johnnyk

Seen this in the BBC in the sheep v scum match report by david mcdaid........ "When the top six was decided, Celtic must have been disappointed that another trip to Pittodrie beckoned given the Dons' undefeated record at home since October." does he not know that's only the 2nd time this season at pittodrie for the scum or was he hoping to play them 3 times at home

how much you had to drink Ian :fish:

the sheep should have been well ahead, the scum off the hook again......

think they scored in the last minute to win m8, unlucky boys!!

Good luck to the young ones tonight...............

I don't think first team players really try their hardest (maybe incase they get injured or have been told take it easy and it's just to get you fit) which is where I see the reserve team. The young guys are the main ones who will be trying the hardest to impress IMO, but i'm not saying they should not try either. it was the headline i saw saying "gers are paddy whacked" and saying Paddy Mccourt was MOTM (maybe he was?) and is a superstar in the making and will help the scum lift the title come the end of May and then he will be a first team regular for years to come. i had to laugh at that :devil:

the guys you mentioned above played mainly to get fit for the run in IMO, we have mainly played under 19s all season where they have not. we had 7 under 17s yesterday 3 making thier reserve debuts, they did not. The reserve league is not very important regarding winning the league IMO as you never get a settled side. I seen some of the headlines in the papers today and thought they must have nothing else to print as who really cares? I also don't think we would've got the same coverage if we did happen to win it!

I think they have it as more of a priority than us Ian, i.e. take it more seriously. We had 7 players from our under 17s squad and 3 of the back 4 making the reserve debuts. I know it's mainly down to the under 19s being in the cup final but I doubt they would do the same. The youth teams and first team are much more important than the reserve team IMO.

ANDY Webster could be the latest player to step out of the shadows and play a part in the championship run-in for Rangers this weekend. The former Hearts and Scotland central defender successfully continued his rehabilitation from his latest injury problem when he played the full 90 minutes of yesterday's Old Firm reserve derby at Ibrox. Webster has not made a single first team appearance for Rangers this season and started just two matches during a loan spell at Bristol City, but assistant manager Ally McCoist last week hinted he could be involved in the closing weeks of the campaign. Rangers have been hampered in recent weeks by injuries to defenders Kirk Broadfoot and Sasa Papac, while Madjid Bougherra is suspended for Sunday's first post-split SPL fixture against Hearts at Ibrox. Webster is now a candidate to replace Bougherra as David Weir's central defensive partner, according to Rangers reserve team coach Tommy Wilson: "Andy has played for the last two months or so in the reserves, and he is now looking more like the player I remember playing for Hearts and Scotland. "He is fitter, stronger and has got over the injury issues he had. The function of the reserve team is to facilitate the first team, and that's what we have done in recent weeks with Christian Dailly, Andrius Velika and Stevie Smith making a contribution in the SPL title race and Scottish Cup." Steven Naismith added to Rangers' injury concerns yesterday when he limped out of the 1-0 defeat to Celtic with a calf problem after 55 minutes. Despite his disappointment at seeing Celtic clinch the reserve title at Ibrox, Wilson praised his squad for their efforts this season. "With so many of our players going out on loan, this season has exceeded my expectations," he said. "Celtic devote a lot of resources to their reserve team, so for us to challenge them for so long is a credit to the players here. "This was our toughest game of the season and it couldn't have come at a worse time, coinciding with the Youth Cup final on Wednesday night and an injury crisis at the club. "We took the decision to leave out most of the under-19 squad, as the final at Hampden against Hibs is the showcase for Scottish youth football. So we had seven under-17s in our squad today, and three of the back four were making their first starts for the reserve team. It's not nice for us to see Celtic celebrating at Ibrox, but they have not won the reserve league title so often for nothing." Published Date: 29 April 2009 http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/sport/Forgotten-man-Webster-primed-to.5214801.jp

They will get 15,000 at least..........

He went off his nut, I thought it would be much more than that!!

