der Berliner

Well, just yet, there is no rush. And, of course, he has more to consider here than a Bluenose who "sees a dream come true" in donning the famous jersey.

I for one assume those who want to see the back of him most are those from beyond the Clyde. His reign as a Rangers boss saw them lose title challenge after title challenge.

And, matter of factly, at the end of the day, Walter won us more trophies than any other Rangers manager in living history. Matter of fact, he won us more trophies than a legion of football teams around the globe will ever see in their trophy cabinets. Maybe people didn't like the way he went about the business, not least with tactics in Europe and all, but I for one am not arrogant enough to demand more of the Old Fox.

The press conference thing and the Hemed news are actually not related. Methinks, as was said over on FF, that the agent actually told the Spaniards that Rangers will get their men and they published what they knew. Hemed will most likely presented - in case he really signs - once he is actually been to Glasgow and have seen our doctors and Ally in person.

IMHO it was the best season emotionwise we have had since Souness. Always walking on the edge, being harrassed by Timothy and the media - especially with Timothy running amok at and with each and everyone, leading the way all the time and boasting the title won after the OF game, not to mention the OF disasters in January and February. The whole Timidation scenario while we were on the ropes with bank problems and players so rare or injured ... and then see them rallying to Walter & Co., us and against most odds ... that was just great.

Re reason 4: suum cuique. Would never underwrite that myself.

Need more rumours? From the Spaniards (via FF) this time:

First reinforcement for the 2011/12 Rangers

June 16, 2011 in Transfer Market | 0 comments

 

Coach Ally McCoist has announced the first signing of the Rangers, facing next season.It is the Israeli front, Tomer Hemed, who comes to British football as a free agent under his arm, after completing his relationship with Maccabi Haifa.

The striker signed a four-year contract.After closing the arrival of Tomer Hemed, the Rangers work in the signings of Carlos Cuellar (Aston Villa), Neil Danns (Crystal Palace) and Kyle Bartley (Arsenal).

Hemed Tomer Israeli is a striker 24.He has played at Maccabi Haifa, Maccabi Herzliya, Maccabi Ahi Yehuda and Bnei Nazareth.With the absolute Israel has played a match so far.

Some FFer "suggested" there's a press conference at 3 pm this afternoon.

Broadfoot is a solid enough SPL defender and did us proud in the UEFA 2008 run. But 62 games in four years is not an inspiring statistic. I hope the lad gets back to full fitness, but building a defence around him and Weir is not exactly awe-inspiring a thought. And there is no disrespect whatsoever.

STVRaman Raman Bhardwaj

Rangers hold signing talks with Craig Conway. More on the STV website soon folks...

... sayest this STVtwitter

Lifted from the very same thread from yours sincerely himself:

I only start getting excited about new players when I see them pictured at Murray Park or Ibrox, pen in hand and ink drying on the contract. I sure won't slant him for not coming or demanding a higher wage based on press or board rumours and hearsay (no insult intended, BTW).

 

If he signs, fine. For he looks decent enough. If he doesn't, well, I haven't heard much about him before (as with Vaughan, Eagles, Bougherra, Davis, Jelavic Cuellar ... and many others) and won't lose any sleep over a "non-entity" to me.

On a sidenote, for copyright reasons, it would be better to state the source and provide a link to the stories, if possible.

Ach well, Whyte sure is in discussions with King to get him and Paul Murray on the directors' board and use their cash to finance Coisty's first summer!*

*Why not start a rumour

Do we need Goodwillie and Hemed?

 

Does McCoist know/think that one of our strikers is leaving?

Well, Jelavic is the real thing, but strike him out through injury et al, and there is a major gap up front. Lafferty, despite being sensational during the run in, is still a touch too inconsistent over the course of the season (age factor, maybe), and then we would be left with Beattie (decent, but not your 20-goals a season man) - I would rather keep Healy, TBH - and Naismith, who is far better playing as an attacking midfielder. Four to five versatile strikers should be Coisty's aim, and from what I have seen Hemed and Goodwillie would provide that. So a primary strikeforce of Jela, Hemed, Goodwillie, and Lafferty would be fine, with Healy as back up. Do keep in mind that Jela might not be a long term option either. I firmly believe that if we do not survive past x-mas in the CL, some big-money offer will drop in from the EPL in January. Thus Lafferty and Goodwillie, supported by Naismith could be the backbone of our SPL strikeforce for seasons to come. Jela, Hemed and the like will sure add that extra bit special needed home and abroad.

I actually do not mind shrewd business like signing Hemed or Danns or Conway on a free, with only wage-money involved and a sell-on value firmly attached. At this moment and time, consolidating our finances despite the take-over should still be up there on the agenda. So if someone wants to throw silly money at us for Bougherra or Whittaker (each should get a 3m to 5m price tag, IMHO (illusionary, I know, but we like others can do it)) we should consider it. Obviously, the press will try to invent a story about everything we do, good or bad. Today, the Mail is the good paper, the Record the bad one. Tomorrow it could be vice versa. Right now, I would not be surprised to see some of them trying to get into Whyte's good books.

Living on a diet of ifs and buts and maybes. Seems like Keith is missing his informer pals amongst Murray's crew.

TomCommentator Tom Miller

Just been in touch with a contact in Israel.....Says Tomer Hemed is the real deal !

Here's Rangers TV's very own Tom Miller. Not that it says a lot ...

30k a week for a former CL winner plus Chelsea and Barcelona and Iceland int'l is not as high a wage as I would have expected.

