craig

Colshy will like this..... A great bet (IMO) is England to win Euro 2008. Their team is still relatively young and by 2008 they won't lose many of their current squad. Add to that guys like Lennon coming through I think they are a very good bet to win Euro 2008 at odds of 9/2 I am seriously thinking of throwing a large chunk of money on them to win it !

Murray is a good squad player to have. He can cover LB, RB and Centre-half. Smith has been impressive at LB and Hutton can be a very good Rb if he can be more consistent. So Murray basically can cover both those positions adequately Bernard is a waste of a wage - he can only play LB and shouldn't get a sniff ahead of Smith IMO which makes him a wasted (LARGE) wage.

I know Cammy - so much rumour surrounding what the war chest includes and doesn't include. You would think that a major piece of the JJB deal would be ear-marked for PLG and then there is the CL money - I am not saying we have 20 or 30 million but you would think that there is 10-15 mill to spend and PLG should be able to use it for fees as well as wages. Not sure how you get your 10 mill to cover a 4 mill player at 20k per week though (unless he is on a 6 year contract ). A 4 mill player on 20k per week for a 4 year contract is just over 8 mill, so if we had 15 mill we could get 2 such players. Given you say you would like to see a RB, LM and STR and assuming PLG thinks the same then we should be able to cover all 3 with 10-15 mill - Clement looks most likely at LM and for just 1 mill, Elmander looks most likely up front (if that will be his position) for 2.5 mill. So to cover those 2 positions fees look like they will only be 3.5 mill which leaves plenty left over even after wages. Of the players you mention leaving Ricksen, Fan Fan and Bernard get paid a hefty amount of money so I would like to think we can replace them with equal or better quality and it won't impact the wages budget. Novo and Malcolm I would imagine aren't on a huge amount but they should be able to be replaced as well as they are no more than squad players. I guess I am, in essence, agreeing with you Cammy !

Indeed he is Gav !

Isn't worth it Frankie - it is from a spoof site saying Ronaldo is a done deal at 4.5 mill and wages of 50k a week.

Mike, Wattereus' wages are also off the wage bill (although those will be covered by Letizi I would think). Still leaves us net 20k in the black on wages (is that not what Pete was on - there or thereabouts anyway). But that 20k will have been eaten up by Sionko, Svensson, Furman, Ponroy, Stanger. But of the "war chest" that we have heard about Gers have only net spent 200k (600k on Svensson but we got 400k, I think, for Zurab). So there should be plenty left to cover some 1st-teamers. Of the players mentioned above Sionko and Svensson look like the only ones that will be 1st-teamers at the outset - the others are for the future, but that is a VERY GOOD thing as PLG is obviously looking to spend little on these types of players and develop them. There should still be plenty for 2 or 3 good 1st teamers with the funds PLG still has left at his disposal (the funds he has left should cover fees and wages).

I HATE taking bets on correct score when you have one of the teams no tscoring - a fluke, bad referee decision or slack defending and your bet is screwed. Not to worry Colsh, you are still up after Saturday !

I never said Wenger doesn't bring A-listers as well but he also unearths some quality players who are relative unknowns. Agreed (if he was given time), and hence why I don't think we NEED big name players. Yes he was/is quality but was still relatively unknown at the time. I don't disagree Danny - I would love to have a big name player too - and I WANT to see at least 1 such player at Ibrox this pre-season - but I won't lose sleep if we don't. I think even with the squad we have and better coaching at the helm that we could win the SPL - but will still be nice to see more players coming through the doors.

Just to add to Frankie's comments - PLG doesn't seem like the type of guy that necessarily needs or wants to buy a "big name" - I see him in the mould of Arsene Wenger who also seems to be very happy to unearth diamonds in the rough. I don't think we need the big names to win back the SPL - we need a squad that is hungry to play and win and a manager that is tactically astute. I still believe our squad should have won the SPL last year but their lack of interest and lack of tactical leadership meant we didn't. Everyone would love a big name to come in though as you associate with big names - but look at the jb Gio did for us.... yet was an unknown when he arrived - and look at what Larsson did for THEM and he was a relative unknown as well - would take any of those 2 in their heydey (actually, would consider them both now.....)

