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ALGERIAN winger should sign in next couple of days More...

ALEXANDER hopes to put pen to paper within next ten days More...

Sasa Papac has revealed he would be more than happy to remain at Rangers for the rest of his career. More...

When Fergie speaks, we listen, especially on the goggle-box where he still refuses to talk to the BBC. Thus, the quick couple of minutes Sky's Geoff Shreeves manages to grab with him, pre-match, take on an almost Frost/Nixon aspect. On Tuesday we were pre another Champions League. "Wonderful, marvellous, the greatest competition in the world," purred Fergie. He was talking up the first group match in front of the sponsors' board but we savoured his words as if he'd unlocked the secret of life's inner meaning. Then he signed off with his customary "Well done" to his grand inquisitor, strolled to the dugout, a wave here and an autograph there, and settled down to watch ... Well, what was that? Man U reserves plus England's fallen idol and Scotland's captain versus the anti-football specialists? The future of the greatest club side in the world versus our doughty representatives, defending as if their lives depended on it and turning row Z-ing into an art form? Hmm. It certainly wasn't the Battle of Britain, as billed. It definitely wasn't one of those "big European nights" that Sir Alex Ferguson so cherishes. It was all that was wrong with the Champions League. A tournament that rarely lives up to the hype. A contest that doesn't get serious, or even interesting, until March. A goose that was laying golden eggs just fine until UEFA, in their foolishness and greed, decided to stretch its neck. But it's easy to blame the organisers. What of Tuesday's participants? Man U will argue they at least tried to attack, to score goals and to win - that Rangers didn't really have designs on these things. Afterwards Walter Smith offered up an eloquent defence of his hard-up club's tactics, pointing out that, as with England's Premiership, only the super-rich few can win the Champions League. So Rangers have to park the bus. What a quaint phrase. Who coined it? Noel Coward, I think, when he was summarising an Anderlecht-Panathinaikos group match a couple of years ago. Another phrase popular among the likes of Coward and Alan McInally is: "Such-and-such set out their stall." When we first heard that one - perhaps back when Smith would argue the Champions League was more of a level playing-field - we were in no doubt that it involved a statement of defensive intent, but the statement bit was key: as if the team were handing out pamphlets warning of 90 minutes of pinch-faced parsimony from a basic wooden shack - the aforementioned stall. Now, when their frustrated opponents talk of a stall being set out - and both Fergie and Rio Ferdinand used the phrase on Tuesday - we imagine the structure having been dragged into the centre circle to stand next to the bus, with a "Back in 90 mins" sign in the window. This was how Rangers played the game at Old Trafford. Actually, there was more. There was a stall and a bus. By AIDAN SMITH http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/football/Aidan-Smith-Rangers-didn39t-just.6539053.jp I feel your PAIN

Walter Smith feels Kenny Miller and Nikica Jelavic can form a deadly strike partnership at Rangers. More...

Rangers have been dealt another major injury blow after John Fleck was ruled out of action for the rest of the month. The Ibrox youngster has been crocked since the start of August when he suffered a hamstring injury during a pre-season friendly fixture with Clyde. Walter Smith was hoping to have the 19-year-old available for this weekend�s clash with Dundee United at Ibrox with Fleck appearing to have made a full recovery from the injury that forced him to miss the start of the new season. Fleck has been back in full training for the last couple of weeks and he took part in a bounce match against Falkirk earlier this week and managed to come through it unscathed. But plans to introduce him back into the first team were crushed when the 19-year-old injured the same hamstring that has kept him on the sidelines for the last six weeks on the training field at Murray Park. The SPL champions are hoping the injury isn�t quite as bad as the original problem, but it is highly unlikely he will be in a position to play any part in Rangers� up-and-coming fixtures as he braces himself for another extended spell out of action. Fleck was desperate to make a major impact after penning a new deal last term and his efforts in pre-season earned him rave reviews from his boss. Although Rangers have won their opening four league games and secured a point away to Manchester United as they opened up their Champions League campaign, Smith is keen to inject more creativity into his side. That is something Fleck possesses, but Rangers will now have to continue without the services of the Scotland Under-21 star as they attempt to nurse him back to full health.

For anyone who doesn't know, Collymore called our tactics on Tuesday night a disgrace. Here's Euan Camerons view on our tactics and Stan Collymore. The last line is a belter. Hats off to Euan.

From a Celtic forum......

Rangers boss Walter Smith is hoping to sign Salim Kerkar after the winger impressed on trial. More...

Walter Smith is set to field Nikica Jelavic against Dundee United after he missed Rangers' Man United clash. More...

Rangers boss Walter Smith has rejected accusations of hypocrisy by Kilmarnock chairman Michael Johnston. More...

Walter Smith and Kenny Miller have won the August's Manager and Player of the Month awards respectively. More...

Just wondering if any of the 6 players who left in the summer are regreting the decision after watching us in champions league action during the week. They might be realising the grass isnt greener on the other side. Obviously there was those who chose to leave and those who were released. Danny Wilson - Hasnt kicked a ball for Liverpool. Didnt even make the bench for their weakened team last night. IMO he should have went somewhere where he woudl be getting regular football. He is only 18 so needs to be playing or he will fizzle down the leagues. He wasnt even a 1 season wonder, he probably had 15 good games playing next to a master at the back. DeMarcus Beasley - Dont know where he is. Steven Smith - Who is he playing for? Nacho Novo - I dont think anyone will grudge Nacho anything, he wanted a 2 year deal. Id say 100% of fans want him to have a good season in Spain. Kevin Thomson - Boro have been awful so far and he is crocked for a while. Kris Boyd - 1 goal so far and 5 poor performances has the pressure on him.