Forgotten Rangers man Andrius Velicka sets himself a double target as he strikes out for final glory Andrius Velicka is very keen to make up for lost time. The Lithuanian striker is determined to play his part in an engrossing title run-in and fancies helping Rangers to not just their first league title win in four years, but to the Home-coming Scottish Cup as well. A place in the final will be assured if Rangers can see off the threat of St Mirren at Hampden tomorrow and, if they do so, tongues will start to wag about the possibility of a league and cup double. St Mirren, of course, will feel that their shot at glory is equally near at hand. Gus MacPherson's side have already seen off Celtic in the competition and view tomorrow's game as one of the biggest of their season. Staying in the top flight is their ultimate aim, but a Scottish Cup Final party wouldn't be too bad either. Velicka, though, is determined to use the final weeks of the season to show Rangers just what he is capable of after being placed in cold storage for most of the season to date. The striker returned to Walter Smith's side for the 1-0 win at Falkirk this month, but it was the first sighting of him since he had featured in a 2-0 win over Hearts way back in August. It has been a difficult time for the striker, who has admitted the past eight months have been the most frustrating of his senior career. "It was a natural reaction because I had played so much football without a break," he said ruefully. "It has been very difficult for me because I started in the team and then all of a sudden I was injured. "All the games caught up with me physically, but now I feel that I can be like a fresh player for the manager. I have had a lot of time to recover my fitness and I feel I am hungry now. "It would be nice to get the chance to show the Rangers fans what I can do in these last months of the season because I don't think they have seen the best of me yet. "I believe that I can score goals, but I have to respect that there have been players doing that all season, so I will be patient. I do want to have a say in the title race because I think I can help Rangers to win the SPL and the Scottish Cup. It will be a hard game for us at Hampden tomorrow, but we are looking forward it." He will be hoping to add to the two goals he has scored in recent wins over Motherwell and Hibs and, when the dust settles on tomorrow's contest, Velicka will turn his attention to the pivotal Old Firm game at Ibrox next month. The striker has yet to sample the unique fare offered by a meeting between the Glasgow giants and he couldn't ask for a bigger game in which to make his mark this term. Irrespective of what happens between now and then, the game at Ibrox is titanic in terms of its significance. For all that both sides have squandered advantages and thrown away chances to exert further pressure on their rivals this term, it would be difficult to envisage either side winning the game at Ibrox and then not lifting the title. Velicka had fallen so far out of the picture at Rangers that he was in danger of becoming the forgotten man but, should he make his mark in what is the biggest game of the season, redemption could be at hand. "Of course I want to play in it," grinned the Lithuanian. "I haven't played in an Old Firm game before and I know what a big game it is. "It is huge because of the league situation, but an Old Firm game by itself is known all over the world. I would love to play a part in it, but this is football and things do not always go the way you want them to. "The manager has a big squad here and players like Kenny Miller and Kris Boyd have been doing it all season. "All I can do is show what I can do in training and in games and hope that I am involved when the game takes place. "But before then we have a game against St Mirren in the Scottish Cup and a league match against Hearts, so we have to think about them. "It would be silly to be thinking about Celtic just now when there are other things for us to do." Rangers have avoided a second trip to Tynecastle and will play Hearts at home in the first SPL game after the split. Critics who have pointed to the third home game against the Edinburgh side might want to consider the manner in which Csaba Laszlo's side came back from a two-goal deficit to take a point on their last visit to Ibrox. The games between either half of the Old Firm at Tynecastle are always fraught, although Velicka doesn't believe Rangers have an advantage by avoiding a trip to his former home ground. "Hearts will believe they can win against us," he said. "I enjoy playing against them because they are my old side, but that doesn't mean I don't want to beat them. "They have done very well under Csaba and he has them playing good football but, more importantly, they are a team that seem to have a lot of belief. "I don't think it is easier playing them at Ibrox than at Tynecastle because they are a difficult side to beat. "People look at Scottish football and think that Rangers should beat everybody they play, but it is not like that. You have to work very hard to win every game and every team can make life very hard for you. "Hearts will remember what happened when they played us the last time and they will take a lot of belief from that. We will need to be at our best but all that matters now is getting points." Publication date 24/04/09 http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/display.var.2504069.0.0.php

