ascender

I think the thing with Celtic though is that they've been playing crap for weeks now and have only just wrapped up the title. That to me is a bit different from actually winning it and then playing poorly as we've all seen from Rangers on more than one occasion.

Would be very surprised if Sam wasnt in place soon.

I think with him they might have an actual chance of achieving something.... famous last words...

Lol, that's the kiss of death!

There's a surprise. They must be the biggest underachievers in the history of football if you add up what they've spent against silverware won.

Sam Allardyce for the job anyone?

Oops, should have said, it was The Sunday Times I was talking about.

Does anyone know if the SPL and EPL matches will be shown as part of the same subscription package so for one fee you get English and Scottish matches?

Some good stuff in the Times today as well.

How about Michael Ball? Assault on Ronaldo, then brings him down for the pen and then wins a pen when he runs in to Brown and goes down as if he's been shot.

I did have a wry smile when I heard City had been awarded a late penalty but that they'd missed it.

Great result for Fulham and its amazing to see how West Ham have turned things round. Only problem is that it could all get very messy in the courts if they stay up.

Just found this...

Yeah instead of 88 live games on SKY Sports and 50 on Prem+ it will be

 

92 on SKY Sports (all HD) including all 1st picks and all but 8 second picks.

 

46 on Setanta (with Angus Scott and Steve McManaman) via a Setanta sub (not PPV). It will not be HD (at least initially) they've only just gone widescreen this season!!

 

By the way there were six packages, SKY got four.

At times this season its been absolute pish and even verging on the unwatchable. So imagine my surprise today when I turned over and the picture quality was excellent. I'd thought about cancelling my subscription for next year, but if they can keep this up then I'll reconsider.

Obviously it would be great if they started broadcasting in HD, but I can't see it somehow. Yet another reason we shouldn't have told Sky to get stuffed.

Looks like UEFA are saying he basically walked out on his club, loophole or not, without giving appropriate notice.

And a two game ban for the start of next season. Not so good.

That's pretty much as expected, hopefully a deal can be sorted for him to join us pretty soon.

Taken from the official site:

EWAN CHESTER has returned to Ibrox as Chief Scout this week to complete Walter Smith's backroom team at Rangers.

 

Ewan enjoys something off a globetrotting lifestyleChester was previously at the club in a similar role during the historic nine-in-a-row run and continued to work for the Light Blues under Dick Advocaat.

 

He was, however, to leave during the Alex McLeish era and was headhunted by Premiership side Fulham.

 

Ewan is one of the most highly-rated scouts in Britain and his immediate task will be to help Smith and his backroom build a team capable of challenging for the SPL title in 2007/08.

 

"We are delighted to bring Ewan back to Rangers, it completes our backroom personnel so we are happy," said Chief Executive Martin Bain.

 

"On the youth development side Jim Sinclair has settled in at Murray Park and we are delighted with some of the progress being made there."

Views? I have to say I don't know much about him other than recognising his name from playing too much Championship Manager.

�£8,280 fine, which the Beeb understands is for sectarian singing while Osasuna are fined �£31,000.

Clicky

I posted this in the rumours thread but the cabbie who took me to work today is convinced that Smith will be signing in the summer. Its been a rumour from Auchenhowie for months now.

Today's cabbie gossip was:

1. Alan Smith will be signing. That's been a rumour since the start of the season apparently, coming out of Auchenhowie via someone's dad.

2. Scott Brown would have signed on deadline day if Hibs hadn't beaten St Johnstone. He still wants to come as he's a bluenose, has verbally agreed to join, but also wants to play in the Premiership.

Real Radio are reporting that Advocaat is interested in signing Novo who has 12 months left on his contract.

I doubt we'd get Smith, even on loan.

 

I remember a few seasons back a pic was on here of Smith in a Rangers training top supposedly at Murray Park.... but then it was revealed that Frankie is a swift hand at Photoshop.

 

Had me fooled. :uzi:

Lol! :fish:

I don't think we stand a chance of getting guys like that now unless they really want to come to Ibrox as they've been supporters or something and have maybe done all they wanted to with their current club.

Can't see Smith leaving Man Yoo just as he's broken back in to the first team. I'm sure there'd be lots of other clubs in for him if he was going to leave anyway.

I actually disagree with that...

 

I think a midfield 3 of Thomson, Ferguson and Hemdani would be superb. KT and BH can play the holding roles allowing Ferguson to get forward to link with the strikers.

 

Add in Scott Brown, a decent replacement for Dado and Boyd to score the goals, then I would be pretty happy with that.

 

:cheers:

I agree it looks good on paper Frankie, but 9 times out of 10, Fergie ends up playing deeper than anyone. This isn't meant to kick off in to another debate about Fergie, but we look very negative when the three of them play. Unless Fergie plays in a more advanced position and sticks to it, its kind of pointless.

Do we need 2 holding midfielders in the SPL? Was that not one of the main criticisms about PLG's team selection?

Would we not then miss a naturally left sided midfielder?

Good news, but its hard to see where he'll play unless there's more injuries next year. I'd like to see him out on loan if he's not going to be playing regularly. Just assuming the first choice will be Weir and Webster.

Good news. I think we need someone in the team like him, but I have a real problem when we play him, Fergie and Thomson. I'd only be playing one of those 3 in my first 11 if we sign a more attacking midfielder.

Assuming we sign Webster, I can see him and Weir being the main men at the back next season, so it might come down to whether Ehiogu is happy at being on the bench.

I have to say I've been a bit disappointed by him, he seems very slow and uncomfortable with the ball at his feet. He seems to struggle with simple passes as well which is just bizarre in this day and age.

Its not the idea of the formation itself which worries me, but the lack of attacking options with Thomson, Hemdani and Fergie in the middle. Also, what's Webster like, is he a pacy CH, as I think we'd need someone fast to cover for the other pair.

I think it'll depend on who stays and who goes in the summer. WS might be tempted to try and pick up some more of these SPL guys if he doesn't have that much cash to spend. Having said that, maybe he'll be able to recoup some money on the likes of Sionko, Sebo and Papac. It could be a very busy close season for us on the transfer market.

The rumour was that there was a clause in the Riordan deal which meant Hibs got more cash if he played x number of games within the first 12 months of him leaving. Of course, this never happened and it was mentioned that this was why they wouldn't deal with Celtic when they wanted to buy Thomson. Did they not bid as much as us, if not more for KT?

As for Brown, his continued good form seems to have now drawn the interest of a couple of Premiership clubs.