ian1964

Maybe a new cure for piles

Maybe I had a wee bit too much cider,also it was at the other end of the pitch from the Rangers end,but it looked like the ball struck the defenders hand, which was away from his body,and stopped a strike hitting the target!!!!,I've not seen the incident since the game,I'll need to have another look, but my point is any/every penalty could be described as dodgy/soft depending on the interpritation. Anyway,Butcher is still a wank and as you said he is only stoking the flames with his comments

I really hope it is the start of the collapse of the Peadodome:whistle:

This is the whole problem though,as it stands it's all down to interpritation of an incident as to wether it's a penalty or not.FWIW I think the hand ball was a penalty

When will he come out and apologise for not giving us a penalty in the first half for hand ball???

CELTIC last night warned their fans Parkhead could be closed if they continue to breach safety rules by standing during matches. Police are unhappy with supporters who refuse to sit and several incidents have been reported to the club. Celtic issued a statement, urging fans to take heed or face drastic action - which could include Parkhead's safety certificate being removed. The club insist they are taking the matter seriously and demand fans remain seated at all times. A section of the support, the Green Brigade, who were criticised for displaying an anti-poppy banner during last month's game against Aberdeen, regularly stand but a club spokesman said: "Celtic Park is designed as an all-seater stadium and the safety certificate has been approved and issued on that basis. "Persistent standing is a real safety risk and could ultimately result in the certificate, which is required to open the stadium, being revoked. "It is vital this matter is taken seriously and that supporters sit during matches." The Green Brigade had a sit-down protest at the start of the recent game against Inverness. They pretended to read papers for the first 20 minutes before a whistle in the crowd was the signal to stand for the rest of the match. http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/2010/12/16/celtic-warn-fans-that-parkhead-faces-closure-if-they-refuse-to-sit-down-during-matches-86908-22787258/

Butcher's a wank of a man,why he feels the need to go to the press with this,especially at this particular time,is beyond me and gains nothing from it. Maybe he should have spoken about the Naismith miss,and the other chances we had against his team

ALLY McCOIST couldn't be better prepared to become Rangers boss, according to assistant-in-waiting Kenny McDowall. The Ibrox first-team coach is convinced he and Super Ally are ready to step up when gaffer Walter Smith quits at the end of the season. McDowall - not taking anything for granted with the club still in takeover talks - said: "It has been well documented what might happen going forward and it has been spoken about a lot. "If it was to happen it would be absolutely fantastic. "I feel I'm ready for the next move forward and it's the same with Ally too. "We'll both be 48 next summer, so we're not young in terms of stepping up into new roles. "The players know Ally has a serious side to him already and it will not take him becoming the manager for them to realise that. "He is well ready for what he has got to do. He has, like the rest of us, had a good education over the last four years and it's something he's prepared for. "But if anyone has any doubts, there's no need. He's a serious, determined guy and, while it's a big job, he's someone who is well placed to take that on. "He has got the day-to-day personality people like, but he's so focused at the same time." It's almost four years since McDowall quit his job in charge of Celtic's reserves to join his boyhood club. He added: "There are a lot of young managers out there, but we are experienced enough that we're in a good position to kick on. "The biggest factor for me though is that there's still so much to take care of this season - and we can't lose sight of that. "What we might achieve over the next few months is massive in relation to what might happen. "We want to give the gaffer a good send-off. He deserves it and hopefully we can go and win the title for him. "It's hard to believe it's nearly four years since he brought me to Rangers. Being here has been a real eye-opener for me and I'll forever be grateful to him. "It's the best opportunity I've ever had in my career. "He's one of the best coaches we've been fortunate enough to have in this country. "Would it be Walter's best ever title if we got it this season? Yes, it would. That's a fair comment - and that's our aim." Read more: http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/spl/3278596/Were-ready-to-boss-Gers.html#ixzz18GdTX8m8

