ian1964

It's such a common event these days for fans to get offended !!!!, we should leave that to the MOPES.

Agree, with Frankie & BD. The only way Lafferty is going to improve is if he works hard, but also the fans get behind him for the benefit of Rangers, IMO.

It's an opportunity for Fleck to play up front IMO, and just leave Novo out wide,even though I prefer Novo through the middle we need to get back to getting service in from the wide areas and Novo is capable of that. Lafferty & Fleck with Novo wide ?.

Probably right Frankie, however with McCulloch out as well maybe WS will play Novo wide left again

Miller misses this weekends game Craig.

Published on 13 Jan 2010 For 12 months, the picture has been painted of a club laid bare. A world-famous institution where every meagre pound has become a prisoner. Fed-up Rangers fans havenââ?¬â?¢t sniffed an A-list signing for a year and a half. And Ibrox manager Walter Smith has claimed the men in suits from Lloyds Banking Group have tightened their fingers round the purse strings in a bid to ease debts totalling Ã?£31million. The only light to pierce the gloom has been the form of Kris Boyd, whose goals have made him the hero of the Ibrox terracings ââ?¬â?? and helped Rangers open up a seven- point gap over Celtic in the SPL title race. But now even Boydââ?¬â?¢s Rangers future has been thrown back into the financial melting pot. For we can exclusively reveal today the Ã?£18,000-a-week deal Boyd is keen to sign has still to be agreed by the clubââ?¬â?¢s financial controllers. That means the bid to keep the SPLââ?¬â?¢s record goalscorer at his boyhood idols could yet be scuppered. Chief executive Martin Bain met Boydââ?¬â?¢s representative at the end of last week and extended an offer which would bring the 26-year-old into line with the top earners at Ibrox and out of the clutches of English raiders. Smith has urged Bain to do everything possible in his power to keep the player, who yesterday underwent a double hernia operation in Manchester, at the club. However, the terms on offer have not been given the green light by certain individuals on the board. And it now remains to be seen whether the offer will stand if, as expected, Boyd confirms he wants to put pen to paper on the deal. Business turnaround specialist Donald Muir, who was appointed in October with a remit to remedy the financial fortunes of the Scottish champions, has been handed the task of trying to reduce the clubââ?¬â?¢s debts. Cost-cutting measures have bitten so deep that, it is understood, even the number of groundstaff at Ibrox and Murray Park was looked at before Christmas. When this was raised as a possible area to save cash, the idea was met with swift resistance from the football operation who realise the groundstaffââ?¬â?¢s crucial role. This time last year, it emerged the club might be forced to sell a leading player to help ease the financial burden. Owner and majority shareholder Sir David Murray stepped down as chairman in August and was replaced by Alastair Johnston who has spent the last three months trying to find a new owner. The financial crisis that has engulfed Rangers came to a head shortly after Muirââ?¬â?¢s appointment to the board when Smith claimed after a home match against Hibs the bank were running the club. This was denied by the bank, much to Smithââ?¬â?¢s fury. Lloyds have consistently denied Muir is their man and insist he is a paid employee of the Murray Group, and was not placed on Rangers board at their behest. But, as we exclusively revealed in October two days after Smithââ?¬â?¢s startling statement, the bank threatened Rangers with administration if the club didnââ?¬â?¢t sign up for a business plan based upon swingeing cuts, many of which will only take full effect in the summer if a new buyer is not found. And it is the architects of this plan ââ?¬â?? the same plan that has frozen Rangersââ?¬â?¢ spending for three transfer windows ââ?¬â?? who hold the key to Boydââ?¬â?¢s Ibrox future. The pressure was only slightly lifted when the loan move for PSGââ?¬â?