ian1964

I have to say I was pleased to see him play,and play well IMO,there is no reason why he can't play LM as he has shown, as you say he has all the attributes to perform well in that position and it being our problem position WS would do well to play him there for the rest of the season,strong,fast and is very effective going forward and tracking back,made for that position IMO

RANGERS will have three home fixtures after the split but the SPL will not announce the full list until after the clash with Hibs at Easter Road. Hibs have clinched their place in the top six without kicking a ball as Motherwell crashed 2-0 at home to St Mirren yesterday. They were one point ahead of Mark McGhee's team and the victory for Gus Macpherson's side consigns Well to the bottom six and therfore no chance of European football. So in the remaining five matches Rangers will face Aberdeen, Celtic, Dundee United, Hearts and Hibs. The Old Firm game has already been scheduled for May 9 but it remains to be seen when and where Rangers will play the other sides. The SPL has to endeavour to make sure that each of the 12 sides in the division play 19 home games and they have confirmed that Rangers will have three post-split home matches.

By Amir Rashid Rangers 0, Celtic 0 BRAVE Rangers are still clinging to their title but a stalemate with their great rivals might just have ended their chances of holding on to the crown they have won in each of the last two seasons. Kyle Hutton is red cardedBoth sides finished with 10 men but it is the result that is more damaging from a Rangers point of view as Hibs can now win the title if the beat Motherwell in their final fixture on April 24. The Light Blues lost Kyle Hutton to two yellow cards, playing most of the second half a man down, but they battled all the way trying to secure the win they needed but could not find a way through. Celtic were also reduced to 10 men with five minutes remaining when Ryan Strachan was shown a straight red after he held back Archie Campbell who was through on goal. Rangers seemed lacklustre in the first half and were outplayed by Celtic. Billy Kirkwood's boys were forced to play much of the opening period in their own half after being hemmed in. Despite being the better side, Celtic failed to create any real goal-scoring opportunities, with most of their attempts coming from distance. They lacked any creativity or cutting edge in the final third. Towell's shot from just outside the penalty area after six minutes went wide and failed to test Grant Adam. And a freekick, 20 yards out from Tidser, fifteen minutes later, again failed to trouble the Jamie Ness, RangersRangers keeper. Rangers had the best chance of the opening 45 minutes when Kal Naismith skewed his right footed shot over from 12 yards out after being played in by Hutton. If the first half belonged to Celtic then the second most certainly belonged to Rangers. Kirkwood's boys got out of the blocks early in the second period and were keen to keep their title dream alive. After just four minutes in, Gregg Wylde ran at the heart of the Celtic defence from the left before hammering a shot which hit the side netting. Even with the dismissal of Hutton on 55 minutes, Rangers showed real fight and determination. Kane Hemmings' effort on the edge of the box forced a save low down from Daniele Giordano on 65 minutes. Archie Campbell, RangersThe came the controversial moment five minutes from time when Campbell might have won the game for Rangers. He showed great determination to win the ball and went on excellent run in which he beat three men before being cynically pulled back while through on goal by Strachan, who was instantly dismissed. Rangers, though, could do nothing with the free kick. In stoppage time Rangers threw everything at Celtic. Gordon Dick forced an excellent save out of Giordano after Campbell's most delightful touch to bring the ball down. And a Wylde corner was whipped in across the face of the Celtic box that Scott Durie almost turned in at the far post. However, it finished goal-less and Rangers now have to win their two remaining matches and hope that Motherwell can do them a favour against Hibs. RANGERS: 1. Adam 2.Durie 3.Wylde 4.Wilson 5.Cole 6.Ness 7.Hutton 8.Stirling 9.Campbell 10.Naismith (Miller, Dick) 11.Hemmings (Bagci). Subs not used: Vaiculis, Forbes, Scott, McGeough

