ian1964 10,596 Posted September 2, 2015 Share Posted September 2, 2015 Rae backs Murdoch to revive his Rangers career after Blue Brazil spell FORMER Rangers midfielder Alex Rae hopes Andy Murdoch can make the most of his loan spell away from Ibrox and prove he can be a Light Blue hit in the future. The 20-year-old has clinched a move to Cowdenbeath until January after struggling to make a breakthrough into Mark Warburton’s side so far this season. Midfielder Robbie Crawford also headed for the exit door as he joined Alloa until the New Year, while Danny Stoney was released from his deal on a quiet deadline day at Ibrox. Murdoch made 21 appearances for Rangers last term but the arrivals of Andy Halliday, Jason Holt and Gedion Zelalem have pushed him down the Gers pecking order. And Rae reckons his time in League One will benefit him in the long run as he gets set for a sustained run of action for the Blue Brazil. He told SportTimes: “The key thing for Andy is to be playing regularly and by going to Cowdenbeath he will be able to get more games in the first team than he would do at Rangers this season. “He has progressed in the last couple of years and he done well towards the end of last season and now by going to Cowdenbeath it is another step in his development. “Having a move like this is better for him than being in and out or playing Under-20 football. “Mark Warburton wants to go with a smaller squad and if you aren’t considered for that squad on a regular basis, especially if you are a younger player, then it is going to hold you back and you can be left in limbo a bit. “After coming into the team last season, Andy will have wanted to just go and play this season and it hasn’t quite happened for him so far. “Going out on loan, you are playing against guys that been round the block and they will give you a really good test. “It is better for young players to go and play at a competitive level and I think it is a good bit of business for Rangers. “It gives the boys a chance to go and get a bit more experience and then come back to Rangers with a lot more to offer and try and push into the team.” While Rangers fans will see little of Murdoch or Crawford in the coming months after they made their way out of the club yesterday, they are expecting big things from Arsenal starlet Zelalem. The 18-year-old has impressed in his two appearances for Warburton’s side since moving on loan until January and is poised to be a key player in the Gers’ Championship title challenge. Rae said: “I have seen him against Airdrie and at the weekend against Queen of the South and he is clearly a very talented player. “He is very technically gifted but he would never have experienced the rough and tumble of life in the Championship before. He got a bit of rough treatment at times. “But that is all part of his development and why he has made the move to Rangers. “He is very good on the ball and he has a lot of really good attributes but he doesn’t look like he is a physical presence. “He will learn quickly at Rangers and his time here will certainly stand him in good stead for going back to Arsenal.” Having done most of his transfer business earlier in the window, it was to prove a fairly straightforward final day for Warburton as the deadline came and went without any further arrivals at Ibrox. Former Derby County captain John Eustace is still training with Warburton’s squad and Rae reckons he will be another solid signing if a deal is done. He said: “He is a good professional, he has been around the game a long time and it is not just what he will provide on the park that Mark will be looking at I am sure. “He will be good about the place, he has good principles and Mark obviously rates him and thinks he will be a good influence on the squad. “Because he is a free agent, there was never any rush to get that deal done before the deadline so Rangers are right to be patient and get the deal done when it is right.” http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/13640061.Rae_backs_Murdoch_to_revive_his_Rangers_career_after_Blue_Brazil_spell/ 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete 2,499 Posted September 2, 2015 Share Posted September 2, 2015 We do have youths as well, Gasparotto and Sinnamon in particularly. I know they're out on load currently, does anybody know if we have a recall option on them? Only in January I think. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zappa 0 Posted September 2, 2015 Share Posted September 2, 2015 I'm happy with the squad as it is. Ok, so we've already got mounting injuries throughout the squad. Bell's still not back, but apparently not too far away. Not sure how badly, but apparently Liam Kelly injured himself in the U20 fixture with Motherwell last night. Templeton will no doubt be out for a while, but hopefully Wallace and Clark won't be out for too long. Other than that, yes, we're very light in terms of back-up across the back 4, so we need to hope we don't get a bunch of injuries in that department. If we do, then the manager will need to either play young lads or bring in some cover. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
