elfideldo

Just another indication that the standards continue to decline, the scoreline didn't flatter St.Mirren, it could have been more. Overall standard of 14's 15's and 16's is poor, younger ages are better but Sinky has still to really get involved with those age groups.

Round up of this weekend's youth games http://rfcyouths.wordpress.com/2013/02/17/youth-updatew/

I wasn't at the game but a Rangers youth side beat Belfast College 7-1 this morning. The goals came from Travis Gregory, Craig Halkett, Dylan Dykes, Lewis Morgan and a Ryan Hardie hat-trick. Rangers:- Liam. Kelly, Kris Gibson, Jordan Wilson (Michael Mossie), Craig Halkett, Luca Gasparotto, Tom Walsh (Trialist), Travis Gregory, Scott Roberts (Lewis Morgan), Ryan Hardie, Dylan Dykes (Trialist), Matty Clarke.

Pretty sure Dundee United's West of Scotland school is in Cumbernauld now. Quite a few of the players came from Dyce Boys Club Not fixed yet, but they were working on it one of the days I was there. The other days I been there recently haven't exactly been working on roof days weather wise.

Not sure about the comparative budget sizes at the moment, but Rangers will still be a fair bit ahead of these teams. Until this year there was also a budget to pay development fees to other clubs, only Rangers, Celtic, Hearts and Falkirk I am aware of paying development fees in recent years. When George Adam was at Rangers, they signed quite a few players from Aberdeen area and they commuted to Rangers. At present nearly all the youth players come from the Central belt, but there are players from Stranraer, Lochgoilhead and until recently Dunoon. These players are at Murray Park 2, 3 or even 4 times a week and it's pretty much the parents that foot the bill for travelling. Hearts have pretty much given up their Glasgow setup, but Aberdeen and Dundee United still have training nights in the west of Scotland.

The OP said nothing of the sort, he only copied an article from the Official Website. Which only reported on one out of five youth squad selected recently, understandable their job is to promote the club. Although they have already decided one(Currie) isn't good enough, and another two don't want to be there. I don't really care whether you believe what I'm saying or not, but I know the facts and a) is probably correct, they don't see a future at the club, but the reasons are they don't see a future is the lack of competitive football which is impacting on their development and not happy under the current regime. So I have answered your "valid point" with the facts, better offers or cash has nothing to do with it. If you actually knew anything about the youth football you would know they are not turning professional soonish, but have been professional since at least the summer. Ironically both players will probably still be at Rangers as the compensation rules mean they can't walk away, unless a club down south is willing to pay a significant fee.

Strangely of the six players in this squad, Currie is being released. Telfer and Urquhart have turned down new contracts, but everything is going swell, nothing to be concerned about there.

McKay was not "released" by Kilmarnock, he was due to sign a pro contract with them until something showed up in the medical and the contract offer was withdrawn.

I obviously wrong and don't understand what I'm watching, strange I don't remember seeing any of you at Murray Park on a regular basis. So I'll bow to your superior knowledge on players you've never seen.

A bit of positive news, the trialists in the U20 game and U14 are both very good players, time will tell if sign them as there will be competition for both. Rangers are paranoid when it's comes to trial it's, they think Celtic and EPL clubs scour the World Wide Web searching for Rangers trialists so that they can steal them. I've been asked not to publish trialists names on the blog. If you want to know more about them send me a message, but you have to promise not to tell Celtic or those big bad EPL clubs.

