ian1964

Rangers - 15 Celtic - 14 Keep the faith :cheers:

How many points have we won since January compared to the MOPES ?

Yip, any points the MOPES drop is always welcome

A draw will do, more dropped points for the MOPES, if only we could learn to capitalise on the chunts

2-2...........chunts

2-1 utd...........MON THE ARABS

United equaliser..................GET IN YA BASS :cheers:

Dream on

Could also be a sign of Walter still being here next season !!!

By John McGarry, 21/03/2009 WALTER SMITH is planning a double swoop for two of Manchester United�s brightest young starlets. Smith sent chief scout Ewan Chester to watch Italian hitman Federico Macheda, right, and Brazilian midfielder Rodrigo Possebon in action for the reserves against Hull last week. Both kids are highly rated by United boss Sir Alex Ferguson who may allow Smith to take the pair on loan. Both players are products of United�s global scouting network and there are high hopes they will push for first- team places in a year�s time. But with first-team football hard to come by in the Premiership, Ferguson has regularly sanctioned his stars going out on loan to help make them the finished article. Possebon, 20, is a box-to-box midfielder and joined United in January last year. He has impressed after returning from injury following a horrific challenge by Middlesbrough defender Emanuel Pogatetz during the Carling Cup third-round match at Old Trafford last September. The Brazilian played a major part in United�s success in the competition this season and has also featured in their FA Cup campaign. He speaks English fluently and has helped United�s other Samba superkids Rafael and Fabio da Silva settle into life at Old Trafford. Macheda, 17, is a product of Lazio�s youth system who joined United in September 2007, signing professional forms a year later in August 2008. A powerful forward with a natural goalscorer�s eye for goal, the teenager was born in Rome and is regarded as one of the most promising prospects of a generation in Italy. Having relocated to England to further his career, Macheda has quickly moved up the ranks at United. He started out in United�s Under-18s side, but has become a regular in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer�s reserves this season. The Italian started the season with a fine goalscoring run in the youth team and has continued to shine in the reserves. Both players scored in the 4-0 win over Hull last week and Chester will have returned to Ibrox with glowing reports on the pair. http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/scottish/scottish_sport/230627/Walters-raid-on-Reds-Walter-Smnith-Rangers-Manchester-United-Federico-Macheda-Rodrigo-Possebon.html

Right now I don't think the title has gone,living in hope,as there is a lot of games to go.We played some terrific football yesterday and if Novo had scored or squared the ball for Boyd to tap in the game was over IMO. I've still to see the Hearts goals again so until I see them I will reserve my opinion, however I just refuse to throw the towel in for now, I have no doubt the MOPES will drop more points, unfortunately we will also drop points so let's keep believing for now

"I look at my time here. I made us difficult to beat and everybody said that was the wrong thing to do. "People now might start to see that this was the right thing to do with my group."

WALTER SMITH admitted his side's 2-2 draw with Hearts 'felt like a defeat' and that his players have to show more resilience if they are to have any chance of winning the SPL title this season. Barry Ferguson, RangersThe gaffer could not hide his frustration after the Jambos came from two goals down to snatch a point at Ibrox and put a huge dent in Rangers' title aspirations in the process. He said: "Obviously we are really disappointed at the situation, one that I don't think anyone that watched the first hour of the match would have thought was a possibility. "It feels like a defeat and in a few minutes we managed to undo probably one of our better home performances this season. "We showed a little bit of softness in letting Hearts get back in to the game. Their first real effort on goal was in the 61st minute of the game which says it all. "It is really disappointing that when you are chasing the title you let a winning position slip in the way we did but we will have to wait and see what impact this has on the championship. "We can only look at the situation we have and there is no doubt we are making it extremely difficult for ourselves, especially at home. "That is us dropped five points in the last two games at Ibrox and that's a huge disappointment especially when you consider we were the better side throughout both fixtures. Steven Whittaker, Rangers "It is difficult to take but there is definitely a softness, a lack of resilience, when we are put under pressure. "I look at my time here. I made us difficult to beat and everybody said that was the wrong thing to do. "People now might start to see that this was the right thing to do with my group." Kyle Lafferty and Madjid Bougherra will be pulled out of their respective international squads. Lafferty was taken to hospital with suspected ankle ligament damage after being stretchered off in the first-half.

Well, everybody is entitled to do what they want, I will renew my season ticket, I am renewing it for me because I want to

I hope he sticks to his word

I actually thought Dailly & McCulloch did ok today, I also find it hard to blame todays result on WS, Iknow he signed the players!!!, today the only thing I was unhappy with WS was why he never took Boyd off ????

