risen up the ranks quickly from spells in English lower league football before being signed by the Tayside club from Cowdenbeath. Impressive displays in three games against Rangers means the club may put in a modest offer for the Frenchman whose contract runs out next summer. Utd are also interested in a couple of Rangers fringe players so a swap deal may please both parties. All the above are hardly rumours which will excite the support so the pressure will be on the club to move on as many fringe players as possible to maximise the budget available to the manager. Several players are available and, while the club donââ?¬â?¢t want to lose prize asset Carlos Cuellar, The_Insider has heard the Spaniard actually has a Ã?£10million release clause in his contract. The player himself doesnââ?¬â?¢t want to go but after the Hutton debacle, who knows what his future will hold. Allan McGregor is another asset whose future is in doubt. Rumours have been abound for many months now that the Scotland international goalkeeper is interested in a move to Spurs. Gersnetââ?¬â?¢s information is that Smith will allow the keeper to leave for around Ã?£8million although Spurs prefer a stepped deal from around Ã?£5million. Despite paper talk of interest from various English clubs in Kevin Thomson the club have not had any offers for the player. However, the lad is looking to sign a new, improved contract and who can blame him a considering he also did his skipperââ?¬â?¢s hard work for much of the campaign. Rangers would do well to instil a disciplinary clause into any negotiations and save themselves some money ahead of his inevitable bookings next season. The strongest link out we have heard in recent days is that Jean-Claude Darcheville will be on his way in the summer. A Ã?£1.5million fee has been agreed with an as yet unnamed continental side so it appears the likeable French strikerââ?¬â?¢s Rangers career has finally been hamstrung. Thatââ?¬â?¢s all for this week, so if you can bear the excitement and tension, keep an eye on the site (and forum) for all the latest transfer gossip concerning the Rangers. :box:

Everyone will have, and are entitled to their thoughts regarding the return to Rangers of Kenny Miller. Iââ?¬â?¢ve heard Rangers fans claim that they are against this signing for varying reasons : he played for Celtc, the way he ââ?¬Ë?over-celebratedââ?¬â?¢ his goal against Rangers whilst playing for Celtc, and the one I plump for, he just isnââ?¬â?¢t good enough. Now, I hope, for the clubs sake, that Miller proves me, and a whole lot of other Rangers fans wrong. I hope in 12 months time that I am sitting here admitting to eating humble pie, however, I have my reservations. Kenny Miller is a ââ?¬Ë?run-of-the-millââ?¬â?¢ player ââ?¬â?? nothing more or nothing less. Kenny Miller, in my opinion found his level at Hibernian and that isnââ?¬â?¢t meant as a slight on the Edinburgh club, or Miller himself. Miller then found himself in the spot-light when Dick Advocaat bought him and then decided not to play him every often. Walter Smith and his backroom staff obviously rate Miller highly, as we as a club are no longer in the position to pay Ã?£2M for a squad player ââ?¬â?? Kenny Miller has been bought to spearhead our attack next season, of that there is no doubt. So, the question is, is Kenny Miller better than anything we currently have at Ibrox, or any other striker that is within our ââ?¬Ë?budgetââ?¬â?¢? To me, the answer is NO. Is Kenny Miller the player to shoot us to the SPL title? Is Kenny Miller the player that could have nicked us a goal in Eastlands Stadium to clinch the UEFA Cup? Nothing that I have witnessed from the striker tells me he is. In fact, I would argue that Kenny Miller isnââ?¬â?¢t a striker who could have won us 2 domestic cups competitions this year (and regular readers will know my feelings on Kris Boyd). In my opinion, the signing of Miller shows the diluted ambitions of our great club. I read a worrying, but very accurate description of Rangers on another website where a poster described Rangers as ââ?¬Ë?the smallest big club in the worldââ?¬â?¢. It seems that no matter how we do on or off the pitch, our current custodian downsizes our ambitions and chances of success year after year. This season we came tantalizingly close to a historic quadruple and with a little investment and an improvement in our squad, we would have taken significant strides over the close season and hopefully signed the players required to take that extra step in the SPL and UEFA Cup. However, it appears that any player leaving Rangers will no longer be replaces by someone of greater ability (another broken Murray promise). As a club, we made over Ã?£30M from our run in the CL and UEFA Cup and cashed in on Alan Hutton to the tune of Ã?£9M. Not for one moment am I suggesting that all of this money should have been given to the manager, but a significant amount should be released to ensure that next season we can win the SPL and maybe, just maybe, go one better in Europe. Watching Holland last night served as a stark wake-up / reality call for me. Watching Gio reminded me of the players that we once had, players with genuine pace, genuine guile and genuine pace. Players who could win you games and players who are everything we are currently lacking. Van Bronkhurst was never going to spend his entire career at Ibrox, but was an outstanding talent who has developed into a true international class footballer. It is worth remembering that Brian Laudrup cost Rangers Ã?£2.5M, Gazza, Mols, Negri cost in the region of Ã?£4M (each), all of whom are far more exciting than any player we are currently being linked with. We simply canââ?¬â?¢t afford to purchase more ââ?¬Ë?squadââ?¬â?¢ players this summer. We have the basis of a decent squad, but we need genuine prospects / players to supplement these players. However, if SDMââ?¬â?¢s track record is to continue, we are likely to see more Kirk Broadfoots (again, no disrespect to Kirk) than Giovanni Van Bronkhursts. In essence, this is the sorry story that the resigning for Kenny Miller reemphasises to this Rangers supporter and this will never change until the current custodian is removed from his post. As for Kenny Miller, like every Rangers player before him, he will receive nothing less that 100% backing from myslef when ever he pulls on that Rangers jersey but I have a feeling that he, even more that MoJo will split the Rangers support. But that is another topic for another thread. Cammy F ââ?¬â?? Support The Dublin Loyal - We Are The Peopleââ?¬Â¦.