WALTER SMITH today revealed he will have a healthy choice of fit Rangers stars as they prepare to surge for a domestic double. The Ibrox gaffer has been deprived of several key personnel for weeks - but is about to get most of them back for the run-in. DaMarcus Beasley, Kirk Broadfoot, Kyle Lafferty and Lee McCulloch could all be available for the SPL showdown with Hearts at Ibrox on May 3. And Smith, whose team take on St Mirren in the semi-final of the Homecoming Scottish Cup at Hampden tomorrow, has also revealed he is grateful for some SPL respite. He said: "I think it is good to have a cup game at this time. If anything, the two-week break from league action will help us to get quite a few of our players back. "If we are looking at Kirk, Lee, Kyle and DaMarcus, we could have them all back in a couple of weeks. "It has not been a bad thing at all having a break for the semi-final. It gives us that little bit of respite." But Barry Ferguson is facing a huge battle to be fit to play again this season. The deposed skipper injured his calf in a reserve game during the week after three weeks sidelined due to disciplinary action. He hopes to be back by the middle of May, but Smith revealed: "Unfortunately, with the injury he picked up, he will be out for the majority of the rest of the season." Smith will soon have big selection headaches as the fringe players who have been drafted in as cover in recent weeks have performed well. He said: "Boys like Andrius Velicka, Mo Edu and Steven Smith have come in and have now got some games under their belt. You can see in every game that they are improving and getting there. "Their overall match fitness has improved and that has added to the options." But Smith reckons he needs that competition for places in his team, who currently sit just one point behind Celtic with five games left to play. He added: "There has been a couple of stages this season when it looked as if the title was a little bit beyond us. "We then found ourselves in front and Celtic pegged us back. "Going into the last five games, especially the one against Celtic at home, we consider ourselves to be in a decent position if we can produce the required consistency." Meanwhile, Rangers have insisted talks are ongoing with Kirk Broadfoot over an extension to his contract that ends in 12 months time. Publication date 24/04/09 http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/display.var.2504072.0.0.php

I wouldn't rule out a Barry Ferguson comeback yet, warns Rangers coach Ally McCoist ALLY McCOIST last night insisted Barry Ferguson can still salvage a future for himself at Rangers. McCoist spoke out as the deposed Ibrox skipper was coming to terms with the calf injury that has almost certainly brought his own personal rollercoaster of a campaign to an end. But while it now seems sure that Ferguson will be shipped out of the club in the summer, McCoist insists he EXPECTS to see the 31-year-old back in a blue shirt again. Walter Smith's right-hand man turned up at Forthbank Stadium in Stirling on Tuesday moments after Ferguson had hobbled off, 60 secondsinto a reserve team clash with Hearts. If, as anticipated, that was his last appearance for Rangers then it will go down as a desperate and sad ending to the player's long-lasting love affair with the club. But even though Ferguson's relationship with Smith has broken down in the wake of the Boozegate scandal, McCoist remains adamant the midfielder will be back. He said: "I don't think for a minute that's been his last appearance in a Rangers shirt. "He has more than a year left on his contract and, that being the case, there is every chance he will play again. "Absolutely, he can come back next season. All he has is a calf injury. He has everything to get fit for with a year on the contract. "Unless something else happens, like he wishes to leave or a club comes in for him with an offer, then it is common sense he will be here next season. "That is the way it looks from where I am sitting. If that is the case then fantastic." Ferguson, in fact, has not given up hope of returning to action before the end of the season even though medics have said his injury will take six weeks to cure. McCoist also doubts the player's ability to heal in time and said: "I spoke with him very briefly after the game at Stirling. He has had his scan and there is definitely a tear in it. "He is thinking three weeks but I am thinking it may be longer than that - and no one had more calf tears than me. I hope that it is only three weeks for Barry." And McCoist has not ruled out a possible top-team return for Ferguson's Boozegate accomplice, Allan McGregor, in tomorrow's Scottish Cup semi-final clash with St Mirren. He said: "We have to move on. I wish I had a pound for every word that has been written over the past couple of weeks. "It is in the past now. Barry made a mistake, Allan made a mistake but let's move on. "McGregor will be considered and have a shout for selection - Barry would have too. You pick teams to win games." Apr 24 2009 Keith Jackson http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/football/spl/rangers/2009/04/24/i-wouldn-t-rule-out-a-barry-ferguson-comeback-yet-warns-rangers-coach-ally-mccoist-86908-21302577/

