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News and comment on Rangers FC.

1. Tim Waits 09.26.06 / 12am

   Dear Eck,

   I can’t tell you how glad I am to see you so full of fresh hope. But at the risk of jinxing one of the surest predictors on the internet (the Fat Eck Mood & Hunch Index — FEMHI — is one of the most widely-followed indicators out there, as you and WSC surely know), let me suggest that the GS / Polly Gwen comparison is not entirely, like, you know, um . . . accurate.

   First, Polly has had an extra month in which to prepare for his (drumroll please) Baptism By Fire. Strachan was pitched into his first match in late August. No paranoia here, but isn’t it convenient that the computer spat out a schedule that gave your new genius an extra month to oil his machine?

   Second, we played against 11 the whole game on Saturday and kept a clean sheet, two things you can’t say about your performance last August.

   Third, if you look at the three matches played prior to our little visit to your noiseome lair last August and the four thereafter (and you can - I love the internet), all seven were wins. Part of your problem is that Polly has been sputtering for two full months, in too many games. At this point last season we were laboring under the humiliation (yes, it was humiliating) of losing to Arts&MediaStudies — but were on a roll in the league. And Clyde came later, so shut it.

   Finally, I don’t know what you see in Polly’s eyes when he’s answering questions, but his googly, wide-eyed stare kind of reminds me of the look my daughter’s guinea pig has when it’s time to clean his cage (all the loud noises make him jumpy). And if you can look deep into those limpid pools of Gallic expression and see a plan that involves turning his current collection of second-rate gutless wonders into a team that can beat the rest of the SPL — nevermind Celtic — on a semi-regular basis, he’s done a better job on you than Putin did on George Bush in their first meeting.

   Please don’t sack him yet. I wouldn’t have believed it before the beginning of the season (I was one of those who were most unpleasantly surprised that you lot had landed a big name manager to take over from Alex “I’m looking to get back into football — anyone?” McLeish) but he may just leave you all in even greater disarray than you were when he took over.

   Yours In Double Reverse Jinxes,

   Tim Waits
2. ton Bailey 09.26.06 / 3am

   Again we seem to putting our heads in the sand and again we seem to be underestimating Strachan and his club.
   PLG will need time that is obvious, however to think that its only PLG and Rangers that have a long term plan is just crazy!
   They have a plan and its working, they also have finance to help make it work and will have even more when this seasons CL cash is distributed.
   PLG can only do so much, to suggest he can beat Strachan with virtually half of Strachans budget is exactly the kind of music Bain and DM want to hear.
   Strachan does portray someone who is stressed and uneasy, however I suspect he’s pulling the wool over all ours eyes and his long term stategy for his club is bearing fruit. He now has a very good OF record and can apporach the next game at Ibrox with little or no pressure. Should PLG on the other hand lose this game then the roof will fall in, that kind of pressure for a manager without a budget can be fatal.

   Before we pretend that our opponents have problems I suggest its best to try to solve our own first.
   I do think your article will be most welcome at DM and Bains offices as lets face it they have drawn up PLG’s plan for the future but maybe PLG isn’t too happy with the absense of serious cash to implement said blue-print.
3. Gogs 09.26.06 / 11am

   But is Strachan and Celtic’s plan working?

   I mean, at the moment they are a better team than us…but the jury is still out as to whether that means BETTER, or less bad. I’m not taking anything away from Celtic at the weekend, but let’s be honest. They are a MILLION miles away from the team that MON had (and EVEN THEN, we still managed to sneak a couple of league titles)

   I watched the game live on TV, and although I know you can’t tell everything from that, I was quietly pleased with the way we played. A little bit of luck, and things could have been so very different. It certainly wasn’t the doing that was predicted.

   Papac looks to be a really good player, and despite the criticism I thought Barry Ferguson showed glimpses of his old form. Much has been made of the fact that we created so few chances, but I wouldn’t exactly say that Allan McGregor was run off his feet either.

   The result was of course a major disappointment, but we musn’t be too narrow minded here. Yes we need a couple of experienced players, and yes we are also not firing on all cylinders, but can any Teds fan honestly say that we are as bad as we were (and were heading) with big ‘Eck. We now have almost NO debt, and we have a manager in place who has a LONG term plan, our youth setup has been totally revamped, and I think come January we’ll see another couple of experienced players come in.