MADJID BOUGHERRA has been hailed as Algerian Footballer of the Year for the second successive season. The Rangers defender jetted home to receive the Golden Ball from Real Madrid legend Emilio Butragueno in Alger on Monday. Bougy scooped top prize for his displays with both Rangers and Algeria. He twice shut out Wayne Rooney for both club and country to further enhance his growing status in European football. He said: "I am very happy and proud, especially as there were other players who were just as strong and just as entitled to the trophy. "Despite fierce competition I've managed to equal the record by winning my second Golden Ball." Bougy was also listed for African player of the year but missed out on the final three, which is Didier Drogba, Asamoah Gyan and Samuel Eto'o. That vote will be revealed in Cairo on Monday. Read more: http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/spl/3276964/Bougy-has-Ball-again.html#ixzz18Gc6SIMX

INVERNESS boss Terry Butcher last night revealed how referee Calum Murray apologised to him for gifting Rangers a penalty last week. The blundering whistler was responsible for handing the Ibrox side a golden chance to win last Saturday's 1-1 draw in the Highlands when he judged James Beattie had been fouled in the box by Stuart Duff. But TV pictures showed the Light Blues sub making the most of the second-half flashpoint before justice was done as Kenny Miller's spot-kick was saved by Caley Thistle hero Ryan Esson. Butcher has been a strong supporter of Scottish referees during the recent controversy which saw them go on strike. And he revealed Murray made a bee-line for him after the game to admit he got it wrong. Butcher said: "The ref came up to me after the match and said sorry . "Another official had got in touch to say it might not have been a penalty. But I have no problem with it." http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/2010/12/16/referee-apologised-over-rangers-penalty-reveals-inverness-boss-terry-butcher-86908-22787256/

Seems to be ok for now:thup:

Since I posted that it's been ok Frankie,but it has been doing that for a wee while now,ah well the problem must be at my end

Anybody else having problems loading the pages???,taking ages to load and when it does eventually load it comes up all scattered,then I have to reload again!!!!!

By Glenn Gibbons The most depressing aspect of the general decline in the standard of Scottish football is that, at the top end, it seems to be not only readily accepted, but embraced. In this regard, Rangers, as champions, have the responsibility of representing the country. As such, they have been over the past couple of seasons the kind of ambassadors whose questionable comportment at times would occasion the need to take refuge in diplomatic immunity. Of course, it is an old truth that supporters - especially those unused to the kind of regular trophy-gathering that is the preserve of the Old Firm - will acclaim success in any guise. It is very likely, for example, that Hearts' unconvincing penalty shoot-out victory over Gretna - after a conspicuously unimpressive 1-1 draw - in the 2006 Scottish Cup final was celebrated as intensely as their inspired 3-1 defeat of Celtic in the corresponding fixture 50 years earlier. But, as the touchstone by which the level of excellence in the SPL is to be evaluated, Rangers in the last two Champions League campaigns will have left the impression around Europe of an old gem that has long since lost its lustre. Walter Smith has been able to claim, with a degree of justification, a certain improvement in the performance of his Ibrox side in the group phase that ended in Turkey on Tuesday compared with that which left them seriously embarrassed last season. But, in truth, three goals scored and one victory gained - the latter by a single goal at home to a Bursaspor team who took one point from the series - in six matches is hardly the stuff of dreams. Nor is the need to have come from behind to salvage points in six of 14 domestic league games this season, or to have won the same number of fixtures by a single-goal margin, on too many occasions leaving either Smith or his deputy, Ally McCoist, to tell the post-match media conference that "we weren't at our best today". Coming through these various trials successfully is, understandably, acclaimed by Rangers supporters as an indicator of the players' unquenchable spirit. But to place such a positive emphasis on their character is to ignore the mediocrity that often necessitates the resilience. Simply better-than-average sides, far less exceptional ones, tend to be, in the main, less troubled and more convincing than the Scottish champions have been at home and abroad these past two seasons. There could hardly be a more damning commentary on a team's capabilities than that which has been applied to Rangers - that they are at their best when they don't have the ball. What should disturb the club's followers more than anything is that acknowledgement of the team's deficiencies begins not with media critics, but with Smith himself. The manager has been regularly on record with the claim that his ultra-defensive philosophy, especially in Europe, springs from his conviction that his players are not good enough to flirt with a more open and adventurous style without being picked off by demonstrably superior opponents. It is quite bizarre to note that the Rangers player who often shows the most aggressive instinct in their European games - who appears at times to have the unbridled instinct for flight of a prisoner who has gone over the wall - is the central defender, Madjid Bougherra. Yet, to the neutral observer, it is often clear that skilful, inventive and potentially incisive players such as Steve Davis and Steven Naismith are shackled by cautiousness, conditioned to looking behind rather than ahead for team-mates. It is the tactical equivalent of playing in leg irons. What should disturb followers of the other 11 SPL teams, including Celtic, is that, despite their imperfections, the reigning champions have shown themselves over the past two campaigns to be unarguably - and by a considerable distance - the best. http://sport.scotsman.com/sport/Glenn-Gibbons-Rangers-fail-to.6657506.jp?articlepage=2

