pete

When does the window shut at the end of july or August?

IT WAS a comforting TV refrain familiar to millions: "Evening all and mind how you go." Have we regressed to the era of Dixon of Dock Green, a time when the nation's blue-serged finest regarded half-a-dozen guys drinking from their pale ale bottles after hours as a public hazard? Seems, as they would have it in Lancashire, there is indeed trouble-at-t'mill. Greater Manchester Police have determined a public safety issue was involved in the planned visit of Rangers and their support to Bolton next week for a pre-season friendly. Although the Ibrox club had sold just over 2000 tickets to their lot, expectations were for up to 12,000 to travel to the Reebok Stadium. Apart from the suspicion you would be but the one signature distant from being sectioned under the Mental Health Act were Bolton a preferred choice for leisure time, there are other, broader issues involved in this brouhaha. The competence of the policing service in the area must be dodgy at best if it is not up to handling a relatively small grouping. Given that the majority of us pay our taxes to central government, who in turn fund the police service, we should be entitled to demand rites of passage and security to watch a game of football, the date of which had been established well in advance of the pulling of the plug. IF GMP consider public safety is indeed at risk by a small invasion of Rangers supporters, how can they possibly be up to handling the potentially fraught local derbies involving the Manchester clubs, not to mention visits from the likes of the infamous Chelsea "Head Hunters"? Also - by heavy inference - a major slur has been cast on the Rangers support. The same police force has welcomed up to 30,000 of the Celtic minded, most recently for the Roy Keane testimonial match and praised their behaviour. Subliminally, the message is to the effect they are more trustworthy than those who get their kicks on the other side of the Old Firm divide, so within there lies an insult, intended or otherwise. No question, there are highly unsavoury elements within the fellow travellers of Rangers and they did themselves and the club they purport to back no favours by loutish behaviour before a Uefa Cup tie against Villarreal in Spain last season, actions that, if repeated, will undoubtedly result in severe punishment by European football's governing body. However, this time around, Rangers have been found guilty without a trial. Their banishment has been achieved despite the fact no act of violence has taken place. They have been castigated before the event and that is wrong. The surprise is Rangers have agreed to go ahead with the game anyway, the fixture switched to Glasgow and to be played out behind closed doors at Ibrox or Murray Park. Their disgust might have been better served by cancelling the match and so pointing an accusing finger at the Manchester police authorities. Clearly, the imperatives of the new manager, Paul Le Guen, have been paramount, but the club's owner, David Murray, will be juggling with senses of justifiable anger and hurt. Over the next week, Strathclyde Police will be responsible for the security of the supporters of Middlesbrough, Everton and Manchester United. Not the hint of a fuss has been made, no sign of trepidation witnessed in their preparations for games at Ibrox and Parkhead. After all, as they accept, they are paid to police. That's their job, their role within society. They might well have their opinions on those they deal with, but, as professionals, they have a duty to safeguard the public and to ensure, as best they can, that football matches are properly stewarded. Any police force incapable of fulfilling such an objective is, as their gaffer John Reid might put it, "not fit for purpose". A good reply from the evening times.

Cammy i have stated before that it is modern management to contract companies to do the likes of catering so as not to have staff on your books that could end up being a financial noose around your neck. I am sure the 14 mill profit is not all taken from Ibrox so it is a bit unfair to say we have lost that amount of money. For Rangers to employ staff, managers, purchasers, accountants etc, for the few pies and hamburgers that they sell every second week would be bad business in my opinion. Is it possible to sell land worth say a million for one pound? Would inland revinue not have something to say about that?

The wages of a lot of these players woud cripple the club. No tv rights, no CL, poor crowds will leave there wage level unabstainable for 2 or 3 years.

