Rangers vs Berwick Rangers SFLD3 January 13

Notes for Rangers vs Berwick Rangers SFL Division 3 January 13 (Real Time)

Drew with Berwick earlier in the season 1 – 1 at Sheffield Park

Not good

Still better than 1967 when we lost 1 – 0 in Scottish Cup

The recriminations from that fateful and infamous day?

Manager Scott Symon not the same (read Leggo’s book on the man for more detail)

Players never playing for the Rangers again – Jim Forrest and George McLean

Team today 12th January Ibrox Stadium 3pm

Alexander; Hegarty, Perry, Cribari, Wallace; Little, Macleod, Hutton, Templeton Shiels, Sandaza

Subs: Currie, Crawford, Faure, Aird, Naismith

Sticking with Andy Little on the right and Cooper Templeton on the left

Shiels False no 9

Fran Sandaza playing centre forward as his partner

Midfield?

Black suspended

MacLeod steps back into his usual position

Supported with Hutton

And defence as last week’s draw with Elgin City

Well done Ross Perry making it back despite the nose injury

Today’s Officials

Previously posted on the noise coming from Scottish Football websites

Rangers getting favors from SFL /SFA about officials to Rangers Division 3 matches

Today it is Steven McLean yep another one of the country’s best ?

Atleast it is not that dud Stephen O’Reilly

(remember QOS Ibrox in Ramsden Cup for that reference?)

One of Mr McLean’s two assistants – 26 year old Lorraine Clark

The female making history

The first woman to officiate at a Rangers league game.

We did have one though at the ECL game vs Villarreal

Must be a Rangers thing

To the game

Rangers started slowly

5 minutes or so into the game though and they had started to get a grip of it

On 8 minutes a Gabriel Amato type run by Sandaza

Ball breaks to Andy Little on right side of the Berwick box

Little turns

And a scrappy pass come shot evades the “wee rangers” keeper

His 14^th goal of the season

1 – 0 Rangers

Minutes later and only a good save from the Berwick keeper stops it from being 2 – 0

Great pass from Cooper Templeton sets Sandaza down the left

Step over and left foot shot on target

Positive play by the Spaniard

Through the rest of the first half he works his socks off

And is unlucky with another couple of chances

As well as good link up play

Surely his fortune must change for the better soon?

A great run by Cooper Templeton deserves a goal

This time it is Brian Laudrup comparisons I draw

Again though the opposition keeper is up to the effort

The chance goes a begging

Little then takes advantage of good work from Shiels

His shot is dragged agonisingly wide of the keeper’s far end post

Half time it is 1 – nil deja vu from last week? Hope not!

Ironic goal has came from the right side

Cause almost all the danger is coming from Rangers left:

Copper Templeton and Wallace are a real handful

Why no Barrie McKay on the right I ask myself again?

Not on the bench – rested

Some controversial conversation on this wee gem during the week

Why he left  Kilmarnock – medical advice according to manager Kenny Shiels

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/kenny-shiels-says-barrie-mckay-1530358

Never mind Fraser Aird is on the bench for some extra width if we need it

Other points of note in this first 45 minutes

– Cribari again showing positives especially going forward

– Hutton far to slow on the ball

– Team still seem to push for this cross field high ball

(why such a pass is tolerated by coaches to receiving players like Templeton bemuses me)

– MacLeod booking?

Second half

Just settled into the second half

Hutton plays short pass to Sandaza

A pass to Cooper Templeton and ball is crossed in from the left

Andy Little scores his second goal with a beautiful crafted header

This is the type of chance/ goal Rangers should be doing more of

Andy Little despite my reservations does well on the right hand side

good pass to Sandaza and ball is crossed in

Templeton with a Jelavic like (goodness me) finish

9th goal of the season for the entertaining wide man

3 – 0

Played only 8 minutes of this second 45

Berwick look on the ropes as Hegarty is replaced by Faure

Hope no long term injury there to the young Rangers defender?

