ian1964

Kenny Miller???

I remember the topic of conversation among Rangers fans was, what we need is a goal scorer in our team,like super Ally, just someone that scores goals regularly,along comes Boyd and scores goals regularly and now it is not enough!!. No, I'm not comparing him to Ally. I've said it before and I'll say it again, no player is bigger than Rangers FC,we have managed to continue to be successful whenever we lost players, a lot better than Boyd, and we will continue without Boyd, if he goes?. But he deserves credit for what he has achieved with Rangers and for anybody to call him a shit player is wrong and harsh,IMO, you don't score that many goals @ professional level if you are a shit player, if it was then every striker in the SPL would have set the same record he has.

Northern Ireland striker Kyle Lafferty says heââ?¬â?¢s ready to hit the goal trail for Walter Smithââ?¬â?¢s men. Rangers striker Kyle Lafferty says heââ?¬â?¢s ready to repay Walter Smithââ?¬â?¢s faith in him by making fans forget all about the loss of goal machine Kris Boyd. Lafferty has endured a torrid time at Rangers since his Ã?£3.5m signing from Burnley two years ago and been in and out of the team. But the Northern Ireland striker ended last season on a high, blasting five goals in seven games as Rangers wrapped up the title. And heââ?¬â?¢s vowed thereââ?¬â?¢s lots more where that came from if he gets a run in preffered centre forward position. Speaking in The Sun about the imminent departure of ââ?¬Ë?Gers goal machine Boyd. Lafferty said he understands ââ?¬Ë?Gers fans anxiety about losing the lethal finisher. And while Light Blues boss Walter Smith continues to run the rule over potential signings with a striker high on the agenda, Lafferty says the answer lies closer to home. And that pairing him up alongside Kenny Miller next season could reap rewards as Smith sets about trying to win three-in-a-row in what will be his final season at Ibrox. ââ?¬Å?Any club would be gutted to lose a quality striker like Boyd, ââ?¬Å? the 22 year-old said. ââ?¬Å?All of the boys are sorry to see him go. ââ?¬Å?His record for Rangers speaks for itself and Iââ?¬â?¢m confident heââ?¬â?¢ll continue to score plenty of goals wherever he goes. ââ?¬Å?The boss is considering all his options, including spending money on a new striker now it seems he has finally got some funds available. ââ?¬Å?Iââ?¬â?¢ve seen a few names linked to the club and Iââ?¬â?¢m OK about that because I know whatever happens Iââ?¬â?¢m good enough to play for Rangers. ââ?¬Å?If I was given a chance to fill Boydââ?¬â?¢s boots I would be delighted if the boss felt he could rely on me.ââ?¬Â The striker added: ââ?¬Å?I learned a lot last year. I went through a spell last year where I didnââ?¬â?¢t score for five or six months, then all of a sudden I couldnââ?¬â?¢t stop scoring. ââ?¬Å?I feel as if Iââ?¬â?¢ve matured as a player- and coming through such a difficult time has done a lot for my confidence If Iââ?¬â?¢m given a a regular opportunity to play up front then Iââ?¬â?¢m confident I can produce the goals to get Rangerââ?¬â?¢s three-in-a-row.ââ?¬Â http://sport.stv.tv/football/scottish-premier/rangers/184609-rangers-lafferty-tells-smith-ill-deliver-the-goals-needed-to-clinch-three-in-a-row/

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwE0UnmkYMo]YouTube- Eamon Dunphy Graeme Souness fight about John Terry and Fabio Capello[/ame]

Agreed. But the English believe the EPL and England team/English players are the best

The trouble with the English is they think they are the best,much like the BHEASTS, and expect to win every time they play. The EPL is '' the best league in the world ''??, maybe but the English players they have in that league are not the best players in the world,IMO, which has been proved again at this world cup. I'm not laughing too much at their exit as at least they are good enough to qualify and compete at world cups and Euros, I don't think Scotland would have done anything at this WC.

ENGURLAND v Germany Should be an interesting game, how many times will 1966 be mentioned????

So what you are saying is you'd rather have a striker with a good all round game than a striker with an unquestionable goal scoring record?

