Transfer Deadline Day: Michael O'Halloran signs until 2020

[Frankie 8,662]

Halliday has done well this season but his flaws are obvious from time to time in a defensive/positioning sense.

 

Hence the signing of Crooks and it seems Diagouraga will allow Halliday to play further forward and that will help us defend higher up the pitch and secure possession back quicker also. Yes this may not be required in every Championship game but it makes sense tactically if/when we're promoted in particular.

[der Berliner 3,807]

Methinks Crooks' versatility is also a point MW was looking at, since he can play as a CH and a CM. As someone has said, Brentford switched from 4-3-3 to a more defensive 4-2-3-1 against better teams, which is where Crooks and "Mani" may play together. Halliday is naturally more left-sided, while most we play there right now are not, i.e. Law or Zelalem. It may also give Halliday the opportunity to move forward more often and try a shot himself. Likewise, one can also rest one or two of those who have played all season, since we probably need every man for the "title-run-in" or the odd cup final .

[ian1964 10,761]

Kenny Shiels: New Rangers signing Harry Forrester isn’t the kind of player Ibrox side need

 

SHIELS, who worked with the winger at Kilmarnock, also believes snatching youngsters from England’s lower leagues on Bosmans won’t help Gers challenge Celtic next term.

 

KENNY SHIELS worked with new Rangers midfielder Harry Forrester at Kilmarnock – and reckons he isn’t the kind of player the Light Blues need.

 

The former Rugby Park manager also believes snatching youngsters from England’s lower leagues on Bosmans won’t help chairman Dave King fulfil his promise to challenge Celtic for the Premiership title next term.

 

Shiels was No.2 to Mixu Paatelainen at Killie in 2010 when Forrester arrived on loan from Aston Villa – and started just four games in five months before being sent back down south.

 

The Derry City boss said: “Harry’s a dynamic player with good energy. Those are his strengths – he likes to run at people. He doesn’t always see the bigger picture though.

 

“But I’m not running him down – he does have certain qualities and should be an asset for Rangers. I’m just not sure he’s the kind of player they need most right now.

 

“With Scott Allan, Ryan Christie, Gary Mackay-Steven and Stuart Armstrong, Celtic are a step ahead. They’ve got the best young players in Scotland tied up.

 

“Rangers should be trying to sign players of a similar calibre to those if they want to go on and challenge Celtic next season.”

 

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/kenny-shiels-new-rangers-signing-7136719

[Bruno55 0]

Rangers hope to land Brentford midfielder Toumani Diagouraga today in deal worth around £500,000

 

SOURCES in London have confirmed two bids have already been rejected for the 28-year-old Frenchman - but the Gers slapped in a third offer late yesterday afternoon.

 

RANGERS hope to land Brentford anchor man Toumani Diagouraga today in a deal worth around £500,000.

 

Record Sport can reveal Ibrox boss Mark Warburton has been chasing Digouraga’s signature since the transfer window opened and sources in London have confirmed two bids have already been booted out in the last few days.

 

But it’s understood the Championship leaders slapped in a third offer late yesterday afternoon and now Diagouraga is poised to be given the go-ahead to team up with Warburton for a third time after previous spells together at Griffin Park and Watford.

 

The 28-year-old Frenchman has spent most of his career as a journeyman in England’s lower leagues with spells at the likes of Swindon, Peterborough and Rotheram.

 

But Warburton made him a first team regular at Brentford last season as the minnows made an unlikely push for the Premier League, losing out in the play off semi-finals.

 

In fact, he has become one of the most highly-rated defensive midfield specialists in England’s second tier over the last two seasons and Warburton believes his experience could prove vital as Rangers bid to clinch a place in next season’s Premiership.

 

The signing of Diagouraga would also free up Andy Halliday – who yesterday won his red-card appeal – to move further up the park.

 

A source close to the London club said last night: “Brentford don’t want to lose him as he’s become such an influential player but Toumani has a strong relationship with Warburton and he likes the idea of being part of what’s going on at Rangers.

