ian1964

http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/intligen/startseite/artikel/501472

I think he means Larson

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=43a_1220724645

RANGERS would be committing championship suicide by flogging the family silver in a bid to balance the books. Former Ibrox favourite and SunSport columnist Billy Dodds believes the sale of Barry Ferguson and Kris Boyd would rip the heart out of Gers. Skipper Fergie has been linked with a Ã?£2.5million move to Newcastle while we revealed this morning that Boyd is a Ã?£3m target for Alex McLeishââ?¬â?¢s Birmingham. Dodds knows his cash-strapped old club could be tempted to cash in ââ?¬â? but he has warned them theyââ?¬â?¢d be kissing their SPL title hopes goodbye if they did. He said: ââ?¬Å?The way things are going for Rangers right now you just canââ?¬â?¢t imagine Walter Smith would entertain selling either of them. ââ?¬Å?I could name a few others Iââ?¬â?¢m sure heââ?¬â?¢d like to get shot of first before heââ?¬â?¢d even consider parting with Boyd or Ferguson. ââ?¬Å?The title race is far from over and to win titles you need to have your best players available ââ?¬â? Boyd for his goals and Ferguson for his leadership qualities. ââ?¬Å?Business is business I suppose, but I donââ?¬â?¢t think Rangers can afford to sell them. ââ?¬Å?The only way they would be tempted is if silly money was offered. But the figures being quoted arenââ?¬â?¢t in that bracket, nowhere near it. ââ?¬Å?Rangers themselves are operating in the market weââ?¬â?¢re talking about here. I donââ?¬â?¢t think itââ?¬â?¢s feasible. ââ?¬Å?I donââ?¬â?¢t think itââ?¬â?¢s the right time, the right players or the right money. If they were to sell both players Rangers are 100 per cent certain to lose the title. ââ?¬Å?Itââ?¬â?¢s a massive gamble and one Iââ?¬â?¢m sure Smith wonââ?¬â?¢t entertain. They would lose even more money by losing out on the title.ââ?¬Â Rangers fans will be reeling from the news that Big Eck has his sights set on Boyd to lead Brumââ?¬â?¢s push for promotion back into the Premier League. But Dodds says Gers should throw out his cheeky Ã?£3m bid for a player he rates around Ã?£5m ââ?¬â? and worth his weight in goals. Doddsy explained: ââ?¬Å?If you take Kris Boyd out of the team thereââ?¬â?¢s not another striker at Rangers who comes close to matching his return. Thatââ?¬â?¢s why Iââ?¬â?¢d laugh off Birminghamââ?¬â?¢s bid of Ã?£3m. ââ?¬Å?When you think of the money thatââ?¬â?¢s swilling around the Championship and some of the fees already shelled out then you would have to say Boyd falls into the Ã?£5m category. I think heââ?¬â?¢s worth that easily. ââ?¬Å?Boyd is invaluable to Rangers. His goals can help catch Celtic, Iââ?¬â?¢m sure. Sell him in January and the Gers fans can forget that. Advertisement ââ?¬Å?The other problem would be replacing him. Smith would have to buy someone else if he offloaded Boyd and where do you find a striker like Boyd for Ã?£3m? Players like that are hard to come by. ââ?¬Å?Iââ?¬â?¢m not having these people who judged him on one game against Celtic. Play him three or four times and if he doesnââ?¬â?¢t score then fair enough. ââ?¬Å?But heââ?¬â?¢s scored for his country and is scoring for fun in the SPL. Heââ?¬â?¢s the best finisher in the country by a mile. Thatââ?¬â?¢s why heââ?¬â?¢s worth more than Ã?£3m. Rangers would be mad to sell him for that. ââ?¬Å?Alex McLeish knows what he would be getting, heââ?¬â?¢s the man who signed him for Rangers. ââ?¬Å?Birmingham are struggling to score goals and thereââ?¬â?¢s no doubt Boyd is the answer. But Rangers canââ?¬â?¢t afford to let him go ââ?¬â? and thatââ?¬â?¢s the bottom line.ââ?¬Â Ferguson is another player Dodds reckons Gers canââ?¬â?¢t afford to lose. The captain is edging back to his best after ankle surgery kept him sidelined for the first five months of the campaign. Dodds said: ââ?¬Å?Ferguson is hugely influential at Rangers. I know. I played alongside him. ââ?¬Å?Heââ?¬â?¢s had his critics this season but give the guy a break, heââ?¬â?¢d been out injured for five months. ââ?¬Å?I think you saw the real Barry against Dundee United a few weeks ago. Heââ?¬â?¢s getting back to his best slowly but surely. It was always going to take time. ââ?¬Å?Listen, Barry is a moaning faced so-and-so but thatââ?¬â?¢s only because he loves to control games. ââ?¬Å?He loves to dictate and thatââ?¬â?¢s why he doesnââ?¬â?¢t like to push forward high up the park too early. ââ?¬Å?He doesnââ?¬â?¢t dictate when he pushes up the field and itââ?¬â?¢s no coincidence that in the last few weeks heââ?¬â?¢s been dropping off. ââ?¬Å?Barry is still a Ã?£4-5m player. He went for Ã?£7m a few years ago, remember. ââ?¬Å?Newcastle are talking about a Ã?£2.5m bid but that should be laughed off too. Heââ?¬â?¢s worth at least double.ââ?¬Â Gers boss Smith is bracing himself as Newcastle and Birmingham prepare concrete bids. Dodds said: ââ?¬Å?Rangers would only let them go if it was top dollar we were talking about but itââ?¬â?¢s not. ââ?¬Å?The destination of this seasonââ?¬â?¢s title depends on it, Iââ?¬â?¢m sure.ââ?¬Â http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/spl/article2097860.ece

