ian1964

by Lindsay Herron IT WAS a successful night for Rangers stars on international duty last night as Northern Ireland and the USA both secured vital wins in the World Cup qualifying campaign. Northern Ireland defeated San Marino 3-0 away from home to increase their chances of qualification to the 2010 finals in South Africa while the Americans beat rivals Mexico 2-0 in DaMarcus Beasley in action for the United Statestheir first match in their final qualification phase. The down side for the Ulstermen was that Rangers pair Steve Davis and Kyle Lafferty were both booked in the match and will now be suspended for the next qualifier, the vital clash with Poland at Windsor Park on March 28. DaMarcus Beasley played the whole game for the States on the left side of midfield as two Michael Bradley goals gave them the win they wanted at a sold-out Columbus Crew Stadium. The Americans now face El Salvador away on March 28 and take on Trinidad & Tobago at home three days later. Madjid Bougherra's Algeria won a friendly against Benin 2-1. The Rangers star was a top performer and played 55 minutes of the match. Bougherra set up the opening goal with a terrific run out of defence and the perfect pass to Abdelkedar Ghezzal who beat the keeper from close range. Andrius Velicka also had a successful night. He scored the first goal as Lithuania defeated Andorra 3-1 in a friendly.

By Andrew Dickson SASA PAPAC has played down the importance of winning Sunday's Old Firm fixture and insists Rangers can win the league whatever the result. The Light Blues go into their clash with Celtic trailing Gordon Strachan's team by two points in the SPL table. Sasa PapacClaiming a derby victory wouldn't only send Gers top of the pile - it would also give them a huge psychological boost with three months of the season remaining. But even if Walter Smith's men lose and fall further behind their rivals, Papac is adamant it won't spell the end of their title hopes. With 13 rounds of fixtures to follow the derby, the Bosnian feels there will still be plenty of opportunities to climb to the summit. He said: "It is important we put Celtic under pressure and that we win as many games as we possibly can. "It would be great to get a victory again this weekend like we did when we last went to Parkhead in August. "But this match is just one of 14 we still have to play and there are many points still up for grabs. "We just need to concentrate as the end of the season is still some way away and a lot can happen as both sides have dropped points. "We have both beaten each other in the derby this season and lost to other teams in the championship too. "I won the league when I was at Austria Vienna and my dream now is to lift the SPL trophy here for Rangers. "It would be the best moment of my career. We will need a lot of points to do it but I feel confident we can get enough, regardless of what happens on Sunday."

Good,but I don't think I would like to go there and see us getting a hiding !!!!!

Greek Tosser.........................GIRUY

Are we getting a gersnet table ?

2-0 USA,93rd min,all over

No, he played for Rangers today,played well

Second Half just starting, USA 1 Mexico 0

HT,USA 1 Mexico 0

Beasley nearly scores there

43min USA 1 Mexico 0,Beasley corner

Done, Beasley playing well

Game is about to start if anyone is interested,we are not allowed to put links up now......................................but the last one I put up is showing it

Cheers Jon.............never seen this thread :cheers:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/scotland/7884505.stm

The day................

KRIS BOYD gave Walter Smith food for thought this afternoon when he bagged a double in a bounce game against Hamilton Accies. Maurice Edu, RangersThe striker partnered Kenny Miller in attack against Billy Reid's men and was clearly out to impress ahead of Sunday's massive Old Firm encounter. The game gave run-outs to Steven Naismith and Mo Edu with youngsters Danny Wilson, Stephen Stirling, Jamie Ness and Gregg Wylde also featuring throughout the 90 minutes alongside Kirk Broadfoot and Lee McCulloch. Ness and Wylde were the others scorers for the Gers and coach Ian Durrant believes it was a worthwhile exercise. He said: "Coisty phoned up Billy Reid, they had a lack of training facilities so we thought it was an ideal opportunity for us to get a game. "We won 4-1 and I thought it was an excellent work-out. "Boydy scored a couple while Mo Edu and Stevie Naismith also got some action under their belts. "So our squad is brimming right now. "Almost everybody is fit and they are desperate to get in the gaffer's starting line-up."