USA V Ghana. Looking forward to this game,gonna go out to the pub to watch it, hope it's a good game with a USA win and Edu plays and plays well, might even have we punt on them. Looks like Edu is dropped to the bench http://www.fifa.com/live/competitions/worldcup/matchday=16/day=1/match=300061503/index.html

Very true mate, I think I'm in the minority when it comes to rumours as I think they are funny:)

It is a transfer rumour thread

LIVERPOOL have agreed to splash out Ã?£5million on Rangers stopper Madjid Bougherra. German aces Hamburg will today submit a written offer of around Ã?£4.8m for the in-demand Algerian defender. Now Bougherra’s final destination will hinge on crunch talks between the player and Rangers chief executive Martin Bain in the days ahead. Express Sport has learned an agreement in principle has been struck between Bougherra’s agents and the Anfield club. The player’s representatives – acting with the full knowledge of Gers powerbroker Bain – met with a top firm of lawyers acting on behalf of Liverpool in London on Tuesday. As a result of that meeting, the Premiership giants gave a written undertaking to pay a fee of Ã?£5m and meet the 27-year-old’s wage demands. On Wednesday, Cologne-based agent Andreas Mueller met with Hamburg president Bernd Hoffmann to discuss a rival bid from the German outfit. Hoffman discussed the plan with his fellow board of directors last night and a formal offer is expected to be presented to the Bougherra delegation today. Agent Mueller confirmed: “I spoke with Martin Bain at Rangers to make sure that everything was being done with their knowledge. “For us it was important that Rangers were aware of talks and informed every step of the way. Rangers have said that they are interested in doing business if the figures are right. “It was explained by Rangers that a fee in the region of Ã?£5.5m would be an acceptable level for them to do business and we have acted on this information. “My company have since had a meeting with lawyers working for Liverpool and we have a document confirming they are willing to pay Ã?£5m for Bougherra. Hamburg are prepared to offer 5.5m euros for the player and a written offer should be with us over the weekend. “Madjid was first of all interested in the German option, but Liverpool is a very strong club.” Rangers have reluctantly agreed to sell Bougherra because of the profit margin and also the fact that Davie Weir, above, is expected to pen a new deal. The sale of Bougherra might also allow Rangers to snub bids for kid defender Danny Wilson. http://www.dailyexpress.co.uk/posts/view/183232/-5m-Anfield-offer-for-Bougherra/

So who will be get this responsibilty now?. Look, no player is bigger than the club and we always move on whenever any player leaves, but you are losing guaranteed goals EVERY season and all I am saying is we will miss his goals tally EVERY season. Nobody else will score as many goals as Boyd has done, we are losing the SPL record goal scorer.

None of these players score as many as Boyd can/has!!!. If you don't think we'll miss his goals then I think you are kidding yourself

Agreed. However he is pissing me off a bit with all his waiting and I'm a Boyd fan, he is either staying or he can GTF, he wanted a wage increase up to the same level as Miller and I believe he was offered this!!!

I see Zurab is looking for a new club!!! http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/3028846/Zurab-Khizanishvili-to-leave-Blackburn.html#ixzz0rqouiO6J

I see what your saying mate, but won't that just piss of the fans a bit,especially the Boyd haters?. For me I hope you're correct.