   This is, I think, THE most difficult time in years to be a Rangers fan. So much has been anticipated, so much has been promised….we just HAVE to have the patience to allow it to happen.

   Remember, the darkest time is always just before dawn….
4. lospalmas7 09.26.06 / 11am

   Gogs, I’d have to take issue with “sneaking” league wins btw! That sad, I do think there has to be a realism. Realistically, whither Rangers like it or not, the PLG project isnt bearing fruit yet, Yon other lot are much more settled, have much more scope to introduce younger players into a successful team, are going to make much more money from this CL run and are spending tons more than Rangers.
   Now I’m a Rangers fan, but I’m not go say that this is anything other than unpalatable at best.
   Under no circumstances will I ever let our custodian away with this. We are where we are today due to him and him alone. I could even take the “humilty” bit from DM, but he still lies, smoke and mirrors and misleads, and frankly I’m sick to the back teeth of his ego adversely affecting our club. The latest “gem” was at the AGM. “I didnt say �10m the papers did” Aye right Davie… I wasnt exactly deafened by your demands for this to be corrected. Face it troops, DM is making the club as debt free as possible and the ultimate success of Rangers is seen as a by product of this plan, NOT the main driver unfortunately. The history this guy has got is there for all to see, and I’m afraid I fundamentally disagree with blind support of our chairman
5. lospalmas7 09.26.06 / 11am

   “Face it troops, DM is making the club as debt free as possible and the ultimate success of Rangers is seen as a by product of this plan, NOT the main driver unfortunately”
   Correction This should have said “debt free ready to sell”
6. Derek 09.26.06 / 1pm

   Lospalmas7, I don’t go down the route of the fact that being debt free makes us more sellable. All it does is changes where the cash ends up that the buyer pays.

   If Murray leaked the �10M story then he should be criticised, but if he didn’t (and I accept it’s a big if) then I don’t see why he should correct what the press were speculating with. There is always going to be speculation and Murray can’t run off to the press to correct something every time they claim we have �x to spend or are interested in x player.

   There are a number of areas where Murray should be defending the club more in the press, but I don’t think that this is one of them.

   You say that they have more scope for bringing in younger players? Did we not start the game with 7 outfield players 22 or under the other week?
7. Fat Eck 09.26.06 / 7pm

   Tim - superb. But will you, as your name of the plumbs suggests, Wait(s)? Will you Wait til the season’s end - til le Guen’s reign ends, in fact - and be as studious in your analysis of my , by then, heavily glaotful posts?

   I can see you: small close-set eyes, large jaw, stubble, dishevelled suit, rasping your broken glass-grizzled voice into a smoke-drenched microphone in a New Orleans bar, wondering languidly and soulfully and morunfully to your audience of comatose bums and enebriated reprobates “why-oh-why did that FEMHI-dom let me down? - why’d it go break on us, Sistah? - why’d Wee Gordy ‘get into trouble’ … and Polly Gewn gone done broke mah heart??!!”.

   Of course, ye could well be right mate - it could all just be going tits-up for The Teds on a permanent basis and if we don’t sack that damn fool Murray and his latest managerial flop we’ll never scale the heights of second place again but, while I freely admit to the previous accuracy of the FEMHI (quality, BTW - flattered) - if you don’t mind me stereotyping you for a sec, I also see a reassuring Celtic-support trend in your little post.

   it’s - ooh-er, madam - very long and very, very detailed (by NORMAL standards - my rants are always verbose)I was actually saying Strach did well last season to get over a bad start but - HEY - it apparently wisnae really that bad a start and, hey, you mite want to ignore the fact that we’ve actually been getting WORSE this season so meeting your mob earlier would have been another Masonic advantage but FIRST AND FOREMOST, I always know when Celtic fans are worried when they start going to such lengths to assure Rangers fans that they have no right to be bullish.

   Happens all the time. A Rangers win or a Rangers loss attracts far less attention in itself from our seperated brethren than Rangers fans not suffering as much as youse feel they should be. It’s a kind of panic among you - much like an entire stadium full of tremulous guinea pigs, if you will - and a sure giveaway that the gloating is a thin veil of relief … at which any Rangers coolness is chipping away.