Walter Smith has played down any suggestion that he could do a Sir Alex Ferguson and shelve retirement plans. More...

MILLER out to repeat 2004 winner against Red Devils at Old Trafford More...

I'm copying this from another website ... no apologies since I think this is an excellent rebuttal to the madness of the Scottish media......... Letââ?¬â?¢s get one thing straight here before I go any further. There is NO DEFENCE for what happened in Manchester in 2008. Those CCTV pictures were shocking and those involved are despicable human beings. With that out the way, Iââ?¬â?¢m now going to put up the defence for 99.9% of the Rangers support. The reason for this is because Man Utd v Rangers is fast approaching in the Champions League and the problems of 2008 are resurfacing along with other high profile issues involving Rangers? Certain media were quick to write about the ââ?¬Ë?rioting Rangers supportââ?¬â?¢ as soon as Rangers drew Man Utd; scaremongering at its worst. Some of the things that have been said and written about the Rangers travelling fans have been unfair. Is there a media agenda against the club? In my opinion the answer to that question is an overwhelming YES. I wonââ?¬â?¢t name names, but there are a few who are obsessed with all things Rangers and are just waiting for an excuse to put the boot in; is that fair? NO. Does the club do enough to defend itself and its real fans; I donââ?¬â?¢t think so. Much of the time the Rangers support find themselves spitting into a gale force wind in their battle against unfair treatment, as the club sits back and says or does very little. When you look back at the highly publicised incidents involving Rangers over the past four years, you really do have to worry about some of the reporting. I think you have to feel deep sympathy for the supporters who are being dragged down by a MINORITY. May 2006: Rangers were fined Ã?£13,300 for the conduct of their supporters during the Champions League tie with Villarreal. Rangers issued a statement saying: "Rangers Football Club is disappointed by the decision by Uefa's appeals body not to uphold the original verdict of the control and disciplinary body. ââ?¬Å?The appeals body concluded that Rangers fans were guilty of discriminatory chanting at both legs of the Champions League matches against Villarreal. The decision by Uefa should be seen as a strong warning to the MINORITY of supporters whose inappropriate behaviour brings the club into serious disrepute.ââ?¬Â May 2007: Rangers were fined Ã?£8,280 by Uefa for the behaviour of their fans during their match against Osasuna - but the Spanish club was ordered to pay Ã?£31,000. The control and disciplinary section of European football's governing body said there were ââ?¬Å?serious deficiencies in the organisation of the game,ââ?¬Â by Osasuna. Uefa's website stated: "Osasuna have been fined 45,000 Euros for serious deficiencies in the organisation of the game on 14 March, as well as for the improper conduct of their supporters. Rangers, meanwhile, have been ordered to pay 12,000 Euros for the latter offence involving visiting fans of the Scottish teamââ?¬â?¢Ã¢â?¬â?¢. As you can see, UEFA believed that Osasuna were ultimately responsible for those ugly scenes in the stands. The riot police were indiscriminately hitting Rangers fans with their batons. I'm not suggesting that all the Rangers fans that night were angels; again, a MINORITY didn't help the situation but the majority didn't deserve what came their way. The day after the game we had many fans turn up at the Real Radio studio to show us their injuries. Men, women, young and old were covered in cuts and bruises. It was a shocking sight and yet despite the overwhelming evidence of police brutality against Scottish football fans, very little was said about it; why? May 2008 Uefa Cup final: Communications Director William Gallard, confirmed Uefa is not planning to take any action against Rangers. "The overwhelming majority of fans behaved in the proper way. A very small MINORITY caused some trouble. In terms of disciplinary procedures we can only deal with what happens at the stadium or within the perimeter of the stadium." Walter Smith said: "I absolutely condemn this mindless MINORITY who have so shamed our country with their actions. Tens of thousands of people went to Manchester and behaved impeccably and were wonderful ambassadors for Rangers and Scotland." A SENIOR police figure has blamed Manchester council for the Uefa Cup final riot. Chris Burrows, Chairman of the Greater Manchester Police Federation, which represents rank-and-file bobbies, said the big screen showing the match in Piccadilly Gardens was deliberately switched off. Mr Burrows made his comments at the Federation's annual open meeting in the V&A hotel in Manchester. Asked by one officer who had been to blame for the Uefa cup 'fiasco', Mr Burrows said: "It was the local authority. I was listening to the (police) radio that night. That screen was switched off." No-one on the panel rebutted Mr Burrows' comments. August 2009: Sir Alex Ferguson, a former Rangers player, insists that the mass invasion of Rangers fans for the Uefa Cup final - which saw almost 200,000 head south of the border - will not be repeated; however, he is confident the game will not be marred by trouble. He said: "There were circumstances that day (Uefa Cup final) and I donââ?