ian1964

I don't get your point mate,what is it about the truth that is not neutral ?

That is exactly my point Barry,I agree BF has been poor for a while now and needs to play better,but nobody can argue the fact that Mendes has been terrible,I mean I really am struggling to remember the last good game he played, the piggery aside

Aye I watched the game, did you ?,to try and use todays performance to get at BF is wrong IMO,when was the last time you seen Mendes have a good game?,and yet he has been an ever present in the team

I agree with you here mate,however the whole team should be ashamed just now,there are players in that team who have been under performing for a while now

True though !!!

Gribz,what a terrible post that is,I suppose it was all Fergusons fault,if the rumours are true about Mendes I would take the money for him, or is it Fergusons fault that Mendes is not playing well, the same accusation was thrown at BF for Hemdanis' poor play

Anybody will have looked good today against Rangers

I will check my diary mate

Oh well................I will have to drink all the beer my self then :cheers:

by Neil Smith NACHO NOVO is hoping to rekindle great memories when Rangers travel to Tynecastle on Saturday. Rangers romped to a 4-0 win with a double from Novo and two from Jean-Claude Darcheville and Novo would love something similar this weekend. He said: "I remember that game well as we were very good and never really gave Hearts a chance. Nacho Novo celebrates"Darche scored two good goals and then I got two more in the second so we were all very pleased after the final whistle. "Tynecastle is never an easy place to go to so to win 4-0 shows how well we played. But that was last season, a long time ago, and circumstances are different now. "They are doing very well and have a new manager who seems to have a brought a bit of confidence back to their team. "I have read a lot about him and he seems to be a bit of a character so I am sure he will have them fired up for Saturday. "But as always the most important thing is that we focus on our game and if we can do this I am sure we will get all the points." Nacho admits that when he is on the pitch he feeds off the atmosphere within a stadium and that Tynecastle is one of his favourite venues in the SPL. He said: "I always enjoy going there to play because of the noise and how tight the stands are to the pitch.novo,aberdeen_160 "You always feel as though the fans are on top of you and you can hear everything they say which I like. "You get a bit of stick but that is all part of the fun and if you can score it is a great feeling. "Because Hearts are doing well this season I am sure their supporters will be very vocal again from the start but our fans are always great at Tynecastle. "It should be another great occasion and all the players are looking forward to it."

Aye.................to play CB

STEVIE WHITTAKER is hoping to hold onto his place in the side as Rangers get set for a lunchtime showdown with Hearts. Whittaker, of course, knows all about Tynecastle having played in many Edinburgh derbies in his Hibs days. He has played in the left back slot in the last two matches - a 2-1 win over St Mirren and a 2-0 victory against Aberdeen. Sasa Papac, RangersHowever, with Sasa Papac fit again for this weekend the versatile player may be seeking another position in the team. He said: "With the strength of the squad right now it is taking a player to be injured for others to get their chance so when you are called upon you have to do your best. "I have recovered from injury and I have kept my head down. I have now managed to play a couple of games in a row and hopefully I can go on a run now and manage to stay in the team. "Playing left back is a position I can fill in. It's not one of my favourite positions. I prefer to be on the other side of the pitch but I'm just happy to be in the starting 11. "Hearts are going well at the moment so we are expecting a tough game. It's always difficult there and we will need to take our best game with us and hopefully come away with three points. "Hearts gave us a tough game at Ibrox earlier this season and I'm sure it will be equally testing at Tynecastle. "We played well that last time we were there. Hearts couldn't handle the pace we played at that day and hopefully it's the same this weekend. "We are scoring goals at the moment. Boydy is playing well right now and when that is the case goals usually come so that's fantastic. "He and Jean-Claude both scored last weekend so that has us in good stead for this weekend."

