Glasgow Rangers on for Amazing Quadruple

When Walter Smith answered David Murray's call to replace Paul Le Guen as Rangers manager a little over a year ago, I'm pretty sure he didn't in his wildest dreams imagine winning a domestic treble, never mind a major European trophy the following season.

Rangers were in a mess!

Club captain Barry Ferguson was on the transfer list, Alan McGregor wanted to leave, Alan Hutton couldn't get a look in and most importantly, the Gers were 20 points behind arch rivals Celtic in the title race.

Paul Le Guen had failed in spectacular fashion and chairman David Murray only wanted one man to replace him.

The rest as they say, is history. Barry Ferguson was reinstated as club Captain, Alan McGregor claimed the number 1 jersey and is arguably the best keeper in Scotland. Alan Hutton became the most exciting Scottish footballer in a generation and Rangers finished just 8 points shy of the Celtic.

Fast forward to this season where Rangers have battled hard on all four fronts.

The blue half of Glasgow won their first trophy in over 2 and a half years when Kris Boyd saved Rangers blushes in an enthralling CIS Insurance Cup Final.

Dundee United led both in normal time and extra time but both times were roped back in by Kris Boyd (arguably Britains premier poacher). Boyd went on to score the winning penalty in the ensuing shootout.

The Rangers forward has had it tough this season with limited opportunities in big games, but no one can argue against his 20 goals in 21(11) starts!

This weekend Rangers travel to Firhill where they will meet division one side, Partick Thistle in a Scottish Cup quarter final replay. A poor 1-1 draw at Ibrox enforced Rangers to add yet another fixture to their busy schedule. In an earlier round Rangers had also needed two attempts to see off Hibernian.

If the Gers can struggle past Partick Thistle (I can only imagine with a weakened team) they will face another first division outfit, St Johnstone in the semi final.

The other semi will be contested between the SPL's Aberdeen and yet another side from outside Scotland's top flight, Queen of the South.

Therefore the light blues may not have another SPL team to face on their way to what I hope will be a domestic treble. My faith in Queen of the South turning over Aberdeen is a little hopefull, I admit. After all, they haven't been this far in the Scottish Cup since, 'A Shot at Glory'.

The SPL has once again proved to be a tale of two sides. Those sides, Rangers and Celtic have both held as well as given up the SPL lead. However, the Gers now seem assured (I touch wood even as I type it) of winning the title.

Celtic are 7 points behind the Gers, with Rangers still having a game in hand. Pity it's not as simple as it sounds!

Rangers must still travel twice to Parkhead where they meet the other half of the Old Firm. These games will have a tremendous bearing on which one wins the league this season.

A single win for Rangers or even avoiding defeat in both games should be more than enough for the blue half of Glasgow to celebrate their first title since the 05/06 season under Alex McLeish.

So with the treble taken care of I turn my attention to the UEFA Cup.

Would I give up the league and Scottish Cup for European glory? The answer can only be yes! Do I think we have too? Well maybe not...

Some Rangers fans may disagree, I know four trophies would be simply, unprecedented! I have never heard of such an achievement...

Last night Rangers calmly waltzed into the UEFA Cup semi final with the look of a side with true European pedigree. A side that believed they would win, when others didn't, a British side who not once lapsed into booting long balls up the park!

I'd never seen a Rangers side perform like they did last night. Holding on to the ball, passing and movement all brilliant. The defending was smart, timely but most of all calm and collected.

For the first time in my 15 years as a true blue, I felt like I supported a great European side! That feeling I will never forget.

So can Rangers win the UEFA Cup? Maybe, maybe not, but by god we'll give it a go. Fiorentina won't fancy Ibrox and as Rangers have proven time and time again this season, don't count them out on the road.

Bayern Munich in the final? Now that would bring about a long standing tradition!

Let's face it, the only thing better than meeting Bayern in the final of the UEFA Cup, will be beating them!

The quadruple? Well it would be quite an achievement really!