The OFFICIAL Rangers Thread

[Al K]

Magic stuff indeed.

[Timmy]

Looks like Cousin might have a broken cheek bone... out for 4/6 weeks.

[Dash]

I thought he was being a bit of a wimp going off, saying that I only saw it from the Govan Rear! Must have been a sore one.

[Timmy]

DMB is back to fit, and should be making an appearance at the weekend.

[Westy]

Hopefully that'll give us a big boost. It should.

Lets wrap things up and bring about our best season ever.

[I'm Your God Now]

Good show

[Timmy]

More news.

RANGERS stand to earn in the region of between £20million and £25million for reaching the Uefa Cup final against Zenit St Petersburg on 14 May.

The Ibrox club claimed a penalty shoot-out victory against Fiorentina on Thursday night which will see Walter Smith's team earn a substantial windfall.

Rangers already had up to £11million in the bank this term for their participation in the lucrative Champions League phase. Ultimately, the team did not progress, but gate receipts for home games against Barcelona, Stuttgart and Olympique Lyonnais generated further income for the club.

The average crowd for the three group matches averaged at around 50,000 and that figure was further enhanced by the Uefa Cup run, which has gained momentum up until Thursday's semi-final victory. Home legs against Panathinaikos, Werder Bremen, Sporting Lisbon and Fiorentina would have also brought in around £2million each to the club.

Television income will also be added to the final calculation by the Ibrox board. With Rangers the only British club progressing beyond the quarter-final stage of the Uefa Cup this season, their exploits have been the subject of interest for ITV4 along with the regular coverage of BBC Scotland throughout the campaign. Add in around £1million from European television to the domestic figure of around £2.5million.

If Rangers defeat Zenit St Petersburg and former manager, Dick Advocaat, in Manchester a week on Wednesday, they will rake in a further £2million, while even defeat will see the Ibrox coffers boosted to the tune of £1.2million.

The subject of merchandise will also raise the financial stakes for Rangers in the build-up to the final at the City of Manchester Stadium.

Brand awareness will raise finance from team sponsors, especially shirt manufacturers, Umbro.

Sales of Celtic replica shirts rocketed for the Uefa Cup final in 2003, garnering £1.8million for the kit manufacturers.

As a result of Celtic's run to the final defeat by FC Porto five years ago, Umbro looked to re-negotiate an extension to their sponsorship, which could be the case with Rangers also.

http://sport.scotsman.com/sport/Smit...all.4047840.jp

[Baron Samedi]

Thought I'd resurrect this thread with the news that Pedro Mendes has been voted player of the month -

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/foot...rs/7612294.stm

Good call. Can't think of another player that's made as much of an impact in the first month. Long may it continue.

[Timmy]

Definetly, I think he's been outstanding. He went missing the the first half of the Killie game because he was muscled about, but came back from that strong in the second half.

Lets hope he isn't dropped as soon as Fergie gets back.

[Westy]

If anyones gonna get dropped for Fergie it'll be Thomson I reckon. Hope Barry doesnt walk straight back in the team if we are still playing as well as we are.

[Warped]

yer playing shite.

[Westy]

I'll hate to see what we'll be like if we play decent then.

Get yer tits oot.

[Warped]

You scrapped a win against the pie munchers kilmarnock tho.

Get yer tits oot.

[Westy]

Ach we were mince and we're not going to play amazing every week. But thats the sign of a great team. They can win when they play awful.

Get yer tits oot.

[crazydiamond85]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/...st/7617518.stm

I wonder if anything will come of this