CammyF

I had almost forgetten about the altercation with the 'long arm of the law' relating to the MOPES pelting the ball boy with objects as he patrolled the front of the broomie. Plod's response? No, it wasn't to identify and punish the culprits, but to stop the ball boy from performing his duties. That was after about 10mins of trying to demonstrate and explain to Plod what exactly was going on! Cammy F

Haha - cough 'Frankie' cough..... Cammy F

Just over a season ago we had to listen to Mr Liewell harp on about sporting integrity - this was when we were forced to play 5 games in a short space of time, a season where Liewell used the tragic death of an ex-celtc player to get an OF game cancelled due but then p155ed on the memory of a celtc legend. Now we have the same person complain about referees and now complaining about the state of Falkirk's pitch - where is your sporting INTEGRITY now Mr Liewell? Feelin' your pain... Cammy F

I won't mention any names, but I expected better from them And their 'dancing' to the 'jazz'ed up' version of Follow Follow at the end of the game left a lot to be desired Meant to post this earlier in the week but I have just sobered up :spl: Cammy F

Another OF triumph for the Rangers over the forces or darkness which results in another week of the media bleating about perceived injustices all against the MOPES. Lets get one thing straight here, we deserved our victory over the MOPES as we outplayed, outfought and outthought them and the all the refereeing decisions certainly didnââ?¬â?¢t favour us. Scott Brown (i.e lego eater) deserved his red card ââ?¬â?? it was for violent conduct and head-butting an opponent in the chest is certainly violent conduct. Only one option for the referee - a straight red card for Brown, as a result of this incident, the media have tried to shift the spotlight, and blame on Kyle Lafferty. His only crime in this incident was to be attacked by Brown. Next up, they complain that Boogie should have walked for ââ?¬Ë?persistent foulingââ?¬â?¢ of Robbie Keane. Perhaps they have a case, but no mention of the persistent fouling for Nââ?¬â?¢Guemo, including a ââ?¬Ë?nether regionsââ?¬â?¢ high assault on Kris Boyd. He certainly committed as many ââ?¬Ë?foulsââ?¬â?¢ as. Again, no mention that Kamera should have received a 2nd yellow card for diving in the first half, or of the stone-wall penalty that we should have received with Hinkle fouled Edu in the box. It could also be argued that our disallowed goal should have been allowed to stand as Kenny Miller inadvertently handled the ball whilst trying to avoid a Celtic boot taking his head off. However, none of this evidence suits their agenda. There has also been little said about the disruption of yet another minutes silence by the MOPES and their repugnant ââ?¬Ë?welcomeââ?¬â?¢ to a true hero, Simon Weston. The entire Celtic end chanting ââ?¬Ë? Argentinaââ?¬â?¢ as Simon was presented a Rangers jersey. These ââ?¬Ë?peopleââ?¬â?¢ never fail to outdo themselves when it comes to showing themselves up in front of the watching nation. However, they do this in the knowledge that all or most if it will go unreported and unpunished. Back to the game itself and once again Walter Smith for all his deficiencies managed to set up a Rangers team to defeat Celtic. We were all over them like a rash for the majority of the game and deserved our victory. It is hard to single players out in occasions like this but Thompson, Davis & Weir were outstanding and the rest of the team were not far behind. We had no real failures with everyone involved contributing to the performance. One of the most pleasing things to come from Sunday was the players and staff reaction to the goal. This just reemphasised the team spirit that we currently have with everyone galvanised behind the club. In these uncertain times, itââ?¬â?¢s something that we must endeavour to keep to the forefront. No doubt the agenda driven media will not give us the credit we are due for this season, but that makes it even sweeter, we can feel their pain. We might not be firing on all cylinders at the moment, but we are continuing with the momentum that should see us deliver our first back to back league triumph in a decade and we are also in pole position to land another historic treble. Lets keep focused Bears and lets ensure that this season ends with a glorious treble (almost unthinkable given the financial restraints we are currently operating under). Best moments from Sunday (in no particular order) : Kevin Thompsonââ?¬â?¢s rattling tackles in the opening minutes Kevin Thompsonââ?¬â?¢s rattling of the ball into a certain Mr Kameraââ?¬â?¢s nether regions Mo Eduââ?¬â?¢s 40-yard thunder-bolt of a finish with virtually the last kick of the ball to secure our well deserved victory! The jubilant scenes that followed that winning goal Meeting West Brom and Scotland midfield player Graham Dorrans on the way out of Ibrox Debating whether Robbie Keane & Adian McGeady were actually playing Watching Frankie doing 'cart-wheels' when Rangers scored (see other thread!) Listening to the drunken gibberish spouting from 'senior' Gersnet members through the entire game Cammy F - Better Late Than Never Loyal RSC

