Rangers FC Thread

[Saltire]

you going Thomson, manchester??

is anybody going from here?

nahh, iam not going but my brother says hes going and me pal too

[Jaffa]

Apparently it has been on the radio that Old Trafford and Ibrox both may show the game on big screens, not sure if its true though but would be a really sensible idea

[gazz10]

Apparently it has been on the radio that Old Trafford and Ibrox both may show the game on big screens, not sure if its true though but would be a really sensible idea

that sounds a good idea. After all 80 thousand went to seville, so am expecting the same or more in manchester as its only a couple of hours down the road from glasgow and no passport control at the border

[C64]

Never knew that about st petersburg, you got a link to that ??

Re the game and the pens, I had to get up and walk away from TV when it went to extra time, then again when it went to pens.

When Barry missed it I just sank into the chair and you get that horrible feeling in your guts, you know what I mean.

I read this somewhere else this morning and it pretty much somes up being a Rangers supporter and all footie supporters in general and how much football means to us

That's a good post mate

I'll never forget the 1st time i pulled on a Celtic top, I was about 9 (I had lived in South Africa up until I was 8 - not much coverage of the SPL over there in the 70's, ) - anyway my aunt had bought me a new celtic top and a pair of football boots, how smart did I feel as i laced up my boots, sitting there in my green shorts and new Celtic top!?!

I remember running around pretending I was Jimmy Johnstone, Bertie Auld etc - basically I was everyone of the Lisbon Lions all rolled into one wee 9 year old

[Jaffa]

Smith backs McCoist as successor

Walter Smith has no intention of walking away from Rangers just yet - but he would be thrilled to see Ally McCoist installed as his successor when he does quit the Ibrox hotseat.
McCoist took his first steps into coaching with the Scotland set-up when Smith was national team coach, before joining his old manager as his assistant at Rangers when Smith returned to the Govan club.
The Gers boss penned a three-and-a-half year deal in January 2007 and has no intention of quitting at the end of the season even if winning a quadruple would allow him to go out in a blaze of glory.
But when Smith, 60, finally decides to call it a day, he believes Rangers already have a ready-made replacement in former star striker McCoist.
"There is nothing set about Ally's future," he said.
"If it happened like that then I would be really pleased, but there is no intention on my part to maybe win four trophies and then leave.
"McCoist is different. A guy like myself and Kenny McDowell have worked our way up through the system from reserve team coaching, but for Ally, it is all new on a full-time basis.
"He got a taste of it with the national team and he gave up a lot to come to Rangers - he took the job knowing that if it didn't go well, it might not last long!"
Rangers' success in overcoming Fiorentina on penalties on Thursday night allowed Smith to join an elite list of Scottish managers who have guided teams to European finals.
But he insisted: " I've never really bothered about the personal aspect that much. I've never felt comfortable with that.
"Wee Jim (McLean), Jock Stein, Willie Waddell, Alex Ferguson... It's great to take a team to a European final and you could see how much it meant to Alex the other night.
"I don't think I need to prove to anybody that I can manage or coach a team.
"The only thing I ever bother about is winning - I like to win and we have surpassed my expectations in terms of that this year.
"If your team gets to a European final, the manager gets a bit of recognition and that's the nice part of it.
"But we also take a hit when things are not so good."
Smith is relishing his second spell at Ibrox but revealed a sabbatical from the game after leaving Everton could have been permanent had the Scottish Football Association not come calling.
He added: "The two years out were good. I was lucky - a lot of unemployed people can't afford to be. I could afford to be unemployed and it gave me an opportunity to sit back and look.
"I was able to go to games and watch teams without the pressure of having to manage. I found that really refreshing and that gave me a desire to come back.
"The Scotland job came at a good time after my three-month spell at Manchester United. Before that, it wouldn't have bothered me if I hadn't received an offer to come back into the game.
"I would have quite happily finished."
Meanwhile, Smith will wait until the end of the campaign before holding contract talks with veteran defender David Weir, who turns 38 this month.
"There's no problem but his family is settled in England," Smith said.
"The travelling has not affected him, but we'll see what his thoughts are at the end of the season."

Sporting Life

[allycoops]

I think Walter will see his 3 & half year contract out and i'd love to see Ally take over with Ian Durrant assistant. all three have Blue Blood and thats what matters imo,

[JamesieM]

Hi guys....spotted this thread when I've been trying to get to grips with my dads dbox.

Congratulations to Rangers for getting to teh Uefa final. I've got my hotel booked and reckon I've got a 30% chance in the ballot for a ticket.

Regardless, There are 6 of us heading to Manchester to party for two days.

Of my mates who are Celtic fans, (although they all hate the Rangers), some are happy for me to get the time away and party like they did in 2003 when they went over. It means a lot to us Bears to get to this stage.

I'd urge anyone who can get the time off to head down (or up).

[gazz10]

found out today my other half her pal sister and man have got theres they got theres from novo himself there pals with novo since he arrived at rangers, he even did some of the tats that novo got .

[allycoops]

lucky buggers , Ive got my feelers out for a couple but I aint hopeful to tell ya the truth and theres no way Im paying the silly prices on the bay,

Glad to see peeps reporting the touts and getting the tickets removed from there, scumbags putting tickets up for ?8000 buy it now FFS

[Tizzer22]

Rangers have made the league very exciting today by drawing 0-0, Celtic cant afford to loose anymore games now and if Rangers draw again before the end of the season its going down to goal diffrence.

