ian1964

WALTER SMITH is firmly anticipating a tough encounter when Rangers travel to Hamilton aiming to stay top of the SPL. Rangers are in a position to move three points clear before Celtic kick off at home against St Mirren if they can beat Hamilton in the early start at New Douglas Park. However, Smith is taking nothing for granted. He has been impressed with the way Billy Reid has got things going so well that the Accies are on the verge of the top six. He said; "I think when you look at Hamilton at the start of the season they were in a situation where they had just achieved two very consistent seasons in the First Division. "Kris BoydThey had just missed out on promotion two years ago and then got it last season so they were coming into the Premier League in good shape. "That showed in the early games of the season when they were full of enthusiasm and achieved some good results. "There was a period where they dropped down again but the changes that Billy Reid has made have been significant ones and it has been a terrific bit of management by him. "His changes have been really good ones and he has got them into a position where they looking to push for a top six position which would be a fantastic achievement. "We went one down the last time we went to Hamilton so we know that Saturday lunchtime is a very big date for us. "I have been impressed with a lot of their players - and not just the young ones. I think you have to look at the team overall and they have done very well. "It's their teamwork and togetherness that has got them through and as I said Billy deserves a lot of credit." Rangers are likely to be along similar lines when they make the trip to Lanarkshire as the game will come too soon for injured trio DaMarcus Beasley, Lee McCulloch and Nacho Novo.

WALTER SMITH is hopeful that any findings from a prospective Scottish football think tank are acted upon in a bid to improve things in the game in this country. Ally McCoist and Walter SmithFormer First Minister Henry McLeish will head a panel that is set to review a number of issues in the game including a possible restructure of the league and a winter shutdown. But with experience of a number of similar initiatives Smith believes that the success of any such group is based on its ability to implement its findings. He said: "If we are having another think tank I would like us to act on some of the things we find. We've have three or four already but to me football looks the same as it did before we had those. "So if we are going to do it again and we're going to make improvements through the findings then we should act on them and that's not something that we've done in my years in Scotland. "I don't have a particular element that I'd change but I'd hope it's not another one where we waste everyone's time." Recent suggestions have also seen the prospect of a longer half time break and the introduction of player quotas with a necessity for six home grown players in a team's starting line up. Walter SmithThey are changes that Smith feels would make little difference to the game as it stands. He added: "I don't think quotas would be a great disadvantage now. It may have been a few years ago when we had a fair number of foreign players. "But we have a fair base of Scottish players now so I don't think it would be a major disadvantage. "It would just mean that the country would be under a pressure to keep producing a level of player that would satisfy all the teams. "As for half time I thought we were having 20 minute ones now! As long as they make the 20 minute half time last 20 minutes and not the 10 minute half time that runs to 18 minutes at the moment that's fine. "At 20 I think we would maybe need a warm up before the second half but I think football is fine at the moment so I don't see that it needs to be messed around with to be honest."

