Norris Cole

What has been extremely pleasing the last couple of months is the number of fringe, mainly young, players who for most of the season havenââ?¬â?¢t even been near the bench, who have come into the team and propelled us to the biggest winning streak since Walter returned. Edu gets better with each game, and was different class yesterday. Itââ?¬â?¢s interesting to finally find out what sort of player he is ââ?¬â?? all weââ?¬â?¢ve known for most of the season is heââ?¬â?¢s a midfielder of some sort, but itââ?¬â?¢s apparent now that heââ?¬â?¢s a destroyer, he breaks up play and has real bite ââ?¬â?? the black Stuart McCall anyone? I just wonder if heââ?¬â?¢s too similar a player to Kevin Thomson to feature regularly next season, but it would be nice if we could fit them both into the team somehow because they are two top, top players. Barryââ?¬â?¢s departure (hopefully) in the summer will be a good thing IMO. We simply donââ?¬â?¢t need him any more and have better players. Time to let go. Our strikers are finding the net at just the right time, and much credit has to go to Velicka who I believe has scored in every start for the club (including the winner at Falkirk in the first game of the season). I was a bit surprised he was dropped yesterday, but Walter got it spot on as Miller has that priceless commodity that the bheasts have struggled with all decade (arguably since Jansen) ââ?¬â?? pace. Perhaps it was more a question of whether to play Velicka or Boyd with Miller, but it would be a brave manager that played two up without Boyd. Between the sticks, whichever way you look at it Alexander is the man in possession and unless Iââ?¬â?¢ve forgotten something he hasnââ?¬â?¢t put a foot wrong since he arrived at Ibrox. I do worry about Walter and his policy of favouritism, which has seen McGregor return prematurely before, but Iââ?¬â?¢d like to think Alexander starts next season as the man in possession still. Whittaker has, for me, come on to something of a game the past month or so. I feel sorry for him getting shunted about the team, but even so, after 18 months I donââ?¬â?¢t think itââ?¬â?¢s unreasonable to expect him to repay his transfer fee next season by nailing some form early doors and pushing on for the whole season. Bougherra staying on could very well be a crucial factor in our fortunes next season. While itââ?¬â?¢s too much to expect him to stay for the rest of his career and become a Rangers legend, Iââ?¬â?¢d like to think that if we win the title this year heââ?¬â?¢ll stay for at least another season to have a crack at the Champions League. I canââ?¬â?¢t see many other clubs in the CL snapping him up to be honest. Whether or not Bougy stays though ââ?¬â?? and whether or not Weir stays for that matter - we need to sign one if not two centre-backs in the summer. Even if Weir stays Iââ?¬â?¢m not convinced heââ?¬â?¢ll still be an ever-present next season. Excellent though he has been, in a number of games this season his lack of pace has started to show, and all going well this month weââ?¬â?¢ll have some quality European outfits coming to Ibrox next season. Iââ?¬â?¢d like to see Steve Davis be a fixture in this Rangers side for years to come. A real quality player who Iââ?¬â?¢m convinced would have snubbed the SPL had he not been a Bear. Although slightly inconsistent, perhaps some fans need to remember heââ?¬â?¢s still only 23/24 and will improve. As Calscot says, when heââ?¬â?¢s on the ball it seems to rub off on the entire team. Ideally Iââ?¬â?¢d like to see him start next season in central midfield where I believe heââ?¬â?¢s had his best games for us, but he may have to continue on the right to accommodate Edu and KT in the middle. Pedro Mendes has lived off that bheggar-buster at Parkhead for too long now. Champions League football might see him stay at Ibrox but if we donââ?¬â?¢t win the league I think heââ?¬â?¢ll be one of the first out the door as we try to stay above water financially. Kevin Thomson is the best player at the club. A stick-on for captain next year, may he be here for many years to come. Lafferty has been unlucky with injury, particularly the one he picked up a few weeks back as heââ?¬â?¢d finally found some rhythm and a few goals. Still only 21, thereââ?¬â?¢s certainly potential there and having shelled out Ã?£3.5m for him I canââ?¬â?