DAVIE WEIR is set to agree a deal that will keep him at Rangers for another year. The veteran 38-year-old defender was offered an extension by boss Walter Smith at the end of last season. http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/display.var.2330441.0.0.php

http://www.gersnetonline.net/newsite/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=648&Itemid=1 After last weekââ?¬â?¢s playing staff report cards, itââ?¬â?¢s time to move onto some analysis of the management team. Walter Smith is certainly the main man here so, while Ally McCoist and Kenny McDowall have played their part and deserve to share in any praise/criticism, Iââ?¬â?¢ll concentrate on Walter. First off, I think we have to give praise where praise is due. When Smith took over in January 2007, the club were struggling badly, hadnââ?¬â?¢t won a trophy in over 2 years and the dressing room appeared split under the disastrous Paul Le Guen reign. The new manager identified the immediate problems and via some important signings begun the task of re-building. When he took over Smith was always at pains to say this would take time. He wanted to make the team difficult to beat first and foremost then move forward from there. In the latter part of season 2006/07, he did that ââ?¬â?? beating Celtic twice ââ?¬â?? and generally giving the fans something to buy into last summer. Further investment in the playing squad to the tune of Ã?£12million meant the chairman was also buying into this second Smith tenure in a way he didnââ?¬â?¢t with Le Guen. The signings Smith did make were greeted with conservativeness by the bulk of the support. Thomson and Weir (who arrived in January), followed by Beasley, Darcheville, Cousin, Gow, Broadfoot, Carroll, Whittaker, McCulloch, Cuellar and Naismith were interesting signings but none really captured the imagination of the support. Nonetheless, a large number of players did come in and the squad did look an improved one ââ?¬â?? if lacking in an immediate sense of excitement. The season started well. Championsââ?¬â?¢ League Group Stage qualification secured meant the risky financial gamble on MIH revolving credit facilities had been a successful one. A strengthening title bid and a decent CL campaign resulting in European football after Xmas suggested the club was back on the right track. What would 2008 bring? The answer was a European run none of us would have dreamt of, followed by the kind of disappointment that means the fans are once again nursing their depression during the close season. The Scottish Cup and CIS Cup wins were scarce reward for a roller-coaster season. Is our depression warranted then or should we concentrate on the positives ââ?¬â?? difficult as it may be after such a mentally exhausting season? A bit of both is how Iââ?¬â?¢d like to approach Smithsââ?¬â?¢ rating. Letââ?¬â?¢s concentrate on the negatives first. Despite the obvious problems with fixture congestion in the latter part of the season, it was a crushing blow to not win the SPL title. To lose a ten point lead in little over 6 weeks is unacceptable and Walter Smith must share responsibility for that. His inconsistent approach to team selection, personnel rotation and an overly defensive playing style meant while we were securing fine results in Europe, at home we could barely beat teams home or away. Quite simply because we were so defensive in Europe, we couldnââ?¬â?¢t switch to a more attacking frame of mind domestically when required. This resulted in the dropping of points which was unsustainable if we were to win the league. Essentially, as we did in Europe, Smith tried to defend his SPL lead as opposed to develop it via a fresh approach in terms of players and system on return from our UEFA Cup duties. Add in doubtful loyalty to under-performing players such as Broadfoot, Ferguson, McCulloch and Cousin then we had a team that was stumbling from game to game as opposed to striding through them. The style of play was bland, uninspiring, easy for opposition teams to play against and generally not good enough. Walter Smith canââ?¬â?¢t take the sole blame for losing the title thereafter but neither can he hide from it. What was obvious as the season went on was the distinct lack of creativity quality in the side. Injuries to our creative players (Beasley, Naismith and Burke) meant our direct style would be the norm despite indications earlier in the season that we could play attractive attacking football. Some fans advocated the return of Buffel or the introduction of Gow, Furman or Fleck to bring back some flair to the side but the fleeting glimpse in the less important games was our lot. We paid with this absence of a creative edge with the loss of the title. Of course there are mitigating reasons for Smithââ?¬â?¢s reluctance to be flexible. The number of games was unprecedented and unexpected. The fringe players available were hardly match-sharp, reliable or experienced. Changing the system too often could result in even more problems. We were still getting some positive results so why drop players? All these points are valid and should be considered when one questions the manager. We can also add in all the positives from the campaign. There are manyââ?¬Â¦. Walter Smith takes a lot of criticism for not being the type of manager who bloods younger players. I think that last season blew that theory out of the water. While we may not be playing the real youth per se - guys all 24 or under have formed the bulk of the team for large parts of the season. Broadfoot, Hutton, Davis, Whittaker, Thomson, Burke, Adam, Beasley and Naismith all played important parts in the squad while Smith also introduced Furman and Fleck into the first team. Even players like Cuellar, Papac and McGregor still have their best years ahead of them. The future of the squad is bright and Iââ?¬â?¢m confident that if a player is good enough, theyââ?¬â?¢ll play no matter their age. The next positive is one that has been missed in certain peopleââ?¬â?¢s haste to give our team the ridiculous anti-football label. Sure, at times we were too defensive and deserved criticism for that. However, every football team has to play to its strengths and our strength last season was our defence by far. Losing Alan Hutton and Alan McGregor reduced that effectiveness but the manner in which we defended in Europe is worthy of great praise. For many years people have wanted Scottish teams to be more mature, measured and intelligent in their approach to European matches and thereââ?¬â?¢s no doubt we achieved that to a reasonable extent last season. Add in some of the impressive results we did have last season - wins against the French and German champions, wins against other first class European opposition, wins against Celtic and our domestic cup successes means Smith can deliver in key games. The platform is there. All in all, I think we have to be measured in our analysis of the manager last season. I certainly donââ?¬â?¢t blame anyone for being wary for the future. Many of us remember Smithââ?¬â?¢s stubbornness and loyalty causing friction in his first spell at the club. Smithââ?¬â?¢s sides will always be more workmanlike than glamorous. Will he really ask difficult questions of Sir David Murray to ensure the club move forward again? Can he recover from the loss of the SPL title? To conclude, Walter Smith has achieved what he set out to do 18 months ago. Rangers are a difficult side to beat and we are now winning things again. The next stage is now even more important. Smith must bring genuine quality back to the first XI. Yes, weââ?¬â?¢ll need a small turnover of squad players (hence Kenny Miller) but we still require 3 top level signings on top of that - another defender, a creative player (wide or central) and a striker. If Smith can provide those imperative additions to the team then perhaps some of the recent criticism of what was still a decent season will be tempered somewhat. If not, then I doubt many fans will tolerate another season of defensive route one play with no title at the end of it. Neither would I blame them. Thus, the jury remains out then. Itââ?¬â?¢s up to Walter to show us he is the man to take us forward. We should get behind him to ensure that does happen. Walter Smith - 7

