ian1964

Maybe you're right

Not disagreeing with you Jon, I believe he has been playing well, but that is my point regarding the official site as it tells us nothing, I am wondering if there is another reason for Smith not getting near the first team ?

Mendes ?????, no idea why he is in the frame,Bougherra for me, even Weir has had a more consistent season than Mendes

If he has been playing well for the reserves, you have got to wonder why he isn't getting near the first team, you would think the official site would have some information regarding the likes of him, and others, as to how they are doing, but the official site is gash

Hope it goes well for the guy, I had hoped we would have got himself back in the Rangers team, I can't see that happening now,good luck to him

Hartley has pulled out of the squad now http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/7958801.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/7962134.stm

TOLD he is finished, cast as the scapegoat, the cause of all Rangersââ?¬â?¢ ills. Barry Ferguson knows the role only too well. In the wake of the nightmarish Ibrox loss to Caley Thistle and the Co-operative Insurance Final defeat from Celtic the clamour has grown. Itââ?¬â?¢s been claimed Gers would be better off without him ââ?¬â? and heââ?¬â?¢s been tagged a bully whose very presence is stifling other players. The flak flies and the glare of the spotlight never dims. When Ferguson walks into the Amsterdam ArenA on Saturday night ââ?¬â? where he led the nation in a 6-0 humbling six years ago ââ?¬â? he knows many of his baying critics will be desperate for him to FAIL. The 31-year-old midfielder knows that if he flops he will face more vilification. But last night, after a purely precautionary scan on bashed ribs, Ferguson shrugged off any injury fears and joined up with the Scotland squad ready for that World Cup mission against the Dutch. He reflected on the battering he has taken and said simply: ââ?¬Å?Look, I have been picking the knives out of my back for years now. ââ?¬Å?I am used to it, I will live with it and in a strange way I use the sort of abuse I have taken to HELP me. ââ?¬Å?I draw on it, I think at times that it makes me stronger as a footballer. ââ?¬Å?It wonââ?¬â?¢t make me run off and hide in the corner. ââ?¬Å?There has been some deeply personal stuff written, hurtful and needless attacks that upset my mum. ââ?¬Å?Iââ?¬â?¢m not lying. When it gets to that level it affects you. No one wants to see their family upset do they? ââ?¬Å?But me? Iââ?¬â?¢m used to it by now and itââ?¬â?¢s not going to make me pack up and leave. Not a chance.ââ?¬Â Ferguson knows that this has been far from a vintage year in an honour-laden yet controversial career that will always split opinion. An operation to rebuild his ankle left him playing catch-up and he has not hit the heights he craves. Before Rangers had the presence of a Ronald de Boer or Giovanni van Bronckhorst to compensate when their captain failed to sparkle. Now for all the hype over Pedro Mendes, he was missing in action in the Old Firm Final as Ferguson desperately tried to growl some life into a side disintegrating around him. Heââ?¬â?¢s lived the guts of his life in this hostile footballing environment, is old enough not to con himself. He stressed: ââ?¬Å?I have people around me who will be honest with me, People I can trust who tell me when Iââ?¬â?¢m not playing well. ââ?¬Å?I donââ?¬â?¢t have yes men and I donââ?¬â?¢t need them. Iââ?¬â?¢m not a kid. ââ?¬Å?With those people around me and those inside the game I respect I analyse games and I KNOW afterwards when I have not played as well as I can. Iââ?¬â?¢m the first to hold my hands up and this season has had its struggles. ââ?¬Å?But I was out for five months after a major ankle operation. ââ?¬Å?I realise at Rangers you have to hit the ground running but any player will tell you then that it takes time to recover from that and get back to your best. ââ?¬Å?Thatââ?¬â?¢s not an excuse, itââ?¬â?¢s just a fact and for all the stick that is flying about I feel I AM getting back to my peak. ââ?¬Å?Iââ?¬â?¢m 31 now, Iââ?¬â?¢ve had the busted kneecap and the rebuilt ankle and I canââ?¬â?¢t escape from that. Advertisement Click here ââ?¬Å?There are mornings when you feel glued together when you get out of bed! But I donââ?¬â?¢t skip training because I still love it. ââ?¬Å?It takes a little longer to recover but then I look at Davie Weir, whoââ?¬â?¢ll be 39 in the summer, and think it could be worse. ââ?¬Å?Still, heââ?¬â?¢s a defender and they get life a lot easier back there.ââ?¬Â Scotland head for Holland with no Weir, Kirk Broadfoot or Kris Commons, and with Celtic skipper Stephen McManus looking like another casualty. Fergusonââ?¬â?¢s positive medical news yesterday came as a welcome boost for boss George Burley ahead of what must be a career-defining match for the national coach. The Tartan Army would accept defeat, just not a humiliating loss of the sort we capitulated to the last time in Amsterdam. Scotlandââ?¬â?¢s bristling skipper is grimly determined to ensure we donââ?¬â?¢t crumble again. He said: ââ?¬Å?These are two totally different teams in this game and the 6-0 match is gone now. Forgotten. ââ?¬Å?That doesnââ?¬â?¢t stop me respecting what we are facing here. ââ?¬Å?Iââ?¬â?¢m not big on football on TV but I do watch the Spanish stuff every week and look at how many Dutch players are at Real Madrid. ââ?¬Å?If there is one that sticks out for me itââ?¬â?¢s Wesley Sneijder. I just think he has got a real intelligence in the way he plays. He is a major talent.ââ?¬Â Ferguson took time out recently at Murray Park to meet youngsters chasing Coca-Cola Sevens glory. Alongside McManus he is backing a tournament that gives thousands of kids the chance to dream of a future in the game. He said: ââ?¬Å?Look, Iââ?¬â?¢m not going to moan about my lot in life because a few folk decide to have a pop. ââ?¬Å?Thatââ?¬â?¢s their right but I grew up dreaming of being the captain of Rangers and Scotland, just like the Coke Sevens players and thousands of other kids. ââ?¬Å?Iââ?¬â?¢m lucky, I got there, I did it and itââ?¬â?¢s going to take more than a pile of criticism to make me give it up. ââ?¬Å?Whatever those who feel I am finished at 31 think of me I feel that I earned this honour. ââ?¬Å?Thatââ?¬â?¢s what this remains to me. An honour. I will cherish it in Amsterdam, the same as always.ââ?¬Â http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/article2338721.ece