No doubt all this to be funded by Glasgow City Council. Cammy F

It appears that Kris Boyd is in the dark of these 'talks' http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/2009/12/08/kris-boyd-i-m-in-the-dark-about-new-rangers-contract-talks-despite-club-s-claims-86908-21881847/ Cammy F

Didn't expect anything more than an easy win for the MOPES considering prior to the game McGhee gave his team a 'licence to lose'...... Wonder if any of you statistical minded people out there could look back over the course of the last decade and see how many games Abergreen have won immediately after playing Rangers.... Cammy F

You're still not getting my main point, those romanian players who have been assembled for pee-nuts and are paid peenuts in comparrison to Rangers players have been gelled together as a team, have the basic skills required to participate and actually thrive on the European stage. They have also been coached properly and have a style / system that plays to their strengths and exposes other teams weaknesses. On the other hand, we have none of the above. Craig makes another excellent point that has been overlooked slightly in this topic. Many Rangers fans are at the end of their tether and have either given up, or are thinking of giving up. If this isn't seen as a major issue, then we are deluding ourselves. As many of you will know, I travel all over watching Rangers and have done for over 25 years. Hence, you get to know the usual faces, most who have been there over the years and who I would class as the 'hardcore' or the lifeblood of the club. It is these fans who are making noises about not going any more. These are the fans who turn up in the remotest parts of Europe and cheer on the Rangers. These are the fans who are turning their back on the team thanks to the state of the club (from top to bottom). As an example, there have been tickets on sale (and plenty of them) at every Rangers away game this season, including places like Tynecastle, Pittodrie (appartenly) and Tannidice. Pittodrie is the only away game I haven't been to this season but I was being offered tickets right up until the morning of the game. Something that would never have happened even a few short years ago. 2 CL points with one game remaining (another heavy defeat on the cards) and struggling to outrun the SPL pack, including the worst Celtc team in a decade isn't anything to shout about, it is an embarressment. WS must take his share of the blame and responsibility for this shambles. It is my opinion that another coach could get so much more out of the players currently at Ibrox. Cammy F

I have done as much travelling as the next man (or woman) and understand world economics as much as the next man (or woman). You just don't get my point - the romanian club have assembled a squad of players that are as good as, if not better than the one assembled at Ibrox for much less financial input and outlay. If they can attract players for fees of under �£350,000 and pay them a pitance compaired to us, then surely we can attract such players? I also said that they appear to be getting coached properly in comparison to Rangers players at this time. Seville are currently well placed in their league and have qualified for the later stages of the CL. Stuttgart are struggling in their league and could be relegated. Yet, we they still OUTCLASSED us at Ibrox. Walter Smith is the man charged with coaching Rangers and with setting out tactics etc. Taking last week as an example, he couldn't manage to break down an Aberdeen team who were reduced to 10 men and were playing without any recognised centre-halves. Maybe if he didn't spend all our money on centre-halves and centre-forwards, we wouldn't have to witness players shoe-horned into positions and have 50% of outfield players playing out of postion. Again, taking last week as an example, we have one centre midfield player on the pitch and he was playing WIDE RIGHT As I said above, WS has run out of defences, his time has come - he must go. Cammy F

This thread makes more sense than a rant, so I'll leave the ranting and continue the thread. Winning is everything in football, its what matters. However, when you pay money and watch Rangers (be that via going to games, via TV, via internet etc) you deserve to be entertained. You expect the players representing Rangers to be able to complete the basics of football with no or little effort. You expect your manager and coaching staff to have the team set up in way where all players are playing in their natural positions. You expect the players to be able to retain the ball, you epect them to be able to deliver a corner (or set-piece) without hitting the first defender (or sailing harmlessly past the back post). You have to wonder what we do at Murray Park all day, every day. Going with what we witness on the pitch, it appears we do NOTHING constructive at training. This may come as a surprise, but I believe that we have a decent team - we have some very decent players, but in my opinion, they are not being coached correctly. How else can you explain the lack of creativity, the lack of pace, the lack of determination? The choice of leader is also something the manager MUST take responsibility for. David Weir has had a fantastic career, been a great signing for Rangers and is a great bloke, but he ain't a Rangers captain. There is no leadership on (or off) the pitch - no one to grab the players by the scruff on the neck and get them pulling together. Lastly, WS's statements have become a joke - last season we were faceless and clueless and this season it is our fault that we are out of Europe. WS will have us believe that we demanded attcking football and by giving us what we wanted (BTW I must have blinked and missed the attacking football in Europe) we are now out of Europe. Sorry Walter, the only reason we are out of Europe is that you are clueless when it comes to the CL. As for being 2 points behind Celtc, thats all well and good (well its not really). Lets not forget that this is the worst Celtc start to a season in years - in fact, its worse than John Barnes start to a season - thats how bad they are, thats how bad we are. Some fans may feel that it is OK to be slightly less bad than them - that doesn't wash for me - The Rangers should always strive to be head and shoulders above that lot. As for the lack of finances, the Romanian team that are likely to qualify as 2nd place in our group have spent a tiny % of what we've spent but have been coached correctly. Their most expensive player cost �£350,000 and I'll bet that he isn't on over �£10K per week. WS spent �£3.75M on Kyle Lafferty a player who had scored 6 goals for Burnley. Walter Smith has to go and has to go NOW. Cammy F

as my sentiments are summed up in three simple words : SMITH MUST GO...... In my rant later in the week, I'll give you the reasons why WS position is now untenable.... Cammy F