RANGERS are poised to make a shock bid for former Hearts striker Andrius Velicka. Record Sport can reveal the Ibrox club will table a s1million offer for the Lithuanian who joined Viking Stavanger in Norway from the Tynecastle club in February. Manager Walter Smith expects to get his man and is also confident the transfer of Kenny Miller will be completed this weekend. Velicka scored 14 goals in 26 games for Hearts last season, including one against Rangers at Ibrox. Smith hopes to land the 27-year-old hitman for around s1m, the same figure that took him to Norway where he scored three times in six appearances after his move. Smith expects Miller's controversial s1.75m switch from Derby County to be sealed before Monday. The Scotland striker will sign a three-year deal to become the first footballer in modern history to play for Rangers twice and also for Celtic.

Jun 1 2008 Exclusive By Scott Mcdermott SPANISH star Carlos Cuellar is ready to commit himself to Rangers by signing a new long-term deal. The SPL Player of the Year has been a revelation in Glasgow since his s2.4million transfer from La Liga side Osasuna last summer. Despite Gers' dramatic collapse in the title race and defeat in the UEFA Cup Final, Cuellar has been outstanding for Walter Smith's side. His form has attracted the attention of Newcastle United as well as a host of Italian and Spanish outfits. But the 26-year-old's agent last night told MailSport there has been NO contact or official bid from any club. And Pedro Bravo hinted his client is so settled in Scotland he'd be willing to extend his current contract which expires in 2011. Bravo is adamant the only way Cuellar will leave is if chief executive Martin Bain receives a bid Gers can't turn down - like the s9million Spurs splashed out to land right-back Alan Hutton. Bravo said: "I have heard all the rumours about Newcastle and teams in Italy or Spain wanting Carlos. "But I haven't heard anything official. There has been no contact or bid. "Carlos is happy in Glasgow and doesn't want to leave. The Rangers fans have been incredible with him. "I spoke to Martin Bain in Manchester at the UEFA Cup Final and told him how happy Carlos is. "He told me Rangers are not interested in selling and that was good enough for me. "The only way Carlos would leave is if Rangers received a bid they decide they can't refuse. Then Martin would have to talk with me and Carlos. "But if Rangers want to speak to us about extending Carlos' contract I will be on the first flight to Glasgow. "Carlos is on holiday at the moment but loves life in Scotland and would be keen to stay."