ALEX McLEISH is preparing a �£3million bid to lure Kris Boyd away from Rangers. Former Gers gaffer Eck wants the 20-goal hitman to fire Birmingham City into the Premiership. SunSport can reveal McLeish will launch an official move for the 25-year-old within days. He brought Boyd to Ibrox three years ago in a �£400,000 deal from Kilmarnock. McLeish also handed the free-scoring star the majority of his 15 Scotland caps. Now he wants to work with him for the THIRD time as he seeks to lift City back among the big boys. It is understood McLeish stepped up his interest after Boydâ��s double in the 3-0 win over Caley Thistle on Sunday. The brace in Inverness lifted his Gers goal haul to 91 in just three years. Big Eck has already taken Scotland strike stars James McFadden and Garry Oâ��Connor to St Andrewâ��s. But Birmingham have scored fewer goals than any of the other top eight sides in the Championship. They are outside the lucrative automatic promotion positions on goal difference alone. On-loan striker Quincy Owusu Abeyie was sent back to Russiaâ��s Spartak Moscow yesterday after failing to sparkle. And McLeishâ��s priority for this monthâ��s transfer window is to add much-needed firepower. He has never hidden his admiration for Boydâ��s predatory talents and is now ready to test Gersâ�� resolve. Light Blues boss Walter Smith has repeated his desire to hang on to his key first-team regulars as Gers chase the SPL title. Newcastle United are keen on captain Barry Ferguson while Marseille have been linked with stopper Madjid Bougherra. Smith only wants to get rid of fringe players like Christian Dailly, Brahim Hemdani and Andy Webster. Frozen-out frontman Alan Gow headed south for talks with Birminghamâ��s league rivals Wolves yesterday after they agreed a �£450,000 fee with Gers. But Big Eck â�� the last Ibrox manager to capture the SPL title â�� will still make a move for Boyd. However, the hierarchy at Rangers know it would be a hugely unpopular decision to sell the fansâ�� favourite. http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/spl/article2097653.ece

