ian1964

Sell our best players, get rid of some of the dross off the wage bill, replace them with more dross and hope we can finish second !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

RANGERS boss Walter Smith has added Lee Miller and Robbie Neilson to his January wish-list. SunSport understands Smith has been keen on the Aberdeen striker and the Hearts right-back for the last year. And the Ibrox gaffer could move for both this month ââ?¬â? IF he can raise funds from a major clear-out. On-form Miller signed a two-year deal at Pittodrie in the summer to dash Smithââ?¬â?¢s hopes then. But now he is back on the trail of the target man, who has hit seven goals so far this season. Miller offers strength and finishing power and is also forcing himself into Scotland manager George Burleyââ?¬â?¢s thinking for the World Cup qualifiers. The 25-year-old was snapped up by boss Jimmy Calderwood for a nominal fee in August 2006 from Dundee United and has proved to be one of the Donsââ?¬â?¢ best signings in recent years. Neilson, meanwhile, was handed his one and only Scots cap by Smith in the Ukraine in October 2006. His contract is up at the end of the season and he is weighing up his options after 12 years at Tynecastle. Neilson joined Jambos from Rangers Boys Club. He could now agree a pre-contract for the 2009-10 season or be captured during the transfer window for a nominal amount. Alternatively, Gers could also use flop striker Andrius Velicka as a makeweight for a possible loan return to Tynecastle. Neilson, 28, is close to his best form again after injury worries, although he was at the centre of an explosive weekend post-match bust-up at Pittodrie. SunSport revealed how he hooked both Chris Maguire and Lee Mair in the tunnel after Aberdeenââ?¬â?¢s 1-0 win. Rangers gaffer Smith is desperate to overhaul a squad now languishing seven points behind bitter rivals Celtic who, after the 1-0 win at Ibrox, are hot favourites for four-in-a-row. He is also keen on bringing in a commanding stopper and has trailed the likes of Sporting Lisbonââ?¬â?¢s Tonel and Hearts captain Christophe Berra. Advertisement Click here But first he has to hope that the likes of Brahim Hemdani, Charlie Adam, Andy Webster, Alan Gow, Christian Dailly, Stevie Smith and Chris Burke can attract clubs. Meanwhile, Smith has had a loan bid for Swedish international Mattias Bjarsmyr thrown out by IFK Gothenburg. Smith asked if he could bring the twice-capped centre-half, 21, to Glasgow for the rest of the season.But Gothenburg are thought to want an up-front payment in the region of Ã?£2.5million for their prize asset, whose contract expires at the end of 2009. And they have vowed not to budge over their demands for the Sweden Under-21s skipper. Sporting director Hakan Mild said: ââ?¬Å?We are not interested in a loan deal. Such a move has never been in the equation for us.ââ?¬Â It seems certain Bjarsmyr will be sold this month. The player and Gothenburg are at loggerheads after he rejected a new deal. He was left fuming when Gothenburg placed such a massive fee on his head. Earlier this week Bjarsmyr had admitted he would be keen on a move to Rangers. But Gothenburg donââ?¬â?¢t want to lose him for nothing so will look to flog him elsewhere. Reports in Sweden claim he will move to either AZ Alkmaar or FC Groningen in Holland. http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/spl/article2084353.ece

Jan 1 2009 By Neil Cameron STEVEN FLETCHER could play his last game for Hibs in the Edinburgh derby as Middlesbrough were last night preparing a �£2.5million bid for him. Record Sport can reveal Boro boss Gareth Southgate will send a representative to Tynecastle for one final look at the striker before they make their move. We also understand the Premiership club held a board meeting on Tuesday night to discuss January transfer targets, with Fletcher top of their agenda. Southgate had planned to watch the 21-year-old prior to a bid being tabled and may still wait one more week to do that before Hibs receive an offer. That would be in the Scottish Cup tie at Easter Road a week on Sunday when he will be free as his side face Sunderland the day before. However, that is all a formality as the former England international is keen to land Fletcher. Hibs chief executive Rod Petrie was originally looking for around �£4m for his most valuable player but in the financial climate he will have to accept a lower price of �£2.5m with add-ons. Fletcher has been linked with a string of English clubs with Manchester City and Blackburn, before Paul Ince was sacked, most interested. However, he was most famously tipped for a move to Real Madrid after the Spanish giants had him watched. Meanwhile, Polish keeper Grzegorz Szamotulski has claimed he has agreed a deal to join Hibs. The former Dundee United No.1 says he will move to the SPL club until at least the end of the season. Szamotulski, 32, will provide competition for Yves Ma-Kalambay and Andy McNeil after a recent spell in Israeli football with FC Ashdod. He was hugely popular with fans during his time at Tannadice last season and earned a nickname he is happy to let stick. Szamotulski said: "The Mad Monk is back. It has been agreed I'll join Hibs. Everything was settled by fax over Christmas and I'll spend at least the next six months in Scotland. "I'm pleased and it was never true to say I failed to reach agreement with Hibs because of financial reasons." http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/2009/01/01/middlesbrough-set-to-swoop-for-2-5m-hibs-star-steven-fletcher-86908-21008153/