Not a bad thing, he will be a good squad player who can fill in a number of positions.

The big man was at my work last night for his nephews wedding. Was looking good I went up to him after his meal and asked for an autograph on my mates UEFA Cup Final programme and one for my little brother then I patted him on the back and wished him luck for next season. Then at night after the party my mates asked him for a photo, so me and another two of us got a photo with him, was talking away to him. Don't want to sound negative, but at the end of the night when he was blootered I heard him mention Kenny Miller to his mate.

Wants away from Burnley.... Quote from BBCi Rangers boss Walter Smith has already had a bid for Lafferty turned down but it is believed he is ready to increase the offer. Celtic have also had previous offers for the 6ft 4in forward rejected. "I understand Wolves and Rangers want to sign me and I would be thrilled to move to either club," added Lafferty. "I've heard Celtic will also be making a bid but I don't think that move will ever materialise. That last line is what I am talking about. 6ft 4' so big target man. Don't really know as I have seen nothing of him.....

It is a pity he won't stay as back-up but another year camped in our 18 yard box doesn't appeal to me. Best for everyone i think.

Quite long, but well worth a read....... It was forwarded to me but I believe the source is the Times - I'll try and find a link later... ------------------------------------ (Part 1) Reporter Robert Watt has covered Scottish football for close to thirty years but it was as a Rangers fan he attended last week's UEFA Cup Final in Manchester. What had been a day to remember for all associated with the Ibrox club was only marginally marred by the result of the big match but some incidents of disorder in the city, subsequent exaggeration of the trouble and the ongoing 'spin' from Greater Manchester Police has prompted this heartfelt response. MANCHESTER - THE TRUE STORY The mood was sombre in the car on the way home from Manchester last Thursday. Defeat from Zenit St Petersburg in the UEFA Cup Final was being aggravated by a constant flagging up of a few ugly incidents in the city the previous night, everyone was queuing up to stick the boot into Rangers fans, then Manchester City Council, whose enthusiasm for the occasion had never risen above tepid, announced they had consequently abandoned plans for a public screening of Wednesday's Champions League Final between Manchester United and Chelsea. "Surely an over-reaction," said BBC Radio 2's Chris Evans, to rapturous applause from within the car. "C'mon, there were 250,000 Rangers fans in Manchester and only 40 arrests, that's zero point zero zero zero something in percentage terms." The DJ's assessment of the numbers was perhaps slightly excessive but conservative estimates are that no less than 200,000 Rangers supporters had descended on England's third city. And Greater Manchester Police's subsequent announcement that only ELEVEN Ibrox fans were facing charges put all the 'riot, 'rampage' and 'war zone' stories into some perspective. The genie, however, is once more out of the bottle. Subsequent reflections on events have been outrageously hyped up, all the usual suspects - from attention-seeking politicians, journalists with an axe to grind, discredited anti-sectarianism bodies, the butchers, bakers and candlestick-makers who adminster the game and, not least of all, Manchester City Council and Greater Manchester Police - have jumped on the holier-than-thou bandwagon and put Rangers F.C. on the back-foot yet again. Let it be made clear right now, no right-thinking person would dream of condoning the actions of those morons whose response to the blanking of the big-screens in one of the fanzones was to hurl bottles at the screens and turn on the police. It is indefensible and nobody would lose any sleep if those responsible were to be locked up and the key conveniently mislaid. It is the reaction to it all which has been so disappointing, yet wholly predictable. For the bulk of the past 25 years, Rangers and their fans have been under attack from many sources and it is a relentless drip-drip-drip process which has eaten into any feelgood factor the fans have enjoyed, with every high being clouded by dubious side-issues, while their traditions have been rubbished and abandoned, songs outlawed and individual fans and supporters groups subjected to harassment or worse. Of course, Manchester was an accident waiting to happen from the moment Nacho Novo slotted home the penalty kick to beat Fiorentina and take Rangers through to the final. As soon as it became clear the Gers were Manchester-bound, the messages coming out of the city were unfriendly in the extreme. If you don't have a ticket, stay away; there will be no big screens and no fanzones; the pubs will be closed, drinking in public is not permitted; the police will stringently enforce the local by-laws. Welcome to Manchester? You must be joking! "It took the intervention of respected politicians like Ian Davidson MP, the Manchester business community and various representative groups from within the Rangers support to force both the council and the police authority to soften their stance," explained Steven Smith, media spokesman for the Rangers Supporters Trust. "Wednesday's brief disorder was disappointing but, had the local authorities had it their way, one shudders to think what might have happened." Realizing that a human tsunami was about to descend on the city regardless, Manchester made a dramatic u-turn. But already their position as reluctant hosts was exposed. Yet in a city which claims to be football-mad, home to one of the most passionately supported clubs in world football, they seemed incapable of interpreting the mood amongst Rangers fans. Put it this way, if United were in a European final at Hampden, how many of their fans would travel to Glasgow, with or without tickets? They would surely come close to matching the numbers who travelled south last week, although it is fairly safe to say Glasgow District Council would have laid out the welcome mat from the outset, unlike their Mancunian counterparts. No Rangers fan will need to be reminded that Greater Manchester Police have a history where their club is concerned. In 2003, when the Light Blues visited Old Trafford on Champions League business, every pub in the city was ordered to close, yet the visits of Celtic prompted no such clampdown, despite their fans' overt support for the terrorist organization which bombed the heart out of the city centre no more than twelve years ago. And in the summer of 2006, in a most abysmal abdication of responsibility, GMP ordered the cancellation of a friendly between Bolton Wanderers and Rangers because they claimed policing the match would stretch their resources. If they can't handle a pre-season kickabout, one wonders why they ever backed their City Council's bid to host a high-octane event like the UEFA Cup Final. When the Cup Final went out to tender, it would have been part of the city's sales pitch that they are experienced in hosting such events, no doubt citing regular glamour games at Old Trafford, the 2002 Commonwealth Games and the Champions League Final of the following year. Clearly they expected two foreign sides to arrive in town, enjoy a cozy get-together, then head off home with the minimum of fuss. In a perfect world, it would all work out that way but, of course, we live in a different world entirely. Walter Smith's men stunned Europe with their progress this season and suddenly Manchester City Council wanted to change the rules. Two things immediately bothered Rangers fans. With the City Stadium holding only 44,500 spectators, tickets would be like gold dust and, inevitably, a flourishing black market sprung up. Was it out of the question to switch the event to Old Trafford, with a capacity of close to 80,000? Whatever the logistical problems with ticketing etc, the increased revenue would surely have made the switch financially viable. And if that was impractical, why not set up Old Trafford for a big-screen showing, taking more than 70,000 ticketless fans off the streets? Furthermore, with the city being so accessible from all parts of the UK and beyond, the volume of incoming fans outstripped all the estimates of the local authority, they constantly disregarded the ever-escalating but wholly realistic figures being quoted by the more informed sources in Scotland.

