ian1964

Gribz,your last sentence says it all really,Celtic fans hate Rangers more than they love Celtic

There has still been major improvements to this Rangers team,compared to the last couple of seasons.Building a team takes more than one season,we have the foundations now let's add to this in the summer and improve again

The leader of Glasgow City Council has admitted he was "ashamed as a Glaswegian" of the violence that marred the Uefa Cup Final in Manchester. Writing in the Manchester Evening News, Steven Purcell said he would do everything possible to ensure those responsible were caught and punished. Mr Purcell stressed that he believed Manchester's planning for the showpiece final had been "spot-on". A Russian fan was stabbed and 15 police officers injured in the trouble. Mr Purcell, who had been in the City of Manchester Stadium to see Rangers lose 2-0 to Zenit St Petersburg in Wednesday night's final, said he had been "appalled" when he later saw photographs and video footage of the violence that erupted in the city centre among a section of the estimated 200,000 Rangers supporters. The only people to blame are the mindless minority who acted in the irresponsible, idiotic and violent ways we have all witnessed In the most disturbing scene, a mob of Rangers fans attacked a lone police officer who had tripped and fallen. He escaped without serious injury. In the open letter to the people of Manchester, Mr Purcell said: "I, as a Glaswegian, am ashamed of the behaviour of some people on Wednesday night and I know there are many other Glaswegians who feel the same way. "Newspaper photographs and television coverage of people verbally abusing police and stewards, and in some cases attacking them, are appalling and very disappointing." Some fans have blamed poor organisation by Manchester City Council and Greater Manchester Police for sparking the trouble, which first flared when a giant screen, that had been put up to allow ticketless fans to see the game, failed about 15 minutes before kick off. Destruction and violence But Mr Purcell insisted: "Manchester is not to blame for what happened. Rangers Football Club is not to blame for what happened, the vast majority of Rangers supporters are not to blame for what happened. "The only people to blame are the mindless minority who acted in the irresponsible, idiotic and violent ways we have all witnessed. "The event was well staged, the supporters inside the stadium created a great atmosphere and, although for Glasgow's sake I would have preferred a different result, the game was exciting. "I think it is a great shame that all that has been forgotten because of the unacceptable behaviour of a mindless minority." Mr Purcell said he hoped the violence would not sour relations between Rangers and Manchester, which he had always found a "warm and welcoming city". He added: "Any help that the city of Glasgow, Strathclyde Police or Rangers Football Club can give the authorities in Manchester to get to the bottom of what happened and identify those responsible, we will give. "Glasgow is just as keen as Manchester to see the people responsible for this destruction and violence to be caught and brought to justice. "These people do not represent Rangers and they do not represent our city. We want to see them punished for their behaviour."

I think we should sue the ref.for cheating !!!!

