Treble for Rangers in Scotland?

[Billsthoughts]

From what I've seen of Man Utd this season they've been attacking against the smaller teams, but in the CL and against the big sides in England they've generally been either defensive or "balanced". They weren't attacking against Lyon, Roma and Barcelona and from what I saw of them against Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea they were never an attacking side. They seem to be predominantly a counter attacking team. The only truly attacking side in England (IMO) is Arsenal and they're going to end the season with nothing. The idea of attacking sides (at least for the top sides in Europe) is outdated (IMO) as you'll get caught out too easily.

Utd always played counter attacking football.
And it wasnt that long ago that we had a Barcelona v Arsenal Champions League final. both truly attacking teams.

[OwlsFan]

So no quadruple but the treble is still on. Often wonder whether losing a final strengthens resolve or demoralises. I think the former.

[bellavistaman]

Seen the cctv footage from after the final, dont know if it was zenit fans or rangers but when the fans battered the cop, thats horrible.

[Torn-Ado]

Seen the cctv footage from after the final, dont know if it was zenit fans or rangers but when the fans battered the cop, thats horrible.

It was all Rangers fans.

[tetsujin1979]

Was at the game, pics from the day and game itself here: http://picasaweb.google.com/tetsujin1979/UEFACupFinal2008

Didn't actually know about the riot until this morning, it was only 2 blocks from where I was staying

[ken foree]

Was at the game, pics from the day and game itself here: http://picasaweb.google.com/tetsujin1979/UEFACupFinal2008


great pics, thanks for posting

[Junior]

"The Worlds most successful club"? hahaha shouldn't that read "The fans with the biggest sense of humour" However loking at the state of Manchester today maybe that wouldnt be apt either...........

[OwlsFan]

Was at the game, pics from the day and game itself here: http://picasaweb.google.com/tetsujin1979/UEFACupFinal2008

Didn't actually know about the riot until this morning, it was only 2 blocks from where I was staying

So what did you think of the game and the Rangers' fans? What were their chants like? Any really dodgy ones ;) ?

[gspain]

So what did you think of the game and the Rangers' fans? What were their chants like? Any really dodgy ones ;) ?

I was at the game too. Great atmosphere but poor enough quality game. Still very enjoyable though.

No dodgy chants at the game however some sectarian singing in the bar beforehand and a couple of dodgy guys on the airport train afterwards. That was the only time I was conscious of my accent.

I didn't see any of the riots but thought the organisation was poor from the city. they stopped the trams, cancelled loads of trains instead of putting on extra ones, big screenas failing (surely you test them first) etc. Stadium was reasonably well run but they sold out of programmes and merchandise.

The overwhelming majority of fans were impeccably behaved. I didn't wear any colours but one guy on my flight from Dublin was in an Ireland jersey.

[Closed Account 2]

So what did you think of the game and the Rangers' fans? What were their chants like? Any really dodgy ones ;) ?

Justice was done during the 90 mins. I was dissapointed by Walter Smith's tactics, if he had played a 442 with Novo instead of Hemdani it would have been a better game. Instead it was brick-wall football and they were always going to lose that to a team that's scored 4 against Bayern, 5 against Leverkusen, 3 against Marseille... Had Rangers attacked them then it might have been a better game, even the Rangers fans said they were dissapointed by this lack of ambition. As it was Zenit were by far and away the better team, they played good positive football, had some great players and deserved to win.

Rangers fans, some were unpleasant (urinating in the middle of the street, throwing stuff), but most were well behaved and a few of the ones in their 40s and 50s would talk to you and were friendly enough. Some of the ones in their 20s and 30s were aggressive and did have sectarian chanting on the buses to the stadium. Again I didn't see the riots because I was at the match and didn't get home til midnight, I saw George Burley at the match and some guy with a St. Pats Scarf had his photo taken with him, also saw John Delaney who seems to have had a trim.

I spoke to a few of the Zenit fans and they all seemed very nice, they were certainly impressive in terms of noise and co-ordination at the stadium given the numeric factor was against them.

[cheifo]

Dunphy has an article in the paper today saying Zenit should be kicked out of Europe by UEFA given the consistent racist behaviour of their fans.

[tetsujin1979]

So what did you think of the game and the Rangers' fans? What were their chants like? Any really dodgy ones ;) ?The fans I met before the game in the hotel were well behaved, took the **** out of me for being Catholic, although I did make it clear to them that I had no interest in football, and was only in town for an interview.


I was at the game too. Great atmosphere but poor enough quality game. Still very enjoyable though.

No dodgy chants at the game however some sectarian singing in the bar beforehand and a couple of dodgy guys on the airport train afterwards. That was the only time I was conscious of my accent.