Just a wee aside

The atmosphere inside a very busy Ibrox is amazing again

Sandaza comes close again on the hr mark

Turn and shot that just goes wide of target

Poor defending and Ross Gray scores on 65 minutes

score now 3 – 1

The way the youngster celebrates his goal you would think the score was closer

Hey Ho

Not laughing now though 3 – 2

Poor play from Faure and then Cribari

Sloppy play

Berwick get a corner

Near post header and it is 4 – 2

Before worry beads take affect Little has scored his third and it is 4 – 2

A low shot from just outside the box nestling past the keeper

Templeton then has a great run and drives a shot just past the post

Then after good and unselfish work from Sandaza

Templeton hits the post

Sandaza then has a great run and deserves a goal

His shot is scuffed and drifts past the post

Aird does well coming on as a substitute

Robbie Crawford also enters the fray but really no time to do much

Wee worry at the end with Perry leaving the field returns minutes later

Let us hope he is okay cause he plays well again today despite goals conceded

Montrose losing to Annan and QP drawing with Peterhead today

Means Gers are now 19 points clear at the top of the table sfl d3

Some superb forward play today

Sandaza played superb and fact he did not score

Calimero – it is an injustice

Cooper Templeton ever dangerous

Shiels settling back into the side with a quiet but effective display

And Little

Well what do I know – 3 goals and an excellent showing

Next game a week tomorrow up at Peterhead

2013 a new year: Annan Athletic 1 Rangers 3 SFL Division 3 2nd Jan 2013

The 2nd January will always be a momentous date for all connected with Rangers

Of course this date embedded in the Rangers history

With the dreadful events from 1971 when 66 Rangers supporters did not return from a football match vs Celtic

The result of crushing following the collapse of stairway 13 at the Copeland Road end of the stadium

Ahead of the Rangers match against Annan Athletic 2nd January 2013  – 41st anniversary of the 1971 tragedy

Charles Green led a poignant and appropriate memorial service at Ibrox Stadium for the dead

(and of course the equally important 25 who died at the Ibrox disaster 1902 when a Stand collapsed)

Before this he had given a very considerate new years statement on behalf of the club noting

“In the morning, before we head off to Annan, representatives of the club and supporters will pay our respects to the victims of the Ibrox disasters in a simple but poignant ceremony at Ibrox.

In many ways, to someone new to the club, such moments are humbling reminders of how much this club means to people and how much Rangers people mean to the club.”

A thank you also to the Annan Athletic announcer who at the game h/t asked supporters for a moments reflection on events 1971 – a good touch given some of the trivial nonsense we have seen elsewhere on our travels div 3

Yesterday also saw Liverpool supporters provide a round of applause 66 minutes into their match vs Sunderland at Anfield

Commemorative of this tragedy noting of course that Liverpool FC have had their own similar heartache to deal with

The 1989 Hillsborough disaster when 96 Liverpool supporters were crushed and died

Ahead of an FA Cup semi final vs Nottingham Forrest in Sheffield

Through 2012 as the cover up of Hillsborough tragedy unfolded it is clear there has been a bonding between the support of both clubs

Reflected in the actions of the Liverpool supporters last night and much appreciated by the Rangers faithful

Long may this link continue

On normal occasion Rangers would be facing up to an old firm match vs Celtic at new year time

This year of course circumstance dictates that this was not going to happen.

Rangers currently playing in the 4th tier of Scottish Football a result of the Scottish FA / SPL punishment for financial irregularities linked to the Craig White era

Since then of course Charles Green has steeped into the breach on behalf of the club and while 2013 no doubt holds more challenges for the club, hope shines bright

As Green also mentioned in his new years statement

“It is a privilege to be involved with Rangers and all of us – supporters, players and staff alike – can begin 2013 in the knowledge that the future holds great promise and we will take pride in showing that Rangers is a force for good in football.

I’m very proud of the fact that every member of the Rangers family can look ahead to 2013 and beyond with confidence and firm belief that this great football club is well on the road to recovery.

Every Rangers fan stepped up and the result is that we can all focus on rebuilding the club and taking it back to where it belongs.”

Strong words

Today the club has a sound financial backbone to build from

It has a loyal support unequaled elsewhere in the football planet

(any to challenge this statement are frankly not worth consideration)

http://www.teamtalk.com/rangers/8378719/Rangers-manager-Ally-McCoist-has-praised-the-club-s-fans-after-a-rise-in-season-ticket-sales

And a feeling of genuine positivity I as a rangers supporter of 40 odd years have never felt before with the club

The evidence – second weekend in December 12

Scottish Third Division match between Rangers and Stirling Albion

Attracted a bigger crowd than the mighty Manchester rivals going head-to-head for top spot in the richest league in the world.