SCOTTISH eyes will be drawn to Greece and Switzerland this season, with Olympiakos, Panathinaikos and Basel all threatening to help their countries overtake Scotland in Uefa's co- efficient tables. Scotland is currently in 12th place, with Greece just behind, and the Swiss breathing down their necks. IN NUMBERS 13 games played by Scottish teams in Europe this season; 10 lost and three draws. 18 failed attempts by Celtic to win away from home in Champions League group game. 32 Scotland's provisional ranking in co-efficient table. At the minute, the SPL title winners enjoy direct entry into the lucrative group stage of the Champions League, but should Scotland slip further down the table - even by one position - they would be in danger of losing that place. As such, the SPL clubs will be watching with interest what goes on elsewhere in Europe this season and hoping that none of the above teams enjoy a sustained run in either the Champions League or the Uefa Cup. And while Celtic's final group game against Villarreal is meaningless in terms of qualification, a win would actually stave off the threat of the immediate Champions League place being lost, something of enormous significance to the Old Firm. Last night Scotland were sitting in 32nd place in the provisional co- efficient rankings, an embarrassing position which is made all the more galling when compared to last season. A year ago Scotland amassed the fifth highest co-efficient with only England, Spain, Germany and Russia better off. It is just as well that the rankings are worked out on the basis of the past five years' performances, otherwise Scotland would be in a dreadful position. The blame lies not only at Celtic's door. Rangers, Motherwell and Queen of the South have contributed to the truly dire stat that there is no Scottish club this season who have registered a European win. Hibs also lost both Inter-Toto ties, but they do not count in the co-efficient stakes. As such, Celtic's game against Villarreal next month has a significance to it that might not be immediately obvious. It isn't just about restoring a sliver of pride to a dreadful group campaign, it is about ensuring Scotland get the crucial co-efficient points that would ensure the Champions League does not start to drift further out of reach. After all, with both halves of the Old Firm having come a cropper in the qualifying stages in recent years, no-one will need to be reminded of the dangers that lurk in the summer months when qualification is not assured. That this season has seen such a dreadful return from Scottish clubs has been underlined by the fact that little consolation can be drawn from the calibre of opposition that was faced. Few would expect Aalborg to go any further in the Uefa Cup than the next round, while Kaunas, who denied Rangers a passage into the competition, were thumped by Aalborg in the next qualifying round. As Kaunas dropped into the Uefa Cup, Sampdoria walloped them 7-1 on aggregate. http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/display.var.2470897.0.0.php

It has recently been reported in the russian media in the St Petersburg Times (http://www.sptimes.ru) that Advocaat may be heading a consortium to buy his old club Rangers Fc as there chairman Sir David Murray Is looking to sell up. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dick_Advocaat