Agreed Calscot, if we have anyone to thank for our great stadium, we have to thank Willie Waddle as he was the one planned to make it what it is. The reason we indeed did stand with 8 to 15000 supporters at the end of some seasons was because he put the safety of supporters higher than performances on the park. The Ibrox disaster helped him make this decision of course. One person should never have been allowed so much control of the club as it has indeed given him a free hand to dispense of some of our assets for a minimum return. Mostly to his own companies of course. He has in fact played like a pawnbroker giving us small amounts for some of our best jewels. Yes he did bring us success but in doing so he almost crippled the club. We did in fact all live the dream though, and i don't think many would change that. As long as he can turn things round and make the club financially safe again there will be few with any regrets of the last 17 years. Rangers will probably never belong to Rangers again as football has become too much of a business these days, so i think the best we can hope for is a consortium of rich Rangers supporters working with supporter groups. Personally i would hate to see an idiot like Hearts have taking over. I hope he keeps at least one promise, to sell to someone that will better the club. Unfortunatly it would seem not many people can afford it, except rich Russians looking for a toy.

Sorry was wrong on the striker bit although i am sure i googled it at the time. http://soccernet.espn.go.com/players/international?id=42606&league=fifa.world&season=2006&cc=5739 Alex for PSV is : Alex Rodrigo Dias da Costa http://alex.eigenpage.nl/

All got away lightly. A normal person would have got about 7 years in prison for forgery.

No it isn't Alex for Japan is a striker Alex for PSV is a bull built defender. He is exellent though and i can see why PSV want him.

Edited.....

Why did he let him go then? If i thought he was so good i would have pulled out all the stops to keep him.

Rangers recorded a second easy victory on their short tour of South Africa, beating Jomo Cosmos 2-0 after goals from Kris Boyd and Gavin Rae. Playing at what will be one of the 2010 World Cup stadiums in Bloemfontein, Rangers manager Paul Le Guen fielded a strong line-up - including new signings Jeremy Clement, Karl Svensson, Lionel Letizi and Libor Sionko - and all four excelled against Cosmos. Most of the play was centred around the midfield battle where first Clement and Brahim Hemdani and then Senegal international Makthar N'Diaye all played well as they controlled the centre of the park. Boyd struck in the third minute when Cosmos defender Moketi Tsoletzi overran the ball and tripped, handing an easy run to Thomas Buffel. The Belgian sent a perfect through ball for the Scotland striker to beat the keeper and score his third goal in as many games after similar efforts against Linfield and a Jomo Select. The visitors were let off twice in the space of a minute as first Cosmos' Anthony Laffer missed a chance in the box and then Lionel Letizi was called on to make a strong save from Chris Katongo's powerful shot. Boyd missed what would have been an easy second with an open goal in front of him when his shot rolled just wide after a beautiful touch through once again from Buffel in the 13th minute. Gavin Rae added the second in the 68th minute after a ball up the wing from Steve Smith. Rae drove into the box, slipped a pass to Nacho Novo, who back-heeled it into the path of the former Dundee midfielder to beat the keeper easily. Rangers then had a brief scare when South Africa Under-20 international Calvin Kadi made a strong run through their defences, but could not control the ball in the box. The kick-off had been delayed for 16 minutes when the match officials were involved in a traffic accident. Two of the three officials were seriously injured and taken to a nearby hospital, prompting organisers to find another referee and linesmen for the game.

I guess the guy deserves a chance if he has played so well. Could this be the uncut diamond everyone has talked about.

