ian1964 10,720 Posted October 17, 2009 Share Posted October 17, 2009 RANGERS may have to face St Johnstone today without Madjid Bougherra after he failed to return from a World Cup qualifier in Algeria. Mystery surrounded the defender's whereabouts late last night as Walter Smith and the rest of his squad checked into a luxury retreat in Perthshire ahead of today's live TV lunchtime clash. Record Sport can reveal Bougherra was expected to fly back to Glasgow on Wednesday after helping his country take a step towards South Africa 2010 with a 3-1 win over Rwanda on Sunday. The defender was due to report to Murray Park on Thursday but was nowhere to be seen and failed to respond to attempts by Ibrox coaching staff to contact him. Smith was forced to call young Jordan McMillan into his squad yesterday after Bougherra failed to turn up for a second successive training session. And the SPL champs headed north yesterday afternoon without Bougherra on the team bus. Record Sport understands the player's agent did finally make contact with Rangers yesterday to insist his client had been held up due to a passport problem and that he hoped to land back in Scotland at around 10pm last night. Even so, the Rangers boss was not expecting to have Bougherra in his starting 11 today. What's more, we can reveal this is in fact the second time this season the player has reported back late from international duty. The last time he turned up the night before the 0-0 draw at Motherwell - where he was sent off - claiming his connection from Paris had been cancelled. Smith accepted that story but is unlikely to be as easily satisfied with this latest incident. In fact, so angered was the Rangers boss last night it would not be a surprise if Bougherra is dropped and fined even if he does make it to Perth ahead of today's 12.30pm kick-off. This latest example of erratic behaviour will also spark speculation over his long-term future. The former Charlton man had been tipped to return south on a big-money move in the summer and had also told the Ibrox club of interest in him from France. But he then said he did not want to leave after only one season at Gers and it's believed his representatives have even asked for talks on a new deal. However, Bougherra now faces a fight just to convince Smith that he is committed to the cause. http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/football/spl/2009/10/17/exclusive-mystery-as-madjid-bougherra-fails-to-return-from-qualifier-86908-21753448/ 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super_Ally 0 Posted October 17, 2009 Share Posted October 17, 2009 I don't follow the connection between the main thread of the story and the nonsense in the last 3 paragraphs. If Boogie wants to leave, and he may feel he can get a good premiership club after a season in the CL and the WC, it will have fuck all to do with a wee disciplinary measure. Seems a bit odd that the club have said nothing regarding this yet i've seen rumours for the past 2 or 3 days. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
biggordy 0 Posted October 17, 2009 Share Posted October 17, 2009 " not a surprise if he is dropped and fined " A fine piece of, trying to sniff out controversy, if ever I seen one. See how the retard is trying hard to make something out of nothing. It's interesting to see how they try second guess Walter Smith. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy steel 0 Posted October 17, 2009 Share Posted October 17, 2009 He's missing all the good weather, too. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gribz 846 Posted October 17, 2009 Share Posted October 17, 2009 Being a few days late is strange especially with no explaination. I travel quite a lot and know how easy it is to make the odd change of flight - Ive done so many a time, but its easy to pick your mobile out your pocket and let someone at the other end know. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super_Ally 0 Posted October 17, 2009 Share Posted October 17, 2009 Always seems to be a problem with African players. Not for us, but for British clubs in general. No O2 masts on that continent? :fish: 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gribz 846 Posted October 17, 2009 Share Posted October 17, 2009 Always seems to be a problem with African players. Not for us, but for British clubs in general. And South Americans, I think they just get knackered after a game and the thought of a long haul right after a game makes them think 'fuck that' and they stay back to see family etc for a day or so. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super_Ally 0 Posted October 17, 2009 Share Posted October 17, 2009 And South Americans, I think they just get knackered after a game and the thought of a long haul right after a game makes them think 'fuck that' and they stay back to see family etc for a day or so. They really should communicate with the club about the difficulties of long haul flights and how it affects their immediate match performance. Mentally as well as physically. As opposed to just ignoring the club, turning up days late and saying my flight was delayed. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
maineflyer 0 Posted October 17, 2009 Share Posted October 17, 2009 (edited) TBH, there have been times when Boogie hasn't looked quite the same player this season. The nonsense when he got his red card wasn't like Mr Cool 'n Composed we saw last term and I've wondered where his head was on a couple of occasions recently. If he's playing silly buggers then he needs to be dealt with accordingly. Hopefully there's a simple explanation but the apparent lack of communication is making that look unlikely. Edited October 17, 2009 by maineflyer 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ian1964 10,720 Posted October 17, 2009 Author Share Posted October 17, 2009 This guy is actually getting on my tits with his whole attitude, maybe I am being over critical but something tells me he wants out.........regardless of what he says in the press, if you don't want to be here..........then GTF 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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