By Andrew Dickson WALTER SMITH will wait until his loan Rangers return to the club before deciding whether they have a role to play in his Light Blues squad. A number of Ibrox players have been sent out to other clubs in the first half of the season and many of them are due to come back at various points this month. Andy WebsterThe most high-profile of those who have been away is Andy Webster, but he has not played as much as Smith would have liked him to at Bristol City. Defender Webster has made just six appearances for Gary Johnson's side, although the main reason for that has been a string of minor injuries. Alan Gow has arguably been the most successful player during this term's sabbaticals and he has scored five goals in 17 appearances for Championship side Blackpool. But given he had just two first-team outings last season at Rangers, he has been tipped to make a hasty exit when he moves back to Glasgow. The rest of those who have gone elsewhere are young reserve players and the likelihood is they'll go back to Gers' reserve and youth sides or go out on loan again. But Smith insists he'll only make decisions of each individual's future once they check back in at Murray Park in the next few weeks. He said: "In Andy's case, we put him out on loan to try to get him games so that he could get to a level of fitness that would lead to him returning to our squad.Alan Gow "It hasn't worked out like that and he has had a couple of injuries again and hasn't been playing on a regular basis. "Andy's problem is that we have to get him up to speed because he's had something like two years without regular first-team football. "He has been lucky to play half a dozen games in that time and it has not been an easy spell for him. "We will see what happens when he comes back and we'll review the situation then. Alan Gow is the same, as are the rest of the players we've had out. "With these players who are coming to us, as is part and parcel of the transfer window, we'll have to look at a larger group of players and cut it down."

Happy New Year to everyone and all the best for 2009

Surely WS was given the all clear by the medical staff to sign Prodan ?

Rangers are looking to fast-track �£2 million front man Steven Naismith back into the first team as they attempt to rescue their faltering SPL title challenge. Manager Walter Smith is set to give the player a surprise place in the squad heading north to face Inverness Caledonian Thistle this weekend after he came through a 90-minute game at Murray Park yesterday. Smith believes Naismith, who has been sidelined for eight months following cruciate knee-ligament surgery, could be the answer to his left-midfield problem position. He made his playing comeback when he scored against St Mirren before the Reserve League winter shutdown, but he has now been pushed on with further specially-arranged matches against Hamilton Accies and St Johnstone, thanks to the Ibrox club's undersoil-heated training pitch. Now Smith looks set to name Naismith in the squad that travels north at the weekend for the live Setanta showdown with Caley Thistle on Sunday lunchtime. Rangers have deployed a number of players on the left of midfield since the season began without great success - Nacho Novo, Kyle Lafferty, DaMarcus Beasley, Charlie Adam and Lee McCulloch all failing to make the position their own. Spanish teenager Aaron Niguez was even given a run as a substitute against Hamilton in the position. Naismith, 22, looked impressive in the role last season and was poised to face Fiorentina in the UEFA Cup semi-final when he was injured in the Scottish Cup semi-final against St Johnstone. He faced the Perth club again yesterday and played the whole 90 minutes in a punishing central-midfield role as goals from Andrius Velicka, Lafferty and Aaron gave a strong Rangers side a 3-1 win, although McCulloch took a knock. Boss Smith told the club website yesterday that his players must respond to the seven-point title deficit - and show the hallmark of champions displayed by Celtic. 'Obviously, in terms of the league, we have a lot to do in the second half of the season,' he said. 'We know the importance of trying to win all the remaining games. There is an added edge that we have reached the halfway stage of the season and we are seven points behind Celtic - which isn't what anyone wanted. 'We know we have to put together a really good run if we are to get ourselves back into the championship race. Credit to Celtic for showing their pride and determination in being champions to get them through a period when they've maybe not played their best football. We have not shown that edge. We have to develop that mentality.' Algerian defender Madjid Bougherra was initially scheduled to play as well yesterday, but wasn't risked in the bitter cold because of his niggling thigh injury and remains doubtful for the trip north. Rangers, meanwhile, won't let Novo leave Ibrox on the cheap. He is contracted until the summer of 2010 - and is not available on a Bosman deal next June as Deportivo La Coruna seem to believe. Novo's two goals for a Galician regional select impressed the Deportivo president but he is still to speak to his coach about any potential bid. Forgotten man Alan Gow was last night weighing up a �£250,000 permanent move to Blackpool.