Here We Go Again Apologies for the rant being a bit early this week nand being a short but we have the small matter of the hosting Stuttgart in the do or die Champions League game at Ibrox tomorrow evening and then (and here I lose the last shred of credibility that I have), Iââ?¬â?¢m off to see Lily Allan at the SECC on Wednesday! Yip, as Santaââ?¬â?¢s return hurtles over the horizon (I hope youââ?¬â?¢ve all been good boys and girls) we approach what appears to be another crucial segment of the season. If we fail to defeat Stuttgart tomorrow evening then we can kiss goodbye to European football for another season, then we face a trip to the frozen North when we visit our old friends Aberdeen in our next SPL match. Lets deal with the CL initially ââ?¬â?? there is no denying that this seasons campaign has been a major let down. After securing the SPL title that guaranteed us Champions League football, we all waited on the CL draw with a sense of anticipation and a sense that we could actually make a positive impact in the group stages. Being brutally honest, the draw couldnââ?¬â?¢t have been kinder to us, unlike our last CL section that was rightly labelled the group of death whilst this season opposition should have given us an ideal opportunity to progress beyond the group stages. Instead, we face an uphill battle to finish third on the group and nothing other than a victory tomorrow will see probably end our participation in Europe. Stuttgart have themselves had a stuttering start to their domestic and European campaign but like us, will be looking at this game to kick-start their season. Our best performance of the season was arguably the 2nd half performance in Germany where we were hugely unlucky not to come away with 3 points after a very dodgy start to the game. Once we settled and imposed our game on the Germans we dominated the game and created enough chances to win the game. This form has to be recaptured starting tomorrow evening to ensure that we have something to play for in our final CL game in Seville. Team selection, formation and tactics will be paramount to our success against Stuttgart, but will Walter deviate from his overtly cautious 4-5-1? I canââ?¬â?¢t decide what WS will do tomorrow. He has been hinting that Boyd will start the game, so that hints at a 4-4-2. However, there are also murmurings that Miller and Naismith (as well as Boyd) are carrying injuries and will be assessed in the morning. Boogie has finally found has way back to Ibrox (if Santa is reading, add a SatNav to Boogies Xmas List) and given the enormity of the game, it is almost impossible to see him being left out (although he deserves to be left out). This will be harsh on young Danny Wilson who has been impeccable since breaking into the team in Boogies absence. Personally, I would prefer for Weir to drop out, but again, canââ?¬â?¢t see that happening given the complicity of the game and what is at stake. For some unknown reason, I am have yet to get the usual CL ââ?¬Ë?mojoââ?¬â?¢, maybe its down to the disappointments of the previous four games, maybe its my age! But I donââ?¬â?¢t have the tingling of the spine, the butterflies in the stomach ââ?¬â?? hopefully this will kick-in tomorrow. After the CL game we have a journey to Pittodrie and approach this game at the summit of the SPL thanks to Celtcs continued inability to win games. Whilst we have our problems to seek both on and off the field, our bitter rivals are suffering as much, if not more on a footballing level. We must take full advantage of this and gain momentum and a points advantage that they canââ?¬â?¢t overturn. We have slowly gotten ourselves into this position whilst not playing particularly well and with several key players missing (Boogie, Mendes & Edu) but canââ?¬â?¢t afford to let this slim advantage slip or to give Celtc any encouragement. Pittodrie is never an easy place to visit and weââ?¬â?¢ll face another tough match so the players will have to demonstrate a commitment and a will to win that ensures we leave Pittodrie with the three points and as SPL leaders. Anything else is frankly unacceptable. Replacing Boogie If our worst fears are realised and Boogie (and others) are sold in January, can be lucky enough to find another fantastic centre-half to replace him? David Weir is coming to the end of his career, Danny Wilson is just starting out and there are still question marks over the long term fitness of Andy Webster. Given this, if, and thatââ?¬â?¢s a huge if, WS is given money to replace a departed Boogie, can he strike gold again? When ââ?¬Ë?King Carlosââ?¬â?¢ was sold we thought he was irreplaceable, but along came Boogie and the King was forgotten. Boogie was the best player in the SPL by a country mile last season and it was disgusting that he wasnââ?¬â?¢t crowned Player Of The Year. All good teams are built from the back with a sound backbone through the team and Boogie certainly is a fine centre-half. We will be a weaker team without him (and even if he isnââ?¬â?¢t sold, weââ?¬â?¢ll loose him for an extended period of time due to Algeriaââ?¬â?¢s participation in the African Cup Of Nations). So if he does leave, weââ?¬â?¢ll have our work cut out to replace him. The Luck Of The Irish Did I miss something whilst watching the ROI v France World Cup qualifiers? The furore in the media regarding Henryââ?¬â?¢s ââ?¬Ë?hand ballââ?¬â?¢ is nothing short of embarrassing. Yes he handled the ball, yes the goal shouldnââ?¬â?¢t have been given and yes, the Irish have been hard done by. However, these type of incidents happen every week in football and we donââ?¬â?¢t expect all these other games to be replayed. Henry ââ?¬Ë?scoredââ?¬â?¢ a goal against Rangers for Barcelona in the CL two years ago that was clearly hand ball. In fact, like last week, Henry admitted in the aftermath of the CL game that he had handled the ball. Where were the impartial ââ?¬Ë?Scottishââ?¬â?¢ media then? Why werenââ?¬â?¢t they clambering over themselves to have our game v Barcelona played again and have the initial result overturned? If anyone is interested, Ireland were awarded a penalty in a qualifying game against Georgia that was never a penalty, a result that helped them qualify for the play-off against France. Should this game be replayed as the referee and his assistants made a monumental error? Anyway, why are the Scottish media even getting involved in this incident? Did it have a direct impact of Scotland or any Scottish clubs? Surely there are far more newsworthy stories in Scotland at the moment that they should be concentrating on. Cammy F