Youthfulness within the squad pervades all

Step forward Chris Hegarty, Lewis Macleod, Robbie Crawford, kyle hutton, Barrie Mckay, Fraser Aird, Kqai Naismith and Ross Perry

All have played their part in Rangers restructure – the club’s a 132 consecutive competitive season in 140 years of history

From the first match in the Challenge cup vs Brechin City away in July 12

To the drama of playing the oldest derby in the world vs Queens Park in SFLD3

The despondency of Stirling Albion will never be forgotten and nor should it

This has and remains an exciting  journey of discovery for all connected with the club

The highs of beating SPL leaders (at the time) Motherwell in the League Cup with more to come I am sure

We now following the Annan Athletic game sit 17 points clear at the top of the SFLD3

Rangers played 18 games

– won 14

– drew 3

– lost 1

– scored 51 and conceded 14 goals

– amassed a total of 45 points

Nearest challengers Peterhead sit with 28 points after 18 matches played

Promotion looks a certainty

However, the games are not easy

Following the 1 – 0 victory over QP on boxing day the trip to Galabank was equally challenging

Remember? earlier in the season we had drawn 0 – 0 with David Cooper Templeton incurring serious injury

This time events were much more positive for the Rangers star

Scoring 2 goals the first after 26 minutes when from the left side he floated a cross into the box

The ball swerved towards the goal and deceived keeper Mitchell ending up in the back of the net

Thereafter Sandaza should have put Rangers in easy street

Somehow though he contrived to head downwards and hit cross bar following a Templeton corner

Sums up the luck and confidence the Spaniard is currently going through at the moment with the Gers

Maybe he needs some help from the big man upstairs

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/rangers-deny-telling-fran-sandaza-1508161

Rangers were left to rue this

An aimless ball down the Annan left should have been dealt with easily by Darren Cole at right back

(making his first start of the season)

However he was robbed by Ally Love who then amazingly scores a similar goal to Templeton’s opener

Two flukes in 45 minutes of football?

Only Rangers and SFLD3

In the end goalie Alexander shakes his head in disbelief no doubt comforted from the other end in the goalie union with Annan’s Mitchell

Both made to look silly although to be honest nothing either keeper could do

Half time score: Annan Athletic 1 Rangers 1 

McCoist not happy as he walks off the park – yep we are playing far too many long balls; why?

10 minutes into the second half and Darren Cole’s misery is complete – taken off injured with recurrence of his ankle injury

63 minutes into the game and Rangers are 2 – 1 up courtesy of a cute finish by young Crawford

The 19 year old does look the part in the middle of the park

Covering for the absent MacLeod who has missed his second game because of a virus of sorts

Annan sub Doneley comes close twice as the game nears conclusion – Montrose again?

With 7 minutes to go Templeton scores his second

Again fortune shines on him

A shot from outside the box is back heeled by Annan defender quite spectacularly into the corner of his own net

Before the end Sandaza could have scored a couple but snatched at both attempts

Any additional score would have been hard on the black and golds mind

Next up is Rangers vs Elgin City at Ibrox Saturday 5th January 12

My thoughts on game yesterday

1. Ian Black lucky not to get sent off after 20 minutes for a dreadful tackle on Chris Jardine – we are not getting near enough from the ex Jambo

(against QP I thought he was treated a tad unfairly not against Annan though)

2. Kyle Hutton is struggling in the middle of the park just now – needs to be quicker in moving the ball

3. The team is consistently looking to long ball football when it is clear to all short passing game suits us better – coaches sort it out

4. The defence seem to become very complacent near the end of games – need to concentrate for 90 minutes (not 80)

5. Andy Little is not a right winger; Sandaza has actually played quite well in last couple of games. Either of these two should lead the line

(this is hard on big jig but at the QP game it is clear he does not have the pace to play centre forward)

Aird or Mckay should support Templeton providing the width in the team

6. This was a tough match. Squad was stretched with Jig, Macleod, Shiels, Crabari and Mckay missing. We coped and 3 points safely in the bag

(need to be mindful about this when we dip a toe into the transfer market this month looking ahead to September 13)

7. Templeton back to his best after a disappointing display against QP

speaking after today’s game against the Galabankies, Templeton said:

“It’s a difficult place to come to and it’s a massive three points for us.
It keeps us going on this winning run we want to stay on until the end of the season if possible.
But it’s great to win again and I felt good and didn’t worry about the surface.
I played at Montrose which is quite similar so I felt quite confident and I think that showed in the two goals I scored. Well, I’m claiming two goals anyway!
For the first one I just tried to get to the line and just hang a cross up for Fran.
I know he’s dying to get his first goal but it just crept in at the back post.
I was delighted for it to go in and to get our third as well.
I think that’s seven goals I’ve got for the season now so I’m pleased with that but the most important thing is that we got the three points.
I think we’ve started to show good form now away from home.
But we’re back at Ibrox on Saturday against Elgin City so that’s another match we’re all looking forward to.
It’s one we want to win and hopefully we can get a few more goals as well.”

Bottom line in all this

I look forward to watching the young guns continue their unbeaten run on Saturday in front of I am sure another capacity Ibrox crowd

Did i miss the old firm game – not a jot!!!

