Gaffer

In which case, the time to 'complain' about it was when they proposed it, not when it's spent. Am I still right in saying that the directors are unpaid? Who would take up these positions with this level of scrutiny? This isn't a small committee we're talking about here, it's a vehicle for funding projects and buying shares. It seems reasonable to allocate 5% for the directors to do reasonable stuff. We will not ever reach the heights we want if we focus on the weeds.

I'm the optimistic one but I also agree with Gonzo. Celtic are the benchmark. We've shown that we are catching them and that is cause for optimism in itself, but to really get excited we have to show we can beat them. I think we're still a season away from that at the moment. what does excite me though is that we are building a really solid squad that should be able to compete with the best of the rest in the SPL now. The days of us having to sign 8/9 new players and then get them to gel should be over. It's more of a case of adding a few players to strengthen the first team. That's cause for celebration in my eyes because it's night and day to where we were over the past few years. So, you can see I'm optimistic about the future, but not yet as excited as I'd like to be. If we beat them in our next game though I might just let myself get quite excited.

If they've stated that 5% goes on admin and they've spent only a 4 figure sum on this, who cares? This is a complete waste of their time and ours in having to deal with this. It's so immaterial it's ridiculous. Rather than asking them to deal with irrelevant points, can't we just let them get on with the job? It's crap like this that would put many sensible people off taking a role up within Club 1872. If I'd received this it would have been deleted and forgotten about, but maybe that's why I couldn't do a job for them. I have no patience for what I see is time wasting nonsense.

This is great news. I just hope he sees this as having the opportunity to develop into a fantastic player with our club, rather than reward for already having made it. I'm never sure if Windass appreciates the standard of player we have been used to in the past, and that he's nowhere near that yet. He has a great opportunity and support at the club to make him an excellent player, but it's up to him to step up now and develop into the player we hope he can be.

I'm clearly in the minority here. If he's a free transfer and doesn't cost valuable resources, then fair enough but this is not (IMO) how we should be building up to a challenge for the league. He will be very unlikely to be able to perform in midfield beyond his current age. I understand the game is not as technical in Scotland, but it is just as quick and if his legs go he won't be able to perform every week. If we want to compete with Celtic we need players who are able to match the skill and work rate in every game. Davis would just use up valuable game time for our other younger players that we need to develop for the longer term challenge. I suspect Southampton's stats are showing that he can't keep up with the pace and hence why he's not playing as much. It's just a natural thing to happen for a midfielder. Of all the positions, it's the one which is affected most by age, and in particular the loss of speed and stamina. I always liked Davis and thought he's been terrific for Southampton, but I'm not convinced he's what we need now, for many of the same reasons as Naismith.

That's quite possible Ian but how much longer will he last? I think we've just been burned too many times by signing older players, which is why I'd rather take the option of a younger player who can be part of the team over the next 3-4 years at least. Davis may make us better next season but it's not necessarily next season that's important. I'd like us to develop a team next season that's then able to grow together and make a real attempt at the league the following season. Playing Davis might just take valuable game time away from players that can contribute when it really matters in the following seasons. If you think we can win the league next season then maybe he's worth the risk, but I'm not sure that's realistic. What do you think?

Murty talks about the players developing, but he is showing signs of development in himself. I wanted him to have a chance at the manager's job, but I wasn't sure he'd fill the shoes. He's still not there but he's definitely growing in confidence and stature. He now talks about his role being ruthless too and I'm glad he appreciates that part of his job.

Davis is a good player but we need to build the team for an assault on the league and he is only likely to have a year left in him. He was a really good player for us and I think we'd be better leaving it at that.

I agree that refs should be able to explain their big decisions. Most of them are well educated and should be capable of articulating their key decisions either immediately after the match or in their report. I also think it would help managers, players and supporters in understanding the laws of the game better. Some of the nonsense I hear from managers, pundits and supporters is incredible. We are all involve doing in the game to different extents, but there's no excuse for managers, players and pundits not knowing the laws.

It's no surprise he's picked up an injury. He has obviously been desperate to get back to the first team squad and will have overdone things a little. This shouldn't be anything other than a normal minor injury and I'd expect him to be back soon.

Or at least treat both sides the same. I am still utterly astonished that Beaton is allowed to ref games still after that game at Ibrox against Hibs. I've never seen anything like that in football and it has completely destroyed my belief that refs just sometimes make honest mistakes. Actually there are some very good refs in the youth leagues but they're not fast tracked through the system. I'd have thought there would be scouts for good referees but apparently not. I know it's different in terms of the speed of the game, but keeping up with play and making sensible decisions is the core of a good ref so these attributes should be identified early.

Most games we play will be tricky. We are still too inconsistent, especially at Ibrox. Falkirk can cause us problems so this will be a tough match.

Congratulations JT, and well done Rangers for securing one of our best players. It's yet another good day to be a bear.

I couldn't care less about their financial position, or their team, or their board, or their supporters (friends aside), or anything else. Having said that, I'd really like them to be strong financially and on the pitch when we get 55. It'll be the sweetest day ever anyway, but I'd rather they have no excuses when it happens.

Why? Are you Boabie?

I'm pleased they're so obsessed with us. At some point they'll miss something happening at their own club because they were too busy focusing on us. That would be sweet irony. The funny thing is that I've read this thread but I won't read the contract. I've got no interest in it. I've got trust in our board to make reasonable decisions. All I'm interested in is watching our team develop and winning things. End of.

It just shows how we all see the game differently, or value different qualities. Bates is better at marking and closing down, but Wilson was better with his distribution. There's no question in my mind that Bates has much more potential than Wilson. I just hope he fulfills it.

I'd be embarrassed if our club ever did something like this. I like to think we've always been the classy club, and this just further reinforces that view. However, just like the Scottish gutter press, they are giving their fans what they want .... negative stuff about Rangers. Therein lies the difference between us and them. I don't care one bit about them. I don't watch their games. I don't read much of what they'd say (but I'll admit to having had a peak on Kerrydale for some humour after certain events). I don't look out for their results. I don't know most of their players' names, and I certainly don't care for their opinions on anything. For Celtic, it's all about the Rangers, so I suppose in that sense we have something in common with them .... We are all obsessed with the most successful club in the world.

Maybe the Martin deal sealed his fate. It's good for him he's happy over there, and it's good for us too. Win-win!

This is really good news but not so unexpected. He seems like someone who enjoys being part of something big, and is certainly someone who enjoys a big stage. I'd love him to be here when we get 55.

Other than the younger ones, there's a negative reason they're out on loan. I think the positive here is that we have someone else paying for our signing errors. I'm not expecting them to suddenly start performing.

I think the only positive is that we had our expectations managed from the start. We knew this was only ever going to be a loan deal. I think he's a great player and one that will go on to have an amazing career if given the chance in the EPL. However, if he enjoys his time with us you just never know what might happen further down the road.

I haven't seen him reappear so I suspect he was drunk when he wrote it, or having a seriously bad day. Either way, he could not have been thinking clearly when posting such an opinion.

I just want to correct you on your point about a security. It is very common to have a standard security in place for an overdraft (in fact it's unusual not to have it if the business isn't banked with the lender) so I don't know where you get your info from. Also, we obviously decided we need the player more than the cash, so if you want to know the difference between now and back 'then', there's your answer.

This is just one reason why this is clearly utter nonsense and if the 'reporter' had asked any of these simple questions it would have unravelled quickly. But once again, why let the facts stand in the way of a negative story about Rangers.