Correct Cammy F

6 goals proir to the game at Torbett Towers then a hat-trick to smash the record. Cammy F

Colin Stein was a player for firsts, but he was only the 2nd best player to come out of Phillipston can anyone name the best player to come from Phillipston (give you a clue, hes ma uncle!) Entry sent! Cammy F

That Was The Week That Was This time last week we were waiting with bated breath on the outcome of three decisions that could have, and still could have, major impact on our immediate and long term future and stability. Firstly there was the long awaited and much anticipated release of our latest financial figures. As usual rumours were spreading like a wild bush fire regarding these figures and some profits of doom speculating that we would be close to doubling our debt. As the figures show, this was nowhere near the case as our debt rose to Ã?£31M. Now, this isnââ?¬â?¢t acceptable and is a direct consequence of gross mismanagement and the blame lies squarely at the door of SDM. However, it wasnââ?¬â?¢t as bad as predicted and whilst we still require urgent investment, a new owner and someone to stand up to the plate and ensure that Rangers have a rosy future to look forward to. Another announcement that had the media in Scotland choking on their words was UEFAââ?¬â?¢s decision to impose a small fine on Rangers for our fans part in the disturbance in Romania. It appears that instead of listening to the journalists with an agenda, UEFA looked at the facts, took eyewitness reports into account and handed out a fine and punishment that fitted the ââ?¬Ë?crimeââ?¬â?¢. Anyone who has followed Rangers abroad has their own tales of woe regarding entry into stadiums, over zealous policing and stewarding, unfit and unsafe stadiums etc. This is no excuse for the tiny minority who attach themselves to our club and travel abroad hell-bent on trouble, but there is always two sides to every story and mitigating circumstances. The only decision that you could label as having gone against us last week was the decision of the EPL to firmly close the door on our introduction to the English Premiership. I think it is safe to say that the majority of Rangers fans were hoping for some positive news or noises to emanate from this meeting but it appears that our route to the EPL is firmly closed for the time being. The renewal of the SKY contract in 3 years could see the door being wedged back open as if SKY want us in the EPL, theyââ?¬â?¢ll get us in the EPL. Otherwise weââ?¬â?¢ll just have to cut our cloth accordingly and make the best of the league that we are currently plying our trade in. So its back to business on Saturday as we welcome Kilmarnock to Ibrox and its high time we found a level of performance that is acceptable and a level of consistency that can propel us to another SPL title. Currently the top of the SPL is tight due to the terrible form of both halves of the OF. This is the stage of the season where we must take advantage and establish a lead in the title race. We have the players at our disposal but they have to show the greed, hunger and desire that is required. If they are sent out in the correct formation with the correct instructions (tactics) then they should be able to defeat everything that is put in front of them domestically. If the league is to be decided on the Old Firm meetings, then I am glad that we have Walter Smith in charge as despite his obvious and many failings, the silverfox knows how to defeat Celtc. Liars And Thieves Is there any other way to describe DUFC after their decision to force fans to pay for admission into the replayed SPL game? On leaving the initial game, it was announced (several times I may add) that all fans should keep their ticket stubs as this would gain them admission to the replayed game. DUFC have now gone back on their word and are charging Ã?£12 for a ticket. This is nothing short of despicable and should be used by the Rangers fans as our ââ?¬Ë?line in the sandââ?¬â?¢. A fully supported boycott should be called by all Rangers fans groups, Rangers Supporters Clubs and all Rangers fans. I would extend this boycott to all games against DUFC at Tannidice and any cup game against them where they receive 50% of the gate receipts. DUFC canââ?