CammyF

Just an update - I've folded. Season ticket renewal on its way back to Ibrox (SPL away fixures, home and away cup ties all ticked and travel club renewal also sent) and I've secured tickets for the remaining away SPL fixtures (Hibs and DUFC) Apologies Gazza8 I just didn't have the fortitude not to renew. Acht well, another season of torture, logistical nightmares, horrendous visa bills, money not well spent. Never mind, it'll all be worth it :devil: Cammy F

Stolen from another forum.... I know that Hibs have been our feeder club for years, but it looks like even their ball boys aspire to be Bears [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HcEHT99GPY&feature=channel]YouTube - Hibs -v- Rangers - 19th April 2009[/ame] Cammy F

Foortball is black and white - if you win the title, you are a winner. 2nd downwards is a failure. Maybe we should reprint our entire history to include in our many honours (a world record don't you know) the titles that we've not won. Nah, that's been chirlish, why don't we just include those titles we've lost,where we are deemed to have been unfortunate. Like the season we never lost a game but still lost the League Title. That is far more unlucky than WS has ever been. Can we add that to our honours. Why do you insist on comparing football to other walks of life? You can't compare it. In football, you are either a winner or a loser. We've been losers in SPL terms for the last 3 seasons. No matter how you spin it, its a fact. Another fact, whether you like ot or not, the last Rangers manager to win the SPL title was AMc - he didn't just win it once, but twice. Where did I say either was crap? I said they were both achievements that I was extremely proud off. AMc had no money to spend no matter who he inherited. He had to sell ~6 players every season, yet still managed a treble, 2 league titles, 5 domestic trophies and the last 16 of the CL. If that is classed as a manager who just doesn't have it, I hate to see who you class as a manager who does have it (oh wait, that'll be Walter Smith). Walter Smith has spent �£20M this seasons ALONE. We are still in the SPL title race (thankfully) but it remains to be seen whether we can win the title. If we don't then WS has shown that he is a complete and utter failure in SPL terms. Luck is invovled in most, if not every football game. However, no matter what excuses are put forward, we should have won the SPL title last season. We were so far in front BEFORE the fixture pile-up. The reason we lost the league was our inablility to win at Easter Road, Fir park, Pittodrie etc. The final nail in our coffin was the performance and result at Fir Park the Sunday after Manchester. A 1-1 draw after going 1-0 up was the result that confirmed to me (at least) that the title was heading to Torbett Towers. WS has to take some responsibility as anyone at the game knew that Motherwell were going to score, yet WS refused to change his tactics or formation - something he is very guilty off. Football is black and white - if you win the league you are winners, if you don't finish first you are losers. Simply as that. If you can't comprehend this, I suggest that you are watching the wrong sport. The ONLY place I want my team to be is FIRST. Simple as that really. I believe that Rangers should be first most seasons. The reasons? We should aspire to be the best, we should be coached properly and that clearly isn't happening. SDM must love you, a fan that will accept 2nd best and doesn't question the status quo, the poor coaching levels, the tatical decisions, the formations etc. As a fan, we have the right to question ALL OF THE ABOVE. Miss-representing what I said and controdicting yourself here. I never said getting to the last 16 of the CL was better than getting to the final of the UEFA Cup. Why do you insist on doing this and using utterly obtuse responses to a well reasoned arguement? So if you don't think they are a par, then everyone else who doesn't agree is wrong? Jeez, I bow to your superior knowledge and reasoning. So, because I haven't seen Struths team play, I can't comment, yet I'm being OBTUSE? I didn't see them play, however, I have researched Struth, I have listened to tales from older and wiser fans than myself. I have an interest in his achievements and the legacy he left. Once again, you are twisting logic to try and support your obtuseness (is that a word) - not what I said. The point I was making was that MON the Celtc manager AMc was upagainst was lauded bny many, including some Rangers fans as one of the best managers in Europe. He was heralded as the greatest manager in the Scottish game since Jock Stein. He led Celtc to their 2nd most successful period in THEIR (not OURS) history and was rightly or wrongly promoted as a great manager. Meanwhile accross the city, AMc matched his achievements (trophy wise) and YOU class him as 'didn't have it'. So one manager is a 'god' the other a nothing yet they were equally successful. AMc had faults and failings and will never go down as one of our most successful managers, rightly so, others have a far better record (Struth as an example). However, that can't deflect from the fact that he was reasonabley successful no matter how you try to play this down. Yet, he still hasn't won the SPL title. Twisting words again - where did I say WS was a complete failure? He has failed to win the SPL title (2nd stint as manager) that can't be argued. That makes him a failure SPL wise, not a complete failure. Who said this season is over? Where I have I said that we can't win the title this year? Where I have I said that I HATE HIM? FFS what a complete and utterly tosserish thing to say. Did you read my review on SILVERSMITH? I have respect for WS but that doesn't stop me looking at his performance as a manager and seeing that with all the tools he has at his disposal, he should be doing a better job. If that equates to hatrid in your eyes, then I suggest that it is you that is not only a 'strange fan', but a 'strange human being'..... Cammy F