Dave King is as much a stranger to his passport photo as he is to South African radio listeners. The Rangers investor has the stamps on his permit to travel, including recent trips to Scotland, to prove he has not been banned by his adopted homeland from venturing abroad. He also claims his long-running tax battle with the South African Revenue Service has not left him incapable of doing business, including the possibility of cutting a deal for a greater share of Rangers. He revealed he is so relaxed about a tax claim that once amounted to �£200million (2.3billion rand) he has even become pals with the SARS officials who have spent the last eight years looking at his books. The current rate is approximately 11 rand to the pound - it doesn't take Carol Vorderman to work out these are eyepopping sums, even for a man estimated to be worth around �£300m. King, 55, also thinks nothing of going on former Irish rugby star John Robbie's popular radio talk show in Johannesburg to verbally joust with listeners about the sums he may or may not owe. He said: "Of course I've got my passport - I'm in and out of Scotland six or seven times a year, so I try to ignore all that. My situation remains the same. "We still have that tax dispute, it's a long standing thing. SARS' view is very simple: I came to South Africa with nothing in 1976 and everything I've made since then is revenue. "However, I claim it was capital and we're having a bun fight about it. The rest of it doesn't affect me. It doesn't stop me doing business, it doesn't stop me functioning. My view has always been the same - if SARS win the tax case, I'll pay the taxes. But they haven't won the tax case. They say they have spent �£13m on the case against me - I've spent more. "I could have left the country if I wanted and avoided 'It and doing it all but I still live here and contribute. "I get on well with a lot of the SARS people. I'm actually quite friendly with the tax people. We joke about it here, it's not as serious as people seem to think it is, especially the media in Scotland. "I go on radio talkshows, including John Robbie's, and they always ask me about the tax dispute. Callers phone in - half of them are on my side, half of them are on the side of SARS. "Half say I'm an economic saboteur and as a result of people like me not paying taxes low-cost houses don't get built. Others say, 'Good on you, you can afford it, fight the receiver. They bullied me and they bullied my auntie'. The receiver is always easy game. "I try to be philosophical about that as well. If they win, I'll pay. I don't think they'll win. It has been going on too long." King has never disputed he owes money, only the amount. In stark contrast to the �£200m originally demanded by the government fol lowing his arrest in May 2002 in connection with 322 charges of tax evasion and fraud, he claimed his liability is "only" long' �£3.8m. King moved to South Africa in 1976 on a posting with Weir Pumps and was later an adviser for the Post Office and the Reserve Bank, before stepping up with a management company that won a contract to manage the treasury operations of Umgeni Water. King has been in dispute with SARS primarily over �£105m he made from selling his shares in a company, Specialised Outsourcing, which was 71 per cent owned by his Ben Nevis trust. It was originally listed on the stock market in South African 1997 at 10p a share but that rose to a staggering �£7 a share by 1998 before the price collapsed 12 months later after it emerged King had sold all but one per cent of his stockholding. Earlier this month, it was reported in South Africa the National Prosecuting Authority had rejected a compromise deal that would have seen King pay around �£55m to settle the case. It was claimed King agreed to plead guilty to several criminal charges, but not tax fraud, which would have prevented him being a company director or continuing with his business career. Unsurprisingly, he was reportedly also unwilling to contemplate the possibility of serving a jail sentence. King added: "It's not quite true. There was an agreement between myself, SARS and the Reserve GERS Bank to finally settle the litigation by the payment of 630 million rand (�£55m) which includes 10 years of interest, with no penalties against me now. "There was a settlement and that now depends upon SARS getting rid of all these charges. Only time will tell on the outcome. If I can settle on the basis that works for me I will, so long as I continue to function in South Africa. One way or another it will be settled eventually." He appears equally unconcerned about the possibility of Rangers having to fork out up to �£24m plus interest in a dispute over payments to offshore trusts. He added: "It's not something that concerns the board greatly. I discussed it again recently when I was over there so I understood exactly what's going on. "The legal opinion we have is very, very strong. It's being dealt with on a technical basis by accountants and tax lawyers. If you hadn't raised it, it wouldn't even have been in my mind." King guards his privacy, although proved to be a gracious host as he showed Record Sport around his impressive home, including grounds that contain several pitch and putt holes to practice his other favourite pastime, golf. Mindful of security he politely declined to be photographed outside and although happy to speak about kids on whom he and his wife clearly dote, preferred not to name them as he outlined plans to spend more time in the UK. He added: "I might find a base in the UK and it would allow us to spend more time at the football - we're not only huge Rangers fans, but also big supporters of Liverpool and Kenny Dalglish is a friend."