To be fair, we have the best defensive record in the league,well before today.I have to agree with gers4life's op regarding the first half, it was excellent and Lafferty showed he is a very capable striker with his finish,and also his work rate was immense, I just hope his injury is minor.I could not believe the second half............Novo missed a great chance at 2-0 which would have endd the game as a contest, BF had his best game for a long time and took his goal superbly,Dailly & McCulloch played well, my only criticism of WS today is he should have taken Boyd off earlier, Boyd really needs to take a good look at himself as he was awful the whole game, still can't believe we never won that game today. Is the ouur title dream over ?, well I still refuse to believe so, however we need/needed to win all our remaining games and considering we have not won three games on the trot all season it was always going to take an lmighty effort, this result doesn't make me think we will win the SPL, we could/should have went top of the league today to pile on a bit of pressure and once again we failed when it mattered.It's not over till the fat lady sings..............but as I said I don't hold out much hope

EXCLUSIVE By DARRYL BROADFOOT ALEX McLEISH will make a fresh bid to sign Kris Boyd in the summer regardless of whether Birmingham City are playing in the Coca-Cola Championship or the Premiership. McLeish last night reiterated his admiration for the Rangers striker despite Boyd failing to agree personal terms when Birmingham's �£3million bid was accepted in January. Birmingham occupy the second automatic promotion spot in the Championship with seven league games remaining and Boyd is a priority target, irrespective of what division the Midlands club will be playing in next season. Boyd's future is almost certainly away from Ibrox at the end of the season. He was sent home from training by Walter Smith for showing a poor attitude in the build-up to the Old Firm Co-operative Insurance Cup defeat at Hampden and despite scoring 95 goals since McLeish signed him from Kilmarnock for �£400,000 in 2006, he has been left out of big games by Smith. advertisement "I wouldn't rule out working with Kris Boyd again," McLeish said. "I couldn't rule it out, him being a part of my squad in future. "It is hypothetical now but we tried to go for him in January and I am really surprised he couldn't finish the deal. I got the feeling he didn't want to leave Rangers. I don't know if that has changed but I thought it was a good opportunity for him to come to England with a view to playing in the Premier League." McLeish is a huge fan of Boyd's predatory talents. He understands the tactical dilemma that has prompted Smith to omit him from Rangers' most demanding games in the SPL and in Europe and cited even more illustrious examples of natural-born strikers, Nicolas Anelka and Didier Drogba at Cheslea, who are unable or unwilling to take their share of defensive responsibilities. McLeish also confounded the popular conception that Boyd, with his dour demeanour, was a troublemaker after spats with Paul Le Guen, George Burley and now Smith. "I don't think he is problematic," McLeish added, "It is just a decision not to pick him. Sometimes I didn't play him away from home. "I can understand Walter Smith because a lot of teams, especially in Europe, play three in the middle of the field and if you don't match up then very often, you can get your backside felt. "Fabio Capello, as England manager, has been prone to doing that. I found it difficult getting strikers to work back to deep-lying midfielders. "They don't like to do it. It was a problem for Luiz Felipe Scolari and even Guus Hiddink said they Anelka and Drogba are two great strikers but that he must get them to think about their defensive job. "That maybe explains why Boyd has been in and out at Rangers. He understands it but also knows his worth and if he is playing in the right circumstances, he will get goals. http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/display.var.2496874.0.0.php

Mar 21 2009 By Hugh Keevins RANGERS face an injury crisis as Walter Smith's personnel problems mount. Madjid Bougherra is definitely out of the crucial clash with Hearts at Ibrox today. Kirk Broadfoot is highly unlikely to play against the Edinburgh side and Smith is not confident the defender will be fit to face Holland in Amsterdam next weekend. That leaves Scotland boss George Burley with a major problem as Spurs' Allan Hutton fights to be fit for the vital World Cup qualifier. Smith is running out of players and will have to field Lee McCulloch and Christian Dailly as his central-defensive partnership against Hearts. Davie Weir is suspended after his red card against Inverness while Bougherra has failed to respond to treatment on his calf injury. And Rangers' forgotten man Andy Webster won't be facing his former club as his chronic injury problems go on. Losing a second league game in arow at Ibrox simply isn't an option for Rangers or Smith. The fans will demand victory today in the wake of the Co-operative Insurance Cup defeat by Celtic last weekend. But Smith last night defended his team against claims of a lack of character in the match with their oldest rivals at Hampden. He said: "If you win these games you're great. If you lose them then you're the worst team in the world. The whole team gets torn apart in the post-match analysis. "I have to tread the middle line and keep the players focused. "We have shown lots of character this season. But Hearts will be tough to break down. "Csaba Laszlo has assessed what he's got and shown no fear while making Hearts steadier." http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/2009/03/21/rangers-left-with-injury-crisis-in-defence-86908-21215492/