Exclusive by Andrew Dickson ANDREW LITTLE admits he's trying to stop himself from dreaming of scoring against Artur Boruc after his shock call-up to the Northern Ireland squad. The Rangers reserve striker, 19, was promoted from his country's under-21 team yesterday for the Province's World Cup qualifiers against Poland and Slovenia. Andrew LittleLittle comes in as a direct replacement for his club-mate Kyle Lafferty, who is out with an ankle knock, while fellow forward Martin Paterson is also crocked. It's quite a rise in stature for the teenager, who is yet to make his first-team debut for Walter Smith's Light Blues. Having recently signed a contract extension that will keep him at Ibrox until May 2011, Little now has a first full international to prepare for. Within hours of receiving his good news, the youngster was already being wound up about trying to find a way past Celtic goalkeeper Boruc on Saturday. But he insists he's just happy to be involved and doesn't expect to pull on his boots at Windsor Park this weekend. Little joked: "It hurts my head when I think about the situation. I knew Kyle and Martin were injured but it was a complete shock to get called into the full squad if I'm honest. "I was just preparing myself for under-21s' game against Ukraine next week and had been looking forward to that. "I didn't even think that I might get my chance and I'm absolutely delighted to have been brought into the group. "A few people have been joking with me about coming on against Poland and scoring against Boruc. Andrew Little"That would be great but I'm trying not to think about that. I'm just aiming to do well in training and if it gets me a shot then great. "If I happen to get on for five or 10 minutes, depending on how the game is going, it would be a huge bonus for me. "It would be absolutely amazing and it would certainly be the biggest moment of my career so far." Little, a scorer as Rangers beat Celtic 3-1 in last season's SFA Youth Cup final, appreciates he's at the bottom of the pecking order in Nigel Worthington's squad. But with only four strikers in the pool, there's still every chance he'll be given an opportunity to play either against the Poles or Slovenia next midweek. He added: "The manager has told me that I've been brought in on merit and that I'm there because of my performances for the under-21s already. "He was very confident in me when I was speaking to him and that was great. He was quick to reassure me I wasn't just going in to make up numbers. "Of course, I have been called up because there are other people unavailable but he doesn't want me to feel I don't have a part to play and that was nice to hear. Andrew Little"He just wants me to go out there and give it my best shot so that's what I'll do and hopefully I'll get a chance." Little admits Northern Ireland will be weakened by the absence of Gers hitman Lafferty, whose strike against Hearts three days ago was his eighth club goal of the season. But he's eager to show he can be an able deputy for the former Burnley star if he gets his chance to shine in Belfast. Little said: "I was in the Rangers squad at the weekend but ended up being the spare man so I was in the stand to see what happened to Kyle. "I really feel for him. Being a big Northern Ireland fan, it's disappointing that he's out as he has been in great form lately. "He would definitely have played against Slovenia after his suspension and him and David Healy have been brilliant together up front. "It's disappointing for the country that he's out but for me, it's a big chance and hopefully I can make the most of it."