HIGHLAND hero Kris Boyd does not believe Barry Ferguson will be tempted on a return to the Premiership after Newcastle declared a public interest in the Rangers skipper. Boyd, who scored twice in yesterday's 3-0 win at Inverness, feels Ferguson would prefer to remain at Rangers, Barry FergusonBoyd said: "We know in this market everyone has his price and whatever happens happens - that's the way football is "But I'm sure Barry wants to stay here and play his football with Rangers. "He has left the club once before and didn't particularly enjoy his time down south. Now he's enjoying it and he's back to being the player he once was. "We don't want to lose him and I'm sure the manager won't want to lose him either because he's such a huge influence on the team." Walter Smith was disappointed with Joe Kinnear's public comments about Ferguson and Newcastle have also been linked with a move for Madjid Bougherra. However, Boyd insists that speculation did not affect Rangers in a poor first half in the Highlands. He said: "Inverness made it difficult for us in the first half and all credit to them for doing so. They've been struggling recently but still came out and had a go. When we got in at half time we had a chat and basically knew we had to do better. "The message at the break was that a few of us would be coming off if we didn't improve in the first 15 minutes after the break. And it was a great goal from Pedro that set Kris Boyd and Kirk Broadfoot celebrateus up to go on and win." Boyd's double takes him to 20 goals for the season which has thrilled him but he knows that continuing to cut into Celtic's SPL lead is the key. He said: "I'm obviously delighted with the number of goals I've scored so far but the bottom line is we are still five points behind Celtic which isn't good. "We need to go again when the league resumes after the Scottish Cup and get ourselves back within touching distance of Celtic. "I was pleased with my goals but at the other end Allan McGregor was just as important. He made world-class saves and the one just prior to our second goal proved how important he is to our team."

NO

Andrew Dickson reports from Caledonian Stadium WALTER SMITH insists the most important thing Rangers can do is keep winning after they closed the gap between them and Celtic in the SPL to five points. Pedro Mendes celebratesThe Light Blues' 3-0 victory over Inverness at Caledonian Stadium today was crucial after their Old Firm rivals could only draw with Dundee United yesterday. It was the perfect response after last Saturday's derby defeat and showed, if proof was ever needed, that the championship race is still far from over. Pedro Mendes opened the scoring in the frozen north before Kris Boyd's double clinched a vital success. Smith said: "We started well enough in the first 10 or 15 minutes but then I thought we were poor in the last half hour of the first half. "The game itself dropped down a bit so it was up to us to lift things and we got off to a terrific start after the break. "Pedro scored a great goal once the game got underway again and I think that set us up for a good win. "We were a lot better in the second half than we had been in the first and were far more incisive. "The important thing for us just now is to win. Everybody makes the comparison between us and Celtic but the biggest thing is that we go on a run of victories.Kris Boyd scores the third goal against ICT "We need to look at our own performances rather than anybody else's. It's our fault we are trailing in the championship and we have to adjust to that. "We must make sure, in the games we have coming up, that we get into a situation where we can eradicate a few of the errors we've made in the first part of the season." Smith paid tribute to Mendes, whose goal just 24 seconds into the second period broke the deadlock for a Gers team badly needing to come out on top. The Portuguese midfielder's effort was sublime as he curled beyond Ryan Esson from 25 yards after good work by Nacho Novo. Smith added: "Pedro's goal was good and it was a welcome one as we needed something to lift us a little bit. "As I said to the players at half-time, we needed to get ourselves up as the game suited Caley Thistle with the way it was panning out. Pedro Mendes celebrates"We had to go on and win the game and we went on to do so after a good start. I felt we deserved to win." Mendes and Kenny Miller both came off in the latter stages with minor injuries but Smith does not expect either to be sidelined for long. With nine days now until the team's next game against St Johnstone in the Scottish Cup, it is hoped both will be fit enough to take part in that fixture. Smith said: "Kenny had a knock just above his knee and Pedro had to come off because he had a thigh strain. "Hopefully neither injury keeps them out for any great length of time. We'd like to think they'll recover before our next match."

