ian1964

I've got a ticket for the cup final as well,mon the GERS

The possibility of the first Scottish Cup final between Celtic and Rangers since 2002 will come as a boost to the contenders for the Europa League qualification slots on offer in this season�s Scottish Premier League. Should the two contend the final on May 15, the team finishing in fifth place in this season�s league table will benefit. The SPL puts forward four of Scotland�s five European participants for the 2010/11 season, with the fifth and final place going to the winners, or defeated finalists, of the Scottish Cup competition. The prospect of an Old Firm final will mean that, given the two are on course to qualify for next season�s Champions League, the Scottish Cup will not be able to put forward any teams for inclusion in the Europa League. That means an extra place for the SPL and, with the teams already placed in third and fourth set to earn slots in the European competition, this season�s fifth placed side will also earn entry into the 162-team Europa League. As it stands, the qualification slot given from the Scottish Cup catapults the recipients ahead of the SPL teams in the qualifying stages. That means that, if either Ross County or Raith Rovers win through to a final with either of the Glasgow teams, they will enter the Europa League at the play-off round, one round later than the league teams, who come in at the third qualifying stage. Dundee United, Hibernian and Motherwell are all fighting it out for the guaranteed European slots, with Peter Houston and Craig Brown�s teams locked on 48 points, with John Hughes� Hibs one behind with two games in hand. Hearts are the nearest contenders to that pack, sitting 10 points off the pace in fifth place with nine games left to play. A Dundee United v Hibernian final is also in the offing and, should they finish in third and fourth position in the SPL, the fifth placed team will again benefit. http://sport.stv.tv/football/scottish-cup/163674-fifth-placed-spl-team-in-line-for-europa-league-benefit-from-old-firm-scottish-cup-final/

Boyds' first [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaNHeZSbl2o&feature=related]YouTube- Boyd (1st) Vs Dundee Utd - Scottish Cup Quarter Final - 14.03.2010[/ame] 2nd [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQYbW2cwdto&feature=related]YouTube- Boyd (2nd) Vs Dundee Utd - Scottish Cup Quarter Final - 14.03.2010[/ame] Novos goal [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Av-90-eo4tc&feature=related]YouTube- Novo Vs Dundee Utd - Scottish Cup Quarter Final - 14.03.2010[/ame] DUTD goal [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZj9rlpaCxg&feature=related]YouTube- Shala Vs Rangers - Scottish Cup Quarter Final - 14.03.2010[/ame] Whittaker og [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-DawHej3Gg&feature=related]YouTube- Whittaker OG Vs Rangers - Scottish Cup Quarter Final - 14.03.2010[/ame] DUTD goal [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ej59gkTfbz0&feature=related]YouTube- Kovacevic Vs Rangers - Scottish Cup Quarter Final - 14.03.2010[/ame]

The thought of the MHANKY chunts not getting to a cup final would give me so much pleasure

Hull City have confirmed Phil Brown has been relieved of his duties and been placed on gardening leave. As revealed by skysports.com earlier on Monday morning Hull have decided to part ways with Brown as they look to secure survival in the Premier League. Brian Horton and Steve Parkin have been placed in charge of first-team affairs following Brown's exit. A club statement read: "Hull City AFC confirms that Phil Brown has been relieved of his managerial duties at the club and has been placed on gardening leave with immediate effect. Brian Horton and Steve Parkin will take charge of first-team duties until further notice. Thanks "We would like to place on record our sincere thanks to Phil for the major success achieved during a period of four seasons in charge at the club and wish him every success for the future. "Promotion to the Premier League in 2008 and retention of our status on the last day of the 2009 season are unique events in the history of Hull City AFC and both were achieved under Phil's stewardship during a period which will never be forgotten by all connected with the club. "However, retention of Premier League status is paramount and the board believes that a change in managerial direction is the correct option at this time. "The club will complete supporters up-to-date in respect of any managerial appointment but, in the meantime, Brian Horton and Steve Parkin will prepare the team for our important game at Portsmouth next Saturday." Brown took charge of Hull in 2007 and guided them to the Premier League in his first full season in charge of the club. After a stunning start to life in the Premier League the Tigers managed to avoid relegation on the final day of last season. However, Hull have continued to struggle this season with the side finding themselves in the drop zone for most of the campaign. http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11714_6028351,00.html

I'd rather the tattie munching BHEASTS got pumped out

HA HA, it is always wise to sleep on it before letting rip

Good draw...................

