04 Jan 2017 11:41:16
If Toral rumour is true, he could be useful. I just don't trust Warbs with more money.
If we don't get Europe and a small/ decent run at it. We are in trouble.
04 Jan 2017 11:58:18
Realy,? What money? Has brought in about 17 players in a year and a half for about 3 million. Maybe if he had decent funds he could sign better quality.
04 Jan 2017 12:08:46
A mini blog on what it's going to take for Dave King's plan of Europa League funds to bring solvency
Rangers have a number of obstacles to overcome before getting access to Europa League Group Stage monies.
A) They have to finish 2nd or 3rd in the SPL………. That looks probable at this time
B) They could qualify by winning the Scottish Cup……. That is much more of a long shot
C) Should they qualify either through A) or B) then they have to gain a UEFA licence
D) Rangers do not have automatic entitlement to a UEFA Licence . The SFA would have apply for Rangers under the exemption basis.
The discussion over whether Rangers would be appropriate for an exemption could and would last for ever. The SFA though have to decide whether Rangers merit achievement is considered worthy given the huge losses incurred and the view that exemptions are meant for clubs outside of a National Top Tier. I don’t propose here to debate the merits of Rangers being awarded a UEFA Licence, just to point out it’s not automatic and it’s highly sensitive. Not to mention that if the Supreme Court rule against Rangers or refuse to hear the appeal, the pressure on the SFA increases enormously.
Assuming though that all of the above is negotiated and Rangers enter the Europa League Qualifying in 2017-18, then here’s what they can expect to have to overcome before they get any access to Group Stage funds.
1 ) Rangers would enter in the 1st Qualifying Round if awarded a Uefa Licence. The coefficient awarded would be exactly the same for any Scottish Club who haven’t earned points in their own right in the last 5 years. This would result in Rangers being unseeded from the outset.
Using the current season as an example, these are the opponents Rangers could face in Q1
Stabæk IF, Linfield Belfast, FK Ventspils, FC Midtjylland, VÃkingur, Brøndby IF, Dinamo Minsk, Kalju Nomme, Shamrock Rovers
Some tricky ties there and Rangers would not be favorites against all of those clubs
2) Assuming the draw was favorable and / or form was good, this is what would await in Q2 ( based on 2016-17)
(FK Aktobe), (Brøndby IF), (Shakhtior Saligorsk), (HJK Helsinki), Austria Wien, PAS Giannina, (Slovan Bratislava), (IFK Göteborg), (Omonia Nicosia), NK Maribor, (Admira Wacker), (FK Ventspils), (DVSC Debrecen), (Maccabi Tel-Aviv), Hajduk Split, BK Häcken
Again a lot of difficult ties there, and it’s debatable whether Rangers would be favorite against more than 2 or 3 of those clubs
3) Assuming the draw was again favorable and / or form was good, this is what would await in Q3 ( based on 2016-17)
AZ Alkmaar, FK Krasnodar, (Partizan Belgrade), Sassuolo, Rio Ave, (Omonia Nicosia) , AA Gent, Slovan Liberec, West Ham United, (FC Midtjylland), (HJK Helsinki), Apollon Limassol
We are now deep into underdog territory, however if Rangers prevailed, this is who they would face in Q4 (final qualifying round )
Shakhtar Donetsk Ukr
Olympiakos Gre
Anderlecht Bel
AZ Alkmaar Ned
Fenerbahçe Tur
Sparta Praha Cze
PAOK Thessaloniki Gre
Racing Genk Bel
BATE Borisov Bls
AS Saint-Étienne Fra
AA Gent Bel
FK Krasnodar Rus
Rapid Wien Aut
Slovan Liberec Cze
NK Maribor Slo
Maccabi Tel-Aviv Isr
Austria Wien Aut
West Ham United Eng
Panathinaikos Gre
FC Midtjylland Den
Sassuolo Ita
Qarabag Azb
Getting Europa League Group Stage monies is going to be incredibly challenging for Rangers. To add a little context, for Celtic to get that amount all it will take is for Southampton to sell Van Djik.
04 Jan 2017 12:24:12
Saw the username above, that was enough.
04 Jan 2017 12:29:40
Totally achievable let's just get second place and go on s good Scottish Cup run.
04 Jan 2017 12:51:54
That was some thorough reporting from another obsessed one.
04 Jan 2017 13:13:27
I have no idea if the OP is a Celtic or Rangers fan but out of interest Ger88, what part or parts of the post do you disagree with and why?
04 Jan 2017 13:18:24
MW bangs on about partland, has he managed to get us any decent players who's made the grade this year?
I don't think so.
Maybe big fod, but that's about it.
Tav - shocking
Kiernan - shocking
Wilson- complete joke
Windass- brutal.
Crooks-. Getting wages for nothing
Senderos- also wages for nothing.
Halliday- posted missing every game he plays. Nowhere near rangers standard. He should have been sacked instead of Barton.
Forrester, big time Charlie who plays as an individual instead for the team
Rather give youth a chance now instead of any of them playing again,
Young Burt could easily run our midfield.
Warbs need a complete change of tactics. Play 2 through the middle and we would start scoring goals.
Waggy isn't a winger.
Get him and miller or dodoo up top. The goals will start to flow.
A solid 4-4-2 is what we need.
Let's face it we where crap for the full of 2016. The last few months of the championship we where terrible tae.
How warbs and Davie Weir are still in a job is beyond me.
Most of all us bears need to stick together. Not starting any nonsense concerning Dave king and the board.
Is a hard thing piling money into something that you know you'll never get back.
Once we get our retail sorted we will be on a more stable footing.
Probably with more investors.
Hard to get investors just now with the nonsense that's going on with Ashley. He single handedly is the root of our present problem.
04 Jan 2017 13:28:27
yes cullin72.im an eastender, i usually post on the celtic forum on this site but I read the rangers rumours and banter, a lot of good bloggers on it. saw the original post and thought bears would find my post interesting. no malice at all.
04 Jan 2017 15:26:28
An interesting post with a lot of information that emphasises how difficult it will be for Scottish Teams to progress in Europe in the future. At least with your team dEBT, your current manager appears to be intent on building a decent squad with some potentially good young players.
04 Jan 2017 15:29:37
i am surprised anyone had any doubts you are tic supporter.
04 Jan 2017 17:00:24
Totally agree tom, it really is stacked against Scottish clubs and other leagues outside the big 4 to progress into euro group comps now, that's why it's a great feat for Celtic just to get there, even if we do get into Europe next season it is more likely we wouldn't make the group stage, only my opinion, because we won't invest on players because we can't afford to, unfortunately Celtic will strengthen big time this Jan, so it could be a battle with the sheep for 2nd right until the end of the season, it's going to be a long roan, but I don't think most fans will accept this and will want warbs and weir sacked.
04 Jan 2017 18:22:29
R. E Naz username says it all really mate :) .
Was an interesting read though will give the guy credit who knows how much that could change for next season but that speaks volumes of what I have been trying to say. Loan singings are fair enough for cover but in terms of building we should be looking at getting a better standard of player tied down in January because by the looks of it Europe League qualification isn't going to be a walk in the park.
05 Jan 2017 10:09:37
Dolby, I am more of the view that it is King we need to replace than Warburton although if we had a serious owner alongside the three bears then no doubt they would have their own view on who should manage the team.