¢t see him going anywhere soon. I just hope he has a good pre-season and is fully fit and raring to go for the start of next season. Next season is the most important of Kris Boydââ?¬â?¢s career. Heââ?¬â?¢s shown some genuine signs of taking the criticism on board the past couple of months ââ?¬â?? he now needs an entire season of graft as well as his goals to convince me he has a long-term future at the club. However, despite our current winning run, weââ?¬â?¢ve shown this season weââ?¬â?¢re still susceptible to dropping silly points against teams we should be sweeping aside (i.e. St Murn, Inverness). So if weââ?¬â?¢re willing to let Boyd go we need to have some sort of plan to deal with his absence. The anti-Boyd crowd simply cannot be allowed to moan about a lack of goals if and when Boyd leaves. Just as Scott McDonaldââ?¬â?¢s goals won Celtic the title last year, if we win the league this year itââ?¬â?¢ll be thanks to Boydââ?¬â?¢s goals. Those couple of months after telling Burley where to go he was absolutely on fire. Miller is almost as much an enigma as Boyd. I still believe he is an impact player as much as anything else. He can be the difference in games - as he was yesterday ââ?¬â?? but then he can be consistently dreadful for weeks on end, as he was around Jan-Feb time. A very handy player to have at the club but not suited to being the first name on the teamsheet week in week out as he was earlier in the season. In fact Iââ?¬â?¢d rather start Novo regularly than Miller. I fear next year will be Novoââ?¬â?¢s last at the club he has served with such distinction. Although another impact player, he has been used so sparingly by Walter that it is almost impossible for him to build up any sort of steam, even if the ability is still there, as was evident in the CIS Semi when he led Falkirk a merry dance. I think heââ?¬â?¢s still only 29/30 and will probably want to see out the last year of his contract before heading for pastures new and regular first-team action, probably in the Championship. As with all speculation on next season however, much depends on who will be managing the club. A new manager could rescue his Rangers career again just as Le Guen did. If Fleck has a wise head above those talented feet then heââ?¬â?¢ll be a star, but it may not be next season. Get the Highers out the way first son . Would like to see a bit more of him though, weââ?¬â?¢ve had nothing more than a glimpse of him this season - perhaps understandably given the desperately high stakes surrounding this championship. Hopefully Aaron will get more of a look-in in what will be his last season at the club. I wonder if Walter doesnââ?¬â?¢t fancy him though, and there were rumours about Valencia being unhappy at his lack of action. And we have so many midfield players as it is, whoââ?¬â?¢s to say we wonââ?¬â?¢t add one or two more in the summer. Stevie Smith has, for the time being at least, rescued his Rangers career and will hopefully now have next season to show whether he can recreate on a consistent basis the form he showed under Le Guen. Whether at LB or LM I don't know, I personally preferred him at LB before his injury. Seems to have great character and a wise head on him, much like KT. Furman, Loy and Shinnie have all had successful seasons on loan, and I have it on authority from Jim Lauchlanââ?¬â?¢s (Dundee) brother-in-law that Efrem is a big talent (and a full international now I think). But Walter and youth and awratââ?¬Â¦ Webster ââ?¬â?? has had his chance, scandalous that he is still picking up a wage from us. Adam ââ?¬â?? no thanks. Beasley ââ?¬â?? nope. Papac offers consistency, continuity, and the odd top-drawer performance. Broadfoot as well perhaps to a lesser extent, but Papac a keeper for next season surely. Like I say though, so much depends on who our manager is next season. Iââ?¬â?¢ve heard from various pundits that Walter is fighting for his job, I guess meaning heââ?¬â?¢ll stay if we win the league. Iââ?¬â?¢m not so sure. He admits himself he has learnt the lesson from 1997/98 not to announce his departure until the season is over. I expect weââ?¬â?¢ll hear one way or the other very shortly after the Scottish Cup Final. If Norris gets the nod though, the line-up might go a little like this:- --------------------------Alexander Whittaker ---- *NEW SIGNING* ---- Bougherra ---- Papac --- Davis ---- Thomson © ---- Edu ---- *NEW SIGNING* ------------- Boyd ---- *NEW SIGNING*

Another bad result for Paisley Celtic. Nice one.