¬â?¢t think it was well organised." I was there in 2008 and I think Manchester City Council made a pigââ?¬â?¢s ear of it. To put it politely, in my opinion, the organisation of the Uefa Cup final was shambolic. Two weeks before the final I was on a Manchester radio station and happened to say that ââ?¬Å?you can expect anything from 150,000 to 250,000 fans to descend on the city centre.ââ?¬Â Manchester City Council and the police were given enough warning of what to expect, so I donââ?¬â?¢t buy their excuse that they didnââ?¬â?¢t see it coming. Serious questions have never been asked or answered by those responsible for the inadequate organisation of that night. For example; why was Heaton Park not used as a fan zone? In June 2009 the park welcomed 70,000 through the gates to see Oasis in concert. Why was Old Trafford not even considered? They could have charged a fiver and the fans would have been in a safe and controlled environment. The influx of people to Manchester resulted in there being no vacant hotel rooms in a 20 mile radius of the city centre and the total amount of money that was ploughed into the local economy was estimated to be more than Ã?£25 million. Could that be the answer to the above questions? The consequent media coverage of the ââ?¬Ë?riotââ?¬â?¢ was a real slap in the face to the tens of thousands of supporters who followed their team to Manchester from all over the globe. A tiny fraction spoiled a great day and certain media used it as a weapon to hammer the club and 99.9% of its supporters. Was that fair? I donââ?¬â?¢t think so. As I said, the CCTV pictures were horrific, disgraceful and shameful. You canââ?¬â?¢t defend those animals, but is it right to lump them in with everyone else; of course not. There are far too many people out there who were quick to condemn the Rangers support and the club. These same fans travelled all over Europe to watch their club in the Champions League and then the Uefa Cup. How many were arrested on the road in the 2007/2008 season before Manchester? Iââ?¬â?¢ll tell youââ?¬Â¦ NONE. ZILCH. ZERO. Yet some in our media failed to recognise this or look at the bigger picture of what actually happened that evening in Manchester. Some hoped Uefa would throw the book at the club; why? Send me your answers by email. November 2009: Rangers have been fined 20,000 Euros (Ã?£17,988) and been ordered to pay the cost of damage to the Steaua Stadium as a result of the improper conduct of their fans during the Champions League match against Unirea Urziceni in Romania last week. Television pictures from last Wednesday night's 1-1 Group G draw in Bucharest showed a number of visiting supporters clashing with Romanian police in the stands, while one fan was seen to rip out a seat. Unirea Urziceni have been fined 8,000 Euros (Ã?£7,195) for lack of organisation at the same match. Rangers Chief Executive Martin Bain had claimed the trouble was triggered by poor organisation at the Steaua Stadium and over-zealous policing. Bain's explanation for the crowd trouble was also backed by Superintendent Mike Dean of Strathclyde Police, who was helping to coordinate security at the ground. "We appreciate the fact that the Uefa match delegate said in his report that, apart from this incident, the behaviour of the majority of Rangers supporters in Bucharest was satisfactory. The club made strong representations to UEFA regarding the wholly unsatisfactory crowd management prior to the match and UEFA has addressed this. As we have made clear, this in no way excuses the violent behaviour a MINORITY of fans.ââ?¬Â There is one constant throughout all of the above incidents and you can clearly see it for yourselves in bold. I will finish by saying that Iââ?¬â?¢m no lover of Rangers or Celtic but that is purely down to me being a Hearts fan. I want to see them get beat every week in the SPL. That is all part and parcel of the football rivalry and banter that I love. Last season I found myself stuck on a train from Falkirk to Edinburgh with my son. We were heading to Tynecastle to watch Hearts play Rangers. I was surrounded by Rangers fans; the banter was top notch. They also tried to persuade my 8-year-old boy to swap his Hearts scarf for a Rangers scarf, it didnââ?¬â?¢t workââ?¬Â¦ thankfully. We then ended up walking from Haymarket to Gorgie with thousands of Rangers fans. At no point did I feel threatened or intimidated. They were a credit to the club. Itââ?¬â?¢s about time we all recognise and defend the good supporters. We should not allow a MINORITY of bampots to ruin the good name of any club or its support. At the end of the day theyââ?¬â?¢re Scottish football supporters and when those good men, women and children are getting dragged through the gutter, then itââ?¬â?¢s only right and proper to stand up for them. Iââ?¬â?¢ve defended Celtic supporters and their club when they found themselves in hot water with Uefa in recent years. Itââ?¬â?¢s the right thing to do. Itââ?¬â?¢s time we started to stand up for the real supporters, the good supporters, the life blood of our game because without them, the game I love is dead. The views in this article are of Ewen Cameron and not Real Radio.

