ian1964

PEDRO MENDES insists Rangers are in great shape to challenge on all fronts after no key players left in the Transfer Window and the SPL gap was closed to just two points. The Portuguese midfielder was one of a number of Rangers players linked with moves but none came to fruition. Now he feels Rangers can really kick on and realise their dreams of winning the top honours in Scotland. He said: "January is always a month of speculation about transfers and possible transfers but the main thing now is that the whole thing is finished, it's closed. "There was an atmosphere of uncertainty about the club. There was a different story each day about some club talking about a certain player. That can cause a little bit of doubt. mendes_160"We are now looking forward to the rest of the season. "To make things clear, from my part and the club's part there is a clear intention. Both parties were thinking the same way. "Any player that left in January would have been missed but no-one left so we have the same team. "The main thing now is Rangers. We have a great chance to win the title. "We are now in a good position. A few weeks ago we were seven points behind, now it is just two. "The problem we had was that we relied on other results but now can depend on ourselves because if we win the next league match we will go top of the league. "Everything is open to us. We wall want the same and the next four months will be very interesting."

[ame=http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=MRIznPDC4Tc&feature=related]YouTube - Gollum[/ame]

Smeagol,Gollum

WS will probably play 4-5-1

RANGERS star Pedro Mendes joined two lucky Rangers supporters at Murray Park today who will be part of a special 'Guard of Honour' as the teams take to the field before tomorrow's glamour friendly with AC Milan at Ibrox Stadium. Thousands of young fans were entered into an exclusive prize draw to grace the hallowed turf before Walter Smith's side host the Serie A superstars and Jamie Cochran (10) and Kayleigh Peacock Pedro Mendes with Kayleigh Peacock and Jamie Cochran(14) will join 14 other children who have been chosen to rub shoulders with the likes of David Beckham, Kaka and Ronaldinho ahead of the match. In addition, 50 supporters will also be on the pitch as flagbearers while eight supporters who bought their tickets early for the game have the once in a lifetime chance to meet members of Milan's star-studded squad for an exclusive signing session before kick off. Midfielder Pedro Mendes commented: "We are all looking forward to playing against AC Milan. It will be a good test for Rangers to compete against world stars like Kaka, Beckham, Ronaldinho and Maldini and the young supporters I met today will enjoy playing their part on the pitch before the game."

by Thomas Jordan PEDRO MENDES today shot down fears he could have left Rangers in the transfer window. The Portuguese midfielder was the subject of a late move from Bolton, who were prepared to pay upwards of �£3.5million for his services. But having just arrived in Glasgow from Portsmouth in the summer, the 30-year-old held talks with chairman Sir David Murray a couple of weeks ago and told him he was not interested in leaving - despite the club's need to sell. Mendes said: "There was a lot of speculation during January, but it is closed now and we are looking forward to the rest of the season. advertisement "On my part and the club's part there was a clear intention for me to stay. That's what I will say about my own situation." Mendes believes that with the cloud of uncertainty now lifted from Ibrox, the squad can focus on challenging Celtic for the Treble. He added: "We have a great chance to win the title now. There has been a bit of doubt in the air recently because of all the speculation so I'm sure everyone is pleased that is finished now." Before Rangers get back to domestic business in the Homecoming Scottish Cup at Forfar this Sunday, they have a glamour friendly against AC Milan at Ibrox tomorrow night. Having been deprived of European football due to the disastrous KO in Kaunas back in August, the match against David Beckham and Co at least gives the fans a chance to see some big names close up. Mendes said: "It's a great game for us to look forward to as they are a fantasic side with some of the best players in the game. "Not having European football has been a big loss for us, and the main thing is we get it back next season. But this is a game to relish." http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/display.var.2486699.0.0.php

How can the fans be positive ?, really when we were told we '' HAD '' to sell a top earner and now that we haven't what now if we don't win the league ?

Aye, he is coming back from a bad injury,doesn't qualify him as being injury prone

How do you class Fleck & Naismith as injury prone ?, I would have said Beasley ws injury prone compared to these two