Graham Spiers Rangers are believed to be about to reveal a slight downturn in their financial fortunes for the first six months of the current season when the Ibrox club releases its half-year accounts this afternoon in Glasgow. Having reached the Uefa Cup final and very nearly won the Clydesdale Bank Premier League last season, Rangers' fortunes suffered a setback when they failed to qualify for the group stage of the 2008-09 Champions League, a factor that has impacted on the club's turnover figure for the first half of the season. Rangers' turnover to December 31 should still be in the region of Ã?£30million, though the club is expected to have taken a hit due to its non-participation in Uefa's premier club tournament. The Champions League - even with Celtic sharing Scotland's pot of money - would have netted Rangers an extra Ã?£8million to Ã?£9million in ticket sales and other retail spin-offs in the run up to Christmas last year. Against that, the sale of Carlos CuÃ?©llar to Aston Villa for Ã?£8million in August will have softened the blow of missing out on a Champions League windfall. Without the CuÃ?©llar sale, Rangers' six-month figures would have been much tougher. This time last year the club recorded encouraging half-year figures, with turnover up by Ã?£10million to over Ã?£33million, though that was mainly due to their 2007 Champions League adventure. Today's figures are expected to show a dip by comparison. Sir David Murray, the Rangers chairman, will preside over today's interim accounts, and is also expected to clarify the current debt situation at Rangers, which is estimated to be in the region of Ã?£23million. Murray has repeatedly stated the importance of playing in the Champions League as the key to Rangers' financial performance in recent years. ââ?¬Å?For the Old Firm, who do not have access to the riches of some of the other big leagues of Europe, the importance of Champions League participation cannot be over-estimated,ââ?¬Â one football analyst told The Times yesterday. ââ?¬Å?It is tough if they miss out on the group stage or beyond, because of the obvious earning power of the tournament. So the defeat to Kaunas back in August [in a Champions League qualifier] will have hit Rangers hard.ââ?¬Â The current debt of Rangers is intriguing, given Celtic's revelation last week that they are just Ã?£900,000 in the red. There has been a distinct divergence in fiscal policy between the Old Firm in recent years, with Celtic feverishly trying to eradicate their debt, while Rangers have allowed theirs to climb steadily upwards again. Between 2003 and 2007, Rangers successfully arrested their bank borrowings from a frightening high of Ã?£80million to around Ã?£5million, though in the last 18 months the figure has risen sharply again. Murray and Rangers took some flak recently for revealing that they hoped to sell one of their main playing assets - either Kris Boyd or Barry Ferguson - to ease the financial pressure at the club. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/scotland/article5810535.ece

Feb 27 2009 THE Rangers player involved in one of Scotland' most tragic football accidents was honoured yesterday by his home town. Members of Sam English's family travelled to Northern Ireland as guests of theMayor of Coleraine, to mark the 100th anniversary of his birth. English was involved in a clash with Celtic goalkeeper John Thomson in a match at Ibrox in September 1931. Thomson bravely dived at English's feet, and the goalie's skull was accidentally fractured by the striker's knee. Thomson died later from his injury. Although Engl i sh was absolved of any blame, he was left a broken man. In season 1931-32, English hit 44 league goals for Rangers, a record which stands to this day. He gave up playing aged just 28 and died in 1967 from motor neurone disease - the same condition which claimed the life of Celtic legend Jimmy Johnstone. English's family, including daughters Charlotte and May, from Clydebank, attended the civic reception and the unveiling of memorial plaques yesterday. Son-in-law Ronnie said: "Sam was a shy man. He would have been more pleased for his daughters." Last year, Fife-born Thomson was inducted into the SFA Hall of Fame after a campaign supported by Prime Minister Gordon Brown. http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/2009/02/27/honour-for-gers-striker-english-86908-21156310/

Feb 27 2009 By Keith Jackson SPL bosses have held secret talks about the nightmare scenario of sending Celtic to Fir Park for a THIRD time this season as the title race goes down to the wire. Record Sport can reveal the proposal would also see championship rivals Rangers playing Mark McGhee's men at Ibrox three times - and avoid returning to Motherwell's dreaded pitch in the run-in. The potential fixture farce will almost certainly explode if Well can fend off challenges from Hibs and Hamilton to stay in the top six at the split. Motherwell edged into sixth place last weekend with a 1-1 draw at home to Celtic on a playing surface which is so badly damaged Record Sport columnist Mark Hateley called for the authorities to shut Fir Park down immediately on health and safety grounds. If the the current top six of Rangers, Celtic, Hearts, Dundee United, Aberdeen and Motherwell all make the final cut the SPL will have to make drastic changes to the card. Top-flight bosses Lex Gold and Iain Blair have discussed contingency plans and have drawn up two alternatives - neither of which will go down well with Celtic or their fans. If the Hoops are not forced to go to Fir Park for a third time they will almost certainly face a third trip to face Hearts, with the Tynecastle men playing Rangers at Ibrox three times. Ensure That would be necessary to ensure as many top-flight teams as possible play 19 home and 19 away fixtures over the season. In previous years Rangers have had to go to Aberdeen and Dundee United three times to make up for this anomaly - but Celtic have neverbeenadverselyaffected. However, that will change this time should Motherwell make the top six. As is stands, Rangers will have played 16 home games at the split with Celtic on 17. Celtic would then be due to play two away games at Ibrox and Pittodrie, with three further home clashes against Dundee United, Hearts and Motherwell. Rangers would face Celtic and Aberdeen at home with away days at Tannadice, Tynecastle and Fir Park. But that would mean Celtic had 20 home games compared to the Ibrox side's 18, which is why the SPL would intervene by switching two of the games to send Gordon Strachan's men to Fir Park or Tynecastle. Dundee United could also benefit as they would be in line to be the only team in the top six to play 20 home games and 18 away. Last night SPL chief Iain Blair confirmed talks have taken place to thrash out a rearranged fixture list. He told Record Sport: "Yes, we are aware of the potential problems. Our only objective is to come up with the fairest set of fixtures possible." How the split fixtures would work: RANGERS Home: Celtic, Aberdeen, Hearts or Motherwell. Away: Hearts or Motherwell, Dundee Utd. CELTIC Home: Dundee Utd, Hearts or Motherwell. Away: Hearts or Motherwell, Rangers, Aberdeen. DUNDEE UTD Home: Aberdeen, Motherwell, Rangers. Away: Celtic, Hearts. http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/2009/02/27/exclusive-spl-in-talks-over-plans-to-send-celtic-to-fir-park-for-third-time-but-rangers-would-avoid-pitch-nightmare-86908-21156598/

