retired_mickey

September 08

Andrew McKissocks first match in charge of Scotland took place away from home to Poland in the world cup qualifying and he pulled off a great win, 4-1 up at halftime they almost lost out to a Polish come back but won 4-3 in the end thanks to a Garry O'Conner hattrick and Ross McCormacks debut international goal.

Rangers started the month in good form Winning 3-0 at home to Kilmarnock, Dado Prso was instrumental in the victory. Rangers then went to Germany for their opening Champions League group match against Schalke as they grinded out a 2-2 draw with Dado Prso scoring twice. A stumble at home to Hibs though left Rangers 2nd and 3 points behind Celtic. Gers young guns put on a dazzling display away to Clyde in which they dominated and won 3-0 Mark Noble was awarded Man of the Match for his goal and midfield dominance. A comfortable 3-1 victory over Dundee was followed by a 3-3 home draw with CSKA Moscow which was a poor performance. Then came the big one, level on points going into the Old Firm derby both sides were desperate to win and Dado Prso got the goal which won it for Rangers putting them top.

Awards
Player of the Month - Andy Webster - Rangers
Youngster of the Month - Tom Huddleston - Rangers
Manager of the Month - Jim Leishman - Livi

retired_mickey

October 08

October was a good month for Rangers, they kicked it off with a comfortable 2-0 win over Livi but a slight stumble came as they couldnt beat the Feyenoord goalkeeper, a 0-0 draw away from home. They returned to league action against Motherwell winning 2-0 at Ibrox. A week later Rangers crushed Caley Thistle 5-0 at Ibrox with Freddy Guarin inspirational in the victory, scoring twice. Rangers stumbled again as they failed to beat Tristan Peersman in the Hearts goal a 0-0 draw at Tynecastle. The month was finished off with a confident 4-2 win over Feyenoord at Ibrox although they were pushed all the way they didn't look in too much trouble.

Scotlands October was good and bad, they cruised to a 3-0 win at home to Moldova but lost 2-0 away to Portugal. McCormack, O'Conner and S.Fletcher the scorers for Scotland in game 1.

Awards

Player of the Month - Francis Jeffers - Dundee Utd
Younster of the Month - Steven Fletcher - Celtic
Manager of the Month - Gordon Strachan - Celtic

retired_mickey

November 08

Rangers November month was a poor one at best. Dropping 4 points in the league and finding themselves 4 points behind their rivals Celtic. It started with 2-2 draw away to Aberdeen in which they lead 2-0 after 4 minutes. They went onto confidently beat Hearts 3-1 in the league cup quarters finals with Dado Prso scoring twice and Morten Gamst Pedersen providing good support. A superb 15minute hattrick from Prso ensured a 3-1 win over Dundee Utd who were 1-0 up until the 75th minute. Then came Schalke who nicked a draw with only seconds to go at Ibrox, 2-2 the score. The next disapointment came just days later, as they dominated Falkirk but failed to score, a 0-0 draw despite their dominance. Rangers finished the month with a 2-0 win over Kilmarnock, Bojinov and Mutu grabbing the goals.

Scotlands November month was a very good one, one of the best results in their recent times a 7-0 win over Romania at Hampden shocked the footballing world and awakend them to the fact that Scotland were back to their best. They followed that with a comfortable 4-1 away win over Hong Kong. The star of Scotlands month was without doubt Andy Bagshaw, scoring 4 in 2 games he propelled them to victory against Romania. Scotland now lie 19th in the world rankings behind 18th placed Paraguay.

Awards

Player of the Month - Karl Svensson - Celtic
Youngster of the Month - Billy Dennehy - Livi
Manager of the Month - Gordon Strachan - Celtic

retired_mickey

December 08

December started well for Rangers as they went through top of their Champions League group, winning 4-2 away to CSKA Moscow and became World Club Champions beating San Lorenzo 5-0 in the final, an Adrian Mutu hat-trick securing the easy win. Then came a poor domestic run, drawing 3-3 with Hibs, beating Dundee 3-1 was the only real highlight as they lost 2-0 at home to run away leaders Celtic. Rangers ended the month crushing Livi 5-2 Valeri Bojinov scoring three times.

retired_mickey

January 09

The turn of the new year sparked a good 4-2 win over Airdrie away for Gers youngsters in the Scottish Cup. The Rangers top team followed that up with a comfortable 2-0 win over Caley Thistle, previously a bogey team of the Gers. Andre Menenses, on loan from Chelsea, scored the opener on his debut. The bogey team of this year however is proving to be Hearts, another 1-1 draw put The Gers further behind Celtic, now 11 points. Rangers enjoyed a 3-1 home win over Aberdeen, with new signing Hugo Almeida scoring on his debut, then Dado Prso scoring his 30th of the season, his shoulders must now be aching after carrying the team through the first half of the season. Rangers finished the month by reaching the final of the League Cup, beating Falkirk 3-0 at Hampden, Hugo Almeida scoring twice and Dado Prso scoring.

