Tontospal

This is a common misconception. Bougherra was signed before Cuellar actually requested a transfer. If Cuellar stayed then he was going to be Weir's replacement and Magic was going to step into Cuellar's shoes as understudy. So Magic is Cuellar's replacement but Davie hasn't been replaced That doesn't make any sense. IMO Bougherra was signed to replace Weir and partner Cuellar. He made his debut against Falkirk the day before Cuellar requested a transfer (or more to the point told Rangers he was leaving). Although the partnership is now Weir and Bougherra, Bougherra is only Cuellar's replacement by default.

The NYPD chief has praised the behaviour of 5 thousand Boston Red Sox fans who travelled to New York for the match on Tuesday. Despite there being a few incidents and a few arrests he said that the fans were well behaved and should be proud of themselves as they were ambassadors for Boston. New Yorkers are bewildered, bemused and furious with these comments given the fans vociferous support, including organised celebrations in social clubs, for Al Queda in a city that was bombed by the terrorist organisation. One New Yorker was quoted as saying that: 'drunken revelry is one thing but it is disgusting and incredible that these reprobates not only get away with their public support for the terrorist scum but are actually praised for their behaviour'. Of course the above never happened and is actually beyond the realms of reality but is it any different from the events in Manchester this week? The Manchester public, by and large, seem to have no complaints about our support. Indeed the businesses of the city were deighted with the windfall yet the GMP area different story. My understanding is that the Manchester public were/are disgusted at the open support of an organisation that caused such devastation to their city yet the GMP are falling over themselves to praise the hordes that openly revel in praise and support of these cowards.

This is a common misconception. Bougherra was signed before Cuellar actually requested a transfer.

Unbelievable if we replace a 10 million pound sentre back with a player who has struggled in the position(s) we actually bought him to play in the first half. If McCulloch had the attributes to play centre back then this would surely have been identified and tried by one of his coaches in the last 20 years of his football career? Smith has always played players out of position but this is surely a step too far even for him?

The most worrying thing is many see McCoist or Durrant as the next manager. Look at the difference Capello has made to England and compare to McLaren who had largely the same players at his disposal. The FA made a monumental mistake going with McLaren rather than breaking all ties with SGE's regime. IMO he was tainted as much as SGE for the failures of his regime.

No surprise. We had another blank week this week thanks to these 2 muppets (Smith & McCoist) who thought that players like McCulloch, Dailly and Adam were good enough to beat Kaunus. We will never progress on the football front until major changes are made in the boardroom and in the management and coaching staff. Yet again we are challenging with a weak celtc squad for the title and although we may win the title (as the best of 2 bad sides) the quality of football is dire with no signs of improvement.

Please expand upon your comments. What did he do last night to impress you? As I stated in my OP he gave the ball away with a very poor cross for Utd's third whilst he had a shot at goal that went in to row Z. He is meant to be a creative/productive player. What did he create last night? I can't dispute that on a few occasions he has shown glimpses of a decent player but he is in no way consistent or as good as some in the media would have us believe. Add to that that he is a key attacking player in a team that hasn't scored a goal in 3 Euro games this season and has only gained 1 point out of 51 on the road. Please enlighten me how that stat is a little blinded by politics?

I heard an interesting rumour/allegation today about Gow that may explain why he never got a chance and ultimately failed to make it at Ibrox. I don't know how much, if any truth, is in it and I'm sceptical particularly as it's the first time I've heard it. The same reason was also given as to why Loovens actually chose celtc over us. A bit cryptic I know but I'm not going to expand on it other than to say that an ex-celtic centre half might get upset if I did.

McGeady passed the ball to Van der Sar when he was in a decent attacking position and less than 20 seconds later Utd score. Aditionally the last kick of the match was a shot from McGeady that would have ended up in the cricket ground if the stand wasn't so high. The most overrated player in Scottish football today. The adulation and adoration of McGeady from the football journalists in Scotland is not backed up by his performances on the pitch.

100K on Man Utd to win last night would have given a nice tax-free return of 25%. Yes it's a gamble but that was the nearest thing to a certainty as you can get in football and there was no need to pay a cut to a stockbroker regarding the transaction. As recent events have shown, there is no difference to gambling in the stock market or the bookies. At least with the bookies you know what the likely loss/return is, the timescale involved and most of us are more likely to have an educated punt as opposed to a gamble on the unknown regarding stocks and shares. Did I mention it was also a 25% tax free return FOR A 90 minute investment.

I don't want to piss on your bonfire but that only applies to the CL so why would we sing it when we weren't even good enough to qualify for it? Additionally they scored 2 against us in the last game and it's a certainty if you sing that at the next game they'll score. The :bouncy: is sectarian. Spread the word ? ALIEN ALERT!!! TONTO IS A FUCKIN SCUM BEGGIN INBRED CUNT! BAN HIM.....my caps were on deliberately Tonto please excuse me...i did not read ur posts just because you are a new member What did I say that would lead you to think I was from the dark side?

