CammyF

Seriously thinking of popping through to Ibrox on Saturday for this game (anyone know if season tickets are valid for the game?) and if I do, I'll take some notes and get a match report up on Saturday evening / Sunday. Cammy F

Any mention of the vile and repugnent sectarian singing directed at W Feeney and Walter Smith by the Celtc fans at yesterdays game? Cammy F

Can only see them potentially losing points at Tynecastle as they will win their home games with ease (give the opposition). If this was a Rangers team of old, you would say that we would win all those pre-split game with only the trip to Easter Road being potentially troblesome. With the current squad and management team, you can see us losing points in all / any of those games. Falkirk are bottom of the SPL and we have already been defeated by two clubs who were bottom when we played them (St Mirren and ICT). St Mirren have already beaten us at Love Street this season and have beated Cetlc at their new stadium in the Scottish Cup. Motherwell usually cause us problems and a trip to Easter Road is never easy. Cammy F

Have they? I can't remember coming away from a Rangers game this season and thinking this. Mendes, as the entire team were, was decent against both Celtc and Hibs away for the entire 90 minutes. However, those games apart, he has filtered in and out of games. Steve Davis is the exact same - he has flirted in and out of games and IMO his best 45 minutes for Rangers was in the 0-0 draw at Parkhead. Other than that, he has shown flashes of what he can do but hasn't shown any kind of sustained form over the season. In most Rangers games this season, it has been Barry Ferguson that has been trying to drive Rangers forward when were are behind or drawing. Over the last 3 games, he has look the only player capable of lifting Rangers and the only player who bursts a gut to get Rangers moving. I can understand fans complaining about Ferguson, but Davis and Mendes haven't outshone Ferguson this season and have in all honesty been major dissappointments. It is time for Smith to drop either Ferguson or Mendes (I don't rally care who it is if it helps the team) and try an new pairing in the centre of midfield. Cammy F

I did say 'in theory' .... We only require all the season ticket money 'up front' because the current board have made a complete and utter 'shot-front' of our finances. If our books were ballanced and we were in profit, we wouldn't require the season ticket money up front. I can't see SDM agreeing to pay all his bills (running of the stadium, players wages, staff wages) up front.... Cammy F

In theory, Rangers would make MORE money if no one renewed their season tickets and bought tickets on a game by game basis. Cammy F

If only there were a bar in TBO section, then it would be perfect Cammy F

He might regain form faster if those picked to play around him actually contributed to the game as well. Mendes and Davis have been passangers lately and Ferguson appears to be the onlt midfield player with the passion to try and effect the game. The main problem is Walter Smith has tried to shoe-horn Mendes, Feguson and Davis into the midfield. It is obvious that Mendes and Ferguson can't suppliment each other and Davis is wasted wide right. Smith has a huge decision to make for the sake of the team. He must decided if Davis plays alongside Ferguson or Mendes in the centre of midfield. Cammy F

Them dropping points yesterday made me even more angry with our inability to hold onto or extend a two goal lead on Saturday. Cammy F

And it was great catching up with you on Saturday, even if it was just briefly m8 :cheers: Cammy F

Sure I read that he limped off in a reserve game seconds before the end of the game. Cammy F

Best player on the pitch yesterday by a country mile (Lafferty played well but limped off) - if only Ferguson's fellow midfield players could show the same level of performance as Ferguson. Once again, Mendes and Davis were AWOL and contridute little to the overall performance. Wonder when those overrated and underachieving 'coonts' will receive the same vitriolic abuse that Ferguson receives even when he is the outstanding player in our team? Cammy F

Cupped his hands over his ears and made a 'shooooshing' jesture. Can't see an issue with this to be honest. Cammy F

Dream are all I have left m8 - reality is too frightening.... Cammy F

Or maybe SAF will follow these young-in's up the road once we's secured the EPL and CL with Man U this season Cammy F

Another two promising players who'll act as bench-warmers at Ibrox. Cammy F

Normally I'd say that depending on todays result, we may still have a chance in the SPL title race. However, I don't believe that this Rangers team can achieve more points than the current Celtc team between now and the end of the season - looks like Celtc's title by default. Cammy F

