JFK-1

I think it also has to be considered that there will be another transfer window in January by which time the manager will have a far better sense of how the team stands and which area could most efficiently improve it. If he were to blow all his transfer kitty now then discover a flaw in the lineup that could possibly rob him of a title because he had spent his entire kitty in the summer who would get the blame for that? Personally I think this team can already mount a credible challenege for the title but a minimum expectation is a top 3 finish so that probably means competing with Aberdeen/Hearts for those spots. I would estimate we have already far outclassed anything both combined will do in this window.

I understand it's being suggested that because there were a number of clubs vying to sign Cammy Bell that must mean a fee could have been demanded. The thing is the only reason they are vying for him is likely because there is no fee. If there were a fee they would just move on and look for a freebie elsewhere. What we get out of it is freeing up his wages.

I'm a shade surprised there has been no interest in Ziggy Gordon given that his contract is up and he is looking for a new club and we have been looking to to strengthen the defence.

Police have released images of 13 men they want to trace in connection with the investigation into the violence and disorder which followed the Scottish Cup Final last month. http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-36693046

I wouldn't suggest that either the manager, the team or the fans wouldn't like to win it but here he is letting us know that it isn't top of a list of priorities. If it were that important the first 11 would be contesting it. And if we won this cup it wouldn't be such a big deal as it would be for Motherwell and their fans who if they won it would likely do a Hibs and act as if they just won the Champions league. Hell I wouldn't be surprised if they're so small they act like that if they simply won their match with us. I have looked at Hibs forums, they're STILL obsessing daily about this cup win with topic posts such as it being the greatest day in the history of their club. I find it comical that they expose themselves as small while always claiming to be a big club. Anybody think we would still be going crazy about it obsessing daily on it if we had won that cup? A single Scottish cup win is the greatest day ever? I would still like to wallop Motherwell then maybe have fielded a second string in the following matches but the manager knows more about how to efficiently manage a team than I do. I resepect his decision even if it meant losing at Motherwell and even if it meant not qualifying for the last 16.

I too was wondering if Motherwell might field a comparative second string. I suppose they might but at the same time this is Rangers and I supect the league cup might mean a lot more to Motherwell than it does to us and just beating Rangers would be a relatively big deal for them. We're focussing on winning the league, they're not going to be winning any leagues. A cup is their best chance.

If you're going on the train try to get a train to Airbles station which is a relatively short walk from the stadium. The main station in Motherwell is comfortably further away.

MARK WARBURTON won’t unleash his new Rangers recruits against Motherwell as he looks to mix and match his squad through the Betfred Cup campaign. The Light Blues will have their first run-out of the season when they face Charleston Battery next week before they return to Glasgow from their training camp in America. The trip to Fir Park on Saturday, July 16 is the first of four games Warburton’s side will play in nine days before they host Burnley and Hamilton Accies on successive weekends. And the likes of Joey Barton, Niko Kranjcar and Jordan Rossiter are likely to miss out on the Steelmen showdown as Warburton puts plans in place for the Premiership. He said: “The big concern is the League Cup. It’s one of the big tournaments with its history and tradition but we have players joining us on July 10 and then we’ve got a match on the 16th – and it’s a TV match. “Our focus has to be the start of the league so everything has to be geared towards that and I’m hoping but the Burnley friendly on the 30th we should be able to play what we feel is our strongest starting 11. “We’ve got four games in nine days and the biggest fear is injury. “Joey will play in some of them but will he play on the 16th? Probably not. And it’s the same with Niko and Jordan. “We will have different squads for the 16th, 19th and 25th and we will use a lot of the young boys too. “I am conscious we have TV games, it’s the League Cup and we have supporters expecting to see our strongest side. “But we have to use the squad. It will play, recover, quiet session for 10 days.” After returning to training at Auchenhowie a fortnight ago, Rangers have been put through their paces in Charleston as preparations for the big kick-off continue. It is only a few weeks since Rangers suffered heartache at Hampden as they threw away a lead and lost the Scottish Cup final against Hibernian. The day will be remembered for all the wrong reasons following the pitch invasion at full-time that has sparked probes from Police Scotland and the Scottish FA. But the disappointment of the 90 minutes that unfolded lingers with Warburton as he looks to ensure his side are in better shape for next season. He said: “I was lying on a beach in Naples still feeling irate. We didn’t want to end a good season on a disappointing note. “We said to the players ‘you’ve only got three and a half weeks off, don’t ruin your summer’ and we did. “As a group of staff and players we weren’t god enough on the day and maybe it was a game too far. “We also couldn’t use any of the players we had sent out on loan due to SFA rules – Jordan Thomson, Ryan Hardie, Tom Walsh. “They had to be registered by the semi-final but what comes out of that is that maybe that rule should be changed because surely playing young players in a cup final would be fantastic. “Losing Dom Ball was a blow. We couldn’t replace him. He would have given us that physicality in midfield. I’m not saying he would have changed the way things turned out but he is 6ft 2”. “But we knew what we had to do this summer. We knew what we were losing so we went out and got them and when players became available we took them. “I can’t speak about the aftermath. It’s a police matter and the authorities are dealing with it.” http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/rangers/14594105.Mark_Warburton__I_won__39_t_pick_my_strongest_Rangers_line_up_during_the_League_Cup_group_fixtures/

