stewarty

Lets just hope he lives up to the hype! At least it's a creative player and not a striker!

Didn't see this myself but my old boss texted me to say that Boyd was in tears after the game today. His last game possibly? I would be gutted if that's true. I thought he played pretty well today. His knock on pretty much set up the goal and but for a half-yard it would have been his instead of Velicka's. He was also tracking back quite a bit which was good to see.

It's taken me a while to doubt Walter Smith but tonight, finally, I agree 100% with Beatties post. A sad night for everyone but I'm not sure Walter is the man to take us forward. He's spent all pre-season talking about fitness being the primary focus the games we've played. For me, that's utter pish. I might not be a football man i.e. have played the game professionally, but these days the players go away for their summer break with diet and fitness guidelines and they rarely come back 1/2 a stone overweight any more (John Hartson exepted) so why is fitness such a big issue? Yeah they'll need some intensive sessions and a few games to get their stamina levels back but that should only be a relatively small percentage of the time spent in pre-season - say 40% max. The rest should be about integrating new players, developing skills, team tactics and team spirit, gelling the team to play in whatever style they intend and, utlimately, having a team capable of performing to a reasonable level at the first time of asking. Instead, Walter has bought twelve strikers, ninety-four defenders and ignored the most glaring deficiency in our team which is the lack of creative energy in midfield and for that he must go.

I think Andrew_2010 is spot on. The keyboard hardmen on FF have been getting away with murder for far too long. I too have experienced some of the less savoury elements of that board for daring to have an opinion which doesn't conform to their views. If the RST is now just an instrument for the FF masses then it's a sad day.

Unless the signing of Lafferty, and this article signal a change of transfer strategy. In which case, it can be used to try and lure some of the talent that flies under the radar of the big teams, but who have the potential to develop into big stars in the future.

I see what you are saying but he says himself that in hindsight he wasn't ready so I dont see what the problem is. Every player wants to play in as many games as possible so it's only natural for him to say he was frustrated as he felt he was fit enough to play. Putting that aside, I thought Papac was excellent last season and would not have deserved to have been dropped but SS was another player who should have got some game time against some of the lesser lights we faced in order to gain match fitness for the run in. As we know, the likes of Buffel, Gow, Webster et al didn't get any and it was a source of frustration for me. It must have been ten times worse for the players concerned.

What about all the peeps who invested in the Sharesave scheme? That will amount to several thousands of pounds of RST members money entrusted to the current board in terms of voting power, etc. If it were my money I would not be a happy bunny.

The game clearly has charitable intentions which is fine. If it doubles up as a pre-season glamour fixture for the fans then it's a win-win for everyone surely? As for benefit matches for multi-millionaire stars then that's another argument entirely...

Fergie for me. Based on ability and current form. He was our best midfielder last season, even without being fully fit for large chunks of it.

Mmmm... Dont like the sound of that. We've had a few of them in recent years and they mostly dont work out. Remember Mladenovic?

Whereabouts in defence does he play?

Dont forget wee Nacho!

Rangers Official Websit confirms Lafferty to have talks with Bain today... http://www.rangers.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,5~1329707,00.html

I take your point about this seasons budget as I said the same myself last night. The other option is that it's a precursor to a big money move for Cuellar or McGregor to the Premiership.

The other option is that Wattie genuinely has the �£12-�£15million transfer budget that we hoped he would have, and that this weeks signing activity is only the start... Stewarty :Blindly Optimistic Smiley:

More rumours http://www.clarets-mad.co.uk/news/loadnews.asp?cid=TMNW&id=395282 Kyle Lafferty's departure from Burnley to Rangers is imminent if it hasn't gone through already, and if the news tonight is correct then it will smash Burnley's record sale previously set when Ade Akinbiyi was sold to Sheffield United in January 2006. Details are filtering through that a deal has been done and that Lafferty is now a Rangers player although this has not as yet been confirmed by either club. There's been wild speculation as to how much the deal is worth and until such time as there is any confirmation then it can be nothing but speculation. However I've been led to believe that the Clarets will receive a guaranteed fee of �£3.25 million from Rangers with a further �£500,000 in add ons whilst it also looks as though Alan Gow will become Owen Coyle's first Burnley signing as part of the deal. It has all been a whirlwind 24 hours. It looked as though Rangers, thought to be Lafferty's preference, were out of the running but they've come back with a vengeance and given the Clarets an acceptable offer. There is sure to be more on this tomorrow - but it is looking increasingly likely that Kyle Lafferty, who was discussing personal terms with Rangers, is no longer a Burnley player.

The SPL got some Canadian mob to do the fixtures this year. Read it in the Sunday Herald this week...

Totally agree with Pete's comments. Whilst I can appreciate why Frankie and some others are keeping your counsel, the RST has to make public what has happened. One of the key messages from the RST to David Murray, and the club in general, is that they want a more effective and proactive PR presence to counteract some of the innaccuracies published about Rangers? It seems to me that the RST are in crisis, and that inner wranglings are only going to give rise to further rumour and speculation until the RST take some of their own advice. As a body which has campaigned succussfully for Rangers fans to invest in them, they have a duty to be honest and transparent. ** PS - I have been away for a few days so may have missed something so apologies if this is the case **

I cant believe the FA are courting such a corrupt official as Jack Warner. By playing a friendly over in Trinidad it's a blatant attempt to curry his favour and secure votes for the 2018 World Cup bid. Did nobody see the Panorama documentary? Here's some background for those who missed it... http://www.sundayherald.com/sport/shfootball/display.var.2310512.0.flying_circus.php http://www.sundayherald.com/sport/shfootball/display.var.1775342.0.warner_asked_me_to_make_a_cheque_out_to_his_personal_account_i_said_we_dont_do_that.php

If 'the shape of things to come' turns out to be similar to the sweden and west ham strips then I think it could be quite good.

Interesting. I would imagine the Portuguese FA will nominate the next team in their league though.

Got to agree with Juffery on this one. Celtic are only a small part of the Commonwealth Games and if it proves to be a catalyst for regeneration and improved transport links for anywhere in Scotland then I would back it. I just think it's sad that it takes something like the Commonwealth Games or the Olympics in London to get some real investment and regeneration of run down areas. Also, because of the way these things are financed, i.e. big money corprorate investments, sponsorships and the like, the ordinary man will be priced out of taking advantage of much of it.

Right or wrong, it's just football. Happens all the time. He's just playing the game since Shinawatra was only playing a game with him. In times like that you need to look out for yourself first and foremost because sure as hell, Shinawatra wont.

It's silly season mate. Treat everything with a pinch of salt until you see him paraded at Ibrox/Murray Park

What we really need is a pyramid system so that the best Junior and Senior teams can gain promotion to the SFL and so that clubs who stagnate at the bottom of the 3rd Division drop down and find their own level.