craig

Yeah, Bitci is its own chain. Cardano is pointless as they still can't get their smart contracts to work properly. And XRP is embroiled in a massive lawsuit with the SEC about it being securities, so can't sell anything to US citizens.

Doubt we pay that much for Sands, that is almost 5 million quid. Plus.... why would we trigger that clause when we still have him till next summer on loan ?

FWC-2022-Match-Schedule.pdf (fifa.com) World Cup 2022: Fixtures, schedule and kick-off times for Qatar | Football News | Sky Sports First link in a nicer format - second one shows UK Kick off times.

The old ones huh.....

He didnt play just as an 8 at Sheffield Utd, though he predominantly did, I agree. Personally I think he CAN play the 8 well, but he took time to settle with us and by the time he got a run of games he was being used as a 6, and he excelled there. I think he makes a more effective 8 than Ryan Jack for example, because he can do the things Jack does defensively, but he offers more of a goal threat too. With those two, the beauty is they both can play both, which allows them a level of fluidity which makes it hard to defend against, when done right. - I am not going there any longer ....

They only really add value if they are getting game time - they don't take up a squad place as a homegrown player so they don't actually help in that regard I don't think. If they are getting gametime (serious gametime) then a Defoe could have been in the squad at the expense of another eg, King is preferred in Europe ahead of Helander.... could drop Helander from squad and have Defoe in squad - otherwise those players dont help. At least that is my understanding.... As a PS..... Just imagine how helpful it MIGHT have been to have Jermain Defoe in our European squad come the end of the Europa campaign...... the ifs and buts....

He could, that would certainly work as it is purely between employee and employer - but if they demand 8.5 million for him would he really want to buy out his own contract - and at what cost would it be ? And, truth be told, would Rangers really want to get caught up in a transaction like that which would more than likely see increased press and scrutiny - eg, player buys out contract for, say 2 million..... Rangers pay player 2 million signing on fee..... I'd have thought the UK government would be all over that from a sanctions perspective in a heartbeat. Would we have anything to answer to ? Who the hell knows given the sanctions regime presently - I do know that we deal with sanctions stuff regularly in our company (oil and gas insurance) and we have increased our Enterprise risk for sanctions compliance because of some non-Russian entities having joint ventures with Russian companies - sanctions run very deep - and not sure Rangers would want to get embroiled in finding a "workaround"

You are making a very bold assumption that footballing contracts of employment will follow others. At the end of the day it is a very simple question of "who owns his contract" - answer, some Russian mob. No idea of their financial standing but they have absolutely zero obligation to let him leave on the cheap. And no amount of sanctions can force that issue. Now.... what Rangers CAN do is lowball an offer - given he is out of contract next summer and given the sanctions situation, Sochi will know that by holding onto him they run the risk of losing him for free (there is an option on his contract for a further year but I don't know who has the right to extend, player or club). A furlough, by the way, does not legally separate anyone from their contract - furlough effectively puts a pause on their contract. With all due respect, American sports work in an entirely different manner to football. Haha, the Americans are trying to take over the game in Europe anyway - and managed to fuck that up with the Super League nonsense - which was predominantly and American idea between the US owners of Man Utd, Liverpool, Arsenal, plus the financiers being JP Morgan (think it was JP Morgan).

Both fair points. I don't think Gerrard was playing him in his best position - remembering that he has played a few different positions prior to coming to us. Once Gio put him back in the team after the Parkhead debacle he has absolutely excelled. Probably not much point in labouring whether he was a top performer or not - more importantly, he is most certainly now one of, if not the, first name on the team sheet - and long may that continue - particularly as he only just turned 28 in February - we have him at his peak years IMO - and now that he has had that season in Scotland under his belt I have a very real feeling he is going to light up this league - and Europe too.

IMHO You are basing much of that on his fleeting sub appearances after he was "dropped" after the 2-2 draw with Aberdeen. Prior to that he was, as has been said, getting MOTM awards because, well, he was MOTM. It isnt easy to come in for 15-25 minutes each week and make an impact. For me, I was completely convinced by him in his very first game against Real Madrid. The way he dummied the ball and went past a player of Marcelo's quality as if he wasn't there was good enough for me.

Quite an incredible achievement. Auchinleck Talbot winning the Junior Cup for the 14th time in their history, with their nearest challengers sitting on 5. Hopefully they will find a way for this old trophy to maintain relevance, beautiful trophy which one can see struggle to continue with the pyramid system being foisted upon clubs going forward. Been competed for since 1886 - would be a travesty to see it lost to modernisation of the game. Fourteen times for Talbot, unbelievable achievement. I was at 5 of the first 6 Cup finals (1st win was in 1949 before my time, but was there in 1986, 1987, 1988, 1991 and 1992). Left UK in 2000, Talbot lost the 2002 final to Linlithgow, then went on to win it 8 times in the next 15 competitions between 2005 and last weekend (and beaten twice in the final in that period too). What a club.

He turned 18 in January - hardly sink or swim time.

That only works if his current club release him. And given they seem to be wanting 8.5 million there is literally no chance of that happening.

Even just the 2-1 game at Ibrox would have been enough had we converted the 2 stonewall penalties we should have got.

Aye, right enough

Had to check to make sure this wasnt the transfer rumours thread

Soul destroying their sizing

He was brutal last night - I wouldnt pick him for my team at his natural CM position.... so quite why the national team manager would pick him at CB is beyond me !

You think that Castore have final decision on colour scheme for the teams they produce kit for ?

Doesnt make them amateurish though.

To have two natural CB's on the bench and use McTominay was suicidal. McTominay is pish as a CM so why use him as a CB. Then he used a LB at RB. Scotland got everything they deserved last night - nothing.

Was for Mikailichenko I believe.

Fair enough I wonder who there would be available that is better in our price range - genuine question, and I am sure there are plenty, but would be interested to know who we might be looking at. Personally for me I just feel Balogun is plenty good enough for domestic games. That said, I admittedly would be showing too much sentiment towards the whole lot of them that got us to the Europa final last season.

Will be interesting to see who he brings in for his backroom staff

Sums it up for me too.