starchief

Huh? For what? Gate receipts?

How pathetic is Scottish football if selling your only real striker and losing 10 points does absolutely zero to the table. If this doesn't show what's wrong with Scottish football, I'm not sure what does. The things Craig Whyte is saying too just makes me believe that nothing much will happen with Rangers. A bit of restructing. Reduced means. Then carrying on with a budget that means buying McArthur and Cowie when they were in the SPL, instead of Edu and Jelavic. Not sure that would be such a bad move anyway. I've never worked in tax but I have in environmental regulation. If an owner polluted a river, we would be entitled to sue him (polluter pays principle). However, if he was going to go bust and we would get nothing, a solution would be found to try to recover some money and make sure he didn't do it again. Revenge was never really part of the issue. As much as many think morally Rangers should get shafted for trying to illicitly gain tax breaks, the HMRC should really be emotionless about this. Fine them as much as it takes but liquidation means no-one gains. Not HMRC, not the tea-lady. A hefty fine means no big-time players. Seems the likely solution.

Slightly Slightly off topic but... I get annoyed when the striker's missed a glorious chance, then he notices he's been flagged offside. He then proceeds to tell the linesman how blind he is. Personally, if I were the ref, I'd just say, ok, you weren't offside. You missed an open goal you buffoon. Bi-kick then, coz you nearly hit the corner flag, with your bloody awful shot.

Son of Rangers is no more 'outrageously unjust' that Son of Airdrie. Couldn't pay their debts. Slightly changed their name. Bought the licence out (from Clydebank) and continued playing. Can't see much of a difference there. Why is it one rule for one club and another for the rest? Indeed, if Rangers were treated like the rest of the SPL, instead of the one club (Gretna), they wouldn't even be docked any points. As for, the SPL would be more exciting coz Celtic wouldn't spend so much. As their finances decrease, so would the rest. They still have 5 to 10x the crowds of everyone else for a start, plus a worldwide following. In the face of a broke Rangers, a broke Hearts and no-one else investing, Celtic would expect Championships every season - just like Rangers did when they were the only ones spending. Scottish football has a bigger problem than Rangers going into administration. It needs root'n'branch work. A total redistribution of monies. I just can't see that happening. Despite all these tax and law experts in green telling us what administration means, I don't think any has a clue as to the machinations of why this is happening. I don't think it's anywhere as simple as 'Rangers have no money and Whyte doesn't know what he's doing'. I suspect he knows exactly where the club will be in 2 years time or so. However, I've no idea. But I'm pretty sure it won't be a league much different from what it is now. Unfortunately.

I find him annoying and offensive. ...and the sooner he stops opening pointless threads, the better.

Yes. The game is bankrupt across the world. FIFA/UEFA needs to take the stand to say it's unacceptable. I'd even be in favour of people going down like flies, clutching their faces when they are 10 yards from the likes of Samaras and Naismith.

Definitely needed either Sutherland or Winnall in that centre-forward, or, better still, Andrew Shinnie, who would have scored a couple. Let's hope he can get rid of his injury problems for good soon.

Time to go to Ebbe Skovdahl's quote about stats and miniskirts. If Rangers get relegated to SFL3 then that manager would be the most successful ever, based on stats. It's winning games that count that really matters. Thought Capello was truly hopeless in the World Cup. If he hadn't had such a large salary to buy out, I doubt he would have been kept on.

No chance of him being offered the post but absolutely he'd say yes. It's naive in the extreme to believe anything different.

This is an outfield team we have been unable to play for large parts of the season through sustained or multiple injury. Not too bad is it for a team we have to do without? Piermayr - Meekings - Golobart - Gillet Proctor - Jones - Cox - Doran Hayes - A.Shinnie

Yeah, you're right about last.fm. Only, you can have it monitor what you play, so it constructs a playlist based on that (plus recommendations). I actually prefer it that way, than choosing my own sounds. I learn about new bands (Motorama now being on heavy rotation) and get welcome old favourites coming on unexpectedly. Vinyl is lovely. CDs? Nah, cheap little silver nonsense. I have no nostalgia for them.

With Last.FM and Spotify, is there any need to buy any music ever again? (although I do have a lot of indie eighties music that will probably never make it on there - Enormous Room anyone?)

Bit of a shock this one. After two successive promotions and being resonably secure in SFL1, Livi have sacked Gary Bollan for not having enough kids in the team. I see this as sheer folly from the team I still view as our real rivals. If Bollan had played a team of youngsters (and there's a few in there), there's no guarantee they would be in SFL1. It's just simple mindedness of the directors. They probably see Falkirk selling a player and think that it's easy. But it's not. When did Falkirk sell a player for any money before that? Expect a nose dive if they get a 'yes sir' manager in.

I presume the tactics were, that Celtic would normally try to hem us in on our goal line. So hoofing a ball up, with Celtic's defenders pressed so far forward, would give a quick runner like Hayes an opportunity to steal a march. Unfortunately, Celtic were fairly average. They played quite cautiously, with only really Brown and Hooper being something spectacular. Hence, their back four, played fairly deep, so nothing to get beyond. As I said before, Tansey had a real off-day but tried so hard. Another time, he would be pinging passes out left, right and centre. I do like him as a player but it just didn't happen on Saturday for him. I've no problem with Foran's play. Did probably best out of all the midfield and attacking players. Gnasher also looked as though he could be good when he came on. Give him a few more games and we can see if he's a player, or if he flatters to deceive.

Network of contacts isn't much use if your in administration. They're not in administration. They made one signing in Celik. Possibly a more experienced manager could have done more with that wage. Who knows? Must be tempting to think that way for some supporters and the board.