This blight on RangersGraham Spiers The chaotic post-match scenes at the Uefa Cup final in Manchester must be utterly galling for those thousands of Rangers fans who follow their team with pride and distinction, yet who must wonder how on earth their club is to be rid of the social poison at its core. These recurring incidents of delinquent behaviour with Rangers fans on the road are becoming tedious as well as depressing for those of us who chronicle this football club's fortunes. It doesn't seem to matter what Rangers as a club try to do - and the Ibrox board have explored every conceivable road recently - they simply cannot gouge out the primitive element among their followers. By sheer chance a colleague and I stumbled upon the clashes between Rangers fans and the riot-police around midnight in the centre of Manchester on Wednesday night. Earlier, in the media centre, we had received reports of a Zenit fan being stabbed, and of a number of Rangers supporters being apprehended over that incident, but what we found in the centre of town was something else entirely. Three of us had gone back to a hotel to pick up some luggage and, one block away, the clashes between fans and the police were in full spate. We drove into a grid of wailing sirens. One Rangers supporter said to me: "It's like a war-zone down there. Some windows have been kicked in and there's fighting with the police." One colleague went off to pick up his bag and returned 10 minutes later, slightly shaken after having to pick his way around the chaos. Related Links Riot forces big screen TV U-turn Riot forces big screen TV U-turn Gallant Rangers fall at the final hurdle The experience earlier in the day in Manchester on Wednesday was also depressing. The blight of bigotry has haunted Rangers FC and, while the club has pleaded and pleaded with fans to stop singing their sectarian dirges, the evidence of Manchester city centre over that period suggested they have made little progress in winning this battle. A range of songs which bellow about "****** bastards" and "F*** the Pope" remain the routine chant of too many Rangers supporters. You couldn't walk 50 yards in Manchester city centre without being assaulted by one such chorus. This is a sensitive subject for Rangers. The club has begged Scottish reporters and editors to play it all down, because it "harms the image" of Glasgow and Scotland. Rangers themselves have hired a PR agency over the last two years, asked to perform what is euphemistically called "damage limitation" when it comes to these repeated embarrassments for the club. The PR boys have a tough job. As a club Rangers are very familiar now with having to issue declamatory statements in the aftermath of such scenes as Manchester. A recurring phrase - and it was used again by Rangers yesterday - is that it is "a small minority" which ruins it for the rest. The problem for Rangers is, this isn't a small minority of fans at all, but a large minority of them which indulges in such drunken, or aggressive, or bigoted behaviour. It is an on-going blight upon a very proud and distinguished Scottish institution

Aye,but the cretin is loving this http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/spo...cle3939176.ece

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/2008/05/16/uefa-cup-final-riot-the-police-lost-control-86908-20418966/

At the end of the day,fans have a right of opinion,but that's where it ends.We are not professional football managers,Walter has nothing to prove about his ability as an experienced manager,we discuss what could/should happen,Walter has do decide what is best for Rangers FC and does so.Thank you WS for this season so far.WATP

Was thinking that myself mate

Terrible news,RIP

But there is nothing new about the '' MINORITY''causing trouble,this is our 19th European game this season,so surely we can't be condemned for this one day of NEDS causing trouble.Instead of highlighting the Neds and letting them win,you have to be honest and say that the real Rangers fans suffer more than anybody with this sort of behaviour.I just wish every one of them could be thrown in jail,and you'll also find that these idiots NEVER normally go to games.Unforunately we all get tarred with the same brush,which is wrong,but that is the way the people of the UK see things,especially the media.Don't go damning all Rangers fans,because that will only make you look as bad as them.And remember ALL football clubs experience this,NOT JUST RANGERS FC

My answer to that question would have to be NO !,if this and if that,doesn't really make any difference IMO.Zenit have quality players,we don't,they were the better team,simple as that.I'm proud of the effort our players have put in this season,I just hope we can recover and go on to lift the title.WATP

Proud...........best team won IMO,two good goals.............BUT WE ARE THE PEOPLE................the fans are a credit to Rangers FC

I would take Hemdani off,Novo on

I am sticking with my 2-0 bet.................WATP

F###ing gutted I canny be there

Ibrox doors closed !!,25,000 capacity already

Did we get rid of him too soon ?

Can anyone tell me if the game is ITV4,when I phoned home from work to get my wife to record the match for me,she said it wasn't on the programme list ?

Agreed,I just thought I had missed something when reading it,the man is a cretin

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/scotland/article3919274.ece

My bet is on mate - Rangers 2 - Zenit 0

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co....e_party_begins

I also believe we will win this,it will be tough,but then it is a european final.We will win it,and we will win the SPL & Scottish Cup,everything & everybody has been against us and we will have great pleasure in parading our trophies,the fans will do play thier part and push the team over the finishing line,of that i've no doubt,but most of all we will win it for Ranger FC. WATP.

I really hope all you guys have a fantastic time,spewing about not being able to go myself as I would deffinately been there if I wasn't working,enjoy it guys and remember to take pics and videos and get them posted up on here so those of us that can't make it can at least sample some of the fantasic atmosphere that it is undoubtedly going to be.WATP. Sidned, Avery gutted bear !!!