¬â?¢t be allowed to blatantly lie then rob more money from the fans. With this disgraceful turnaround they have shown that they are only interesting in our money, so lets deprive them of this income from now on. We fill their stadium twice a season and fill their coffers of we meet them in a cup tie. Depriving them over a period of time will be just rewards for them attempting to cash in on us on this occasion. Hopefully the appropriate fans groups will get together and make the necessary announcements and it would be nice to see Rangers FC backing a boycott and urging fans to stick together on this issue. As the replayed game is on SKY we wouldnââ?¬â?¢t be missing out as we all could tune in to the game. Again, with the game on SKY we should send, say 50 or so fans (Rangers paying for their tickets) to spread our huge banners letting the entire country know exactly what we think of DUFC and this greedy decision. The National Laughing Stock Long-term readers will know my feelings on international football and the reasons I no longer give a damn about the national team. However, being at a loose end on Saturday I decided to tune in and give the national team a viewing and see if I could get myself reconnected with them. This apparition on my part lasted all of 45 minutes when I decided to switch my allegiances to the national rugby team. I said a few years back that I wouldnââ?¬â?¢t watch Scotland if they were playing in my back garden. After Saturdays debacle I would add that if they were playing in my back garden Iââ?¬â?¢d not only not watch them, I close the fooking curtains. This may be my club loyalties here, but was it any coincidence that Scotlandââ?¬â?¢s back four contained three Celtc players? Wales looked likely to score every time they crossed the halfway line and Scotland offered the square-root of nothing. I wonââ?¬â?¢t drag this into a Tartan Army debate, but I canââ?¬â?¢t understand how any Rangers fan can give support to this anti-Rangers establishment and Rangers hating support. Given the recent performances it wasnââ?¬â?¢t a surprise that George Burley was relieved from his duties and the scramble for a new manager has begun. Itââ?¬â?¢s great listening to the Tartan Army (who made them spokesmen for the Scotland support) clamber to get their agenda approved by the media. It is no surprise that the names of Barry Ferguson, Allan McGregor and Kris Boyd are being brought to the fore and the three players receiving a verbal kicking from the Tartan Army (again). The names being banded about to replace Burley are hardly likely to get the pulses racing and if I were a betting man, Iââ?¬â?¢d put a sneaky fiver on Suntan Calderwood. This wouldnââ?¬â?¢t go down well with sections of the media or the sections of the Tartan Army as the last thing they want is another Rangers minded man at the helm. Their sights are currently on removing Gordon Smith from his post as heââ?¬â?¢s seen as just another ââ?¬Ë?hunââ?¬â?¢. Sections of the media are claiming that Scotland require and deserve (delusions of grandeur there) a ââ?¬Ë?big nameââ?¬â?¢ appointment and they are urging the SFA to stump up the cash to lure a ââ?¬Ë?big fishââ?¬â?¢. The prerequisite appears to be a manager who has a proven track record both domestically and internationally, someone who has managed both here in the UK and in Europe (and further a-field). I understand that my non-interest in the national team probably precludes me from suggesting a replacement, but the above describes one manger perfectly, step forward Dick Advocaat. Now if that doesnââ?¬â?¢t have the Tartan Army choking on their see-you-jimmy wigs then nothing will! Cammy F - We Are The People

from a Rangers point of view I hope Boyd continues to snub the national team - he has improved as a player since telling Burley where to go. Cammy F

Simple question that we've never had answered - where has all OUR money gone? Don't believe we will ever know the full extent of SDM's financial missmanagment as there will probably be some sort of non-disclosure agreements attached to the sale of the club (if we ever find a buyer). Cammy F