CHEEKY German cracks Schalke have failed in a bid to land DaMarcus Beasley for FREE. SunSport can reveal that the Bundesliga outfit tried to snatch the USA star in a deadline day raid on Rangers. The 26-year-old winger has fallen out of favour at Ibrox as teenager John Fleck has shone. Schalke indicated an interest on Monday but the deal collapsed over a fee for Beasley. The Ibrox hierarchy bombed out the bid when it became clear the Germans were not willing to pay anything for Beasley. That saw the January transfer window close with Gers having sold NONE of their first-choice stars. Bolton decided they would not make a bid for former Portsmouth star Pedro Mendes after an initial enquiry on Sunday. Gers had indicated they didn’t want to lose the Portuguese midfielder and Trotters boss Gary Megson did not return to them with a cash offer. Captain Barry Ferguson and goalkeeper Allan McGregor will also stay at least until the summer. Stoke, West Brom and Bolton joined Newcastle and Middlesbrough in the hunt for Scotland skipper Fergie. But Gers received no official bid for the midfield ace, who celebrated his 31st birthday on Monday. Newcastle also failed to make a bid for McGregor despite losing Shay Given to Manchester City. Gers fans feared losing Ferguson, McGregor, Mendes, Kris Boyd or Madjid Bougherra as the club looked to balance the books. But the only players to leave during the window were Chris Burke and Jean-Claude Darcheville. A handful of fringe players have exited on loan to slightly reduce Gers’ big wage bill. http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/spl/article2198628.ece

I just wonder if all the talk of ''needing to sell at least one first team player'' had an effect on the players ?, I mean when I watch Rangers they always look scared,nervous ect. Maybe now that the window has closed they can relax a bit and get their heads down and start playing with a bit of confidence now..................or maybe they are just pish !!!!

Novo's Wait NACHO NOVO has to wait for the swelling to go down on his damaged ankle before a scan will ascertain the damage but Rangers are still anticipating a three-week absence. The Spanish striker hurt his ankle in a challenge with Danny Grainger in the first half of Saturday's game with Dundee United and then suffered another knock just before half-time. Nacho Novo gets treatmentHe had to hobble out of the match in some discomfort and there is still quite a lot of swelling. The Ibrox medical team are now waiting for this to recede before they can learn the full extent of the damage. Boss Walter Smith said today: "The ankle was quite badly sprained so we will need to wait for the swelling to go down before he is able to have it scanned. "The first indications were that there was nothing broken but we will have to wait for things to settle down before we know how serious it is. "But I would expect it to be three weeks before he is back playing again." That being the case, it will be the Kilmarnock game on February 21 at the earliest before Novo is available again. Meanwhile, Mo Edu was in full training today and will feature at some point in Wednesday's glamour friendly with AC Milan

Good luck Charlie

Welcome mate

14.22 The Premier League has announced it will grant applications from clubs to complete transactions after the 5pm deadline today if there is email confirmation from the two clubs involved that a deal has been agreed in principle. The club signing the player must also satisfy the board that the prevailing weather conditions have prevented the signing from being completed by the deadline. That will keep us busy well into the evening then!

By Andrew Dickson FIVE Rangers players have been included in George Burley's Scotland squad for the training camp at St Andrews next week. Barry Ferguson, Allan McGregor, David Weir, Kirk Broadfoot and Kenny Miller have all been summoned to the get-together from February 8-10. Allan McGregor, ScotlandNational coach Burley sees the gathering as hugely important ahead of next month's World Cup qualifier against Holland in Amsterdam and the home clash with Iceland. He said: "I'm really looking forward to getting the boys together again as we step up our preparations for the crucial double-header against the Dutch and Iceland. "The gathering gives us the chance to have a couple of training sessions and to work on the tactics for the games. "We have a strong group of players who are passionate about playing for Scotland. We are all ready to take our country to South Africa." National youth coach Billy Stark will have a similar meeting for under-21 players in Dunblane next week and four Ibrox youngsters have been summoned to that. Rory Loy, on loan at Dunfermline until the end of the season, is among three players who have made temporary moves away that have been called upon. Andrew Shinnie - currently at Dundee - and Jordan McMillan, who is spending the rest of the campaign at Hamilton, are the others. Completing the quartet is goalkeeper Scott Gallacher, who spent time at Cowdenbeath before Christmas.

Cardiff have made a bid for Fletcher

11.36 There is news coming in from the Premier League that they are negotiating with the FA and Fifa to extend the transfer deadline from 5pm this evening. We will keep you posted if there is any change - and update our countdown clock accordingly.

He is still @ Newcastle,injured, and it was a text that was sent into SSN,rubbish

Bolton still chasing Mendes, according to SSN

10.53 Skysports.com understands Newcastle United have firmed up their interest in Michael Johnson by lodging a bid for the Manchester City midfielder.

Move Boogie into midfield

Or Mendes,Fergie,Shagger...............etc

Deadline Day Logo Keane Arshavin Transfer Clockwatch 10.44 Reports in Russia suggest that Spartak Moscow's Austrian international defender Martin Stranzl is on the verge of a move to Britain, with Glasgow Rangers and Fulham identified as probable destinations.

Reckon he will miss the game through the injury he picked up on Saturday