WALTER SMITH last night warned that Rangers cannot afford to lose Kenny Miller or any of his top players in the January transfer window. The Ibrox manager is bracing himself for bids for 19-goal Miller – whose contract talks have broken down – and keeper Allan McGregor, who is being closely monitored by Aston Villa. But Smith is adamant their exits would severely hamper Rangers’ hopes of holding off Celtic’s SPL challenge. Smith’s men will go five points clear if they win today in Inverness but injuries have decimated his threadbare squad and losing two of his main men in January is his nightmare scenario. And while the board – or the club’s bankers – may be tempted to flog Miller rather than lose him for nothing in the summer, Smith is desperate to keep his main goal threat. He said: “It’s obviously a concern. It’s a concern we’ve had for nearly two full seasons now – that when it comes to a transfer window, whether it be a winter one or summer – that we’ll lose players. We just have to hope we’ll get through this one in the manner we’ve got through the rest. “We don’t want to lose important players. We’ve been dropping down in numbers over the last few seasons and we are reaching the stage where we can’t afford to go lower. “The contract talks can be restarted again. They are stalled at the moment and I would stress that it is a stall. We’ll wait and see what happens. “But the situation has been clear for the last two years. If somebody comes in for him, like every other player, there has to be a consideration. “I read yesterday that a club in the Middle East said they made a bid for him last year but they didn’t. Nobody did. If we don’t get a bid we’ll be pleased with that. “There is no use in worrying too much about what might happen because it has been like that for a couple of years.” Rangers have opened talks with Steven Naismith about extending his contract and Smith is hoping a deal can be tied up for a player who has been outstanding this season. He added: “I would welcome that. He has been doing well for us and I’d hope we’d be able to finalise a new contract for Steven. I’d hope he’d want to stay. “He came in and had an awkward spell through injury and he is now showing real form and playing exceptionally well. “Obviously, we want to try to keep good players.” Rangers will assess the fitness of Sasa Papac, who is back training, before Smith names his team for the clash with Inverness. He added: “Sasa’s only had a couple of days’ training so we’ll see how he feels in the morning. But he is available for us. “Maurice Edu possibly will be available for next week’s game.” Meanwhile, Smith has revealed that long-term injury victim Nikica Jelavic is unlikely to make the Old Firm clash on January 2 – although the Croat should be back in action a couple of weeks later.