A LOT of people see Celtic’s signing of Moussa Dembele as a statement of intent by new manager Brendan Rodgers. But my message to Rangers fans is not to be worried as Mark Warburton has also added key ingredients to his team. Celtic are favourites to win a sixth title in a row but I don’t think there is much of a gap between the two. I know a lot has been made of the Dembele signing – and the calibre of Celtic’s reported targets – but I’m not too concerned. Let’s be honest, what some people are doing is looking at the age of some of the Rangers recruits and questioning them. But Warburton has got a good mixture and I’m convinced Rangers can be serious challengers for the Scottish Premiership title. I look at the two squads and believe the Ibrox boss has enough at his disposal to take them all the way – and don’t forget Hearts and Aberdeen either. I’ve seen Dembele on TV and there is no doubt he’s a good player but the same can be said of the Rangers signings. I don’t think we should be making too many comparisons at this stage. It’s a different ball game in Scotland and someone like Dembele won’t have experienced anything like it. Rangers have good players in Lee Wallace, Andy Halliday, Jason Holt, Martyn Waghorn, Barrie McKay, who was a sensation for the last six months of the season, and don’t forget Kenny Miller. What we have to remember is Rangers had a very young team last season. The only thing they lacked was a bit of experience to guide the young guys but Warburton has added that. I just felt they lacked experience and now that’s come in. I can’t speak for Niko Kranjcar as he is someone I don’t know but I’ve come across Matt Gilks, Joey Barton and Clint Hill and I believe all three are exactly what Rangers need. Hill and Barton have played English Premier League most of their days, and Matt Gilks did the same for Blackpool. And don’t diss the fact Matt Crooks and Josh Windass came from League Two – there are a lot of hidden gems in that division. I spoke to a few people about them and the feedback was good. I don’t know much about Lee Hodson but I’ve seen Jordan Rossiter who came through the Liverpool academy. But it’s experience that was needed to be added to last season’s squad and it’s a good mixture. Dembele is good but Barton was the best player in the Championship last season – and Hill was captain of QPR. Gilks was second choice at the English Championship winners and was only that because Tom Heaton is an excellent goalkeeper. But take nothing away from Gilks, I’m sure he can challenge Wes Foderingham for the No.1 jersey and that’s what is needed. It doesn’t matter what level you’re at, it’s essential to have two quality keepers. In the season Rangers got to the UEFA Cup Final Allan McGregor picked up an injury at a crucial stage of the season but Neil Alexander came in and was outstanding. I had that issue at Clyde last season when a young boy wasn’t ready for the top team but the first choice was banned and I had to get someone on loan. You need two keepers, not one who is sure of his place. I was at Blackpool with Gilks and he always took an interest in Rangers. I have no doubt he will be a good recruit. My only concern is he hasn’t played a lot – two games in two years – but there’s no doubt he’s a good keeper. He’s 34-years-old and he’ll be good in the dressing room. He’s a winner but it will be a shock to the system when he sees how passionate and demanding it is at Ibrox. Matt has played in the English Premier League and Championship so he’s been about but people find it hard to believe when I tell them what it’s like at a club like Rangers. But that isn’t only an issue for him, it goes for anyone who hasn’t played in the Old Firm environment before. They’ll all get a shock when they see what it means to play for Rangers. There is a pressure from having a fan base like Rangers which none of the new guys will have experienced. But they have to quickly learn to deal with the fact that it’s win, win, win. The players Warburton has signed are experienced enough, like Joey and Clint, another who I know well. I did my coaching badges with him in Belfast a couple of years ago. I’d like to think they will be able to handle it as they’ve played pressure games in England. But until you sample Old Firm games, or even a match at Ibrox, you just don’t know. Clint is a great guy so I was delighted to see him sign for Rangers. He’s the type of guy you want about the place as he’s a motivator. I know the battle between Joey and Scott Brown has been hyped up a lot. I don’t go on social media but I’m excited about them going head-to-head in the first Old Firm game – not in cyberspace. You can talk all you want but it’s what happens on the park that interests me so I’m looking forward to that clash early in September. http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/opinion/sport/barry-ferguson-celtic-signing-moussa-8329491

So i'm guessing we're all hoping Bale plays the game of the tournament including a Ryan Giggs style FA cup goal with a run from his own half going through the entire Portugal defence which would break Ronaldo's heart even if Portugal won and especially if he didn't get the winner. This is THE ideal chance for Bale to put that preening arsehole in his proper place. Go Wales.

I do watch Wimbledon. But when it comes to golf I subscribe to the Bill Shankly school of knowledge. Shankly said that golf was "a good walk wasted" I doubt his opinion of watching it would have been much different.

I'm so uninterested in golf I don't know what golf you're talking about. Watching golf for me is probably even less interesting than watching chess. Probably get a shade more "action" in chess. Reminds me of what some the Americans around here say to me when I call their "football" NOT football and boring. They say "you have to think of it as a chess match with people instead of pieces. To which I reply that watching chess is shite too.

