ian1964

WALTER SMITH has paid tribute to Davie Weir as the veteran defender prepares to make his 100th SPL appearance for Rangers. The 39-year-old will reach the incredible milestone when he leads Gers out at first club Falkirk on Saturday. Not bad for a man fast approaching his 40th birthday. Weir was Smith's first signing when the man who led Gers to nine-in-a-row returned to Ibrox in January 2007. Initially seen as a stop-gap, the defender has gone on to outstrip his manager's hopes and expectations. Smith admitted: "I envisaged Davie coming in and playing to the end of that first season and then maybe helping us out in the following season. "To carry on playing in the manner in which he has done is a credit to him. "Davie is one of the best professional players I've ever been involved with and one of the best lads I've worked with. "I admire him greatly for the way he handles himself and his situation. When you look at a player who is playing his 100th league game when his first came at 37, it's quite remarkable. "When someone gets to that age and younger players come in - and I mean guys in their mid-20s, never mind teenagers - he lets every one of them see that if there is a desire and a love for playing football like his, you can play into your late 30s. "Davie has been lucky to avoid serious injury, but it is not only about that - it also involves a love and desire for the game." Weir turns 40 in May, with many predicting he'll finally retire at the end of the season. The man himself has hinted this may be his final campaign in Scotland's top-flight. And should Weir hang up his boots in the summer, Smith has no doubts he'll be a success when he goes into management. He said: "When you love it like that it's a natural progression to go into coaching and management and Davie has already started down that path by doing his coaching badges. "I hope he does because football could do with people like him remaining involved in the game and if he does I'm sure he'll have a good career." Smith wants a reaction from his players following their weekend defeat at Pittodrie. The Gers boss believes their confidence has taken a battering in the wake of a torrid Champions League campaign. He said: "We hadn't lost in the SPL until the weekend, but we also hadn't scored an awful lot and hadn't created a lot of chances either. "That was apparent when we had the bulk of the play, albeit with Aberdeen down to ten men for a large chunk of the second half. After the first 20 minutes we had the majority of the game, but we didn't create as many clear chances as we should have considering the pressure we had. "A lot of the time creating chances comes when we have a good edge to our play, but that is something we don't have at this moment and have perhaps been lacking for a fair bit of this season. Advertisement "The slow starts are something that we have seen in a number of the games this season and it was there again at the weekend. "We didn't pass the ball well in the first 20 minutes and didn't get involved in the game until we lost the goal. "From my point of view I have to look at the reasons why that is happening and why it has happened in other matches this season. "I don't think it's a physical thing because we had plenty of time after Tuesday to recover and if it was tiredness it would hit us at the end of games rather than the start. "It's more of a mental thing than anything else and when you have had disappointing performances in big games, like the Champions League ones at home, then it does have an effect. "But we've had enough warnings this season and mentioned a number of times in the run up to Aberdeen that we couldn't afford to be slow to start. "We were, though, and it's something we have to look at." Smith insists his side will face a tough test against Falkirk in Saturday's live TV showdown. He added: "Falkirk played very well against Celtic and scored three goals, so when we look at the fact we haven't scored a lot away, we know it will be difficult.

No replay request ?,or adding another team to the next round ?.

Classic, enjoy http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/8388238.stm

They may be offended by his laughter

I was just meaning I'm glad his injury has cleared up,mind you is he any worse than Whittacker??

Seems he's went to QOS on loan http://boards.footymad.net/forum.php?tno=429&fid=206&act=1&mid=2123728440

Good to see Broadfoot back from injury,hopefully he can recapture his pre-injury form and push for a first team start

I'm not easily offended,also I don't abuse players,but if I did and got a reaction from the player I was abusing then I would laugh,result,I certainly would never contemplate running to complain to the police

Exactly,welcome to gersnet

RANGERS have told top gun Kris Boyd they would rather lose him for nothing than jeopardise their SPL title defence by flogging him in the January sales. The exiled Scotland star Kris Boyd is out of contract in the summer and now looks set to leave the cash-strapped Light Blues on a Bosman at the end of the season. But disappearing defender Madjid Bougherra could be allowed to take the Ibrox exit door earlier after showdown talks next week between his agent and chief executive Martin Bain. Neither player will be short of offers with Cardiff City leading a stampede of Championship and foreign clubs, from France and Turkey, keen to land his signature and Bougherra supposedly wnated by clubs in the Premiership and Bundesliga. The Bluebirds and the likes of Bristol City would be keen to do business in January for 26 year old Boyd who has netted 149 times for Rangers but Walter Smith has made it clear he will only sell him if he gets an offer he can t refuse. Smith might not have played Boyd in the big games but knows his worth when it comes to SPL goals having been the Ibrox side s top scorer over the last three seasons. The Rangers boss is also well aware he won t see a penny of any possible transfer fees that come his way, as the club seeks a new owner and such much-needed investment. Bougherra's agent Julien Piveteau has meanwhle confired he will hold showdown talks with Rangers next week with a January departure for the Algerian international appearing more and more likely. The Gers stopper who has been linked with Spurs hit the headlines again on Sunday over reports of a training ground bust-up with Kenny Miller. And although the 27-year-old's agent insists he has received no official approaches, he admitted the chances of Bougherra quitting Ibrox next month are increasing. He said: "Obviously, there was a small problem with Madjid returning late from international duty.After Algeria beat Egypt, he went to meet the president and didn't get back to Glasgow on time. "But everything has been resolved and he likes playing for Rangers - he's happy in Scotland.Originally, Rangers told me we would discuss things at the end of this season."But the biggest issue could be their money problems.I have now arranged to go to Glasgow next week to speak to the club.After next week, we will have a clearer idea of what is likely to happen, if anything, in January." Bougherra, who joined from Charlton last year in a �£2.5 million deal, has three years left on his current Rangers contract