¢s Jerome Rothen was signed off. Rangers, however, are only picking up part of his wages and that deal will be torn up if the Frenchman can fix up another club for the rest of the season. But this is the first time the cash cuts could hold the key to whether a player is offered a new contract. Boyd is the first player to be offered a new deal since Muir was appointed to the board. Other players, such as Nacho Novo and Kirk Broadfoot, are nearing the end of their current deals, but the sums involved to keep them are not even close to the Boyd figures. Novo is believed to be on around Ã?£5000 a week, with Broadfoot on Ã?£3000 a week. Neither is likely to stay if their offers donââ?¬â?¢t show a decent increase, but itââ?¬â?¢s believed the current business plan does not have much flexibility. But Boyd, who will be in line for a Ã?£8,000-a-week increase, has sparked a major stand-off as the offer made to him could force the bank to honour a deal that they would prefer not to ââ?¬â?? or face the wrath of the clubââ?¬â?¢s support, sections of which have already threatened to boycott Lloyds Banking Group services. Questions that remain unanswered Comment by Thomas Jordan It used to be as straightforward as the manager inviting the player into his office, telling him what he would be earning and waving him on his way. That was the way new contracts and transfers were conducted in the past. Nowadays, agents and chief executives are involved. It is a far more complex business now than it was then. But even by present-day standards, the background to Kris Boydââ?¬â?¢s contract negotiations with Rangers could take things to a new level entirely. On the instruction of Rangers manager Walter Smith, the clubââ?¬â?¢s chief executive Martin Bain met with the strikerââ?¬â?¢s representative at the end of last week and tabled a new contract offer in a bid to retain the services of their leading goalscorer. Normally, that would have been the end of the matter. The player would either say he was taking them up on their offer or reject it in favour of an opportunity elsewhere. There would usually be some room for negotiation. But SportTimesââ?¬â?¢ revelation that the Lloyds Banking Group are yet to approve the new deal and will have the final say on whether it will go through or not brings a host of questions Rangers fans will want answered as the true extent of the bankââ?¬â?¢s role is revealed. * Once again, on a point that has never been satisfactorily answered, they want to know who really is calling the shots at Rangers? * Why have the bank said they are not running Rangers when they have approval on contracts? * The man appointed to the board by the Murray Group in October, Donald Muir, has said he has no influence on football matters. Does he still maintain that is the case? * When will the chairman Alastair Johnston tell everyone what is really happening within the constraints of a business plan that he himself has said is not good for the club? * What would the consequences have been had the Rangers board NOT agreed to the bankââ?¬â?¢s business plans? * And what exactly will happen in the summer when the full extent of the financial cuts are expected to be implemented if a new buyer is not found? These are questions the Rangers supporters would like answered. And it is probably the same for Walter Smith. How many managers would be willing to work for a club without any sort of contract in place? It would be unlikely many, if any at all, would agree to such a situation. But the Rangers manager appears to be on a mission to do everything within his power to save the club. When Smith came out and publicly announced the bank were running the club, it was immediately denied. He is now fighting tooth and nail, it would seem, to prevent his current squad of players from being ripped apart. By managing to win the SPL title last season, the Rangers manager secured some much- needed funds for the cash-strapped club. His team are now seven points clear in the title race again, despite the fact they squad is basically down to the bare bones. But at what point will he decide enough is enough? At what point will he decide he is fighting a losing battle against the moneymen? That, without doubt, is something that really would bring this situation to a head. http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/editor-s-picks-ignore/moneymen-hold-the-key-to-kris-boyd-deal-and-they-haven-t-said-yes-1.998370