Good goal but not as good as this one:[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWjkq3z3xRE]YouTube - Rangers vs Stuttgart Charlie adam goal[/ame]

Adam scores a cracking goal for Blackpool http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/video.aspx?VideoPath=BLAC/poolvaccy_goals512k_stream.wmv&VideoID=32425&ArticleID=5018528

Feb 26 2009 By Hugh Keevins ALLY McCOIST will help build a lasting tribute to Davie Cooper on Friday night ... then honour his old pal's memory by continuing the search for the Super Coopers of tomorrow. A debate about the health of Scottish football has raged since Walter Smith and Gordon Strachan attacked the level of criticism aimed at the last Old Firm game. McCoist doesn't deny some of the stick was justified but refuses to believe this country's well of talent has dried up. Along with Celtic coach Neil Lennon, McCoist will tomorrow help with the fund raising for a sensory park for special needs children in Clydebank, the town where Cooper began and ended his playing career. But Rangers' assistant manager refuses to believe the exceptional skills Cooper possessed, and which ultimately took him to Rangers and a place in the national side, have skipped a generation. McCoist said: "I'm a glass half full kind of guy. I'll concede Coop was the last of the breed of players who learned their football in the streets but I won't accept pessimism so far as the future is concerned. "The talent is still out there and Scotland will continue to produce the type of player who makes you feel the anticipation of the crowd whenever he gets on to the ball. "Kids don't play on the streets any more for a variety of reasons but that doesn't mean to say genius no longer exists. "Aiden McGeady has ability to go past people for Celtic. Aaron and John Fleck at Ibrox have it as well. They're the players who produce the stuff the fans go to the pub on a Saturday night and talk about. "The priority for coaches is to make sure the team they work for wins matches. If we don't do that, we don't have a job but football has an obligation to entertain After the Old Firm had been slaughtered for the derby game, I felt we went out against Kilmarnock with a 'Let's show these people' attitude. "Coop was the consummate entertainer. Whether it was the swivel of the hips or the 40-yard pass, he entertained no matter the fixture or the surroundings. "The highest tribute I can pay him is to say I worked many times with Ruud Gullit on TV and he was always raving about Davie and a game he played against him while he was at Feyenoord. "I like the idea of a lasting tribute to Davie in Clydebank because I first became aware of him in 1976 when the Bankies took Rangers to four games in the League Cup before we got rid of them. I won't name names but there were two Rangers full-backs who tried swopping sides of the park during the first of those games because one of them was getting such a chasing from this young kid. "Coop was, first and foremost, a humble man but when people talk about him they don't mention his medals, they talk about his skill." Cooper, who died in 1995, was revered by his team-mates at Ibrox and McCoist smiled as he recalled one occasion when they literally pulled his leg. He said: "It was Coop's testimonial match and we racked our brains over a gift. "Then one of the lads had a brainwave and got the right leg off a tailor's dummy and wrapped it up in brown paper with the message, 'What do you give the man who's got everything ?' "I couldn't put a price on what that left peg of his would be worth in today's transfer market. Beyond price I would say. "I appreciate there's more to the game than goalscorers and I say that as someone who made his name as one. Rangers had three quality finishes on Saturday against Kilmarnock and Pedro Mendes was outstanding with defence-splitting passes. "But fans love the genius of a Coop or a Jinky Johnstone or a Willie Henderson. We need more like them and I know they can still be found." Part of McCoist's remit is to help discover and develop stars of the future - a job a certain ex-colleague would never have expected him to take. He said: "I can guarantee Coop will be looking down at me shaking his head. The prospect of me in management would have tickled him. "Never a day goes by that I don't think about him and Tommy Burns. You might go from the Old Firm to work elsewhere but in your heart and mind you never leave Rangers or Celtic. "Stefan Klos once told me it was what distinguished the Old Firm from German clubs. "That's why Davie will be on my mind when I pay tribute to him in Clydebank on Friday night. He had that magic ingredient and others will come to show they have it too." http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/football/spl/rangers/2009/02/26/exclusive-duty-is-on-us-to-find-the-new-generation-of-davie-coopers-insists-ally-mccoist-86908-21153912/

