CammyF

Whilst the redeveloped Hampden could be argued as more pleasing on the eye it can�t and doesn�t touch the old Hampden for atmosphere. The sheer volume of noise generated from the old Section J (Rangers End) was unbeatable. The redevelopment has meant that many of the seats are too far removed from the playing surface and many give a restricted view, especially behind both goals. Cammy F

The redeveloped national staduim is a pale shadow of it's former self. Look at this video footage of the 'old lady' in her prime - and look at the gaping holes in the Celtc end..... [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xrEIVKcwGc]YouTube - Rangers FC The Ultimate bouncy[/ame] Cammy F

I'll have the GersNet Banner (MK1) with me at Hampden on Sunday (section B6 Row YY). I'll text Del and ensure that if he's going, he takes along GersNet Banner (MKII) with him Cammy F

Has to be an attacking player, possibly Beasley or Aaron. Celtc's backline are weak against pace, thus I expect Lafferty and Miller to play through the middle with a pacey winger out left. Can see SW retaining has place at right-back as he offers more going forward than Broadfoot and this allows Davis to play his natural game. All in all, I'd be happy to see the same 11 that started yesterdays game start on Sunday. However, Novo does have a fantastic scoring record against Celtc so maybe Miller and Novo thro the middle? Cammy F

Does the above date resonate with you? Does the above date send horrible feelings hurtling through your body? It should, it was the last time Rangers lost a domestic cup final to Celtc. As the CO-OP Cup Final is looming large in our thoughts, it is worth taking a trip down memory lane and remember the empty feeling you get when you lose a cup final to your bitter rivals. Any time you lose to your bitterest of rivals, you get an empty feeling, a feeling of horrid, putrid nothingness and an exasperation that nothing in the world can eradicate. This is magnified and multiplied if the loss is in a cup final, and if possible is made worse if you are blatantly cheated. The Scottish Cup Final in 1989 was supposed to be the day that we won the treble to put the icing on a terrific domestic season. Rangers had won the title for 39th time leaving Aberdeen in our wake and this was the 2nd title of the Souness era. We had also won the League Cup defeating Aberdeen 3-2 in a truly wonderful cup final. This season was also notable for two destructions of Celtc – 5-1 and 4-1 in the league games at Ibrox. This season would also be remembered for the terrible challenge by Neil Simpson on Ian Durrant at a league game at Pittodrie. Manager Souness had never won a domestic ‘FA Cup’ as a player nor a manager and we all believed that this was the game that would exorcise those demons. During our semi-final (played at Parkhead) news filtered through that there had been an incident at Hillsbourgh where Liverpool was taking on Nottingham Forest. In the days prior to mobile phones, no further information was gained during the game, only on returning to our supporters bus did we fully realise the full extent of the horror that had unfolded in Sheffield that day. If my memory of the cup final is off a beautiful sunny day and on the way to Hampden, a support who were anticipating celebrating a domestic clean-sweep made all the sweater by defeating our foes in the final. This anticipation was temporarily tempered by the news that the mercurial Ray Wilkins and ever improving Derek Ferguson was both injured and out of the final. However, as it transpired it wasn’t a player who would decided the destiny of the Scottish Cup, it would be referee Bob Valentine who made two ludicrous decisions that would cost Rangers not only the cup, but the domestic treble. Celtc, through Roy Aitken were allowed to take a throw-in that the officials had clearly signalled was a Rangers throw. Aitken threw the ball in the direction of Joe Miller but Gary Stevens had it covered. However, he was short in his back-pass and Miller stole in and scored. Everyone in the stadium were awaiting the officials to chalk-off the goal and restart with a Rangers throw-in. Instead, they waved play on and Rangers were 1-0 down. Pressing for an equaliser, Rangers were awarded a corner and as this was swung into the Celtc box, Paddy Bonnor collided with his own player, the ball broke to Terry Butcher who slammed the ball into the unguarded net. The Rangers end exploded and the Rangers players wheeled away in celebration only for the inept official to signal for a foul on Bonnor. As the final whistle signalled the end of the game, I’ll never forget the wonderful reaction of the Rangers support. The fans stayed to a man (woman and child) and hailed our gallant team who had had a very successful season and were only denied the ultimate prize by a ‘Mason In The Black’. The Rangers fans outstayed their ‘celebrating’ neighbours and no-one in attendance that day will forget the chants of ‘We Want The Rangers’ from a still full Rangers end whilst the Celtc end had long emptied. One ironic subplot to this final was that in the lead-up to the final, Celtc had leaked to the press that a certain Maurice Johnston would be returning from France to Celtc during the close season. The massed Celtc fans could be heard chanting ‘Mo, Mo Super Mo’ during the cup final, oh how those words were going to come back and haunt them. Hopefully the present Rangers incumbents won’t fall foul of such ineptitude from the officials on Sunday and hopefully we will have learned from the example set by St Mirren on Saturday on how easily Celtc are nullified and beaten. Give them no time or space to pass the ball and pressurise their defence. Both central defenders are great in the air, but are susceptible to pace. I decide to highlight a lowlight in the lead up to the final as I am sure there will be plenty of stories and You-Tube clips of the vast amount of Rangers glories over the years against ‘THEM’. However, whilst hoping for and enjoying the glories, lets not forget that emptiness that engulfs you when you loss these game. Come On Rangers……….. Cammy F http://www.gersnetonline.co.uk/newsite/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=769&Itemid=1