But it isn't about points won over 3 seasons, its about how many SPL titles. I don't care if we win more points over the course of 2.5 seasons, if we don't win the title. That is a non-arguement. Eck was lucky was he? How can you say that? In his first SPL title we won Ecks team scored over 100 goals. They played wonderful football and won the SPL title against a Celtc team who had won the treble the previous season (IIRC) and got to the UEFA Cup final. To say he was lucky is chirlish and plays down a wonderful achievement and some wonderful fooball. Some of the displays that season were the best I can remember. He also won the treble that season, something that you sidestepped for some reason. Helicopter Sunday could be delared as 'lucky', but we won the SPL title by a point. We came from a position where not even us the fans thought was possible. In the post split games we managed to not only match Celtc, but over take them. The springboard being a 3-1 victory at Pittodrie inspired by Ferguson and Prso. So, in his lucky season, he gained more points in the SPL than any other team. I don't think that is luck - the whole point of football is gaining more points PER season than the oppostion. Eck managed that. Walter Smith has had more money to spend than AMc no matter what way you spin it. Getting to the last 16 of the CL is on par with getting to a UEFA Cup Final. As a Rangers fan, I am extremely proud of both achievements and would never down-play either of them. No matter what you or I think of the groups that we did and din't qualify from, both were wonderfull achievements. Also worth noting that AMc's side were very unfortunate to be knocked out by Villarreal in the last 16. Villarreal themselves were very unlucky themselves to lose to Arsenal in the CL semi-finals. I fail to see how anyone can claim that not winning the SPL title is somehow more heroic that winning it. AMc, for all his faults and failings managed it twice. WS has yet to recapture the title during his 2nd spell as manager. Failure over success? Not for this fan. So if WS has a better record than any other manager in the SPL why did we lose the SPL title last season and why are we currently 1 point behind Celtc this season? What an utterly obtuse thing to say - Struth is the greatest ever Rangers Manager, in fact, probably the greatest ever Ranger full stop. What is your point here? Mr Struth will never be bettered in this fans eyes. I just find it amazing the lengths some fans will go to try and paint WS as something that he is not. He hasn't won the SPL title in his 2nd spell in charge. No matter how this is painted, it is a fact. So what if he won his mini-season (btw, wtf is a mini-season and how can you seriously think that that fact matters since we lost the title). Cammy F

Can you remember what you were doing a year ago tomorrow? Late in the evening I was hiding behind the sofa watching a very scarey drama develop on the TV..... [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtdUeHVqkLM]YouTube - Rangers Fiorentina Penalties[/ame] RANGERS ARE COMING..... Cammy F

Nope, it's just a sign of the fickle football fan However, Rangers players like McPherson, McSwegan, John Fleck, Neil Murray, Stephen Pressley all received abuse from the stands even though they played in the Rangers teams that earned 9-in-a-row.... Rangers fans need a whipping boy - Charlie Adam was it for a while, now it's almost anyone in a blue jersey (Dailly, McCulloch, Miller, Boyd, Davis, Beasley, SW, et al)... Cammy F