THE dearth of quality natural left-sided players is one that has long bedevilled the Scottish game. In particular, in recent times it has been a problem at Rangers. The promising career of Stevie Smith has stalled through a succession of frustrating injuries just when the classy young defender seemed to be about to nail down the left-back position at Ibrox for years to come. Evra a model for modern wing-back By Bert Mitchell GREGG WYLDE has revealed that he is trying to model his game on Manchester United full-back Patrice Evra. The 17-year-old Rangers starlet reckons that the graveyard shift of the wing or full-back is the toughest in the beautiful game ... and that France international Evra is the prime exponent of the art of the offensive defensive player. Wylde said: "Patrice Evra of Manchester United is the man for me. "His fitness is unbelievable and he very rarely gets caught out of position while he always bombs on and makes himself available on the overlap. He has a great engine and you need that at full-back or wing-back. "To get up and down from box to box and then forward again you are going to have to be pretty much fitter than the rest of the lads and that is something I work really hard on. "The level of sports science we get at Murray Park with the under-19s and reserves is great and Jamie Ramsden, our fitness coach, is really important in helping you with all of that. "He makes you work that bit harder and understand how important what you do away from the pitch is, like eating the right stuff and refuelling in terms of rehydration. "It is all part of the package." But while Wylde is in the almost unique position of being a natural left-footer he realises that moulding himself into a two-footed player will be vital to his hopes of a first-team breakthrough. He said: "The other big area of my game I need to improve on is my delivery with my right foot. "I have been working really hard to make sure that I can cut in on my right foot and put in a decent quality of ball. "Along with a couple of the boys I stay behind and do extra work on my right foot. "I know it is the weaker part of my game and I know how important it is to be as near as you can to being two-footed. "It is something I am working towards. "Hopefully, with the extra work I do, it will make that happen." Currently the role is being filled by Sasa Papac, the Bosnian brought to Gers by Paul Le Guen as a central defender, but he has had his talents converted for use in the problem area on the left flank. However, after landing the Clydesdale Bank Rising Star for October award, Rangers starlet Gregg Wylde has posted notice that the Ibrox legions may not have to wait too long before they have a natural-born left-footer worth going wild about. And the talented teenager - who crossed the great Old Firm divide as a 14-year-old to leave Celtic and join his childhood heroes in Light Blue - admits that a combination of the success of a string of Murray Park kids and the lack of left-sided defensive quality are firing his ambitions in his bid to make the breakthrough into Walter Smith's first-team squad before the end of the season. The 17-year-old said: "Looking down the line there is only one player in front of me and that is Steven Kinniburgh. Obviously you have Stevie Smith as well, but he is not getting a game right now so maybe there is more of an opportunity on the left side than on the right. "But it is all going to be down to me. It is great picking up an award like the Clydesdale Bank Rising Star for October as it means you are doing something right, but it also means that you have to keep giving it every-thing and trying your best to improve. "So, if I keep working as hard as I can, then hopefully I can make it on to the bench before the season is out and then you just never know. That would be real progress for me." The Scotland youth inter-national continued: "When you look at the likes of Stevie Smith, Alan Hutton and Chris Burke, they all came through the ranks at Murray Park, while Barry Ferguson came through the youth set-up before that. They all got their chance pretty early with the first team which gives you a lot of encouragement. "You only have to look at John Fleck playing in the Scottish Cup Final last season when he was just 16. All of that makes you think if you keep your head down and keep working away and you are good enough then you will get your opportunity. That is a real positive." Having enjoyed the privilege of being invited to train with the first-team squad, Wylde admits that he has already started to live his dream within the family environs of Murray Park. However, he has vowed to remain grounded in his bid to make the breakthrough. Wylde said: "I was signed three years ago from Celtic after being with them since I was seven. But I am a Rangers fan and have been since I can remember, so I didn't have to think twice about the move. Rangers was the only place I ever wanted to be. "Coming into Murray Park every morning is fantastic. It is a bit of a dream as you are working with guys like the captain Barry Ferguson and big Davie Weir, and they have been your heroes since you were a kid. "But the main thing is that when you do go round to work with the first team that you just concentrate on soaking up every minute and learning as much as you can from it. "Every one of the first-team lads is really helpful though. They know it means a lot to any of the kids to get to work with them and they make sure you feel you belong. But your attitude has to be right if you want to make the most of these opportunities and get invited back again. "The other big factor is how I'm doing with the under-19s. So it is very important for me to be as consistent as I can week in, week out and hope that Billy Kirkwood, our coach, likes what he sees." Wylde has revealed that the encouragement he has received from Gers youth boss Kirkwood and his staff has given him the licence to attack. He said: "Billy is always encouraging me bomb forward, make the overlapping run from full-back and make sure I get the ball into the penalty area. Billy is a really positive coach and I love that. "Obviously I know I am playing in the position to defend, first and foremost, but the full-back can be an extra weapon going forward." Wylde added: "The quality of my delivery is something that I am working really hard on. It is not just about getting to the goal-line, it is about what you do when you get there. "It is vital that you cut the ball back into the deep areas if the strikers are going to have a chance of cashing in when they are arriving in the box. "With the help I get from Billy and the rest of the coaching staff I feel I am progressing." http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/display.var.2470846.0.0.php

Tottenham full-back Alan Hutton will be out for several months as he requires an operation on his injured foot. The 23-year-old Scotland international faces a long-term spell on the sidelines, says boss Harry Redknapp. Hutton picked up the injury at the start of the season but returned last month and played 90 minutes for Scotland against Argentina last week. "It's quite serious, it is certainly going to be a few months. It looks like it will be long term," said Redknapp. 606: DEBATE Will it be a defence of Gunter, Dawson, Rocha and BAE Marcusaggrippa "It's the same injury that kept him out at the start of the year and they decided not to operate and it seems to have flared up again." Hutton underwent a scan at the start of the week and Spurs will seek further advice from specialists. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/t/tottenham_hotspur/7751417.stm

Boooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Joking aside, there is no doubt in my mind that the reason, if he leaves, will be the bigoted Rangers fans

Craig, you are wrong,how can we have a bit of fun with this gimp when he all he can come up with is '' hun cunts ''