Just kidding around with you Frankie. You are more eloquent that that Doesn't surprise me about Speirs at all. He lives in his own bubble and will do anything to ridicule Rangers because it sells papers - but when the hand that feeds bites it can go pear-shaped in a hurry. And when he does we actually can accept his vitriolic bile for what it is - at least it will be coming from quarters we expect, and can partly accept - but right now he is working in mainstream media and should shoulder more responsibility - I am wishing for far too much though......

He seriously thinks that ? The man needs to be relieved of his duties for comparing a football club with some of the worst atrocities mankind has ever seen. Spiers is as low as they come. So Mr. Smith.... I mean Frankie

Well Frankie.............. WHO WAS IT (aside from obviously being Mr Smith......) ????

Maybe we should start a seperate section on all things Scottish !! BTW Cammy, I think you are as much a Scotsman as the rest of us.

Agreed, tell you what though... do you check the statute laws of every nation you visit before you visit ? I doubt it. I don't disagree with what you are saying, not at all - but all I am saying is that it is a bit extreme even if it IS the law - but that is my opinion. Fair point Cammy, me too - but I would also rather have my son (or any young relative if we are looking at it this way) subjected to someone flashing than being in the middle of bottles being thrown around ! Do you think it would be wise of you to show violence in front of your god-son/daughter by hitting someone on the head with a bottle ?? So they get the mental scar of someone flashing them and then the mental scar of God-daddy Cammy bottling the guy - doesn't seem right to me (2 wrongs don't make a right after all). (this paragraph is half in jest Cammy so please dont take it too seriously). Cammy F

I often agree with what Cammy says but have to say that, Cammy, you seem to be on an anti-TA crusade since the WC began. I appreciate the vile, neanderthal actions you had to put up with from TA members a few years ago and it will give you a certain impression. BUT..... just like you don't want all English fans tarred with the "thug" brush you cannot label all the TA with the "lout" (for lack of better word) brush. Just seems as if you don't really want to have a balanced opinion on it all. And as for rape charges - that may be the LAW over there but do you honestly consider that a rape ? That is sensationalism ! As Gribz says, ask the woman if she would prefer a flasher or a bottle on the head..... And, don't worry, we won't shoot the messenger Cammy The TA might flash you though, and the English might hit you on the head with a bottle - which would you prefer ???

The way this game is going Adriano will be the last scorer.....

Lost 120 yesterday and if you include the Mexico game it is 170 (they were the wife's bets though !! She is still mad because I talked her out of Ghana......) Giving them a miss today

Danny, Decent synopsis but I have to disagree with you on the refs decisions. The Mastroeni sending off was a disgrace - no way was that more than a booking. No way on this earth. De Rossi should be banned for the rest of the tourney, and beyond - he made a mess of McBride's face and could have cost him an eye - disgraceful ! Never saw Reyna's - deserved a yellow ?

Shit - wife wanted to back Ghana and I talked her out of it - shewon't be happy, she was putting 50 quid on them !

Ohhhh man..... Argentina are almost 4/1 to win it..... sorely tempted to bet heavy !!! Someone take my laptop from me and cancel my credit cards - I feel a big bet on them !

Don't get me wrong Ian - good for Bazza.... the problem doesn't lie with him, it lies with those who determine the criteria for passing out these awards ! I wish I had a spare 30 hours a week to do charity work too - but unfortunately I need to keep myself in a job to be able to put food on the table.

Certainly a very valid point Pete. There are many, many people who are much more deserving than Barry Ferguson who deserve to receive such an award. However, such is our society that those who are in the public spotlight who get the recognition.... recognition for doing something they SHOULD be doing as they have the profile to highlight oworthy causes. My father-in-law is the head gardener at holyrood palace (so an employee of the queen) - he has worked for the royal family for nearly 30 years slaving away and he put himself through plenty of pains and illnesses for THEM.... took them 25 years to recognise the effort........

Ian.... they moved the WHOLE forum to try and lose him but he just doesn't get the message

Certainly in your eyes Many other English too no doubt. Being honest I have said for MONTHS that England have a team capable of winning it.... but after seeing the Argentines today they are VERY impressive. And just because England have a team capable of winning it doesn't mean other teams don't - thus far Argentina, Czech Rep, Italy and Spain have all looked better than England, and you can never discount Brazil. It will be very difficult for England but I hope they can do it - but Argentina are definitely the team to beat !

Will be in this WC if they keep to current form