craig

Yeah but the way we are playing their keeper might beat us on his own

That is still only 3 mill a year Frankie - it helps, but we need an awful lot more than that. I know you feel the same way, just pointing out that Klos and Ricksen leaving is a drop in the ocean. I like our club being close to debt-free but I still believe that any decent business shiould have some form of financial gearing (there should be SOME debt - my company for instance have a lot of debt on the books BUT we actually obtain better returns from the financial markets than we pay for the debt - so our debt actually generates revenue for us). Also... I keep hearing that DM is trying to get Rangers debt-free to make it more attractive to any potential buyer - whilst I know that this is likely what is happening MANY business acquisitions have numerous caveats in them and numerous conditions - it is actually very commonplace for a business to be sold lock, stock and barrel EXCEPT FOR loans or other liabilities. So there is nothing to stop DM creating more debt for Rangers by allowing funds for transfers and then when he sells up the ownership passes to the new owner whilst DM, or MIM, retain the debt that he has built. The net effect to the new owners would be ZERO (other than the perception that having debt on the books leaves - but if DM retains "ownership" of the debts then it has no impact on the potential buyer). I happen to believe, personal opinion only, that by not investing decent money into the playing squad (especially having a manager that I believe given the right tools can create much success) that he is hindering his chances of obtaining his asking price - we are sliding further and further competitively on AND off the park to our East End neighbours and I think DM will, without investment in this team and club, see his asking price fall even further than it is now. Sometimes you have to speculate to accumulate - if DM had us closer to Celtic and challenging he may actually see his asking price increase - but I doubt that is a risk he is prepared to take, which is a shame given his vast array of personal wealth - I think 20 million would be a huge shot in the arm for our club and yet is is a drop in the ocean to his own wealth (and in actual fact if he liquidated his assets and had 650 mill in cash the interest rate he would need to make 20 mill a year would only be just over 3% - in Bermuda you can get savings rates of 6% just now - and for 650 mill you could get a whole lot more - so he could provide a shot in the arm for this club without touching his own capital). Sadly, not going to happen !

Not that complicated then is it Gav

Yeah but if Chelsea get the draw and Barca beat Levski then Barca need a win to put Bremen out, so Chelsea's help for Bremen only goes so far - everything is still in Barca's own hands.

They were the 1st 2 games of the season Gribz..... and since then he has been very poor. I personally don't think we are missing Sionko AT ALL. Clement and Burke yes, Sionko - NO

Gribz, Sionko has been awful IMO !

I agree with you buba that Klos was good enough to be an international, unfortunately Khan WAS a better keeper - Khan was one of the best there has been, Klos was just unfortunate that he played at a time when Khan was world class - though when the Germans turned the reigns over to Lehmann I believe Klos was the better keeper. Klos was a great replacement to Goram but Goram was, for me, most definitely a better keeper. But Klos WAS a great replacement but Goram just commanded his area and his defence has supreme confidence that even if they were beaten Goram wouldn't be - I don't think Klos quite reached that standard. I agree that Klos is somewhat of a legend. However, Gribz, I don't think we should keep him. Unfortunately finance is paramount at our club right now and to be paying Klos 30k per week would be financial mis-management given he is in the twilight of his career and doesn't represent the future. Further, I think McGregor has proven himself an able keeper that, given time, will progress into a very good keeper for us and he is also a fraction of the cost. I hope he gets a good send-off, he deserves it.

Nae bother buts, my 5 quid a point meant I bet about 95 quid (as I didn't get the non-league games). Am down about 35 quid today but I will cut you some slack I have lost a lot more than that in the past !! I will stick around with you for a while, pretty comfortable with your picks, hindisght is 20/20 but I felt Hearts would let us down after the goings-on this week. Onto next week we go !

Gribz, I think you are being unfair on O Connor - I think he has scored something like 9 goals in 16 games, not a bad return. And I think he IS getting a game ! Riordan is another matter. I think Brown CAN make the step up.

Well I am on most of them, my online accounts (blue square and centrebet) don't take bets on non-league games and I had to jump through hoops to get them to change my funding details on bet365. So I placed all bets without any non-league teams at 5 quid per point (any with non-league teams I still bet them but without the non-league teams obviously). Here's hoping it is a winning week buts !

Ummm Fraser, there is a separate thread about McGregor !

lol, after this morning buba I KNEW that your first sentence was sarcastic !

Stevie Smith signed a contract extension that keeps him at the cluib till 2010. It is on the main site.

Just as well you aren't recommending the 11-fold buts, you only selected 10 teams !! I will put a bit of a punt on them, thanks my man !

Thanks Frankie, will now complete it, great Xmas gift folks !

And 2009 as well - would this not tie in with Letizi's contract expiring ? Also gives McGregor 3 yrs (almost) to prove he should be #1. Hopefully he gets his chance and he grabs it with both hands

How much ?

Don't know about the rest buba but it didn't seem like much of a joke to me. Will taek your word for it though

Frankie, On the gersave application...where it asks amount to save, is this a monthly amount, annual amount or one-off amount ?

I should probably have said the same Barry rather than elaborate - but that is a very apt description for Ricksen. Just why do you support Ricksen as heavily as you do buba ? What did he really give to our great club ?

He made a mockery of our club's great name IMO. He spoke out of both corners of his mouth. He gave the club ONE good season, and even then it was because he had ulterior motives (last season in contract... make an effort, play well and either get the club to pony up more money or play well and put yourself in the shop window). Charlatan indeed !

Yeah but the boy SUPPORTS the club.... so maybe he is putting aside the way he has been treated in the hope he can claim the #1 jersey

Aye, agreed - I am up 3,500 quid this week from a few gg's that I got from pro tipsters

I agree but also think that PLG will also have told him that he WILL have the chance to take the jersey from Letizi prior to that couple of seasons being up. Otherwise he may as well go now whilst his stock has increased somewhat after recent performances

some weeks ago my man - you need to stay off the Stella