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Warming up nicely in the Manchester sun

European Football Rangers
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Colin Moffat - BBC Sport in Manchester

Just as the Manchester United title-winning celebrations peter out, another football fiesta gets underway, albeit rather tamely.

Bar staff have just about had time to re-stock as the advance parties of Rangers followers arrive in the city.

I haven't heard an impassioned cry of "we are the people" yet but I did meet four young fans from Glasgow sunning themselves in Albert Square, one of three areas designated as fanzones for Wednesday's big match.

Chris Paterson, Alan Morrison, David Reid and Andy McKie were kind enough to pose in the background as eager television crews outnumbered supporters.

They later told me that they had booked their trip as soon as Sporting Lisbon had been taken care of at the quarter-final stage.

The lads also gambled on missing out the semi-final visit to Florence, due to work commitments and finances.

They just couldn't stop grinning, although Chris is the only one lucky enough to have a ticket.

"We'll try everything," the others explained. "But we're here to celebrate.

"There aren't many fans around just now but the place will be bouncing tomorrow and on the day of the game."

Just when I was thinking 'if they're not careful, those nice young fellows will get football fans a good name', I turned on to Oxford Road and saw a lone loon, with his luggage in a Farmfoods carrier bag, roaring incoherently.

Ach well, if the ratio of 4 to 1 keeps up, the police will only have to keep an eye on err... 25,000 or so.

Among the other early arrivals were a jet-lagged group from Perth, Australia.

And there will be others making long, elaborate journies to see Rangers contest their first European final in 36 years.

For most, it will be a simple jaunt down the M6, the path I took with the cream of BBC Radio Scotland broadcasting talent.

Geoff Webster and Annie Maguire helped me demolish the wine gums supplied by John Barnes.

All were in good form, which was surprising, given that the Scottish Football Writers' awards dinner was held last night.

Some other less well-behaved members of the fourth estate arrived later and blended right in with the hungover United-supporting locals.

Now then, I thought football commentators only packed the golf clubs and a selection of sheepskin jackets for these trips.

But Mr Barnes is armed to the teeth with files on and DVDs of Zenit St Petersburg.

Radio Scotland listeners are, as always, in for a well-informed treat.

Many are anticipating a dour final, with both teams sitting in and waiting for a chance on the break.

However, Mr Barnes believes the Russians will pose real menace in attack, even without their suspended star striker Pavel Pogrebnyak.

But that's enough football chat, when are you lot coming down for the party?

What are your travel plans and just how excited are you right now?

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comment by e-a-r-l (U4004542)

posted May 14, 2008

there really are some amount of bitter people on here-mostly celtic fans it appears.

i bet if they were in the final, playing the same type of football, they wouldn't be complaining.

it's nice to see a team from scotland doing so well! all the best to them

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comment by Maybeheisntquiteperfect (U2496949)

posted May 14, 2008

comment by aka_bluepeter (U10651257)
posted 1 Hour Ago

'Take care of our stadium you Jocks. Hope you beat Zenit whoever they are!'

You must work for Manchester City Council, then! I cant see them taking care of anything tbh, then again I cant see them all making it there Manchester has come to a stand still, roads blocked off etc, you cant even walk down Market Street in under an hour!!!

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comment by cfche-man67 (U10806643)

posted May 14, 2008

im a celtic fan. want rangers to win tonight but if they loose but make zenit work for it then well done to them. i dont see why a lot of celtic fans are still rambling on about the way that rangers are playing. that is the way they get results. i think taht scotland should get behind rangers because they are representing scotland and the spl tonight and if they get trounced everybody will think that scotland is a laughing stock. plus if they do win then the money is coming back into scotish football.

hail hail the gers are here. never thought that you would hear that!!!applausefootballlaugh

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comment by spooky (U5195559)

posted May 14, 2008

invershneckie (U6681438)
posted 20 Hours Ago

"On the contrary, I think that most Liverpool fans would much rather United won than Chelski..."

You are abbsolutely having a laugh, mate.

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comment by reildogg (U11958577)

posted May 14, 2008

As I from Ireland would tend to be pro celtic. However, does noone else feel the scottish FA are almost punishing Rangers for doing well in four competitions? If they miss out on the SPL there is NO doubt in my mind it will be as a result of playing about 200 games in a week! I no success comes at a cost but in my opinion its a bit over the top. Sure Chelsea went up in arms at having to play at the weekend and then Everton on a thursday, rangers have had it FAR worse!

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comment by rounders1970 (U1683371)

posted May 14, 2008

I don't understand all this fuss over what is essentially the European version of the Johnson's Paint trophy.

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comment by incredibleBillFarkin (U9718061)

posted May 14, 2008

Just read the savage attack on Rangers, their football, thier fans and this match in today's Fiver. All good stuff. Hope you get hammered as it's all you deserve. Come on Zenit

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comment by ArchLcampbluenose (U5922418)

posted May 14, 2008

Come on the Teddy Bears. We have every chance to win tonight, unlike the bitter and twisted celtic so called fans (remember the bile from them when they went to Seville a few years ago).
Everyone of them that I've spoken to recently have said that they're not even going to watch the game, SAD or what?

COME ON RANGERS, do us proud

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comment by spooky (U5195559)

posted May 15, 2008

rounders1970 (U1683371)
posted 17 Hours Ago

"I don't understand all this fuss over what is essentially the European version of the Johnson's Paint trophy."

Yeah - and why is anyone bothered about a tinpot team like Rangers, eh? In fact why doesn't everyone just see sense and the whole English speaking world start supporting ManU and Chelski and only watch football when they're playing Real Madrid, Barcelona or one of the Milan teams, eh?

Muppet.

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comment by rounders1970 (U1683371)

posted Jul 10, 2008

"I don't understand all this fuss over what is essentially the European version of the Johnson's Paint trophy."

Yeah - and why is anyone bothered about a tinpot team like Rangers, eh? In fact why doesn't everyone just see sense and the whole English speaking world start supporting ManU and Chelski and only watch football when they're playing Real Madrid, Barcelona or one of the Milan teams, eh?

Muppet.

I love it when people care too much.

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