Kirk Broadfoot is going nowhere, says Rangers assistant manager Ally McCoist ALLY McCOIST has hit out at claims Kirk Broadfoot could leave Rangers - and says he hopes the defender signs another contract at Ibrox. Reports today claimed the versatile stopper will be allowed to move on after a round of contract talks broke down, as Rangers look to bring their wage bill down during the summer. But McCoist insists he'd like to see the 24-year-old stay at Ibrox. Broadfoot joined the Light Blues from Paisley in July 2007, making 66 appearances so far - a haul which includes last season's UEFA Cup final. The player is currently fighting to regain his fitness ahead of the title run-in. But even if he misses the remainder of the campaign, assistant manager McCoist expects to see Broadfoot playing in a Rangers jersey again. McCoist said: "I've got to be honest - I've not read a newspaper today and one of the other lads said to me about the story. "As far as I'm concerned, Kirk's advisors will hopefully sit down with our people and something can get ironed out. "Somebody said to me that he has been asked to leave but that's news to me. I don't think that's the case at all, absolutely not. "If it is, I certainly don't know about it and in my opinion, I'm very hopeful we can get the situation sorted." Apr 23 2009 http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/football/spl/rangers/2009/04/23/kirk-broadfoot-is-going-nowhere-says-rangers-assistant-manager-ally-mccoist-86908-21300524/

totally agree with that. we don't have any good back up really. I hope thomson returns fully fit for the start of next season............

I take it you don't like him much then :fish:

The scum using our scouting system again

Broadfoot put up for sale as Rangers bid to trim their wage bill Kirk Broadfoot is poised to follow axed Rangers skipper Barry Ferguson out of the Ibrox door in a summer exodus. Confirmation came last night that Ferguson may have played his final game for the club after suffering a torn calf muscle in Tuesday’s reserve game. And Sportsmail can reveal that shattered Broadfoot has also been told he can leave following the collapse of protracted talks on a new contract. Currently one of the lowest-paid first-team players at the club on Ã?£3,000-a-week, the Scotland defender was hopeful of earning a rise by extending his deal beyond the 12 months which currently remain. In the aftermath of his late red card in the Co-operative Insurance Cup Final defeat to Celtic, however, the Ibrox club called an abrupt halt to discussions. Desperate to cut their squad wage bill in the face of crippling levels of debt, Rangers have since informed Broadfoot’s representatives that they will listen to any reasonable offer for the defender’s services this summer. A source close to the player said: ‘Kirk wants to stay at Rangers because he is a fan of the club. All he wants is a new contract, but, suddenly, he has been told he can go for financial reasons.’ http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1172745/EXCLUSIVE-Broadfoot-sale-Rangers-bid-trim-wage-bill.html?ITO=1490 I think there's a few more I would get rid off before Kirk

certainly hope not, decent enough player but he's not any better than what we have already!!!

he's big bad barry that's enought for some

0-0 half time............

BARRY FERGUSON has limped off just two minutes into his first game since he was made available for selection again by Rangers manager Walter Smith. The former Ibrox captain, appearing for Tommy Wilson's reserves against Hearts at Stirling Albion's Forthbank Stadium, was injured in the early stages of the game. Barry Ferguson, RangersFerguson appeared to hurt himself as he went to make a block tackle on Jambos winger David Templeton on the Main Stand side. He was immediately replaced by teenage midfielder Stephen Stirling and his departure comes as a real blow to the 31-year-old. Determined to win his place back in manager Smith's plans, coming off so early is an obvious setback for Ferguson - although it remains to be seen how serious the knock is. Allan McGregor is also playing for the second string and has looked alert, with the score still at 0-0 as half-time approaches. Make sure you keep coming back to http://www.rangers.co.uk this afternoon for updates, reports and pictures from the game. We'll bring you any further news there might be on the extent of Ferguson's condition as soon as we have it. http://www.rangers.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,5~1634832,00.html Very quick off the mark I see

Mcgregor, Little, Wilson, Webster, Wylde, Lennon, Hemdani, Ferguson, Fleck, Naismith, Aaron Barry subbed after 1 min holding his hamstring....Stephen stirling on, Fleck playing centre midfield now...........

IMO it's easy to say after the results are in and IMO Barry was playing the better of the 3 in midfield and had also scored a couple recently as Edu has done. I am not a great Barry fan but it's always him and Boyd that keep getting slagged off the majority of the time and they are no worse than anyone else. Maybe people expect more from them I don't know but I would have Barry in my team before Mendes and Davis just now..........