The Return Of The Rant Itââ?¬â?¢s been a while since I last vented my frustration on you poor souls, so this is long overdue! The reasons for the lack of rantings are many and varied, starting a new career which is eating into my time, lack of new and meaningful Rangers related topics (I know, more of that later) and a general malaise in what is happening in and around our club. So enough of the excuses and on with the ranting, but where to start! Our esteemed Chairman has gone AWOL and taken Boogie with him and the bank appear to be pulling the (purse) strings within Ibrox. Iââ?¬â?¢ll leave you to decide if the two are related. This disturbing turn of events have been predicted for a while from those described as ââ?¬Ë?doom-mongersââ?¬â?¢ but it appears that SDM has taken us to the brink and we are in serious financial trouble and in freefall. Tomorrow sees our latest financial results published and theyââ?¬â?¢ll make for interesting reading. It is predicated that the debt will have risen to over the Ã?£30M mark (again) and with little or no sign of this improving. This financial meltdown has gotten the hopes of a takeover heightened but there appears to be no-one willing to show their cards and place a firm offer to SDM for Rangers. The recent ââ?¬Ë?riot in Romaniaââ?¬â?¢ and inconsistent form, especially in Europe and the continued speculation of whether further staff cuts (including players and management) donââ?¬â?¢t exactly make Rangers attractive to potential buyers. However, the recent happenings must have finally opened the eyes of even the most ardent SDM supporters. He has overseen the most irresponsible overspending in our entire history and has taken us to the brink and into the hands of the bank ââ?¬â?? we are at their mercy. Despite SDMââ?¬â?¢s and the banks protestations, there are likely to be wholesale changes at Ibrox come January if a buyer doesnââ?¬â?¢t come forward. This will mean players sold and not replaced and the enforced promotion of young players (not necessarily a bad thing if managed correctly) and a change in the management of the club (again, not necessarily a bad thing). All this at a time where our bitterest rivals are struggling on the pitch and at a time where even a half-decent Rangers team would have had the title all but wrapped up. Tony Mowbry has a worse record than John Barnes and are still 2 points clear of us in the title race (we do have a game in hand). Our recent form has rightly raised concerns and the usual excuses of injuries and suspensions have been trotted out. Neither explains the lack of basic footballing ability constantly displayed by our players. We have decent players, that is unquestionable, but they appear to be unable to consistently turn in acceptable performances. This leads to the question of whether they are being coached properly. If all of the above is overtly depressing, have some sympathy for your author, I am sitting here typing this listening to The Smiths and Joy Division and with tomorrow being the day we hear about finances, UEFA sanctions and the EPL decision, the mood isnââ?¬â?¢t going to lighten any time soon. In the dark and distant days of the early to mid eighties, I used to think that there was never a dull moment following Rangers and despite the lack of success and decent players, I always believed that there was light at the end of the tunnel. In retrospect, I believe that this was youthful exuberance and the naivety of youth ââ?¬â?? no matter what it was, the sleeping giant that was The Rangers were awakened and we went to dominate domestically for over a decade. Maybe itââ?¬â?¢s my age, but there is little or no optimism when looking at the future of The Rangers unless we can convince the EPL to adopt us and attract substantial financial investment. Without this, and being resigned to a life in the SPL, The Rangers that we know and love will continue on a road to ruin and will be the death of The Rangers. No One Likes Us? At times it certainly feels this way and at the moment its open season on Rangers and especially us, the fans. The Scottish media who are never slow in putting the boot in, are having a field day with the off-field issues and the ââ?¬Ë?riot in Romaniaââ?¬â?¢. UEFA will have their say tomorrow. Domestically we have to suffer sectarian abuse on a weekly basis with no mention of this in the unbiased media. It even appears that the weather is conspiring against us with the postponement of the game at Tannidice due to a pitch that was no worse at half-time than it was a kick-off. Sitting in the Fair Play Stand watching the officials run round the pitch with a ball under their arms (which was never used to test the surface), watching the DUFC subââ?¬â?¢s deliberately kicking balls into puddles in both halves of the pitch whilst the officials were out, then kicking water at their backs, you just knew that the game was being cancelled. On leaving Tannidice, you couldnââ?¬â?¢t fail to notice the ire emanating from the Rangers support, at last the sleeping giant had awoken. Like a wounded animal, the Rangers support can only take so much ââ?¬Ë?pokingââ?¬â?¢ before it bites back. It appears the recent happenings have finally witnessed a snarling, biting response for the Rangers fans. Lets make sure we direct our ire in the right direction as people will start to take notice, and long may it continue. So given this, wasnââ?¬â?¢t it heartening to hear and see the welcome Hamburg SV had prepared for the Tims? You know, The Tims who are loved by every club they play against? Who have ââ?¬Ë?specialââ?¬â?¢ relationships all over Europe? I just wonder if the Hamburg boys would loan us their display for The Piggery on January 3rd? After all Rangers allowed Celtc to set up a display last season, surely John Reid will return the favour (if h isnââ?¬â?¢t too busy insulting us as a way to deflect from his own troubles). More power to the HSV fans who, with a quick search of Youtube, a fantastic fan-base who add colour and noise to every ground they visit. Some Poor Monkey Has A Tony Mowbry Heid The Blue Order are rightly praised for their continued contribution to the atmosphere at Ibrox and have been behind some memorable displays, banners and songs. Recently, probably due to the lack of support they receive from the rest of the ground on match-days whilst trying to get the singing going, they have resorted some old school (or should it be skool?) classics like ââ?¬Ë?Frank McGarvieââ?¬â?¢s wife is off ill reputeââ?¬â?¢, ââ?¬Ë?Jorge Cadette and his hair like spaghettiââ?¬â?¢, ââ?¬Ë?If I had the wings of a sparrow (if I had the arse of a crow, Iââ?¬â?¢d fly over parkhead tomorrow and shite on the barstewards below)ââ?¬â?¢. However, surely nothing can beat The Blue Orders homage to the new Celtc manager. Some Poor Monkey Has Got A Tony Mowbry Heid must rank amongst the funniest footballing songs ever. Lest We Forget Iââ?¬â?¢d like to finish on a serious note and take this opportunity to pay tribute to all those brave servicemen and woman who have paid the ultimate sacrifice and also to all those who have served ââ?¬â?? we will NEVER forget. Cammy F