The Green Brigade have been one of the highlights of the past few seasons at the library that Celtic Park is. The introduction of their own section, sanctioned by the PLC, the introduction of a drum and the acceptance of Depeche Mode as anthem has made this season interesting off the park. Against Information Computer Technology their silent 20 minute protest then subsequent burst into life ââ?¬â?? that saw the stadium give them a standing ovation ââ?¬â?? has been the highlight of recent home games. This type of protest is unseen on these shores. The authorities seen unable to deal with this European styled group. They are trailblazing a path that others are struggling to comprehend nevermind follow. The fall out from Poppy Gate ( views on the protest are here and the aftermath here) has seen a change in tact from a board. It seems that instead of banning the GB from Celtic Park, as they threatened they will just ban them from Ibrox by stopping them or anyone else in section 111 getting offered tickets for this game no matter if they havenââ?¬â?¢t missed an away game this season. The season book holders in that section are getting the message that : THIS TIME YOU DONââ?¬â?¢T HAVE THE CORRECT PRIVILEGES ON YOUR ACCOUNT. Any queries are getting meet with the line: itââ?¬â?¢s a computer ballot. If you believe that then if you look out your window you will see a flying pig. Itââ?¬â?¢s not the first time that the PLC have used underhand tactics against the GB. The banner below saw a bluemail campaign from those who claim we are the offended ones and the PLC helped Strathclyde Polis (them again) identify those who held the banner and sectarian breach of the peace charges were brought against those fingered. The Procurator Fiscal has said the accused had no case to answer. A blow to those who wish to be offended. The PLC knew what they were getting with the Green Brigade, I donââ?¬â?¢t think they know what they will get if they continue to take their money and persecute them. They seemed to be liked, or dare I say LOVED, by the majority of the rank and file season book holders I come into contact with. They pay their money as well. http://thecelticblog.com/2010/12/blogs/green-brigade-banned-from-ibrox?

I have to agree, I mean ok fair enough I don't want to see the Rangers deducted points for singing certain songs,but I'd rather see the club saying don't sing these songs as we may get fined,or deducted points,or whatever,but I'd also like to see the club challenge these decisions and push for parity, the songs the Rangers fans sing seem to be the only ones that are deemed offensive,bigoted,sectarian,that in itself is bigoted IMO. I don't give a shit really what fans sing to wind each other up,that is one of the best things about being a fan,but it just seems nowadays too many people get offended and cry '' bigots,sectarian,blah blah feckin blah. Grow a set Rangers and challenge the rules,laws,whatever the feck it is,but ffs it's about time the fans had some backing,defending from the club

Celtic blame Kilmarnock for postponement as Rugby Park pitch is 'perfectly playable' As most of Wednesday night's SPL card fell victim to the Arctic weather which still has Scotland in its grip the Celtic chief executive, Peter Lawwell, accused Kilmarnock of negligence in failing to ensure that their home game with the Parkhead side would go ahead. :sneaky: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/celtic/6908265/Celtic-blame-Kilmarnock-for-postponement-as-Rugby-Park-pitch-is-perfectly-playable.html

KENNY MILLER last night edged closer to an Ibrox exit - as Rangers launched a bid to keep Stevie Naismith. While talks to hold on to 19-goal ace Miller, whose contract is up next summer, hit the rocks a big-bucks effort was being made to tie down Scotland star Naisy on a new contract until 2015. Now gutted Gers boss Walter Smith is facing the prospect of losing Miller in the January transfer window. It's understood the talks on Miller's proposed two-year extension are doomed to failure now and that will alert predators from England and abroad when the transfer window opens. Gers boss-in-waiting Ally McCoist, though, is desperate to prevent Naismith - who has 18 months left on his deal - joining Miller on the way out. The Ibrox club have tabled a deal designed to keep 24-year-old Naismith at the club until 2015. They are willing to offer him a long-term extension of at least four years after a stunning start to the season. Naismith has been one of the most consistent performers in Smith's side both in the SPL and Champions League. His form has also seen him become a regular in Craig Levein's Scotland team and he grabbed his first goal in the defeat to world champions Spain in October. Those displays have alerted sides south of the border. But McCoist is a fan of the former Kilmarnock kid's talents too. It's been made clear that Naismith is seen as a key part of the future success of the club. Takeover talks with potential buyer Craig Whyte have delayed the club doing anything concrete with Naismith. But it's believed they hope to move quickly in the coming weeks to iron out a deal. Meanwhile, Smith is happy to have dodged a bigger fixture pile-up. Tomorrow's lunchtime clash at Inverness WILL go ahead. And Smith said: "We want to be getting games under our belts and we want to be playing again. "We've got a busy enough period approaching without having it being made busier because we have more matches to rearrange." Read more: http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/spl/3269744/Kenny-goes-Naisy-stays.html#ixzz17goDyGQV

