JFK-1

I think the chances are they will go all out to nail him. This is obvious and undeniable fraud on a significant scale and you only get away with that if you're a bank. The prospect of spending time in Barlinnie will literally scare the shit out of him. In a way it's better that they have taken so long to bring it. Gives him all the more time to be thinking about it night and day.

THE trial is expected to start in April and last three months and the Crown have now presented the precise charges that the ex-Ibrox chief will face. THE trial of former Rangers owner Craig Whyte is moving closer after a hearing at the High Court in Glasgow pencilled in a start date of next April. The 45-year-old faces two charges - one of fraud and a second allegation under the Companies Act. The first accusation claims Whyte obtained a “majority and controlling stake” in Rangers “by fraud”. The charge dates between May 2010 and May 2011 listing various locations including Ibrox Stadium , Murray Park as well as “addresses meantime unknown” in Monaco and France. It is said Whyte and his representatives pretended to then Rangers owner Sir David Murray and others that “funds were available” to make all stipulated payments. It is claimed “resources necessary” were available to meet a number of “obligations” including £5m for “the playing squad”. The second charge under the Companies Act centres on an £18m payment in connection with the takeover. Whyte - who entered no plea - is being represented by Donald Findlay QC while Alex Prentice QC is now heading the prosecution team in the case. Here is the full indictment of charges that have now been laid out against Whyte.

As far as i'm aware the players have no issue with him judging by reports that even Halliday who was allegedly the other player involved in this spat has brushed it off as one of those things that happens in training almost daily. Apparently it's the manager who has taken issue with Barton obviously over something he said. Given the length of the suspension I don't think the manger could make it any clearer to him who is in charge and when you consider Joey's seemingly big head regarding his own ability if he had something to prove before he has even more to prove now. So if Barton is as driven and determined a character as we're led to believe he is in some ways this may turn out to have been a blessing to get him in line and desperate to prove his worth. The team has arguably improved the performance level in his absence with Barton reportedly saying he wants to get back into it so all things combined he's going to have to work very hard to do so and will be aware that if he does get back in then he's going to have to turn in some top notch displays to put this behind him. We know he's a top quality player who didn't suddenly turn bad and we know how long it has taken Niko Kranjcar to start turning in a performance worthy of his experience and reputation so I hope this proves to be a turning point for Barton. If he can get fit and feels dirven to prove himself which surely he must after all his boasting this could be like getting a new top notch player into the mix at a time when we appear to be on the verge of stringing together some displays of the type we have become used to under Warburton. I hope he gets his head down and works his arse off to get back into the team given that he has to be paid regardless of whether he's palying or sitting on a bench at some reserve match. Even while not playing well in many matches we're still comfortably in touch with the top 3 and the real crunch period will probably come follwoing the Winter break by which time Barton will be as fit as he's going to get. All things considered I hope he has decided to work his arse off to get back into the team and prove his point. And surely he's professional enough not to have spent these past weeks just sitting around tweeting and watching the golf.

I think you do have to prove it in court which 'innocent until proven guilty' is all about. Personally I too may argue that there is a religious/sectarian element to it because let's face it we all know there is but proving it can be a different matter and prosecutors likely take the easiest path to a conviction of any kind.

And note what Mourinho said afterwards. He described it as their best performance of the season which is exactly what Mark Warburton said after the Ross County game and was mocked by Sutton head for it. That's simply the way it sometimes pans out. We played better against Ross County and the sheep than we did against Partick yet Partick were the only one of the 3 we got a win from.

RANGERS Football Club are deeply saddened to learn of a dreadful accident involving a coach carrying supporters to this afternoon’s match at Ibrox. Our profound condolences go to the gentleman who has died and our thoughts are with his family. We are also thinking of those who have been injured and taken to hospital. Rangers Managing Director Stewart Robertson said: “Everyone at the football club and every member of our Rangers family is thinking of all of those caught up in this terrible accident. Clearly this is a deeply distressing time and the Board extend our deepest sympathies and concerns. “While winning today’s match was of vital importance everything that happened on the pitch between 3pm and 5pm pales into insignificance in light of this awful news.” http://rangers.co.uk/news/headlines/club-statement-68/

Thought it might be a bad one when I saw this pic. Looks like someone may have gone through the windscreen.

[video=youtube;ewSwn-IFHJA]

Worst performance of the season but I will take the 3 points.

Ouch Garner.

I don't know if I prefer us playing well and not scoring or playing crap and scoring. Have to take the scoring I suppose but can't we ever combine the two.

Looks a bad one.

I just don't know what to make of it. This is the poorest performance I have seen at Ibrox this season yet we're 2-0 up against a Partick side who have one of the best defensive records in the league.

But that changes the complexion doesn't it. 1-0 Niko

Dreariest match I have seen them in this season.

Partick giving us more of a game than the sheep did at this point.

Game discussion thread.

Rangers to win 3-0 FGS Waghorn.

RANGERS: Foderingham; Tavernier, Senderos, Wilson, Wallace; Halliday, Holt, Kranjcar; Waghorn, Miller, McKay. SUBS: Gilks, Forrester, Hodson, Dodoo, O’Halloran, Garner, Kiernan.

Nice to hear it's not one of those jaggy things that give you a rash.

To be honest I don't think the sheep were much better than Thistle are and to illustrate that check these stats from their last meeting just a few weeks ago when Thistle traveled to Pittodrie and lost 2-1 Possession: Aberdeen 53% - Thistle 47% Shots: Aberdeen 10 - Thistle 11 Corners: Aberdeen 3 - Thistle 6 As far as i'm concerned we outplayed Aberdeen on their own patch and just failed to take the chances some of which were gilt edged. I'm pretty confident we will pin Thistle back in the first minutes and proceed with a total siege. I still feel we are at least second best in that league by a comfortable margin and we just need to start putting the ball in the net.

I fully expect a good performance they just need to start garnishing it with the goals. Hopefully today is the day it all clicks. It's overdue.

Stadium vandalism is commonplace during these ties, it's been happening at both grounds for decades. Hanging effigies on the other hand is a sinister and even perverted act which is devoid of the slightest element of humour. The product of a grotesque mentality from truly twisted minds.

The raving of Rodgers on account of a single result that wasn't even a win is absurd. This is the same team beaten by the taxi drivers of Gibraltar and played off the park in Israel where if the Israelis hadn't luckily for Rodgers missed a penalty they wouldn't even be in the Champions league at all. They called their defeat in Gibraltar a one off anomaly and that's exactly what a draw with Man City was too. The reality will be evident when they go to Manchester and find a Man City nothing like so accommodating defensively and who will score at least another 3 and probably even more. Beaten by taxi drivers; played off the park by Israelis; and after two champions league matches 10 goals conceded? Euro giants? Don't make me laugh any harder than I already am.

I don't think the people doing those things are angry about anything. A vandal is a vandal and they vandalise not because of any anger but simply because they like it. So that being the case it will never stop as there will always be such an element using football as an excuse to vandalise. When they're no vandalising at football matches they're doing it someplace else.