The law may have intervened to smooth the return of Barry Ferguson and Allan McGregor to the Rangers fold. Rangers manager Walter Smith this week softened his stance after initially indicating that the pair would not play for the club again. Indefinite suspension is not an option under standard Scottish Premier League player contracts. And the pair returned to training with Rangers on Friday following a two-week ban for misbehaviour with Scotland. Midfielder Ferguson and goalkeeper McGregor were dropped by national manager George Burley because of a drinking session that followed Scotland's World Cup qualifying defeat in Netherlands. They were then suspended for two weeks by Rangers after making V-signs at cameras from the Scotland bench during the following match at home to Iceland. Smith had privately briefed the media that he would not pick the players again for his side. But standard contracts state that clubs can only discipline players through dismissal, warnings or fines of up to four weeks' wages. Players have the right to appeal against these decisions to the SPL. Meanwhile, regulations from world governing body Fifa state that, if players are not given the chance to play, they can invoke a "sporting clause" that allows them to terminate their contract and walk away with their registration. Employment law could yet intervene at international level, Ferguson and McGregor having been told that they would not be chosen for their country again. However, under case law, the players have the right to a fair hearing, the right to be told of the charge in advance and the right to representation. And the procedures adopted by the Scottish FA appear to be open to question. Under normal procedure, this type of hearing has been heard by the governing body's general purposes committee but was instead heard by the board of directors. This could leave open the possibility of an appeal to the Court of Session or Judicial Review. Days after the initial decision, SFA chief executive Gordon Smith had appeared to soften the governing body's line by indicating that it could not be said that they would never play for their country as circumstances could change. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/r/rangers/8005078.stm

By Andrew Dickson WALTER SMITH has admitted to his surprise that Kris Boyd was not named on the shortlist for the PFA Scotland Player of the Year award this week. Kris Boyd scores against MotherwellThe striker will go for his 100th goal in Rangers colours on Sunday when the team travels to play Hibernian at Easter Road. Currently sitting on 99 for the club, Boyd struck 28 of those this season to guarantee himself his best-ever season with the club. He has been in excellent form recently, adding a touch of intelligence to his undoubted prowess in and around the penalty area. For that reason, Smith feels Boyd should have been on the list of nominees that was comprised instead of Pedro Mendes, Steven Davis, Gary Caldwell and Scott Brown. He said: "I was a wee bit surprised he wasn't on the list. When you're so far ahead as the leading goalscorer in the country, a nomination would be in order but there you are. "The players that have been nominated have had good seasons too but it comes down to people's choices. Steven Whittaker and Ian Murray"I would have felt that if you're so far ahead in the scoring stakes, as Kris is, you would at least warrant selection." Smith knows Boyd won't have it easy this weekend against a Hibs side still looking to claim a top-six spot in the final SPL standings. Mixu Paatelainen's men have been in better form recently, going unbeaten in six outings and winning two of those against Hearts and Hamilton. They'll probably feel they're due a win against Rangers too, having failed to beat them in any of their last seven home clashes with the Ibrox team. Smith added: "I think with Motherwell and Hibs fighting it out for sixth place in the league, both teams will be pushing hard. "They have had similar types of seasons and Motherwell, after an excellent year last time, had a struggle at the start. "They've got back up again and the same applies to Hibs. They stuttered earlier but have picked up again and they'll want to finish off in the top half. Barry Ferguson and Sol Bamba"We always face a difficult game when we go to Easter Road and the fight for sixth position will make it a bit tougher for us." Smith, meanwhile, hinted neither Allan McGregor or Barry Ferguson would have a part to play in Edinburgh after their enforced absences from the club. While their two-week suspensions are over, they trained at Murray Park for the first time today since March 20 and that's too big a gap for the manager to be comfortable with. He said: "After being out for three weeks, having not played in the second international game, they'll need a few days of training. "There isn't a major problem with their fitness there but they need a little top-up having been out."