I spent Friday afternoon last week busying myself doing household chores, with the radio in the background tuned to Test Match Special, as England recovered from certain defeat to the brink of almost certain series victory in the space of a few hours. Once again, the summer game offered lessons for the winter one - but is it possible to believe that, like English cricket, Scottish football is capable of learning, or changing? The history of cricket in the last 25 years is very relevant to us, as we survey the wreckage of another failed European adventure - one in which we (Rangers) are quite likely, in my opinion, to share, as soon as we get started. Just as we are utterly uncompetitive at the top level (and even the second or third level), so too were the English test and one-day sides. Regularly thrashed throughout the 70s by the West Indies, English cricket in the 80s and 90s had to get used to being regularly thrashed by Australia, India and Pakistan, while previous minnows New Zealand and Sri Lanka began to record victories over the motherland. While on the surface, cricket appears the most conservative of sports, the administrators of the game were at least willing to try to find a way out of their pickle. Accurately perceiving that despite their failings, they still had a large fanbase willing to pay to watch their teams, the England and Wales Cricket Board split their divisions, withdrew restrictions on recruitment, altered the previous 5 or 6 Test fixtures against the same opponent each summer to 3 (or 5 against the Aussies) against different sides, expanded the one day calendar...the list goes on. Not all have proven successful. The long haul of a 5 Test summer, in all conditions, against players gradually getting used to English conditions, was one of the best facets of the game and one I miss. Another area I think the ECB have got wrong is the acceptance into their teams of too many pseudo-Englishmen. Even for this most tolerant of countries, it is a bit much to have a team with more non-natives than Englishmen in it; however, the facts are that as long as Pietersen, Trott, Strauss, Kieswetter, Prior and so on continue to win, no one else minds too much. And of course, the last few days have seen the ever present threat of corruption appear again, in the guise of some youthful and very probably penniless Pakistani bowlers who are unwilling to live in poverty any longer than they have to. How dare they? They ought to be content to perform for our sakes, yes, and for a pittance too! But they changed. They tried. So we can see that while conservatism certainly exists in the game of cricket, of itself it need not be a barrier to imagination. Can anyone expect the same here? For a start, who do we expect it from? The SFA? Or the SPL? SFL? Government? Everyone knows the shambles of administration we have so there's no need to go on about it, but it has to be said that until the current 'many chiefs' nonsense is rationalised, there's little or no prospect of change. Assuming it does happen, though, I can't see any reason why Scots football shouldn't rise again. After all, the target is hardly winning the Champions League or World Cup. The ultimate aim for our game ought to be qualification for final stages internationally with the occassional progression beyond, and at club level, regular participation up to the quarter final stages in Europe. Given the fan base, given the enthusiasm, given the lack of a serious competitor for attention, football has no excuse not to change. Why, then, even allowing for the administrative shambles, hasn't it done so already? I believe it's the inherent conservative nature preventing progression. As a country Scotland is not fond of change, and in football the mantras of the 1950s still hold sway here. How often have you heard these useless catchphrases trotted out by professionals, pundits and fans alike? "It's a man's game" "Play it long and get them turned" "He's not great, but he's a real trier" "So-and-so put in a great shift" And so on. The emphasis on strength and fitness would make us worldbeaters if allied to an equal fanaticsm for skill! What's needed is a new way of viewing foootball. And this is going to be very hard indeed to sell, because we have a media which relies on the football to keep breathing, especially at these time of recession. Summer football, for example, would be a Godsend for our game - years without international tournaments especially - but the media, which holidays in the summer, would be outraged at (a) having to work their break and (b) having to find something else to fill their winter schedules. This is not a small consideration; it must be borne in mind when media types are railing against summer football, that they have a vested interest in preventing it. Which in itself highlights another weak aspect of our game, the fear of the media. It's easy for me to type 'we must be bullish!' but that is whats needed. If someone at a paper wants to write something criticial, let them! there's no need to go on every media platform to discuss it...dignified silence, backed up with results on the pitch, would be the best riposte. An example: I found myself in a supermarket carpark on Saturday afternoon, after the football, and despite myself listened to some of the awful 'Your Call' show (well, my kids won't let me have 'Jazz Record Requests' from Radio 3 on in the car). Someone phoned in with an ambitious and well thought out suggestion which would see all training facilities pooled between regional clubs, and players produced allocated in the American collegiate system. Dismissed! None of your forward thinking, boy. Such a proposal would draw howls of protest from those who have invested already (such as Rangers) but the way around the problem is not that hard - there could be a levy for a period of years until an agreed sum is recouped by Rangers, or whoever, or else a rental fee could be charged continuously. It doesn't take a genius to work these things out, but it will take someone with the football nous of Rino Gattuso and the hide of a rhinoceros. Which is the main stumbling block I can see. Who will be the man? I thought Gordon Smith woud drive our football forward, but whether through his own failings, the system hampering him or whether I was just too optimistic, it didn't happen. Who will be the man who can achieve what would be a mammoth task against so many vested interests? If there's such a fellow currently active within the game, professionally, in the media or on the terraces, I haven't seen them. Without such a "Mandela" figure I just can't see how we will drive past the many roadblocks in the path of progress, which is a sobering and depressing thought to finish on. Perhaps we ought to be looking outwith the game for the man we need. Again we see how the conservative ethos, so firmly entrenched in the game, is a drawback - it's always the usual suspects whose names are put forward when a task like this is mentioned. Campbell Ogilivie, Henry McLeish, whoever is sports minister, blah blah blah. If we were to think outwith the box and come up with somone (completely at random) like Richard Branson or Stelios Haji-Ioannou, people who would be unwilling to take 'I shall refer that to the General Purposes' committie for an answer and who would, crucially, be given carte blanche to deliver, we may see some results. I fear, though, that that is a pious hope. Scottish football (indeed, Scotland's) inbuild leaning toward small c conservatism will continue to hold us back.

