CammyF

Great post Frankie, but I don't see what there is to be positive about. We haven't stregthend our team, in fact, it has been weakend due to (yet more) injuries. We are set to go into this season with no recognised full backs (another season of 4 centre halfs in our back four), no creative midfield player, no genuine width (due to injuries) and no link player from midfield to forward. In fact, we have very little option in midfield. We have a chairman who has shown that he has no ambition left, we have fallin behind our rivals on and off the pitch and don't look like overtaking them any time soon. Once again, even with an extra �£40M income, we are signing players who are no better than we currently have. Sure, when I am at Ibrox (and elsewhere) watching Rangers, I'll get behind them like I always do - I'll play my part, but already its looking like one long hard season ahead. The first 4 games will make our break our season. We need change on and off the field but I can't see that happening either. Cammy F - In a Fcuked off frame of mind Loyal RSC

Strip away the semantics (sp) for how our last two titles, and Celtc's last season were won (or lost, depending on your opinion), winning 2 of the last 5 or 6 titles is a shocking statistic. Cammy F

Come on Jon - don't think expecting Rangers to win the SPL title from the position we were in can be equated to 'anti-Gers'. We handed the title to Celtc its as simple as that. Are you happy to settle for 2nd best in a two horse race? Apart from 2 last day title successes, we'd be staring down Celtc going for 7 in a row - thats a terrible thought. Cammy F

As I instigated this discussion, let me clear a few things up from my original post. Getting to the UEFA Cup Final was a wonderful achievement and we totally deserved to be there. We played to our strenghts and it's up to the opposition to break us down. In fact, I would say that the away leg against Sporting rates as one of the best European performances that I have witnessed Rangers achieveing (as Did Lyon away in the CL). Domestically, we ran out of steam - we did all the hard work early on in the season that blew it big style. In fear of repeating myself, 2nd best isn't good enough for The Rangers. Too many fans have fallen into The Mints downsizing of ambitions. IMO The Rangers should be winning the SPL title more seasons that not and should still be able to make an impact in Europe - that shouldn't be mutually exclusive. Great debate BTW Cammy F

Now that the dust has well and truly settled on last season and we are hurtling towards the new season, it is time to look retrospectively on how well, or badly our success rates in regards to our ââ?¬Ë?quadrupleââ?¬â?¢ expectations. If you say it fast enough, winning both domestic trophies, taking the SPL title to the wire and getting to the UEFA Cup final, you could actually believe that last season was a success. I may be cynical, but I would rate last season as a failure. Whilst we won our first trophies in 3 seasons, we capitulated in the SPL run-in and handed the title to Celtc. We can point to the ridiculous schedule we had to endure and we can reflect on many dubious refereeing decisions, but the bottom line is, we were streets ahead in the title race and we let our leas slip and our form towards the ends of the season was horrendous. Getting to our first European Final in 36 years was the highlight of the season. We played (and defeated) some very decent teams in the CL and UEFA Cup and nothing should detract from the marvellous achievement of getting to Manchester. I believe that we were very unlucky to come up against a team managed by former boss Dick Advocaat. He would have installed a ââ?¬Ë?donââ?¬â?¢t underestimate Rangersââ?¬â?¢ mentality in St Petersburg and in reality, when they scored the opening goal, we all could have gone home. The team faded drastically after that and sitting at Fir park the following Sunday watching Rangers limp to a 1-1 draw, I think it was then that it finally sunk in that we had lost the UEFA Cup and the SPL title. So, me being an old cynic, I fear that we have another long hard season ahead of us. Unless WS pulls some cracking transfers out the bag, we havenââ?¬â?¢t improved one position in our team from last season. We are still short of a right and left back, a centre to partner King Carlos, a creative midfield player and a ââ?¬Ë?linkââ?¬â?¢ between the midfield and forwards. We now also require a player (or players) to replace our injured captain, Barry Ferguson. His injury is a massive blow and our whole season will hinge on our resolve in his absence. We donââ?¬â?¢t have anyone (currently) in our squad who can replace Barry Ferguson and I fear for our chances without him. We arenââ?¬â?¢t a one-man team and for all his faults, Ferguson gives us a ââ?¬Ë?leaderââ?¬â?¢ and he can be inspirational at times. To ensure that we donââ?¬â?¢t let ââ?¬Ë?themââ?¬â?¢ get their 4th successive title, all the above positions need to be addressed and strengthened. Not winning the title for a 3rd consecutive season was both heart-breaking and gut-wrenching, not winning it this season is not only unthinkable, but it simply canââ?¬â?¢t be allowed to happen. Cammy F

I think Shittu would have been a decent signing. Problem we have at the moment as that we require at least 5 new players, all who require to be of the standard to walk straight into the starting 11. We urgently require a left back, right back, partner for CC, creative midfield player and a wide player. Unless we get the above, its going to be a long hard season. Cammy F