If Rangers do win the treble then it will be a remarkable feat by Walter Smiths' blue & white army and will be remembered as The Walter Smith Treble

I was shouting for the DUTD player to get sent off for that push on McGregor at the time it happened,ok maybe I was wrong for that shout,but I certainly though he should have been booked and a free kick given to us

REMEMBER when this Rangers team was ââ?¬Å?the worst in living memoryââ?¬Â? Remember when they were so poor that Celtic were being told Tony Mowbray had been handed the championship on a plate? Back when Champions League tourists were queueing up to stick four past them at Ibrox, the beating Rangers took off the park was equally merciless. A lot
of people mouthed off about how rank rotten they were. There wasnââ?¬â?¢t much Walter Smith could say about it all back then, after Sevilla and Unirea Urziceni had fired in goal after goal in Glasgow. He had to hold his tongue while some Rangers supporters, presumably just out of school, were letting off steam about it being the poorest team to wear the colours. Thatââ?¬â?¢ll be poorer than the side which finished fifth in the league in 1986, then? No-one seems to be coming out with that sort of guff any more. It would look pretty stupid if they did. Rangers have wobbled a few times, including yesterday, but they have lost one domestic match since last April. The starting point for any analysis is that they are demonstrably better than any other side in this country. They havenââ?¬â?¢t been able to buy anyone for ages but over the past three months they have recycled the way they are perceived. Today, there is a general recognition that this group of players have enviable qualities after all. Not losing football matches, for one. So how good is this team which is running away with the league and could end up winning a treble? Smith has laid his cards on the table. Heââ?¬â?¢s miffed that they donââ?¬â?¢t get enough appreciation or credit for a year of domestic consistency. Theyââ?¬â?¢re getting much warmer treatment these days than they did when they were being shown up in Europe, but Smith wants more. He reckons everyone took a mental snapshot of Rangers on the way to the Uefa Cup final two years ago ââ?¬â?? organised, disciplined, committed, defensive to the point of tedium ââ?¬â?? and havenââ?¬â?¢t bothered to update. Heââ?¬â?¢s fed up hearing about ââ?¬Å?resilientââ?¬Â Rangers ââ?¬Å?grinding outââ?¬Â a result. It is entirely natural for Smith to feel protective of, and grateful to, such a tight and close squad of players. But ââ?¬Å?resilientââ?¬Â isnââ?¬â?¢t such a bad description. Itââ?¬â?¢s not the worst thing to be able to recover readily from adversity (embarrassment in Europe, losing Kris Boyd, Kenny Miller and Madjid Bougherra for spells of the season, having to sell Pedro Mendes without hope of a replacement). And as for ââ?¬Å?grinding outââ?¬Â results, thatââ?¬â?¢s just a synonym for consistency. Grinding out a result simply means getting a win or a draw from a mediocre or patchy performance. They did it yesterday. They have won more, lost fewer, scored more, conceded fewer and gathered more points than the league leaders had at this stage last season. They parked the bus in Europe ââ?¬â?? for all the good it did them ââ?¬â?? but they arenââ?¬â?¢t defensive in Scotland. They play a straightforward 4-4-2 and have scored 11 goals more than anyone else in the league. There have been 15 games this season where they have scored three or more goals. Everyone knows about Boyd and Miller, but 29 of Rangersââ?¬â?¢ strikes in all competitions have come from their midfield or back four. The perception of Rangers has been entirely shaped by the financial handcuffs on Smith, the fact he has a shrinking squad and has not been able to buy anyone in the last three transfer windows. But they still have a reservoir of experienced international players. Results in January proved that when they have injuries or suspensions their results can go haywire but, for the most part, the same faces have been available week after week. Smith is never going to recruit the number of cheerleaders for his team that he might like. All their admirable qualities donââ?¬â?¢t add up to Rangers being an exciting or memorable side. They score plenty of goals but, above all, they really are resilient and solid and they graft and get in the oppositionââ?¬â?¢s faces. The maulings they received in Europe only three months ago showed their place in football every bit as much as their dominance of the Scottish scene does. If they were dropped back into Europe tomorrow they would be exposed, pulled around and beaten again. Itââ?¬â?¢s not Rangersââ?¬â?¢ fault that no-one in Scotland can get the better of them. If they do win everything this season, how will this Rangers team be remembered? For Boydââ?¬â?¢s goals? For the pragmatic, functional way they have swotted away dreamy Mowbray? Probably not. First and foremost itââ?¬â?¢ll become ââ?¬Å?the season when Walter Smith won it without any moneyââ?¬Â. The manager would think this unjust, but it could be a team which wins a treble but isnââ?¬â?¢t remembered for its football at all. http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/spl/rangers/treble-chance-but-just-how-will-this-rangers-team-be-remembered-1.1013285