Neither do I - however, when you have anything between 40-50% of your outfield players playing out of position, then that indicates an issue. Steve Davis has been under-performing in that position all season and WS's refusal to move him into his favoured centre position has been to the deprement of both the player and the team. But he hasn't been given a sustained run of games - See above- Davis has been dreadful but is a 'first pick'. If Beasley had been given as many games as Davis and hadn't improved, then you may have a point. WS's refusal to deploy Aaron instead of Davis is also baffling. If Aaron was brought as back-up to Beasley, why was he brought over? Isn't it? Derek Johnstone, Derek Parlane, Derek Ferguson, Ian Durrant, Hugh Burns, Davie McPherson to name just a few. Fleck is a 'special case' and shouldn't be rushed, I said so at the stgart of the season. However, to be fair ro Fleck, if he is going to be playing, he deserves to play in his favoured position. Does he? Fleck at left wing, Stevie Smith at left wing.... 40-50% of outfield players playing out of position..... Personally, I'd have thought that the team would perform better with players playing in the positions that they excell at / in...... Never said it was easy, just feel that WS makes it harder for himself. If Eck didn't quite have it, what does that say about WS's 2nd spell in charge? Eck won 2 SPL titles, 5 domestic cup trophies, including a treble and got to the last 16 of the CL on a budget that was peanuts compared to what WS has had in his 2nd spell. Eck faced a better Celtc team - in fact, it was the 2nd most successful Celtc team in HISTORY.... Eck matched them trophy for trophy over his stewardship. Reasonably well isn't good enough though, especailly given the funds that he has had at his disposal. All I am saying is that he has the tools to be doing a better job. If the players aren't performing in training, then it's WS/AMc/KMcD's job to COACH them. What I am 'wondering' is if we had played players in their natural positions, had a tried and tested formation / system, had players coached properly, might we not be performing better? and as a fan, I have the right (or duty) to ask those questions Cammy F

I think Man U will prove too strong for Arsenal over the two legs - hope not, as I'm still hoping for a Chelsea v Arsenal final Cammy F

Since you are busy just now, I'll take Hertz on Saturday and leave the OF game for anyone else who nominates themselves Cammy F

As Craig says, the furstrating thing, given the current financial climate is that most of the players WS has signed, have been signed as squad players, and not to automatically improve the starting 11. Steven Davis is a prime example - we were well covered for centre-midfield, so WS signs the lad, plays him right midfield to the lads and our teams deprement. Why didn't WS use the money for Davis on an actual right sided midfield player. Wide left is even more confusing - he signed Beasley and Aaron to cover that position, yet continually players other players out of position - Fleck, McCulloch, Lafferty, Smith etc. Then, WS signs Miller and Velicka (combined fees circa �£3.5M) when we had 'decent' options upfront - JCD, Boyd, Cousin, Novo. He then sells Cousin and JCD. Velicka is left to rot in the reserves then shoved back into the team at the business end of the season - so fair play to the big man for his contribution under hardly ideal circumstances. We are still short of a right back, left back and wide right player despite WS spending over �£20M in the summer. Add to that, at any given time, we are playing 40-50% of our outfield players out of position. Cammy F

Put you and me down for the first two, and see if anyone else volunteers over the next couple of days / week and then split them between whoever volunteers (if that makes sense)....!!!!!! Cammy F

I am more than happy to contribute one or more for the remaining games of the season... Cammy F

What!!!!!! No place for the Lional Messi of Scottish Football, Alan Gow...!!??? Cammy F

You can hardly give Smith Hutton - Hutton was an extablished first team regular under both AMC before being injured. SW hasn't been a regular, he has played when necessity arrises and has played in a number of positions - left back, right back, wide right - hardly evidence of giving him a run in the team. Stevie Smith has been fit for a while and like SW has only been drafted into the team / squad (out of position) as we have had an injury crisis - if Broadfoot, Papac, Beasley, Lafferty et al had been fit, Smith wouldn't have even been a 'bench-warmer' Edu - only in the team due to the Barry Ferguson situation - has been fit for the vast majority of the season. Would still be warming the bench if Ferguson was in the team. Fleck - played fleeting out of position and dumped back onto the bench. His fleeting appearences have been at left wing, a position that everyone except Ally McCoist has had a go at filling this season. Boyd - Like Hutton, a first team regular and was well established under previous managers and regimes. Lafferty - see Fleck and add an injury. The most galling example of WS preferring established players was bringing on Christian Daily during the CIS Cup Final - a game that we were very capable of winning and with hindsight, may have won if Edu (given his level of performance since) had been brought on instead of CD. Also cast our minds back to an away game at Aberdeen where WS shat himself and reacted to Aberdeens 4 goal salvo against The Mopes the previous week where he dropped Boyd and replaced him with Lee McCulloch who was deployed in the centre of midfield. Also, WS has 'previous' for this - Gary Stevens at sweeper, Basil Boli at right back, Miko at left wing (wait a minute, wasting a fantastic talent by playing them left wing, Walter would have surely learnt from this mistake), Scott Nisbet at outside right........ Lets remember, Walter Smith is advocating removing the U21 ruling, a move that gives his detractors even more ammunition. It is also worth noting that we are in the process of demantling the squad, not adding to it. If any players are to promoted it'll be players from the U19's (Wilson, Ness, Perry and the likes). Our squad will be trimmed down to under 20 first team players that will supplimented by players coming thro the ranks. Cammy F