Brilliant peice Pete. IMO, Ferguson was outstanding whilst surrounded by very good players but it was RDB who brought out the best in Ferguson. De Boer seemed to know exactly when Fergie was about to burst from the midfield and they linked up brilliantly. RDB has never been replaced at Ibrox and I believe that Ferguson, more than most has suffered for this lack of creativity ahead of him. Cammy F

Now, I am generally not a fan of ‘pre-season friendlies’ and as a rule don’t go to many. This changed last season when we were visited by Chelsea and I have to say, I really enjoyed the match and the atmosphere generated pre and post match by the fantastic travelling Chelsea support. I am also not one to indulge in love-ins or ambulance chasing that the Tims have off to a tee. However, the Chelsea game was a fantastic spectacle and our welcome certainly transmitted through to our visitors as Jose Mourhino, Frank Lampard, Joe Cole and Didier Drogba all later commented on the atmosphere that day and some Chelsea players were convinced to show their allegiance to The Rangers after that game. When I read that this season, we are to play Liverpool, my initial thoughts were of genuine anticipation of welcoming Liverpool to Ibrox for the first time in many a year but as the game has gotten closer, I have started to have major reservations regarding this ‘glamour friendly’. At the Chelsea game last season, the atmosphere was superb with Rangers and Chelsea songs being sung together. The same should happen this season, like Chelsea there are many Rangers supporters who have Liverpool as their English team. I for one have never supported Liverpool but was always aware that many Bears did and whilst I was growing up, they always had a ‘Scottish Connection’ with players like Souness, Hansen, Wark, Nichol et al. More recently, I have been very impressed with the Liverpool support. They have introduced many brilliant songs celebrating their long and proud history. Now that we have touched on the subject of songs, you may now have an idea as to why I have started to have reservations regarding this friendly. There is no doubt that Liverpool fans will sing ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ at Ibrox, why shouldn’t they, it is their anthem. However, with this being a pre-season game, and with ‘joe-public’ able to buy tickets, there will be some Rangers supporters who will and for no reason, believe this to be some sort of ‘Celtc Loving Wind Up’ from the Scousers, nothing could be further from the truth. At this junction, it is worth noting that Liverpool fans routinely sing a version of ‘Every Other Saturday’ and have a wee ditty that is sung to the tune of the sash. It is also worth noting that Liverpool have a huge following within the Loyalist / Protestant community in Ulster (as they do in the Republican / Catholic community). In fact, if you visit the Official Linfield Store on The Shankill Road, you can purchase Linfield, NI, Rangers, Chelsea and LIVERPOOL merchandise from the store (Linfiled online store - http://www.linfieldfc.com/ worth a wee look!). In fact, on my recent visit to Belfast, I saw more Liverpool tops than I saw Rangers. I have also been witness to several Flute Bands finishing off a cultural evening by playing ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’, both in Ulster and Liverpool. So what I am getting at here? Well, basically, You’ll Never Walk Alone isn’t a Celtc song – it’s a song that their fans (stole) sing, if that makes sense. In fact, almost all ‘big clubs’ supporters sang You’ll Never Walk Alone in the 60’s and it wasn’t unheard of for the ‘Rangers end’ to give this laldy at Scotland matches during this period. For whatever reason, it only really stuck with Liverpool, then like most things in their history (their catholic identity, their beloved hoops, et al), the Tims stole it and tried to convince the world it was theirs. It is the reaction from certain Rangers fans to this Liverpool anthem that I fear could turn this glamour friendly into something less enjoyable. What I hope for is that when the Kopites start You’ll Never Walk Alone, we drown it out with a rousing rendition of Follow Follow (or The Blue Sea Of Ibrox, or the likes). I hope this is the only reaction we give to Liverpool fans singing their song. I will be attending this friendly and will be hoping that I enjoy this one as much as I enjoyed the Chelsea game last season – it’s always nice to get one over the English, even if they are fellow Blues, or in this case, Red Brothers. Cammy F

I am not looking forward to this friendly at all - reason will be given in an article yet to be penned and submitted Cammy F

I believe that I only missed something like 4 or 5 games from 1983-1993 following Rangers (thats home and away domestic games, including pre-seaon friendlies)! Found my old season ticket books recently and all of the stubs were taken from books 1983-1993 - after that, it was a different story - most home games attended, but not as many away games! harder to recall when its a smart-card as you've no evidence of tokens taken from books / stubs left etc..... Cammy F - Bring Back The Books Loyal RSC

Yes, but as Alexander did nothing wrong, why should McGregor waltz straight back in the team? I seem to remember not so long ago, McGregor was moaning that that likes of Klos etc walked straight back in the team. I believe that McGregor is our No1 keeper but shouldn't take the position for granted. Alexander was / is more than an able keeper who has done NOTHING to deserve being dropped. Cammy F

I hope that McGregor doesn't waltz straight back into No1 as Alexander did nothing wrong as his replacement Hendami at centre-half - no chance, he can't head the ball to save his life........ I would like to see Papac and CC get a run together with a new right and left back. Midfield is where we struggle - we nedd at least one, if not two creative midfield players. At the moment the strongest 3 are Thomson, Ferguson and Hendami (as Davis isn't yet signed) and I'd play Lafferty and Beasley as the wode players with Velicka as the lone striker. Cammy F

