Tannochsidebear

THat is first class, I was reading the live text on BBC while at the game at Tannadice just to see what was happening and they mentioned that CP had gone wild with the news of a United equaliser and had a wee chuckle at it at the time, I never realised it was "Operation Tango". If 2005 was "Helicopter Sunday", then surely 2009 will have to become "Tango Sunday"

The goal machine for me. He scores all kinds, from the cracking volley against Partick, a few more from outside the box, a couple of free kick blasters, a few headers, and a few tap-ins to add to several good attempts that hit the woodwork or were well saved. It would certainly be the longest highlights reel of them all.

You have got to love the press in our wee country. You can guarantee that if Caldwell had been sent off in similar circumstances (no laughing at the back there) the assistant referee would have got no peace from them until he had agreed to tell his bosses to rescind the card. They have plenty of previous for this when it suits them, but despite already knowing what the referee's report will contain before it is even posted, they have no such certainty about the Bougherra incident.

Come on now, BD, you surely have not forgotten the Kilmarnock v Scum match where the sunday paper did the "Simply the Best" hatchet job on him on the morning of the match, and timmy called him an Orange Bassa for 90 minutes!! As it stands, that was the only appointment involving either of the OF that McCurry got in 2008-09.

No, I think to a certain extent it happens at all clubs. Home-grown talent has not been bought and presented to the fans by the club, and given the media glowing tributes that automatically get the fans onside with the signing. I do think we are worse than most clubs in the extent of it though, and it is always worse at home games than away games. I have never understood why it happens, I for one always give full support to young cubs coming through the ranks into the first team, and always try to defend them and encourage them. I would always prefer the home-grown player over a bought player if they are of similar ability. Home grown players are also generally on lower wages due to them coming through the ranks, and therefore cheaper for the club as well, not to mention that we dont pay another club a fee for the player, taking money out of our club and giving it directly to a rival.

Adam has been guilty of trying to overplay the ball at the wrong times. He has vision for a pass, he has the quality to execute it, and he has the balls to take it on rather than the easy route, knowing that if it comes off we are in behind the oppo defence, but when it does not come off, he gets it in the neck. As he gets more experienced, he will learn when you can get away with that type of pass and when you just have to take the short, simple option and move on. He can hit a good dead ball, but has been a little inconsistent. He got far too much abuse at Ibrox from his own supporters, as seems to be the case with our youth players coming through the ranks, and that of course puts even more pressure on him. He also needs to get himself fully fit and motivated, and work harder when we dont have the ball. We are not good enough to carry a midfield passenger. I would not mind him getting another chance at Ibrox next season, and hopefully the experience at Blackpool will have shown him how good he could have it at Rangers, and motivate him to really have a strong pre-season and force his way into the team, and perform like he can do. We badly miss goals from midfield, and Adam can get goals and assists for us, but only if he can find consistant form.

A player I admired from his Hearts days, and I dont say that about too many players. I would have loved to have seen him get some game time recently, and I would have no hesitation in putting him straight in beside Weir for the Hearts game, a much better option than Dailly who is an accident waiting to happen. Will give us much more aeriel threat in an attacking sense as well, not to mention a bit more pace at the back as well. A complete no-brainer to me, that is why I am 100% certain Dailly will play at CH on saturday. Good old Walter.

I have said for over a year now, that he just has to stay at Ibrox, work hard, continue to do what he does, ignore the media, and he could threaten Ally's goals tally. He came to the club young enough to become a legend. It is entirely up to him. A Rangers legend is an exclusive club, and bears never forget their legends. Does he want to be a legend or just another in a long line of strikers?

They score a lot of goals from set pieces, so McThug and Caldwell always chip in with half a dozen each a season, including the obligatory handballs and offsides.

He has certainly only ever won one title, in his first season. As for cups, with only 5 subs allowed, he has often been overlooked for even a bench place. I think he may have been suspended for one final as well. We only made one final in his first 3 years, and I am not sure if he played against Motherwell in 2005. I dont think he was on the bench against QotS as only Fleck and Davis came on.

