biggordy

Mendez is a good example. He came with a flourish but has just about settled down into mediocrity. You've got to buy a ticket in order to win. Fortune favours the brave. Who dares wins. ( copyright S A S and Del Boy Trotter ) Etc Etc Etc. I'm sure there a million more analagies. I believe WS is making a bigger gamble by not taking them now. Instead he is hoping other teams take points from them and meanwhile he is suggesting to our players that they are simply incapable of taking them on head to head.

I just don't think such a popular organ should be a watering hole for those wishing to pass on the vile thoughts of a few disturbed individuals to those who don't have thoughts of their own. For example, would Islamic Fundamentalists be allowed antagonise non Muslims by way of the Sunday Mail ? I think not. After all, it is " Scotlands Shame " as that newspaper likes to remind us from time to time. What disappoints me most is how it always taggs religion on to Us and them and it is now considered synonymous. Another job for the thought police I suppose.

Forgive me brothers. I strayed on to the Sunday Mail football forums. Perhaps it is forums such as those which are tainting the integrity of all others. You need to look no further to find the places where hatred, bile, bigotted and sectarian comments are commonplace ( very little actual football is discussed .) I don't know if these posts are scrutinised for defamatory statements or not. One celtic poster talks only of Rangers financial background. Either he is a mole in SDM's office or he's simply talking out of his arse....who knows ? I'm surprised the Sunday Mail acts as a conduit for such inflammatory statements and why are they made in the football forum section ? Am I missing the point of freedom of speech or is it just another vehicle for the press to keep stoking the embers of sectarianism ?

Even the amateurs of Queens Park managed to beat the holey goaly. Again our over cautious approach lets them off the hook.

Job done. Thanks M F. I have a special hatred of biased reporters of any kind.

Long gone are the days of " real " football men. Remember Tommy Docherty saying about Vinnie Jones, " Jones lacks only one thing, ability " Nowadays there would be lawyers' letters, public apologies TV censorship etc. . Think how we are so easily offended today because the media tell us we should be. Boruc gives fans the finger etc. So what !

Today's football is geared only to suit TV, mainly SKY. After all they are the ones pumping �£millions into it. Live coverage means no "offensive chants" etc, no "hard tackling", the kids might be watching, and make sure the players do controversial things and smile at the cameras. ( if not they will have to be made controversial ) This is why refs are constantly scrutinised due to incessant slo mo replays and are not allowed to use common sense, it confuses folk who know little about the game. Passion is not allowed and no-one must be offended in any way. Therefore money IS killing the game as customers are indeed king, but they are armchair customers and they will soon turn off or over when they become fed up. They will show loyalty to one team and it will be one of the teams they happen to be watching at the time. This loyalty lasts 90 minutes. Saturation coverage will slowly strangle the game as it will leave no loyalty as no-one will care. eg. " will I watch yet another champions league game or corrie "

I believe our chairman, and other club owners like him, treat football clubs as unique business opportunities for the very reasons stated above because, in football, no true supporter ever changes brand. I rarely go to games now mainly due to health and finances. However, I have kids and I often buy them merchandise. I have tried to " walk away " mentally from the Club as I have more pressing personal issues to deal with but it's not as easy as you say S. A. Everyone has many fantastic memories of great times at the Club and I guess we all live in hope that they will return. I really do hope Mr. Murray has the same feelings and passion for Rangers as we do and is simply not just saying so for the benefit of the support, or consumers as we must also be called if our Club is a business. I am very suspicious of his true feelings every time I hear he is looking for a " suitable buyer. For all reasons previously stated ask yourself this. Could you walk away from Rangers Football Club if you supported it AND owned it as Mr. Murray is looking to do? I

To see your team playing well and being successful can be an uplifting experience.Therefore, fans will do all they can to ensure it continues. It's a natural instinct to feel happy and fulfilled. Alternatively, if your team plays poorly and even you can see it is badly organised, as you are ignored and impotent to act, it will lead to your frustration, and anger will soon occupy your every thought whenever you are reminded. You will distance yourself from the aggravation. ( the Asda/Tesco not being an option ) I, for one, don't want to become a bitter and twisted supporter as many are, particularly in the Old Firm. This can manifest itself in religious hatred as frustrations are taken out on opposing groups. This doesn't happen in most other clubs as their supporters hope for the best but deep down, expect the worst. Rangers and the other lot always expect the best and because only 1 can be the best, the other has to settle for runners up ( usually! ) This, in turn, leads to frustration etc etc. Vicious circle. Supporters will leave holding on to their sanity and new ones will join full of optimism. Sorry, I got a bit carried away there. A bit of a mini rant.