Yip, here it is, your daily/weekly/monthly (delete as appropriate) Kris Boyd article. It is an understatement to say that Boyd splits the support and it is fare to say that both camps are well ensconced in their opinion of Kris Boyd and his merits to Rangers Football Club. Let me state this up front, I have nothing personally against Kris Boyd, he appears to be a Bear and is passionate about Rangers Football Club, but a good player that doesnââ?¬â?¢t make. There is usually a lot of vitriol in these topics so I am going to try to endeavour not to get personal or overtly passionate in this article where I will outline my reasons for believe that Kris Boyd doesnââ?¬â?¢t offer Rangers as much as it is claimed and why I believe that Rangers Football Club could actually prosper in Boydââ?¬â?¢s absence (which may be a mute point depending on the severity of Laffertyââ?¬â?¢s injury). Kris Boydââ?¬â?¢s fans point to his goal-scoring prowess as his main, and if they are honest, only redeeming feature and that is understandable as on the face of it, the lad scores goals. However, if you break these goals down, it does take some credibility away from the ââ?¬Ë?factsââ?¬â?¢. As it stands, Boyd has yet to score at Pittodrie, Tynecastle and Parkhead, arguably the three toughest away games that we face and he has managed one solitary goals against Celtc in his entire footballing career. This season, Boyd has scored 19 goals in the SPL and of those, six have been penalties. Further investigation reveals that the vast majority of these goals have come against Hamilton, Kilmarnock and Falkirk and in games where we have won convincingly. There is a lack of goals against Aberdeen, Hearts, Hibs and Celtc, games that are usually close and games where you are expecting and hoping that your top strikers are going to score that all important goal that will ensure that you win the game (just think Ally McCoist here, how many games did McCoist score the winner?). Another criticisms that can be aimed at Kris Boyd is that he doesnââ?¬â?¢t score enough headed goals. For a centre, you would expect a fair percentage of headed goals (just think Mark Hateley or Derek Johnstone). In my opinion, and this isnââ?¬â?¢t Kris Boydââ?¬â?¢s fault, whenever Boyd is in the team, our players resort to firing long hopefully balls to Boyd, something that he has never been able to cope or adapt to. This is a utterly useless tactic as all that we succeed in doing is handing position back to the opposition. For some reason (fitbess?) Boyd appears to shrink when he jumps and inevitably fails to retain position, flick the ball onto his strike partner etc. Outside the penalty box, Boyd is static and offers little or no movement. His control is non-excitant, he canââ?¬â?¢t beat a man and he canââ?¬â?¢t outpace even the slowest and sluggish defenders in the SPL. All of the above are basic qualities that any striker should possess. Even the glimpses we have had of Lafferty playing through the middle has shown us that he ticks all the above boxes and given an extended run and the chances that are created for Boyd, I bet that heââ?¬â?¢d score as many as Boyd scores. I touched on Ruud Van Nistelrooy in another thread and pointed out how Manchester United actually benefited and prospered by selling one of the most prolific strikers that had had. It is worth examining just how prolific RVN was for Manchester United. In his first season at Old Trafford after a Ã?£19M transfer, RVN scored 23 goals in 32 EPL games for Manchester United including a run of scoring in 8 consecutive league games which is an EPL record. He also scored 10 goals in the Champions League and was voted the PFA Player Of The Year. The following season he was even more prolific scoring 44 goals in 52 games including 12 in 10 CL games and was the EPLââ?¬â?¢s top goal scorer that season (with 25, including three hatricks) and ended the season with another 8 consecutive scoring run. RVN was injured for most of the next season but still contributed with important CL goals. The following season he was joint top scorer with Henry (21 goals) before SAF sold his scoring prodigy to Real Madrid. Whilst these goal-scoring exploits are outstanding, Manchester United happened on their worst run of trophies in years. SAF believed that this was down to the way they played to accommodate RVNââ?¬â?¢s goal-scoring threat. He decided that to actually win the EPL and CL, he would have to sacrifice his top scorer, one of the deadliest marksmen in Europe to help the TEAM. He was ridiculed for this decision in certain sections of the press but in hindsight, it was one of SAFââ?¬â?¢s bravest and craftiest moves. Manchester United havenââ?¬â?¢t looked back since. We as Rangers fans were lucky enough to witness a young RVN when DAââ?¬â?¢s Rangers were drawn with Dutch giants in the CL. We destroyed them 4-1 at Ibrox with Mols on fire and secured a 1-0 away victory thanks to a trademark Albertz thunderbolt. In all honesty, RVN looked like a rich manââ?¬â?¢s Kris Boyd in those games and it was our Dutch striker Mols who displayed a master-class performance at Ibrox. However, it canââ?¬â?¢t be denied that RVN went on to become on of Europeââ?¬â?¢s top strikers and he was still delivering at Real Madrid before injury cut short his season. So, could Rangers benefit from following SAF and Manchester Unitedââ?¬â?¢s example of selling their top scorer? Having not won an SPL title in three seasons and the likelihood that we wonââ?¬â?¢t win again this season, then yes, we must try something different as playing to Boydââ?¬â?¢s supposed strengths hasnââ?¬â?¢t and isnââ?¬â?¢t working and more importantly, no matter how prolific he appears, we arenââ?¬â?¢t winning the title. In Kyle Lafferty, Walter Smith may have stumbled on an ideal replacement for Boyd, now he must trust his instincts and give Lafferty an extended run in the striker role (injury permitting) and find Lafferty a partner that will supplement and flourish alongside him. I believe that I have stuck to my original promise and havenââ?¬â?¢t gotten personal of over passionate in my argument as to why it could be an advantage to drop / sell Kris Boyd. I would also argue that his stock in football isnââ?¬â?¢t that high given that when it was made public that he was for sale in January, his only suitor was his ex-manager Alex McLeish who was willing to take Kris Boyd to Championship side Birmingham City. Given his perceived abilities, surely there would be a queue of managers fighting for his signature? Cammy F