WATP

Rangers 3 Clyde 0 SFL D3 Dec 12

It was bitterly cold yesterday as Rangers played Clyde at Ibrox

An impressive 47.5K crowd taking their seats

Before kick off we got treated to a cracking visual display from the Blue Order in the Govan Stand

Celebrating 10 years of support they have given to the club

The weather might have got to the Rangers players though

Their start was as poor as I have witnessed this season

The team had lined up in familiar shape

The only change from Saturday’s match at Elgin City

– Ross Perry replacing Greek injury victim Anestis Argyriou

Big Jig did come close with a lovely turn and rasping shot

Keeper Barclay did well though by turning his effort over his bar

From the subsequent corner

Cribari was unlucky not to score with a snap shot again saved well by the Clyde keeper

Rangers were now taking more control of the match

Mckay constantly looking to thread passes in to his fellow forwards

Templeton too seemed to be everywhere

Always looking for openings and shots at goal

It was a wee bit of brilliance from him that gave Gers the lead

Lee Wallace played the ball into Templeton’s feet 35 yards from goal

Surrounded by Clyde players Templeton looked to be well marked

Out of nothing he plays a cheeky over head kick

Takes the Clyde team by surprise

The on running Wallace is now through in goal

The full back’s  finish is clinical

1 – nil Rangers 20 minutes on the clock

A few minutes later and Andy Little had to leave the park

Reports after the game suggest it was precautionary

Nevertheless, it gave Dean Shiels a chance to get back into the fray

The team’s momentum not disturbed by the enforced change

Shiels going into the false no 9

Templeton shifting from there and out to the right wing

Mid way through the half

Hutton was unlucky not score

His Jorg Albertz like shot whistling past the post

Before half time Templeton had bamboozled Clyde defenders with a 2nd piece of genius

This time, after dribbling past various tackles

He curled a truly superb shot into the keeper’s left hand side of the goal

2 – nil Rangers

It should have been 3 – 0 moments later when big Jig finished a neat move

Only for a late (and in my view incorrect) flag from Govan side linesman

The second half was more of the same

Good periods of interchanged passing by Rangers

Mixed with a general command of the game

Chances were limited but Rangers seemed comfortable within themselves

Clyde were rarely threatening so no danger of losing a goal

And an unnecessary nervy finish to the match

It was not until 15 minutes to go that the Gers supremacy did lead to a third goal

This time Mckay was the inspiration

Cutting in from the right hand side he played a lovely pass into the feet of Dean Shiels

The Northern Irishman

Who was getting some rough treatment from Clyde defenders

Turned superbly

And fired a low shot into the bottom corner of keeper Barclay’s net

Ranger 3 Clyde nil

Before the end Rangers had given Darren Cole and Robbie Crawford a runout

It was a good victory

Sees the Gers extend their lead at top of the table to 12 points

And a clean sheet for the goalie and defence

Alexander making one fine stop near the end after slackness had crept in to Rangers play

One criticism I would make is the keeper’s distribution

Why the constant need to punt it up the park (often out of play)

Can we not look to retain possession with playing the ball out from the back?

Certainly with Mckay, Shiels and Templeton in the team

The need for long ball football we were experiencing earlier in season has gone

Mckay had a quieter game

Yet he remained a constant threat

When he drifts inside and looks to pass the ball into the box

It is clear he has great vision that needs to be exploited

Shiels touch was clearly off during this game – expected given the lay off he has experienced because of injury

Still he manages to score a fine goal

I also thought Cribari had his best game in this match

While Hegarty looks like a Lee Wallace in the making

Perry still concerns me and I think if Rangers need to strengthen

Central defence is the most critical area

Young Lewis Macleod was actually my man of the match

Sponsors gave it to Templeton

Can understand why given the beauty of his play

However, MacLeod covers every blade of grass and never hides

Always looking for the ball in tight areas he is a credit to the club’s academy

More of him please

£10m transfer pot – who needs it just now?

With other youngsters coming through the system let’s box clever on this please

As we enter the new year Rangers are in good shape

It is thoroughly enjoyable going to watch them

Next stop is Queens Park at Hampden on Saturday

The amateurs probably going to end up as our biggest challengers to silver ware

So a victory is essential

Keep the momentum going

And of course there is also the small matter

of playing in front

of what will probably be the biggest away support to play this season

not only in Scotland

but across the globe

Truly remarkable

Rangers 3 Clyde 0 (Ibrox Stadium, Glasgow) 26th December 2012

RANGERS: Alexander; Hegarty, Perry, Cribari (Cole 78), Wallace; Little (Shiels 25), Hutton, Macleod, McKay; Templeton (Crawford 83); McCulloch.
SUBS: Currie, Sandaza.
GOALS: Wallace 20, Templeton 38, Shiels 76.
CLYDE: Barclay, Kane, Brown, Gray, Lamie, Hay (Neil 81), Fitzharris (Sweeney 72), Scullion, Watt, Gilfillan (McLuskey 86), McColm.
SUBS: Rajovic, Oliver.
REFEREE: Crawford Allan.
ATTENDANCE: 47,463.