Spanish club Real Betis are set to offer controversial Rangers defender Madjid Bougherra an escape route out of Ibrox. The Algerian star, who has infuriated management, team-mates and fans following late returns from international duty, has already been linked with Spurs — and his agent is flying into Glasgow next week for showdown talks. Bougherra’s troubles escalated last Friday when he was involved in a training-ground scrap with Kenny Miller after the striker criticised him in public. A challenge involving the pair at Murray Park resulted in a furious confrontation. Now Sportsmail understands Betis, who bid for the player 18 months ago when he was at Charlton, want to know if Rangers will sell him in January. The Spanish Second Division side play in Seville, where Rangers finish their Champions League campaign next week. Betis have money to spend as they try to get back into the same league as city rivals Sevilla and want Bougherra as a prize signing. Ibrox chairman Alastair Johnston has already insisted that the board will decide on potential player sales rather than the Lloyds Banking Group, following the announcement of Ã?£31million debts at the club. Bougherra Waiting game: Walter Smith is set to cash in on Bougherra And Bougherra’s future could become one of their major decisions in January, even though the defender will be on African Nations Cup duty at the time. The 27-year-old’s agent, Julien Piveteau, claimed last night that he has a private meeting planned with Rangers chief executive Martin Bain in the next fortnight. ‘There was a small problem with Madjid returning late from international duty,’ said Piveteau. ‘After Algeria beat Egypt, he went to meet the president and didn’t get back to Glasgow on time. But everything has been resolved and he likes playing for Rangers. ‘Originally, the club told me we would discuss things at the end of this season. But the biggest issue could be their money problems. ‘I have now arranged to go to Glasgow next week to speak to the club. There have been rumours about clubs linked with Madjid, but nothing has been done officially yet.’ Bougherra, who joined from Charlton last year in a Ã?£2.5m deal, has two-and-a-half years left on his contract. Betis bid around Ã?£2m for him last summer, but the London club accepted offers from West Brom and Rangers instead. Former Ibrox captain Richard Gough believes Bougherra is destined for the exit door but insists Rangers must time his sale well. ‘I would imagine Bougherra would go,’ said Gough last night. ‘But it has to be at the right time. Maybe Walter Smith has said: “Stay until the World Cup and then we can get as much money as possible for you”.’ Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1232219/Escape-route-Real-Betis-ready-Rangers-outcast-Madjid-Bougherra.html#ixzz0YQkjUKSm

I don't understand this obsession with PLG !!!, maybe if he had shown commitment to Rangers then Rangers might have shown commitment to him ?, anyway he's gone now so best we look forward IMO.

Fifa's Sepp Blatter has revealed the Republic of Ireland have requested a spot in the 2010 World Cup finals as an extra team after their play-off defeat. The Republic lost to an extra-time goal against France when Thierry Henry handled the ball during the build-up. "I will bring it to the attention of the Executive Committee," said Blatter. The president of football's world governing body added that goal-line technology and extra referees would be considered for the South Africa finals. The executive committee will hold an emergency meeting in Cape Town on Wednesday, two days ahead of the draw for the finals, to assess the idea of extra match officials. If they recommend the proposal it will go before football's rule-making international board in Zurich in March for a final decision. "It's possible we will make additional officials for the World Cup but we have to see if it is feasible or realistic," added Blatter. "Something has to be done in terms of match control. "We have only one man on the field of play who shall intervene in this matter. He has two assistants for the time being, perhaps more in the future. He has to make an immediate decision. "He has only two eyes. So match control is now is on the agenda. How shall we avoid such situations as we have seen in this very specific match?" 606: DEBATE Even before the handball incident Ireland were still at 1-1 in extra time so how can they go through to the World Cup on the basis that it was still a draw ? Chelski-4-life Regarding the Republic's case, the president added that Costa Rica, who also believe they were unfairly denied a place in the finals - this time because of an offside goal from Uruguay - would also have to be acknowledged if extra places are discussed. The Republic originally asked for the play-off to be replayed but that request was immediately denied by Fifa officials. The man at the centre of the storm, Henry, released a statement two days after the infamous match in which he said a replay would have been "the fairest solution."