Does the discredited journalist know something that we don't :devil: Cammy F

Funnily enough, watching DW last night, reminded me of watching him against Gretna last season. Kenny Duechar bitch-slapped Weir last season and he looked petrified anytime we played Gretna. It was if DW thought that The Good Doctor had signed for ICT rather than Hamilton Cammy F

I thought that he started the season very shakely but then refound his form after Xmas - however, last night was a repeat of that early season form (or lack of). He looked 2 yards off the pace last night, wasn't his usual commanding self and the penalty was an accident waiting to happen. Cammy F

I don't think its about stopping Celtc getting 4-in-a-row. We stopped them in 2003 and 2005 and these wins, whilst been more than welcome and very enjoyable, were in fact, false dawns. They merely papered over the cracks and deflected peoples attentions from our glaring flaws (on and off the pitch). The last title win was made even more special given that it was achieved in a period of major downsizing (that has continued unabated) and in the face of a chairman selling our best players and replacing them with inferior players. If we win the title this season, it will rank along side the 2005 triumph - done in the face of downsizing (at a new alarming level) and will again, only paper of the cracks and buy SDM another couple of years. This goes well beyond winning the title to stop Celtc winning 4-in-a-row, it is about the survival, regeneration, improvement, longevity and future of Rangers Football Club. The stakes have never been higher. Cammy F

Not any fatter than 'Kris Monster Munch Boyd' :box: Cammy F

As did Derek Johnstone Cammy F

Are we the only club that can ruin players by doing this? I'm thinking for the shocking treatment of Shota - signed from Dutch Football with a better goals per game ratio that Larsson and we played him left winger? In season 2004/2005 wee Nacho scored 25 goals playing through the centre with Prso in a championship winning team and we then move him to right wing? Peter Lovenkrands shone on the European stage playing through the middle, scoring goals at the very top level - domestically, we play him left wing (with varying results) and when we do play him through the middle, or part of a front three, he is devistating - however, we revert to playing him wide left. Cammy F

Ally - 'Boss, the fans are getting restless and are shouting for wee Aaron to get a game'. Walter - 'Well Ally, Big Davie's suspended for Hertz game, we'll give him a run oot at centre-half' Ally - 'Great idea boss, that'll get the fookers off our case' Cammy F