Where in my post did I blame his age for his performances and behaviour ?. What I am saying is that he is still young enough to get his act together and improve his game,obviously you think it is too late for him to improve and that is your opinion in which you're entitled to, as I am mine, however I believe any player has plenty time to improve their game at 22 years of age if they take on board all the advice given to them and work hard on the basics of the game, whether he does is a different matter.

Glad to hear Rangers are looking to give young Wilson an improved contract,take it young man and stay at Rangers for a good few years and then maybe you can pick whatever team you want to play for

I'm going to stick my neck out here,TIN HAT AT THE READY!!. I think Lafferty will come good. I also think he is struggling big time in the OF fish bowl and playing for such a big club as Rangers, but if there is a manager that can sort out a players head I think WS is the man to do it. I'm not excusing is performances or his behaviour but when you see how well he can perform for his national team it's clear he has ability,and indeed showed some of that ability towards the end of last season. He is a young guy and can still learn & improve, Boyd did, and just think it is too early to write a player of his age off IMO. He does however need to buckle down,listen to the people around him and start working hard at the basics. Here's hoping anyway.

KRIS BOYD is seeing a specialist in Manchester today to determine whether he needs a hernia operation. Kris Boyd scores from the penalty spot against HeartsThe Rangers striker came off just before half-time in Sunday's 3-3 draw with Hamilton Accies in the Scottish Cup at New Douglas Park. He complained of problems in his groin after struggling with the slippy conditions and has travelled south with club doctor Paul Jackson for a consultation. It has not yet been determined whether he will need to go under the knife or not and Gers are hopeful less drastic treatment will be required. If Boyd does need surgery, he could face more than a month on the sidelines and that would come as a huge setback with the champions still chasing a Treble. The former Kilmarnock hitman has been in excellent form so far this term, hitting 19 goals and becoming the SPL's leading scorer of all time. But it could be that Boyd won't need an op http://www.rangers.premiumtv.co.uk/articles/boyd-sees-specialist-20100112_2254024_1929830

Published on 12 Jan 2010 Kris Boyd is on the verge of committing his future to Rangers. SportTimes understands that the striker – who was in Manchester this morning for double hernia surgery that could rule him out for up to six weeks – has decided to accept the new Ã?£18,000 a week contract offer tabled by the Ibrox club last week. The SPL’s record goalscorer has been weighing up his options over the past few days, with Middlesbrough and Birmingham City still hovering with lucrative offers to sign him this month. But Boyd, who is now into the final six months of his Gers deal, is expected to notify the Ibrox club before the end of this week of his intention to sign the new contract. Apart from an approach from Boro boss Gordon Strachan, asking for permission to speak to the striker, Rangers have had no other concrete interest in the 26-year-old. Gers’ chief executive Martin Bain held talks with the player’s agent at the end of last week and offered to bring him into line with the top earners at the club. And the news that Boyd is set to stay will come as a huge boost for the Rangers legions – even though they are reeling at the news he will be sidelined for a crunch spell through injury. Boyd has been forced to succumb to an on-going groin problem and could now be out of action for up to six weeks, missing possibly NINE games. He will miss Saturday’s league encounter at Hamilton Accies, the Active Nations Scottish Cup replay against Billy Reid’s men next midweek, as well as forthcoming SPL matches against Hearts, St Mirren, Falkirk and Motherwell. He will also sit out the Co-operative Insurance Cup semi-final against St Johnstone on Februray 3. Depending on progress, Boyd may be available to face Hibs at Ibrox on February 14. But if his rehabilitation doesn’t go as expected then he will miss that match, St Johnstone away on February 20 – and could be a doubt for the next Old Firm game at Ibrox on February 28. Meanwhile, Rangers want to extend Danny Wilson’s contract and give him a wage rise to fend off predators. SportTimes can reveal that Spurs sent a scout to watch the 18 year-old against Accies last weekend.

Egypt v Nigeria today, should be a decent game

According to the Record Novo should be available but McCulloch is suspended for this Saturday

Frankie, Naismith is still out but for how long ??, also Novo is still out but for how long ??, looks like it will be Lafferty up front on Saturday possibly with Little.

Well Mr Lafferty, now's your chance you have been waiting for,step up to the plate and shut your detractors up.

Full time 3-0 Malawi

3-0 now, get yersel back to Ibrox Bougherra, you've got the world cup to look forward to

2-0 now, not looking good for oor Bougherra

1-0 Malawi, 23 minutes played

He's hardly had a sustained run in his best position,so a tad harsh IMO.

I've seen it before, a few times actually, superb bit of sportsmanship from Goram