Maurice Edu hammered home his injury-time winner from a yard against Celtic to all but hand Rangers another title - and keep the very club in existence. For 92 minutes, Dave King had looked on from the directors' box at Ibrox, the knot in his stomach growing ever tighter at the terrifying thought the Light Blues were on the brink of collapse, on the park and off it. It may have been the USA midfielder who finally struck on February 28 to give his side a 1-0 win and a 10 point lead, but it was the figure celebrating wildly on the touchline who King credits with keeping the administrator from moving lock, stock and barrel into Edmiston Drive. Walter Smith is judged by many to be the greatest Rangers boss of all time. Bill Struth may have won 18 titles, twice as many as the current Ibrox manager, but King maintains no trophy will ever mean as much to the club as the one skipper David Weir lofted above his head in May. The history books will record it as the club's 53rd championship but for King and the Rangers board Edu's strike was a �£12million goal, all but guaranteeing their success in the SPL and an automatic place in the group stages of next season's Champions League. Much more importantly, it bought crucial breathing space with the club's bankers, the Lloyds Group. And the South African-based director is adamant that vital window of opportunity must be used to good effect in the next 12 months to secure the long term future of the club. King said: "The club was in emotional turmoil at the time of that Old Firm game. Walter was battling to get 11 players plus two on the bench and there had been no money, even for loan deals. "That's why Edu's goal was the highlight of the season as the title was so crucial. "If there had been a swing in momentum at that stage the whole thing could have collapsed. "It was clear negotiations with the bank would be much more pleasant if we could secure Champions League football. "I regard Walter's achievement last season as being the greatest title Rangers have ever won because no one knows what was really going on inside the club at that time, particularly the in-fighting with the bank. "That Walter held it all together with such moral authority and integrity, alongside Ally McCoist and Kenny McDowall, was astonishing. "I went on record at a board meeting, before the title was secured, and said Walter would be the greatest manager on the planet if he won the title with all that was going on. I believe, although other board members might disagree, the threat of administration would have been very real had Walter not won the title. "If the club didn't have the funds to go forward that would have been something we would have been forced to consider. "Did I fear we would go under? Absolutely. "If we didn't have Champions League money and it looked as if the net debt levels would increase there would have been an asset strip in favour of the bank to which certain members of the board could never have agreed. "The bank would looked to have sold players and not replaced them, reducing the wage bill to a level at which we could compete for the Glasgow Cup and just focused on Murray Park for players. "The board were never going to approve a business plan that destroyed the club for the supporters because we believe the fans remain the true owners of the club in a legacy sense. "If the bank then said they weren't continuing with their overdraft facility what would we have done? Held a special general meeting? That could have taken us to the brink of administration as the auditors would not have been in a position to say the club was still a going concern." King maintains putting Rangers into administration was never discussed by the board last season, despite reports to the contrary. However, there were constant battles with the Lloyds Group as business plans were proposed and rejected by both sides in a bid to square the circle of reducing debts of �£31m while allowing the club to remain competitive, even in the SPL. King paints an exhausting picture of mental fatigue for the key players such as Smith, chairman Alistair Johnston and chief executive Martin Bain. But the anguish of the battle for his club's very soul even lingers here, in the quiet calm of the library at his stunning home in one of the most exclusive suburbs of Johannesburg. In one half of the bitter boardroom civil war were the banks. In the other were independent directors such as King, chairman Johnston, accountant Paul Murray and vice-chairman John McClelland, who all knew the club ran the risk of being asset-stripped. Smith apart, King credits Bain in particular as an unsung hero for holding it all together and it's believed Smith would have walked had the chief executive's position come under threat, with majority shareholder Sir David Murray powerless to prevent it. Smith would also have resigned had the posts of McCoist and McDowall ever been jeopardised, particularly after they joined with the boss in agreeing to work without a contract when their deals expired in January. King added: "Walter put pegs in the ground and they were good ones. He didn't rant or rave but there were a couple of issues that, if they arose, left him ready to walk. He was more reasonable than I would have been. "Walter is not a man of extremes and even with the bank he was quite balanced. There is absolute honesty in everything he does. He'll come in and say: 'This is what I can do, but that can't happen.' "There is no agenda, only Rangers. "He never once told us he couldn't win the league but he told us certain things that had to happen for it to be achieved. "However, he never threw his toys out the pram. It was his maturity and balance that struck home and helped with the players. He and Martin were in the trenches and that came across to the playing squad. "If the negative energy that arose as a result of the discussions between the board and the bank had got into the dressing room it would have caused problems. "However, Walter was like a sponge soaking it all up. He was always frank with the players, but never allowed the situation to affect them. His management was staggering."