I've gotten an idea - the next time Rangers lose to a pub team, sorry team at the bottom of the SPL, whilst putting in the worst Rangers performance for decades, lets all stay behind and applaud them off the pitch..... At the next AGM, when SDM is using his smoke and mirrors to deflect attention from himself, to defelct the reasoning behind selling eight players in the summer, lets all give him a standing ovation (oh, wait, that isn't far removed from reality). The biggest danger to Rangers FC at the moment are the majority of fans who have accepted downsizing, SDM's bullshit and still believe that everything in the gardan is rosey. Those vocally opposed are often regarded as renegades, not real fans - they are far from it, they are the ones who have seen this coming, they are the ones who realise that we are close to extinction, they are the ones who'll, unfortunately be able to shrug their shoulders when the shit has hit the fan and is running down the walls and say 'Told you so'.... by then off course, it will be to late (if it isn't already too late). Cammy F

I know, that'll never catch on... What about playing Lafferty centre back? As much use and makes as much sense as playing him left wing? BTW, he's not bad in the air, maybe not as silly a suggestion as I thought...... Cammy F

No doubt, he was a 'safe option'. Anyone who knows Walter Smith will know that Walter wouldn't have refused the offer to manage Rangers for a second time. That's why McCoist will replace Smith, another 'crowd pleaser' and the fans will be told that as McCoist is s legend, he deserves two or three seasons to prove himself. Ergo, SDM has bought himself another two or three years. Hey-presto, the majority of fans are happy, and Celtc are disappearing over the horizon and we'll be struggling to remain 2nd in a two horse race. Cammy F

McCulloch, Dailly or Webster to appear from nowhere to replace Weir. As you say Frankie, should be as simple as moving Broadfoot in one and Whittaker at right back. Cammy F

Yip, it's a one 9-year long knee jerk reaction...... Cammy F

With the custodian and his lap-dogs sneering at the we deserve better campaign calling us all faceless and clueless, it appears that our efforts and suggestions are at least hitting a note across the city. Once again, Celtc have stolen a march on us regarding scouting by employing two of Portugals top scouts who will work for Celtc - http://www.theherald.co.uk/sport/headlines/display.var.2493431.0.Celtic_will_ask_Portugal_pair_to_scout_for_the_stars_of_the_future.php Cammy F

This is the 2nd time this season we have lost to the team at the bottom of the SPL (0-1 away to St Mirren) and it's not the first time we've had a chance to cement our place at the top of the SPL and failed. There has also been two telling games that demonstrated that the management don't believe or trust our players to win this SPL title - that was going 4-1-4-1 away to Aberdeen (as a direct result of their performance against Celtc a week earlier where they fluked a 4-2 victory with 4 goals from set-pieces) and Celtc. I admit that I am a cynical and negative barsteward when it comes to Rangers, but that is bourne out of watching negativity on and off the pitch at Rangers. There is NOTHING to be positive about - even if we win the SPL title, it'll be down to the sheer dross that we are up against, rather than Rangers being anything special. Matters off the pitch are even more worrying. In the dark days of Greig and Wallace (MKII) there was always a feeling within those fans who stuck by the club (Many fell by the wayside) that there were good times just around the corner. You just don't get that feeling today. Cammy F

It wouldn't and FIFA have already said this. Scotland is part of Team GB anyway at the Olympics. Therefore the football team would be the same as the hockey team, the swimming team, the track and field team, the cycling team et al. They would represent GB at Olympic level and Scotland at all other levels. Cammy F - Support Team GB Loyal RSC

You do wonder if anyone within the inner sactums of Ibrox are feeling this way this morning? I think we all know that there is no one at our club who cares at the moment (or who is brave enough to stand up and be counted at this moment of time). The manager was appointed by a panicing Chairman who realised that we are up shit creek and we lost the paddles a decade ago. We are spinning out of control and there doesn't appear to be an 'end point'. That is the most worrying aspect. If the Chairman was to come clean (I know, I know) and state that we will have to do 'x', 'y' and 'z' to ensure the longevitiy (sp) of the club and this means 'a', 'b' and 'c', most of the fans would be angry, but would grateful for being made aware and would get behind the plan. We don't have a plan, we are a speeding train gathering pace and heading for wipeout - I may be melodramatic, I may feel the full wrath of SDM's words, but I genuinely fear for the future of Rangers Football Club. No, that isn't melodramatic enough - I believe we are in serious danger of not existing in a few years time. Cammy F