Davie Cooper: I played for the team that i Loved

Last night David Cooper Templeton strutted his stuff at Ibrox Stadium for the Rangers

And it was great to watch

Make no mistake

This undoubted talent has a country mile to go

Before compared in the same breath

As who he was named after

The great Davie Cooper (1956 – 1995)

My first memory of Davie Cooper was in season 1976/77

Rangers had drawn Clydebank in the Quarter Finals of the League Cup

Only after 2 replayed games after tied initially

did Rangers overcome their first division opponents

I did not attend any of the matches

Rangers eventually winning through to the semi 2 – 1 at Firhill

I do though remember waking up in the morning after each game

With a note from my dad telling me what the score was

Followed up later in the evening

with a read of the match report in the Daily Record

At this time

I can vividly to this day remember thinking

Davie Cooper is a football god

How will “my Rangers” ever be able to beat this guy

To an anxious 9 year old these were troublesome times

The shine of actually winning the tie

well lost by the time we reached the semi final

For annihilation from a young Aberdeen team was to follow at Hampden

A game I also vividly recall watching highlights on TV

with my hands over my face most of the time

Further memories of all that infamous night are for another day

It is stated that this result was the catalyst for Rangers

to up the anti in singing young Cooper

To assist in this venture

Undertaken by Willie Waddell, Willie Thornton and manager Jock Wallace

Was the indisputable pointer

Davie was a Rangers supporter

In the end he signed for Rangers in season 1977/78

a fee of £100,000 agreed between the two clubs

The boy who truly was to play for the club that he loved

Before this Davie had actually resisted Rangers attempts to sign him

Instead he had opted for Clydebank

This was 1974

At the time

The young Davie thinking

There was no chance of him breaking into what was a strong Rangers side

For Clydebank

Davie was an almost ever present in seasons 1975/76 and 1976/77

Double promotion winners in these two successful seasons

Moving from the then Scottish Second Division to Scottish Premier League

Clydebank were the first to achieve such an honour

Davie Cooper

a key player in the success coach Bill Munroe’s young team achieved

In Davie’s first season at Rangers the treble was won

However, following this success

Rangers manager Jock Wallace resigned

Club captain/ legend John Greig took over the reigns

John Greig’s reign as manag at Rangers

Was to prove to be a very difficult time for Davie

He flitted in and out of a series of under performing Rangers teams

In an environment where

Crowds at Ibrox were low

Success was patchy

One memory though which will never be forgotten

Davie’s contribution to success in the Scottish Cup Final 1981 vs Dundee United

After a goalless match on the Saturday

Courtesy of a Hamish McAlpine penalty save from Rangers Ian Redford in the last minute of the game

A replay was set at Hampden for the mid week

Coop who had not been selected for the first game

Was in the team to face United for a second time

He and Bobby Russell were immense that night

Destroying Dundee United 4 -1

Davie scoring one of the goals

This success was short lived though

Greig’s failure to deliver a credible title challenge meant change

Jock Wallace eventually returned in 1983 to the club as manager

Davie Cooper benefitted from the change

The team though still struggled

Again only limited cup success to show for their efforts

Then came the revolution

1986

Graeme Souness was appointed  player manager at Rangers

With Walter Smith as his assistant

and with them they brought a host of international stars to play for the team

None more so than England captain Terry Butcher

Cooper – just back from the world cup in Mexico with Scotland –  again benefitted enormously from this change

This time though

Playing beside the great players Souness had at his disposal

Success was to follow

And in this

Davie was not out of his depth

Playing beside such talent and celebratory was natural

History shows the new Rangers

Eventually clawed back a strong Celtic team to win the SPL

The first time they had achieved this feat in  a period of 9 desolate years

No one celebrated more at the end of it all than Davie Cooper

And how Davie deserved it

This after all was a true loyal servant of the club

Souness, who knew Davie from their Scotland times was visibly impressed

he rated him higher in technical ability than even the great Kenny Dalgleish

He was quoted as stating

“if I was not so selfish I would be telling all the big Italian clubs about him”