Couldn't agree more - piss-poor excuse from the club. Cammt F

Slightly off topic, but as the Championship season finishes next week (IIRC) for the likes of Blackpool (no involvement in play offs etc) does that mean that Adam and Gow will be available for selection for us? Cammy F

As I've said on many occassions, Charlie Adam isn't the worst player on our books. He has gone from a player who scored 14 goals from midfield, and some of those were in the CL to a player who looked unfit and uninterested. Was all this down to Charlie, or have our coaching staff got a case to answer here? Cammy F

John Brown Ian Ferguson Nigel Spackman Rod Wallace John McClelland Cammy F

I don't think anyone Rangers supporter says that Boyd is CRAP. Some fans, rightly or wrongly believe that Boyd could (and to be fair, he has started to) offer more whilst playing. His attitude wasn't the best, his physical condition wasn't the best, his all round fitness wasn't the best and his overall contribution to the team could have been better. Sections of the Rangers support never fail to amaze me - if, for whatever reason you question a players ability, you are regarding as some sort of non-fan. Kris Boyd can, has and will continue to score goals in the SPL, that has never been in question. But, as I said above, some fans rightly or wrongly demand more from Boyd - nothing wrong with that. PS - congratulations to Boyd - some achievement Cammy F

Eh, she is T-Total...... everything else you say tho is correct Cammy F

Yeah, just because we were live on SKY - they hang the shirts of the teams playing on SKY behind the presenters every week. Cammy F

Nope, just my honest opinion. He played far too narrow all game, negating any width we had. His crossing was terrible, he took 4 corners, three hit the first defender and the forth went straight to the keeper. I rightly praised him after the Motherwell game where he had a very decent game in midfield. However, he has struggled against both Hibs and now St Mirren. Cammy F