From my reply in Frankies 'Leadership' thread ; The front of the bus mafia critiqued the players last night and did so in a honest way and here was their ratings from last night; McGregor - 3/10 - distribution was aweful and partly to blame for the goal debacle Broadfoot - 3/10 - honest enough lad, but is a centre-half from St Mirren playing right back for Rangers - distribution terrible. Weir - 1/10 - see McGregor plus he's so old he was at The Somme Boogie - 8/10 - a glittering diamond in a pile of shite - first to be sold in the summer Papac - 3/10 - another centre-half playing out of position - distribution terrible Davis - 2/10 - woeful Ferguson - 5/10 - 4 of that 5 for his performance in the first 30 minutes - decent then, terrible there-after Edu - 5/10 - one of our better players, why was HE subbed? Fleck - 3/10 - looked way out of his depth against the worst team in the SPL and the worst full-back in the SPL. Just a lad tho, will have days like this Miller - 4/10 - tried. Boyd - 1/10 - stood like a statue for 90 minutes and his attempt when clean thro on goal in the first minute was 'comical'... SUBS - Naismith - not good enough - Lafferty -waste of money we don't have to waste and Aaron - not enough time to do anything, should have been on from the start, or at lwast from half-time. These aren't just my thoughts, these are the thoughts of people who have followed Rangers for a combined 400+ years. Auld Jimmy finished the debate by saying 'worst Rangers team I've seen; players masquarading as Rangers players, a clueless manager and a chairman who is in as much financial shite as the RBS and Woolies combined. Mr Struth will be spinning in his grave'. Cammy F