Terry Butcher at the same time mentioned

“he was second to none in terms of delivery of the ball. I would rate him better than David Beckham in terms of taking corners and free kicks”

Davie was to have more success with Rangers under Souness

A title victory in season 1988/89 the highlight

However, age was to catch up on him

and as new signings kept arriving at Rangers his chances of first team football became limited

in late summer 1989 he transferred to Motherwell for a fee of £50,000

His time at Motherwell is well recognised by their fans and I will not try to repeat it

To summarise though from his time there i would draw to attention four things

1. Davie is regarded as a key player in the famous Motherwell Scottish Cup winning team of season 1991 by all associated at the Lanarkshire club

2. A stand at Fir Park home of Motherwell FC is now named after him

3. To almost a man every Motherwell fan has a positive tale to tell about his exploits in Lanarkshire mostly always in matches against Celtic

4. The Scottish League Cup/ CIS  final of 2005 between Rangers and Motherwell was collectively known as the Davie Cooper cup final

– a proportion of income received from that game went to a special needs school in Davie’s name

– a picture of him was embedded in the match brief stubs

In total Davie made

– 90 league appearance for Clydebank between 1974 and 1977 scoring 28 goals

– 377 league appearances for Rangers between 1977 and 1989 scoring 49 goals

– 157 league appearances for Motherwell between 1989 and 1994 scoring 17 goals

In total he actually played 561 games for Rangers and scored 86 goals

The miserly 22 caps he received playing for Scotland a national scandal?

In the end Davie returned to finish his career at Clydebank

playing a further 21 times in the league for them

before cruelly being taken from us in Spring 95

There is no happiness in death

and certainly not in one so young

With still so much to offer in this world

If any solace is to be taken from the loss of Davie Cooper

It is the quiet man from Hamilton

Football daft from his early years

Was taken from us while involved with grass roots football

Davie Cooper suffered a brain haemorrhage on 22 nd March 1995 at Broadwood Stadium

During this time he and former Celtic, Arsenal, Aberdeen and Scottish internationalist Charlie Nicholas were recording a coaching film for Scottish Television called “shoot”

He died in hospital the next day.

He was 39 years old.

He is buried in his home town of Hamilton where a statue of him remains to this day in remembrance of his talents

Walter Smith said of Davie Cooper

“God gave Davie Cooper a talent. He would not be disappointed how he used it”

So true these words were

The man known as

Super Cooper,

Coop,

Moody Blue

Albert

to supporter,  friends, team mates and colleagues he will never be forgotten

I mentioned earlier the invincibility I thought he had while playing with Clydebank

Well there were through my time watching him play

Many great memories to follow

Ilves Tamperes match

Free kick in the 3 vs 3 Aberdeen Cup Final (which Rangers won on penalties)

Ruud Gullit moment on STV (The Dutchman voted DC in his all time greatest eleven players)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPsAY3woRlw

The mix up with Ian Durrant on celebrating a Rangers goal against Celtic

The greatest goal ever scored by a Rangers player – Dryburgh cup final vs Celtic

Free kicks generally (two spring to mind though: St Mirren and Hibs but countless others)

The testimonial vs Bordeaux

The dribbling especially the solo goal vs Hearts

Scotland penalty against Wales  to take us to 86 world cup final

Hundreds more I am sure

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRZHAe3ARiw

Rangers have over time had great wingers

Willie Henderson, Bud Johnstone, Tommy McLean, Mark Walters, Brian Laudrup, Neil McCann and Vlad Weiss

None – not even the great Dane – match Davie Cooper

For what reason I hold him so dear?

Ability, Perseverance, Loyalty, Humility, Honesty

The fact he was taken so early from us and the sentimentality all that brings

It is all this and more

Summed up again in 7 never to be forgotten words

I PLAYED FOR THE TEAM I LOVED

Davie Cooper on the wing – never forgotten

http://www.holytownloyal.co.uk/legends-davie-cooper.asp

Trequarista in Scotland? Rangers 3 Annan Athletic 0 SFL3 Dec 12

The term Trequarista is one used in various countries to reference an attacking midfield player

This player will normally

• Wear the no 10 shirt

• Sit in a free role between the midfield and attack

• Be positioned in the centre (but can operate effectively from either flank)

• Possess good vision, shooting, passing, crossing and dribbling ability

• Have an eye for scoring goals as well as providing assists and initiating attacking plays.

Not too much pressure then?

So who in the past can be classed as a top Trequarista?

Well for a start there is Diego Armando Maradona

Who has not heard of this guy?

The first truly recognized no 10 well before the Argentinian was –and I might be excused from any accusation of bias – Arsenal Alex James

In terms of adulation we can also think of Roma’s Francesco Totti as a famous no 10

Others who fit the criteria?