   Ach - it’s always about the enemy with you guys whereas, as the remainder of posts on this thread show you, with Rangers fans it’s always about The Rangers! We’re strange like that - worrying only about our own team.

   What do you guys hope to achieve tonight - another step towards finally qualifying from a Champions League Group stage? Oops - that dud McLeish managed that last season.

   Yese got fucked 5-0, man - HUMPED - a stain on yer European history. Forget even the losing OF game at Ibrox last August which, as you reminded me, was yet another rigged affair: You did well to come back from that to win the league and it was much much worse than anything Le Guen’s been party to so far.

   We’re both guessing - but don’t look around the eyes, don’t look around them … I’m back in the Blue Room, backing Le Guen to achieve more than wee Gordy ever does.
   (mind you, they’ve already got a CWC medal each as players! Mmmm - interesting … for me)

   Lads - just for the record, and not having a go at anyone, when Murray slated the media in the Rangers News i thought he soudned like a bleating, whinging Sellik fan. I was raging at him for that and said so. I don’t support him on EVERYTHING - but I do have my reasons for loving him. I’m gratefeul for all the achievements of the period he’s presided over - that’s all - and I seem to be the only guy here who remebers the early-mid-eighties.

   He can lie all he fekin likes - as long as they’re the right lies and as long as the team delivers on the pitch. And he can leave if he likes, as long as we get taken over by someone who’ll turn it all up a notch on the pitch … and keep our managers wearing shirts, ties and blazers and not cheapo tracksuits.

   Standards, goddamit - STANDARDS! Like a bit of fucking loyalty and the ability to see farther back than the last two weeks. Bill Struth, for me, set the benchmark for the standards of this club ON AND OFF the field(and he was nae slouch in the auld boardroom power dealings either, by the way!) - he didnae win the league every year but he ensured we still behaved like the best club in the world even when fortune was against us - and he’ll be raging when he hears us … wait a minite - what am I doing - I’d better not mention the Bill Struth thing again - some moron came on here after my spiel about the renaming of the Main Stand saying that I was insulting Struth by comparing him to Murray. Me, insulting Bill Struth???!! FFS! But this is what it’s become like - ye can’t stick up for one guy without automatically being deemed to be insulting some other employee or fans of the club we all purport to love.

   Am I supposed to want Murray’s successor to fail so as to prove a point? Am i meant to gloat if he does? NO FUCKING WAY! It’s all about RANGERS and, FFS, it’s all about loyalty where its due and a bit of common sense. Most people deserve criticism some times and praise at others. If all they’re get is criticism then I’ll try and even it out if - in my VERY VERY VERY HUMBLE opinion - it’s undeserved. No black and white - just Red White and Blue.

   So, what I’m trying to say is, if we lose to Molde on Thursday, Murray and Le Guen can get tae fuck! :-)
8. Toddy 09.27.06 / 6am

   Well said Eck, let them have their day in the sunshine, how quickly they forget 9 in a row.

   Murray, Le Guen, Fergie, Boydy, Burkey, The fans, THE CLUB will shout NO FUCKING SURRENDER and we will prevail.

   :)
9. Toddy 09.27.06 / 6am

   The sun is shining on the fresh cut grass,
   That will help make that perfect pass,
   The beautiful net is strung real tight,
   Between the posts of the purest white,
   Securing boots, socks and pads,
   You can sense the excitement in the lads,
   5 Minutes to go you hear the official say,
   As you start to visualise the opening play,
   Last minute plans and pats on the back,
   From defence to midfield and finally attack,
   Walking down the tunnel you see the light,
   As you get pumped and psyched for the fight,
   The cheers grow to a deafening sound,
   As the heart inside you begins to pound,
   Can you hear that boys what a brilliant crowd,
   Now lets get out there and make them proud.
   Lets hear it again for the RED, WHITE and BLUE
   The RANGERS are for everyone, for mena and for you!!!!
10. Tim Waits 09.27.06 / 3pm

    “Tim - superb. But will you, as your name of the plumbs suggests, Wait(s)? Will you Wait til the season�s end - til le Guen�s reign ends, in fact - and be as studious in your analysis of my , by then, heavily glaotful posts?”