From todays Scottish Sun, Could we please have this pinned up in the ibrox dressing room, We are not even four games into the start of the season and these monkey heids, well lets just say hooper has the title in the bag for the manky mob, are they ever going to learn to keep there gobby players away from the media or was hooper listening to big shagmaarse samaras... GARY HOOPER has opened his heart on his injury hell and begged Celtic fans: Don't dare forget about me. The �£2.4million signing from Scunthorpe made a blistering start to his Hoops career with a goal against SC Braga on his Champions League debut. He was crocked days later in a pre-season friendly against Blackburn and Hooper hasn't kicked a ball since. What he thought was a routine dead leg was a costly calf injury which has taken four agonising weeks to heal. Celts boss Neil Lennon has spent almost �£10m on 11 new players as his Parkhead revolution gets ready to roll. Hooper - well on the road to recovery - insists he has no intention of being left behind. He insists Celtic will silence their early season critics WHEN they win the league. Hooper said: "A lot of players have come in while I've been out injured but that doesn't bother me. "It just means it's more competition for me. I have to pick my game up but that's fine. I scored a few goals before I got injured and I've no doubts I can do a job for Celtic. I just need to get myself back fit and into the team." Rangers have signed just four new players to Celts' 11 but it's been claimed Gers gaffer Walter Smith has opted for quality, not quantity. Hooper scoffed at that as he said: "No one can say anything until we lift the cup at the end of the season. "You can't judge whether a certain player is a good signing or not. People can say things now but what are they going to say when we win the league? "There are good players at this club and it's about getting it together as a team. "We're scoring goals and we're looking good, long may it continue." Anthony Stokes became the last player to check into Parkhead this summer when he sealed his �£1.2m move from Hibs on transfer deadline day. Hooper - among the first of the arrivals - reckons Stokes will prove to be the final piece in Lenny's jigsaw. The 22-year-old is desperate to stake his claim for a starting place alongside Stokes in a new-look Hoops attack. Hooper said: "I've never seen Anthony play but he's clearly a goalscorer. I'd love to play alongside him. Hopefully that's something the gaffer is thinking about. I was brought here to score goals and I'm confident I can do that." Hooper gave Celtic fans a brief glimpse of what he's all about with strikes against Lyon and Braga. Advertisement The striker went on: "I'm back fit and I'm looking to rejoin the squad next week. "I'm targeting the game with Hearts after the international break for my return. "I can't wait as it's been a difficult few weeks for me. "I started the season in good form with a couple of goals but then I picked up the injury against Blackburn and here we are four weeks later. "I don't like sitting in the stands. It's been frustrating because it was a nothing challenge but I felt it straight away. It set me back, there's no doubt about that. "At first I thought it was a dead leg and I tried to run it off but, of course, it was more serious than that. "When you come to a new club you're desperate to do well and hit the ground running. I had to accept what had happened and not rush things to get back. "For the first two weeks I did nothing, then I started running again and hopefully next week I'll be back training with the boys. It's been difficult training on my own. I'd been stuck in a hotel as well but I'm set up at home and hopefully my injury problem is now behind me. "Really, my Celtic career is starting now." Hooper arrived at Celtic Park with dreams of Euro glory but they were snatched away by losses to Braga and Utrecht. Hooper admitted: "It's been hard to watch and not be able to help the team. "The European games were a massive disappointment but overall our form has been good. We have played three games in the league, not lost a goal and won them all. "The main focus is the league this season and we've started well. Some of the criticism has been over the top. "We're out of Europe and that's a sore one to take but the focus is the league and we're doing well there. "The manager has brought in a lot of new players so it's unfair to criticise him. "I don't think he's lost a game in the league stretching back to last season. "He's a strong character and a massive influence but he needs to be because of all the new faces at the club. "Straight away he lets us know what it's all about. Winning, it's as simple as that." Read more: http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/spl/3123236/We-will-prove-Neils-spent-well-when-we-lift-title.html#ixzz0yQLkbThl