I think Rangers players have long accepted that these things simply go to Parkhead however the season has transpired. I believe Boyd (31 goals and counting) said as much in a recent interview. In a few years' time people will look at the records and see: "2009: League winners - Rangers FC, Scottish Cup winners - Rangers FC, Manager of the Year - Gordon Strachan (Celtic FC), Player of the Year - Scott Brown (Celtic FC), Writer's Player of the Year - Gary Caldwell" (Celtic FC), and think: 'What the fuck is that all about?' The Scottish game's an absolute laughing stock, has been for years.

It was plastered over the back of the NOTW. I guess they lost yesterday.

You know something, I'm going to bump that video the minute I get back from Tannadice. Because it's going to look a little silly then, isn't it you abhorrent little rheptile?

It's "the Glasgow Celtic way".

Ha ha, Scottish football - what a joke. And when does Pat McCourt pick up his young player's award?

Maurice Edu is a better football player than Barry Ferguson. So it comes as no surprise that we've gone on a run with him in the team. While the mhedia slaver over Brown, McGeady and Nakamura, Edu simply gets better with every game.

A week ago I'd have laughed in your face. Now, well it's opening up for them isn't it?

Maurice Edu, you are a football player.

Anyone honestly surprised? The mhedia agenda out in the open for all to see.

I agree. But I also think that the 24 hours following an Old Firm victory - and certainly one as big as today's - should be an unashamed, unrepentant gloatfest.

I'm sure he has a biography out called "Portrait of a Genius" or something. I kid you not.

Something else I was thinking about earlier today - despite having been signed ten minutes ago, he must have racked up a hell of a lot of games by now. Three figures surely.

I remember standing applauding the players after the final whistle at Pittodrie last season after we'd lost the league and thinking how much David Weir of all people deserved a league winner's medal. Perhaps our Davie's time has come.

Incidentally how many wins is that on the bounce for us in all competitions now? 6? 7? Surely a record for Walter's second spell. All I can say is well done the Rangers, fantastic stuff.

Add Hearts to that. And they still have to play them as well as United. Squeaky bum time indeed for the perennially offended ones. And them 7 points clear a couple of months back, dear oh dear...

Don't you just love how the earls and their compliant mhedia build so many of their signings up into superstars, and then they step onto the pitch. I still put Nakamura in that category by the way.

Strachan Manager of the Year. PMSL:D:D:D

I dunno, every time Driver got the ball on Sunday I had my heart in my mouth. Under Souness McGeady would simply get his baws booted early doors and that would be that. More of the same would be nice on Saturday, maybe do him a favour and break his leg so he can't go out and get his head kicked in on his usual post-OF match noise-up.

I actually think Broadfoot has had that wee rat bastard in his back pocket for the last year or so (I wouldn't look too much into the CIS Cup Final as that was a last minute breakaway as we were going gung ho for a goal). McGeady is an overrated wee hider but honest trier that Dailly is, I'd fear for us with Stuart Slater up against him.

Dailly in then. FFS.

And don't forget the free-kick that led to Italy's goal at Hampden in 2007. Referees are told to get the big clubs/countries through, there isn't a shred of doubt about that in my mind. You have to go to the lower leagues to get impartial refereeing, and even then it's shit. Substandard refereeing is a major achilles heel for football. The argument for technology/replays etc. gets stronger with every season.

Love this time of the season. We've had some crackers over the years - remember Charlton 4 - 4 Sunderland, and Man City v Gillingham? Millwall - Leeds could be tasty. Would rather Scunthorpe went up than Franchise FC to be honest. Hope Preston or Burnley go up. Whoever it is will go straight back down anyway but there's two years of parachute payments up for grabs.