    Of course not. I just come here for the cheap shots — like some no-name dive by the side of the road where all the toilets are jammed, the customers are ugly, the floor is sticky and they serve your shots of bourbon from a big plastic bottle. Every Celtic fan should slum it every now and then, just to see how the other half lives.
11. Derek 09.27.06 / 4pm

    “like some no-name dive” - I think it’s actually got a name - the Brazen Head.
12. Tim Waits 09.27.06 / 6pm

    Never been in the Brazen myself, but I hear the only better place to get a perfectly-executed, exquisitely chilled and impeccably dry martini in refined and elegant surroundings is the Louden Tavern. True?
13. ton Bailey 09.28.06 / 4am

    Fat Eck.

    you say its all about Rangers but your whole post is about Celtic!!!
    Its about time you and other fellow bears look to see the wider picture and see that Celtic are indeed streets ahead.

    In terms of structure, squad and financial clout they are miles ahead. Next year they are predicting a �75m turnover while ours will drop to below �40m, we need �45 to break even.
    PLG IMO is by far the best manager compared to Strachan, however Strachan will be provided with more amo from his board to realise their ambitions, while we have DM who has just about gave up and is on borrowed time until someone buys the club. Even then finding a man with enough cash to also take on the MIH debt that has been moved sideways. Our support are ignorant to the money we actually owe and this is down the the smoke and mirors of DM.

    We as fans are quilty of negelct and for not challenging this liar of a chariman, however with fans like you with their heads still firmly stuck in the sand the job is made all the more difficult.

    Ask yourself this question and answer truthfully.

    Who is going to win the SPL this year?

    Its not going to be Rangers!
14. Toddy 09.28.06 / 6am

    ton….Love yer optimism sunshine, after only 8 games of the season. I agree that we are not in the strongest possible position at the moment and IMHO the buys that we made were of a poor standard compared to any other club in the off season, however with PLG in charge anything is possible, lets be honest the Lyon side he had were not exactly world beaters at the time…time that seems to be a word that many of our support have forgotten, time to gel as a team, time for PLG to settle, time to make up ground on the leaders…its a long season and the CL will take its toll on Celtic to be sure, the SPL does not have the depth of the other sides and cannot compete accordingly at a SQUAD level.

    I’ll stand corrected IF we lose against Molde, IF we don’t beat Aberdeen on Sunday….we need to stay united and strong behind our team and they will follow follow with better, stronger, co-ordinated play on the pitch where it matters, not in the boardroom.
15. Derek 09.28.06 / 8am

    Ton, I doubt Celtic’s turnover will be as high as �75m, and doubt ours will be below �40m. Comparing turnover next year is a bit like apples and oranges anyway.

    TW, you are comparing Loudens to the Brazen Head? LOL.
16. Ted 09.28.06 / 9am

    I don’t get Ton’s statements either. Celtic’s summer transfer business consisted of 3 Bosman signings, a low-scale signing from Feyenoord and the debatable signing of Jarosik. Their August purchases of Vennegoor, Gravesen and Naylor were dependent entirely upon the sale of their best player, Petrov. This was not an excess of cash Celtic had lying around. JVOH looks like being a good striker whilst even the dumbest Tim would concede the jury is still out on the other two.

    One would quibble all day about the merits of individual players in each squad but, whatever way the argument ended up, it would be stretching it to say Celtic are ‘miles ahead’ in this department.

    And I don’t really know what’s meant by ’structure’.
17. Fat Eck 09.28.06 / 12pm

    Tim Waits - I’m from Ayrshire - those sound like positively classy liitle wine bars you’re describing! :-)also - don’t you find it strange that you’re being less harsh on Rangers than “Ton Bailey” ;-)

    Toddy - what you doin, mate? being optimistic about Rangers? Why? remaining positive despite the fact its September and, obviously the season is already over for us? You mental? You insane? WAKE UP, MAN - WAKE UP!! Anyone supporting The Gers is delusional, avoiding the wider picture, real deal, truth etc. Don’t come on here being “loyal” FFS mate - you’re tantamount to a Celtic fan is you stick by Rangers these days :-)

    Ton - yes, very good. Answer this question truthfully - who will win the SPL this season? Truthfully - I don’t know - no-one does. It’s September. That’s why they have 38 games - to make it more interesting. Truthfully - who did I think was gonnae win the league on 22nd May 2005? If ithad been my mortgage on it I would have said Celtic - yet look what happened. No-one knows til it’s over mate - Except yourself of course - and you’re being Sooooo truthful.