Done - hope its not too late!!! Cammy F

Helen also loved her personalised Rangers top.... Know someone who vistied her pub in Torquay and she is deffo one of us........ took time to talk to my mate and his family and asked him to leave his RFC top so she could hand it in her pub. Cammy F

As someone who hasn't missed a domestic game this season, In a word NO Cammy F

I think the kindest words that can be used to describe our early season form is ââ?¬Ë?erraticââ?¬â?¢ both on the domestic front and in Europe. There have been a few highs (2nd half against Stuttgart, first half against Seville, victory at Tynecastle and our recent OF victory) but these have been outweighed with negatives. We have failed to win another away game since that memorable victory in Edinburgh and have failed to score against Motherwell, Killie and Aberdeen. Thankfully we managed to get back on track against Celtc and earned a well deserved 3 points to close the gap to one point when most feared that weââ?¬â?¢d fall 7 points behind. It isnââ?¬â?¢t only the results that are worrying, some of the performances have raised alarming questions regarding the quality of our squad, especially once we have injuries and suspensions. There are also credible concerns regarding our discipline after receiving three red cards in our opening three SPL away games. In saying that, it could be argued that all three decisions were incorrect (however, it can as easily be argued that all three were correct depending on your interpretation of the rules). We continue to have a sound defensive base to build upon with us ensuring that goals against are at a premium and its undeniable that we are hard to break down (unless your Seville!). It is further forward we are appearing to struggle. Our midfield is constantly being chopped and changed and none of our strikers have set the heather on fire so far this season. It can be argued that they are being starved of their usual quality service as our creative players have been limited with injuries and suspensions. Hopefully this is improving as we are slowly but surely getting most of our players match fit and ready for action. The only exceptions are long-term absentees Kirk Broadfoot and Mo Edu. With all due respect to Kirk is exclusion from the squad whilst being missed, in my opinion, it is the enforced absence of Mo Edu that has hampered us this season. This is an extraordinary admission from myself as when I first heard we had signed the young American for Ã?£2.6M I believed it was money thrown away. The early sightings of the slight American hardly filled me with confidence but when injuries forced our management team to unwrap the cotton wool from the youngster and throw him into the title race, I quickly realised that we had a very promising prospect on our hands. For one so young he appears to be able to read games very well. His slightness hides a physical presence that he is able to channel correctly. His game also allows others around him to play with a freedom. Not one single player can take any extra credit or glory for overhauling Celtc last season but Mo Edu can be proud of his contribution in the nail-biting finale to the season. This included a brillaint OF debut where Mo helped Rangers to a 1-0 victory over Celtc at Ibrox. His energy in that game was outstanding as was his general performance. I was looking forward to Mo taking this form and confidence into the new season but the knock he took in the final game of season was more serious than first imagined and we were informed that heââ?¬â?¢d be missing for a prolonged period. As said above I believe that this has had an impact on our early season form especially given the fact the Kevin Thomson is also just coming back from serious injury. It is encouraging to hear that Edu is on the road to recovery and I for one canââ?¬â?¢t wait until he makes his comeback into the Rangers starting 11. Cammy F