Know what you mean, my 'line in the sand' has continually moved as I don't want to turn my back on my team but it is getting harder and harder to continue to support the team knowing that everything I put in is just filling the parasites pockets. Cammy F

As season ticket renewal time is just around the corner, you have to ask yourself how will SDM is going to ââ?¬Ë?sellââ?¬â?¢ next season to the fans. We already know that we are going to lose up to eight players in the summer, hence it will be harder to mount a challenge in the SPL, never mind in Europe. I noticed today that there was a message on the screens at half-time peddling the untruth that there is a huge list of people waiting to take your place if you donââ?¬â?¢t renew your season ticket. This is extremely hard to believe since youââ?¬â?¢ve been able to purchase a season ticket at any time during the season. If we fail to overhaul Celtc in the SPL, it will be 4 seasons without an SPL title and little evidence that we can improve significantly under the current management team. Will a change of manager be enough to persuade people to renew? Given the current and future financial downturn and the growing unemployment and uncertainty, added to the woeful state that our club is in, will people blindly renew their tickets as they have done previously? Another issue of SDM, when is a good time to send out the application forms? If we had defeated Celtc last Sunday, I guarantee that the renewal forms would have landed on our doormats by the Tuesday. I an almost certainly not renewing my season ticket next season, I have simply had enough of this dross. I will probably pick and chose my games and buy tickets as and when I require them and Iââ?¬â?¢ll bet Iââ?¬â?¢m not the only one who goes down this route. Cammy F

BTW, really wasn't aimed just at you Jon, more an open post to generate debate :box: Just that like all Rangers fans this evening, I am gutted, angry, furstrated, disillusioned, hurting and wondering if we will ever get any better. Again, I shouldn't allow myself to get bogged down discussing and debating the symptons of our problems - all our problems stem from the parasite that is ruining OUR club. FWIW, Boyd isn't the only one that I'd sell / drop - there are a few players underperforming at the moment who can and should be doing better. Cammy F

It is hardly petty arguements, it is potentially the difference of Rangers winning or losing the league. Boyd, when not scoring, which he hasn't done since January, offers NOTHING to the team, we would be as well playing with 10 men. As I said above, Man United have proven that selling your top goalscorer can actually help the team perform better. Isn't this something that is worth trying? If we don't win the league this season, that will be 4 seasons without winning the SPL title. Surely we must try something different, as what ever is happening just now simply isn't working and simply isn't good enough. Cammy F

Agreed, maybe in my anger I didn't put my point over correctly - meant to say that if he was to be replaced, he should have been replaced by another left sided player, rather than someone clearly struggling to regain fitness after a long injury break and, even when fit, has struggled out on the left. Cammy F