Do you mean the kind of emotional blackmail when a battered wife keeps returning to the husband who batters her. If you do then this is not right, is it ? This will mean that support for the Club will steadily dwindle until only the masochists, the downright stupid, and the blinded loyal remain. Can the Club sustain this ?

Just read an interesting article in the online SUN dated 31/1. Des McKeown was writing about the appalling way supporters are treated. This time it was mainly about 'Well's game at Inverurie being repeatedly postphoned and the subsequent logistical chaos it meant for the support. However, the message he was putting over was that in any " business " , as football is now being called, the customer is king, otherwise there wouldn't be a business. This is very true is it not ? So, is football a business or not ? We keep being told that the Club is a business and yet we, the customers, are often treated with disdain and are the last to be considered, or even consulted, when matters affect us all. Why do most of us put up with it ? Have we been worn down over the years in order to now expect little in return. Please discuss.

Ol' ginger pubes ? Nah. However, my Rottie finds him a bit tasty though.

Justice was done. However this is the response all Sheriffs must make in situations like this. We'll see if the " nationals " pick this story up. However maybe it's not " sexy " enough.

Absolutely correct. These are the facts whether we like it or not. We're still in contention and at the moment there is a glimpse of blue sky on the horizon regarding players returning etc. By the end of the season all will be revealed whether Smith's tactics and Murray's "shrewd financial planning" has borne fruit. That will be the time for change if necessary. Meanwhile, we must ALL get behind the Team and cheer them on for the rest of the season.

What a rascal !!!!!!!

FFS boys. All I said was it was part of a speech delivered by a guy who is supposedly " leader of the free world " and now in charge of one of the largest democracies. It is a proverb hundred's of years old and has been shown to be accurate throughout history. It's not political, it's about people in power using different methods to stay in power. Whether it refers to George Dubya, Vlad Putin or Simon effin Cowell, who cares. Murray has used deception,diversion,has media puppets, attacked those who disagree with him and has been known to be a stranger to the truth on occasion AND is also in control of our Club. He didn't get his millions by being Mr. Nice Guy.

You're absolutely right, talk is cheap etc. Can Murray also walk the walk, he's been unable in the past. (no pun intended )

Boys will be boys. Hope he's learned his lesson.

The words were not copyright Obama. They were in fact part of a Chinese proverb. Anyway, millions of people throughout the world seem to place their trust in the U.S. President. Do we have the same trust in our leader, ask yourself that ?

Time will tell.

I've just read part of Barack Obama's Inauguration Speech and found it quite relevant to the situation regarding our Club and our " leader ". He said, " To those who cling to power through deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history " How appropriate is that ? Well I never !

I wonder how it comperes to being an Ayr United fan. Was he following his team at Rugby Park tonight, anyone know ?

That was great stuff Frankie. I believe what we need to do next is to try to spread the essence of your piece by any medium possible to as many supporters as possible as often as possible. Once this is in everyone's concienciousness we must seek out a credible, high profile and articulate spokesperson who is able to fend off the poodle press and debate SDM if required. Until we have a popular " leader " we will be unable to unite, as different factions will only debate themselves round in circles. United we will not be beaten. Eg. look to the Fergus McCann/rebels period. We can do this but you're right, it has to start straight away.

Does this mean they are now going to be a selling club ? Cheers Earnie. Paddy the invisible and his cousin Bobo.

Absolutely spot on ! If you were to ask the management of our Club if they were more than happy with the way things are at the moment, what would their answer be ? As investors,contributors,donors,sponsors,paying customers and supporters, we have every right to ask for " better " or at least explanations we can believe. (ie. the influx of players only a few months ago when the financial crisis was looming ) I don't think a change of management is the right course of action, at the moment, as those presently in charge know exactly what kind of financial mess we are in and why we are in it. This being the case, therefore our "Captain of Industry" should be able to fix it with little collateral damage. I still can't understand why SDM doesn't accept the fact that our situation is far from perfect and that is why supporters are concerned. After all it was he who pressed the panic button by saying anyone can go, even our top goalscorer. I don't think for one minute that the RST have solutions to offer, all they want is for SDM to do it or find someone who does.