FECK George Burley

Mmmmmmmmm............nearly called it right

Correct, and I would accept it

SSN just said Big Boogy is back today..........then backed that up saying Newcastle will offer �£6m for him ???

Yip, my my prescription McEwans Export:drink:, however despite the doom and gloom are capable of going up there and hammering them, so I'll stick with my prediction, but will accept a 1-0 win

I will go for Inverness 0 Rangers 4, Boyd 2,Miller & Novo

I have already said that if we get any decent offer for any of our players they will be sold, however I would be surprised if BF was sold

DAVIE WEIR hopes that a win at the Caledonian Stadium tomorrow can kick-start Rangers title challenge this season and that the club can follow that by going on a lengthy winning run. David WeirWith the Light Blues trailing seven points behind league leaders Celtic a victory in the Highland capital is now imperative at the start of 2009. Weir is fully aware that there is now an additional pressure on every Rangers player to hit top form week in, week out but has no doubt his team can rise to the challenge. He said: "It's true that there is not any margin for error for us now but perhaps that is a good thing. "We all realise that we can't drop any more points and we have to win every game. "This is always the case when you are at Rangers anyway but even more so now. "We've got to out and make things happen and only we can turn our current situation around. "There is still a lot of football to be played this season and anything can happen but we have to improve, especially away from home." Inverness Caley are currently joint bottom of the league with SPL newcomers Hamilton and their home record is the worst in the top flight. Nevertheless, Davie is expecting a 90 minutes battle with both teams in desperate need of three points. He said: "Everywhere is tough. In this league there no ground that you go to and get points easily. Steven Naismith "Inverness has been one of the harder places to go in the past even though they are in need of a good result as well. "We can take nothing for granted and all the players are aware that we need to play well to get all three points." Steven Naismith's return to the Gers squad is a huge boost for the club and Davie is delighted the club's �£2million signing is back in action. He said: "He has been out for a long time but he has worked very hard and he now deserves his chance to get back. "He is a good lad and the sooner we get him back into the squad the better. "You always welcome quality players returning and he falls into that category. He will offer competition up front and that's good. "I'm sure he will be desperate to make an impression.

WALTER SMITH has urged his players to hit top form in 2009 and go on a winning run that can keep the club's title hopes alive. Walter SmithInconsistency, especially away from home, has cost Rangers dear this season and the gaffer knows improvements have to be made on the road starting this weekend at Inverness. The Gers are under pressure to win their next four league fixtures before travelling to Parkhead on February 15 and Smith realises this must be his side's immediate goal. The return of Madjid Bougherra will be a big boost ahead of Sunday's crucial SPL clash at the Caledonian Stadium while Steven Naismith will also travel north and could feature in the game. Walter said: "I think the seven point gap puts us under pressure to go on a winning run, that is something we have placed upon ourselves. "We have to make sure we start picking up three points every weekend and we haven't yet managed to do that this season. "There has always been a few wins then a draw or a defeat so we need to go on a run and that starts on Sunday. "Caley are not going through their best period and they will be fighting for points. "It was never an easy place to go to although this season they have lost as many games at home as they maybe have in previous years. Steven Naismith "Regardless, it will be a tough match for us. "Injury wise Mo Edu is a doubt with an ankle injury. "He has been out for three weeks now but I would hope he will be back for our Cup game against St. Johnstone. "Madjid Bougherra is now back and he will be fit to play on Sunday against Caley. "Steven Naismith is also in our group of players going up. He has had three games now since he has come back from injury. I will wait to see how he feels. "We played a bounce match against St. Johnstone earlier in the week so he is now getting back to a level of match fitness." Craig BrewsterWith Caley now in a relegation dogfight after losing their last five SPL game there have been calls for manager Craig Brewster to call it a day. Smith, however, hopes he gets time to turn things around. He said: "Obviously when a bit of pressure comes to any club things can happen this way. "But Craig took over at Caley when they were not going through the best of times and he lifted their fortunes a bit. "Again they are going through a tough period but he will want to see them through that. "I think Inverness are a very well run club and I don't think they will make any hasty decisions in that respect. "I believe Craig is the man who can pick them up. "He has done this before and I hope he can do that again after Sunday of course!"