Ruud Van Nilstroy was a far better goal scorer and all round player than Kris Boyd will ever be. When RVN was at Man United, he was theirs and the EPL's top goalscorer but with him in their team Man United only won 1 EPL title in 3 seasons. SAF realised that whilst RVN goals were important, but his overall game and style of game wasn't working and was costing his team titles, cup's, games etc. Much to everyone's surprise, SAF sold RVN and was scoffed at for this decision at the time. Well, we all know who was right. Man United haven't looked back after selling a player who scored goals for them on a regular basis. Kris Boyd playing ever week is hindering Rangers' overall performance and ability. When you look at the movement, passing, link up play, running, passion etc displayed by Lafferty it shows Boyd up for the lazy and woeful footballer that he is. Would the team be better off without him? I would argue yes and as SAF and Man United proved, selling your top scorer can actually HELP the overall team performance and ability. PS - who many goals has the 'goal-machine' contributed to the cause since the January transfer window closed? Cammy F

The fat lady may not be singing as yet, but she is certainly warming up her vocal chords as Rangersââ?¬â?¢ title dreams lie in tatters after another frustrating performance at Ibrox today. This dire result should signify the end or Walter Smithââ?¬â?¢s second spell in the hot seat as his troops failed to capitalise on a two goal advantage and a decent first half performance. Nobody inside Ibrox could have predicted such a turnaround after witnessing an invigorated Rangers team in the opening 45 minutes. However, this start can not be allowed to mask the inadequacies that were so cruelly exposed in the 2nd half. Rangers started the game well given the fact we were forced to field an emergency defence given the injuries to Boogie and Broadfoot and pressed, harried and hemmed Hearts into their own half and this pressure was rewarded in the 9th minute when pressing the ball, Rangers forced Hearts to relinquish position in midfield. Beasley pounced on the mistake, fed the impressive Lafferty who dispatched the ball passed the despairing dive of McDonald with aplomb. We continued to press and pressure Hearts and can count ourselves unfortunate not to have added to our total. Just as it looked like Rangers would have to settle for a slender 1-0 half-time advantage, Pedro Mendes fed Captain Barry Ferguson on the stroke of half-time and Ferguson fired in a tremendous 2nd goal which was merited on the balance of play. The only down sided to the first half was the injury sustained by Kyle Lafferty as the big Ulsterman was having a wonderful game and his pace, vision and running was certainly troubling the Hearts defence. Just like in last weeks Co-op Cup Final, the loss of Lafferty signalled the end of any movement in our forward players and this would come back to haunt us in the 2nd half. To say that Rangers were a different team in the second period is an understatement. Instead of continuing with the pressing, crisp passing and pressurising that was evident in the 1st half, we dropped of the pace, resorted to firing long, high balls it the hugely ineffective Boyd and entirely lost our way in the game. Hearts to their credit noticed this and seized on our lacklustre play and forced their way back into the game. However, they shouldnââ?¬â?¢t have had the opportunity to get back into the game as Novo slams a shot against the post instead of squaring the ball to the unmarked Boyd. Hearts then break up the park and McGregor is forced to tip the ball over the bar for a corner. A simple corner into the back of our penalty box was headed back across goal Karipidis squeezed the ball home despite Beasleyââ?¬â?¢s efforts to clear of the line. So Hearts had clawed themselves back into the game but Rangers didnââ?¬â?¢t heed this warning and criminally lost another goal minutes later. This time Papac was easily beat on the left wing, the ball was played into Elliot who cushions a header into the path of Palazuelos who fires home. So, in a matter of minutes, all the good work of the first half is undone and we are struggling to reinforce ourselves in the game. In truth, we never really regained any momentum and had to endure another baffling substitution from Walter Smith. Beasley who has continually caused Hearts problems is withdrawn and is replaced by Stevie Naismith. We create a couple of half chances but in truth have thrown away another two points and any chance we have of winning the SPL title. Questions have to be asked regarding the fitness of our players. We were told after the Hamilton game that Boogie was withdrawn as a precaution and that he would feature in the Co-op Cup Final. We were then told that he wouldnââ?