pete

Yes it would have been. Thanks and hopefully to the end of season Gersnet dinner.

We certainly weren't hiding from anyone as we sat on a prominent table on the main walkway. I don't think many who knows FS could miss him as he was sitting almost on the walkway. Later because of the sun we did move to a table with more shadow closer to the building. Many who walked by who knew FS, DT or GD from earlier trips stopped to talk to them. If I had of seen you I would have came over to you but I never saw you. I arrived early morning and drove back directly after the game. I wanted to drive in the night as it would have cost me hours of sitting in traffic jams to drive during the day. I drove there in one go in 4hours. On the way back I stopped 5 times for a sleep as I hadn't slept the night before taking me nearer 6 hours. I have learned over the years if you start yawning behind the steering wheel it is time to stop. Next year god willing I will try not be such a boring bastard refusing drink.

"Why are goalkeepers so rarely effective managers? Which ex-keeper has the best management record ever?" muses Mike Shearing. It's partly a numbers game. With ten outfield players to every keeper, there's a far smaller pool of potential candidates. It's also worth bearing in mind that keepers tend to have longer playing careers. In England alone, John Burridge, Steve Ogrizovic, Neville Southall and Dave Beasant have all made top-flight appearances after the age of 40. The most successful keeper-manager ever is surely the late Raymond Goethals. Born in Brussels in 1921, Goethals enjoyed a modest playing career between the sticks for minor Belgian clubs Daring and Racing de Bruxelles. However, as Xavier Lizin points out, there is nothing modest about his coaching CV. In 1993, Goethals guided Marseilles to victory in the Champions League final against a Milan side that included Marco van Basten, Franco Baresi and Frank Rijkaard. It was the crowning moment of Goethal's managerial career. As coach of Belgium, he had led his country to the 1970 World Cup n Mexico, the first time they had qualified for 16 years, and also to a third-place finish in the 1972 European Championships. He reached two consecutive European Cup Winners' Cup finals with Anderlecht, winning the trophy in 1978, and also tasted domestic league and cup success with Standard Liege. His career as Marseilles manager, meanwhile, included three successive league titles and, two years before the historic win over Milan, a European Cup final defeat to Red Star Belgrade. A respectful nod also goes to former United States manager Bruce Arena. While Arena's greatest claim to fame as a player is a solitary appearance in the US goal for a 2-0 loss to Israel in 1973, his accomplishments as a coach are considerable. His DC United side not only won the first two MLS championships and the 1998 CONCACAF Champions Cup but beat Brazilian side Vasco da Gama over two legs to win the Interamerican Cup. In 2002 Arena also led America to the last eight of the World Cup while, in April 2006, the US achieved a best-ever Fifa world ranking of fourth. Dino Zoff is worth a mention too. After captaining Italy to the 1982 World Cup, aged 40, Zoff turned to management, leading Juventus to the Uefa Cup and taking Italy to within a whisker of victory at Euro 2000, only for France to overturn a 1-0 deficit with seconds remaining, a result that prompted his resignation a few days later. Still, not bad for a goalie.

Can I ask, and I will give you 2 in Jock Wallace and Dino Zoff, how many goalkeepers have made good managers?

Just been on the Dutch news that the IS have called for radicalised Muslims to make a terror attack at the Scotland v England game in Utrecht Holland. The security services and Police are taking the threats seriously and are tightening up security measures.

Just joking it was in Texas.

Don't worry guys it will be open again by the time you get there.

I am afraid I would rather come across for a competitive game and the Gersnet dinner be it at xmas or the end of season. So I am out. Sorry!

68 years old. very likely. My ex-company did that. They needed rid of 800 men over a 2 year period. They brought in a CEO to wield the axe and then he disappeared into the sunrise(house in Portugal) with a fat bonus. I fear similar.

I would be surprised if he is not hand-picked by Liewell Says it all really. The same people that supposedly had a massive search for Regan. Oh wait he was a friend of Liewell's. It couldn't be could it?