PORTSMOUTH are lining up a stunning �£9million bid for Celtic midfield ace Scott Brown. SunSport can reveal Pompey boss Tony Adams has had the dynamic playmaker watched in THREE recent Hoops games. And Brownâ��s all-action performance in the 1-0 Old Firm triumph at Ibrox has convinced the Fratton Park club to tee up a move. Parkhead boss Gordon Strachan will be reluctant to offload a player he sees as crucial to his sideâ��s hopes of clinching a fourth successive SPL title. But former England and Arsenal hero Adams could test Celticâ��s resolve with a bumper offer for the Scotland star. Pompey have just sold Lassana Diarra to Real Madrid for a breathtaking �£20m. And Jermaine Defoe is set to follow him out the door â�� handing the south coast side another potential �£16m windfall. That leaves them well placed to come in with a megabucks bid should Celtic give any hint they are willing to deal. Losing the all-action Diarra was a huge blow for the FA Cup holders. But itâ��s understood Adams has discussed Brownâ��s abilities with his staff and been sufficiently impressed to include him on a short-list of targets, which also includes Middlesbroughâ��s Gary Oâ��Neil. Brown cost Celtic a record �£4.4million in May 2007, but he failed to convince fans in his debut campaign. This season, though, the 23-year-old has been outstanding in Celticâ��s engine room and Strachan wonâ��t want to lose him. The Fifer signed a five-year, �£25,000-a-week deal as Celtic beat off competition from rivals Rangers to his signature. Pompey would comfortably be able to improve Brownâ��s wages. Newcastle United are among other clubs who have tracked his progress. http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/spl/article2086783.ece

http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/news/article2087660.ece

Jan 2 2009 By Keith Jackson RANGERS were given the perfect New Year's Day pick-me-up last night when Kevin Thomson revealed his career-saving operation has been a complete success. Thomson went under the knife in London on Hogmanay to finally have his shattered left knee rebuilt - two months after it was mangled during an SPL clash at Rugby Park. Record Sport can reveal the surgery had to be delayed after doctors spotted a life-threatening blood clot which had formed on Thomson's left calf. The stricken 24-year-old was finally given the all clear to go under the knife last week and jetted down south on Tuesday to put his career in the hands of Dr Andrew Williams, Britain's top knee injury specialist. And yesterday, in an exclusive interview with Record Sport from his hospital bed, Thomson revealed the surgery went so well he was back walking within a couple of hours of leaving the theatre. He said: "I know it might not sound like the ideal way to spend Hogmanay - lying in a hospital bed on my own in London pumped to the eyeballs with morphine - but I could not have wished for better news. "After everything I've been through in the last couple of months I'm just delighted to be here. "It's gone better than any of us had expected. The surgeon thought when he opened me up he would have to repair both my medial ligaments and maybe my cartilage. "But because of complications we had to delay the operation and that gave me time to do a lot of physiotherapy. "I worked hard and it seems the medial ligaments have repaired themselves as a result. "That meant all the doc had to do was concentrate on building a new interior ligament, which was obviously always going to be the most important part. "It seems to have gone well because I already have movement back in the joint and I've been up walking already. I can't tell you how good that felt." Thomson now hopes to be back in full training at Murray Park before the rest of his Ibrox team-mates report back for a not her punishing pre-season. He said: "That's the plan. The surgeon is extremely happy with the way it's gone and says there is no reason why I can't be back in six months. "I've been through this once before and I'm not naive enough to think there won't be a hiccup or two along the way but I'd be lying if I said I didn't want to be back as soon as possible. "July is seven months away so with a bit of luck I should have a good four or five weeks of training under my belt by the time the rest of the lads come back in from their holidays. "I've not been the luckiest of boys so far with injuries but I'm due a bit of luck and touch wood I'll get it in the New Year. "There's a long way to go but all I can think about is pulling on that shirt again and getting on with my Rangers career." Meanwhile, Ibrox boss Walter Smith will assess whether Andy Webster and Alan Gow have a place in his plans when they return this month after loan spells at English Championship sides. Webster has spent the first half of the season at Bristol City, where it was hoped he would be able to build on his fitness after suffering a series of injuries. But he picked up several minor knocks and made just six appearances during his spell at Ashton Gate. Gow had a reasonably successful stint at Blackpool, scoring five goals in 17 games. Smith said: "We'll see what happens when they come back and review the situation." http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/2009/01/02/exclusive-new-year-all-clear-for-kevin-thomson-after-career-saving-operation-86908-21009845/