¬â?¢t make the Co-op Cup Final but would be back for the Hearts game, yet there is still no sign of him. The exact same thing happened when Novo was injured against DUFC, we were told that heââ?¬â?¢d be back in action the next week, only for him to miss 3 or 4 weeks. Once again, Walter Smithââ?¬â?¢s tactics and signings must come under some scrutiny. After playing well for 45 minutes, we retreated into our shells and appeared to be happy to defend the lead rather than continue to press and secure the victory. Steve Davis and Pedro Mendes MUST start offering more in the midfield. I fully understand that Davis is being played out of position, but both flatter to deceive. In every game this season, after 60 minutes, Steve Davis moves inside meaning that we have no wide player on the right hand side of midfield. I donââ?¬â?¢t know if this is a consequence of him playing out of position, or something that the coaching staff are instructing him to do, either way, it negates our threat from the right and stifles the midfield area. Kris Boyd has become a liability, he offers nothing, even his staunchest supporters must be questioning his ability and his recent goal-scoring record. He is the only player I know who shrinks when jumping for the ball. Boyd should have been withdrawn after 50 minutes as it was evident that he was offering nothing. He spends more time on his backside during a game than I do in the stand. All in all, a totally frustrating game and a result that must hasten the end of Walter Smiths tenure as Rangers manager as he appears unable to get the players playing to their capabilities and the time has come for him to be replaced with someone that will bring some fresh ideas to the team. For the 2nd consecutive season, Walter Smith has cost Rangers the SPL title with his negativity, defensive tactics, baffling substitution and inability to kill teams off when we are in the lead. The team were rightly booed of the pitch at the end with the fans that were left at the end showing their frustration and annoyance that another two points were thrown away. Players Ratings ; Alan McGregor ââ?¬â?? a mere spectator in the first half, couple of decent saves in the 2nd and little chance with either goal. However, his distribution is still suspect 6-10 SW ââ?¬â?? another decent shift at right back but was left exposed on the final 30 minutes of the game as Davis went AWOL and deserted his wide right position 6-10 Christian Daily ââ?¬â?? thrown into the game due to growing injury list and didnââ?¬â?¢t play that badly at all. Never troubled in the first half and won his fare share of tackled 5-10 Lee McCulloch ââ?¬â?? same as his defensive partner ââ?¬â?? not his natural position 5-10 Sasa Papac ââ?¬â?? not one of the Bosnians best games, easily beat in the build up to Hearts 2nd goal and his delivery wasnââ?¬â?¢t the best ââ?¬â?? 5-10 Steven Davis ââ?¬â?? continues to frustrate, flirts in and out of games then goes wandering after an hour ââ?¬â?? a major let down this season 5-10 Barry Ferguson ââ?¬â?? along with Lafferty, the best player in the Rangers team and scored a wonderful goal on the stroke of half-time 8-10 Pedro Mendes ââ?¬â?? further proof, if necessary that Mendes and Ferguson arenââ?¬â?¢t suited to each other in the middle of the pitch ââ?¬â?? poor game from one of the most skilful players we have ââ?¬â?? 5-10 Beasley ââ?¬â?? at last, a genuine wide player playing wide left ââ?¬â?? troubled the hearts defence constantly and it was a surprise to see him being subbed ââ?¬â?? 6-10 Lafferty ââ?¬â?? was playing brilliantly before picking up an ankle knock that forced him out and hopefully the injury isnââ?¬â?¢t serious. Great opening goal and deserves an extended run in his favoured position ââ?¬â?? 7-10 Kris Boyd ââ?¬â?? an enigma or just a woeful football player? The debate and argument of his merits (or lack of) will continue to rage on. On this showing, weââ?¬â?¢ll be lucky to get Ã?£300,000 for him never mind Ã?£3M ââ?¬â?? 3-10 Nacho Novo ââ?¬â?? replaced the injured Lafferty but couldnââ?¬â?¢t recapture the Ulstermanââ?¬â?¢s movement ââ?¬â?? tried as always but really should have squared the ball to Boyd to finish the game ââ?¬â?? shot off the post instead ââ?¬â?? 5-10 Naismith ââ?¬â?? continues to struggle in games and I canââ?¬â?¢t understand why we continue to persist with him wide left ââ?¬â?? pulled out of tackles and contributed nothing ââ?¬â?? 1-10 Cammy F