Barry Ferguson and Allan McGregor

[Hairydude]

It seems Dick Advocaat still wants him for Zenit St Petersburg as he obviously still rates him- Ferguson hasn't been the same player since he returned from Blackburn- he has had so many injuries but in his early career he was unbelievable-and for me, after Paul Gascoigne, he is by far the most talented midfielder of my generation to play for Rangers. I cant really remember Davie Cooper.

In terms of him being a failure in England- too small a sample size for me- he only played 36 games in 18 months and when he left Mark Hughes was desperate for him to stay-even after a fractured kneecap injury.

I think the current situation is typical David Murray- it is common knowledge that Rangers are millions in the red- this gives Murray perfect reason to sell the 2 players without any backlash from Fans. Not so much with Ferguson as I think most Rangers fans would agree that perhaps, his legs are past it. But Macgregor has been outstanding this season and a big loss IMO if we sold. But to Murray it will probably be £5million in the bank plus a saving of £50k+ a week.

I have been really dissapointed in their actions- well out of order and no need for it but the reaction has been way over the top- I despise the way media twist things. They were seen as making the V signs to the journos as they feel they have been stitched up big time so they let the photographers know. (footballers are so fvcking thick) But the media have twisted it and said they were shaming the tartan army and aiming the gestures at them which is ridiculous.

One footnote- although I have been as dissapointed as the next Rangers fan in Ferguson this season, even before the past week- I must say so many Rangers fans have such short memories- what Ferguson has done for Rangers over the years has been commendable- he is a legend in my eye-regardless of the sarcastic OP. It has been no secret the guy has taking painkilling injections throughout his career- and its later in his career it is becoming evident the effect it is having on him- the guy could end up a cripple in older life for his desire to help Rangers out.

And for all those so eager to get him out the team- we'll wait and see how much better Rangers are without him- and even if they are slightly better- just wait until Mendes or Davis get injured and we have to put Lee McCulloch in there or recall Charlie Adam- then see how glad you are!

[scottm]

Where does Ferguson go from here, touted as pretty much Scotlands most talented footballer of the last 10 years (bit like being touted as the tallest midget). He was a failure in English football, partly due to injuries and seemed desperate to go back to Rangers. Surely no other side in Scotland is viable, so try his luck on the continent, pick up a fat wage packet in the US?

Clyde

Oi 

Even we aren't THAT desperate !!

[cambo]

yes u are

[Josedinho]

Apologies for sarcastic OP i just thought they are a bit special to have got such a big over reaction to something so small.
Stripping Ferguson of captaincy and leaving them out of next squad would have been fairer. If Gordon doesn't win his place back at Sunderland will you a keeper playing regularly of a similar standard to McGregor to pick?

[Maxriddles]

I'm not defending the V signs, there was no need for it, it was childish, and deserves to be punished.

IMO Burley is the real villain here though and should be sacked now,  we have virtually no chance of qualifying anyway. He must have been seething when the other players involved in the drinking session he sanctioned held their hands up to being involved. Burley saw an opportunity to stamp his authority on these two and it's blown up in his face. I doubt very much if the other players in the squad will have much faith in him after this incident.

Personally I have no objection to the drinking session in question and believe this is a nothing incident blown out of all proportion due to the manager trying to play some stupid power game. They went to bed around 82 hours before the kick off time on Wednesday, a lot longer than the normal drinking ban for games.

As for who should replace Burley, good question, Walter Smith would be the ideal man for the job IMO but there's no way that's going to happen.

[Boba Fett]

Hairydude, I agree that before he left for England Ferguson was THE outstanding midfielder in Scotland, he signlehandedly dragged us to the 1st title under McLeish.  Since he came back, at the time he added to calmness and authority to the Rangers midfield which at the time was a shambles being held together by the form of Ricksen but I really cant remember too many great performances from him since he came back.