ALAN GOW is hoping to clinch a move to Championship pace-setters Wolves in the next couple of days. Alan GowThe former Falkirk frontman, who has had a difficult time since joining Rangers in the summer of 2007, is wanted by Mick McCarthy whose side are looking good for Premiership football next season. Ibrox boss Walter Smith revealed today that Wolves have made contact about Gow and that negotiations are now underway over a fee. Gow, who has only appeared twice for Rangers, spent the first half of this season on loan at Blackpool where he caught the eye of the Molineux side. He was back at Murray Park this morning and took part in the first team training session. Now if a fee can be agreed it looks like he will move to the Black Country to join the side who are seven points clear at the top of the Championship. Tomorrow Wolves travel to face Alex McLeish's Birmingham, who sit second along with Reading, and if they can win that one they will take another huge step towards their Premiership dream. Clearly it would be a terrific move for Gow but it will all depend on Wolves and Rangers reaching an agreement. Smith said today: "We have had an inquiry from Wolves for Alan Gow and negotiatoions are on-going." Gow could be one of a number of fringe players to move on in the January transfer window.

by Lindsay Herron MADJID BOUGHERRA will be back for Rangers at Inverness on Sunday and Davie Weir hopes the Algerian defender is here for the long haul. Bougherra has missed the last three matches with a thigh strain but is fit to return to partner Weir at the Caledonian Stadium. Madjid Bougherra, RangersToday it has been reported that Newcastle United are ready to make a bid for the centre back, who joined Rangers from Charlton last summer, but Walter Smith has said that no inquiries have been made. Weir and Bougherra have formed a good partnership in the centre of defence and Weir hopes it can continue for the rest of this campaign. He said:"Of course, I would love Madjid to stay. He has done very well for us and we have missed him in the last few weeks." Manager Smith made it clear that he does not want to lose any of his regular starters and is only interested in selling players who are on the periphery of his squad. However, he tempered that by pointing out that the sale of Alan Hutton to Tottenham was sanctioned this time last year because the fee of around �£9million was something Rangers could not turn down. He said: "As I have said before we have 28 players in the squad and there are a number who have been not been involved regularly and clearly that is going to be a source of frustration. "We would want to keep the group who are involved week in, week out. "However, we were in a situation last year with Alan Hutton in that we wanted to keep him but the bid was such that we had to take it so you can never say that this won't happen again."

I don't think JCD is wrong in what he is saying, after all he was offered his salary, he accepted,and then he was asked to leave, he accepted it. Thanks for your services JCD and all the best

Walter, why don't you just come out and tell the players that you want to move on that they are just not good enough ?, they are big boys, or do you not know ?

I really despair at these rumours, I mean how the hell will either of these two improve Rangers............gimme a fucking break