I'm sure he has something like 22 bookings in his last two seasons, and I have witnessed a lot of the time he gets away with some very crude challenges still

All we need to do is win all our games

By Andrew Dickson SASA PAPAC and Kenny Miller are hopeful of returning to the Rangers squad for Sunday's trip to face Hibernian at Easter Road. Sasa Papac and Willo FloodBosnian defender Papac missed last weekend's 3-1 win over Motherwell with a gash in his foot, an injury sustained against St Mirren on April 8. He trained normally at Murray Park this morning and looks likely to be passed fit to feature in the capital. Whether he comes straight back into the squad is another matter, however, as Steven Whittaker did well in his left-back position against the Steelmen. One option could be to move Whittaker onto the left side of midfield against his old club but it appears Steven Smith has done enough to retain his place in the team. The 23-year-old made his first appearance in 51 weeks last Saturday and showed plenty of good touches - if a little rustiness too - in his 73-minute outing. Smith was deployed in the same position against Aberdeen's reserves in midweek and scored a penalty in a 2-1 win at Auchenhowie. That impressed manager Walter Smith and it is understood he'll stay involved in the capital. Stevie SmithMiller has not played since Scotland's 3-0 defeat in Holland last month and his last Gers appearance was two weeks before that in the League Cup final. He has seen a specialist about the hamstring problem which has been hindering him lately and he has reached a point where he could be ready to play once more. That comes as good news to boss Smith as he looks for competition to fit strikers Kris Boyd, Nacho Novo and Andrius Velicka. Kirk Broadfoot, Lee McCulloch, DaMarcus Beasley, Kyle Lafferty and Kevin Thomson are all out for the crucial clash with the Hibees. But former captain Barry Ferguson and Allan McGregor are available for selection again after their two-week suspensions from the club ended. The pair returned to training today but are lacking match sharpness so it seems the best they can hope for are places on the bench.

I have never been in doubt about renewing my ST, what else would I do if not attending Ibrox

Agree 100%

Agreed, time for a rule change, however.....................GIRUY

Ah!!, but you see, the argument for Gazza was he could do the business so it is ok for him to do that , not me of course

Welcome to Gersnet. I think the two week suspension and fine was adequate, however I think he will be away in the summer,I also think it's wrong how so many Rangers fans hate the man

Aye, I'm getting slow.............no cheeky comments by the way

SCOTT BROWN slammed the ruling that will keep him out of next monthââ?¬â?¢s Old Firm title decider and insisted: Iââ?¬â?¢m being picked on. Bookings from LAST season mean the Celtic midfielder will miss the May 9 crunch. Thatââ?¬â?¢s left the Player of the Year nominee seething at the SFAââ?¬â?¢s disciplinary rules. Brown rapped: ââ?¬Å?Iââ?¬â?¢m being punished for last season. I feel thatââ?¬â?¢s wrong. If you look down in England if you go three or four months your record is wiped. ââ?¬Å?Some of the players in the Premiership have 11 yellow cards but they are suspended for just one game. ââ?¬Å?I knew I was close to a suspension so I was trying to take things a bit easier. ââ?¬Å?But I feel as though Iââ?¬â?¢ve cleaned up my act this season. ââ?¬Å?Iââ?¬â?¢ve not been banned before and for the position I play that is good going. Iââ?¬â?¢m getting punished worse than a lot of players. You calm down and youââ?¬â?¢re still getting punished. ââ?¬Å?Itââ?¬â?¢s not the fairest thing in the world at this stage of the season ââ?¬â? six bookings and a two match ban. Itââ?¬â?¢s a nightmare. ââ?¬Å?Itââ?¬â?¢s such a massive game as well. I donââ?¬â?¢t know if it will be a title decider but it will certainly go a long way to determining who wins the league. These are the games you want to be involved in.ââ?¬Â Brownââ?¬â?¢s two-game ban kicks in after Saturdayââ?¬â?¢s clash with Aberdeen at Parkhead. The 23-year-old was cautioned 14 times last season, compared with just the eight bookings heââ?¬â?¢s collected this year. Now he fears he will lose his place for the title run-in ââ?¬â? just like last year. Brown groaned: ââ?¬Å?If Iââ?¬â?¢m out of the team I might not get back in because Barry Robson or whoever might come in and do a great job. ââ?¬Å?It can be a double whammy because you can lose your place in the team.ââ?¬Â But Brown reckons Gordon Strachanââ?¬â?¢s squad is strong enough to cope without him. The former Hibs kid said: ââ?¬Å?The manager has some big players like Barry, Paul Hartley and Marc Crosas so we certainly have a big enough squad to cope. ââ?¬Å?Maybe Gary Caldwell can play there as well. ââ?¬Å?Well, Gary could go there I suppose! ââ?¬Å?Seriously, these are the games you want to play in.ââ?¬Â http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/spl/article2381148.ece

Just away to post that Johnny, he is talking pish of course,why would anybody vote for a player that only scores goals and does nothing else ?