der Berliner 3,466 Posted September 2, 2015 Share Posted September 2, 2015 The current squad in 4-3-3 shape, with primary positions in bold, sceondary positions in brackets. It is not that easy to make real distinctions between midfield and attacking midfielders ... so take that as a first attempt. We also have seen Ball being used as a left wingback as well, even tough that is not in his vita. Tom Miller said that Ball can play across the defensive. Cometh the time, I'll revamp the line up according to the people we use most. GOALKEEPERS Cammy Bell Wes Foderingham Liam Kelly DEFENDERS James Tavernier - Danny Wilson - Rob Kiernan - Lee Wallace (Fraser Aird) - Dominic Ball - xxxxx xxxxx - (Andy Halliday) (Dominic Ball) - (James Tavernier) - xxxxx xxxxx - (Danny Wilson) MIDFIELDERS Fraser Aird - Nicky Law - Tom Walsh (Nicky Clark) - Dean Shiels - (Barrie McKay) (Jason Holt) - Jordan Thompson - Andy Halliday (Gedion Zelalem) - Jason Holt - (Lee Wallace) xxxxx xxxx - (Andy Halliday) - (David Templeton) xxxxx xxxx - Gedion Zelalem - xxxxx xxxx xxxxx xxxx - (Rob Kiernan) - xxxxx xxxx xxxxx xxxx - (Dominic Ball) - xxxxx xxxx ATTACKERS David Templeton - Nicky Clark - (Martyn Waghorn) (Martyn Waghorn) - Ryan Hardie - (Kenny Miller) (Tom Walsh) - Kenny Miller - (Barrie McKay) (Barrie McKay) - Martyn Waghorn - Nathan Oduwa (Jason Holt) - (Nathan Oduwa) - (Fraser Aird) (Nathan Oduwa) - (Dean Shiels) - (Tom Walsh) 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete 2,499 Posted September 2, 2015 Share Posted September 2, 2015 It looks like Fraser Aird could be a very important player this season if injuries set in. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rousseau 9,886 Posted September 2, 2015 Share Posted September 2, 2015 I don't think the midfield 3 are RM, CM and LM; it's more like 3 CMs. The Attackers are LW, RW, ST. Aird can play RB, RW (and LW, I suppose), but not ®CM, IMO. Same with Clark: no way is he going to play ®CM. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc 280 Posted September 2, 2015 Share Posted September 2, 2015 I am happy with it. We had plenty of players who were there on paper but did nothing but suck up a wage under previous regimes. I'd rather have a smaller number, with real competition for places. It ought to be enough for this league. Next season is a different matter though. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveC 150 Posted September 2, 2015 Share Posted September 2, 2015 (edited) I think in the past Warburton has also spoken of preferring a squad of 24 players so if we add Eustace to the guys above, that's the magic number. Time will tell if it's enough. Thanks Frankie. Injuries (which are a stick on given the premeditated (and pre-boasted) thuggery and plastic pitches we face plus the normal course of things and suspensions (given the focus on us and tarrier campaigns there may be many) are going to make it hard to cope, Also I am not sure we have a keeper that is reliable. Given the way we play (which is great, no question) we could really, really do with a Klos or a Goram for cup games against better sides. (I don't know much re our new boy though, I should add...) Edited September 2, 2015 by SteveC 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete 2,499 Posted September 2, 2015 Share Posted September 2, 2015 I don't think the midfield 3 are RM, CM and LM; it's more like 3 CMs. The Attackers are LW, RW, ST. Aird can play RB, RW (and LW, I suppose), but not ®CM, IMO. Same with Clark: no way is he going to play ®CM. As far as I can remember he did in the development cup final last season. Not very successfully I may add. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ser Barristan Selmy 222 Posted September 2, 2015 Share Posted September 2, 2015 Clark used to be a central midfielder, not that I want to see him playing there. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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