Hey, We are the CIS cup and Scottish Cup champions....but it still doesn't mask the disappointment of missing out on winning the SPL aswell as the UFEA cup. Who would you have liked to seen used more frequently by Walter smith/Ally McCoist from the Rangers reserve and youth teams? A number of players were on the bench for alot of games such as furman, lennon, fleck etc but werent used by management and I would like to hear the fans' view on these players and on others who are up and coming.

Reporter Robert Watt has covered Scottish football for close to thirty years but it was as a Rangers fan he attended last week's UEFA Cup Final in Manchester. What had been a day to remember for all associated with the Ibrox club was only marginally marred by the result of the big match but some incidents of disorder in the city, subsequent exaggeration of the trouble and the ongoing 'spin' from Greater Manchester Police has prompted this heartfelt response. MANCHESTER - THE TRUE STORY The mood was sombre in the car on the way home from Manchester last Thursday. Defeat from Zenit St Petersburg in the UEFA Cup Final was being aggravated by a constant flagging up of a few ugly incidents in the city the previous night, everyone was queuing up to stick the boot into Rangers fans, then Manchester City Council, whose enthusiasm for the occasion had never risen above tepid, announced they had consequently abandoned plans for a public screening of Wednesday's Champions League Final between Manchester United and Chelsea. "Surely an over-reaction," said BBC Radio 2's Chris Evans, to rapturous applause from within the car. "C'mon, there were 250,000 Rangers fans in Manchester and only 40 arrests, that's zero point zero zero zero something in percentage terms." The DJ's assessment of the numbers was perhaps slightly excessive but conservative estimates are that no less than 200,000 Rangers supporters had descended on England's third city. And Greater Manchester Police's subsequent announcement that only ELEVEN Ibrox fans were facing charges put all the 'riot, 'rampage' and 'war zone' stories into some perspective. The genie, however, is once more out of the bottle. Subsequent reflections on events have been outrageously hyped up, all the usual suspects - from attention-seeking politicians, journalists with an axe to grind, discredited anti-sectarianism bodies, the butchers, bakers and candlestick-makers who adminster the game and, not least of all, Manchester City Council and Greater Manchester Police - have jumped on the holier-than-thou bandwagon and put Rangers F.C. on the back-foot yet again. Let it be made clear right now, no right-thinking person would dream of condoning the actions of those morons whose response to the blanking of the big-screens in one of the fanzones was to hurl bottles at the screens and turn on the police. It is indefensible and nobody would lose any sleep if those responsible were to be locked up and the key conveniently mislaid. It is the reaction to it all which has been so disappointing, yet wholly predictable. For the bulk of the past 25 years, Rangers and their fans have been under attack from many sources and it is a relentless drip-drip-drip process which has eaten into any feelgood factor the fans have enjoyed, with every high being clouded by dubious side-issues, while their traditions have been rubbished and abandoned, songs outlawed and individual fans and supporters groups subjected to harassment or worse. Of course, Manchester was an accident waiting to happen from the moment Nacho Novo slotted home the penalty kick to beat Fiorentina and take Rangers through to the final. As soon as it became clear the Gers were Manchester-bound, the messages coming out of the city were unfriendly in the extreme. If you don't have a ticket, stay away; there will be no big screens and no fanzones; the pubs will be closed, drinking in public is not permitted; the police will stringently enforce the local by-laws. Welcome to Manchester? You must be joking! "It took the intervention of respected politicians like Ian Davidson MP, the Manchester business community and various representative groups from within the Rangers support to force both the council and the police authority to soften their stance," explained Steven Smith, media spokesman for the Rangers Supporters Trust. "Wednesday's brief disorder was disappointing but, had the local authorities had it their way, one shudders to think what might have happened." Realizing that a human tsunami was about to descend on the city regardless, Manchester made a dramatic u-turn. But already their position as reluctant hosts was