Striker Boyd standing at crossroads in Rangers career

[Jon 0]

On Wednesday, Walter Smith will arrive at a decision that will have far-reaching consequences. Does he break with recent tradition and start with Kris Boyd in a European match, does he forgive and forget Daniel Cousin's shameless attempt to engineer a move to England after only six months, or does he take the middle ground and play Lee McCulloch as a targetman?

 

The Boyd question has reached a fascinating crossroads. The habitual goalscorer returned from another prolonged period of inactivity and duly plundered his 15th goal in only 17 starts in all competitions this season. Not even that prodigious ratio is a guarantee of involvement against Panathinaikos in midweek. Should the Gabon malcontent be handed a reprieve, Boyd would be as well instructing his agent, Mark Donaghy, to find him alternative employment in the summer. Perhaps in the Midlands. Preferably under a manager called McLeish.

 

Boyd's statistics ought to be irresistible to any manger, yet Smith has taken the same cold, apathetic stance on Boyd's capabilities as Paul Le Guen - without being condemned for it.

 

Boyd's career at Ibrox so far has been performed under a rain cloud. It cannot simply be coincidence that neither manager has shown unswerving faith in such a rare commodity.

 

Wednesday's UEFA Cup last-32 tie against Panathinaikos at Ibrox should present a watershed opportunity to the No.9, but don't hold your breath. Boyd now enjoys a specialist role at Rangers, namely for Clydesdale Bank Premier League use (home games only). It is a situation even the man himself has grown grudgingly to accept, but with Jean-Claude Darcheville serving a three-match European ban for an act of pointless intemperance against Olympique Lyonnais and FIFA labouring over a seemingly straightforward situation involving Cousin's �£3m move to Fulham, Boyd will regard being overlooked as final confirmation his time is up.

 

What is it about Boyd that makes him the country's leading goalscorer for two years running, yet also the most expendable member of a less than vintage Rangers striking roster?

 

His technical limitations are always cited as the counter-balance to his prodigious appetite for goals. Surely in the two years since his �£400,000 move from Kilmarnock he has dedicated himself to ironing out the creases of his game at Murray Park? Surely the arrival of Ally McCoist has been a positive influence on an Ayrshire youngster, who grew up idolising and even mimicking the club's greatest-ever goalscorer? If not - and there is more than a hint of that being the case within the walls of the academy - then Boyd only has himself to blame.

 

At 24, he should not be saddled by the fitness concerns and look of demotivation that has punctured his progress. It is difficult to identify a more put-upon player than Boyd, but this is only a recent occurrence. Somewhere down the line, he has fooled himself into believing everyone has it in for him; from the fans, to the media, to the managers who focus on his weaknesses and ignore his strengths. It is why he plays without a smile on his face, why he scores with a snarl and why his interviews are overloaded with cliched soundbites about shutting up his critics, proving his doubters wrong and why he indulges in needless point-scoring over Le Guen, who has long since forgotten the aggravation of Ibrox.

 

Boyd's profile on the club's official website hints at a fundamental problem. He weighs in at 13st, and while at 6ft this is not unusual among target men, Boyd simply does not possess the musculature or sinewy athleticism of other notable strikers in that vein. John Carew, at Aston Villa, is a stone heavier and a half-foot taller but is lean and mobile with it. Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink, whose unorthodox, even unsightly, running style was likened to Billy Stark last week by Gordon Strachan, is 10lb heavier and three inches taller but is another trim athlete. Boyd, in style and doughy physique, is a throwback to a less scientific sporting era.

 

He has no desire to leave but may have no choice, especially if Cousin - a player with a fraction of Boyd's pride in wearing a Rangers jersey - is given the nod after a three-week absence. With three Old Firm games looming, it is now or never for Boyd. He remains in control of his own destiny but whatever path his career takes, he may never fully recover from the regret of not doing everything within his capabilities to win over his most important critic, Walter Smith. He can begin the road to redemption on Wednesday, if selected.

 

Thought this was a great read. We've all debated the pro's and cons of Boyd on here. Some are for and some are against.

 

Im a huge fan and would love to see him starting every game. 15 goals in 17 starts is phenomanal.

[johnnyk 158]

totally agree with that, superb stats he has, goals wins games and he can score them if he doesn't do much else, that's good enough for me.......but not for quite a few.....

[fraser54 0]

Its a wierd one , what formation we will play on wednesday night

 

Boyd has already done it in the Uefa cup last year, so why not try him and Novo up front, or Boyd and Naismith

 

Then at the weekend at the end of the game Naismith and Novo looked good up front together

 

The you have McCulloch do you play him up front with someone, or play him a lone striker, or play him left wing

 

Charlie Adam didnt feature at the weekend but there is something about Charlie that he turns up for the big games

 

But then you still have Davis waiting there than can do a job, Buffell etc. We have plenty of options to choose from

 

A think this formation could work wonders for us on wednesday night

 

______________McGregor_______________

 

_Broadfoot___Weir_______Cuellar__Whittaker_

 

_Burke_____Ferguson____Hemdani___McCulloch

 

__________Novo_______Naismith_________

 

 

 

The team i posted has plenty of pace about it, also got the aggresion of Ferguson, McCulloch and Novo in there. If we go out there and play with a good pace a think we will win it, Novo, Naismith and Burke can always get behind defenders

McCulloch will win flick ons all day long, for the 3 a just metioned to run onto along with Ferguson

 

We will still have plenty of options on the bench to choose from during the night as well

[stewarty 2,010]

He deserves his chance on the European stage. How else are you meant to find out if he can really cut it at that level?

[Gazza_8 233]

WS will go for 1 upfront on Wednesday night and it won't be Boyd. Remember lads, it's a home european tie so of course we'll go with 1 upfront. It's WS remember!

[Super_Ally 0]

Agree with Johnny K.

 

He plays, he scores.

 

As Johnny said, goals win games.

[eightball 0]

WS will go for 1 upfront on Wednesday night and it won't be Boyd. Remember lads, it's a home european tie so of course we'll go with 1 upfront. It's WS remember!

 

It is proving to be one of the more frustrating things about watching Rangers in europe this season. Why do we play so defensively at home? Surely we should go out and attack them to try to guarantee an advantage in the second leg?

 

As another poster has said Boyd can only prove himself worthy when given the chance.

[Gribz 847]

Its a tough one. If Cousin is in the mood and WS plays 1 upfront then Id play DC. He proved against Barca he is the best at that role.

 

Id only play Boyd if Buffel plays behind him. Thats the way I feel we'd get more out of him. With a solid midfield 4 then Buffel in a free role Boyd would get away with doing nothing.

 

But I actually like the look of Frasers team. Its got pace and excitement about it.

 

But Im with Gav, WS will play 1 upfront and I think it will be Boyd.

[mainstandbear 0]

Thought this was a great read. We've all debated the pro's and cons of Boyd on here. Some are for and some are against.

 

Im a huge fan and would love to see him starting every game. 15 goals in 17 starts is phenomanal.

 

it is a good article...i think boyd's body language when he scores is a huge indicator of his frustrations...the last goal i can remember him scoring and being delighted was against the tatty munchers last season...but he does give a GIRUY gesture when he scores now...i tend to compare Boyd's sitch to when mccoist was at ibrox and souness was manager and he couldnt get a game but hung around because he was determined to make it at Rangers.

 

I think he should start on Wednesday as i think he'd score....just my tuppence worth

[Frankie 8,552]

We should play the same team on Wednesday night as we did at the weekend with Naismith in for JCD....