Well staying on an Italian theme is Roberto Baggio

Then there is the great frenchman Zinedine Zidane (Zizou)

Brazil’s Ronaldinho

And England’s David Beckham

Top of the list though must fall within this list of great players of the past

Edison Arantes do Nascimento – Pele

Players today who now (or with previous clubs) wear the famous shirt number and play(ed) this offensive role ?

Kaka, Robinho, Messi, Fabregas, Rooney and Sergio ‘Kun’ Aguero (Atletico)

An illustrious group of players indeed

Rangers 3 Annan Athletic 0 SFL Dec 12

Tonight with Rangers in their SFL match vs Annan Athletic at Ibrox Stadium

David Cooper Templeton Rangers wore the no 10 for Rangers

Normally played out wide (left or right)

In the absence of Dean Shiels he played the trequarista role

And to great effect

Almost 43k supporters watching at Ibrox I am sure will agree to this

2 goals (both from shots outside the box) in what ended up a 3 – 0 victory

Andy Little scoring the other goal

Throughout the game DCT offered

* Great link up play

* Good running on and off the ball

* A Fine array of passing

* Excellent vision

* And all the technique in the world

Plus of course goals

What is encouraging for Rangers supporters though tonight is DCT was not in my mind the best player on the park

That accolade again must go to young Lewis MacLeod

Going back to the Italian theme

This young boy – 18 years of age – is turning into a real “Regista”

Deep lying midfielder to the uninitiated

The new Pirlo of Scotland – ahhh only joking

He needs to develop his long distance passing and take a crazy penalty or two before that match can be made

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmQ2mugd2VQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGyYRhoDAVg

The youngster’s positioning, decision making, coverage, industry, tackling, creativity and what ever else was fantastic

Hence why he has along with Jig and the goalie been our only ever presents in team this season

Where this lad ends up – with a wind of fortune behind him – is anyone’s guess

A better prospect in Scotland for the role he plays?

No way!

A few other pointers from tonight’s SFL3 match

1. Playing DCT and Mckay in the same team worked well.

Although I would look to accommodate a fit Shiels in the team it should not be at the expense of Barry boy

2. A crowd of just under 43K on a Tuesday night just before xmas was exceptional

The supporter loyalty of the Rangers has no equal

3. I think Andy Little deserves a chance at centre forward

There are a number of reasons for this

He is probably the most mobile and natural forward we have

Playing in this role frees up the right berth allowing for DCT/ Mckay to be played together with Shiels

Avoids a lazy tendancy for lumping high balls as we have a want to do say when Fran or KK are in the team

4. The ref tonight – Mr. Paul Robertson – completely out of his depth

The penalty and red card against Wallace was shocking

The impending suspension thaat will form from this decision for Lee needs to surely be appealed by the club via Mr Lunny and the SFA

5. How does Ally fit Black back into this side ?

An interesting question

Hutton and MacLeod look more suited to the 4-(2)-3-1 formation Ally pursues

Whether it is commitment, ability, form or suitability to the new surroundings

I see no reason for Black to be fast tracked back into the side at the expense of either youngster

Most notably Hutton

6. 61% of the ball, 14 corners, 20 goal attempts (11 on target) all positive

How we managed to comit more fouls than the visitors is beyond me

Never mind

Maybe Mr Robertson can explain

7. On a final positive

Well done Charles Green on the successful share issue

I have no idea what Rangers fans contributed and what institutions ended up putting in the kitty

Bottom line is you did what you said you would

No doubt Sellick bloggers are already looking to belittle the good works

who cares?

We are ever vigilant to the pathetic rubbish spouted from Thomson, Mc three names, Haggerty, Speirs, and McConville plus others

PS: In no way in the completion of this post am I suggesting that DCT is as good as Pele et al

The illustrious names were only used to show the greatness of the position and some of the players who have played it

Rangers do through the circumstances of the last year or so have an opportunity to develop individual and collective youth

They seem to be grasping this nettle

Long may it continue

In 3 / 4 years

A Rangers team predominantly made up of youth academy players

With a good wee bit of first team experience strutting their stuff in European football would be a dream

Oh and yes I do know DCT did not come through Auchenhowie for the smart arses out there

Rangers 2 Stirling Albion 0 SFL3 December 12 … and of course the rest

Saturday 8th December 2012

Ibrox Stadium

SFL3

Rangers 2 Stirling Albion 0

Attendance 49,913

In amongst them the Rangers Legends (40 or so)