After months of intense speculation Novo finally joined the Light Blues for the start of pre-season training in 2004, a few days after rejecting Celtic's advances. Nacho Novo celebrationAnd although Nacho is a small in stature - McLeish joked he could 'walk under a bed wearing a top hat' at the press-conference - the former Raith Rovers livewire has become a big hit with supporters. The pacey forward was Alex McLeish's sixth summer capture - hot on the heels of Dado Prso, Jean-Alain Boumsong, Alex Rae, Dragan Mladenovic and Marvin Andrews - and has grabbed his Ibrox chance with both hands. The Ferrol-born hitman, put pen to paper on a four-year contract with the club, and enjoyed a superb debut campaign - netting 25 goals in 49 appearances. Adapting to life at Ibrox wasn't be a problem for the Spaniard as he has a good understanding of the Scottish game. In 2001 the striker was given his chance to impress when Raith Rovers brought him over from SD Huesca and Novo didn't disappoint, scoring 19 goals in 36 games. In fact his form was so impressive that after only one season at Stark's Park Dundee snapped him up for a nominal fee. Nacho Novo celebrates his goal against Motherwell There he obviously made his mark bagging 6 goals in his first campaign in the SPL and then 26 the following term. Novo admits he still has a lot to learn but has enhanced Alex McLeish's squad and even scored the goal at Hibs in May 2005 that helped secure the club's 51st league championship. Nacho's partnership with Dado Prso was one of the highlights of the 2004/05 double winning campaign and although his goals dried up at the back end of the season, he still contributed with a number of key assists playing on the right wing. The 2005/06 season was a frustrating one for the Spaniard as he struggled to secure a place in the starting eleven and it looked at one point as if his Rangers career would be coming to an end when Coventry City tabled a bid for him in August 2006. Instead, Novo chose to stay at Ibrox and flourished under Paul Le Guen, scoring vital goals against Livorno, St Mirren, Maccabi Haifa and Hearts. He was less prolific in the second half of the season although was often used wide on the right flank. He enters 2007/08 in the last year of his contract and no doubt determined to earn an extension.

2010 I believe ?

As Rangers search for solutions to their title predicament, they have been urged to put their faith in the $5million man yet to be granted a proper opportunity to prove his value. Maurice Edu cost that round sum, about �£2.6m in August from FC Toronto, before sterling began its exchange-rate plunge, but the American international has started only two games this term - the last back in October. Even when Kevin Thomson's cruciate-ligament injury robbed Rangers of a natural holding midfielder in November, Edu did not receive the call to step up and fill his place. Now, however, it's understood the player is winning his battle to convince the Ibrox management team that he is worthy of more exposure as the club seek to claw back a seven-point deficit against Celtic. Former U.S. national coach Bruce Arena, now David Beckham's boss at LA Galaxy, is in no doubt that Edu would thrive under the pressure of the 'must-win' situation currently confronting Rangers as they prepare to face Inverness Caley Thistle on Sunday. Arena has watched the 22-year-old develop from his formative days at the University of Maryland and believes the time is right for Walter Smith to trust Edu's ability to add more steel to his side. 'Maurice is a player who can step up to that kind of pressure and do well,' said Arena, who led the U.S.A to the quarter-finals of the 2002 World Cup. 'It's always a difficult time when you are a scrambling in a title race. Rangers are chasing Celtic and it can feel like an awkward time to introduce young players to the starting line-up. 'But there is no better way to really see the kind of potential a player has. If Walter feels comfortable that he can place Maurice on the field, then, within no more than a couple of games, Maurice will show the qualities that he has. I'm sure he is a player who can help Rangers in their current situation. 'Rangers have paid good money for him and that is another reason why he probably needs to play more. The club has made an investment, so the quicker they can bring him on, the better it is for everyone. 'But Walter is a very experienced manager and my view is that he will make a good decision in this situation. He has seen a lot of young, promising players come and go and I'm sure he will understand when it is the right time to introduce Maurice to the Rangers first team on a permanent basis. 'Right now, Maurice lacks experience, but he has the tools to become a very good player indeed. There is a great deal of promise there. 'It was always going to take him time to adapt to the different demands of professional football in Scotland but he has the right kind of self-confidence and I'm sure he has faith in himself making the breakthrough.' Edu has established himself as part of the U.S.A national squad under Arena's successor, Bob Bradley, and needs more first-team outings to maintain that position in the push for a place in the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa. The fact he has not made an immediate impact at Ibrox comes as no surprise to Arena, who is well versed in the difficulties of American players leaving their homeland to seek their fortunes in Europe. 'I know coach Bradley thinks a lot of Maurice and will be keeping an eye on him,' said Arena. 'In America, though, we have been through this situation with a lot of players - DaMarcus Beasley is one example who has had similar experiences in the past. 'The unfortunate thing for American players is that, because of their lack of exposure to high-level games on a consistent basis in the States, they tend to be a little bit up and down when they move overseas. 'They take a little bit longer to establish themselves but, once they cross that bridge, they tend to have a very strong quality to them and are players who can really help teams. 'With the right period of adjustment, Maurice will be a strong contributor to Rangers. 'America needs more players playing in a better environment. Seeing a player like Edu move to Rangers motivates other young players in America to improve their standard, so that they might get a European opportunity of their own. 'Everyone here is hoping he will establish himself in Scotland and I'm sure he will.' http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1103320/Rangers-Edu-tipped-thrive-heat-title-run-in.html

