pete

Sorry guy's i disagree on this one. Homesick has nothing to do with money. I still after 25 years in Holland still feel homesick at times. Holland has roughly the same culture as Scotland but i can believe that if you are in Russia which has a total different culture, you don't understand the language and possibly you are not happy in your work, then life becomes hard in your head. I would head home if i was him and to be honest i couldn't believe it when he went there. Just because some of us can adapt to life in a foreign country does not mean it is easy for everyone.

The signings of Vennegoor and Gravesen will cost the tims a total package of 15-20 million pounds. They are using there CL cash before they have it. If they do not get past the first group stage or fail to qualify next year it could put them in big trouble again. To be honest i think they are playing Russian roulette. We don't want to take the same route When we blew the Sky money that was the end of us keeping up with the English prem. I cannot believe that Le Guen is such a bad judge of players that most of them are donkey's. I am sure(hope and pray) most of them will start to perform once they get settled in. We seem to be playing good football we just need to start taking the chances we are creating and stiffen the defence up. Piece of cake! I am sure i just heard on Scotsport Gravesen is on 45.000 a week. Have the tims robbed the United States Bullion Depository at Fort Knox?

Just for the record i didn't write it i picked it up from a website and enjoyed the memories.

A NIGHT RANGERS WILL NEVER FORGET 10:00 - 26 August 2006 As the latest clutch of mostly uninspiring European matches found their way onto our screens this week, a radio phone-in debated one of football's mysteries: how is it that Glasgow Rangers have won just a single European trophy? That victory arrived on May 24, 1972, at Barcelona's Nou Camp, when Rangers produced a glorious performance in the first hour of the Cup Winners' Cup final to lead Moscow Dynamo 3-0. Although the Russians rallied and scored two late goals, it wasn't enough to deny a group of players whose names were to be etched into the club's folklore. Author and journalist Paul Smith had a distinct advantage in his quest to interview Rangers' 11 European heroes in his entertaining To Barcelona and Beyond, for his father Davie was widely regarded as the man of the match on that epic night. Smith has written an intimate and, at times, moving portrait of the lives of the eleven before, during and after their European experience. Unlike the current Rangers team, as cosmopolitan a bunch as there is in British football, the 1972 vintage were all Scots. Most played for their country and, in an era when Scotland produced a good proportion of Britain's finest footballers, players such as John Greig and Colin Stein remain legends for club and country. Smith's stories of lesser lights including goalkeeper Peter McCloy and full-back Willie Mathieson highlight the strength of an unusually loyal team bond which has lasted more than three decades. Of course, there were also mavericks. Alfie Conn moved to Tottenham soon after the European triumph having been deemed surplus to Ibrox's requirements. Despite playing fewer than 40 games for Spurs, he became a cult hero, fondly remembered as the player who sat on the ball during a particularly fraught encounter with Don Revie's Leeds. Conn played in the North American Soccer League, as did Willie Johnston, two-goal hero in the final. Johnston's career post-Barcelona included one of the most notorious episodes in World Cup history. He failed a drugs test following the embarrassing 3-1 defeat to Peru in Scotland's opening game of the 1978 World Cup. Despite his protestations of innocence and his exemplary career, it's a millstone which he has had to carry around with him for nearly 30 years. On reflection, there seems to be too little recognition for the team that won Rangers' only European trophy, which seems bizarre considering the quality of opposition they had to overcome. In addition to Moscow Dynamo, effectively the Russian national team, they dispatched Rennes and Sporting Lisbon in the opening rounds before defeating a very strong Torino outfit in the quarter-finals. Yet perhaps their greatest victory was the 3-1 aggregate win over Bayern Munich in the semi-finals. Bayern were about to embark on a hat-trick of European Cup triumphs and half the side, including Franz Beckenbauer and Gerd Muller, were to become part of the West Germany team that won the 1974 World Cup. Poignantly, Rangers' triumph arrived little over a year after 66 supporters died in the Ibrox Disaster and it became a fitting memorial. Nevertheless, Uefa deemed the exuberant celebrations of Rangers' supporters on the Nou Camp pitch a suitable case for punishment. The club was banned from defending its trophy the following season. Meanwhile, that second European success has yet to arrive??? What memories!!! Dave Smith one of my schoolboy heroes. I wish we had him and Tom Forsyth in the team today.

I can only agree craig that is what i meant by it being good financially. I think the ginger gnome will have to grovel big time to get back in Fergies good books. Fergie does not forget easily.

Even if they go on loan it looks like Rangers will have to pay a part of their wages as this seems to be the stumbling block. Even though we have slashed players wages it seems we are still paying far more than teams like Bolton.

I agree mate if it was a try before you buy it would be a lot easier to swallow.

Hurlock he comes from Holland. The temperature in the winter is colder here than Scotland(thus ice skating) and rain chances are just as much. In the Dutch cup the profs can be drawn against amature teams so he will be well used to crapy parks.