Heard that as well, and yes they did display a banner of support for Rangers, don't know where the connection is other than we signed Albertz from them

PEDRO MENDES and Steve Davis have welcomed the decision by Walter Smith to consider Barry Ferguson and Allan McGregor for selection. Smith announced yesterday that while he was still angry and disappointed by the players' actions while on Scotland duty he has changed his tune. Barry Ferguson and Pedro Mendes celebrateHe was initially of a mind never to let the pair pull on a blue jersey again but he has said he will now consider them in the run-in. Mendes said today: "It's a pleasure to play alongside Barry. He has been a very good player for Rangers and Scotland so it's good to have him back. "Any player would be missed. Barry and Allan are excellent players and good team mates so it would be good for everyone to have them back." Midfield parter Davis is of a similar mind. He said: "They are both big players for the club and it can only be a bonus to have them back. The two of them have been consistent performers in my time at Rangers." It is highly unlikely that either Ferguson or McGregor will be involved at Easter Road on Sunday and it remains to be seen if Smith will pick them in the coming weeks. However, Davis knows that Rangers have to continue their winning ways if they want to achieve their dream of winning the championship. He said: "We have three difficult games in a row and we have come through them all successfully so that has been important. "Results are the most important thing at this time of the season.Steven Davis "Everyone had pulled together. There have been a few different things we have had to deal with this season but I think there is good unity in the squad and hopefully that will take us through. "We have got ourselves in a good position and put a bit of pressure on Celtic who we still have to play so it's all about getting the right results in the final games. "Sunday will be tough. Hibs are challenging for the final spot in Europe so they will be looking for a result so it's going to be hard. We got a good result there earlier this season so hopefully we can replicate that."

By Lindsay Herron NACHO NOVO has celebrated a double century for Rangers and now former team mate Alex Rae believes he can celebrate his second Scottish title. Novo hit the 200 mark in Saturday's Motherwell game which Rae reckons is a top achievement. Many of the Spanish striker's appearances have been from the bench - 79 in fact - but he is still a big impact player. Alex RaeAnd Rae is sure Novo can have a huge say as Rangers try to wrest the crown back from Celtic, now that they are just one point behind with six games to go. "It's a great achievement for the wee man," said Alex. "I'm really pleased for him because there must have been some concerns that he would never reach this total. "However, it's a sign of his hard work and determination to succeed that he has got there and I'm delighted. "Reaching 200 games for Rangers is a great milestone and he can be justifiably proud of what he has achieved. "He has made a real contribution since he has come back from his injury - none more so than at Falkirk when he set up Kris Boyd's goal. "And I'm sure he can be a key player in the run-in for Rangers. "It looks like it's going to be a fight to the finish and it could go to the last day again. You never know. "I think Nacho can be a big player for Rangers in the remaining matches - and he will need to be considering the amount of injuries. "The thing about him is that defenders don't like playing against him because he can be a real handful. "He's got a big heart and his pace can destroy teams so I feel that these qualities will be vital for Rangers."

He plays for the best team in the world supported by the GFITW

Glad you enjoy the predictions thread SA, is that got anything to do with your gambling instinct

HIVS 0 Rangers 2- Boyd, Bougherra

Can't deny that fact, however we did struggle with them,I just don't think BF has been any worse than Davis & Mendes, again I don't think they should walk back into the team, but we may just need them for the run in

All I seen is that he will miss the rest of this season and will be back in action after the summer, I know that doesn't answer your query

I still think the two of them will be sold in the summer,however we need all the players we can to push for the title, so it is the correct decision by Walter IMO, they will not walk back into the team but they are there if we need them.Hopefully it is a big kick up the arse that they both need