    That’s two posts telling us how financially far ahead celtic are and that “burying our heads in the sand” line, the crie de coueur of conspiracy theorists and general nut-jobs everywhere. You have a very British e-mail address and, don’t get me wrong, I’m not one of those who thinks its a mortal sin to admit your team’s in a bad way, but you seem just a little TOO rabid about how desperate things are.

    Don’t fucking worry yerself - I know - god knows I know - many Bears have problems with DM and, more than that, there is a very vocal, very militant, very full-of-themselves-rather-than-the-club group of Bluenoses who want us all to hate and oust Murray - these are the kind of people who tell me, for example, not to clap my own team after a loss. And if a reliable billionaire wants to come in and start doing a Chelsea with us then I’ll say “thanks very much Mr Murray - see ya” - but I will say “thanks” as I bid him adieu. He’s going anyway - thanks to folk like yerself so i don’t think you have to worry about the ignorance of the Rangers support - unless, of course, you mean “ignorance” as in “lack of manners”, in which case you’re more culpable than the vast majority of Bears.

    You don’t know who’s gonnae come in and you DO know that Murray’s won 13 league titles in 18 years - but you want him out and you seem to think there is such a thing as a chairman who doesn’t tell lies (next thing you’ll want a midfielder who doesn’t committ fouls). Tell me, who is burying their heads in the sand here.

    We’re having a bad start to the season. Its September and we aint out of any competition yet. Did you start watching football yesterday?

    and, more to the point, where did you go to watch your football?

    I’m talking about Celtic in the context of their bad start to last season showing a bad start means nothing in the long term (as you so gleefully point out about Celtic’s current blidssful state) and then I’m having a bit of banter with Tim Waits - he’s a celtic fan so will want to talk about celtic. You,on the other hand, are subsumed in a world of green and white hooped victory.

    You enjoy yerself while ye can, Ton.

    I know I just have! :-)
18. Tim Waits 09.28.06 / 3pm

    Ayrshire? That’s not slumming - that’s spelunking.

    Have fun with the fungus tonight. Can’t see you losing to them, since they couldn’t even score against you last time around at their own home ground — and you are dismal, truly — but one never knows, do one?
19. Gogs 09.28.06 / 3pm

    If any Bear (or paranoid Tim ;) ) wants to watch the game on the internet, you can do so here….

    http://play.www.rangers.servecast.net/ppv/rangers/index.asp
20. Boaby 09.28.06 / 5pm

    The Brazen Head?

    Nearest pub to my house. In fact I could probably boot a baw from my front gairden into the wee beer gairden bit at the back.

    I actually considered (stupidly) watching the Celtic v Man. U. game there the other week, as I wanted Celtic to win (No, really). I got to within about 20 feet of the front door and the raucus IRA singing put me off. Ended up watching it in the Laurieston - much nicer.
    I also went into the Brazen Head for a pint one Saturday night with my girlfriend, about four years ago. We’d been bevvying in town and were passing on the way to my house and thought we’d grab a swift night-cap.
    There was a “folk” (aherm) band on, who were between songs as we walked in. Whilst at the bar ordering our drinks, the band launched into a song which had the same tune as “My Old Man’s A Dustman” but had the lyrics “My Old Man’s A Provo”. Needless to say I told the barmaid I’d get a beer somewhere else. That was the last time I actually tried to buy a drink in the place. Doesn’t appear to have changed much.

    Lovely pub.

    For balance, the “Glaswegian” isn’t too far away either and it can be just as bad, albeit in the opposite “direction”, if you will.
21. Toddy 09.29.06 / 12am

    Eck, it must be the whole Ayrshire connection, being a West Kilbride lad myself…I suppose I am just not ready to roll over and die like some of the would be Gers fans, that’s what makes a supporter from a spectator.

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