exposed. Yet in a city which claims to be football-mad, home to one of the most passionately supported clubs in world football, they seemed incapable of interpreting the mood amongst Rangers fans. Put it this way, if United were in a European final at Hampden, how many of their fans would travel to Glasgow, with or without tickets? They would surely come close to matching the numbers who travelled south last week, although it is fairly safe to say Glasgow District Council would have laid out the welcome mat from the outset, unlike their Mancunian counterparts. No Rangers fan will need to be reminded that Greater Manchester Police have a history where their club is concerned. In 2003, when the Light Blues visited Old Trafford on Champions League business, every pub in the city was ordered to close, yet the visits of Celtic prompted no such clampdown, despite their fans' overt support for the terrorist organization which bombed the heart out of the city centre no more than twelve years ago. And in the summer of 2006, in a most abysmal abdication of responsibility, GMP ordered the cancellation of a friendly between Bolton Wanderers and Rangers because they claimed policing the match would stretch their resources. If they can't handle a pre-season kickabout, one wonders why they ever backed their City Council's bid to host a high-octane event like the UEFA Cup Final. When the Cup Final went out to tender, it would have been part of the city's sales pitch that they are experienced in hosting such events, no doubt citing regular glamour games at Old Trafford, the 2002 Commonwealth Games and the Champions League Final of the following year. Clearly they expected two foreign sides to arrive in town, enjoy a cozy get-together, then head off home with the minimum of fuss. In a perfect world, it would all work out that way but, of course, we live in a different world entirely. Walter Smith's men stunned Europe with their progress this season and suddenly Manchester City Council wanted to change the rules. Two things immediately bothered Rangers fans. With the City Stadium holding only 44,500 spectators, tickets would be like gold dust and, inevitably, a flourishing black market sprung up. Was it out of the question to switch the event to Old Trafford, with a capacity of close to 80,000? Whatever the logistical problems with ticketing etc, the increased revenue would surely have made the switch financially viable. And if that was impractical, why not set up Old Trafford for a big-screen showing, taking more than 70,000 ticketless fans off the streets? Furthermore, with the city being so accessible from all parts of the UK and beyond, the volume of incoming fans outstripped all the estimates of the local authority, they constantly disregarded the ever-escalating but wholly realistic figures being quoted by the more informed sources in Scotland. Quite simply, Manchester did not have its finger on the pulse and, even as late as Wednesday afternoon, with the town centre grid-locked with fans, heads were buried in the sand. The volume of humanity in the vicinity and the workload on an inadequately prepared area meant a breakdown in the system was almost inevitable. Part 1

By Andrew Dickson RANGERS' season will begin in July as a result of their failure to win the SPL title tonight in the final round of championship matches. Because they have finished second in the standings, they now face the prospect of going through two qualifying rounds to reach the Champions League group stage. Consequently, that means Walter Smith's players will get less than a calendar month off on holiday as they return for pre-season training on June 23. David WeirGers will be the highest-ranked club in the draw for the second preliminary stage, meaning they'll avoid the likes of Fenerbahce, Panathinaikos, Basel and Anderlecht. Potential opponents do, however, include former Euro foes IFK Gothenburg, Anorthosis Famagusta and FBK Kaunas. First-leg ties at that point in the competition will be played on July 29/30, with return games taking place on August 5/6. Should the Light Blues progress to the third qualifying round, they will again be seeded with only Liverpool, Barcelona, Arsenal, Schalke and Juventus ranked above them. That doesn't mean they'll be in for an easy draw though, with a string of tricky teams lying in wait there too. Among them are Sparta Prague, Dynamo Kiev and Galatasaray and those matches will take place on August 12/13 and 26/27. Should Rangers advance again, they'll go into the group phase for the ninth time in the revamped European Cup's 17th year and pool games will start in September.