There is a difference in saying we were rubbish or played shite ect, but to come on and say that the result is totally unacceptable is OTT, IMO. Yes we should have won that game after going 3-1 up,but because we didn't isn't the end of the world as we are still in the cup and on for a treble,the way Rangers have played this season deserves nothing but praise and along the line we will get some poor performances,although again I'll say we weren't that bad yesterday. Of course everyone is entitled their own opinion as we all see the game differently.Upward and onwards

CELTIC striker Morten Rasmussen and Kilmarnock defender Tim Clancy could be forced to appear before the SFA Review Panel. Record Sport understands both players will have to answer the case for two separate incidents that occurred during Saturday's Active Nation Scottish Cup quarter-final which Celtic won 3-0 courtesy of a Robbie Keane hat-trick. In a bad-tempered first half Clancy appeared to stamp on Hoops hitman Rasmussen with the Dane later elbowing Kilmarnock defender Frazer Wright off the ball, amazingly escaping punishment. Wright needed to have stitches inserted into his wound. Ref Iain Brines and his assistants missed both flashpoints which were clearly caught on camera. However the duo's luck seems to have run out as they look certain to be dragged before the beaks at Hampden. The SFA Refereeing Development department will almost certainly flag up both offences to Brines which will spell bother for Rasmussen and Clancy. Brines will then be asked to give his verdict as to what decisions he would have reached had he seen the incidents and it looks likely that Rasmussen and Clancy will have their cases sent to the SFA Review Panel. If Brines deems that both men are guilty of a sending-off offence they could each be hit with a retrospective red card. Killie defender Wright insists the SFA should throw the book at Rasmussen. The clash came in the first half of the Rugby Park encounter and the two players then spent five minutes arguing. Wright did not believe the Dane's explanation that he was just trying to get some space for himself inside Killie's penalty box and the centre-half would like to see justice being done. Obvious When asked about the incident, the Killie star said: "He swung an elbow at me. "I asked Sky's David Tanner about it when we came off at half-time after someone else said the telly showed it was quite obvious he had done it. "I wasn't happy about it but he just said he was trying to get free from me. "He said, 'You shouldn't be close to me', so I said, 'Sure, I'll let you stand and score.' He definitely caught me. "If he meant to do it, it's not very nice. Hopefully it's something which will be looked at. "I think if it was one of us who had done the same thing it would be picked up on. "Someone has to have a look at it. If TV pictures prove he's done it then I'm all for him being done, he did catch me." The result hurt Wright in more ways than one and he said: "I got caught in the head trying to clear the ball and went off for stitches. When we got to the medical room the door was locked. Eventually someone found the key and I got stitched."

I didn't think we played that bad tbh. Novo had a good game but I'll go with Davis as well. Davis is really earning his wages this season and is easily the best player in the SPL.