I didn't see any of the riots but thought the organisation was poor from the city. they stopped the trams, cancelled loads of trains instead of putting on extra ones, big screenas failing (surely you test them first) etc. Stadium was reasonably well run but they sold out of programmes and merchandise.

The overwhelming majority of fans were impeccably behaved. I didn't wear any colours but one guy on my flight from Dublin was in an Ireland jersey.didn't get a program either.
there were "fcuk the pope" "fenian b*stards", etc chants where I was standing which made me more nervous as the game went on, and I made plans to leave early if I saw any trouble
I was in a dark blue t shirt, closest I have to a rangers top
likewise I didn't say a word in the stadium, in case my accent caused it all to kick off
where were you in the ground?

[gspain]

I was in the East Stand 3rd tier. No problem with my accent until the train to the airport afterwards. Nothing was actually said to me but I just felt it was safer to stay quiet.

I was in Mary Ds beforehand (normally a city bar) and no problems there although there was some sectarian singing (Billy Boys and a version of Tina Turner's Simply the Best that has the line F&*K the Pope and the IRA). my brother and I were the only 2 there not in Rangers colours. No problems in the hotel, chipper, in the stadium, afterwards etc until the train. A few guys saying "what do you wan tto go to this for and sell us your tickets"

Loads of Rangers fans in Dublin and Shannon airport in colours which must have been a first. My brother flew from Shannon and met the only Rangers fan in some small village (whose name escapes me) near Farranfore and he is know locally as the "Lone Ranger". He and only one other guy on the flight had a ticket which he actually didn't broadcast. Most people in our hotel were ticketless too.

[Block G Raptor]

met the only Rangers fan in some small village (

He's the Only Ger in the village?

[cheifo]

He's the Only Ger in the village?

Very good BGR:D

[ArdeeBhoy]

So this thread is not a tribute to their, er, drinking habits then....

[OwlsFan]

Now that it's in Celtic's own hands, can they do the business?

[paudie]

Don't Rangers still have to play St Mirren?

They might do their goal difference a bit of good.

[jmurphyc]

Not sure if people have seen this picture from Manchester last Wednesday, but it made me laugh a lot:

http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/7541/evilgeniusmt3.jpg

[see's it]

rangers leading 3 nil at the mo which is helping the goal difference hopefully thats the end of the scoring......

[OwlsFan]

rangers leading 3 nil at the mo which is helping the goal difference hopefully thats the end of the scoring......


That was the final score.

Rangers travel to Aberdeen on the final day of the campaign, while Celtic make the trip to Tannadice to take on Dundee United. The goal difference in Celtic's favour is 4 so one has to think that he need a win to win the title but both teams couldn't have asked for more difficult ties.

[OwlsFan]

Has a team ever thrown away such a big lead in the annals of football? I have to confess I has Celtic dead and buried a few weeks ago but the frenetic end of season programme caught up with Rangers. If it was Celtic, they'd be claiming a masonic conspiracy ;) and now Rangers have a Cup Final 2 days after a league decider. Lucky for them it's only Queen of the South.

Watched the Celitc game last night. There are some right sticks in that team and they need 3 or 4 more decent players to make a really strong team. For every good thing McGeady does, he'll give the ball away the next. He'll benefit from the Trappatoni "look up not at the ground" school of thinking. However, well done to Celtic to win 7 on the bounce. Unbelievable comeback and all the Gers have is a League Cup and possibly the Cup but who knows as regards the latter. Biggest upset in Cup history in Scotland coming up?

[superfrank]

Has a team ever thrown away such a big lead in the annals of football?
Man U '98?
Newcastle '96?

[cheifo]

Man U '98?
Newcastle '96?

Arsenal lost a huge lead during the 1988/89 season and left themselves having to beat Liverpool by two goals at Anfield last game of the season.Impossible task.:)

[jmurphyc]

Man U '98?
Newcastle '96?

Were Utd actually that far ahead in 1998 though? I remember at one point they were 9 points ahead having played 3 games more, which isn't a lead as such. Arsenal won all of those games I think.

[superfrank]

Was it not 13 points for Man U that year?

The thing is Rangers were never more than nine points ahead, iirc. They just had a lot of games in head, which worked against them.

EDIT = Just checked, Man U were 11 points clear and Arsenal had three games in hand, Newcastle were 12 points clear in January.

[jmurphyc]

Was it not 13 points for Man U that year?

Maybe. I could be wrong. I think I'm right though.

[OwlsFan]

Saw the first half of the Cup Final with the Gers leading 2-0. Thought it was all done and dusted. Wish I had seen QotS getting it back to 2-2 :D