I know this could be a tricky game,but I think we will win this with a bit to spare,so............ ICT 0 The Champions 3 - Miller 2,Naismith :spl:

KRIS Boyd is set for a shock switch to the Serie A in the winter transfer window after just six months at Middlesbrough. The once prolific Rangers goal ace is wanted by both Juventus and Palermo despite his goals famine in the Championship this season. And with Riverside boss Tony Mowbray who replaced Gordon Strachan unhappy at Boyd's scoring rate the struggling club is ready to listen to any offers to off-load his �£20,000 a week wages in January. Both Italian outfits have already sounded out Boyd's advisors and plan to make more definite moves in January. Palermo are particular keen on the 27 year old international striker who smashed the SPL scoring record with 164 goals but has failed to deliver south of the border. " We have received positive feedback and plan a meeting with the player's representatives next month " said a source last night. " We already have some sponsors who are prepared to pay the salary of the Scottish forward who impressed as at Rangers and in the Champions League last seasonâ� Read more: http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/216386/Ex-Rangers-star-wanted-by-Serie-A-clubs-Ex-Rangers-star-wanted-by-Serie-A-clubs-#ixzz17blbAYKj

CASH-STRAPPED Rangers have coined in more than �£20MILLION thanks to their Champions League campaign. Walter Smith's men bowed out of Europe's premier club competition after a 1-1 draw with Bursaspor on Tuesday. They pocketed six points during the campaign to land a place in the Europa League last 32 in the New Year. Just as importantly was the money their six group games brought into the Ibrox coffers. Gers really looked like they were a spent force in last year's morale-sapping campaign against Stuttgart, Sevilla and Unirea Urziceni. Their fortunes improved on the pitch this year as they upped their game in ties with Manchester United, Valencia and Bursaspor. Off the park, the importance of them qualifying could never be more stark. Craig Whyte might be on the verge of a takeover which would see the club's mounting debts wiped out and much-needed funds pumped into the side over the coming months. SunSport can now reveal the actual impact Gers' SPL title triumph last season and their displays on the continent since have had on the future of the club. Gers' direct entry into the group stages meant they were guaranteed to take home a cool �£6million as long as they played all their games. That was made up of payments from UEFA of around �£3.2million for just getting there - and another �£470,000 every time they played one of their six group games, netting �£2.82 million more. Rivals Celtic crashing out of the tournament in the qualifiers also earned a massive bonus on the Gers balance sheet. Each country is granted a market share of the TV money and had the Hoops made the group stages, Gers would have had to split the �£7.5million payment. Gers' home win over Bursaspor plus draws against Man United, Valencia and in Turkey this week brought in an extra �£1.7million. On top of that the three home gates would have brought in around another �£4.8million in ticket sales before merchandise and other income is budgeted in. With the Europa League to come now Gers look poised for another cash bonanza with more performance-related incentives. They'll find out who they will face at the draw a week on Friday. Read more: http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/spl/3267074/Gers-cash-in-Euros.html#ixzz17aztCMuk

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/newcastle_united/9267960.stm