I don't want to piss on your bonfire but that only applies to the CL so why would we sing it when we weren't even good enough to qualify for it? Additionally they scored 2 against us in the last game and it's a certainty if you sing that at the next game they'll score. The :bouncy: is sectarian. Spread the word ? Don't worry about it. I'm basically giving you the 'sniff sniff' treatment. low post count and a controvertial post forced me in to action, now matter how truthful you were Basically having a laugh. Ok, thought that was it but never got the :bouncy: reference.

3 goals for us could have won us the title last year Smith should be asked why he signed Gow and why he failed to play him when the squad were on their knees last season. We deserve to be told

Good thread title Tonto Cheers. It would probably make a good text for Talksport in the morning. Imagine Ronnie reading that out to Brazil.

I don't want to piss on your bonfire but that only applies to the CL so why would we sing it when we weren't even good enough to qualify for it? Additionally they scored 2 against us in the last game and it's a certainty if you sing that at the next game they'll score. The :bouncy: is sectarian. Spread the word ?

Lucky for them that Utd treated the game like a training session. It was 3-0 going on 8, even with the offside goals chopped off. They are delusional, they really are.

I don't want to piss on your bonfire but that only applies to the CL so why would we sing it when we weren't even good enough to qualify for it? Additionally they scored 2 against us in the last game and it's a certainty if you sing that at the next game they'll score.

3 CL games, no goals 17 away games, no wins

Thought so, strange sense of humour the Mancs

Is it Rangers, can't make it out?

As for your point about the UEFA Cup and the last 16. All I will say is how many fans went to Ibrox hoping that we lost to Lyon so we could have a crack at the UEFA Cup? Similarly I .don't know one Rangers fan who left Ibrox after that defeat and, although taking small consolation from the fact we were in the UEFA Cup, was glad that we had not made the last 16. Last 16 is not comparible to last 32 or whatever of the UEFA cup that we dropped into. We did not drop into the UEFA Cup Final. We had to further progress past some very good sides. You are right it is not comparable. The last 16 of the CL sit at the top table whilst the last 32 of the UEFA Cup pick up the crumbs. We may have got past some decent sides but that does not detract from the fact that it is better to qualify for the last 16 of the CL than the last 32 of the UEFA Cup regardless of what happens after that. Smith is seen by many as a God yet IMO we were the 18th best side in Europe last season and this season we aren't even in the top 100/150/200? That's not exactly progress and it is for that reason he should have been thanked for his efforts and replaced.

I think we are just going to have to agree to disagree then. Perhaps my ambitions and demands for Rangers are a bit higher than yours although you will probably argue that mine are unrealistic. I don't blame Smith for most of the bigger picture, that lies with Murray and his monkey Bain but 2 domestic cups in the last 3 years is nothing short of disgraceful. But his signings on the whole have been very poor and not represented value for money. As for the fatigue argument last season there were players like Buffel, Gow, Fleck and Furman who could have been used much more than they were. Smith didn't trust, rate or fancy them when IMO we would have won the title had these players been used whilst giving other key players a rest and also giving these guys an opportunity to prove themselves and make history. As for your point about the UEFA Cup and the last 16. All I will say is how many fans went to Ibrox hoping that we lost to Lyon so we could have a crack at the UEFA Cup? Similarly I .don't know one Rangers fan who left Ibrox after that defeat and, although taking small consolation from the fact we were in the UEFA Cup, was glad that we had not made the last 16. It was an achievement to get to the UEFA Cup Final although it was as much down to good luck as Smith's tactics but the sad fact remains that the top 16 of last season's European football were in the CL and the UEFA Cup remains a competition for also-rans in the previous season's national leagues and those not good enough to qualify from the CL group stages. It might be the stuff that that lot came out with last season but it's true. I also stick with my opininon that we have had 2 good performances this season - celtc and Hibs away. Falkirk, Aberdeen and St Mirren away were poor whilst Hearts at home was decent and Kilmarnock and Motherwell at home also left a bit to be desired. No point even mentioning Kaunus. As I say my standards and ambitions may be unrealistic to many but a club of our size, history, infrastructure and support should be achieving so much more.

Did you not listen to any radio phone-ins or browse any internet forums after the Kaunus game? The majority of fans were demanding that Walter was sacked. If that was the case then why is he still the manager? Celtc and Hibs away have been our only decent performances this season IMO. Results in the league have generally been good but the performances have been dire. The St Mirren game highlighted the deficiencies of the manager, coaches and players when we played the bottom of the table (IIRC) after a clear week courtesy of our early Euro exit. I would love to know what the training consisted of that week and how it translated to that inept performance.

See comments in bold.

See comments in bold.