Gribz

Good read. I'll raise a few points though. I think there was a difference between Souness' departure and Smiths. Wasnt Souness about to leave us in the lurch while Smith announced he was leaving after bowing down to a big of fan pressure?? I also think Smith earned the right to stay on that season from SDM as he wasnt walking out on Rangers to another club like Souness was. We didnt take 10 IAR for a few reasons. The first error was Smith going public on leaving although I think this was maybe to prevent fan pressure. But this should have been kept between Murray and Smith. The next massive error was allowing Advocaat have a say on who would and who wouldnt be part of his plans. That let to a half fit Paul Gascoigne being moved on to Middlesboro at a crazy time. Andy Goram stated himself on a interview last week that if Gazza had stayed to the end of the season it would have made the difference as a half fit Gazza was still better than most in the league. We did win those 2 games against Celtic in both tournaments and it set it up nicely. But wasnt it a defeat at Kilmarnock and not Motherwell Cammy that put us behind? Then we also lost at Pittodrie. Anyway it was the end of a era and by far the most fond memories I have of Rangers. Advocaat came in and built a scary team who were a match for most in Europe. Only Valencia outclassed us but they went onto the CL final that season. We were better than Munich, Parma and PSV and were so unlucky not to progress that season. But then Advocaat lost it. He sold off our whole midfield. 2 players wanted to leave (Gio and Reyna) but 2 were Rangers through and through and wanted to stay (Albertz and Tugay). They were replaced with Nerlinger who got the Ibrox injury jink straight away, an aging duo of Latapy and Caniggia. But we had no solid midfielders and we have struggled with this positions since that days. Il jump to the present now and Smith in his 2nd spell has his work cut out. This summer is going to be huge, bigger than last, to see if Smith gets the backing of Murray and a bit of cash to spend. Smith has practically sorted the defence out but the keeper, midfield and forward positions are still in free fall and are probably at the lowest standard I have ever seen - infact no probably about it. Signing average SPL players like Gow, Thomson and Broadfoot is not filling me with any confidence but I think they may be ok for squad players as long as a few quality players come in during the summer. Smith did this at the back with Weir and Ehiogu, they are a pretty decent standard. But a 3rd season without a trophy or not even getting close to one wont be tolerated.

Man U go to the new Wembley for the cup final. I wonder if it will be the dream final for the organisers with Chelsea or will Blackburn cause an upset today!! I think the old sticky fingers were used for the draw to try and get a Man U v Chelsea final. I hope Chelsea beat Blackburn today as it will be a awesome match. And it would be even better if they had the CL final a few days later. Plus the league game is in May, we could have 3 Man U v Chelsea games in 2 weeks to decide the 3 trophies.

18 years ago!! Unbelievable! RIP to those who suffered that day

Again il have to disagree on that point. I just cant see how BF will ever be as good as Gazza for Rangers. I just think back to April 1996 when Gazza clinched us 8IAR with that hat trick against Aberdeen. The 2nd goal where he ran from his own half was awesome and something only a Gascoigne or Laudrup could do. You may have a point here. Gazza lost it when it came to europe and was always too fired up for the occassion most noticebly Ajax away. But thats a mental problem and nothing to do with ability. I still remember Gazza turning it on against Steau Buchurest and scoring another individual classic. Yes i can agree there. When Ferguson was in the team of 99-2000 he was very impressive. But now he goes about his job different and tries to do too much which is part of his downfall IMO. As Pete says less can be more.

No Cammy said he thought Ferguson could be as good as Gazza etc. The bit about Gazza was that he thought Ferguson was one of the better players he had played with. It was maybe an over reaction from me to say it was the worst post ever but its one i strongly disagree with. I think Ferguson has had 1 season with 19 goals out of 7 or 8 years.

I saw there was around 5000 at this game, thats a SPL gate.

Lennon and McGeady do come up there with Lampard, especially Lennon

28,000 at Hampden yesterday, a good showing from the TGFITW:sigh:

Ridiculous result for West Ham afer doing all the hard week recently.

How old is he now anyway?? We could really have been done with him for another year or 2.

Hibs are still on for the cup double tho

Cmon the Saint Johnstone, get into that cunts

True, and i have always said Ferguson was a superb player next to these players when he was young and just "got on with the game". But even I would shine next to Albertz, Gio, Reyna and Tugay.