For those unlucky enough to have been reading my inane ramblings for some time, this next statement may come as a huge surprise, there was once a time where I wouldnââ?¬â?¢t have had a negative word to say about our beloved club. I was always a champion of the club and even although privately I had reservations of the way it was being run, I wouldnââ?¬â?¢t allow a bad word to be uttered relating to Rangers FC. I canââ?¬â?¢t recall when my attitude changed but reflecting on over 10 years of posting on GersNet, it appears that I have always been an old cynical so-and-so who never looks on the bright side of life, especially where Rangers are concerned. On further reflection, and looking for any excuse to explain my negativity, I believe that the general malice surrounding our fortunes is what has transformed me into the cynic that I am. Let me get one thing straight from the start, I donââ?¬â?¢t enjoy being cynical and I certainly donââ?¬â?¢t enjoy witnessing the continued demise of the club that we all love. But, it is hard to find anything positive to pen regarding Rangers. I thought long and hard about this article as I remember writing the same things numerous times over the years and as always nothing has improved. Sir David Murray has moved (or been moved) aside and a new Chairman has taken the reigns, but do any of us expect this to change anything? Will our crippling debt suddenly disappear? Will our manager suddenly decide to play free-flowing attractive football? Will the club finally stand up to the agenda driven journalists earning a substantial living from continually berating Rangers? Will Ibrox be renovated / upgraded so it is once more the majestic stadium that it once was? Will we suddenly transform ourselves into a marketable brand and re-establish a successful merchandising department? Will Murray Park suddenly start producing a stream of players who are genuine Rangers material? Will the vast majority of the Rangers fan-base even care? Football clubs mean different things to different people. I am not unique and I am not looking for plaudits but I can honestly say that I love Rangers with ever fibre of my being. After my family, Rangers are my life. Thatââ?¬â?¢s what makes the current state of our club so personal and so hurtful. It is like watching a family member dying and being unable to help. I think we can all recall times that the Rangers result hurt so much that you just went home, curled up into a ball and refused to communicate with the outside world for days. We can also recall times where the Rangers result made your day, week, month or year. Thatââ?¬â?¢s the joy of being a football fan. One second can change your whole mood and entire outlook. However, recently I have found that no matter the on-field success (which I have enjoyed) hasnââ?¬â?¢t quite supplemented the feelings for doom and gloom. After the initial high of the success comes the realisation that the club is still rotten to the core. It is easy to sit and pen articles like this and not come up with ways to improve the situation. However, even if I were to give solutions to all our problems, our club wouldnââ?¬â?¢t be interested. After-all, we are all faceless and clueless. But I wonââ?¬â?¢t let our managers assessment of internet fans deter me from putting over some suggestions! Iââ?¬â?¢ll admit that reducing the crippling debt has to be our priority. How do we manage this without weakening the team? That is the $64,000 question and one that I have no answer for other than to find an escape from Scottish Football or to cut our cloth accordingly. The one negative surrounding Rangers that I would love to be able to tackle (Iââ?¬â?¢m open for discussions Mr Johnston) is how to tackle the odious journalists. If I were tasked to develop a solution I believe that I would have this sorted in a matter of months. Firstly Iââ?¬â?¢d ban any journalist that had shown prejudice in reporting on the ills of Scottish Football and who implicated Rangers and no other teams / clubs. I would then inform their editors of why they were banned and inform them that the ban wouldnââ?¬â?¢t be lifted until they ensure impartiality. Make no mistake these papers need us more than we need them. Certain journalists wouldnââ?¬â?¢t be given a 2nd chance, they would serve a life-time ban from Ibrox and Iââ?¬â?¢d release a statement informing everyone why they were banned including showing examples of their one sided reporting. As fans we can invoke change here ââ?¬â?? simply donââ?¬â?¢t buy newspapers. I havenââ?¬â?¢t bought a newspaper for over 7 years. It is also worth noting and recalling at this juncture, we the fans are still the biggest single financial contributor to Rangers FC. Another worrying aspect is how we have become an unmarketable brand. This is solely down to neglect from our custodians. They have allowed us to slip from being the single most recognised Scottish Institution to a badly run laughing stock. Our current sponsorship with Carling is highly unlikely to be renewed and that leaves us with another potential financial head-ache. Make no mistake, our rivals from the East End are a far more marketable brand than we are and are in sound financial state at this moment in time. I heard a story this week that supposedly came from one of our current coaching staff. Now, before going any further, I donââ?¬â?¢t believe a word of this, but its another example of the negativity around our club. The story goes that if we hadnââ?¬â?¢t made it to the Champions League this season then the administrators would have been called. The story continues that if we donââ?¬â?¢t escape from Scottish Football then they may still be called to Ibrox. As stated above, I donââ?¬â?¢t believe that our current financial predicament is that serious, but weââ?¬â?¢d be kidding ourselves if we didnââ?¬â?¢t believe that we could reach that perilous state soon if things donââ?¬â?¢t improve. The millstone that is our debt is stopping other areas like Murray Park being utilised to their full potential. This is also true regarding the upkeep of Ibrox Stadium that looks like a tired old lady now rather than the super-model it used to be. It breaks my heart seeing the state of Ibrox ââ?¬â?? broken TVââ?¬â?¢s, dirty and disgusting toilets etc. This is Scotlandââ?¬â?¢s first UEFA 5 star accredited stadium we are talking about here. It is also a remembrance of those who lost their lives at the Ibroxââ?¬â?¢s disasters. I have had many discussions with many Rangers fans regarding the above issues and why I am so negative and cynical and I appear to be in the minority. Am I missing something? Am I overtly negative and cynical? Should I just shrug my shoulders and refuse to believe that my club would ever go to the wall just because we are ââ?¬Ë?Rangersââ?¬â?¢? I canââ?¬â?¢t believe how blind some Rangers fans are when it comes to the long-term future of the club we profess to love. Never mind we won the SPL title and have just beaten Celtc ââ?¬â?? everything is hunky-dorey eh? Cammy F