Gribz

I was just thinking back to the mid to late 80s which was a scary 20 years ago now, and I look at the calibre of player we got back then. We took England Internationals: 2nd keeper Chris Woods (only coz there 1st keeper, Shilton, was awesome) Captain Terry Butcher Full Back Gary Stevens Classy Midfielder Trevor Steven Classy Midfielder Ray Wilkins Fringe Striker Mark Hateley Fringe Striker Trevor Francis (albeit nearer end if his career) Fringe winger Mark Walters We took English top flight players: Terry Hurlock, Nigel Spackman, Kevin Drinkell etc etc etc Now can you honestly imagine this current Rangers era signing Paul Robinson, John Terry, Gary Neville, Michael Carrick, Paul Scholes, Andy Johnson, Shaun Wright Phillips (Ive tried to give the england equivelants to the 80s players)!!! Not in a million years could we get this type of calibre now and overall id probably put the English players from the 80s in a better league of players than the current ones ive listed. The 80s guys were on the verge of a World Cup semi in 86 but couldnt handle the greatest player EVER in Maradona. Then they went onto the 1990 semi final to lose on pens, whereas the current players have failed miserably in recent tournaments. So why?? The arguement those players saw Rangers as a platform to play in the european stage due to the english ban cant be used as those players could have played in the continent no problem. The Scottish game has continued to go backwards while the English game has taken strides forward thanks to the Premiership and Sky Tv. But we are not helped when our nations football authorites couldnt run a bath never mind a football organisation. Why oh why do they still persist on having 4 leagues in a country with a small population is beyond me. And they invent rules that the rest of europe laugh at i.e. the split. Our media dont help as they just want to slaughter the countries big 2 teams and not back them. Down south the media back there clubs when they go abroad as in the recent examples of Spurs and Man Utds trips to Spain and Italy. Grass roots / Scouting: This is a huge problem which can be drawn back to the local councils who dont provide enough facilities for youngsters to kick a ball in school or after school. They would rather stick a "NO BALL GAMES" sign up and allow the kids to head home for hours upon hours playing the Playstation and eat sweets. The scouting network of 95% of the clubs in Scotland would be aswell not exsisting. Only Hibs have really shown any desire to bring youth through and its work very successfully to an extent, but due to them not having the resources and fan base of Rangers or Celtic they cant build on this and take themselves to the next level. There players get bought of them as they need tha cash. So Scotland on a whole needs to do something. It starts with discipline, interest, facilities, and on and on and on. All these reasons has meant the Scottish game has went backwards and we wont go forward again unless drastic measures are taken. Rangers really need an Atlantic or British league to take us forward again and once that happens we may see the likes of Butcher or Wilkins at Ibrox again.

Thats not bad! Stefan Klos could pay that with 2 days wages.

Exactly! Smith is a 5 million (plus) pound player and we wont / cant pay that for someone. Our only hope was to get him on loan while he recovered from his injury and that never surfaced so this can be put to bed. However, the Fowler situation is more realistic, he is affordable and would like to play for us IMO.

Yeah I see what you and calscot are saying that these things will make buying the club more attractive, but I can see why Murray (the shrewd businessman) may try and hold onto them simply coz they are money makers. But it depends how much he wants to sell up and how much ties he wants with Rangers at the end of it.

Sir Awex has been praising him lately as a breath of fresh air so i doubt he would even consider selling.

So Murray just hangs onto the "money makers" in and around Rangers!! I was about to say the Albion is the biggest farce of the lot as how can you take a car park away when you expect so big crowds but then I remembered the port-a-cabin ticket office...Thats a serious joke. Even the rest of the SPL clubs have decent ticket offices for the size of them but we have a caravan for a club our size!!! You couldnt make that up. Im sure Man Utd and Arsenal dont have caravans outside there 5 star stadiums.

Its interesting that a few Bears (myself included) still think he can do a job even when he hasnt set Ibrox alight. Its funny how we rate some and not others.

Yeah I know the Zamora song your on about, i heard it while watching the Wigan game last saturday and now i cant remember. They had a funny one when they were leading at the Emirates: "1 shot, we've only had 1 shot, we've only had 1 shot...."

Well I was right, although i wanted a Man U v Chelsea final i knew it would be a repeat of the 2005 final and Milan will gain revenge. It was the same in 2001 when Munich knocked out Man U, they waited 2 years to get back after the 1999 final. Il be backing Milan to lift the cup. I should have put some cash on them a few weeks back when they were at a silly 8/1

Ah cheers mate. Its been cracking me up all season what they were singing. I just couldnt work out what it was. Are you sure Man U fans sing it - 2 times??? :fish:

Only problem I got with that (except Boyd scoring ) is Ferguson just isnt consistant in the position going forward. He played it not so long ago albeit with just 1 striker and it just didnt work. Its proving real tricky to work out a team with those 3 in it other than a 3-5-2 or playing Thomson wide left. I just dont see Thomson as a natural left sided attacking option. That position is Lee McCullochs in the waiting.

But the position we are in we cant afford star buys anymore. The platform and spine of the team could easily be build around him.

If we have to build a team round someone its Hemdani. He has shined this season in a subtle way. He is vertisle and stands out in european games. Id like to see him shoot a bit more from 25 yards out.

Anyone heard of him? Is he left or right sided?

Is that the song they have been singing all the last 2 seasons and Man U have a version aswell??

Im happy either way with Svensson. If he stays we have ample numbers for that position. He is still young which is an advantage.

Couldnt agree more especially about the 'starters' bit. So the summer will be really interesting.

Kinda wanted to see a Man U v Chelsea final but im glad Chelsea are out so they cant win it now. Chelsea's season has just collapsed on in a week the same as Arsenals did a few months ago. They have blown the EPL by drawing at Newcastle and with Bolton and now the CL. Chelseas main mistake last night was playing Essien at the back, he is good there but if he was in the midfield they would have been stronger. Onto tonight then, Milan v Man U. Either final will be a cracker now as it could be a repeat of 2 years ago or it could be Man U v Liverpool.

IMO his away record wont get any better next season either unless he improves his game by gaining a better touch, losing a few pounds, starts to be more mobile in the final 3rd and stops the late nights (if those rumours are true). And also depending on if he forms a new partnership next season.

I think this is a bit unfair. IMO he hasnt done that bad but im only going on the handful of games ive seen him in. Id certainly take him over half the bombscare defenders in the last few years. He was a great defender for Villa and Boro so he may be adjusting to the rough and tumble that is the SPL.

Nice work Frankie. I could argue with 1 or 2 scores but not the analysis. I think Ehiogu deserves more than a 3 and Ian Murray is a bit high on a 6. But Hutton and Hemdani have been the best 2 hands down.

I wouldnt bet against that now. I see Leeds are about to file to go into administration and they could start next season -12 points. - They are severley fooked!! They are also supposed to be moving grounds to the same stadium as the Rugby league team plays at while Elland Rd gets re-developed. However Im confused what they are doing to the ground, it may get knocked down as they are only renting it now.

I had a feeling for AC Milan after the beat Munich. They could also get revenge on Liverpool for 2 years ago. I wouldnt be upset if they won it, just as long as Chelsea dont. But it would be another well earned trophy for Sir Alex if he won. But i suppose im just looking forward to the semis this week especially tonight. BTW Hurlock, you missed out Bob Wilson in your list of Scottish turncoats.

yeah Wise is a crap manager. If Forest dont get promoted from League 1 then that will be a cracking game next season - Forest v Leeds

Well if your getting that one in then ive scored a real goal at 5 a sides that was better IMO :devil: