cooponthewing

Apparently if you sneeze on someone in the box, Bobby Madden gives a spot kick. Take note MW:lol:

Wow db, I will take your word for it. Good grief, I know we have a joke about it however if this behaviour from them wasn't football related there would be serious concerns. Delusional and paranoid to the point of social exclusion:eek2:

I take your point Frankie and again I'm not advocating going ballistic with the cheque book, I did say "if the money was available" I didn't say "lets go asking for credit we can't afford to repay". I understand we mustn't go back to where we were and tbh its slightly unfair to suggest supporters "haven't learned their lesson". Where I am standing it would seem that if we do not address the centre of defence frailties, it will cost us a place in Europe, by DKs and MWs own admission that is the least they wish to achieve this year. I was hearing again last night more talk of a striker, I agree we need one but the part of our team that needs addressing is the CH position, that is where it may cost us dearly this year. Again I think to say supporters haven't learned their lesson is way off the mark, we are a business, and if we stand still we will never move forward. There must be a balance between spending what we feel is appropriate for success and not putting us into financial difficulties.

I honestly feel if the money was there, and it was around the 1-1.5k(wages same on top) mark for a decent CH we should spend it. It really could be the difference between success and failure this season. Not qualifying for Europe would be unthinkable, just disastrous!. Both with our standing in the game and financially. The finances we would look to gain from European competition would repay any "soft loan". If the nightmare scenario happens and we do a Hearts, then 1-1.5k soft loan would not be the end of the world and we can work with it. Before anyone has a coronary, I am not advocating that we liberalise our credit policy, far from it, I simply feel that at the moment should a CH become available and we had that kind of money available to us, we should use it.

3-0 Bears fgs Dodoo

A lot of good points there DB. You are right re the hysteria that seems to engulf many of us(myself included) we could all do with looking at the bigger picture and playing the long game. Personally, I started to get twitchy when I felt DK was suggesting second would be acceptable. It is not. If it happens I will understand the reasons why and we go again next year. It isn't nor will ever be acceptable, for me anyway.

I agree patience is something that we are not familiar with having to possess, and concur that it's a virtue we must try to educate ourselves with. I'm in total agreement there. Do we feel it's our birthright to be challenging and winning trophys every year?. I do, and imo we should. That may sound narcissistic(OK, it is:laugh:) my question would be this, if I were to pick any number of clubs who are the largest and most successful in there respective countries, would their supporters/fans feel the same? The answer without question is "yes" Man Utd/Chelsea , AC/Inter Milan, Barcelona/Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and PSG to name but a few. Yes, I know the argument is they have hundreds of millions, however many of there rivals are not short for cash either so these clubs stay one step ahead, and any manager who takes the role at those clubs is aware of this, second is not an option as the fans all feel it is their Birthright(rightly or wrongly) to achieve success on a yearly basis. Be it in a cup competition or the domestic league. In all honesty for most of not all of those I mention if the league is not won, the manager knows his time is up. Again I am not suggesting our financial position put us in their bracket, what I am suggesting is that as Rangers fans we have every right to demand success on a yearly basis. Objectively there are two huge clubs in Scotland, we are one of them, it's not, and imho, will never be in our dna to be patient. We crave success every season, failure is not an option and second is not acceptable. The only goal year in year out is trophys and championships. We may not achieve this, I accept that, but as Rangers fans we should never accept anything less than our pursuit of success. No matter how hard the fall may be from time to time.

I don't share your confidence in our two centre halfs mate:lol: to say they make me uneasy at this level is an understatement. It's a fair and balanced point re they should be given a chance, like anyone should, I appreciate there is a lot of hysteria(including myself lol) around the CH position, imo it's not without foundation. As you say, if we are not able to attract suitable targets for one reason or another, then it's not for want of trying. I hope you are correct and they improve, becoming confident and competent premiership CHs, I would like nothing more than to be wrong on this one.

I agree with a lot of what you say Frankie. My one main worry and will remain so is the CH position. You make a great case for watching the pennies and being carefull in the transfer market, however, the main concern for me is that if our centre half position is not addressed we will not qualify for Europe. Do I think there is a possibility with our defence we could end up 5th or 6th?. This may be unpopular opinion but yes it a very real possibility. If we don't qualify for Europe through a lack of investment in a CH then it will be another year wasted. Our defence has more holes than the titanic and the CH position sends my blood pressure into orbit!! We will all be on some form of meditation by the end of the season at this rate:lol:

Is windass fit again?

It's a worrying statistic however it is only that, a statistic. I feel the team should Judged on this season as to be fair everyone shut off after the league was won last year and at the SC final we had a Skelton staff on show. If we are still struggling after five games in then we have a problem I would imagine. I fully expect a good result tomorrow night and a commanding performance that should help build some confidence.

Someone may offer £2-3mill for Barrie in Jan if his form continues and if his form continues through till the end of the season it wouldn't surprise me if he went for £5-6mill. After all Ross Mcormack just went for £12mill:shock: Wow?? That would be a welcome cash injection. I don't see where else we are getting cash for transfers unless we sell, I don't see DK putting his hands in his pockets for player investment tbh.

Can't speak for anyone else but I'm finding myself "subdued" every time the opposition cross the halfway line:ohoh: I imagine that affects more folk than me and in turn, the atmosphere. It was electric to begin with, great atmosphere:rfc:

Not really what I wanted to hear. I have serious reservations over our ability to compete, no forget that, unless we get a CH and probably another striker, in the next three weeks, imo, we have zero chance of competing for a the title. Qualifying for Europe will be no cakewalk. It will be very difficult indeed. Surely DK must realise we need at least a CH??

I actually forgot all about Miller. He was absent until he was replaced.

Just back in from the game. I don't really know where to start?. The midfield was not particularly cohesive to be brutally honest. Niko looked disinterested and was looking for too much time. He was summed up on the half time whistle when he sat in his backside for a good minute before deciding to pick himself up and trudge off. He could very well be a luxury(if you can call it that) we can't afford. Joey Bart looked OK after the second half subs when Rossiter was doing the graft and it freed him up a bit. Other than that, I didn't think he was over impressive and sure as heck wasn't man of the match. We had Wes and Halliday wanting a square go with each other, at least they are showing commitment. I felt Forrester when he came on changed things going forward too. MOTM for me would have been Waggy who worked his socks off, although Taverneir had, I felt, a good game too. A lot more questions than answers today and plenty of food for thought. Especially with Waggy out with his hamstring.

Was briefly listening to radio on the bus this morning and the news still insists on reporting "thousands of fans ran on to the pitch at hampden". If it was anyone outwith Scotland they would think both sets of fans were equally to blame, which couldn't be further from the truth. Just another example of the media cover up and sweep sweep in motion to proportion blame equally and appease the thuggish and criminal behaviour of a large amount of Hibs fans.

Good comments from our club secretary at UofG:thup:

I feel it is widely being lost the severity of what happened that day. Seriously, players and staff of the club were physically attacked at their work, Punches were thrown. It is by pure luck and chance that none of these bams decided to use a knife or worse during that time. If this was at any other workplace in society, can you all imagine, and rightly so, what the reaction would be after such an incident. The language that is used in this statement, imo, is language prepared and used to deflate a situation which the authorities are either unwilling or unable to deal with for whatever reasons they find acceptable. My feeling is that if the authorities were to focus on what really happened and the attacks on players and officials, that they would then be shifting more light on to the performance, or lack thereof, by plod Scotland who were clearly not prepared for what happened and were shambolic to the point of negligent. I see no language in the report that points the finger at plod or the stewarding at the ground that day, or as has been pointed out why they are too busy building evidence of Bears online to bother looking at Hibs forums to notice all this had been planned well in advance. I'm pleased the club is looking to take this further. This must not be let go and neither should plod or the other security professionals employed that day be allowed to walk away from this without reprimand. It looks as if the Hibs fans, and rightly, will get the majority of the blame. They must be hammered financially and must not be afforded entry into this years Scottish cup. It is widely acknowledged that still having Petrie anywhere near Scottish football is a running joke after his conduct and comments post cup final. The sight of thousands of Hibs fans swarming on to the pitch, practically walking past security staff, with minimal or no help from plod was shown worldwide. However the fact that this was allowed to happen in the first instance indicates a direct lack of adequate and accurate police intelligence. Those in power at the sfa and possibly in the political and policing halls of power must not be allowed to brush these glaring errors of duty under the carpet. Again and again we will say it, what happens the next time??

Still no sign of this in the media????

Pity we can't find room for Rossiter and JB in the same line up. I can't wait for tomorrow:rfc:

Frankie makes a great point the social media. It's certainly afforded individuals with deep feelings of hatred and resentment a platform. One which for one reason or another they wouldn't have access too in their normal activities. The explosion of social media and our downward spiral into our lowest point in our history has, it would seem, allowed all those who were able to mask their feelings towards us, to drop their guard. Possibly just two dramatic events at once, social media allowing people to say things they would normally keep to themselves and our very public difficulties. It's very easy to be a sniper behind a wall and shoot a wounded man lying on the street. Metaphorically speaking lol.

I will endeavour to be as objective as I can with my answer DB. In my experience the levels of what can be called "hatred" have increased since our financial problems. The word "Hatred" is a very strong term to use and personally I like to think I don't hate anyone. You will hear the usual suspects wax lyrical that it is a problem that lives in the less affluent levels of society, those with low incomes and whose education is not of a high standard perhaps. In my experience I would suggest is is equal across society as I have encountered those with deep feeling of resentment, contempt and yes hatred, just as much if not more, when you have been at university as I have in th streets or pubs of the east end of Glasgow. The question you ask is had the levels increased?. IMHO yes, tenfold. It must be said from where I'm standing it seems that those who already harboured feelings of resentment and hatred simply found a new vacuum or a new platform to vent their insecurities or levels of frustration in our direction. By the same token I have also met some, not many, but some other football fans in Scotland who understand our position. It could also be said what happened has allowed the festering dislike of our club and supporters that many were able to mask and hide for decades, come to the surface as they were no longer able to to cloak their contempt for our club and supporters. This may seam like I am being dramatic however the visualisation of some fans, it would seem, openly frothing at the mouth, is not dramatic at all. Manifesting itself in football what has happened has simply highlighted the deep divide here is in Scotland. I'm sure it would not be to difficult to make an argument in support of the notion that in Scotland those of other clubs have a deep resentment and indeed hatred of everything to do with Rangers. The reasons for this go much deeper than football. There are many who would love nothing better than for the club and its supporters to simply vanish.

Just heard the same news db. Listened to Craig Houston on clyde who spoke quite well re the subject. Annoyingly it would seem there are a lot of supporters who will buy the strip or who have already bought the strip today. I really cant work them out? They are giving next to zero to the club and lining the fat mans pockets. I know its everyone's personal choice and fair enough. However imo things have moved on, and giving the fat man your money in the knowledge that he is laughing up his sleeve firstly at the club and secondly at you, is just insanity. As I posted the other night, I go to the match with an eight year old and she could work it out ffs! fwiw I bought a couple of lionbrand tops for the two of us this season, hopefully the club will do something and we can purchase a replica top possibly around Christmas if we do manage to design and advertise an official top with the backing of the club.

And we have still h at nothing from the SFA??? They met on Sunday I'm led to believe. Tomorrow is Friday and not a squeak from them...This country is so corrupt, politically and through the media it makes 1970-80s Las Vegas look like a Buddhist retreat!