ascender

Tha's the thing, we really missed Hutton's attacking input on the right after he left. So maybe the lack of new wingers isn't a bad thing if we can get the full backs sorted.

Maybe Whittaker deserves a run on the right?

So either our transfer budget is a good bit more than 6M, or WS is banking on getting some money back in for guys like Cousin, JCD, Buffel & Hemdani.

Sorry, 10 years too late and we wouldn't (and shouldn't) pay his wages.

Our improved Lafferty bid apparently includes Gow going in exchange.

If Cousin & JCD go, then maybe we don't have too many strikers assuming we're going to be playing a 4-4-2 in domestic games. Novo still seems to make more of an impact from the right side and Naismith is out for months yet, so maybe there's method to Wattie's madness after all.

That would give us two from:

Boyd

Velicka

Lafferty

Miller

Even though Fulham have pulled out of the Cousin deal, I'd have thought his agent will find him a club somewhere so that he gets his cut from it. Money for JCD would be too good to turn down IMO as his hamstrings are clearly shot and that's no use when you're that sort of a player.

BBC Scotland reckon we've now bid 3M for Lafferty.

So depending on how things go, we'll line up one of two ways next season.

_________________McGregor_______________

Broadfoot______Weir_____Cuellar_______Papac

Whittaker_____Webster______Wilkie_____Smith

_____________Reynolds______Cousin_________

or

_________________McGregor_________________

Broadfoot______Boyd________Fleck_______Miller

Novo______Velicka_________Lafferty______Buffel

_____________Darcheville______Cousin_________

Its definitely silly season, so I have no problem with the various rumours going around, particularly as many will come to nothing except maybe getting players at other clubs improved contracts. I kind of wish I could just block out all the news feeds and stuff until the start of the season though as its already getting tiresome.

Regardless of who we sign, its funny to hear lots of fans complaining about the sort of players we're being linked with. While I can kind of see the point that only signing players from other SPL clubs isn't the answer, if you think back to the season just past, lots of these crap SPL players often played our lot of the park at times. So they can't be as bad as we like to think can they?

When does pre-season training start?

If the rumours regarding the Cousin fee are true, it won't make much difference to our transfer kitty anyway thankfully.

Balls. Fulham don't want Cousin any more so its cash only for Davis.

I am not so sure Pete. I have a sneaking suspicion that many Rangers supporters (not all obviously) are hiding behind the "he isn't good enough" argument but privately dont want him back because he played for the Tims and because of his badge pumping.

Totally agree. There was a telling poll on FF a couple of weeks back when we were linked with McGeady, one of those "do you want him" and many of the replies were along the lines of "no, because he's a Tim, we don't want him or Miller" etc.

Because he plays in the SPL. Quite a few in the media have commented this season how he'd definitely improve the Spain side, but until he moves on, he'll struggle to get a chance. All he can do is help to get us to the CL next season and hopefully show enough to get a call-up for a B game or friendly and then take it from there.

I thought Miller always thumped his chest when he scored, regardless of what team he was playing for at the time?

Personally I think its a fairly low risk signing in that WS knows exactly what he's getting for his money, which also isn't much in today's terms. I've seen a lot of criticism about his goals to games ratio, but that doesn't tell the whole story. And its strange to see that stat trotted out when the same fans are then saying Boyd is lazy and we need players like JCD who will run themselves in to the ground for 90 minutes to open up space, drag defenders out of position etc for their fellow striker.

A wee bit of me thinks the reason most people don't want Miller is just because he's played for Celtic, pure & simple. The other reason is just an excuse to hide behind.

If we accept that he's a fairly similar player in terms of style to JCD and Cousin, then surely he's a good buy? He's not injury-prone like JCD and he's not a moody git like Cousin, so hopefully we'll get more from him.

I don't think our forward line is where we have problems really. If we sort out the midfield then I think any of our strikers will prosper this season.

Looks like Velicka will be signing soon.

Meanwhile, former Hearts striker Andrius Velicka will fly into Scotland over the weekend to finalise his �£1m move to Ibrox from Viking Stavanger.

 

Viking director of football Egil Ostenstad, who had a brief spell as a Rangers player, last night revealed he expected the deal to go ahead after two days of talks with Ibrox chief executive Martin Bain.