By Andrew Dickson KYLE LAFFERTY has been told his season isn't necessarily over after a scan at a Glasgow hospital this afternoon. Kyle Lafferty celebrates scoring against HeartsThe Rangers striker initially feared his campaign was finished after he was carried off in the first half of the 2-2 draw with Hearts on Saturday with damaged ankle ligaments. But a second examination has revealed no further damage and that means the lay-off of at least six weeks he was initially told to expect yesterday stands. The 21-year-old has what has been described as a 'significant injury' and it is severely limiting his movement at present. But at this stage, Lafferty remains scheduled to return to action in early May rather than at a later date and he could yet play a part in the title run-in. If Gers get past St Mirren in the last four of the Scottish Cup next month, he will also have a final date with Falkirk or Dunfermline on May 30 to aim for. Should Lafferty play any further part between now and the summer, it will come as a massive boost to Walter Smith after he feared he had lost the striker until next term.

Don't be silly..............it's only the big bad Rangers fans that are bigoted racists

Thought as much

Rumour doing the rounds on another site that Rangers are going to ask season ticket holders to fork out for two seasons as they are skint..........????. Surely this just a rumour ???

Kris Commons is also out

Agreed, but he more than any other midfield player is capable of that IMO,although as you say he isn't doing it

With all these call offs, it will be interesting how Scotland will line up ?

WS is my choice of the two

I think that is the point I was trying to make,unsuccessfully,how one individual gets blamed for the teams inconsistency is unfair regardless who it is. I do agree BF has let his standards drop for a number of seasons and I am certainly not trying to defend some of the criticism aimed at him, I just feel it is OTT most of the time, it's a team game

Aye........I'm just being a bit sarcastic

Ok,I'll give you the Davis one as he is playing out of position,however he hides in nearly every game he plays after a while

By Andrew Dickson STEVEN WHITTAKER has been called into the Scotland squad for the forthcoming World Cup qualifiers with Holland and Iceland. The Rangers full-back has been drafted into the pool by manager George Burley as a direct replacement for his club colleague Kirk Broadfoot. Steven WhittakerHe has withdrawn from the group with calf and foot injuries, while David Weir is also out with a knee problem. Whittaker was called up by Scotland for the trip to Ukraine when current Light Blues boss Walter Smith was in charge in October 2006. But he wasn't used in Kiev and sat in the stand as Hearts defender Robbie Neilson was used at right-back instead. He was also an unused substitute in the home friendly against Northern Ireland last August. There's a real chance Whittaker could feature against either the Dutch in Amsterdam or Iceland at Hampden next Wednesday. With Broadfoot gone, former Ibrox favourite Alan Hutton is also lacking match fitness after four months out with a stress fracture in his foot. Whittaker has been in good form since coming back into the Gers team just over a fortnight ago and scored on his return against Hamilton in the Scottish Cup. Now the 24-year-old will be looking to win his first cap for his country after appearing at under-21 and B level previously. Barry Ferguson, meanwhile, will remain with the Scotland squad for the time being after he reported for duty this morning with a chest injury. The Rangers skipper will be assessed over the next couple of days before a decision is made on whether he'll travel to Holland.

Not as easy as Mendes & Davis IMO

BF gets a lot of stick from the fans, too much IMO,he may just want a move

Correct, Forrest Gump springs to mind, he was ok running onto the ball

Bo Anderson ??............now he had a bit of pace about him