Awards

Manager of the Month - Gordon Strachan - Celtic
Player of the Month - Amund Skiri - Falkirk
Youngster of the Month - Steven Vinter - Falkirk

retired_mickey

January Transfers

Budget - 23m

In
---
Hugo Almeida - 3m - Hibs
Juan Roman Riquelme - 13m
Raul Gonzalez Gonzalez - 700k - Betis
Henk Peters - 700k - Feyenoord
David Oritz - 1.8m - Espanyol

Out
----
Lucas Biglia - 8m - Barcelona
Calum Reidford - 1k - St Johnstone
Craig Frizzel - 30k - Gillingham
William McLachan - 250k - Wigan

Loans In
-----------
Andre Menenses - Chelsea

retired_mickey

Febuary 08

Rangers had a superb Febuary closing the gap to 6 points on Celtic. It got off to a horrible start with a 2-1 away defeat to Motherwell where Rangers played very poorly and pressure mounted on manager McKissock. Things took a good turn though, Celtic failed to win their game in hand and only took 7 points from the month. Rangers continued with some good results, 4-2 win over Dundee Utd, 5-0 win over Stranraer in the scottish cup and a 1-0 win over Falkirk with Raul Gonzalez Gonzalez, the 17 year old spaniard, scoring the winner. A 1-0 win over Villareal set up a double win over Kilmarnock in the league and the Scottish Cup and then a 2-1 win over Hibs which was grinded out with Meneses scoring the winner with 5 mins to go.

Scotlands only game in Febuary came against Luxemborg which was won 3-1, Garry O'Connor and Andy Bagshaw scored with an Own goal from Hansen sealing the win.

Awards

Manager of the Month - Andrew McKissock - Rangers
Player of the Month - Mark Noble - Rangers
Youngster of the Month - Mark Noble - Rangers

retired_mickey

March 08

Rangers moved 3 points behind rivals Celtic in the race for the SPL title. Celtic's only dropped points came against Rangers at Celtic Park a match which took place after Celtic knocked Chelsea out of the Champions league and Rangers 2-1 home win over Villareal. It was an Andre Meneses goal which sealed the win over Celtic, 1-0 the score. The score was the same a week later as Rangers sealed their first trophey, Adrian Mutu scoring the penalty. They left it late in their next league match but beat Dundee 2-0. Next up for the Gers was AC Milan, Milan went on a rampage Gilardinho scoring a 21 minute hat-trick in the first half but Rangers came out for the second half re-juvinated scoring twice and almost salviging a draw setting up a very enthralling 2nd leg at Ibrox. The final game of the month came against Livi in the Scottish Cup, Hugo Almeida scored the opener and the game was sealed by Juan Roman Riquelme.

Scotland played Norway at Hampden and were disapointed to draw 2-2 but were behind at first.

Awards

Manager of the Month - Jimmy Nicholl - Aberdeen
Player of the Month - Ramon Perriera - Livi
Youngster of the Month - Myles Weston - Motherwell

retired_mickey

(i jus typed out a big long one and it hasnt appeared so i cant be bothered re-typing it all)

April 08

Results
---------
Rangers 1-0 Milan - Scorer - Pedersen
Rangers 3-1 Inverness - Scorers - Brown(2), Mutu
Livingston 1-1 Rangers - Pedersen
Falkirk 1-3 Rangers - Meneses, Noble(2)
Porto 2-3 Rangers - Prso, Bojinov, Vitor(OG)
Rangers 2-0 Hibs - Riquelme(2)
Rangers 2-2 Porto - Bojinov, Noble(Pen)
Celtic 1-3 Rangers - Prso(3)
Rangers 1-0 Hearts - Brown
---------------------------

Rangers were 5 pts behind Celtic after their draw against Livi but caught up to 2 points when they defeated Celtic. As Rangers won 1-0 against Hearts, Celtic were defeated 3-0 away to Hibs. The destination of the title now lies in Rangers hands, win away to Motherwell and they have the title.

retired_mickey

sorry, the past three months should be labled 09, not 08.

3/5/09
Rangers lift the title for the 5th year in a row

Rangers have done it again, although this time in very difficult circumstances. The Gers faught and faught to the end just pipping Celtic to the title. Rangers avoided the final day Motherwell jynx pulling off a 4-2 win. Things could have gotten very nervy for the last 20mins as Gordons error was punished by Kennedy, the score being 3-2 at that point but from the kick off Morten Gamst Pedersen went on a determined run and smashed into the roof of the net to seal the title.

Motherwell 2-4 Rangers - Fir Park

Goals - Meneses(2), Bojinov, Gamst Pedersen
Injuries - Sergio Ramos, Pedersen - Rangers
MoM - Andre Meneses(9) - Rangers