Rangers director Dave King finally breaks his silence today on the cash crisis that has engulfed the club he loves. The South African-based tycoon has kept his own counsel during the last few troubled years as the banks clamped down on Rangers. But starting today and ONLY in Record Sport the man who has already invested �£20million in the Ibrox club speaks out from his luxurious Johannesburg base. King rarely grants interviews but the multi-millionaire, who is still regarded as the only man who can come to Rangers' rescue, sat down with the only paper capable of gaining access to him. And he didn't hold back: * In our sensational two-day series he reveals how Rangers were left teetering on the brink of administration. * King out lines his hopes for Rangers in the years ahead and REFUSES to rule out the possibility of investing further in the club . * He insists the Andrew Ellis deal was NEVER a realistic option. * King claims Walter Smith's latest title success SAVED Rangers. * He ACCUSES Rangers' bankers of attempting to asset strip the club . * He identifies and pays tribute to the real resistance HEROES behind the scenes in the fight to keep the club alive. The 55-year-old kicked off his astonishing insight into his Rangers love affair by revealing he is mulling over new support for the club and is developing a five-year plan to turn around the financial situation at Ibrox. Ex-pat King invited Record Sport into his South African home for his first in-depth interview with a Scottish paper and suggested he could be willing to make available some of his reported �£300m fortune for the club he first grew to love growing up in Castlemilk. Asked if he was in a position to invest in the club again, King said: "I wouldn't say yes to that today. However, I wouldn't rule out taking a greater role in the club going forward. "Things must settle for a couple of months first. There are a lot of emotions that must die down and I wouldn't mind spending time with David Murray when I'm next over just to see what it means to him now. "I've had discussions with people such as Douglas Park and he says if the time is right and things settle he is willing to invest in a proper, commercial basis. "There are enough people out there with money to put together a funding group to get the club to a position it should be in. "It needs enough money to bring the debt down to a sustainable level, new money to take away some of the historic problems and enough money to create a kitty for the manager for five years." King has outlined the battles with Lloyds as they fought to protect their investment in the Murray Group, Rangers' parent company, which reached crisis point last year due to the global recession. He maintains it was the stubborn approach adopted by the bank that prevented him f rom launching a takeover bid last autumn. He said: "I looked at buying the club in the third financial quarter last year. "I felt the position adopted by the bank was inflexible and commercially aggressive against the club. Their demands were excessive. "It provided no opportunity for me to sensibly come in and put money into the club knowing the new money would not be going into Rangers but to protect the bank's position. It would have been throwing good money after bad." Silly Rangers have been taken off the market by majority shareholder Sir David Murray after a move to buy the club by London property developer Ellis stalled. King added: "I knew the El lis deal would not be concluded as soon as it was announced. I have my own ability to do due diligence and that deal would only have happened under very silly circumstances. "I don't think he's a silly investor but my assessment told me there was no possibility of Ellis structuring a deal that could have made sense for him." King acknowledged the right of the bank to demand its debt be repaid but believes they also share a responsibility for allowing Rangers to dip into the red to the tune of over �£30m. He said: "I recognise the responsibility of the bank to recover the money owed but they should have recognised a greater share of responsibility for participating in the funding levels Rangers received. "Walter securing the SPL title and the Champions League money saved the day. The bank are now much more willing to listen to considered argument, plus we have the benefit of that Champions League cash which has bought us this 12-month period of calm. "I'd describe Rangers as being in a comfortable position at present. We've had the operation and we're home. However, we're going to have to look after our health carefully." http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/football/spl/2010/06/25/dave-king-rangers-and-me-86908-22358553/