Discussions are always better than arguments because arguments are to find out who is right. Discussions are to find out what is right.

SPFL appoints new Chairman Tuesday 11th July 2017 image: http://spfl.co.uk/docs/067_324__murdochmaclennan_1499779233_standard.jpg Murdoch MacLennan One of the UK’s most senior media figures, Murdoch MacLennan, has been appointed as the new independent non-executive chairman of the Scottish Professional Football League. Following an exhaustive search conducted by worldwide sports executive search agency Nolan Partners, Mr MacLennan was the SPFL Board’s unanimous choice and will replace Ralph Topping, who will stand down on 1 August 2017 after nearly eight years in the role. Currently Deputy Chairman of Telegraph Media Group, having stood down as chief executive last month, Mr MacLennan, 68 and from Glasgow, is also Chairman of the Press Association, an Honorary Professor at the University of Glasgow’s Adam Smith Business School and for the last eight years has been the Chancellor’s Assessor at the Court of the University of Glasgow. SPFL Chief Executive Neil Doncaster said: “Murdoch brings with him a wealth of top-level business and media experience and has been at the cutting edge of the digital revolution as CEO and now Deputy Chairman of the Telegraph Media Group. He demonstrated a real passion for the role and a clear insight into the opportunities and challenges we will face in the years ahead. “There was very strong interest in the role from a host of highly-qualified candidates, but Murdoch was the board’s unanimous choice and we look forward to working with him as we continue to drive the game to even greater success in Scotland.” Mr MacLennan said: “I am thrilled to have been selected to be the next Chairman of the Scottish Professional Football League, and to build on the achievements of Ralph Topping. I am so proud to be a part of its future. I greatly look forward to working with Neil Doncaster and to the opportunities and challenges that are ahead for the whole of Scottish football.” Commenting on the outgoing chairman, Mr Doncaster said: “I have very much enjoyed working with Ralph, who has played a key role in steering the SPL and SPFL through some turbulent times. He has been a huge and positive influence behind the scenes, particularly in the successful 2013 merger of the SPL and SFL. I doubt very much whether that merger would have happened without his expertise, vision and diplomacy.” Outgoing chairman Ralph Topping said: “I've greatly enjoyed my time in Scottish football and it was an honour to be Chairman of the SPL and SPFL, especially during a period of substantial change and challenge. After advising the SPFL Board in January that developing business commitments meant that I had decided to leave, I am delighted that my final act as Chairman is to have secured the appointment of Murdoch as the new Chairman.” Read more at http://spfl.co.uk/news/article/spfl-appoints-new-chairman/#5w6uRZGWXlB2Qqlz.99

This is from one of the supposed in the know guy's on FF

The worrying thing is now that there are rumours of dressing room problems as senior players think Pena and Harrera are not near the standard that is needed to improve the team.

People seem to forget the 5-1 drubbing at home to Celtic that could have been 9-1. the loss to Aberdeen at Ibrox for the first time in 26? years. It is not just about 1 result but a series of results. And don't give me the "he was trying them out crap"

Don't hold your breath mate. Nobody will be sacked.

Why were our players unfit? They had already been training for nearly a month. Have Prógres not the same season as we do? Why were they then fitter if fitness played a role. Surely it is the managers job to get his players fit? If we lost on fitness then the manager should definitely go.

Don't forget Pedro said himself that Aberdeen have had their day and will no longer get near Rangers.(or words to that effect)

It's yours mate.

For me and others it was obvious who he meant so he doesn't have to answer to you. I don't know why you have taken to noise JFK up but please give it a rest.

Look post 14

Must be half-time at Auchinhowie. Any twitterers heard anything?

Alex give yourself a shake of reality. If we are heading for 55 nobody will even remember Luxembourg.

Going by Luxembourg Rangers Ladies would be a good shout,:fish:

It is a young loanee, he would only get a part game and not every week.