WALTER SMITH insists the SPL's failure to help ease Rangers' fixture congestion sufficiently led to Celtic winning the championship as much as anything. In their 67th game of an extraordinary season, the Light Blues lost the title race as they were beaten 2-0 by Aberdeen at Pittodrie. Ally McCoist, Walter Smith and Kenny McDowallThe match was Gers' third in six days and now they have a gap of just 41 hours in which to prepare for Saturday's Scottish Cup final with Queen of the South. Smith's men have already played eight times since May began and the league's refusal to extend the season further because of Rangers' European commitments has cost them. The Ibrox manager has made his stance on the situation clear already and he feels better handling of the circumstances would have given his side more of a chance. Smith said: "I felt at one stage of the season that we had a good opportunity to win the league and that was more than I'd have expected in our first full season back at the club. "But we're obviously disappointed with the outcome tonight and disappointed we've lost out on the championship. "Having been in a good position previously, our disappointment is even greater because things haven't materialised for us. "I wouldn't say I think there was ever any point when things started to wrong for us as such. "After a run of 20 games unbeaten, I felt at that point we could go on to take the championship because of the levels of consistency we had shown. "But when we realised what fixtures we would have in the last couple of months, I knew we would have a battle on our hands.Ferguson battles with Mackie "Overall, a failure to handle a set of circumstances which were unusual for a team to have to deal with has led to us falling down as much as anything else. "Rangers, like any other club in the situation we were in, tried as hard as we could to get our fixtures spread out. "When it didn't happen, we had to play the games we had. We've done that now and the way things have turned out hasn't helped us." Smith saw substitute Nacho Novo sent off for a reckless tackle on Stuart Duff and had no complaints about the Spaniards dismissal. Rangers must now go into the weekend without the suspended striker, just as they did when they faced Dundee United for the League Cup in March. Smith knows he must also rouse his men one last time before the summer, regardless of the short period they have in which to prepare. He added: "We'll have to play the game and we would like to finish the season on a brighter note than we have done in the last week or so."

Walter Smith getting it in the neck. Walter has came in and has done a maginifecent job on limited resources. At the start of the season, i said we may not win the league but it certainly will be closer. Which is correct, of course i am upset about losing the league but no sour grapes, Celtic won it over the 38 games fair and square. We may not layed attractive football that everyone one wants to see this season, but this season was to balance things up, won us one cup, toke us to a european final and ran Celtic close in the league. Next season is where we start to play some more attractive football. Lets remember where we were just 12 months ago, thank you Walter for what has been a great season bar the trophies, i have every confidence that you will win the league next season. We have a cup final tomorrow as well, we will have to be behind the team, will be a tough game because Queen's have had a few weeks off, while we have played god so many games in that amount of time.