FERNANDO THICKSEN Guys like Mo and Macca knew when and where to go over the top - and a plane with your gaffer on board ain't one of 'em Ally Mccoist THE only person who can salvage Fernando Ricksen's career at Rangers is the Dutchman himself. It's not too late but there are more than a few harsh realities to be faced before he can even think about anything else. He has been slaughtered by the media and fans alike for his drunken antics on board the flight to South Africa and he'll need to accept that this is his rock bottom. I often hear managers telling people that no player is given special treatment at a club but take it from me, that is not true. When you have a talent such as Paul Gascoigne involved then sometimes it's a case of turning a blind eye to certain aspects of their personality. With exceptional players such as him there is always a certain amount of leeway that is given and it will always b e that way. Advertisement Unfortunately for Fernando he doesn't even come close to being near the characters I'm about to mention who have that extra licence to get away with murder. With the likes of Maurice Johnstone, Charlie Nicholas, Frank McAvennie there were always times when they attracted the wrong headlines but each had something in common which Fernando seems to lack. They were clever enough to know when and where they could get away with going over the top. I'd suggest that on a plane with your manager on board isn't one of them. When I first heard Fernando had been sent home from South Africa, the first thought which crossed my mind was Paul Le Guen using the situation to make his mark. Maybe the new Rangers boss felt it was the ideal opportunity to make an example of one of his high-profile players to really stamp his authority on things. I could be wrong as I don't really know enough about what actually happened on the flight so it would be wrong of me to speculate. One thing is clear - Fernando has problems that need to addressed. I have met him hundreds of times and I have to confess I have always found him funny, friendly and a great guy to be around. Let's be honest for a minute, though, we are talking about someone who has had a history of problems ever since he arrived in Glasgow. There is only so much a football club can be prepared to accept and if they consider him to be a disruptive element then there is only going to b e one winner. It appears Fernando has a strange idea of acceptable discipline and only Le Guen is going to emerge from this the stronger party. If there's to be a way back for the player then he better be prepared to eat one heck of an amount of humble pie. If he's serious about pulling on a Rangers jersey again he should make contact with his manager and make an unreserved apology over his conduct, as well as giving assurances about his future behaviour. Although it may be hard to believe, I've been guilty of making the odd error of judgment that has landed me in a couple of predicaments. But I always knew where the line was and that's the biggest problem with Fernando. That line has all too often been blurred for him and he's not helped himself by crossing it in sometimes spectacular fashion. But he should be learning his lesson. He's no longer a youngster who could be accused of being naive. He's at an age where he has to take the responsibility for his actions. If he's accepted that he now needs to seek professional help to deal with whatever problems he may have then he should be given credit for that. I genuinely wish him well. But resolving these issues won't just help his career -more importantly it will help him make a success of his life. He owes it to himself to get to the root of why he's continually being at the centre of controversy and he will need to get to it fast. This was always going to be a huge season for him under a new manager and especially after the last campaign which was a virtual non-event for him. But a ball has yet to be kicked in anger and already it's been a disaster for him. More worryingly still is the fact it appears the majority of the Rangers fans have now turned against him over the latest incident. He can return from his time in Tony Adams' Sporting Chance clinic a better person and a better player. I wouldn't say his time at Rangers is over as there is always a way back but maybe moving on would be a better thing for him. Achange of scene may offer him a better chance to escape his demons and whatever it's going to be, I hope it's the right choice. Fernando gets my sympathy as he's clearly a troubled person right now and he's someone I like immensely. But it's his and his club's responsibility to get his mind sorted out so he can get things back on track. Difficult decision. We will not get much for him if we sell him. He has shown over one season he can be a great asset. Can he return to that? Whatever happens he must be the biggest asshole to captain our great club. Time to ship him for me.

He looks like one of the three muskiteers. He maybe be a french spy.

Right Frankie my new works card has that as well. It doesn't matter how you put it into the reader it will read it.

If the the 18mill that we got from jj? is not to be used for players, does anyone know what our current debt lies at?

It certainly looks that way Frankie. I hope when he does sell he keeps his word and only sells for the betterment of the club. Unfortunatly his word is not always binding .

I have got it up to 1730 now. i think it depends where you hit as well.

Most of mine were about that as well but that one went crazy.

Just one word on the cheating issue i have not read much on Crouch pulling the Trinidad & Tobago guys hair to score the first goal for them. Is that not cheating. It would seem like Engerland are squeaky clean if you hear them talk. He who has never sinned can throw the first stone.

Best Butt 1309. it was a stoater.

Ferguson and Clement are a certainty when Fergie is fully fit. ---------------Letizi Ponroy-- Svensson-- Rodriguez-- Smith ------Ferguson---Clement--------(Hemdani, Rae and Murray as replacement) Sionko---------Buffel------------------Prso -----------------Boyd----------------- Once Burke comes back i feel it will be to the cost of Buffel. with Prso moving to a central position.

I think Clement has been bought for the deep roll Gribz. If Barry keeps retreating as in the last few years then i think his days will be numbered. Unless he proves he is better than Clement in that position

Seems we will be playing a 4-2-4 formation with everyone attacking and everyone defending. That seems to be the reason Clement was so important as he seem to be able to run the show.

I thought they were both two left-sided attacking players koeman that is why posted. If Adam scored 3 from left -half tonight then we may have a real star arising.