Everyone remembers their school days. From boring lessons to nasty teachers to the dubious courtship ritual of chucking stones at a girl to let her know you fancy her (ââ?¬Å?Her headââ?¬â?¢s bleeding! Iââ?¬â?¢m so in there!ââ?¬Â) it is accurate to say your school days ââ?¬â?? and school status ââ?¬â?? shape the person you eventually become. Everybody wanted to be the cool kid but the majority will have settled into ââ?¬Ë?inbetweenerââ?¬â?¢ mode, neither cool nor geeky, it was a simple existence with the advantage of slipping under the radar of bullies, but none of the ââ?¬Ë?coolââ?¬â?¢ perks like lackeys, sh*t-hot trainers and the ability to compare fanny-wire to the real thing. Nobody wanted to be the geek. For these poor souls intervals were a barbaric gauntlet-run of assault, robbery, slander, assault, sitting in puddles and more assault. Crowds would gather as the school psycho heroically picked on the smallest guy with no pals; his victim cowering in the corner of the schoolyard screaming ââ?¬Å?Please not the face!ââ?¬Â. But then the day would come. The geek would finally snap. The bully would push him too close to the edge and with all the limp-wristed might he could muster, he would throw the first, last and only punch of his life. CRACK. He would catch the bully square on the jaw and send the tracksuited Goliath sprawling to the ground. The crowd would fall silent, too terrified to release the whooping cheer that seemed so natural. With his nemesis slain the geek would enjoy a new lease of life and maybe even promotion to ââ?¬Ë?inbetweenerââ?¬â?¢ level as he no-doubt questions why he didnââ?¬â?¢t take retaliatory action sooner. Thatââ?¬â?¢s the thing with bullies; stand up to them and youââ?¬â?¢d be surprised what can be achieved. As we look forward to another Champions League campaign I ask myself; what kind of geek are we going to be? It might just shape what we become in the years ahead. We can (and do) accept that European football is dominated by an exclusive cartel of clubs whose livelihood depends on the revenue generated by Europeââ?¬â?¢s premier competition. We can (and do) accept that by introducing seedings, UEFA pander to these clubs as they seek to plan as smooth a path as possible to the money-spinning knockout rounds. We can (and do) accept that nobody expects us to make an impact on the competition. But just as the geek will eventually grow a pair and finally decide to stand up for himself, we must now stop apologising for earning our place at the top table and concentrate on how we are going to scale the mountain and win this thing. I donââ?¬â?¢t care if we are 1000/1 to win it; we are in it, so we can win it! Thereââ?¬â?¢s only thirty-two teams in Europe in this position so that, for me, gives us a one in thirty-two chance of winning it. What were Greece to win Euro 2004? Second-longest odds behind only Latvia? Of course I realise the superhuman effort (and logic-defying luck) it would take for us to even get to the semis, but no matter how it is spun, no matter how much our detractors tell us weââ?¬â?¢re cannon-fodder, there will always remain that remote chance we could win it. We moan enough about ambition-free SPL clubs who aim for a third-place finish with a view to European participation/humiliation, yet we meekly accept such humiliation on the European stage in exchange for success on the domestic front where only one other team has designs on our trophy. I canââ?¬â?¢t accept that a club of our size that, despite recent financial strife, still pays players exorbitant amounts lacks any ambition beyond our own well-trodden doorstep. Infuriatingly, this fearful mindset has infected our management and players as our fragilities were well and truly exposed during last yearââ?¬â?¢s attempt at avoiding humiliation. ââ?¬Å?Weââ?¬â?¢re happy just to be involvedââ?¬Â was the line from Walter Smith before last yearââ?¬â?¢s draw. Oddly, nobody seemed to tell the players we were ââ?¬Ë?involvedââ?¬â?¢ as they assumed the classic ââ?¬Ë?geekââ?¬â?¢ position only to fail to deflect any of the bullyââ?¬â?¢s face-shredding blows. Once the bully got tired, his unknown chancer of a pal from Romania threw a few punches and, again, we apologised for getting in the way of his fists and shined his shoes by way of payment. We were relieved once the pummelling stopped and tried our best to put it behind us. Frankly, it is time to stop accepting the beatings and finally throw a punch of our own. Their players may get paid more and have bigger boot deals and all the rest of it, but the glory of sport is that it boils down to who performs on the night. Matches arenââ?¬â?¢t won or lost before kick-off. There are a million variables that can swing the game one way or the other and itââ?¬â?¢s that notion we have to believe in and use it to fuel our ambition (for once). We bemoan being unable to compete but that, my friends, is the worst excuse of the lot. Last season we were being pummelled in Stuttgart but eventually calmed our nerves, rallied and forced an equaliser. And it wasnââ?¬â?¢t a fluke either, it was a good, flowing move finished off superbly. We then dominated the rest of the game and nearly nicked all three points at the end when another passing move saw Davis strike the foot of the post. Onto our home tie against Sevilla and a solid, controlled performance aided by a superb one-man show from Naismith up-front saw us contain a pretty decent Spanish side. However, our undoing was all of our own making. Whilst we should have been awarded a penalty, the goal we lost was staggeringly awful. Eleven players back defending in our own box; Sevilla casually rolled it to a player on the edge of the area, who had all the time in the world to waft a cross towards his teammate who secured a free header at goal. It wasnââ?¬â?¢t a lack of money that cost us that goal, or the SPL, or the seedings, it was rank-awful play from ourselves. No excuses, that goal should never have been lost. It was the catalyst for Sevilla to go on and dominate as we had to step and force the issue and more horrendous defending saw them rip us apart with ease. Fast-forward to Unirea at home and the same mistakes apply; appalling marking at set-pieces being the obvious error, something we couldnââ?¬â?¢t even rectify after going a goal up inside one minute. Unirea away was decent until we sloppily lost possession in our own half, allowing an equaliser of wonder-strike proportions. It happens, but why not examine how we can avoid a reoccurrence, rather than shrugging and ââ?¬Ë?taking it on the chinââ?¬â?¢? Stuttgart at home was a total disaster as our formation and line-up were easily countered by an average German side. We barely mustered a chance and it was the first game Iââ?¬â?¢ve ever been at where not one Ranger earned pass-marks. The bullies won and we accepted it. Nobody questions how monumental our task is, but lets stop shooting ourselves in the foot. Defending set-pieces can be worked on and prepared for, thereââ?¬â?¢s no excuse for losing goals whilst your entire team is less than eighteen yards from goal! Our attacking set pieces are also annoyingly impotent and again, this is just laziness on our part. I expect to see obvious preparation and skill in execution, no matter who the opponents are. Indeed, against Manchester United set-pieces may be our best chance of scoring so I expect these opportunities to be exploited to the full. Watch our opponents and plan our formation accordingly. Everyone remembers Advocaat pitching Derek McInnes in against PSV. It worked beautifully and we tried it again a week later against Valencia. It didnââ?¬â?¢t work second time around, so we changed it after forty minutes. Respond to what is happening on the pitch. I want to see that our management can analyse the game and see what is going wrong. All of this is within our capability at any level of football. Of course our players will get away with more mistakes domestically than they will in Europe, but thatââ?¬â?¢s not exactly unexpected is it? Players must be aware of what is required and deployed in a role which allows them to execute that function. Tactics, approach, coaching; these are the fundamentals of football, ââ?¬Å?putting it in the mixââ?¬Â doesnââ?¬â?¢t feature and is really just code for ââ?¬Å?get rid of it asap and get back to your own halfââ?¬Â. Keeping possession is arguably the most important tactic available to us. If weââ?¬â?¢ve got the ball, they canââ?¬â?¢t score. Bottom line. I expect each and every one of our players to be able to control and pass the ball, and indeed, move to space once the ball has been released. Standing in formation because you expect to lose it any second is insane. Apart from pissing all over any creativity we might otherwise display, it gives the opposition a chance to chase us down and force us into oh so many passbacks to the keeper, where it is inevitably hoofed up the park to the opposition defence, who have forty yards of space as our lone-striker is invariably camped in the centre-circle. Pass and move. It is easy really. Thereââ?¬â?¢s no need for us to feel so inferior. Really: there isnââ?¬â?¢t. We have to believe we can perform to our best and let the opposition know they are in for a game. If our application is correct, our tactics spot on and our mentality right, then we can pick up results against anyone. I firmly believe that. Walter has a natural fear of European sides after a fair few humblings but in his last season, I expect heââ?¬â?¢ll want to finally make a mark on the arena that has largely evaded him thus far. I expect he will realise how crucial this campaign will be in establishing who we are in respect of our coefficient. I expect heââ?¬â?¢ll want us to finally throw a punch and show we ainââ?¬â?¢t taking this sh*t no more. I expect weââ?¬â?¢ll enjoy our promotion to the fanny-wire fondlers. From FF.