Frankie, we have been decrying the lack of these virtues for 4 seasons now and three managers haven't been able to install these in an ever changing squad of players, who if we are honest, are devoid of the main attribute of footballers, skill. The fact that three managers have been unable to obtain this points to something being rotten at our club. Last nights performance reminded me of my early years of watching Rangers under the dying embers of John Greig's reign and the return of Jock Wallace. Wallace briefly stopped the slide, but ultimately failed to reignite the fire and reignite The Rangers. The same can be said about Walter Smith. As the saying in football goes, you should never go back..... The problems are obvious, so obvious that the faceless and clueless can identify them. Last night is a prime example. Everyone on this forum agreed that ICT's weakness was Ross Tokely, the worst full-back in the SPL. Simple way to exploit Tokely? Play a winger. Walter decides in his wisdom to play two strikers against him over the course of 83 minutes, then gives the winger 7 minutes to influence the game. For ~3 seasons now we have played with 4 centre-halves across our defence and continually play 4 outfield players out of position. That's 40% of our outfield players playing a position that isn't natural to them. Substitutions are often baffling, but none more so than the first change last night. Edu (one of our better players who was winning the midfield battle) was withdrawn and replaced by Lafferty. Miller was moved from forward (he was marginally the better of the front two last night) to left wing, Fleck was moved from left wing to right wing, Davis was moved one inside and Lafferty was played through the middle. That, makes 3 positional changes to accomodate one change. The correct sub would have been a simple like for like. Fleck off, Aaron on....... One of our RSC members does a bit of coaching and has done for many years, nothing as mighty as Rangers but has all the badges and been on all the courses. He said last night that Rangers approach every game without a plan. There is no gameplan, we just wait and hope that something happens. There is no set way of playing either. There is no attacking the oppositions weaknesses. Since there is no plan 'A', there is no plan 'B' or 'C' when things aren't working. I also read somewhere that until last night, Rangers had amassed over 250 corners this season and scored from less the 3% of these. If mere faceless and clueless fans can get hold of these statistics, then I'm sure coaches can. You could say that whilst playing Rangers, conceeding a corner is a 'safe option' rather than something to be worried about. Given that we have Murray Park, you have to wonder what goes on there day after day? We certainly aren't practicing the basics, as we can't even get those right on the pitch. We can't pass and move, in fact, it can be argued that most of our players simply can't pass. We can't regain the ball from throw-ins. We can't capitalise on corners (or free-kicks) and we can't unlock defences. Last night was akin to watching a pub team rather than highly paid, so called professional footballers. However, like in all walks of life, if these professionals aren't being coached and managed correctly, then you aren't going to get the best out of them. Also, you wouldn't have an accontant planning the production build and you wouldn't have a janitor signing the contracts would you? One thing that was obvious from last night was the answering of the question as to are we good enough to win the SPL. The answer is a resounding NO. Football being the funny old game that it is, that doesn't mean that we won't win the SPL. However, that is down to the shocking quality of our league and teams more than any quality that we have. On the way home last night, as you would imagine, the RSC bus was a hive of chitter chatter, with everyone giving their opinions etc. One topic that was widely agreed on was the fact that a growing number of fans are seriously thinking of not renewing their season tickets for next season. Already, we have a growing number of members who have stopped going to away games and it appears a substantial number are talking about not renewing (various reason given, as you'd expect; not value for money, simply had enough, credit crunch, unemployment etc).... The front of the bus mafia critiqued the players last night and did so in a honest way and here was their ratings from last night; McGregor - 3/10 - distribution was aweful and partly to blame for the goal debacle Broadfoot - 3/10 - honest enough lad, but is a centre-half from St Mirren playing right back for Rangers - distribution terrible. Weir - 1/10 - see McGregor plus he's so old he was at The Somme Boogie - 8/10 - a glittering diamond in a pile of shite - first to be sold in the summer Papac - 3/10 - another centre-half playing out of position - distribution terrible Davis - 2/10 - woeful Ferguson - 5/10 - 4 of that 5 for his performance in the first 30 minutes - decent then, terrible there-after Edu - 5/10 - one of our better players, why was HE subbed? Fleck - 3/10 - looked way out of his depth against the worst team in the SPL and the worst full-back in the SPL. Just a lad tho, will have days like this Miller - 4/10 - tried. Boyd - 1/10 - stood like a statue for 90 minutes and his attempt when clean thro on goal in the first minute was 'comical'... SUBS - Naismith - not good enough - Lafferty -waste of money we don't have to waste and Aaron - not enough time to do anything, should have been on from the start, or at lwast from half-time. These aren't just my thoughts, these are the thoughts of people who have followed Rangers for a combined 400+ years. Auld Jimmy finished the debate by saying 'worst Rangers team I've seen; players masquarading as Rangers players, a clueless manager and a chairman who is in as much financial shite as the RBS and Woolies combined. Mr Struth will be spinning in his grave'. Cammy F

Norris, I followed Scotland from 1983ish up until that incident at Pittodrie. We used to run a bus to all Scotland games and it contained fans of Rangers, Hearts, Hibs, Falkirk and to a lesser extent Celtic. Going to Scotland games, even in that era, was a fantastic experience, and there was no anti-Rangers or anti-English racism then. However, around the late 80's and early 90's that all changed when for some reason, the Scotland core fan-base changed from the above, to vocal majority being from the North East in particular. One guy that used to go with us to all Scotland games was a Newcastle/Hibs fan who was born in Scotland, but due to his fathers enrollment in the armed forces, saw him grow up in the North East of England. He has followed Scotland everywhere but stopped after the last Scotland v England game where he was roundly abused by the TA as they believed, due to his accent that he was 'an english barsteward'. I have another friend who still follows Scotland everywhere but has cut all ties with the TA due to their behaviour and their racism. Like you say, this will never see the light of day in the Scottish media, it has become acceptable racism. Cammy F