UNDER-FIRE Rangers star Kyle Lafferty has opened his heart to the Sunday Mail to dismiss claims he is skint and hit back at critics of his horror Old Firm tackle. In an explosive interview, Lafferty, 22: Denied having problems paying bills. Branded Sky Sports pundit Charlie Nicholas "a joke". And defended himself over the horrific tackle that shocked Scottish football. The �£3.25million Northern Ireland international said he won't back down in two cash disputes revealed by the Sunday Mail - one with an English legal firm, the other with his former dog walker. The �£15,000-a-week star also insisted there was no malice in his tackle on Celtic defender Andreas Hinkel during last Sunday's SPL clash with Celtic. Lafferty has been under siege after a week from hell both on and off the pitch. He is being sued by his former lawyers, Beswicks, for �£14,373 in alleged unpaid fees. And his former dog walker wants almost �£1000 for care of his pet pugs. But Lafferty said: "Whenever I hear about these stories, my partner Tori and I just laugh. "If I knew they were right, then I would pay the money. They would get it in the morning. "All I can say is my solicitors are looking at it. I won't pay a guy money that I don't think he deserves." Lafferty insisted the disputes were not a result of any financial problems, adding: "I don't have money difficulties. "I've got a nice, big house. I've got two nice cars, including a Bentley, and I'm test-driving a Porsche. "Tori and I have nice clothes and we eat in nice restaurants most nights. "Only I know how much I'm earning at Rangers and I've got good people looking after me." He denied suggestions that he was spending large amounts on a gambling habit and said: "Everyone likes a bet, from people that are earning �£1000 a month to whatever footballers earn. "I admit that I like a bet but I wouldn't say that it's extraordinary money. "I'm no different from anyone else but I don't trust giving my details online, so any betting I do, I go into a bookies. "I think that's why gamblers get so bad, being online. It makes it so easy. I don't have any online accounts, I never have." Adding to the pressure on Lafferty over the past week has been the widespread and fierce criticism of his tackle on German star Hinkel 30 minutes into the game at Celtic Park last weekend. The challenge earned him a yellow card - but many fans and pundits believe it should have been red. No one was more outspoken than former Celtic star Nicholas, who said: "It was a disgraceful foul. He should have been off the park immediately. "I have no doubt Lafferty knew where he was placing his six studs as he came flying in and he has to go for a dangerous tackle like that." Lafferty hit back: "Ever since last weekend, I have been looking at the papers and this guy Charlie Nicholas. "I don't know much about him, although I know that he played for Scotland. I think he scored five goals for the national side - so that pretty much says it all. "I am 22and have beaten that record at a professional level already. I read his quotes about me and I think he's a joke. "Did he play for Celtic? I don't have a clue. I know pretty much all the top footballers and at first, I wondered if he was a cricketer. I had never even heard of him. "I've now heard stories about 'Champagne Charlie', so basically I just laugh at him. I think he's a joke. "Obviously, he has to go on the TV and make a couple of points. It's happened to a few players, also fellow Rangers players, and I don't think he's fit to lace their boots." On the tackle itself, he said: "Only I know what I was doing. "I went to go for the ball and I misread Hinkel. If you watch the footage, he's actually turned inside and he had the ball backwards and his whole body position moved from me sliding to when I finally hit him. "I never meant to hurt him. I would never go out to hurt a fellow pro. "I think if I made that kind of tackle against some other team in Scotland that wasn't Celtic in an Old Firm derby, there wouldn't be half as much press about it." One regret Lafferty does own up to was getting Charlie Mulgrew sent off in a match against Aberdeen during last season's SPL title run-in. The Rangers striker feigned injury from a supposed headbutt and admits he was ashamed of his actions. He said: "The thing with Charlie Mulgrew - to this day, I don't know why I did that. It was a big mistake. I let everyone down - my family and Rangers Football Club. "I think my attitude has changed a lot since the Mulgrew incident. "I am probably my own biggest critic. I knew my head was gone, signing for such a big club, and I think it all got to me. I think I thought I was better than I was. "I wouldn't say I became arrogant but I was probably a wee bit cocky with it." Lafferty, who has been plagued by injury since his �£3.25million move to Rangers from Burnley in June 2008, admitted that the past 18 months had been a steep learning curve, even though he knew what he was getting into. He said: "I grew up supporting Rangers so I knew both the football and the religion side of things with the Old Firm. I knew it was going to be hard and the pressure that would come with it. "But I think I'm big enough to take it and let my football do the talking. "A lot of people judge me - judge us all - before they meet us. But once they meet me, I hope they realise that I am down to earth and basically a good lad." He admitted that his conduct on the pitch could have made him even more of a target for irate opposition fans, but added: "I just take it as a bit of banter. "It has gone beyond banter sometimes though. I've had my cars scraped in the past. I've had people shouting abuse. "But it's nothing I can't handle and I just think they're jealous people." Lafferty also paid tribute to his fiancee Tori Smith for supporting him, saying: "I have to admit, she's been brilliant. "When things weren't going well for me, like last season when I had a lot of injuries, coming home to a house with Tori being there kind of takes my head away from the football part. "We haven't set a date for our wedding yet. I know it's a big day for both of us and we want it to be perfect." Sky Sports refused to comment yesterday but a spokesman said Nicholas would be made aware of Lafferty's comments.

Aye, we are still in the cup despite a poor performance, and correct me if I'm wrong but we are still unbeaten in the Scottish cup for three years ??, we live to fight another day.

It's a fix

Mmmmmmm, there is a joke in there somewhere......................I just can't see it