I read an interview with Fergie and he said that Martin was almost here last year to help Eck but they felt he was just a bit immature instead he was sent to the less hectic Belgian second division. Fergie said that as long as his young players get a game, Ibrox is a great place to for his young players as it gets them used to big crowds and playing under pressure. Funny that Strachan is trying to repair burnt bridges with Fergie now we are tapping in to the Manu youth. I have a bit of mixed feelings on this, i hate Rangers being a nursery club to anyone but Rangers but i suppose it makes financial sense.

He certainly is a great football player but his willingness and motivation are far to be found. Bolton are a team that have to take points through hard work, so i feel he is not the soort of player they should be signing. He may prove me wrong though.( Against Chelsea i hope;) )

11:40 - 25 August 2006 Plymouth Argyle, who travel to Stoke tomorrow, have put winger Bojan Djordjic on the transfer list. The 24-year-old, who joined Argyle from Rangers in 2005, has not impressed new Pilgrims boss Ian Holloway. "It is based on my observations since I have been here," Holloway said. "I know what I want, he should be practising corners and free-kicks every day. The boy knows what I've said and it is down to him. If he makes me change my mind, great - but at the moment he is on it." Torquay United are home to Chester City in League 2. In League 1 Yeovil Town entertain early season leaders Port Vale. This guy seems to be more talented with his mouth rather than his feet.

It dosn't matter the clubs got their money now. I hope they enjoy it and have a great day. Probably your mates last good day out if he is getting married.

As far as i know the clubs have agreed the fee and the descision now lies with Nacho. I think it will be the best move for everyone if he goes. I still love him for giving the tims the cold shoulder. The lob over the keeper against the tims also sticks in my mind.

Frankie you have to have patience, stopping for three games does not make us an non-alchoholc. The problem lies deeper than that. It is a great thing that we have shown in a few weeks we are willing to change. We must not worry what others are doing, we have to get our own house in order instead of worrying about the rest. If we set the borders then the rest have to stay with in them.

Frankie i agree it should not be ignored, but if two obstenate people don't give in then there can be no agreement. If we get our bed in order first then we will be seen to be the winners. If we are seen to be the bigoted party we will be hunted for years to come.

To be honest Frankie i do not think we are losing. Once the scales are sloping to one side they will have to put weights on the other side to get the balance again. Secterianism has to be faced up to now. I have no problem with that. If we have to clean our bedroom first then so be it. It is time to move into the twentieth century. It is time to support Rangers and not sectarianism.

David Weir (Everton) do we not have any better than him

Just kidding mate, i couldn't resist it.

I never saw the second leg of the Ajax-Copenhagen tie but in the first game Copenhagen were much the better team and should not have lost. Ajax, no, Huntelaar hit them with 2 sucker punches. They have Allbeck up front who is always a handfull for any defence and the other striker(Can't think of his name) is lightning quick. They are certainly no mugs.

Agreed Gribz they should throw the book at him for this it is a disgusting challenge. The rule that he can't get any further punishment because of a yellow card is also crap. A referee can get things wrong now and again:(

Ach your not bad at doing that yourself Craig!

Agreed Cal them going straight out may come back to haunt us in years to come.

You can see Quinn is a gambling man, being a good player does not mean you are a good manager. He would be better starting his management career at a lower profile club. If he fails at Sunderland it could ruin his managerial career.

Roy Keane is being linked with a sensational return to football as manager of Sunderland. The club refused to state Keane was on the brink of being handed the job, however they confirmed talks with "a high-profile figure" were ongoing with a view to a swift appointment. The Black Cats slumped to a 2-0 defeat at Bury on Tuesday in the first round of the Carling Cup, a result which came on the back of four straight league losses. Niall Quinn, the chairman-manager, decided to relinquish all coaching duties after the Gigg Lane shock and announced his intention to appoint a "world-class" new boss. Manchester United legend Keane has no prior management experience, which would make him raw to the job rather than of established pedigree. However he enjoyed enormous success during his playing career and as a former United captain is a recognised leader. Quinn also knows him well, the pair having played in the same Republic of Ireland side for many years. Sunderland said in a statement: "No new managerial appointment has been made at this time. "The club is in discussions with a high-profile figure and is hopeful an announcement will be made in the near future." Keane, 35, retired as a player in June, after a short spell with Celtic during which he helped the Bhoys win the Bank of Scotland Premier League and Scottish League Cup. He ended a 12-year association with United in November 2005 and fulfilled a lifetime ambition by joining Celtic on an 18-month deal. He managed only 13 appearances for the Hoops before quitting on medical advice. With his body ravaged after cruciate ligament and hip operations, Keane had no choice other than to follow doctor's orders, and - should he be confirmed as Sunderland's new boss - there seems no prospect of him combining management with playing at the Stadium of Light. Well that will cut off any chance of Rangers players going there.

Rangers offered Zenit fullback Skrtel tribalfooball.com - August 22, 2006 Rangers boss Paul Le Guen is mulling over an offer for Zenit St Petersburg fullback Martin Skrtel. Le Guen will check out the 21 year-old Slovak tonight as Zenit visit Ibrox.