Why don't you fuck off and lie in yer pish

SINGING just two lines of the notorious "Famine Song" amounts to racism, a court has ruled in a landmark case. At Kilmarnock Sheriff Court on Wednesday, a 20-year-old Rangers fan was found guilty of committing a breach of the peace during Rangers 4-0 victory over Killie on November 9. And procurator fiscal Les Brown successfully argued that by singing the lines "The famineââ?¬â?¢s over, why donââ?¬â?¢t you go home?" William Walls, of Glasgow, had associated himself with other, more offensive elements of the song. Walls, who had denied the offence, was remanded in custody until December 16 for social enquiry and community service reports. During the trial, Sheriff Iona McDonald heard that Walls was seen singing the chorus of the song and other offensive remarks during the game by stewards employed by Rangers FC. Nicola Tait, 24, said that one of her tasks was to monitor the Rangers support for sectarian behaviour, including the singing of the "Famine Song". "The ââ?¬Ë?Famine Songââ?¬â?¢ is one song that is not tolerated by Rangers," she told the court. Miss Tait ââ?¬â?? a club steward for the last three years ââ?¬â?? said that her instructions were to take the seat numbers of those guilty of sectarian behaviour and report them to Rangers for further action. Walls, she said, was seen on a number of occasions in the first and second halves standing up and singing. He did this particularly when other fans had stopped singing the song, in an effort to get them to continue. "He was up and down out his seat every two minutes," said Miss Tait. "He had been asked to sit down a few times by another steward." She had reported his seat number at half-time and later saw him being escorted up the stairs by another steward and two police officers. Fellow Rangers stead Michael Rennie, 38, also identified Walls as singing the two best-known lines of the "Famine Song". He was also "constantly in the aisle", singing the song. Two friends of Walls, who were at the game denied that their pal had sung the "Famine Song" or made any other sectarian comments. Both claimed that the "Famine Song" had been sung by only a "small minority" of Rangers fans ââ?¬â?? in contrast to the evidence of stewards that as many as 90 per cent of the Rangers support in Rugby Parkââ?¬â?¢s Moffat stand had taken part. Under cross-examination by Mr Brown, one defence witness ââ?¬â?? David Hopkins, 25, of Glasgow ââ?¬â?? admitted that he had previously been banned from Ibrox, Hampden and Celtic Park. Addressing Sheriff McDonald, Mr Brown argued that while it was accepted that, at most, Walls had sung only two lines of the "Famine Song", it would be clear to the majority of those there that it was "telling people from Ireland to go home". "That, in itself, is a racist sentiment," he said. BY contrast, Bob McDowall, defending, argued that that would require a "quantum leap" by the court. "Evidence is led that one or two lines are used and it is implied that the rest of the song is meant," he said. "Says who?" Mr McDowall described the case as "novel" and "a very serious matter". "Ireland and the Irish are not mentioned in that stanza," he pointed out. Earlier Sheriff McDonald rejected a defence submission that there was no case on answer on the ground that the description of Wallsââ?¬â?¢s conduct given in evidence could not amount to a breach of the peace. Finding Walls guilty, Sheriff McDonald told him that "given the whole context" his conduct was "likely to be generally alarming and very disturbing to others". After the verdict, Mr Brown revealed that the accusedââ?¬â?¢s record included previous convictions for a breach of the peace with a football aggravation and for an offence with racial aggravations. http://www.kilmarnockstandard.co.uk/ayrshire-news/news-east-ayrshire/kilmarnock-news/2008/11/26/rangers-fan-fined-over-singing-famine-song-at-rugby-park-81430-22348515/

The fact that every player so far that has played out left has been poor to say the least,would it be too much of a gamble to give the lad a try out, he can't be any worse than Beasley