Cammy F Every game we have played without him in the past 2 seasons we have played well. Inverness away last season with Boab Malcolm in the midfield we played well and for a few games after. The start of this season we were awesome, then he came back in and eventually dictated play and ruined us. Cammy, You know your stuff mate, but that has to be the worst comment you have ever posted and a insult to the greats of Gazza, Lauders, Albertz and De Boer. Ferguson is nowhere near the class of those players. Crikey, Gazza goes down as one of the best EVER, Ferguson couldnt lace his boots. Ferguson couldnt get near the Milan team that Laudrup was in. Those guys CONSISTANTLY played well and banged in 15+ goals a season for Rangers. :admin:

Aye fraser!! Plus you cannae beat going to the game on a cold december with just just yout tshirt on

Fair enough and i accept others views even tho i disagree. But this thing about Ferguson being in the team in nonsense. Those who think he is the best player we have need to wake up and maybe think that he is the reason why we play be bad even when he has a good game. Its narrow minded to think other wise. He is a good player but his antics ruin the rest of the tem and he is a weak link and bottom line is we would be a better TEAM without him. I bet most of the dressing room would vote him out giving the chance as they see him as a bully.

Absolute excellent post! Couldnt agree more

No thanks!! We have Reo Coker, Bowyer, Boa Morte, Etherington, Benyoun, Mullins, Quashie and even fucking Dailly ahead of Pob!!! We dont need any Chelsea rejects like Lampard and Cole COME YOU IRONS

No i just dont like Pob Lampard

I dont like the word 'Hate' as I refer to is as something i detese like smoking, lies and dishonesty. But if there is 1 footballer who i cant stand right now is Frank Lampard. He is an absolute dick. He permanently is showing off and knows the cameras are on him so he does some stupid body language. He cant even take a free kcik right coz he tries to be fashionable. That chelsea video the other day proved it when he was arrogant sipping his coffee pretending he was the man. He is a wank bag of the highest order and the sooner someone snaps his leg the better. Where is Roy Keane when you need him the most. He looks like pob and has a fat round face but he loves himself. I hope Chelsea win fuck all else this season and Man U gub them 3 times in the EPL, FA Cup and CL final. Lampard is a tosser loyal

Arsenal to beat Bolton 4/6 Middlesboro to draw with Villa 11/5 West Ham to win at Sheff Utd 7/4 CMON YOU IRONS!!!!!!!!!! Ive been successful a lot recently and this is another banker!! Stick a wee tener on it and you'll be 150 quid richer Arsenal havent scored for 4 games but have created enough chances to win a league. They will come good today!! Middlesboro and Villa were made for a draw. They drew last time season 2-2 and it gave me a win on my coupon with 3 draws. West Ham are on the up and Sheff U are on the down. No matter what anyone says Sheff U are a Championship side and West Ham are a premiership team. West Ham will seperate the men from the boys today and go there and send that wank bag Warnock back to the league he should be in. Charlton will lose at Everton and the Happy Hammers will stay up against all odds. Bring on the Chelsea next Wednesday!!!!

This has been so regular recently, we have had so much days off. Saturdays are all about football and the summer is approaching fast when we will have about a 10 week break which is bad enough, but we have lots of off days in Feb, Mar and Apr. One reason is being out of the Scottish Cup. We are almost on out longest stretch of not winning this trophy since that big gap between 1981 and 1992!!. Since then we won it in 92, 93, 96, 99, 2000, 2002, 2003 but we are now we have at least a 5 year gap since winning the oldest trophy in history!! That HAS to be rectified for next season!! Even the league cup has illuded us for a few season, so next season is MUST for some sort of silverware. To be fair to Walter Smith he hasnt had anything to play for this season as we were out of both cups when he arrived and the title was out of reach, so Im sure he will be successful in his search next season. But its frustrating times right now as we cant even get a game on a saturday afternoon in April but its all about being patient just now. WATP

Yes mate, you have been a Fergie fan but have swinged recently into me and Petes league. Im sorry but I think Ferguson is our weak link in the team. Yes he has talent and when he plays well he can control a game, but his dictator skills when he is playing bad makes the team play bad. I get so pissed off with him taking on so much responsibility, he disrespects his team mates and has no confidence in them. Personally id punt Ferguson. We should have never signed him back, he done a great job first time round and now he is just a bad egg and rotten apple.

I cant believe i forgot Jeffers What about big Gordon Petric!!!

That was against Motherwell at Ibrox, also on a sunday, and yeah it was the following season