No restriction in Scotland only limit woukd be travelling for the player, so someone in from Aberdeen may not what to travel to Glasgow, but by the same token the reverese is true, but Abderdeen managed to sign Craig Storrie one of the best u17 players and he is from Carluke. You seriously think Rangers are competeing with another 41 clubs for youth players ? How many scouts would Rangers have compared to Killie, St.Mirren or Motherwell ? Never mind your Elgin, Berwick and Clyde's. Even Hearts have pulled out from the West of Scotland due to cash. Of cousre being selected for international side taken individually means little, but when the biggest club in the country has less than 5 or 6 other clubs there is a reason, genereally its because they are not very good. Nobody I am talking about was released because of Jelavic or Prso, that is total nonesense, it is YOUTH players. The players I am refering to were released at 13,14, 15 & 16 so were never a threat to the first team. This is were your youth department and coaches are supposed to come in. They are supposed to spot that potential. Falkirk seen the potential of Murray Wallace, so much so a club that were skint paid Rangers a development fee for him, two years later they sold him for 300k. A club that seems to know what they are doing, as I said totally skint, but they found the money to pay a development fee for Ryan McGeever from Queen's Park in the summer. Watch for him being sold at a significant profit in the next couple of years, our lot have paid development fees only to release them ONE year later. These players that have left have progressed after leaving Rangers and I have said its not 2 or 3 but its now beyond double figures. Our u20's lost 5-1 to a Kilmarnock side in the youth cup, a Killie side that included 3 players Sinclair released, it wasn't a narrow defeat 5-1 and could have been more. If you really think we don't have a few issues go to Murray Park and watch them, then tell me you still think all is rosey.

To comapre Man Utd in England to Rangers in Scotland is complete nonesense. In Scotland there are at most half a dozen teams with any reasonable youth budget competing for a small pool of players. In England there is around 50 clubs that spend significant sums on their youth setup and the pool of players is much bigger, which is reflected in the fact that Scotland very rarely even get even a draw against England at youth level. Clubs like Crystal Palace spend more than any Scottish club with the exception of the old firm. Also up until this season there was a rule that English clubs could only sign youth players within 1 hours travel of the club, meaning Man Utd couldn't sign anyone from London for example. Of the 36 players that Man Utd have in their academy 19 are not English, and 13 of these players have been capped at youth level by their country. Of the 17 that are English 9 have been capped at youth level. Three were purchased from lower league clubs in the last year. This is reflected across all the big clubs as they cast the net wider, Scottish teams youth sides are 90%+ Scottish. At what time did I say all our youth should be starters for the national sides ? But I do expect us to be the best in Scotland and the moment we are know where near that. 17's are good and the younger ages are very good if they can avoid the Sinky cull. Inverness Caley Thistle completed the double over our under 15's today a 3-2 win at Murray Park adding to their earlier win in the highlands. All due respect to Inverness Caley but Rangers shouldn't be losing to them at any under age level. To use your Man Utd comparison, its like them losing consecutive game to an Accrington Stanley side.

Update on this weekend's youth games http://rfcyouths.wordpress.com/2013/02/10/youth-update-8/

So the fact they are getting in ahead of our youth players doesn't say anything about us ? I would say it says an awfull lot about us.

Surely the fact that there are 12 players that used be at Rangers would suggest we are recruiting good enough players but somewhere down the line poor decisions are being made. It's not an exact science and mistakes will be made, but 9 in recent squads, and there a few others around these squads that were released by Rangers. Maybe if it was 2 or 3 it would' t be a concern but when it's hitting double figures alarm bells should be ringing,. As for questions, without even commenting on the style of play, the facts above must be one question. Why is there such a poor record in players we have paid development fees progressing to a pro youth contract, 80 % + never got pro contracts. The latest two lasted 1 season at the club before being released. Why do "Rangers supporting" boys choose to move to Celtic, players that in at least 2 occasions Celtic have been happy to pay fees for. In my opinion that is three questions that should be asked without a fan a fan having to suggest it.

If your are going to make a comparison then at least do it properly and don't pick one age group to suit your argument. Rangers best age groups are U17 & U18 and we are on a par with Celtic at these ages and games would be close. 6 to 2 isn't really a true reflection as two of Celtic's players from this age group are in the U19's squad, playing a year up. The 17's squad is announced also and the stats are 7 to 3 the other way. A proper picture is when you look at the latest squads selected from U16's through to U21's. Rangers have had 13 selected, an average of 2.6 per squad. Celtic have had 28 an average of 5.6 per squad. Another damning stat is that there have been 12 players selected who were previously at Rangers. So an average 2.4 either released or bought by another club. We got fees for Rhys McCabe, Dylan McGeough and Joe Thompson, the others were released. A bit about each player, Fraser I'm sure you all know Blair Currie - Pretty sure he is an 1994 so a year older, been at Rangers since a young age, Played a few 1st team games for Hamilton when on loan last season. Contact up at the end of the season, heard recently its not getting renewed. Stuart Urquhart - Left sided footballing centre-back who came from Hamilton Accies, occasionally features in midfield. Was injured at the start of the season since coming back has got quite a few reserve games. Andy Murdoch - Been at Rangers quite a few years and captained various age groups, anchorman in midfield and occasionaly played a right back. Darren Ramsay - Another who has been at the club since a young age, played centre back at younger age groups. Now a fixture in midfield and an all round midfielder. Charlie Telfer - Been at Rangers eight years since coming through the Rangers soccer schools, a skillful creative midfielder who can see a pass. Highly rated by Mark Wotte. I believe his contract is up at the end of the season.