 

“The first couple of offers were rejected but a third bid has now been tabled at it seems as if an agreement is not far away. All going well Toumani could well get his wish befor the end of this week.”

 

It’s anticipated that Diagouraga will sign a three year deal at Ibrox if he is given the green light to move north and passes a medical.

 

As Record Sport revealed earlier this week, Warburton is hopeful of adding another experienced campaigner to his group before the window closes for business at the end of this month.

 

But Accrington pair Josh Windass and Matt Crooks are unlikely to move north in this window.

 

The pair have signed pre-contracts but Stanley boss John Coleman insists he expects the two players to stay in Lancashire until the summer.

 

He said: “I told them they weren’t going to leave until the end of the season, and that’s still the position.”

 

Coleman had a pop at the pair Coleman for disrespecting his club on social media after sealing their moves.

 

He added: “I don’t get embroiled in social media but I do think going on and seeing the players had tweeted about ‘buzzing to play for a massive club’ is disrespectful to our fans.

 

“Our fans have backed them through thick and thin and I do think there should be more respect in place.”

 

Meanwhile, Halliday has had his red card against Hibs reduced to a yellow.

 

He was sent off for violent conduct by Bobby Madden after barging into Fraser Fyvie during Rangers’ 4-2 Championship win over Hibs on December 28.

 

But Fyvie was later banned for two games for simulation after holding his head in the immediate aftermath despite the contact being chest to chest.

 

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/rangers-hope-land-brentford-midfielder-7137018

 

What gets me is, i can see why Madden thought it was a headbutt cos he was right behind the incident and it did look like a headbutt from his position but why oh why didn't the govan side linesman intervene? Have they been told to shut up?

[der Berliner 3,807]

Kenny, that was 5 years ago ...

[calscot 0]

I get the impression that we borrowed 6.5m - 5m to pay off Ashely and 1.5m for transfers - although I realise a lot of transfer fees are payed in installments.

 

While I've no idea about this guy, at least he's someone our management team know incredibly well and he's played at a level which moved Brentford towards the top of the EC. I think to get our team to that kind of level is the best we can hope for at the moment as we just can't compete with the 90m Sky money that the EP sides are donated, and we really have to hope that bubble bursts at some point.

 

Ideally, I'd like us to be a side that would be able to consisently win or get promoted from the Championship (the English one - how I hate how we copied their branding as it just diminishes us further as it's so hard to distinguish ourselves against a more popular namesake).

[ascender 352]

“With Scott Allan, Ryan Christie, Gary Mackay-Steven and Stuart Armstrong, Celtic are a step ahead. They’ve got the best young players in Scotland tied up.

 

“Rangers should be trying to sign players of a similar calibre to those if they want to go on and challenge Celtic next season.”

 

No $hit Sherlock. If you hadn't noticed, we've been demoted to the bottom tier of Scottish football and are now working our way back up and trying to do it with a sensible financial approach and long term thinking. And yet a club with guaranteed champions league football has been able to sign the best young Scottish players?

 

Thanks for the advice though Kenny.

[der Berliner 3,807]

What gets me is, i can see why Madden thought it was a headbutt cos he was right behind the incident and it did look like a headbutt from his position but why oh why didn't the govan side linesman intervene? Have they been told to shut up?

 

Linesmen seem to be rather quiet in general, or get over-voted. Remember the penalty that was outside the area? The ref pointed at the spot probably before the linesman was able to draw breath. Likewise, fouls are committed in full view of the linesman yet they quite often remain utterly silent. Perhaps it is also just incompetence in some cases, but you do start to wonder ...

[der Berliner 3,807]

No $hit Sherlock. If you hadn't noticed, ...

 

The logics are somewhat off anyway, since Hearts and Aberdeen must be full of talented players if they manage to chase the Arabs-clone club for as long as they do. Apart from that, you wonder what Kenny has to say about McKay, Holt, and indeed Halliday, Thompson, and Waghorn. Not exactly ageing players either.

[Scott7 6,167]

Not many years ago in a match against celtic a linesman ran onto the park at Ibrox to stop the ref giving Rangers a corner.