WALTER SMITH says Rangers only have one way of getting back into the title race ââ?¬â? by showing the same PRIDE as Celtic. Gers are seven points behind their rivals after Saturdayââ?¬â?¢s Old Firm loss. Smith reckons that thereââ?¬â?¢s little between the pair but insists they have to show more grit to claw the Hoops back. Champions He said: ââ?¬Å?There is not much between the teams but Celtic have shown pride and determination in terms of being champions. ââ?¬Å?It has seen them through a period when they have maybe not been playing their best football but have been winning games. Credit to them for that. We have not shown that edge. We have lost this month to Celtic and Hearts which has been disappointing for us ââ?¬â? it is something we have to develop.ââ?¬Â Smith knows there is little room for any more slip-ups. He wants his side to show the form they showed this time last season when they went on a 13-game winning streak in the SPL. Smith said: ââ?¬Å?We have a situation where we know we have to go on that type of run if we hope to get ourselves back in the championship race. Trailing ââ?¬Å?It was a big disappointment to lose the game and losing our home record at the same time. League wise, it gives us a lot to do now in the second half of the season. ââ?¬Å?We have reached the halfway stage and we find ourselves trailing Celtic by seven points which is not what anyone wants.ââ?¬Â Smith added: ââ?¬Å?We won the game at Celtic Park ââ?¬â? when the chances came we took them. There wasnââ?¬â?¢t much between the two teams in the first half there. ââ?¬Å?We took our chances and capitalised on an error. The games have been like that. We maybe edged the number of opportunities on Saturday but Celtic got the goal and we were struggling after that.ââ?¬Â Charlie Adam was a surprise starter against Celtic and Smith insists he still has a part to play at Ibrox even though the club will listen to offers. He said: ââ?¬Å?He gives us good balance and a bit of strength.ââ?¬Â Smith hopes Madjid Bougherra will be back for Sundayââ?¬â?¢s clash with Caley Thistle after missing the Celtic game due to a thigh strain. Meanwhile, Hamilton have made a bold bid to sign highly rated Gers reserve star Jordan McMillan in a six month loan deal. Advertisement Click here Accies boss Billy Reid is desperate to bolster his squad for their relegation scrap. And McMillan has been targeted as the man to help keep the club in the top flight. The 20-year-old is one of the most promising youngsters on the books at Ibrox. McMillan has yet to make his first-team debut but is a regular on the bench as one of the under-21 players. http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/spl/article2081746.ece

Was thinking that myself..............shop window ?

I'm quite sure Nacho could've done a job on the left against the MOPES, he had been playing well in the reserves and has a good record against the dirty mob yet can't get a start so why do we all think Aaron or Fleck would do any better.I'm all for giving the young guys a chance but I would rather have seen Nacho starting on Saturday

Aye...............we've already got enough strikers, don't think he can play LM

I can't see Wilkie signing, paper talk, the guys knee is fooked

What...........play a player out of position ?, don't let WS hear you !!!