Dallas and four other employees were dismissed for forwarding an email which linked the visit of the Pope to the UK with the child abuse scandal within the Roman Catholic Church. Under the SFA’s disciplinary procedures the five staff members involved in the incident had until close of business yesterday to lodge their appeals against the sanction. The SFA chief executive, Stewart Regan, refused to comment on the grounds that the matter is now an internal disciplinary affair to be handled by the Association’s human resources department. However, I understand that at least four of the five have appealed and that Dallas is one of those who will now have their cases re-examined by the SFA’s president, George Peat. Meanwhile, the reverberations of Dallas’s sacking and the resignation of Dougie McDonald, the referee who lied about why he had rescinded a penalty awarded to Celtic in their game against Dundee United at Tannadice on Oct 17, continue to be felt within the corridors of power at Hampden Park. On Tuesday, Regan responded forcefully to comments by Jim Sheridan, the MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire North and a member of the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee in Westminster, who became the latest public figure to attempt to put pressure on the governing body of Scottish football when he called for “their views on transparency, the structure of the SFA, the conspiracy culture and the way we deal with referees.” Sheridan added: “People I speak to within the game are fed up with every week bringing a new conspiracy theory and another referee being at fault. It has to be brought to an end. “I want a fresh pair of eyes to have a close look at the whole structure and see how it operates and advise how it should be operating. If there is bias or bigotry within the organisation then let’s get rid of it for the good of the game. “Things really have to be clarified as it just cannot continue the way we are at the moment by accusing a referee of bias every time a team loses.” Sport is, of course, one of the areas devolved to the Scottish Executive and as the Westminster committee’s own website states: “Are football governance rules in England and Wales, and the governing bodies which set and apply them, fit for purpose?” In any case, the SFA is already in the process of being scrutinised in a detailed review by another Scottish Labour politician, as Regan sharply reminded Sheridan when he issued a statement which said: “I am surprised by the comments attributed in the media yesterday to Jim Sheridan MP. Mr Sheridan spoke publicly before making any effort to contact me or ascertain details of the work currently ongoing to improve our game. “Mr Sheridan’s comments on alleged bias within the Scottish FA are divisive, grossly misguided and deeply unhelpful. “He has called for an independent review, when it is widely known that the former First Minister, Henry McLeish, presented the first part of his completely independent review of Scottish football earlier this year, and that part two is due to be published imminently. “My intention to conduct a review of internal processes at the Scottish FA has also been widely reported. “Finally, with regard to Mr Sheridan’s comments on referees, we have, again, already stated our intention to work with all relevant parties to create a Referees’ Charter. In short, we are in the process of addressing every point Mr Sheridan makes, and I would be happy to meet with him to clarify these details. “I am also interested to hear more on the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee’s renewed interest in Scottish football, and am especially keen to find out what level of support they are able to offer the game going forward.” As far as more immediate matters on the field of play are concerned, the Scottish Premier League remains cautious about the likelihood of any games going ahead on Saturday. The entire SPL card was wiped out last weekend on police advice and the situation worsened on Monday when Scotland’s road network was paralysed after a blizzard struck during the morning rush hour. Although a reduced train service was in operation, hundreds of motorists were forced to remain in their cars overnight and many more workers chose to sleep in their offices, including 14 SFA staff and the SPL chief executive, Neil Doncaster. Doncaster believes that the thaw which is predicted to reach Scotland on Thursday will allow the weekend fixtures to proceed, although he acknowledged that the issue is not simply a matter of conditions at grounds. “At the top of our priorities we have to have supporters’ welfare,” Doncaster said. “Although the forecast is for very cold weather overnight on Tuesday and Wednesday, it is thought there will be a considerable thaw towards the end of the week so we will be reviewing that over the next 48 hours before we make any final decisions. “We have to bear in mind that clubs want to get fixtures away.” If the SPL games do go ahead, Willie Collum will return to Celtic Park for the first time since he took charge of the Old Firm derby there on Oct 24. The match ended in a 3-1 victory for Rangers, who were awarded a debatable penalty kick, about which Celtic complained. Later on the day of the match, the 31-year-old Collum – a teacher of religious education at the Roman Catholic Cardinal Newman High School in Bellshill – received death threats at his home. On Saturday he will referee Celtic’s home fixture against Kilmarnock. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/scottish-premier/8187340/Sacked-referees-chief-Hugh-Dallas-is-to-appeal-against-his-dismissal-by-the-Scottish-Football-Association.html

http://leggoland2.blogspot.com/2010/12/who-is-paul-nolan.html