RESTORED memorial stone unveiled in Fife town More...

So, its that time of the year again, who will stay and who will go? We've just had the end of the season and before pre-season we'll shortly be entering the silly season. The Sun has us interested in Tommy Smith, the Portsmouth striker. He only scored one in 16 last season, but was a promising under 21 player, albeit that was 10 years ago now. Apparently we're haggling over their valuation, but given the money troubles at both clubs you have to wonder if we're offering to pay them in bottles of ginger while they're holding out for a supply of Tunnocks tea cakes based on future performances. Its all gone quiet on the Lee Miller front and somewhat predictably, the usual papers are fawning over Celtic's (to be confirmed) management team and all their top signings. If this focus continues, I think it could work in our favour, with Walter and Ally quietly going about their business as usual. Maybe a few rules to keep the thread on track? I can't wield the ban-hammer myself, but I'm sure Frankie will give this his full support. Feel free to add to them First mention of Eillis = ban. First mention of Alan Smith, Tonel, Hreidarsson, Robbie Fowler or David Healy = ban. First person to suggest we don't need any new strikers because we have Lafferty gets a free bus ticket to the loony bin. Genuine transfer Latest Players IN: None Players OUT: Nacho Novo (Real Sporting de Gij�³n) Steven Smith (Norwich City) Out of contract: David Weir Kris Boyd Kirk Broadfoot DaMarcus Beasley

As the transfer window 'slams' shut (why does it never close softly given the usual anti-climax?) at last Scottish football fans across the country can judge the comings and goings at their clubs and decide just how competitive they'll be this season. Thus, at Rangers, after a summer of scaremongering and torment, do we have a stream-lined squad capable of retaining the SPL title or is Celtic's bloated brigade a better strategy for success? An immediate comparison of the two squads in quantity terms shows Celtic have at least 25 players available to Neil Lennon who have all played first team football and could be considered genuine contenders for their first XI. Meanwhile a look at Gersnet's own squad page shows we're less well endowed with only 19 players maximum who can be considered demonstrable candidates for our team. That is a fair difference in personnel numbers before each manager has to look to the McGinn's/McGowan's or Shinnie's/Little's in their reserves when injuries and suspensions inevitably take their toll. So, quantity-wise Celtic undoubtedly have the edge. But what about quality and how do other factors affect both teams' chances of success? Rangers, while losing several players over the summer, still have a strong core to their first XI. Indeed, McGregor, Bougherra, Davis and Miller can justifiably be considered the best players in the SPL in their respective roles. These four players will be key to our chances of success and the loss of any would be a huge blow at any given time. Nonetheless, they are backed up with other reliable and proven colleagues. Certainly, as it has been over the last two seasons, consistency of selection will be one of Rangers continued strength this term. Several players have experienced what it takes to win league titles and Rangers first XI is still very strong in every department. Add in a few signings with the potential to improve this, the loss of players like Wilson, Thomson and Boyd may not be the demoralising blows they seemed at first. In fact it could be argued that while Rangers do have a smaller squad, we do have a better one. Of course squads cannot be discussed without examining the people responsible for instructing them each week. In that respect Rangers have a big advantage on their rivals with Walter Smith and Ally McCoist now having worked together successfully for several years. They know what it is like to win (and lose) while dealing with the unavoidable stresses associated with such difficult jobs. Unfortunately, they'll have to be more flexible than ever with Rangers likely to play at least 6 more games than anyone else via their involvement in the Champions League. This is where our smaller squad will certainly be a handicap. Moving onto Celtic, while they definitely have the kind of numbers to make a strong challenge this year; they do lack other qualities when compared to Rangers. They lack the same core of proven players and the luxuries of a larger squad brings with it the difficulty of consistency of selection - a conundrum Tony Mowbray struggled badly with last season. Therefore, while players like Juarez, Ledley, Stokes and Hooper are solid buys, just how quickly will they gel and how happy will other players be when they are left out? Obviously this is where Lennon's managerial inexperience may count against him. He has made wholesale changes to the squad after not being slow to blame the players for their lack of success last year. Ergo, it will be interesting to see how he deals with any bad times that come his way as he'll be unable to blame them solely this time. Not to mention when players ask why they're not playing this week because of having to accommodate a rotation process due to squad size. All in all it is difficult to make a clear-cut case for Rangers or Celtic winning the title this season. Both have their strengths and weaknesses which will be key as the season progresses. Proof of just how tight this will be can be found by looking at the top of the SPL table after just 3 games. Quality versus quantity it is then - to the victor the spoils! :robbo:

Walter Smith is hoping to negotiate the final few days of the transfer window with his squad intact. More...

Shorerdbear discusses the alleged financial improvements we've seen at the club over the last year and asks just who is responsible for them. BEGINS In the last ten days a new wave of optimism has entered the psyche of Rangers fans - brought about with three new players being signed up. Signing players during pre-season is the done thing for football clubs; however, for Rangers fans last summer was the first season ever where new arrivals never materialised. According to the media it wouldnââ?¬â?¢t be the last either! We all knew the reasons why this was the case and for the most part, did not want to accept them. Pride can get in the way of logical decision making and when it comes down to football fans' expectations, business decisions can conflict with football ones. Walter and his players entered the 2009/10 season as champions. However, with no new arrivals to freshen the squad up, Walter faced the enormous task of challenging and retaining the title. Like the great managers of the past, Walter stepped up and delivered title 53 and secured the all important Champions League place and all the riches that comes with automatic Group Stage qualification! Moreover, we won the league against a backdrop of uncertainty via financial results and a rival who would do anything to discredit the success of Scotlandââ?¬â?¢s greatest football club. Across the globe success has always bred contempt; however, in some parts of Scotland - it only breeds paranoia and delusional thinking. To mould a winning team and hold your integrity intact takes a special type of person and thankfully - in Walter Smith - we have exactly that. Whether or not we win this years league championship, Walter can bow out with his head held high in the knowledge he played an integral part in turning the fortunes of Rangers around. The next name I mention may flabbergast fellow bears, it might even have them reach for the ââ?¬Ë?log offââ?¬â?¢ button. But, when a business model is failing and no investment is on the horizon, drastic measures have to be taken and it is usually in the way of ââ?¬Ë?cutsââ?¬â?¢! Donald Muir, ââ?¬Ë?the enemy withinââ?¬â?¢, was and in some parts still is seen as the devil. The shareholders voted against his appointment but when they roughly make up about 10% of the clubââ?¬â?¢s shareholding, it really didnââ?¬â?¢t mean much apart from a show of suspicion towards a man who was seen as the final nail in the coffin of our great club. However, Muir has remained steadfast in his approach to turning Rangers financial fortunes around. If he hadnââ?¬â?¢t, then we might not have signed three new players and perhaps Walter might not have had the chance to spend over Ã?£4 million on one player, the largest fee the club has spent on one transfer since Mikel Arteta was brought over from Spain. Weââ?¬â?¢ve heard all the ââ?¬Ë?rumoursââ?¬â?¢ of infighting on the board, threatened administration from the bank and that Walter might walk if he is not supplied with all the tools to challenge for honours. All blame has been directed towards Donald Muir and his alleged employers. Indeed, these perceived rumours might hold some water and perhaps somewhere down the line we might find out whether they were true or not! Now weââ?¬â?¢re reading published articles from the BBC that the debt has been ââ?¬Ë?substantiallyââ?¬â?¢ cut down and that there could be more arrivals to the playing staff. This would not be possible without drastic cuts in other expenditure; moreover, the current board seemed at a loss as to where they should make those cuts. Enter ââ?¬Ë?the enemy withinââ?¬â?¢ who, through his job role, and past experiences took a look at the club accounts and went about making tough and unpopular decisions that seem to be starting to reap dividends. Financially, weââ?¬â?¢re not out of the woods yet. Although, there is a clearing and this season is just as important as the last two. We have a squad more than capable of winning the league and with a ruthlessly business minded man on the board we may be on the cusp of a brighter future than we had been anticipating due to past mistakes. We have all thanked Walter up to now. Perhaps weââ?¬â?¢ll thank Donald Muir, ââ?¬Ë?the enemy withinââ?¬â?¢, sometime in the future?

Walter Smith has revealed he is not looking to sign another striker, despite losing Nikica Jelavic in Europe. More...