by Andrew Dickson WALTER SMITH has hinted Rangers ARE in the market for a defender - but hasn't ruled out Lee McCulloch and Andy Webster providing long-term cover at the back. The Ibrox manager has found himself short of options in that department recently thanks to Madjid Bougherra's calf injury. With Webster on loan to Bristol City and not due back until January, McCulloch has been converted to a centre-half as a result and deployed there ahead of Christian Dailly. The experiment has been a relative success and the Light Blues have won both matches in which the former Wigan man has deputised alongside David Weir. Lee McCullochNow his immediate future could be in the back line as Smith looks to avoid shelling out more cash when the transfer window opens five weeks tomorrow. Gers chairman David Murray has said money will only be available to the manager to strengthen his squad in the case of an emergency. And while Smith is keeping tabs on the availability of certain players, he is keen to see if any of the men he currently has at his disposal can do a job for him. Indeed, if anything, his priority remains trimming his excessive squad and he has reiterated his desire to do that at the turn of the year. Smith said: "When we look at the number of players we have overall, there are 28 people in the senior squad and that is a big staff. "First and foremost, we must deal with that situation as we don't need that many players and we have to address it. "Understandably, some of the boys aren't happy they've not been involved as regularly as they would wish. "In all probability, our staff will be cut down more than anything else but that doesn't stop us from looking at one or two positions we miWalter Smithght need to fill as well. "Obviously, we have to do that in conjunction with people who may leave in the January transfer window. It may be we just go with the squad we have at the moment. "Defensively, Lee has come in and played in a position where he hasn't really played before except in the reserves over the last month or so. "He has done really well in that area and we are pleased with the progress he is making at the back. "Andy will also come back to us from Bristol City and that will alleviate our situation there too. We'll see what happens when his loan agreement ends."

RANGERS Under-19 star Gregg Wylde has scooped the Clydesdale Bank's rising star award after a run of excellent displays for Billy Kirkwood's side. Gregg WyldeThe young full back is enjoying his first term with the 19s and has popped up with three goals in his nine appearances so far this season. His performances from both left back and left midfield have caught the eye and he admits he was delighted to receive the recognition for his positive start to the campaign. He said: "It's good to get the award and it's something I'd like more of in my career in the future, but this is a nice way to start. "It's a great boost to get recognised in this way and when I was first told about it, it was a real surprise." Wylde has contributed to a steady start from Kirkwood's side as they aim to defend the title they won last season and he is enjoying the step up to a new level. He added: "I've enjoyed the start to the season with the under-19s and although we haven't been playing too well recently we've been grinding out results. Greig Wylde in action"I feel I've started quite well and hopefully I can keep that going throughout the rest of the season." It is a sentiment echoed by Kirkwood who feels the defender's recent performances make the award a thoroughly deserved one. And he is hoping some of his other young stars can follow Wylde's example and earn themselves a similar accolade. He said: "Credit to Gregg; he's had an exceptional month. He's been fantastic from the left back area and wide on the left. "He had three goals in three games at one stage and he's been doing very well. "He has a great asset in his pace and down that left side he delivers a great ball in to the box. "Hopefully some of the other lads can do the same and pick up the award through the season."

By Andrew Dickson KYLE LAFFERTY has told Walter Smith he would love a chance to prove himself up front in this weekend's SPL clash with Hearts. The former Burnley youngster moved into the forward line in the latter stages of Saturday's 2-0 win over Aberdeen in Kris Boyd's place. Kyle Lafferty, RangersIt was a role he was comfortable with and one which he has been earmarked for in the long-term, despite being used largely on the left side of midfield at present. Kenny Miller is struggling to be fit for the trip to Tynecastle and while Boyd should be able to play, he is also getting over a minor knock sustained against the Dons. That could present an opening in attack and Lafferty, who plays there for Northern Ireland, would love an opportunity as a striker. The 21-year-old said: "It would be nice to be involved after playing 90 minutes the other day and hopefully I'll get another game. "I was out on the right for a while against Aberdeen and while it was only the third or fourth time I'd played there, I don't mind where I appear. "With that said, I think people probably saw when I moved up front later on in the game that I was a bit happier. "If I don't get starting up front, hopefully I'll get a game on the wing but it would be great to be used as a striker. "Every place in the team is up for grabs and that includes the forward positions. It would be nice to think I did enough at the weekend to merit staying there.Kyle Lafferty celebrates with Andrius Velicka and Sasa Papac "I think people caught a glimpse of what I can do up there and I'd love to show them lots more of the same." Lafferty is looking forward to Saturday's trip to Edinburgh after he scored his first Rangers goal against Hearts back in August. The strike, which opened the scoring in a 2-0 win, is one he still looks back on with some fondness. Lafferty added: "Hopefully we can get three points again like we did that day although it will be tough because Hearts came to Ibrox and gave us a hard game. "From my own point of view, it was great to score my first goal that day and especially because it came at home. "Any time we play Hearts, I'm sure I'll remember that moment and this weekend will definitely bring back good memories."