ian1964

Furious Motherwell boss blasts referee By Ron Scott YET ANOTHER goal in the title race was shrouded in controversy yesterday. Celtic opened up an eight-point lead over Rangers with a narrow win at Fir Park and Motherwell manager Mark McGhee left no one in any doubt at his displeasure with referee Steve Conroy. “It was a poor decision by the ref to award Celtic a corner from which Samaras scored the winner. It was clearly a goal-kick,” insisted McGhee. “I was adamant it wasn’t a corner at the time and, having seen it again on TV, I now know for certain it wasn’t a corner. “Awarding a corner instead of a goal-kick may not appear a major decision, but it followed similar decisions. In the end, it undermines what we are trying to do at Fir Park.” Not complaining Naturally, Celtic manager Gordon Strachan wasn’t complaining. He was quick to point out, “I’m still furious about Inverness’s winner against us and the penalty they were awarded back in December when we lost 3-2! “Given the condition of the pitch, it had to be common-sense football here. “In other games we’ll try to play better football, but we couldn’t adopt that attitude out there. “Motherwell adapted to the conditions better than us, as you would expect with their knowledge of the pitch. “I was just pleased to have quality players on the bench, such as Georgios Samaras, Scott Brown and Mark Wilson to bring on.” Rangers, who now have four games in hand, start playing catch-up this afternoon at Easter Road.

By Ron Scott and Danny Stewart THE Russian Football Federation has shown the SPL how to reward member clubs for reaching a European Final. Zenit St Petersburg will not now play another game until they meet Rangers in the UEFA Cup Final at the City of Manchester Stadium on May 14. By comparison, Rangers have been forced to play three League games against Hibs (away today), Motherwell (at home on Wednesday) and Dundee United (at home next Saturday) before they can turn their thoughts to the club’s biggest game in 36 years. Announced The Russian authorities announced yesterday they have cancelled Zenit’s next three games against CSKA Moscow (a), Lokomotiv Moscow (h) and Luch-Energiya Vladivostok (a). Cancelling the Vladivostok game is certainly music to coach Dick Advocaat’s ears. It’s Zenit’s furthest away game of the season, entailing a nine-hour flight and six time-changes and was due to be played four days before the Final. But, with their games now having been cancelled, Zenit have been afforded a 12-day rest. No wonder Advocaat is delighted. “It is a strange situation for Rangers having to play three games in seven days before the final,” said their former boss. “Things are much different here. The authorities go out of their way to help teams who are successful in Europe.” Spy The cancellation of Zenit’s games means Advocaat will almost certainly return to Ibrox to spy on his old team either on Wednesday or Saturday. Meanwhile, Ally McCoist has hit back at Italian criticism of Rangers. Angered by his side’s UEFA Cup defeat on Thursday, Fiorentina President Andrea della Valle accused the Light Blues of “awful” football. Club coach Cesare Prandelli chipped in by claiming that Rangers are a team that “just do not want to play”. But Walter Smith’s assistant has defended both his team and the tactics used in the UEFA Cup. “We went to a country where they are the best in the world at defending and beat them at their own game,” he said. “When the Italians do it, it is fantastic and wonderful. But, when we do the same thing, it is ‘anti-football’. Compliment “People are criticising us just now and that is fine. It goes with the territory. “Personally, I take it as a compliment because they obviously have got a problem if they are saying it. “Anyone with any intelligence at all would look deeper into the situation. They would see that what we are doing is playing to our strengths.” And McCoist — who also praised several of the Fiorentina camp for clapping Rangers off the pitch on Thursday — pledged no amount of criticism will stop Rangers adopting a similar approach in the UEFA Cup Final in 10 days’ time. “We have watched them and they are the kind of team that LIKE to be attacked,” he admitted. “They have players up front with real pace, guys who are absolute lightning. “They want you to have a go so they can batter you, as they did to Bayer Leverkusen in Germany. “We will not give them that worry, I can assure you!”

I'm going for a convincing win today ;- Hibs 0 - Rangers 3 :cheers:

Sunday 4 May - Hibernian v Rangers Monday 5 May - Falkirk v Hearts Wednesday 7 May - Rangers v Motherwell. Saturday 10 May - Rangers v Dundee United, Falkirk v Inveress, Hearts v Kilmarnock, Motherwell v Aberdeen, St Mirren v Gretna Sunday 11 May - Celtic v Hibernian Tuesday 13 May - Gretna v Hearts (moved from 17 May then 8 May) Saturday 17 May - Motherwell v Rangers (rearranged game, postponed earlier in the season), Inverness v St Mirren, Kilmarnock v Falkirk Monday 19 May - St Mirren v Rangers (rearranged game, postponed earlier in the season). Thursday 22 May - Aberdeen v Rangers, Dundee United v Celtic, Hibernian v Motherwell (all fixtures moved from May 18)

Things are getting tough for our team,however they must surely get a huge lift from reaching the UEFA cup final,big enough to see us power on for the rest of the season,and when a team is winning you don't get tired,tiredness only kicks in when you start losing,which IMO we are not going to do.We are Rangers.WATP.