He's been on that wage for ages and IMHO, if they actually want to win something and playing rather regularly, these "ex-superstars" should be willing to play for a reasonable wage. His bank balance is fine enough to by half of the Scottish League ...

that doesnt fill me with confidence.

He played a full season in Argentina for Newells Old Boys and I think anyone who survives the Argentinian league is able to cope with the SPL. (If we are interested at all, that is.)

Anyone keeps track of those people we have been linked with?

Those Euro 8m were last season's prices, right?

Cuellar

Just double-checked some "facts" and Aston Villa has 6 full-backs (including Cuellar), and 3 centre-halfs ... according to Fantasy League's player list. Generally, their defence has been pretty poor, conceeding 59 goals (two more than e.g. Newcastle). Thus, I would assume they will not be willing to let one of their better defenders leave (on the cheap). Furthermore, they have a young up-and-coming Spanish (?) manager in the frame as their new boss, someone who might want to keep his countryman too (getting messages / tactics to the pitch et al). Just as food for thought.

The BBC's EPL gossip site says:

Sunderland have moved quickly to replace the Liverpool-bound Jordan Henderson by submitting a bid for three Manchester United players. Black Cats boss Steve Bruce has tabled an offer of more than �£12m for defenders Wes Brown and John O'Shea and midfielder Darron Gibson.

Full story: the Guardian

I for one wouldn't mind Gibson, though I do wonder how these figures add up. Are they in their last years at ManU?

As for Arsenal

Arsenal are in talks with both Bolton's Gary Cahill and Blackburn's Christopher Samba as Gunners manager Arsene Wenger looks to shore up the centre of his defence. Samba would cost about �£12m, while a �£15m deal would be enough to prise Cahill from the Reebok.

Going by that, we should wait for 5m AND Bartley if they want Bougherra.

Giroud is a 24 year old striker from Montpellier. He scored 12 goals in 37 Ligue 1 appearances this season. If we did target him then that would suggest money is available for a striker and Hemed may not be the only target.

Now wait ... Hemed, Giroud, Toche ... all names I have not heard before (which does not say a lot, of course). Add Goodwillie to that list. I got the funny feeling that we indeed look for someone completely different and the press hasn't got a clue.

BTW, hacks, do you know that Miroslav Klose is on a free now too?! ;-)

NB: The German Bild newspaper is our equivalent of The Sun.

Rangers's race for Hemed heats up as Italian and Belgian clubs battle for Israeli's signature

 

Rangers will have to beat off interest from Italy and Belgium if they want to sign Israeli striker Tomer Hemed.

 

The Maccabi Haifa player made his bow for his country in a 2-1 win over Latvia on Saturday and is available on a Bosman free transfer this summer.

 

Ibrox coach Ian Durrant watched Hemed in the Euro 2012 qualifier in Riga and although the 24-year-old did not find the net, Sportsmail understands he impressed Ally McCoist�s right-hand man.

 

The race for Hemed�s signature is expected to intensify over the next fortnight as the player awaits offers and an agent acting for the striker has confirmed McCoist�s interest.

 

ââ?¬Ë?Tomer Hemed will be a sought-after player this summer and Rangers are interested,ââ?¬â?¢ said English-based agent Max Meltzer.

 

ââ?¬Ë?Over the past couple of months, they have watched him in action with Maccabi Haifa and they were in Latvia on Saturday to see him make his debut for Israel.

 

ââ?¬Ë?Tomer gave a very professional performance.ââ?¬â?¢

 

Hemed was top scorer in the Israeli league last season with 17 goals as he helped his side lift the title.

 

The fact he is at the end of his contract with Maccabi means there is no fee involved, which would not be the case if Rangers pursue Dundee United�s David Goodwillie � or even try to bring back Kenny Miller from Bursaspor.

 

But with the likes of Cagliari and Bologna, as well as initial suitors KV Mechelen and Anderlecht also interested, it seems certain the player will have options later this summer.

 

Former Ibrox favourite Miller has now been linked with Wigan and Blackburn after his recent unhappy revelations about life in Turkey, although Bursaspor president Ibrahim Yazici insisted: ââ?¬Ë?Kenny is on holiday just now and we will speak to him when he comes back ââ?¬â? but he wonââ?¬â?¢t be leaving.

 

ââ?¬Ë?We have made a lot of money available for new transfers ââ?¬â? we are building the club, not getting rid of players and we want Kenny to be a part of that.ââ?¬â?¢

Daily Mail

Dunno and without any disrespect, but if he choses those teams linked above ahead of us, silverware and Champions League football, I would have doubts about his ambitions.

Saying that Frings was thinking about stopping but Rangers are trying to change his mind. He was ready to stop but sees a spell in Scotland positively.

Taken from the Bild Germany's biggest paper.

Nono ... this is taken from a Dutch paper, perhaps going by the same name (or taking it from its German sister). I for one wouldn't be surprised to read something like "according to reports in Scotland" in those "news from" Germany. Haven't come accross anything yet.

I'd rather we went for someone else than Miller.

 

Yes, he just had the season of his life but has now arguably peaked. We need to go for someone younger and hungrier.

Uh, make that season's of his life please. Even when Boyd was here, he was in double figures with goals and more importantly assists too. We'll see what Ally wants though. Lafferty has been quite good during the run in, he just need to become as lethal and consistent during the rest of the season.

I'm still somewhat undecided about Miller. He sure is a fine striker these days, but the way he left was a bit surprising. I simply cannot believe that he was pushed out by the bank or us, for in the end, he's the one who signed on the dotted line when he could simply have refused to go (on terms and prospects offered).