DUNDEE UNITED goal hero Mihael Kovacevic accused Kris Boyd of diving to win a crucial penalty for Rangers as Dougie McDonald was caught up in yet another Ibrox refereeing storm. The Light Blues were awarded two first-half spot-kicks in a thrilling Scottish Cup quarter-final which will go to a replay after a 3-3 draw and Tangerines gaffer Peter Houston branded them both soft. And that has left whistler McDonald at the centre of yet more controversy just two weeks after he was criticised by the Celtic camp for red carding Hoops captain Scott Brown. This time the man in the middle awarded Walter Smith's men two penalties with Kris Boyd blasting them both home as the Scottish Cup holders came back from United substitute Andis Shala's early opener. Nacho Novo then looked to have booked a place in the semi-final with an early second-half goal but United staged a stunning comeback and Morgaro Gomis' deflected effort and Kovacevic's late goal forced a replay on Wednesday week. United were still seething afterwards, however, at the penalty awards for Dusan Pernis' challenge on Kenny Miller which earned him a booking and Sean Dillon's apparent push on Boyd. Kovacevic pointed the finger at Rangers' No. 9 and said: "He fell a bit easily and I'm disappointed in Kris Boyd. Maybe if I was a striker I'd do the same but I'm a defender and don't like people doing that. "Sean doesn't think it was a penalty either and he was very angry afterwards. I am sure the first one wasn't a penalty because the ball changed direction. I spoke to Dusan and he told me the same and I think the second one was soft. "I wasn't thinking about the keeper getting sent off because our first reaction was to go to the ref and he was under pressure. He wasn't really sure about it so we thought he might take it back. "I don't think it's easy for the referees either in a big stadium with a big crowd. We are a bit unlucky with the referees but maybe it's not only us. "I didn't think about the fact he was the referee in the Old Firm game, I only remembered when someone told me after the match but we're a bit sad about those two penalties." Houston added: "I was disappointed to lose what I thought were two soft penalties. I might be wrong but I thought Dusan got his foot to the ball. "And the second one there could have been a foul on Danny Swanson as we were attacking. He felt his heels were clipped." This is all getting a bit boring and it's time the SFA stepped in and start punishing this non stop onslaught of referees by players and managers.I could be wrong but I thought the managers had agreed at the beginning of the season not to slate the refs???, I'm not saying I agree with this but if it was agreed with all the managers then it's time to start fining them IMO.

I'm a bit surprised at some of the posts on here tbh,knee jerk reactions??.All right we didn't play extremely well but I thought we played well,we can't win every game,and still remain unbeaten.Ok we can do without the replay but that's football for you,sometimes it throws up funny results,keep the faith the treble is still on.