The forum is a bit quiet today, so...............will we win the league title this season ?. How confident are we on here of bringing the league title back home ?. I think we are on course to win our 52nd title, although we still have a lot of football to play yet, but I just feel that now we have our blue noses back in front of the MOPES, all be it on goal difference, we are going to win the SPL. :rfc:

OOPS!!,Apologies

A player for Rangers that I was Lucky enough to see and unfortunately I will never see a player like him in a Rangers jersey again. R.I.P. Davie

By Andrew Dickson MADJID BOUGHERRA is in no rush to leave Rangers after seeing his move to the Premiership from Sheffield Wednesday go sour two years ago. The Light Blues defender joined Charlton from the Owls during the January transfer window in 2007. But after an enjoyable spell at Hillsborough, the Algerian's time in London was disappointing as the Addicks were relegated just four months after he went there. Bougherra was recently linked with moves to Newcastle and Marseille but appreciates things don't always improve when you go to play in more prominent leagues. The 26-year-old has become a huge favourite amongst Gers fans thanks to a series of commanding performances alongside David Weir in defence. And after seeing shades of his happy time in the Steel City over the last few months in Glasgow, he is adamant he wants to remain at Ibrox rather than go elsewhere. Bougherra told Rangers News: "When I look back at it now, I think I've made some clever changes of club over the years as I've made gradual progress. I moved up from Gueugnon - a very small team - to Crewe then went from there to Sheffield Wednesday and Charlton. "Now I am at Rangers so if I was to move on again, it would have to be to a massive side because I'm already at one just now. "What I don't want to do is the same thing as I did when I was at Wednesday. I really liked it there and because the city was in the north, the people were all very friendly. "It was just like Scotland in that respect but I left after six months because I got the chance to play in the Premiership for the first time with Charlton. "I had gone to England from Gueugnon and when you see the Premiership on TV back in France, you want to go there quickly. "I was still young when I was in Sheffield and having just turned 24, I made the wrong choice to move from there. I went too soon. "Had I finished the season with Wednesday, I would have had more experience at that level and enjoyed myself more as I was very comfortable in the city there. "I'm not saying I didn't enjoy it at Charlton because I did but we went down and it wasn't such a happy time after that. "Here at Rangers, I am really settled. The fans are fantastic and the staff are the same - they have made me feel so welcome and it is better to stay here. "I have learned from my experience with Wednesday and now I know I should have stayed there longer. "By the same token, I want to stay here longer because I'm happy at Ibrox and there is no need for me to go. "I might get more money at another club or play at a higher l

OK, Rangers beat the MOPES 2-1 :cheers:

RANGERS' defender Ross Perry has been in excellent form for Billy Kirkwood's under-19s this season and the towering defender is hoping to test his skills to the limit tonight when Scotland face France at the country's world-famous training and development facility at Clairefontaine. Ross is one of five Murray Park kids to be selected for the glamour friendly with Danny Wilson, Stephen Stirling, Gregg Wylde and Grant Adam the others who have travelled across the English Channel this week. Jamie Ness was also selected initially but will miss out due to injury. The game will be a useful exercise for Billy Stark's U19s as they prepare for their European Championship Elite Group qualifying games against Slovakia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and England in May and June. Having already progressed through a qualifying group consisting of Hungary, Azerbaijan and San Marino at the tail end of 2008 the Elite Group stage represents a far greater challenge with the team finishing top moving on to the final tournament in Ukraine in July. Tonight's opponents France are regarded by many to be one of the best European football has to offer at U19 level and they showed their potential by taking nine points from their three qualifying matches against Northern Ireland, Malta and Liechtenstein, scoring nine goals and not conceding in the process. Ross has been on the bench for recent internationals but would love to pit his wits against Les Bleus. He said: "I am really looking forward to the game at Clairefontaine and hopefully I will be involved. "I have not played in France before and it will be a great test for all of us. "We played against Holland recently and that was a fantastic experience even although we lost quite heavily. "To be fair I don't think we played to our best on that occasion, we were perhaps taken by surprise just how good they were. "But as a player you want to come up against the best teams in Europe and France are right up there. This time we know what to expect and will try to put on a good show. "The main thing is that we try to take as much from the game as possible and getting a good result would boost our confidence ahead of our Elite Group games coming up in May." Ross Perry, Rangers Ross is delighted that five players from Murray Park are involved in the national set-up and believes it highlights the quality of youngsters coming through the ranks at Auchenhowie. He said: "It's always good to see a group from your team being picked for Scotland as it shows we are doing well at Rangers and this is being noticed. "Obviously we are still in the running for a domestic double so when this is the case I suppose you expect a few of the boys from Murray Park to be selected and it's great to see familiar faces when you travel. "But in general I think we have a very strong bunch of players in the Scotland U19 squad this season. "A few of the lads are playing first-team football already so I think we do have the potential to reach the finals in the Ukraine later in the year. "We have a tough Elite Group to get through first but hopefully we can do well there. "The England game will be a really big one although I don't have good memories of the last time I came up against them. "I scored an own goal so hopefully nothing like that will happen this time around. "As I say it will be tough to qualify but we have to believe we can do it."

RANGERS Ladies kept up their 100% league record last night as they came from behind to beat Celtic 2-1 at Petershill Park. After finding themselves a goal down at the break, Lana Clelland and Claire Rae struck in the second half to turn the game on its head. Gers have now won each of their 10 First Division fixtures so far and are a massive 12 points clear of their Old Firm rivals. With eight games remaining, Drew Todd's girls - who have six under-17s in their team - are clear favourites to win the title in their debut season. It has been a good week for the side after it reached the quarter-finals of the Scottish Cup with a 5-2 extra-time win at Premier League outfit Raith Rovers on Sunday. Jenna Ross and Lesley McMaster are also celebrating after receiving call-ups to the Scotland under-19 squad for a 10-team tournament in La Manga next month. Todd said: "The first half against Celtic was probably the poorest we have played all season. We didn't pass the ball or keep possession terribly well. "They scored first but we came back well and hit the woodwork a couple of times, although we still found ourselves trailing at the break. "I had a word with the girls at half-time as I felt they were maybe suffering from heavy legs after playing for two hours at the weekend. "We improved after the restart and although things didn't go totally to plan, we ground out the win. "We'd have taken that beforehand so we're happy in that respect, especially as we've got so many youngsters in our squad at the moment." :cheers:

Graham Spiers A media rumour momentarily did the rounds last week that Sir David Murray had at last found a buyer for Rangers. In fact, it turned out to be one of those ten-a-penny yarns which intermittently have journalists scuryying to cover themselves, before discovering that the story is baloney. Murray himself, however, continues to agitate to sell his 90 per cent Rangers stake. My take on the Murray and Rangers situation was further intrigued by a recent, odd phone-call and subsequent meeting I had with a Scotland-based businessman and entrepreneur who, of all things, wanted to pick my brain about Paris Saint-Germain. "Did you say Paris Saint-Germain?" I said on the phone to him a mite incredulously. "Why the heck d'you think I can help you there?" It transpired that there was a Paul Le Guen connection, and that this bloke had read my book about Le Guen and noted my visits to Paris in 2007, and was advising a group who were potential investors in the Parisian club. We met and chatted about Le Guen and PSG, but what most interested me was his take on Murray and the Rangers situation. I had always believed that the current recession mitigated against Murray's fervent wish to somehow get his hands on the �£50m to �£60m required to relieve him of his Rangers shares, but this particular football economist thought otherwise. "The recession doesn't necessarily mean that potential buyers of Rangers are off the market," he said. "With the worldwide economy shrinking at the moment, if someone has the money and wants to get into Rangers, he is as well putting his money there as anywhere else right now." In fact, he argued to me, any potential Rangers investor's shares, which would be bought on the cheap, would only grow in value, much as Fergus McCann's did at Celtic. Will Murray have sold Rangers by this time next year? It is tantalising to think that he might have done, and intriguing to wonder about to whom. Some Rangers fans are of the view that the club needs another Graeme Souness-style revolution of 1986, whereby Rangers, under a new owner, will be catapulted into a fresh, re-invigorating chapter. Certainly, when the club announces, as it did a month ago, that it needed to sell its main scoring asset in order to ease its financial health, you know things at Ibrox are pretty dire. Various clubs in England - Chelsea, Manchester United, Aston Villa and Manchester City to name a few - have been invaded by foreign investors, and some of us are still waiting to see if Rangers can entice a similar offer. There would be mixed blessings in such a deal, and David Murray has made it plain that he would prefer a British takeover at Ibrox. Murray, nonetheless, will baulk at the thought that, a year from now, in 2010, he will still be holding the Ibrox reins. He wants out, Rangers need change, and the Rangers fan out there with the money to facilitate the deal needs to be found sooner rather than later. If this particular man is in North America or Canada, and has the wherewithal to do it, would he please step forward soon. He is guaranteed a warm Glasgow welcome. http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2009/02/rangers-hope-to.html

THE FAMILY and friends of Rangers fanatic Garry Lynch have called on all fans to buy Rising Stars tickets and aid the Rangers Youth Department in his memory. Garry sadly passed away earlier this month and his family - wife Elaine, son Garry and daughter Angela - have been astounded by the support they have received from the Rangers Family. After discussions with friends and fellow Rangers fans, the idea of helping the Rangers Youths, which as many people know was one of Garry Lynch's favourite pastimes, came to the fore. Son Garry said: "After initial discussions with the Rangers FC Development Fund we have agreed to raise money for the Rangers Youths by promoting sales of the Rising Stars Half Time Draw which in turn guarantees money going towards the Rangers Youths this would be a great way to honour my Dad's memory and something I know he would have loved to see happen. "We hope to achieve a record payout on the day of the Motherwell match 11th April 2009 not only for the Rising Stars but also to be the largest payout in football circles in the UK." Rising Stars tickets can be bought online via the Rising Stars link at http://www.rangerslotto.co.uk or by calling 0141 427 4914. Tickets can also be obtained before home games or in person from the Lotto Office, 2nd Floor Broomloan Stand, Ibrox Stadium or by sending an email to lotto@rangers.co.uk

By Andrew Dickson ALLY McCOIST has revealed both Nacho Novo and Lee McCulloch are winning their fight to be fit for next month's League Cup final against Celtic. Lee McCullochStriker Novo is poised to return to full training at the end of the week after he hobbled off during the 2-0 win over Dundee United on January with an ankle knock. He has made excellent progress and is now hopeful of featuring in the home clash with Inverness next Wednesday. McCulloch, meanwhile, has discovered he has a minor tear in his calf after going for a scan this morning. He came off in the 4-0 Scottish Cup fifth round win at Forfar Athletic last Wednesday and it seemed he would miss the Old Firm clash on March 15. But the injury is not as bad as first feared and he has been given a realistic chance of regaining full fitness before then. Assistant manager McCoist is delighted the duo are on the mend and has been buoyed by more good news after Gers went top of the league at the weekend. He said: "I was getting the wee cheesy grin from Nacho today and he's back out running which is great to see.Nacho Novo and Lee McCulloch "He is a smashing lad with an infectious personality and he's one of those boys who just wants to train and play. "Nacho is somebody you don't like to have inside being a nuisance in the gymnasium as you'd far rather have him out on the park making a contribution. "Everybody will be delighted to hear the wee man is not far away from a return now and big Lee is the same. "He has a very minimal tear in his calf and that happened last week up at Forfar but I'd hope he'll be back in full training in a week to 10 days. "That's positive news for us and we are pleased about that. Lee is the same and I think he was quite relieved when he got his test results back. "Both lads are dying to get back playing for