Sorry,the sheep

Thing is,although we were beaten,we created enough chances to win two games,IMO

* 1 * 2 Darrel King 0 comments Published on 27 Nov 2009 GRAHAM DUFFY’S vision for Rangers moving into the next decade is modelled on Barcelona off the park. That blueprint for a club driven by a supporter membership appears to have already captivated the attention of many of the SPL champions’ followers who are severely disillusioned by the club’s current financial mess. On the pitch, the multi-millionaire Florida-based Glaswegian is well aware the Ibrox club – saddled with a Ã?£31m debt – will never get anywhere near the class of the Catalan kings and all their megastars. But that, he believes, shouldn’t stop them from trying. Especially in terms of what he refers to as the “organic” future of the club. Barca have built a team that now rules Europe based on home-grown players like Xavi, Iniesta, Carles Puyol and Victor Valdes. There is no financial gain in what I am trying to do. I have been looking at Rangers’ situation for a while, and I just want to help sort it out Graham Duffy Hundreds of millions of pounds worth of players and assets who cost the club very little. Infrastructure, coaching, nurturing of talent have produced massive results. Rangers are not in that league at this time, but that is not to say they will never be. However, as he casts an eye over events from his home in the sunshine state, Duffy knows the future has to yield more of a return. Murray Park has been open for over nine years. However, how many genuine stars have been produced over that period? Allan McGregor is one. Alan Hutton another. Now, young Danny Wilson, at 17, is the great white hope, along with John Fleck. Should property tycoon Duffy and those he is talking to get the chance to take control of Rangers and implement their ambitious plans, then an overhaul of the club’s youth programme and policy would be a priority. “I think there has to be an overhaul, the facility was a huge investment and like all investments they must produce a return,” he told The Herald. “But the results been unacceptable. Watching the game the other night against Stuttgart, it gives every Rangers fan a lot of pride to see Danny Wilson in the Champions League against a striker that cost Ã?£10m and more than holding his own. “That has to be the blueprint. Rangers have to go ‘organic’ as the days of big buys are gone, not only for Rangers, but for many, many clubs. You want a facility that can produce three or four Danny Wilsons at the same time to be available to the first team. It has to be looked at, it’s the only way. “The wage bill last year was 77.2% of the revenue, when the average at most clubs is around 55%. “You have to ask if value for money is there. The club needs to completely transform itself and go forward with new ideas, fresh plans and a fresh outlook.” Duffy’s ambitious plans, which are being fine tuned in various meetings with interested parties, would see a complete overhaul of Rangers from top to bottom. He feels the infrastructure of the club has to change, and the fans would have to play their part by investing in the future – in return for a say and the share and enjoyment of any success. He added: “There is no financial gain in what I am trying to do. I have been looking at Rangers’ situation for a while, and I just want to help sort it out. “The business model we have will work. Rangers will never be back in the market for Ã?£12m players, but run correctly, the team, in my opinion, would be in a position to be where they should be – number one in Scotland and competing against the best in Europe.” Duffy would not confirm the fine details of all the plans being discussed, but if his consortium does take control, the face of the club would change for ever. We can reveal Ã?£25m over three years would be set aside in the business model to revamp the famous stadium. Ideas would include ripping out the seats in certain sections of Ibrox to create standing areas to boost capacity, revenue and atmosphere. Duffy explains: “Borussia Dortmund’s Westfalenstadion – which Ibrox was modelled on – had reached a capacity of 42,000. They had to stop selling tickets every week, supply could not meet demand. “So they made one entire stand all standing. Now the capacity is 80,000. 
It cost Dortmund €50m euros to redevelop their stadium and increase the capacity substantially, and they have generated all that extra revenue while making it affordable for fans to see games who maybe could not find the money for a seated season ticket. “Could the enclosures come back? Could you make the bottom of the Copland Stand all standing? Can the corners be filled in? The simple answer is yes, everything is possible. “In the plan, we have set aside funds for the stadium to increase the capacity considerably, to generate more money, and to create a better atmosphere.” http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/spl/rangers/exclusive-glaswegian-multi-millionaire-targets-overhaul-of-ibrox-and-youth-programme-to-take-rangers-forward-1.987071