THE property tycoon in talks to buy Rangers yesterday revealed his hopes of owning Ibrox within three weeks. A spokesman for businessman Andrew Ellis said he is now "very likely" to buy Sir David Murray's SPL giants in a �£33million deal. The tycoon has own to an African holiday resort to get peace to study the Ibrox club's books and decide whether he wants to complete his bid for the club. And in an exclusive interview, his key business adviser revealed that Ellis is: Confident that he will take control by mid-April. The sole bidder and not a frontman for a wealthy consortium. Putting the finishing touches to the bid at a five-star retreat on the island of Zanzibar. It has also emerged that the club have reopened talks with Glasgow City Council over the redevelopment of land around Ibrox - a scheme first revealed in the Sunday Mail two years ago. Ellis, 42, who lives in a luxury apartment in London's upmarket Knightsbridge, emerged as a frontrunner to take the helm at Ibrox after the proposed deal was announced to the Stock Exchange earlier this month. He has been granted time to examine the club's finances and discuss a takeover with Sir David's firm Murray International. Ellis's offshore firm RFC Holdings (Guernsey) are being represented by Channel Islands trust firm Marlborough, who are listed as the company's directors. Marlborough business development expert David Gilmour, who is handling the deal, said: "Andy is not going to comment because it is very likely he's going to take the club over in the next few weeks. "It is entirely likely that the deal will go through but it's still at an early stage. "I know it's been said that Andy is a frontman for a consortium but I can tell you it's just him - he's the only bidder and there's nobody else behind the deal. "It's going to be around two-and-a-half weeks before anything happens because we are going through the due diligence process at the moment. "Andy is in Zanzibar at the moment and will not be making any comment because of Stock Exchange rules." Ellis emerged as a serious contender to take over at Ibrox around eight days ago. But Rangers fans have called for an input into the process amid fears he may be fronting the bid for other businessmen. He led a �£500,000 to take over English lower league club Northampton Town in November 2002 and became chairman after consortium, Premier Sports Developments, took control. But he stepped down within two months and lef t the club in the ownership of partner David Cardoza. A year earlier, his attempts to buy London team Queens Park Rangers collapsed over a plan to move the club to a new ground near Heathrow airport. His father Peter was chairman of QPR during the 1980s. Yesterday, sources close to him denied that there was anyone else involved. One said: "I can understand why people have reached that conclusion but it's wrong. "This is all about Andy and Andy alone there is no hidden agenda and no secret backer." A Rangers spokesman said: "Legally, the club cannot comment on the proposed takeover under Stock Exchange rules." Meanwhile, it has emerged that Ellis's sole company directorship is with arm who face being struck off over a failure to file accounts. Creedwell, who were founded in 2006, had net assets in 2007 of just �£2654. But the company failed to file their yearly accounts by a strict Government deadline on January 31 this year. Under corporate laws Ellis, who is listed as one of two directors of Creedwell, could be prosecuted and his business wiped from the Register. A Companies House spokeswoman said: "The records show that we have not received these documents by the stated deadline which is why the proposal to strike off is in place." But Gilmour said: "I wouldn't read too much in to a company being struck off - it happens all the time. "It could have been a company set up for one property deal or something and is just being allowed to be struck off - there's nothing unusual in that." Yesterday, Rangers Supporters Trust spokesman David Edgar said: "The fans would welcome an end to the uncertainty over the future of the club. "It would be a positive move as we would no longer be on the market and decisions can then be made to take the club forward. "However, we need to know what Andrew Ellis' plans are, though we appreciate he has been hamstrung in that regard due to the legalities of the takeover." PARTNER IN FRAUD SCANDAL Andrew Ellis' partner in the takeover at Northampton Town lasted just weeks before being forced to quit as the Law Society launched an investigation into his firm. Solicitor Kenneth Good, a co-director at Premier Sports Developments, had replaced Ellis as club chairman. We can reveal that Good, a convicted drink-driver, was struck off at a Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal in 2005. They heard a string of allegations including that he used thousands of pounds of clients' cash for personal use. The tribunal was told a Law Society investigation officer visited Good's firm, Good, Cardona & Co in March 2003 amid, allegations of fraud. The inquiry found a �£140,000 shortfall in a client's account and that Good had used �£25,000 of other people's money to pay his office rent. He even diverted �£2800 of clients' cash to pay a fine. There is no suggestion Ellis was aware of Good's malpractice. REVAMP IS BACK ON TRACK UNDER ELLIS BLUEPRINT Rangers have revived plans for a huge redevelopment of Ibrox first revealed in the Sunday Mail. The opportunity to revamp land around the stadium is thought to be one of the factors luring property developer Andrew Ellis. Ibrox bosses already have outline permission to build on the Hinshelwood area, including the club car park. We revealed in 2008 that they were looking at building housing and a hotel as part of a complete rebuild of the famous stadium. The �£700million scheme hit the buffers because of the global economic crash later that year. But now the plans for the outskirts of the stadium have been revived. Councillor George Ryan said: "Glasgow City Council has recently been in talks with Rangers Football Club and other interested parties about future redevelopment plans for the area around Ibrox. The intention is to undertake a joint study to investigate a number of opportunities for the area. "The option which is most economically viable and compliant with our planning policies will then be worked into a masterplan for the area and submitted for consent." As well as the car park, Rangers hold ownership of land in the immediate surroundings of the ground at Govan. Other land close to the stadium is owned by Glasgow City Council and a mixture of public and private housing companies. http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/2010/03/14/andrew-ellis-claims-he-is-close-to-sealing-deal-to-buy-rangers-86908-22110084/