C'MON THE HOOPS!!!

[Jaffa]

I think that was our hardest away game left but I just dont know where the goals are going to come from....I reckon Celtic will trip up aswell before end of season.

[Tizzer22]

I think that was our hardest away game left but I just dont know where the goals are going to come from....I reckon Celtic will trip up aswell before end of season.

I think Celtic will struggle with Hibs, Rangers will have a tough one against Motherwell as they almost drew with Celtic on Saturday and also Dundee Utd aint no fools, but at the moment the way Celtic have been playing it wouldint surprise me if we loss points before the end.

[allycoops]

Rangers Fans travel advice etc for Manchester

heres the official travel advice booklet for Rangers fans for Manchester,

may come in handy for any lads going down the road,

map of the city,car parks, Fan zone etc

[allycoops]

SPL set to extend season

UNDER-FIRE SPL bosses were last night on the verge of a dramatic cave-in to help Rangers in their bid for UEFA Cup glory.

the astonishing U-turn, which will see the season extended by a full week, should be completed today when executive chairman Lex Gold tables an eleventh hour plan to postpone the Scottish Cup Final.

Gold's climbdown, which came about at the end of a day of frantic phone calls and furious rows, will allow the Ibrox club to pull the plug on this Saturday's Ibrox showdown with Dundee United - and give Walter Smith and his players a free week to prepare to play against Zenit St Petersburg for the UEFA Cup in Manchester on May 14.

But it will also enrage Celtic who fear their title defence could be wrecked by giving Rangers more breathing space.

The dramatic new twist came at teatime last night when Gold and secretary Ian Blair found themselves under pressure from SFA president George Peat as well as Rangers chief executive Martin Bain.

Peat was all set to march into the SPL's offices first thing this morning and insist the league be extended to help Rangers get ready for their date with destiny against Dick Advocaat's side.

Both Peat and SFA chief exceutive Gordon Smith believe it would be grossly unfair to force Rangers into playing a crucial league match just four days before they attempt to make history at the City of Manchester Stadium.

Peat told Record Sport: "We should be doing everything in our power to help a Scottish club win in Europe."

Now Peat will have to agree to put back his organisation's own end-of-season showpiece, Rangers v Queen of the South at Hampden.

But sources close to the talks are sure a deal can be struck and expect Gold to make an announcement this afternoon.

It seemed far off yesterday at lunchtime when, Record Sport can reveal, Rangers had a request to postpone Saturday's game turned down flat.

This sparked fury from Bain who demanded Gold think again. Then, when it became clear the SFA were about to wade into the argument and take Rangers' side, it emerged Gold and Blair were beginning to wobble on their previous hard-line stance.

Rangers had been hoping the SPL would follow the lead set by the Russian authorities who have bent over backwards to assist Advcocaat in his quest to land a European prize.

But the the SPL stood firm, demanding Smith's team face United as planned - four days before the game in Manchester.

SPL spokesman Greg Mailer said: "The SPL has decided that we will be pressing on with the fixture model which was announced on April 22, with the season to finish on May 22.

"We can confirm we have received a request from Rangers to postpone their fixture with Dundee United on Saturday. We are unable to do that for a number of different factors one of which is the need for the final round of league matches to be played with simultaneous kick-off times.

"This is necessary to ensure that no one club can gain an advantage over another club in terms of winning the championship or qualification for Europe through the UEFA Cup."

But just hours later, as the pressure mounted, league bosses cracked and informed Rangers they were examining a compromise.

That plan will see Gold ask the SFA to reschedule the Cup Final for May 31.

However, this is guaranteed to spark further controversy as by then First Division minnows Queen of the South would have been idle for five weeks.

Celtic are sure to be spitting feathers also over yet another delay to the season.

Parkhead chief executive Peter Lawwell was furious at the initial extension of just four days, which was made to assist Rangers' Euro run.

Celtic might even consider a legal challenge to this latest act of goodwill towards their rivals.

Gordon Strachan's side are seven points clear at the top of the table but Rangers have three games in hand.

Understandably, Celtic had been hoping for Rangers to trip up amid the fixture congestion.

However, the SFA are adamant everything possible should be done to assist Smith's men in their bid to become only the fourth Scottish team to win a European trophy.

Peat said: "It's not important that it's Rangers. What matters is that this country has to help one of its own clubs succeed in such a big arena.

"The SPL should be turning somersaults because a Scottish club are in a European final and must reconsider the decision not to postpone Saturday's match."

Ex-Rangers boss Advocaat even expressed his amazemant that the Scottish authorities wouldn't help own of their own clubs but the SFA are out to put that right.

Peat added: "The Dundee United match can be moved and should be moved.

"We should all be doing our utmost to ensure the Scottish club's chances of winning in Europe are enhanced.

"I don't understand why it should be any other way. I really don't see why they can't move this game.

"The SPL have to tell the SFA when they will finish their season and we agree to that so we can then agree to a further extension.

"We have to accept these are exceptional circumstances.

"We have a Scottish club in a European final and if we can't help them there is something wrong.

"It would be exactly the same if it were Celtic, Aberdeen, Hibs, Motherwell, Dundee United, any of the others.

"There is an opportunity here to improve the Scottish profile.

"Everything possible should be done and that's what we'll be telling the SPL in the morning."

Rangers were staying tight lipped last night, although Bain is hopeful the saga will finally be resolved today.

[allycoops]

league aint getting extended,

http://www.scotprem.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10002~1306624,00.html