I wonder about McCoist's role now. He's on a hiding to nothing with the current situation but you can't help wonder what an experienced manager might be able to pull out of the hat. Would a Craig Brown or a Jimmy Calderwood have stronger network of contacts at a lower level? Would a Bobby Williamson or a Paul Sturrock have a better command of tactics than an untried manager? Would a Jim Jeffries be able to entice the likes of Rudi Skacel and David Templeton? Tempting to think so for their supporters.

Tokely's had some terrific games this season. He's less of a bomb scare than Golobart, Williams has barely played to have an opinion and Gillet is a great marker but needs some presence alongside him. Tokely has to be the first choice centre-back until Golobart grows up (which he's beginning to do) or Williams plays more than two games in a row. And, of course, we'll soon be at the 'no-one's got a contract' stage. There's no certainty Hogg will be back, or back as the player he was. It's probable that neither Golobart or Williams will sign a contract. It's getting a bit hysterical. When ICT were pushing forward, I noticed Proctor stepping up, tidying up and beginning moves with some intelligent passing. He's such a defensive midfielder, it's ridiculous he's never been played there. Oh, and I thought Foran did quite well yesterday - not world-shattering, but a decent shift. It's not a glamorous role he's in, so isn't going to be eye-catching either. I can see why Ross was taken off. It wasn't about how well or bad he was playing but Tansey and Foran are always more likely to score (I felt sorry for Tansey - it just didn't click, even though he probably put in more work than anyone else in an blue shirt). So, in desperate times, it's a case of trying to nick a goal, rather than Nick's more subtle game.

Looking at your second link, there's a lot I don't like about the blog's logic. It reads like it's written by someone that doesn't really follow football but who's mild preference is for Celtic. I do. I remember a lot of opposition and calls for the OF to stop whining and make the SPL better. Yes there was. Initially, it boosted the other clubs, with the likes of Aberdeen signing a player for £1M, Hearts bidding £1M for Lee McCulloch etc but after a few years, I distinctly remember people saying how boring it was. Ah, the old defence. If someone disagrees with you, suggest something sinister, rather than a difference of opinion. Isn't that the whole problem???

In many cases you're right but I don't think looking back to the Eighties is the right model. There are plenty of young Scots coming through. However, back then, no-one would have swapped Hibs for Rochdale. Now, look at McGuire, Allan, Goodwillie etc. All content to sit on the bench at some club, earning a few pennies, rather than staying and competing for Europe and titles. Dundee United would never have held on to Sturrock, Narey, Hegarty, Bannon, McInally, Bowman, McAlpine etc etc these days. If Rangers collapsing (in reality, docked ten points and called Glasgow Rangers FC or some such) meant Celtic couldn't outspend everyone else, I'd be all in favour. However, without major surgery, Celtic would still have a budget that dwarves every other team. Looking to the 90s with Rangers winning everything, might be a more realistic comparison.

Have to say, I think it's pathetic that the old directors are coming out against Craig Whyte in respect of debt. What is the one biggest threat that could make Rangers fold? It's the tax bill. Run up by the very same directors who criticise Whyte for not spending money. It's the old board that is to blame. Yeah, Whyte seems a dodgy character but the only reason a dodgy character is in charge is because the previous regime was so monumentally bad that their decisions almost (and perhaps still might) close the club. Much as I'm surprised that Rangers sold but didn't buy in the transfer window, it's probably the right decision. Sacrifice the title to stay alive. Save their powder for after the tax bill and judge what they can afford next season (if they have any sense, free transfers for Riordan, O'Connor, Skacel and Hayes with McGregor being sold for extra cash). Wouldn't it great to get back to a situation where the Old Firm weren't quite so out of touch that a good manager could make his club challenge for the title? These days, Sir Alex and Big Jum McLean wouldn't be able to achieve anything with DU and the Dons. How woeful a state of affairs is that?

Aberdeen seems to have come out the strongest from that little line-up.

If Rangers collapse, who will win the SPL next year? And the year after? Who has the support to get close to the money that Celtic will be spending, even with a reduced income from TV, Old Firm games etc. The SPL is dull enough due to the dominance of the big two. And that lack of competition is to blame for the decline of Scottish football. But to have just one team with no competitors, winning title after title by tens of points??? Nothing will save Scottish football other than a complete redistribution of monies. Not 16 team leagues, where the Old Firm beat Queen of the South 7-0 and still win the SPL year upon year. Not investment in youth who up-sticks at the first sniff of the reserves at Derby. Only a league where a number of teams have a chance of winning could work If only Old Firm fans cared about Scottish football above their own club (or Rangers finances in the case of Celtic fans - amazing how many tax experts the Green Brigade have).

Probably Gil makes it above Berjam Fetai for the worst. Best, hmmm. I guess it's between Niculae, Mihaidjuks (even though he was rubbish for Dundee Utd), Gillet, Hastings and Xausa. For me, it's between the last two. Mihadjuks was great but coming in for the last few games of a relegated season isn't worth legend status. Xausa scored a lot of important goals but I'd give it to Hastings. He was a rock in the team for a number of years and should have been here longer, if it were not for some blind spot with Djebi-Zadi (and Proctor, who I think made Hastings game suffer by him having to constantly cover for him). Gillet needs to play a bit more to solidify his place.

Esson Meekings - Tokely - Williams - Gillet Foran - Tansey Hayes - Ross - Tade Sutherland Gnasher on the bench to see what a game with Celtic is actually like. Mackay is unlucky not to be playing after doing so well against Celtic last time. But then, it might seem an ideal game for Sutherland and Tade to run them ragged. Wish we had A.Shinnie through the middle (or Tansey pushed forward if Cox or Jones were available - obviously for very different reasons). That team will give them a battle without the naivety of all-out attack.

Only if they lose players in the transfer window. But it's a pretty strong team they have, especially in defence and centre mid. They will be no whipping boys if they get up.