I wasn't at the game but Youths drew 2-2 with Dunfermline in their latest bounce game Blair Currie (Liam Kelly), Craig Halkett (Kris Gibson), Jordan Wilson, Luca Gasparotto, Trialist, Stuart Urquhart, Travis Gregory, Andy Murdoch, Jamie Burrows (Sergey Kundik), Charlie Telfer, Matty Clarke. 2-0 with twelve minutes to go with goals from Jamie Burrows and Matty Clarke. Swapped keepers and decided to move Gasparotto into midfield and Urquhart to centre-back, within 5 minutes it was 2-2 and then they swapped back.

A bit of positive late news Rangers Will play in Reserve League Cup. This wasn't on the SFL website a couple of days ago. Time will tell if the 18-20 age group will get much game time in this competition. Fixtures not on the Rangers website yet. RESERVE LEAGUE CUP - SEASON 2012/13 Fixtures will start week commencing Monday, 11th February, 2013. East Section – This section will consist of five clubs each playing their respective opponents twice, (giving each club a total of eight matches), resulting in each club having two free weeks. Thereafter, the top two clubs in this section will proceed to the Semi-Finals which will be played over one leg with the winner of each Semi-Final tie contesting the Final, again over one leg. West Section - This section will consist of eight clubs each playing their respective opponents once, (giving each club a total of seven matches). Thereafter, the top two clubs in this section will proceed to the Semi-Finals which will be played over one leg with the winner of each Semi-Final tie contesting the Final, again over one leg. Semi-Finals Winner of East Section v Runner-up of West Section Winner of West Section v Runner-up of East Section These matches are scheduled to take place w/c Monday, 22nd April, 2013. Final – This match is scheduled to take place on Monday, 29th April, 2013 and the Draw to determine the home club will be made in due course. EAST SECTION Cowdenbeath East Fife Livingston Raith Rovers Stenhousemuir WEST SECTION Airdrie United Annan Athletic Ayr United Morton Partick Thistle Queen of the South Queen's Park Rangers There was an SFL under 19 league, Rangers didn't enter it. Like the Reserve League it consisted og 14 teams playing each other once. Queen's Park won it with only Airdrie providing a challenge, Livingston who have been decent at this level in recent years didn't enter either. Overall standard wouldn't have been great but we could have fielded a younger team U18 for example. There is an SFL U19 League Cup which starts soon, we didn't enter that either.It has a similar format to the Reserve League Cup. Hamilton Accies have entered and they should be one of the favourites with QP & Airdrie.

As I said on a previous post the club have said nothing on this. I also said if we were denied entry I am sure Charles Green would have made sure it was public knowledge. The decision would have been from the top I'm sure.

Not the only one and just heard Matty Clarke's request to be released has been granted.

Rangers have said nothing on the subject, so what makes you think they would make me a special case and tell me ? People in football, at other clubs have told me Rangers declined. I am pretty sure if Rangers were in anyway blocked from entering this competition Mr Green would have made sure everyone got to know about it. Not that dark ? Really ? Is one season where players are not getting the game time to develop not dark enough ? I can assure you that a significant number of parents of this group and the groups following see things as pretty dark at the moment. From your comments it pretty clear you don't really get to see the youth teams much, take a visit to Murray Park, watch and listen to what's going on you may get a shock.

A concern about our players in the 17-19 age bracket http://rfcyouths.wordpress.com/2013/02/04/game-time-player-development/

Report on this morning's U14 game at Murray Park http://rfcyouths.wordpress.com/2013/02/02/14s-see-off-accies/

I think the only other out on loan is Kyle McAusland at Ayr United

Callum has move to Alloa on loan till the end of the season, Paul Hartley was raving about him after his first game.