STEVEN LENNON'S second goal in as many reserve games wasn't enough to secure all three points at Station Park. Steven LennonRangers returned to Forfar's ground for the second time in a week - this time to face Dundee Utd - but came away with another draw against the Tannadice side. Tommy Wilson felt his side had done enough to win the game but Garry Kenneth's 75th minute equaliser earned a point as he cancelled out Lennon's 37th minute opener. United had started the brighter before the visiting side took the lead against the run of play. Tommy WilsonAaron Niguez, returning to the ground where he scored his first senior goal for the club six days earlier, skipped past two United challenges to float a perfect cross to Lennon at the back post. The recently returned striker stooped to meet the cross and head past Michael McGovern in the United goal. Aaron was then withdrawn in the first minute of the second half as a precaution when he felt a tightness in his groin - with Kal Naismith replacing the Spanish winger. It was a disappointment for Wilson to lose the rising star but he was further frustrated by the decision that led to United's equaliser. The home side were awarded a free kick near the corner flag - a decision which incensed Wilson and Jimmy Sinclair - and when Paul Dixon swung in the set piece, Kenneth rose highest to head past Graeme Smith. To compound matters Lennon was then denied a penalty in the dying stages when he went down under the challenge of keeper McGovern only to see the referee wave away his appeals for a spot kick. Rangers: G.Smith; Lowing, Little, Dailly, Kinniburgh; Edu, Hemdani; Campbell, S. Naismith, Aaron (K. Naismith 46); Lennon. Subs: Gallacher, Forbes, Cole.

I do my bit

Is that not already the case @ Ibrox............sit down shut up..........with some fans anyway............OOPS!!!! there I go again.......moaning & complaining

LEE McCULLOCH is hoping for good news today as he strives to be fit for the Co-operative Insurance Cup Final. McCulloch suffered a calf injury in last week's 4-0 Homecoming Scottish Cup win at Forfar and the original diagnosis was an absence of between two and four weeks. The midfielder will have a scan on the problem area today and he is hoping that the damage will not be severe. DaMarcus Beasley in agony after Smith's challengeHe said: "I felt as if I had been shot in the leg last week but it is feeling better now. Hopefully the scan will be posititive." McCulloch has slotted in well in midfield in recent weeks performing a holding role to great effect at both Pittodrie and Parkhead. Meanwhile DaMarcus Beasley should be fully fit for the Ibrox clash with Inverness Caley Thistle on March 4. Beasley was lucky to avoid serious injury when he was caught in the Forfar match by Elliot Smith, who was sent off for the challenge. Nacho Novo is also working his way back to fitness after ankle damage against Dundee United on January 31 but it is still unclear when he will be ready. By the way, why are we playing Inverness on Wed March 4th ?

Utter tosh ??,in your opinion. I happen to think the man has a lot to answer for the waste of money on his signings,TOO LATE, this season and why he continually picks players and plays them out of position, McCulloch ?.What he achieved last season was very short of our best ever season,granted.And if he feels it is right to have a go at the Rangers fans,then I'm sure he is wise enough to expect a bit of criticism when things don't go his way.If you are happy with what Walter has done then fine, some of us are not.Is he the man to take us forward ?, no IMO.FWIW I have not been on here and slagged him off, he just baffles me,and others with some of his decisions and can understand why he gets slated when it doesn't pay off. Not everyone thinks the same, but we are entitled to our opinion as you are

Sunderland and Wigan are both tracking Rangers defender Steven Davis, who only moved to Ibrox from Fulham last summer. (Daily Star)

While it's great to be sitting top 'o' the league ,I don't hear no fat lady singing yet,there is a long and nervy way to go yet,I mean I can just imagine the posts on here when/if we draw with someone and the MOPES get themselves back in front,I also hope that doesn't happen of course but I am not getting too carried away