Dec 30 2008 By Keith Jackson DEPORTIVO LA CORUNA last night confirmed their interest in Rangers striker Nacho Novo and revealed they could table an offer next week. Record Sport revealed yesterday how the La Liga big guns were considering a January move for the 29-year-old after watching him gun down Iran in an international friendly in La Coruna on Saturday night. Novo jetted into northern Spain immediately after coming off the bench in the Old Firm derby to play in his second game in one day. He lasted an hour, won the man of the match award and scored twice as a Galician select claimed a 3-2 win. And yesterday Deportivo's president, Augusto Cesar Lendoiro - who attended the match against the Iranians at the Riazor - admitted the little striker is now high on the club's list of possible transfer targets. Lendoiro will have talks with boss Miguel Angel Lotina and sporting director Ricardo Moar Rios next week to finalise plans for the January transfer window. But last night he said: "Nacho Novo is a player who is attractive to Deportivo because of his Galician background and also because of his contractual situation in Glasgow. "We know he is out of contract at the end of this season so we would not be talking about a big fee. "But nothing is decided yet. These are the kind of things we have to discuss internally as we make our plans for January. "But there will be official talks in the next few days and Nacho Novo is a name that will come up." Lendoiro is believed to have been hugely impressed by Novo's performance against Iran and is understood to have joked to the player after the match that it was time for his return. Novo has just five months left on his current Rangers contract and had hoped to convince manager Walter Smith to offer him a new deal. He would find it an emotional wrench to end his Ibrox love affair-even despite his recent chronic lack of first-team starts. But it has seemed lately as if the striker is fighting a losing battle to win a place in Walter Smith's first XI, mainly appearing from the bench. And, having never played in the Spanish top flight, Novo would be faced with a difficult decision if Deportivo follow up their interest with a firm offer of a contract.

Done, I hope all the bears that agree sign this petition

By Andrew Dickson WALTER SMITH insists Rangers have not been made aware of interest in any of their players ahead of the transfer window opening on Thursday. A number of Ibrox stars have been linked with moves away from the club in the last few days, with Andrius Velicka and Nacho Novo two of the latest. Nacho NovoOne report has claimed Hearts are keen on resigning Velicka while another has said Deportivo La Coruna want to take Spanish striker Novo back to his homeland. Smith is getting used to the speculation that comes with the transfer window system, having only become caught up in it for the first time when he returned to Gers. All he would confirm is that as he looks ahead to what's expected to be a busy month in the market, he will have to trim his squad before he can bolster it again. Smith said: "We would hope to be active in the transfer market in terms of bringing players in but that is dependent on who we get out. "We have too many lads in the group who are not playing and they don't like that, which means it's not conducive to having a good squad. "Nacho is going to Spain in one newspaper then going to Hull in another and there's quite a gap between the two. "We get to the open season when people are free to speculate but the fact is we've had no contact at this stage regarding any of our players.Charlie Adam "We will just have to wait and see what happens. You go for a few months when the transfer window is closed and you don't have any speculation but now it has started. "When I returned to Rangers, it was the first time I had really experienced that sort of situation with the window and there are a great deal of rumours at the moment. "Of course, we have scouts in place as people do at every club but, first and foremost, we must adjust our current squad before we look at bringing bodies in." Smith has hinted Charlie Adam might have a future at Ibrox after all, just days after it seemed his time with Rangers was poised to come to an end. The midfielder was a surprise starter against Celtic on Saturday and the manager was relatively satisfied with how the 23-year-old performed. He added: "Charlie has been in and out of the team and whether he's happy with that or not is another matter. "But he can do a job for us. He has done so in the past and will continue to do so in the weeks ahead."

Dec 29 2008 By Keith Jackson NACHO NOVO may have fired his way to a shock January return to Spain after starring for an all-star select in La Coruna hours after his Old Firm snub. The Rangers striker bagged a stunning double for his home region of Galicia on Saturday as the Spaniards beat Iran 3-2. Novo was flown by private jet to the North of Spain right after playing for only the final 16 minutes of his side's 1-0 defeat against Celtic at Ibrox. And he shook off his disappointment to steal the show with two terrific goals in front of a host of onlooking Primera Liga bosses who were among the 25,000 crowd at the Raizor. Novo, who only made it to the ground 30 minutes before kick-off, was subbed after an hour but left to a standing ovation from the home fans. And his performance is understood to have caught the eye of Deportivo La Coruna's president Augusto Cesar Lendoiro. Novo has become an increasingly frustrated figure at Ibrox because of a chronic lack of first-team chances and was linked with a s2million move to Hull City ahead of the derby defeat. The 29-year-old has never hidden his desperation to win over boss Walter Smith but hasn't started a game since November 9. The lure of returning home to play in La Liga could tempt him into ending his love affair with the Glasgow club. http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/2008/12/29/exclusive-nacho-novo-set-for-la-liga-switch-86908-21002362/

I've not heard if Webster is back, but if he is and he is fit then he will get a chance when Bougherra leaves

Aye and if everybody thinks he is gash,then that will only make WS to keep playing him

At least it is a good picture !!!!!!

Shop window ?

I was being sarcastic