The Waiting Is Over Finally, the waiting is over, the sense of anticipation that has been with us since we defeated Fiorentina in the UEFA Cup semi-final has almost been extinguished. We are less than 48 hours away from witnessing Rangers in a European cup final for the first time in 36 years. This is the moment that we have all been waiting for. A club like Rangers requires to be regulars in the later stages of Europe and for once, we have an achievement to be proud off. I know you will all be like me, shaking like a leaf, unable to eat or sleep thinking of all the permutations in the climax of this unthinkable, but more than welcome season. For a few short days, we can put the controversy of the SPHELL behind us, we can afford to take our eyes of the domestic ball, and focus on the chance of winning our 2nd European trophy. With the final being in Manchester, it allows easy access for a huge travelling support (not that weââ?¬â?¢d not take a huge support no matter where the final was being held) and I hope that ever last one of us enjoys the game and the occasion no matter where they are watching from. To those going to Manchester, lets show the world that we are ââ?¬Ë?simply the bestââ?¬â?¢. I donââ?¬â?¢t need to reiterate that we should be on our best behaviour. Wednesday will be our 19th European game this season and we havenââ?¬â?¢t had a fan arrested. I wonder if any other club in Europe could boast of this brilliant behaviour? I wonder if the Scottish establishment will push for UEFA to honour us by installing us with the Fair Play Award, the same award that was given to Celtc after Suville. Lets face it, weââ?¬â?¢ve had no planes diverted, no riots at airports, no arrests ââ?¬â?? we must be a shoe in for it. I also wonder if the unbiased and impartial media will regale us with documentaries focussing on our travels to Manchester or if Scottish MPââ?¬â?¢s will raise a motion in Parliament to have Walter Smith Knighted? Anyway, enough of the ââ?¬Ë?tongue in cheekââ?¬â?¢ comments and lets get back to the importance of this game. I would expect, just like Helicopter Sunday, every Rangers fan will have their own unique story to tell come Thursday and hopefully Wednesday will have the same jubilant outcome as that infamous Sunday had. The result of the game could go along way in determining the course of our SPHELL and Scottish Cup campaigns as well. It could also see us have a huge rise in prestige and see our name catapulted to the higher echelons of European Football. This squad has continued to surprise us with its resilience, with its never say die attitude and with its unquenchable will to win. Can this be enough to defeat a very decent Zenit side? Who knows, only time will tell. However, one thing that we have grown to understand about this team, youââ?¬â?¢d be stupid to write them off. In a way, it is a huge disadvantage playing a side managed by an ex-Rangers manager, as heââ?¬â?¢ll know and understand that we are not to be underestimated. I just hope that his players donââ?¬â?¢t heed his warnings. I still canââ?¬â?¢t believe that I am on the verge of witnessing The Rangers in a major European final. I donââ?¬â?¢t think itââ?¬â?¢ll finally sink in until the teams emerge from the tunnel on Wednesday and I hear (and be part off) the all mighty roar that will great the players. This is (but shouldnââ?¬â?¢t be) a once in a lifetime opportunity. I will try to savour every second of the day, but like Barry said in his fantastic article ââ?¬Ë?The Madness & Genius Of Crowdsââ?¬â?¢ - http://www.gersnetonline.net/vb/showthread.php?t=7130 I donââ?¬â?¢t think Iââ?¬â?¢ll fully appreciate the night, the achievement or the importance of this game until I have time to sit and scrutinise the season after the last ball has been kicked. No matter how much you try and absorb every aspect of a momentous occasion, it doesnââ?¬â?¢t really sink in. Again, Helicopter Sunday is a prime example of this. The game went past in a blur and it wasnââ?¬â?¢t until after the event that I realised just how fortunate I was to actually be there, but it took a few days for the realisation of the enormity of what I had witnessed to sink in. I have already stated to family and friends that come Wednesday, I will be an emotional wreck ââ?¬â?? I know I wonââ?¬â?¢t be alone! As I said above, for a few short days we can put the domestic trials and tribulations to one side and hopefully enjoy this fantastic occasion ââ?¬â?? the domestic situation will be back to the forefront before we know it. So once again, no matter where you are watching the game, no matter how you are getting to Manchester (if you are part of the friendliest invasion in history!) ââ?¬â?? fookin enjoy it folks (look out for the gernset banner!) ââ?¬â?? no doubt those travelling to Manchester will meet up with friends (old and new) and make so many new friends in the process ââ?¬â?? So good luck to one and all, good luck to Walter, Ally, Kenny and the backroom staff and all the best to Barry Ferguson and the players - however, if I may, I would like to end this article with a reminder that some of us wonââ?¬â?¢t witness this occasion ââ?¬â?? they will be there in spirit though ââ?¬â?? absent friends ââ?¬â?? Cammy F - We Are The People (as the world is about to witness)

Smith wins Writers award! No surprise. Levein and McGhee have both done well with Dundee Utd and Motherwell respectively this season but Smith has hit a huge height.

....do something historic this season?? Firstly, credit has to go to Walter Smith, Ally McCoist and the baldy one (KM) for what they have done to Rangers in the last 14 months. They have turned arguably the worst Rangers team in 20 years round into the frontmen in Scotland again and pushed us into the last 8 of europe. Yes it has not been pretty in certain games but recently the moaning has stopped about performances due to the progression the team in making in the competitons we are in. Thats what it is all about from March onwards - winning football matches. We are coming into the business end of the season with finishing lines in sight and still in a wonderful position. Our Green friends from the other side of Glasgow along with a few of the so called "balanced 4th estate" must really be beginning to panic with what we could achieve this season. However there is still a lot of football to be played and as good as getting to the last 8 of the UEFA cup feels we have to come back down to earth as we have not won anything yet. We still have 3 old firm derbies to play which will no doubt decide if the league flag comes back to home to Ibrox. We are in pole position for these games with the next meeting to be played at Ibrox. We also currently have advantage of 3 point lead with 1 game in hand, thus depending on the farcical situation of Gretna. All attentions can be turned to the league cup final on Sunday where we need the lads to produce yet another solid defensive display and do enough in Dundee Utd's half to take the first trophy home. The Scottish cup will come around again and with all due respect to Partick Thistle we should be looking forward to facing either St Johnstone or St Mirren for another date at Hampden. That leaves the UEFA cup. We fear no team in the here. Bayern are the favourties but we'll see what the draw brings us. One game at a time is what is required at the moment and who knows what we will be celebrating in 2 months time. :cheers:

I firmly believe he deserves a Knighthood. The way he has controlled himself in such adversity is amazing. Sir Walter Smith

Found this on the BBC, don't know what to make of it... Everyone knows he should have won POTY, but someone else had one good game against a very poor Aberdeen... and so the mhedia got to work on this campaign as their previous attempts to get it awarded to Brown failed when he played even worse than when he started... It would be good to see Weir make it, been a rock this year and thought he was excellent in the 1st leg! If not, King Carlos will keep whoever he plays alongside in check! Edit: link to article. Was correct as of 9am in case it gets changed...

I hope the big man is correct!! Keeping a clean sheet in the first game could be what wins it for us.