Oh, the lead singer of Biffy Cylo (sp) said on Soccer AM that he was a Rangers fan! Cammy F

Mark Hateley, Jorg Albertz, Alex Rae, Andy Watson, Alan Smith, More interestingly, Jeff Winter - read his book and he praises us and hates Celtc - he has also sparked a huge debate on his website - http://www.jeffwinterentertainmentandmedia.co.uk/ interesting to read some of the comments left by Celtc supporters and I wonder how or why or unbiased and ballanced media haven't brought this to the wider spectrum - over to you Keevins, Speirs et al..... Cammy F

Well, I spoke to Alan Smith at the UEFA Cup Final and my father-in-law saw and spoke to Frank Lampard at the game as well Robert Carlise is a Rangers supporter and 'Monty' has claimed to be a Bear as well. There is a website somewhere that lists celeb supporters and I think ours included 'celebs' like Lulu, AC/DC, Travis (except Fran!), WetWetWet, Newsreader Alastair Someone or other (who once said, live on air, during our 9-in-a-row-days, Hiberian 2, Celtc and they must be getting used to it by now, NIL!!!!).... Cammy F

Amy McDonald and yes its a Rangers scarf. She was interviewed in last months Q Magazine and stated that she was a huge Rangers supporter. Photo was taken at her gig in Edinburgh the night we played in the UEFA Cup Final. Cammy F

....... a 'celeb' not frightened to show their colours Cammmy F

Winning trophies is what counts - doesn't matter how these are won (playing fantastic football every week or grinding out 1-0's - winning the league by Easter or winning it with the last kick of the ball - as long as you win).... Rangers have been 2nd and 3rd best in a two horse race for 3 season now - that is unacceptable for The Rangers and has to be addresses. A 4th season as 2nd best in the SPL is UNTHINKABLE. We must win this SPL title and I don't care how we play as long as we win it. Cammy F

IMO, if he remained injury free, Mols would still have been a Rangers player to this day. Wallace was signed on a FREE transfer, hardly a big name before he signed for us, what a piece of business by DA (I admit that I wasn't too chuffed when he signed). Hateley cost �£1.5M - hardly an earth shattering amount for a player who had played in Italy and France. Recently, Blackburn have picked up 2 brilliant strikers for less than �£8M pounds - Benni McCarthy was bought for �£2M pounds. You don't need to break the bank for a great player - how much did Brian Laudrup cost? Gazza only cost us �£4M - thats only �£1M more that Lafferty has cost us and the same we are going to buy Davis for...... So why can't we replicate these signings? Why can't we find the next Dado Prso, they are out there but Rangers don't have the foresight or the ambition to get these type of deals. Oh and how much did Carlos cost us (I know he's not a striker but was unheard of and unheralded before this season)? A great player doesn't need to be a 'big name player'. In saying that, Ronald De Boer was for me, the last world class player that we signed. He's never been replaced. Cammy F

So how did we manage to attract and keep (better) players like Mols, Wallace, Prso, Hateley, McCoist, et al....... Cammy F

Look, I said that adam, mculloch et al weren't world beaters, but you can't expect to win things with players playing out of position - we did that for most of the season. When playing 4-5-1, it is up to the full backs to produce the width, otherwise you get stagnated and bogged down in the middle of the pitch. We were at our best when Beasley and Hutton supplied the width and the midfield then had options out wide, or players like McCulloch and Ferguson supporting the front man. When we lost that width, our central midfield players had no options other than hit the lone front man and hope that we got bodies around him. Cammy F

So Boyd is blameless? So what are our strengths? We only have limited strengths - we are hard to beat, have a never say die attitude and have 10 or so players who would run themselves into the ground for the team and the manager. Ultimately that wasn't good enough - I don't think we'd have won the league of we'd played 4-4-2 and Boyd played every game - IMO we would have lost by a greater margin (with or without Boyd in a 4-4-2 BTW) Cammy F

For simply pointing out his weaknesses? Cammy F

What? You are comfortable with us playing with 4 centre halfs at the back with no natural full backs? When we lost Hutton we lost not just a fantastic defender, but one of our most potent weapons going forward. The lack of natural full backs cust us dear. Weir was found out in a few games as well last season - his age and fitness started to show and we lost stupid goals that cost us points (Motherwell away, Aberdeen away). We lost Beasley, Adam, McCulloch, Burke for long periods during the season, that is all of our 'wide players' - they aren't world beaters but offer width and they supply decent crosses into the box. For the majority of the season we were limited to central midfield players playing out wide. Our strikers (all of them) were guilty of passing up chance after chance after chance in vital games to kill of the game. Cammy F

No, thats always been my thoughts - never once said it was Boyds fault - don't know what you are trying to do / say here Jon - re-read all my posts on this and any other Boyd thread and point out any that have blamed Boyd for us not winning the SPL.... Cammy F