Madjid Bougherra is expected to complete a Ã?£5.25m switch to Hamburger SV in the next day or so, according to reports in Germany. Advisers from the Kick Unit player agency met with Bernd Hoffman, HSV’s chief executive, on Wednesday to discuss a possible move for the Ran*gers defender. The Germans are looking for a replacement for the outgoing Jerome Boateng, who has joined Manchester City for Ã?£10m, and were thought to have been impressed with the Algerian’s performances at the World Cup finals in South Africa. Arsenal are also thought to be admirers, but Bougherra is expected to complete a four-year deal with the Bundesliga club and could be unveiled as a Hamburg player this weekend. Andreas Mueller, Boug*herra’s German agent, said: “Madjid is very happy with the deal and to be moving to a club like Hamburg in one of Europe’s top leagues. The deal was agreed between myself, my lawyers and Bernd Hoffmann and I believe all parties will be very happy with it. “Of course, Madjid really enjoyed his time at Rangers and he the club will always be close to his heart. But he felt this was too good an opportunity to pass up.” Bougherrra, who has also been linked with a move to Malaga, had been a target for Hamburg in the January window and that deal has been revived despite manager Bruno Labbadia being sacked towards the end of last season. The Algerian signed for Rangers two years ago from Charlton Athletic for Ã?£2.5m and would be the fifth player to leave Ibrox this summer following the departures of Nacho Novo, Kris Boyd, DaMarcus Beasley and Steven Smith. http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/spl/rangers/bougherra-on-verge-of-move-to-hamburg-1.1037061

HAMBURG are ready to offer Rangers a double-your-money deal for Madjid Bougherra. The Bundesliga giants are poised to bid �£5.25million for the big Algerian. Senior Gers sources last night insisted they've had no bid and would knock back the offer for the 27-year-old stopper. Bougherra - who moved from Charlton in a �£2.5m deal two years ago - has still to be convinced his future lies in Germany amid interest from the Premier League. Speaking to SunSport from South Africa last night, Bougy said: "I'm aware of the speculation about Hamburg. "It's only speculation right now and I will go on holiday then report back to Rangers. "I've always said I'm happy at Rangers and any deal would have to be right for them." SunSport revealed on Tuesday that the Ibrox hierarchy is ready to play hardball with Europe's elite on Bougy. Arsenal gaffer Arsene Wenger has confirmed he's an admirer of the title-winning defender. A return to England would suit Bougherra but Hamburg could now spark a summer auction for him by making a big-money offer. New gaffer Armin Veh has �£10.5m to spend after the sale of Germany ace Jerome Boateng to Manchester City. Club president Bernd Hoffman met with agents at Hamburg's Elysee Hotel on Wednesday to declare his interest. It's understood he would be willing to offer a four-year deal on �£25,000-a-week. A source close to Bougherra added: "Hamburg have approached his agents and made clear their interest. "But the club haven't spoken to Rangers and we are not sure if it's even something that will interest Madjid." Read more: http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/spl/3029106/Hamburg-Boug-bid.html#ixzz0roeSBqCz

Good man,I hope takes your advice

Zappa,you should email WS or Ally and let know about these players:)

KOPTALK can exclusively reveal that Roy Hodgson has been appointed as the new manager of Liverpool Football Club. The Fulham manager was always the bookies favourite to land the job despite the Reds having considered several alternatives including former Real Madrid coach Manuel Pellegrini. Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish wanted the job but was turned down flat by the current Anfield board. One of Hodgson's first jobs will be to try and persuade his friend to remain at the club. Dalglish has so far rejected the opportunity to be appointed as Director of Football but maybe he will reconsider when things settle down. Hodgson has agreed terms with Liverpool managing director Christian Purslow but no official announcement will be made until Fulham and Liverpool finalise a compensation payment. Later today Hodgson is due to talk to senior members of the Liverpool coaching staff to help him come to a decision as to who should be his assistant. Hodgson is not on Merseyside at this time and is unlikely to be until everything is official. That doesn't need to be rushed though with Liverpool's players currently down in South Africa or away on their holidays. Although Liverpool have finally found their new manager, there's still no sign of any new owners. As previously reported by KOPTALK, Liverpool have recently lost Sheikh Khalifa of Abu Dhabi and at least one Indian bidder as a result of the ridiculous valuation of the club. http://www.koptalk.co.uk/201006242395/Liverpool-FC-News/exclusive-roy-hodgson-appointed-new-liverpool-manager.html