Yip, 100 goals from 112 starts (146 appearences overall). Cammy F

The Rangers juggernaut rolled into a sun drenched national stadium today for the semi-final of the Homecoming Scottish Cup. Walter Smith / Ally McCoist (whoever picks our cup teams) remained loyal to the players who have secured four consecutive SPL victories, with the only change being Christian Daily for the suspended Sasa Papac. Daily slotted into the right back position with the impressive SW moving to left back. Once again, Rangers started fantastically and were 1-0 up within the opening 74 seconds. Possession was gained wide left and the play was switched quickly to the opposite flank where Steve Davis played in Kris Boyd. With Boyd on the hunt for his 100th Rangers goal, the big striker turned and sent a shot goal-ward. His shot lacked conviction but was deflected into the path of Velicka who slammed home his third goal in three starts, his forth for the season. The Rangers support sat back and expected Rangers to use this early goal as a launch-pad, bit once again, after gaining an early initiative, we sat back and allowed St Mirren to settle and to dictate the pace of the game. Our midfield was struggling to cope and bar a decent Pedro Mendes shot, we didnââ?¬â?¢t threaten to extend our advantage. However, to be honest, St Mirren rarely threatened and Alexander was a mere spectator. Once again, in the first half, our play was fragmented, we offered little or no service to a static front pairing and our midfield surrendered possession and territory with ease. In truth, only Mo Edu transcended meritocracy in a dull and uninspiring first half which ended with a seemingly bad injury to Pedro Mendes. Rangers left the field knowing that a vast improvement was required to secure a place in the final. The 2nd half started as the first finished with St Mirren having the lions share of possession but with little end product. With Davis moving into the centre of midfield, Rangers and the Ulsterman started to dominate proceedings and Davis look far more accomplished in the centre (for 45 minutes) than he has looked wide right all season. It was a surging Davis run which set up the landmark 100th Rangers goal for Kris Boyd. Boyd becomes the first Rangers striker since Mark Hateley to reach the golden three figure mark. Boyd finished off the move with a clinical, cool and composed strike. Rangers sniffed blood and pressed for the third goal that would kill the game. With Edu and Davis controlling midfield and with Kenny Miller (who replaced Velicka) offering some pace and directness coupled with intelligent runs it wasnââ?¬â?¢t long until Rangers put the game to bed. The ball broke to Miller in the penalty area and he dispatched the ball into the net and secure Rangersââ?¬â?¢ place in the cup final. The remainder of the game was played out in the St Mirren half with Rangers looking for a forth goal to add some gloss to the score-line. Boyd, Miller, Novo and Edu all had chances, but we had to settle for a comfortable 3-0 scoreline. One thing Iââ?¬â?¢d like to highlight is the state of the Hampden pitch. Players sliding all over the place, the ball sticking in the surface (three times I watched Novo then Miller try to run with the ball at their feet, only for the ball to get stuck in the pitch ââ?¬â?? not conducive to fast, free-flowing football). Weââ?¬â?¢ll have to wait to hear the extent of Mendesââ?¬â?¢ injury, but with Davis looking more composed in the centre, we have the Ulsterman to rely on if Mendes is to miss any games. Boogie is suspended for the visit of Hearts, so either Daily, McCulloch or Broadfoot will partner Weir in the centre of defence. All in all, a comfortable victory gained without really hitting top form, but it was fantastic to see three different scorers and the overall man of the match performance from Mo Edu is further evidence that the American can have a huge impact on Rangersââ?¬â?¢ run-in. The destination of both the SPL title and the Homecoming Scottish Cup is firmly in our own hands. Players Ratings Alexander ââ?¬â?? a mere spectator for large periods of the game ââ?¬â?? had one shot to deal with which he touched over the bar ââ?¬â?? 6/10 Daily ââ?¬â?? not the greatest performance from the utility man ââ?¬â?? booked for a rash tackle and didnââ?¬â?¢t offer much going forward ââ?¬â?? 5/10 Weir ââ?¬â?? Solid performance but his distribution is shocking ââ?¬â?? 5/10 Boogie ââ?¬â?? Has taken over the King Carlos (who?) mantle ââ?¬â?? great defensively and composed on the ball ââ?¬â?? 7/10 SW ââ?¬â?? not as effective as when he plays right back but was always willing to surge forward and had a decent game defensively ââ?¬â?? 6/10 Davis ââ?¬â?? struggled for the entire first half wide right ââ?¬â?? looked a completely different player through the middle in the 2nd half ââ?¬â?? had a hand in all three goals ââ?¬â?? 7/10 Mendes ââ?¬â?? was struggling to get a foot in the game before being carted off injured ââ?¬â?? not his best game ââ?¬â?? 5/10 Edu ââ?¬â?? only player to gain pass marks in the first half and hats off to him for raising his game even further in the 2nd half ââ?¬â?? MOTM by a long way ââ?¬â?? 9/10 Smith ââ?¬â?? once again struggled out left and left his wing to easily making us too narrow on occasions ââ?¬â?? tried hard tho ââ?¬â?? 5/10 Velicka ââ?¬â?? another game and another goal ââ?¬â?? do we have another Kris Boyd on our hands here ââ?¬â?? strong and harried all day ââ?¬â?? 6/10 Boyd ââ?¬â?? capped off a decent performance with his 100th goal for Rangers ââ?¬â?? another cool and composed finish from Boyd ââ?¬â?? 7/10 Novo ââ?¬â?? replaced the injured Mendes and struggled with the pitch ââ?¬â?? 5/10 Miller ââ?¬â?? once again, his pace, directness and intelligent runs opened up a few chances for Rangers ââ?¬â?? turning into a great impact player and got on the score-sheet ââ?¬â?? 6/10 Little ââ?¬â?? not really enough time to contribute ââ?¬â?? 4/10

Am I the only one impressed with the sound-bites from Velicka? Cammy F