Barton and Krancjar maybe but a 19 year old? He only has to step out of bed in the mornings to be fit and take no more than a couple of days or so to physically recover from a hard match. It's a strange one. I don't particularly care much about the league cup this year either but I would like to beat Motherwell convincingly to lay down a marker against SPL opposition. And to give them a hiding for their fans antics at Motherwell in the playoffs last year.

Ronaldo has been almost anonymous at this tournament. The biggest news he made was when whining like a bitch about Iceland. And his ego is so enormous he will be more concerned about not being outshone by Bale in the semi than he will about his team. He would rather take a loss where he played a blinder than a win where he was put in the shade by Bale. That's the type of egomaniac he is. His ego is more important than the hopes of his team mates and his entire nation.

So all we need is for you to predict a 3-1 win for the Irish at parkhead.

I find it peculiar that a 19 year old who recently played for England under 19's in an international would be building up to "full fitness" A boy that age who has been in the Liverpool academy since 6 years old and went straight from school into professional football is perpetually fit. How in the world could he be any less fit than anyone else in the squad all of whom last played a competitive match longer ago than he did? Unless the manager is simply snubbing his nose at the league cup and declining to risk injuries to key players before the league kicks off.

I was always hoping a new contract would include an extension that would be acceptable to him. After just watching Wales overcome terrific odds as a small nation in a major tournament who knows what heights a man like Mr Wraburton could take us to given time.

Sort of knocks on the head the eternal Scottish excuse of being "just a small nation" Wales and Iceland who are both even smaller appear to have overcome that problem.

Wales were well under the cosh for large chunks of this match and at 2-1 late in the second half it was like a Belgian siege of the Welsh goal and I began to feel something had to give. But all credit to the Welsh, they fought tooth and nail like Welsh dragons for every ball and pulled it off against one of the best international teams in the world.

Unbelievable. Wales in the semi final.

Bravo Wales.

Ryan Giggs has ended his 29-year stay at Manchester United by agreeing a settlement with the Old Trafford club. United are expected to release an official statement in the coming days. Giggs, 42, had a year remaining on his contract as assistant manager but new boss Jose Mourinho intends to fill that role with long-time friend Rui Faria. Unable to reach agreement over another role at the Premier League club, Giggs, who made a record 963 appearances for United, has decided to move on. Cardiff-born Giggs has his Uefa Pro Licence, a mandatory qualification for managing in the Premier League, and has never made any secret of his desire to move into management. Linked with Swansea last season, he felt he was ready to manage United, having served his apprenticeship under David Moyes and then Louis van Gaal. But he was known to be less than impressed with how Van Gaal's exit was handled by United, when news of the Dutchman's sacking emerged moments after the club's FA Cup final success. Giggs was also disappointed to be overlooked in favour of former Chelsea and Real Madrid boss Mourinho, whose appointment was confirmed in May. Giggs joined the United academy on his 14th birthday, turning professional aged 17 in November 1990 and making his first-team debut against Everton on 2 March, 1991. He won a record 13 league titles, two European Cups, four FA Cups and four League Cups to become the most decorated British player of all time. He became a player-coach following the arrival of Moyes as manager in 2013, taking control of the first team for the final four games of the season after the Scot's dismissal. Giggs was then appointed as assistant-manager by Van Gaal in 2014. Giggs represented one of the final links to the Ferguson era - and given his service and achievements at United, the club risk a potential PR disaster in letting him leave. The Welshman was largely responsible for promoting exciting 18-year-old England striker Marcus Rashford to the first team last season and is the embodiment of the United traditions of a commitment to youth and attacking football. However, he was part of a static management team criticised by fans, pundits and former players for a dull style of play which ultimately cost Dutchman Van Gaal his job. What next? Led by executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward, United are now a different club to the trophy-winning juggernaut of the Sir Alex Ferguson era. With a revised transfer policy of world-class marquee signings and the abrupt termination of Moyes and Van Gaal's contracts, along with the appointment of Mourinho, winning has been prioritised ahead of longevity and long-term planning. Despite one senior member of the club's hierarchy saying last year that Giggs "triple-ticked" many essential components needed for the manager's job, he remains unproven at the highest level. Giggs has made no secret of wanting to manage United in the future and it was thought the club had a long-term plan with the same aim. He is unlikely to be short of offers from chairmen ready to give the Welshman his first permanent managerial role, having passed all the relevant Uefa coaching qualifications and served his apprenticeship at one of the biggest clubs in the world. Wales manager Chris Coleman has previously said Giggs could benefit from the "spark" of stepping out of his "comfort zone" at United, backing him to "cut his teeth somewhere else and prove he has what it takes to go back there". Similarly, United goalkeeping great and former team-mate Peter Schmeichel said Giggs should "learn the trade" of management at another club. http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/36665691

I'm still wondering how this could possibly be construed as favouring us in any way.

Presumably he will if something exceptional becomes available.

Lee Clark is English, he obviously didn't get the memo that this league doesn't need Rangers. I expect somebody will get him up to speed on that.