Zenit St Petersburg will not play another game until the Uefa Cup final after the Russian Football Federation cleared their fixtures. And Rangers chief executive Martin Bain has complained that the Scottish Premier League has not given similar help to Zenit's opponents on 14 May. "The SPL should take a long hard look at what other federations do, given the enormity of the situation," he said. "And what reaching a European final has done for the coefficient and country." Zenit were due to play Lokomotiv Moscow at home on 7 May and Luch Energia in the Russian Far-eastern city of Vladivostok on 11 May. But the national association says Dick Advocaat's side can play those in June. Rangers, in contrast, now face playing eight games in 21 days. They will host Dundee United at home four days before facing Zenit. The Scottish season has been badly hit by match postponements this season. And, although the SPL has delayed the end of the season by four days, Rangers are angry that they are still being required to play four games within eight days.

Keep the faith guys,the scum are creating a gap no doubt,but that was always going to happen,i'd still rather be where we are than where they are WATP.

Zenit are a good team,you don't get to a european cup final if you're not,I don't care what anybody says,we are a good team.But I would agree with you Gribz,i'm much happier facing Zenit than Bayern,as you said they have big time players that would've stepped up to the mark,so in that respect I believe ourselves and Zenit are evenly matched,which I also agree gives us a right good chance of winning this cup.Bayern defended like amatures against Zenit,WE DON'T. WATP.

Dunno,but there will be a mass timothy suicide !!!!!!!!!!

While I believe we will win the SPL and Scottish cup,we now have a real chance to win the UEFA Cup as well.However if I had to choose between the SPL or the UEFA Cup,I honestly think I would take the UEFA cup now that we are in the final,we can win the SPL anytime in the future but it may be a long time before we get into a european cup final again.

Aye,but Bayern were pish,no like oor solid defence

Prandelli blasts Rangers' tactics Cesare Prandelli was proud of his team Fiorentina coach Cesare Prandelli said Rangers did not deserve to reach the Uefa Cup final. "We have to accept it," he said after his side were knocked out on penalties. "It has been a beautiful night and it could have ended better for us. "I have to thank my players, who kept on fighting until the last minute. "A team that has renounced to play has won, football is like this. Football sometimes awards teams that don't deserve it."

Glad that big centre forward misses the final,crackin player and scored two against Bayern,bonus

NEIL ALEXANDER was the spotkick king for Rangers for the second time this season as the Light Blues marched into the UEFA Cup Final. The former Ipswich keeper crucially saved Fabio Liverani's effort in the nail-biting shoot-out and then Christian Vieri blasted over the bar setting up Nacho Novo to clinch it with Rangers' fifth kick. He took the pressure off skipper Barry Ferguson who had missed the first kick and it followed his shootout success in the Scottish Cup semi-final against St Johnstone. He said: "It had crossed my mind a few times this week that the match might go to penalties and it could not have worked out any better for me. "It might not have been the prettiest game to watch but we got there in the end and that's the main thing. "It's a lottery when it goes to penalties and either side could have won it and fortunately it was us. It's just an unbelievable experience. "I just wanted to save one when Barry missed the first one to get us back in the game and that's the way it happened. "Then Vieri put his over the bar and the rest is history. "It's just getting better and better for me. Since getting in the team it has been fantastic. "We were obviously disappointed to lose to Celtic last Sunday but this was a great way to put that to bed and give the fans something to cheer about. "It's amazing. I was knocked out the League Cup in England by MK Dons on penalties at the beginning of this season when I was with Ipswich. "I have a god record on penalties. I saved three out of five. When it comes to penalties I am very confident. "I would fancy my chances if it goes to penalties in the final against Zenit but they must be a good side if they beat Bayern so convincingly.

Fookin great

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-Pf381dpVc

packie bonner Posted: May 1 2008, 10:50 PM First team training Group: Members Member No.: 10,952 Joined: 29-September 07 What everyone should remember about Seville is that we not only beat CL standard teams like Celta Vigo and Stuttgart en route to it, we lost in extra time to a team which went on to win the Champions League the following season. GIRUY.................WATP

Oh they fookin are mate,they are hurtin my friend

Aye but Craig,they were a better team and had to beat better teams than we did remember

And he wouldn't be at Rangers FC

The thing about being a hard team to beat is that defending well is actually a skill,down to good organisation and discipline,it's not down to LUCK that a team hardly loses any goals.The Italians have done this,very successfully,for years and were described as MASTERS at defending and sneaking a goal.More of the same'' anti football tonight '' please Rangers.

Alexander Whittaker,Cuellar,Weir,Papac Davis,Dailly,Fergie,Thomson,Novo JCD/Cousin I'd like to see this team !!

dy really know what happened ?,if not I don't see the point in discussing it really,as everyone so far is making valid points.Anyone should be allowed to walk the streets without being harrassed / assaulted.No-one should think they are above the law and act all high and mighty because of thier celebrity staus.Will the truth come out ?,let's wait and see IMO. WATP.

The thing that was eating away at me regarding Hutton,was the fact that I for one thought that would seriously damage our title push,I wanted him to stay untill the summer to help us regain the title,however as it stands we are in a very strong position to win the league without his services for the second half of the season,so WHEN we win the SPL it turns out to be a good bit of business,although I wish we could've kept him for good.