I could see their point Only joking

Agree,however they are that bad it would not have been a shock if they got pumped oot

Would-be Rangers owner Andrew Ellis will land the keys to an Ibrox property blueprint if he completes his takeover. Sportsmail can reveal the club have again been in talks with Glasgow City Council about an ambitious 'makeover' for the land around the stadium on the city's south side. And the man who eventually snaps up Sir David Murray's 90-per-cent shareholding in Rangers will effectively inherit a slice of the joint blueprint. English property developer Ellis is currently scouring the Ibrox books as he conducts a due diligence process before deciding whether to make a formal �£33million offer for Murray's stake and the debt with the Lloyds Banking Group. Now it has emerged that there is potential for development around the football ground to feature housing, a hotel, shopping and a car park on land owned by Rangers, plus a couple of other authorities. 'Glasgow City Council has recently been in discussions with Rangers Football Club and other interested parties about future redevelopment plans for the area around Ibrox (stadium),' said Councillor George Ryan, executive member for business and the economy. 'The intention is to undertake a joint study that will investigate a number of different development opportunities for the area. 'The option which is the most economically viable and compliant with our city planning policies will then be worked up into a masterplan for the area and be submitted for planning consent.' Rangers own the large car park across the road from Ibrox stadium that was formerly the Albion training ground. They also own land in the immediate 'stadium precinct' area behind the Broomloan Road and Copland Road stands. Other land close to the stadium is owned by Glasgow City Council, Strathclyde Passenger Tr a n spo r t , Gl a s g o w Housing Association and a firm called Lujo Properties. More than five years ago, outline planning permission was granted for a huge project that would have featured a super casino, with adjacent housing and car parking. That planning consent is described as 'dead to all intents and purposes'. However, a new blueprint is liable to be looked upon favourably given the need for regeneration in that part of Govan. And council sources have indicated that any redevelopment would be linked with the stadium in terms of a car park, a Rangers shop, food outlets, housing and a hotel. All parties appear to be working on the basis that any new owner of Rangers would still wish to see the area around the ground developed with, presumably, a cocktail of funding involved. And with Ibrox due to stage Commonweal t h Games events in 2014, the timing could be just right for such a project. It is another twist in the takeover saga, with fans still wondering exactly why Ellis seems so interested in a Scottish club after flirting with Queens Park Rangers nine years ago and a brief spell as chairman of Northampton Town. Rangers announced on Monday they will look at potential new owners, with non-executive directors Dave King and Paul Murray, linked with a rival bid, barred from sitting on the independent panel appointed. Manager Walter Smith and Ally McCoist are presently working without contracts and the assistant boss and Ibrox icon admitted any new owner might reserve the right to change the dugout staff. 'I'm sure if I was buying a football club, I would take a great interest in who I was having run it and I would expect whoever takes over Rangers to do the same,' said McCoist. 'They might want their own people in or they might want the people who are in to stay in. We won't know until that time arises. 'Some players are in the same boat as the coaching staff. It's not ideal, but we just have to get on with it.' Like Kris Boyd and Nacho Novo, defender Kirk Broadfoot is among half-adozen players out of contract this summer but is no closer to signing after receiving an initial offer. 'There has been no progress with my own situation,' said Broadfoot, who will miss tomorrow's Scottish Cup quarter-final with Dundee United because of a hamstring injury. 'I have an offer and I will think it over and then we'll see what happens.' Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1257612/EXCLUSIVE-New-Rangers-owners-set-cash-land-bank-Ibrox.html#ixzz0i46oNkJZ Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1257612/EXCLUSIVE-New-Rangers-owners-set-cash-land-bank-Ibrox.html#ixzz0i46e9Ifr

The wee tattie munching Keane scores again,time to log out and watch something else me thinks

Basturts,Keane scores

fuxake,Killie hits the post,shouldv'e scored

I think I would literally piss myself laughing if Killie knock them out

I hope he doesn't change for as long as he is at the BHEASTS, and I also hope he has a long stay at the piggery