140 years of quite simply

(sorry HsV, BARCA and Arsenal)

the greatest football club ever

Scorers on the day at Ibrox against the Binos

Second half strikes from

David Templeton and substitute Andy Little

The first goal courtesy of good work first by Shiels and Mckay

The second again involving McKay and Lee Wallace in the build up play

Revenge for our only defeat of the season so far

This is of course a completely different Rangers today

Compared with those teams of yesteryear

No Laudrup, Amoruso, Albertz, Gough, Butcher, Goram or Gascoigne

Never mind

The emphasis is focused on youth

“It was an unbelievable day with Rangers celebrating 140 years. I was watching the legends coming out on to the pitch at half-time as we were warming up and it was amazing. So to firstly be on the bench and then to make my debut is pretty special. After the game I couldn’t believe I just played for Rangers Football Club.”

                     Tom Walsh 16years old

And there is of course a “Cooper”

David Cooper Templeton

This is the correct way to go

The team sit top of the division

1	Rangers	12	6	0	0	20	3	2	3	1	11	6	22	27
2	Elgin	14	5	1	1	18	10	2	4	1	14	12	10	26
3	Queen’s Park	13	2	3	1	9	8	4	1	2	12	7	6	22
4	Montrose	14	3	3	1	13	8	3	1	3	13	17	1	22

The highlights of the game can probably be summarised as

Good Rangers inter play and attacking (especially in the first half)

Missed chances including  a Kevin Kyle shot off the post

Good goalkeeping – take a bow Albion goalie Mark Peat

There was the obligatory tasty tackling – especially on Templeton

Think almost the whole Albion team had a go at him

With almost half the team booked for fouls on him

One player – Daley McSorley – red carded for two bookings

Even though Little’s goal did not come till late on

The game was never really in any doubt ?

Well so we thought

Kyle Hutton wayward pass with minutes to go

And Josh Flood rattles the post

Rangers victory though in the end

All seems rosy in camp Rangers

Away from playing though we have all the politicking which comes with the Rangers

First up the Arab Trust

http://www.arabtrust.co.uk/pages/news/current/a-joint-statement-from-arabtrust-and-the-federation.aspx

Frothing about Scottish Cup boycott

of course there is then Dundee United themselves

“It is with huge disappointment that we read both the content and tone of the statement from Rangers, stating that they will not be taking any tickets for our Scottish Cup tie in February and urging their supporters not to attend.

However, we do not intend to enter into a war of words with Rangers or to dignify their position by responding in kind.

We have noted their decision not to take any tickets for this cup tie and will now act accordingly in arranging the match. The statement from the Rangers makes it clear that their fans should not attend. We have therefore raised a number of related matters with the Scottish FA and will be making no further public statement until their advice has been received.”

Are these the most hypocritical group ever?

comments from Arab Trust in summer this year

“Some 45% of those polled indicated that they would not purchase their season tickets if a newco was admitted.

A further 16% indicated they were still undecided as to how a yes vote would affect their season ticket purchase.

Some 63% stated they would cancel their 
Sky subscription if the broadcaster withdrew its coverage of the SPL, with a further 11% undecided on this issue.”

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/dundee-united-fans-have-a-cheek-to-attack-1475500

Remember the comments from chairman Stephen Thomson a few months back

http://www.thecourier.co.uk/Sport/Football/article/23486/rangers-in-crisis-dundee-united-to-vote-against-newco.html

Never mind the pathetic position the Dundee club took with the abandoned match

And Rangers Nithsdale supporters seeking compensation for recovery costs

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-11542124

Sporting integrity and putting the fans first

aye right

spl – when it suits ya?

Then there is the new share issue

Dont worry guys our old pal Paul McConville is on the case there (does this guy ever comment on Sellick?)

http://scotslawthoughts.wordpress.com/2012/12/08/charles-green-businessman-of-the-year-brief-prospectus-thoughts-by-me-at-scotzine/

And of course Scotszine and andy Muirhead

http://www.scotzine.com/2012/12/the-rangers-share-issue-prospectus-is-charles-green-businessman-of-the-year/

And he is also now trying to rubbish the e – petition for a government enquiry into the Rangers

Would it not just have been good for this “do gooder” to have backed the fans in their quest for an enquiry into claims of wrong doing

what harm can id after all?

it could not be that eco john and paul mcconville do not want a public enquiry could it be

now that would be ironic given the commentary and morals they push on this matter incessantly

http://scotslawthoughts.wordpress.com/tag/e-petitions/

http://www.monthehoops.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18826

Let us end though this post in positivity

https://www.rangersshareoffer.com/Application/ApplicationCountrySelect.aspx

http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/42143