rangers.cc

Despite living many miles from Glasgow and being unable to purchase from a wide range of newspapers, the nature of 21^st century media means we England-based Bears are never far behind our Scotland-based brothers in blue in accessing news and opinion on the club we love.

While I tend to avoid purchasing the Daily Record for the same reason as many Bears, Sunday’s hard-fought win over Those We Do Not Speak Of persuaded me to mend my merry way to the newsagents on the way to work the following day to pick up a copy. No sooner had I handed over my 45p (and what a waste that turned out to be) did I remember exactly why I should not purchase this less than reputable publication, even in times of utter jubilation

Regrettably, the Record continued its long-running subtext that any kind of Rangers success must either come about because of luck (Celtic missing chances/giving away soft goals and referees missing penalties) or the ineptitude of the opposition or, again, the referee showing exactly why he and his cronies are sponsored by Specsavers.

All I can say is that their sports desk must have been spewing at the final whistle. Murdo McLeod, Keith Jackson and company delight in sticking the knife in during times of trouble, but Rangers won fair and square on the day and to refuse to give credit where it’s due only smacks of bitterness and envy.

Seemingly, there are pundits out there who continue to harbour the belief that Rangers’ 52^nd title success was some sort of fluke, claiming that had Celtic been on their mettle, they would have blown us away like some unstoppable force.

Talking of deluded pundits, fast forward to Monday evening and I was yet again faced with another diatribe from our much admir’d friend from The Times, Graham Spiers.

His article did not focus on Sunday’s game even in the slightest sense and was instead a near-perfect replica of his thoughts following May’s Old Firm encounter, in which he lambasted Rangers supporters for singing sectarian songs and proffering bigoted one-liners towards the green’n’grey inhabitants of the Broomloan Road stand.

Calling our great institution ‘cowardly’ for failing to cull this kind of behaviour from the terraces and slating UEFA for failing to take action as they had previously threatened, Spiers once again set out on a libellous rant that would make the blood of even the most level-headed supporter curdle.

As ever, though, there is a flaw in Spiers’s argument. While Rangers fans have never claimed to be angels, the hack’s lofty seat in the press box (part of the Main Stand) was among the home support and just above the ever-passionate Enclosure. That means that, yes, of course he would hear plenty of verbals from those round about him. But, as many have mentioned since the victory, the likes of Spiers have selective hearing when it comes to the Republican chanting of Celtic supports which, on Sunday, included many lines lauding the killing of British soldiers and glorifying the IRA and other such now-defunct paramilitary organisations.

This, of course, is no new scenario for us to find ourselves in, and I very much doubt that Spiers will be talking about anything other than the match in question when he visits the Breezeblock Boulevard for the return mach in January…that is, unless he suddenly develops superhuman hearing and can decides to slate the visiting Rangers fans, despite being the same distance from the press quarters as he was on Sunday when he was seemingly oblivious to the misdemeanours of TGFITW.

I can, however, offer two pieces of advice in attempting to fight back against this scenario: firstly, to hit newspaper stakeholders where it hurts by refraining from purchasing their publications, thus hitting back against the editors who give the likes of Spiers free reign to make narcissistic and unjust criticisms of our club; and secondly, to write or email journalists of this ilk (including their editors) and make your feelings known. Taking such punitive measures might, in the long run and given consistent effort, just about change something.

In reflection, I suppose it’s true what my dad told me when I was just a wee boy – the media only offers a representation of life, and not necessarily an accurate one.

Wee Jimmy

This is purely a message to that retarded referee who was in charge of the game last night against Sevilla (like he'll read it hahaha)......your a bloody idiot!!!! Just watched the highlights on Sky Sports News and even a fecking Celtic manager is saying it was a plain penalty!!!! If UEFA are trying to prove a point to Europe trying to remove the cancer that is diving and drama queen reactions, then they need to at least start by getting the bloody refs to make the right decisions .

My main point about all this is that if it wasnt a penalty, then the Ref should have booked Naismith for diving or going down too easy....fact!! Whats the point in that whole Eduardo thing if they are not going to at least do that when a ref thinks a player has gone down too easy? The free kick that lead to the first goal was weak at best, but the defending was terrible from the resulting free kick.

 We fell apart after that first goal and the second worst decision of the night was Walter not making the subs after the first goal. Making the changes after the 3rd goal is useless, he may as well put some youth players on casue the game was finished by that point. Movement on the pitch was woeful. Several occasions I was screaming for someone to move and help the perosn on the ball. What hope is there when the most creative play on the pitch is our bloody centre back?  Hopefully we will bounce back on Sunday, we need to win....no 2 ways about it. Walter get it sorted!! 

 We are the People!!!  Keep the Faith

THERE'S BIN A MURRRRDURRRR.

News has reached us here on Freecloud that a special member of the Harrogate True Blues has met with an untimely demise,and that we, the Harrogate True Blues, have a MURDERER in our ranks. Yes, i can reveal that the H.T.Bs pigeon, "Arthur", is in fact, deed, cruelly slain through no fault of his own.

Arthur was brought over from Holland for breeding purposes, and has been quite happy eating corn and having the occasional leg over when required, never once refusing to do his duty no matter what was put in front of him, so it seems a mystery as to why someone would want him topped. 

The Taggart team is currently carrying out intensive investigations, but a spokesman told us...."It would seem Arthur was "necked" because his offspring were not producing the required results so Arthur had to pay the price", (there is no truth to the rumour that Walter Smith is now under round the clock protection).

Arthur's owner, Tommy "coo coo" Kelly was unavailable for comment.

Oh, and by the way, the football was shite.

Well after the the first international break we remain at the top of the SPL after a solid start to the season. Special mention must be made to the Hearts game where I must admit I was thinking a draw was unrealistic considering recent games away against Hearts. Need to keep it up against Motherwell and get a good win.

Now in the summer lets face it, I think we all knew that this summer in terms of transfers would be a quite one. I for one though ain't too bothered. We have a good team that only seemed to get stronger last season. Yes we do have some problem areas in the team like the lack of cover in the centre back position in case Wier or Bougherra get injured. Plus I think we need to start looking for a long term replacment for Weir now. Left Wing has always been a problem area, but Rothen is a good signing in my opinion and will prove to be yet another piece of good buiness by Walter. Miller and Boyd is without question the best front pair in the SPL. They are lethal together casue they can play off each other so well. 

 Not bothered about Ferguson leaving at all. Great player and I will always remember him for the right reasons, but it was his time to go. Looking at it, some of the players who will be back from injury this season will feel like new signings. Thomson is without question a gem in our team. I think we missed him last year. He does all the dirty work and has to ability to create or do something to change a game, like for example the goal he scored against Celtic a couple of years ago and the great work he did against Barca at Ibrox. Our midfield will be much stronger once he's back to full fitness. Will be good to see Naismith back too. Hopefully he'll get more games this season and can show us all what he can do.

Finally, the Champions League group......how one earth did we fluke that group haha. Tough group don't get me wrong, but lets face it, couldn't we ask for a better group in terms of being able to qualify to the next round. They are good teams but at Ibrox we can get a result against them all and a good chance away too. Sevilla are quality but they aren't the same team they were a few years ago. We should be getting though and enjoy some post xmas champions league football and maybe get a showdown with an English team and try and restore a bit of Scottish pride :s

Good to have the football back!!! And a final word of thanks to David Murray. We have had an up and down ride with him over the many years he's run this club but he overall did a great job. Think the time was right to take a step back but I would like pass my own words of thanks to him for his services to the club. Enter a new era at Ibrox, lets make it Golden!! 

We Are The People