Braving injury to play is commendable but last season I really think it hindered us more than it helped us.  In the last few games of the season where we fell apart, Ferguson was posted completely missing for me and I think someone else in the position would have given more as Ferguson clearly couldnt cope with playing through the injections.

This season has been a farce, our midfield looked superb and Mendes in particular was outstanding.  Then Ferguson comes back and the team look terrible again, Ferguson has been absymal in almost every game and Mendes has more quiet games than good games.

Straying off topic a little Id say ferguson may still have his uses if he does stay, his attacking prowess is gone imo, we never see him making telling runs into the box, playing the pass from the edge of the area or add a scoring threat.  If I were to play him Id make him the full time holding midfielder as he still bombs into tackles and is still a good enough passer from his own half.  It would also let Mendes and Davis go and do their thing without Ferguson getting in the way.

[GlasgowBandit]

Yes, well done Scottish FA, ban two of your best players from a squad that is pretty thin to begin with.

lol thats all.  McGregor is a decent goalie, Ferguson is Tez. 

[GlasgowBandit]

Seriously I think there has been a major over reaction here but I lol'd hard most of the day yesterday as announcement after announcement came out.

SFA are a bunch of jokers.

I don't think Barry should be in the Scotland team because I thik he is PISH.  As for McGregor, well last season I would have had him in ahead of Gordon.  But I think this season he has made a few gaffs and his offield shit is bound to have messed his head up a bit so not sure that he should be number 1 against Holland.  I am not the biggest Craig Gordon fan, but I thought to drop him against Holland was a massive mistake, so many times he has been Scotlands saviour.

[Scottish Dave]

They made a total arse of themselves, disrespected thier club, country, Fans and themselves

They deserve everything they get IMO

Once a Ned always a Ned.


David Murray was the happiest man alive when they did what they did, he can now off load two of their bigger 'Stars' and try to eat into his huge debt Rangers have ran up. My only worry for Sir Dave is they he will be lucky to get £6M for both (id say £3M McGregor/£2.5M Fergie)

[henrik777]

They made a total arse of themselves, disrespected thier club, country, Fans and themselves

They deserve everything they get IMO

Once a Ned always a Ned.


David Murray was the happiest man alive when they did what they did, he can now off load two of their bigger 'Stars' and try to eat into his huge debt Rangers have ran up. My only worry for Sir Dave is they he will be lucky to get £6M for both (id say £3M McGregor/£2.5M Fergie)

£2.5 million for Fergie Not even in monopoly money. I said to a Rangers season ticket holder that i thought he should stay at Ibrox and he said "i bet you do !!" Kinda says it all really.

Sandy

[Hairydude]

The problem is with trying to get money for them now though is-Every team knows Rangers are probably going to offload them so there is no chance we will get 'big' money for these players- We will get £1m-£1.5m for Ferguson and £3m to £4m max for macgregor so i'd agree we will be lucky to get £6m for both but MUrray will also see it as a £50k a week saving in wages

As for the reason our midfield being poor since Ferguson came in was more to do with the fact Kevin Thomson dropped out with a bad injury- after playing superb for us rather than ferguson coming in IMO

[Scottish Dave]

The problem is with trying to get money for them now though is-Every team knows Rangers are probably going to offload them so there is no chance we will get 'big' money for these players- We will get £1m-£1.5m for Ferguson and £3m to £4m max for macgregor so i'd agree we will be lucky to get £6m for both but MUrray will also see it as a £50k a week saving in wages

Also, if Smith sticks to his word and drops them both for the rest of the season, they ain't going to be in the shop window anymore either. plus a lack of first team football, with decrease their value.

[GlasgowBandit]

Its in todays Sunday Mail that there will be some sort of reprieve for McShagger.  Would seem that the Sunday Mail has a high ranking source at ibrox.

Not often I agree with Andy Walker, but I thought his piece in todays Sunday Mail was a decent read.


Move to end Barry Ferguson's Rangers career isn't brave, it's suicidal
Apr 5 2009 Andy Walker

I'VE heard it called a brave decision by Rangers.