Kris Boyd. I couldn't remember him having a good game against us, hadn't even noticed him. He did score a couple of close range goals in his last game for Killie against us and I thought that he perhaps could be a decent poacher but we could probably get better elsewhere. How wrong I was. The goal machine is the best value signing at �£400K since McCoist.

Congratulations Boydy, a fantastic achievement under the most extreme pressure of always being told you are crap from a section of your own fans, and trying to be sold by your chairman. I have said for a while now, given his age and desire, he could get close to Coisty's records if he stay at Ibrox for the rest of his career.

I agree with Edu as MOTM, and generally agree with most of the player ratings. Perhaps a tad harsh on Weir and Smith and certainly far too generous on Dailly, who was shocking all day and only deserved perhaps 2/10. And that is because he was part of a defensive clean sheet and for putting his shirt on correctly!

How can they possibly moan about a fixture that does not involve them? Do they have 19 home and away fixtures? - YES Do Rangers? - YES Do they have to play a side 3 times away from home? - NO Do Rangers? - YES Do they get their last game, probably a title decider, at home? - YES Do Rangers? - NO The main 3 questions that bothers most fans are the ones above. In each occassion, they get a favourable answer. They must be really worried!

At least you got the MOTM spot on this time Cammy Spot on as well with most of the ratings IMO. It seems we are in the minority when it comes to Davis though. Perhaps a wee bit generous to Miller who despite running directly at them, missed his two chances, especially the first one that he should have scored. I wouldn't have given him 7 for a 20 appearance, but then I struggled to give him 7 last time at Easter Road!!

I know exactly what you mean Cammy. My main hope that I am clinging on to is that when Murray finally goes, the new owners have basically a sleeping giant again, and that by backing us and fighting back against the scummy mhedia lies and non-stories, that will transform itself into a far more positive feeling around the club, which in turn will lead to more positive signings, performances, everything. That in turn will have the feelings of you and me and our fellow bears on a much more positive slant, resulting in better atmospheres at the games, which in turn leads to better perfromances from the players. You can see how easily it can all change, it is a shame our current owner gave up caring a knighthood ago.

I am fussed about it. There is no way I want Dailly risked again. We got away with it against a poor Motherwell side who never attacked his flank at all. Better opposition will slaughter him. Whittaker has to come back to RB, with Papac back in at left back. I agree that Smith did really well last week and deserves another go at LM. Apparantly Smith played at LM for the reserves in midweek against sheepy and played really well then too, scoring a penalty as well. Dont think he has any chance of getting the ball off Boydy if we manage to get one on sunday though.

I do indeed remember his performance at Easter Road the last time, as it was the last really good performance we have had from him. Still it was only 7 months ago!! I suppose another one is due, and I will gladly take it when it comes along, and the sooner the better.

You are missing a big point on what it means to be a Rangers supporter, and what Rangers Football Club is all about as well. We are brought up on success. On great players. On entertaining football. On the right attitude. On being a Ranger. We therefore love to see our current team play with the same style, flair, ability and passion of previous teams. Unfortunately we have reached a time and a place where our club is being run into the ground. We are being downsized. We are being taught how to accept second best. We are being derided and abused from all quarters. We are being quietened. In times such as these it is even more important that we remain vigilant, supportive, and carry our team through these dark ages to ensure that the club we come out of the post-Murray era is still one worthy of our traditions as set out above. There are fans of other clubs who cannot even begin to realise why we moan so much, why we demand so much, why we hurt so much when coming only second. That is why they follow other clubs. Let the others come after us, we welcome the chase.

