ian1964

by Lindsay Herron PANATHINAIKOS coach Jose Peseiro is unlikely to risk on-loan Manchester United star Manucho against Rangers on Thursday night. However, free kick specialist and Austria's national team captain Andreas Ivanschitz is in line to come back into the side as the Portuguese coach alters his team to have a more attacking look to it. Jose PeseiroManucho only joined up with Pana last Thursday having taken part at the Aftican Cup of Nations with Angola, reaching the quarter-finals where his country lost to eventual winners Egypt. Peseiro had hoped to give him some of the weekend's match with Atromitos but the game was called off due to the heavy snow that landed on Athens. There is no chance that Manucho will now start against Rangers on Thursday night in the second leg of the UEFA Cup Round of 32 clash. He will be a substitute at best. However, Peseiro is looking to bring back in Ivanschitz to his midfield at the expense of the more defensive Simao in what could be just one change to the side that drew 0-0 at Ibrox last week.

KEVIN THOMSON will return to action tomorrow afternoon when Rangers Reserves take on Hearts at Forthbank Stadium. Kevin ThomosnThe midfielder has made a speedy recovery from a double hernia operation and has looked fit and sharp in training at Murray Park. With the first-team squad travelling to Athens tomorrow Thomson will stay behind to face the Jambos along with Amdy Faye, Andy Webster and Steven Smith. Manager Walter Smith confimred this morning that the Gretna game would probably come too soon for Kevin but hopes he may be available for the club's home clash against Aberdeen on March 1. He said: "Kevin has made a very good recovery and he trained well last week. "We are looking forward to getting him back again and are hopeful he can start to play sooner rather than later. "I think Sunday will come too early for him but we will see how he feels after Tuesday's match." The match at Forthbank will kick-off at 2pm.

By Andrew Dickson DANIEL COUSIN could be tasked with firing Rangers into last 16 of the UEFA Cup after Walter Smith named him in the squad to face Panathinaikos on Thursday. Daniel CousinThe Gabon international watched yesterday's 2-0 win over Kilmarnock from the stand at Rugby Park, leading many to believe he would not fly to Athens. FIFA are expected to announce whether they will allow the 30-year-old to make his protracted transfer to Premiership side Fulham later this week. If they say Cousin can move to Craven Cottage before the meeting with Pana, he will be pulled from the group that travels to Greece tomorrow lunchtime. But until such time as a verdict is announced, the former Lens player will remain in the party and he could be deployed against Jose Peseiro's side as Gers look to improve on their 0-0 draw in last Wednesday's first leg at Ibrox. Manager Smith said: "One way or another, we will find out what is happening with Daniel at some point this week. "His situation remains an awkward one for us at the moment but he will travel to Greece with the rest of the team in the meantime."

Snow Joke For Pana by Lindsay Herron PANATHINAIKOS were unable to get into the action today when their scheduled league match was called off because of snow! Rangers' UEFA Cup rivals were due to face Atromitos in the Athens suburb of Peristeri but the game had to be postponed after a blizzard hit the Greek capital. The weather forecast had been for cool weather but Pana were surprised by a heavy snowfall which meant that the pitch was unplayable. It put coach Jose Peseiro's plans into cold storage althought it meant that the Pana players got a break ahead of Thursday's return with Rangers. The weather forecast is for a slight rise in temperature tomorrow but by Tuesday it will be back up to the mid-50s and there is no danger to the second leg of the Round of 32 clash. The Greek football authorities are potentially looking to stage the Atromoitos match tomorrow but this has yet to be confirmed.

I'd rather get nailed to the wall with my balls than watch THEM :cheers:

NACHO NOVO has admitted that he should have given Rangers an advantage in their UEFA Cup battle with Panathinaikos. The little Spaniard, brought back in for his first start since November 3, had the best chances in the goal-less draw with the Greeks at Ibrox. He had two decent opportunities in the first half and another in the second 45 but still feels Rangers can progress. Novo said: "I am disappointed because we had good chances to score but didn't take them. "It was my first game for three months but there are no excuses. I had the chances to score but I didn't manage to put the ball in the net. "The goalkeeper made good saves but maybe I should have done better. "The good thing is that everything is still open for the second leg. "We can go over there and score a goal and if we do that then we will have a very good chance of going through. "I am quite strong mentally and if I get a chance to play in the second leg then I will take it."

I've already said in another thread,that I wouldn't be surprised if Boyd leaves,which I think is a disgrace,and i'm as frustrated as you and everybody else,I just feel that some fans are too quick to criticise the team / manager.The point is we are still a new team and we will continue to build and get better,EVENTUALLY,but we are still on course to at least do the treble,why is it that some fans want things immediately ?

I for one won't be surprised to see Boyd leave at the end of the season,which will please a lot of fans,which I think is a disgrace but couldn't blame him

Should never have been near the park tonight,and when he did come on he did f***k all,the fact that he was there must have done wonders for the rest of the players who weren't involved

Craig, all i'm saying is i'm happy the way things are going,playing wise,I still have nightmares about PLG and the way we were playing then. WS was / is the right manager to come in at this time and has done excellent in a short period of time,and eventually we will bring in some '' classy '' players.I just think some fans want instant success and have a short memory,give the man a chance and we will get back to where we were,DOMINANT.If there's a better manger out there who can do better,thing bring him in,untill then get off his back,we are 4 points clear in the SPL,we are in a cup final,still in the Scottish cup and we are still in europe

I don't really understand what you're saying !!,I think we would all love Rangers to be playing better,but some fans will never be happy with the way we play,EVER !!,so that's not really an issue IMO

That's a certain pick up IMO

Well obviously you and I see football differently.Do you really think that Panathinaikos are that much better than Rangers that they allowed us 3-4 goal scoring chances ?,don't think so,I am begining to think that you think we should beat every team that we play !!!!!!!!!

Surely the best bet on the coupon is Bayern to hump the sheep,1/2 with Ladbrokes is not a great price but if there ever was a certainty then IMO this is it

Disagree with you here,Rangers were by far the better team and were very unlucky

I was quite reluctant to come on here tonight because what I thought was going to be said has been said. Firstly I do not understand why McCulloch was played up front,on his own. Secondly I do not understand why Cousin was on the bench and came on as sub. But the fact is we should / could have won 3-4 nil,but for bad luck,and the only time I was frustrated with WS was that as usual he left it too late to bring on subs,IMO he should have changed it at the least with 20-25 minutes to go. However,again we looked solid in defence and never looked like conceding a goal and I never seen anything about them that worries me and I think we will get the result over there that will see us through. So over all I thought we played well tonight and we are still competing on all fronts.

Novo will get forward,Fergie will get forward and so will Davis

Then Novo to get the winner from a McCulloch knockdown :cheers:

McCulloch to score the first goal !!!!!!!

According to Real radio, that's the official line up

McGregor Braodfoot,Cuellar,Weir,Papac Novo,Hemdani,Fergie,Davis,Adam McCulloch

Predictions for tonights game guys ? Rangers 2 Pana 1 :cheers:

He's no too bad at playing the lone striker,no not the lone Ranger :cheers:

Agreed

Absolutely NO !