Suicidal is more apt.

If you ever needed an idea of how desperate the Ibrox club are for cash the events of the last few days have crystallised everything.

In all my years in football I have never known such a gross over-reaction to two footballers guilty of a stupid mistake who followed it up with a display of childish and immature behaviour.

To suspend Barry Ferguson and Allan McGregor without pay for two weeks and effectively end their Gers careers is excessive and out of all proportion.

The club are desperate to sell any prize asset and ruthlessly exploited a delicate situation.

Two of the highest earners sold in the summer under a cloud - that'll do for starters.

In January any one of five big names could have been sold to reduce the club's crippling debt.

But nobody took the bait and this is a panic measure.

In a different era Walter Smith would never have agreed to such a ridiculous stance from his chairman.

In successful times how often did Gers fans hear "the team that drinks together wins together"?

How many scrapes did some of the nine-in-a-row side get involved in only for Smith to protect and defend them at every turn?
The bottom line is Rangers' title bid has been weakened by doing without two big-name players who can give inspirational performances.

The SFA have also looked shambolic in all of this. As manager George Burley is in charge of discipline. His choice was to leave them out of the team, a decision approved by chief executive Gordon Smith.

But president George Peat completely undermined them with his determination to have a full inquiry over both incidents.

That led to lifetime bans for the Ibrox pair - another huge over-reaction - and severely compromised Burley's authority.

And amid all the hysteria the real problem will continue to be ignored. There is a drinking culture in the British game that has been evident for years.

Our history is littered with similar exploits. The story of Jimmy Johnstone making his way back to a Largs hotel at 5am after an all-night drinking session then getting lost at sea in a rowing boat has become the stuff of legend.

Remember pictures of England stars in the dentist's chair just before Euro 96? That too resulted in mass hysteria and calls for players to be banned but boss Terry Venables stood by them.

The sad truth is the British attitude to food and drink reflects badly on us all.

Athletes guzzling pints all morning? They probably washed it down with egg and chips.

It's unacceptable. I don't say it with any pride but stories of marathon benders are commonplace at every club I've been at.

Three or four days before losing a Scottish Cup semi-final replay to Motherwell in 1991, there were plenty of Celtic players too drunk to train after an almighty boozing session. I reckon every guy I've played with has seen evidence of a drinking culture that still exists.

When I signed for Sheffield United under Howard Kendall it took my breath away how often he insisted on "bonding sessions".

It was always the same routine. We'd go to a Chinese restaurant, eat and drink as much as possible then - to roars of approval - Kendall would threaten every player with a fine of two weeks' wages if they went home sober.

To my knowledge he never went through with it but that was his way of fostering team spirit.

When I later signed for Hibs I was looking forward to playing alongside Chic Charnley but after my debut against Aberdeen I didn't see him again for four days.

He was on the lash and you can only imagine what he would have achieved in the game had he screwed the nut.

There's simply no excuse for Scotland lads going on a booze session in the middle of a World Cup qualifying campaign, least of all captain Ferguson. And their two-fingered salutes were pathetic.

One problem that could come back to haunt Smith and Burley though is inconsistency of discipline.

Half a dozen players drank heavily until the early hours yet only two were singled out for punishment.

That can't be right. And spare me the tosh about every player being a role model on how to live your life. They're footballers, nothing more.

And whether it is at club or international level, the next episode of drunkenness won't be too far away.

[G1BTW]

Pretty easy once you've had a few pints just to stay for a couple more, next thing you know it's 1 am and you're wellied, can happen to anyone. Just give them a ticking off and sack the coaches who should have been there making sure this couldn't have happened. I know they're not 4 year olds but you can take some measures to prevent this kind of thing happening.
Dunno what happens to Ferguson but McGregor becomes poker pro obv.

[vegaslover]

Says it all when people think it's ok to go on a drinking session in the middle of the world cup qualifying period.
The SFA have probably overdone it with the punishment, but if your going to do something as pathetic as that then you can't have any complaints imo