NAILED for being negative, panned for being positive. Walter Smith has found he can't win. Yet after sifting through all the wreckage of a catastrophic Champions League campaign the Rangers boss last night offered no excuses. The blame, he insists, lies squarely with him. Gers are out of Europe and it's all his fault. Four days on from his side's shocker against Stuttgart and Smith has revealed he regrets tinkering with his team's formation. His tried and trusted 4-5-1 approach was ditched this season in favour of a more expansive style. But with his squad bereft of quality, the move backfired as Rangers crashed and burned. Ten goals were shipped at Ibrox with Smith's side the embarrassed whipping boys of Group G. He confessed: "Part of what has happened this year I take on myself. "I've gone away from what I felt was the necessary way for Rangers to play, to try to play more forward players in these games. "We've maybe not been strong enough to handle that aspect of it. "The Champions League is an unforgiving arena. "You only have to look at the likes of Liverpool, and other big clubs who have invested far more money than us, going out or struggling to qualify. "Even though we did better in our previous Champions League campaign, we received a lot of criticism for the way we played. "Maybe on reflection it was the right way to play with what we've got. "This year we lost a lot of players in the close season and, because of injuries, we've not had the option to play in a similar manner. "We have played more attacking players and that, if anything, has weakened us as a unit. "We basically haven't been good enough. If I look at it right now, I would have been better sticking with the old strategy. But it's one of those things, you've got to try something. "Maybe now I've got to say I was wrong about that. "However, maybe everybody who criticised the way we played in the previous tournament has to hold their hands up and say they were wrong. We were all wrong!" Rangers have been humiliated on the European stage this season. Damaging home defeats to Sevilla, Stuttgart and tiny Unirea Urziceni have been hard to bear for a boss who 18 months ago led Gers to a UEFA Cup Final. Smith confessed: "It doesn't do the club's image any good, but there's not a lot happening around the club right now that is doing the image a lot of good. "You have to say that, at different times, you get good European runs. Advertisement "There have always been peaks and troughs throughout our European campaigns historically, and it is still happening at the present time. "But the worrying factor is it looks as though the gulf is liable to get bigger between ourselves and the rest. "So it falls on the manager to find a way of playing that can bring us a level of success. "The obvious way was the way I tried beforehand, that turned out to be great for us at the time. "In Scotland, when we don't have the really top players, there is more of an onus on the manager to make his team competitive. "This year I have not been able to do that. We have missed Maurice Edu and Pedro Mendes in midfield. "That would have allowed us to play Steven Davis in the position he has played. It hasn't worked out for us and the responsibility is my own." A cold hard winter is about to set in with Smith offering a bleak assessment of Scottish football. The talent to compete on a stage as grand as the Champions League is no longer there. Neither is the money needed to arrest the decline. Smith, who aims to keep Gers top of the SPL with a win at Aberdeen today, added: "The Champions League group we were in two years ago was stronger I believe. "But we can't run away from the fact we have not been as good in this campaign. "Like I said, unfortunately, in Scottish football the onus is on the manager to make us competitive. "I say unfortunately because it means we no longer rely on players. "In my previous spell here I was never defensive, that is not my way of playing with Rangers. "But when I came back I had to make an assessment of the situation. "I realised we didn't have the same level of player so I set out to make us difficult to beat. "We did that and we reached levels I never thought possible. I never thought we'd reach a UEFA Cup Final, but we did." Yet Smith now fears the gap between the Old Firm and Europe's best is growing. He explained: "I went as Scotland boss to watch Celtic play in the Champions League. "Gordon Strachan was always an advocate of 4-4-2, but he changed in these games to try and find a system. "The gulf between ourselves and the rest is getting bigger. "It just means we need to work harder to find a way of playing. It may not resemble Scottish teams of the past but it can be effective." http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/spl/2749762/I-cocked-it-up-because-I-listened-to-punters.html

Only joking pal

HA HA,trying to win like the MOPES , at any cost

Remember to get your predictions in http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/sportscotland/predictor/

Do you not think Unirea can get these players cheaper than if Rangers went after them?

All the talk of sacking WS is crazy at this time,IMO. I do agree WS is probably not the manager to take us forward, but I can't think of any other manager I would want in charge right now,or who would actually want it, and until our financial predicament is sorted out I can't see that changing. We all knew we were not good enough to compete in the CL before we entered it, didn't we?,dissapointed ?yes,surprised?,no. I will now be accused of burying my head in the sand, fair enough, but I'll stick with WS until the end of the season thanks.

SPURS boss Harry Redknapp has tied up a �£4million deal to sign Rangers defender Madjid Bougherra in January. Redknapp wants more defensive cover as neither skipper Ledley King nor Jonathan Woodgate are able to train flat out. Algeria international Bougherra joined Gers after a season at Charlton but the Glasgow club are willing to move him on at a profit. Read more: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/2748144/Redknapp-is-Mad-for-it.html#ixzz0Y2mnJmP0

Cheers, it wasn't an example, it was a genuine question

Out of interest,who was Babel the Stuttgart manager in charge of before Stuttgart, and the same question regarding the Unirea manager ?