It is very easy to say that all we have to do is win our last 6 games and we become Champions, but you have been watching the same Ranges side as me this season!! Any slight advantage we can get must be seized upon. I am already thinking we will probably drop points at Tannadice and Tynecastle if we have to go there. At Fir Park I would be confident of getting a result, and I am confident of winning our other two home games apart from the OF game. The phscological edge of winnning the last OF game has been proven a few times in recent years to be minimal. We all remember the scum winning at Ibrox to go 5 points clear with 4 games left before helicopter sunday, and we rejoiced ourselves as we clinched 10 in a row at the piggery, only to blow it at Pittodrie later. I would bet against either of these two poor sides winning their last 6 games to win the title, so it will come down to who can lose fewest points. That is why the other fixtures both us and them have to play are going to be hugely important, and why the make up of the split will play a huge part in deciding if it is 4IAR for the scum, or the return of our trophy back to its rightful place.

So Miller is fit enough to go straight back into the team, despite not playing since the Holland game and being out through injury, while Ferguson and McGregor can only make the bench because they have not played since the Holland game?? Hopefully Smith can refrain from playing his 2nd most favourite player against Hibs, and continue with the Boyd/Velicka partnership that looked decent enough last week, remembering that Hibs rearguard are all big physical players that Boyd and Velicka should be better suited to playing against. If Miller can come on in the second half when Velicka starts to tire, and make an impact, he can push for a start in the semi, but no way should he walk straight back into the team, given his recent form before the injury has been absolutely awful.

If that picture is accurate, then hopefully that means McCulloch is months away from a game as well!!

It seems a million miles away that a match featuring 7th place Motherwell and 10th place St Mirren could have a major impact on the 2008-09 SPL title race, but that is just what it could end up becoming. The fact that Motherwell need to beat St Mirren to have any chance of reaching the top 6, and therefore ensure further matches against the top sides and a push for a European place should really have no impact on a title race between Rangers and their city rivals. However should Motherwell, as expected, win tomorrow lunchtime's live match, it will put all the pressure on Hibs to get the win they will need to retain 6th place in this last set of fixtures before the league is carved up. It is not as if Hibs should need any more motivation to beat Rangers at home, as they themselves need the points in their push for a European slot even if Motherwell lose, but it would then become their last chance to make the top 6, to make Europe, and to prevent the remaining 5 games becoming meaningless, with dwindling crowds and little motivation. From our point of view of course, it means so much more. If motherwell draw tomorrow, Hibs are guaranteed 6th place if they avoid a 4 goal defeat, and a repeat of helicopter sunday could easily be foreseen if we are a couple of goals up after 75 minutes. The other major consideration of tomorrow's result is of course the implications the 6th place team will have on the post-split fixtures, due to be announced after our game on Sunday. If Motherwell make 6th place, it means in all probability that our remaining away fixtures will be at Dundee United and Motherwell, whilst our rivals will have to travel to Ibrox, Tynecastle and Pittodrie. If Hibs make it, it looks more likely that we will have to go to Tynecastle instead of Fir Park, while the scum go to Easter Road instead of Tynecastle. On paper, a trip to Tynecastle is the hardest fixture left for both sides outside the Old Firm game, and there is no doubt the away fixtures against the top 6 have been very difficult for both sides this season. It could be to our advantage if Hibs make the top 6, but for that to happen and it not affect our title challenge by dropping points to them on Sunday, it has to come from the failure of Motherwell to win their final pre-split match at home to St Mirren tomorrow. Normally, a match between these two would not interest me one bit, but I, like many bears I am sure, will have more than a passing interest in this match tomorrow, and will be hoping that former Rangers player Gus McPherson can do his old team a favour against former scum player and still a supporter (dont forget his disgusting team selections and pro-scum comments post-split last season) Mark McGhee. Altogether now, oh when the Saints.........

We knew this was coming, didnt we now. Didn't bother reading it, I can guess what it says.

Dont torture yourself Cammy. You know fine well that the Rangers is a drug you just cant give up. You will instinctively know when it is the right time to give up going to the football. At the moment it is clear you still love it, despite the poor offerings on show in recent years. It is times like these that make the good times all the more enjoyable. If you have not suffered the bad times, the good times are not as good. Get that renewal away, you know it makes sense (well actually it makes no sense at all) and perhaps, just perhaps, the good times are not too far away.