By Andrew Dickson RANGERS could be without THREE first-choice defenders when they play Hearts tomorrow at Ibrox in the SPL. Veteran stopper David Weir will definitely miss out as he is suspended after his red card against Inverness in the last league game earlier this month. Kirk BroadfootBut Kirk Broadfoot and Madjid Bougherra are at risk of joining him on the sidelines as they struggle to overcome injuries in time. Bougherra missed last Sunday's League Cup final against Celtic with a calf knock and he is still seen as a slight doubt. While Broadfoot was able to play in the game at Hampden, he has a problem with his foot and after playing for two hours just five days ago he hasn't totally recovered. Each player will be given the opportunity to show they're fit and able to take part in the crucial clash with the Jambos. But if they're also ruled out, the likes of Lee McCulloch, Christian Dailly and Andy Webster could be summoned to feature at the back. Teenager Danny Wilson, who was on the bench for the recent Scottish Cup tie at St Johnstone, could be another option. Kevin Thomson is the only other confirmed absentee for Gers as he continues his rehabilitation from a serious knee injury. But it's the situation he's faced with in his rearguard which will be causing the most concern to Walter Smith at this stage.

By Andrew Dickson WALTER SMITH admits he's feeling the pain of defeat more than ever - and that it's making him even more determined to bring the league title back to Ibrox. Rangers resume their SPL campaign again this weekend when they host Hearts and it's a game everyone at the club is desperate to win. Walter SmithLast week's League Cup final defeat to Celtic and the recent loss at home to Inverness have left the manager hurting as much as anyone. But he's eager to bounce back from those two disappointments when the Jambos come calling and is looking for his team to respond positively. Smith said: "Defeats get harder to take as you get older and I can't really put my finger on why that's so. "Whether you have a greater deal of resilience to them when you're younger or whatever, I'm not sure. "But it certainly takes a bit more to get over them now. It was similar last season with the way the campaign finished. "Now it takes a bit longer for them to go through your system but even then, they don't go until you get going on a good run. "You always want to win. That's why we're here and we don't take jobs on thinking we're going to lose out at a certain stage. "We know what we have to do - we're trailing behind Celtic a little at the moment but we've got a home game to come and we'll have to try to catch up with them. Ally McCoist and Walter Smith"We've shown a determination to get back on top after falling a few points behind last season and now we're keen to do that again." The destination of last season's championship was determined by Celtic's seven-game winning run in the closing stages of the campaign. Smith reckons it'll take something similar to settle this season's competition - and he knows the onus is on his men to produce. He added: "It would seem as though one of the teams in contention is going to have to come up with something like that if they want to come out on top. "The most important thing for us is that we catch up first with Celtic and the biggest thing after the disappointment of the final is to get back on track. "After any defeat, such as an Old Firm loss, that's the main thing and that's what makes tomorrow's game as vital as it is for us." Smith, meanwhile, insists there's no problem with his defence after it was criticised for the goals it has lost recently. Walter SmithStrikes conceded against Hamilton, Inverness and Celtic all came from high balls but the manager is adamant it's nothing to worry about in the long term. Smith said: "We have just had a situation where, for a long number of games, we've handled that sort of thing quite well. "We have still conceded the fewest goals in the league and it's just that I keep complaining about the ones we do lose. "It's always a poor way to concede when you do so from set pieces and we have been a wee bit dozy in those cases over the season. "We just need to put up with the criticism we've had. Everybody gets it these days whether you're a banker, a politician or something else. It's something we have to accept. "Statistically speaking, we have still been better at the back than anyone in the SPL and we haven't been that bad."

Villarreal v Arsenal Manchester United v Porto Liverpool v Chelsea Barcelona v Bayern Munich Ties to be played on 7th/8th April and 14th/15th April. Champions League semi-final draw Manchester United or Porto v Villarreal or Arsenal Barcelona or Bayern Munich v Liverpool or Chelsea Ties to be played on 28th/29th April and 5th/6th May.

Rangers 3 - Novo 2, Lafferty 1 Hertz 0

Get the petition drawn up

The state of this country is in, it can't be much worse whoever is in government