 

Ostenstad said: "The discussions with Martin have been good and I believe Andrius will be in Scotland in the next couple of days for personal talks and a medical."

He's certainly saying the right things.

And, after signing a three-year deal yesterday, Miller was adamant he can prove his doubters wrong.

He said: "Playing for Celtic hasn't helped in terms of my popularity with the Rangers fans but I've heard a lot of things said and most of the time it comes back to one thing - a lot of Rangers fans don't want me because they just don't think I'm very good.

"I've seen my signing described as a backward step. Well, I don't believe it's a backward step and, most importantly, the manager does not believe it is.

"I'm hoping the fans will look at it rationally, look at what Walter Smith has done for this club and have a bit of trust in him. He has surely earned that trust by now.

"If he believes I can make Rangers stronger that's good enough for me. It's my job now to go out there and prove him right. I'll give everything to make sure that happens."

Miller's return to Ibrox looks set to provoke a similar reaction to that which greeted Maurice Johnston on his arrival at Ibrox in 1988.

But the 28-year-old insists no amount of flack will temper his joy at signing for Rangers again and the chance to team up once more with his onetime Scotland boss Smith.

Miller, who flew out on holiday last night, said: "I just can't explain how much this means to me. I honestly can't keep the smile off my face.

"The thought of coming back to a place such as Murray Park every morning to work for men such as Walter, Ally McCoist and Kenny McDowall - it doesn't get any better.

"Walter and Ally seem to know exactly how to get the best out of me as a player.

With Scotland they took my game to another level. I believe they can do the same now I'm back in a Rangers shirt."

Which manager first tried Gio as a LB or wing back more accurately? I seem to remember he was very unhappy when he was first asked to play that position, but he's since made it his preferred role. Was it Wenger?

According to the radio he's now at Murray Park and will be unveiled shortly.

I'd be gutted and very angry if Thomson, Cuellar or McGregor left this close season and when coupled with the Miller signing would be interesting to see if it woke up any of the pro-Murray brigade to what's going on here.

As for JCD, its been mentioned a few times that he could go if an offer came in and given his fitness problems, maybe he wouldn't be a great loss?

FF are saying that the Scottish Sun has an interview with Miller and he'll sign today.

Willie McKay, per chance?

Got it in one!

You'll never guess who Alan McGregor's agent is.....

I believe that there was a board meeting last night, not an EGM

Ah OK, I knew there was something lined up. Would it not have been normal to have called an EGM in the circumstances, maybe after resignation number 3 or therabouts?

Any way, I'm assuming we can expect an update today from the Trust whether its a press release or an email to members?

Or am I expecting too much?

I've just read the response on FF and I'm a bit disappointed by it tbh. Any attempts to find out what are going on seem to be getting brushed under the carpet. Which is fair enough if we say that the RST shouldn't be posting stuff on other websites about their affairs. But the Trust can't have it both ways can they and use sites like FF when it suits them?

I basically just want to know what's going on. A third of board members don't all choose to resign within days of each other for no reason. Or maybe they do and the Trust is about to step up a gear and that would call for more time. The cynic in me would suggest that these members didn't agree with the direction the Trust was going and decided to vote with their feet.

The Record piece is being blamed for de-stabilising the Trust, but IMO they've more than done that themselves with their silence since the resignations started. There was an EGM last night wasn't there? So are Trust members going to get an email today explaining what's going on?

I've dropped them an email myself as a "concerned" member and sharesave participant....

Do we really need two players sitting, particularly in the SPL? Assuming everyone else around him plays to their ability, I'd have thought Thomson on his own would be more than capable of holding the midfield.

I know what you're all saying though as Barry does want to come deep the whole time, but I just think if we go with that system, we're almost wasting a midfield berth. I really think its time to change the balance of our midfield and start from scratch in terms of ideas & lineup.

What I don't understand is that the Miller thing has been rumoured since the start of the year? Some on FF said it was a done deal back then, way before any of the papers picked up the story.

Derby were relegated; there doesn't appear to be interest from any other clubs; Miller wants to come back to the club and work with Smith again. Yet we can't agree personal terms?

I'm not one for conspiracy theories, but none of this adds up.

Are we just waiting so we can sign someone else at the same time to lessen the blow of signing Miller?