Northern Ireland's World Cup qualifier against San Marino will be subject to a pitch inspection following torrential rain in Serravalle. An inspection of the playing surface will be carried out at 1700 GMT. The downpour has lasted several hours and, although the playing surface is rated as good, it could struggle to cope with the amount of water. Victory over San Marino could see Northern Ireland leap into second place in Group Three on goal difference. But they are without Norwich City's Sammy Clingan who has been ruled out because of a thigh strain. Doncaster's Dean Shiels has also been ruled out by an ankle injury. Damien Johnson, Kyle Lafferty and Grant McCann are being tipped to play in midfield with Martin Paterson partnering David Healy up front. Birmingham midfielder Johnson will make his return to Northern Ireland duty after a lengthy absence caused by injury. Clingan's injury is likely to open the door to a start for Scunthorpe United's McCann. Paterson's recent run of goals for Burnley is likely to mean promotion to the starting line-up, with Healy's regular striking partner Lafferty playing in midfield alongside Johnson, McCann and Steven Davis. George McCartney will be available to play in defence after missing training on Monday because of blisters while Warren Feeney is also expected to be available despite a minor virus. Clingan broke down in training at the squad's base in Riccoine and will be returning to his club for treatment. Northern Ireland boss Nigel Worthington described Clingan's unavailable as a "disappointment". "Sammy is a big player for us," added the manager. "He did not train Sunday and yesterday and had to step out of today's session, so he will be going back." http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/7881469.stm

I would like to see Boyd & Lafferty deployed in a 4-4-2,with Fleck on the left wing

Hope there is no truth in this rumour http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/display.var.2488537.0.0.php

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/2009/02/11/sponsor-jjb-s-financial-problems-won-t-affect-us-say-rangers-86908-21113998/

What I am questioning is,does WS actually know his best team ?,not just for this match!! He probably does know what team he is going to put out @ the piggery,but then why not just say it,without naming the team ?.

Horrified..................BUT NOT SURPRISED ????

By Andrew Dickson WALTER SMITH admits it's still too early to think about putting together his team to face Celtic on Sunday because of the international break. Rangers' preparations for this weekend's crucial league derby have been hampered somewhat by the fact so many players have been called up by their countries. Barry FergusonBarry Ferguson, David Weir, Allan McGregor and Kirk Broadfoot all attended Scotland's training camp at St Andrews earlier this week. Kyle Lafferty and Steven Davis are also scheduled to play for Northern Ireland tonight against San Marino in a World Cup qualifier. The same applies to DaMarcus Beasley, who is in the United States squad to face Mexico in the same tournament this evening. Madjid Bougherra is away with Algeria for their home friendly against Benin while Andrius Velicka completes the set as he is representing Lithuania against Andorra. In all, Gers have been without nine senior players over the last couple of days and it would have been more had Kenny Miller been fit enough for the Scots' gathering. With three of his stars involved in competitive games and many more away from Murray Park, Smith is unsure of what state they'll return in. Until he has them back together as one group, he concedes he can't settle on what side he'll field at Parkhead and it could be Friday before he has an idea of who he'll use. All he knows at this stage is that he will be without the injured Nacho Novo and Kevin Thomson, although Miller will be available. Smith said: "It is too early in the week at the moment to say what we'll do at Parkhead on Sunday as we still have people away. "There are a few people who are yet to get their international games out of the way such as Lafferty, Davis and Bougherra. Madjid Bougherra"They're all guys who have been in our team recently but we must wait and see if they return to us injury-free before we know what we're doing. "We won't be sitting down to pick a side until tomorrow or Friday. It's different with the Scottish boys as they're attending a training camp. "We wouldn't expect them to get injured but there are other lads taking part in World Cup qualifiers and they can be a wee bit teethy. "The situation is not perfect in the sense that you like to have your squad together as one in the lead-up to a big game. "The fact the players who were away with Scotland didn't train in the early part of the week because of the weather was a problem, especially as our game at Forfar was off. "I know these things happen but it's not ideal. At least the fact we're playing on Sunday gives us a bit more breathing space. "When international games are on in midweek, we sometimes only get players back on a Friday morning and that's not great if we're then playing on Saturday. "Because the match in 24 hours later, we still have a couple of days together to prepare so it isn't too bad."

AMERICAN star DaMarcus Beasley is relishing the prospect of two massive derby matches in the space of five days. Beasley is in line to face Mexico tonight for the United States in Columbus, Ohio in a vital, sold-out World Cup qualifier. DaMarcus Beasley scores against AC MilanAnd he is desperately hoping to clinch a place in the Rangers squad for Sunday's Old Firm showdown at Parkhead. There is massive rivalry between the US and Mexico and the game at Columbus Crew Stadium was sold out in 90 minutes. Beasley was a hero the last time the sides met there in 2005 when he scored the second goal in a 2-0 win which sent the Americans on their way to the 2006 Finals. It's the first match in the final phase of qualifying for the USA and they want to get off to a flyer Beasley said: "It's a really big game. We'll be at home to our closest rivals and the tie will play a big part in who goes to the World Cup. "I have good memories of playing in Columbus against Mexico because of what happened four years ago. "We haven't lost to them in a while now and have only been beaten by them once in the last eight or nine years.DaMarcus Beasley "People don't realise how big the USA v Mexico games are. When you go to the Azteca and there are 100,000 people there cheering the other team it is pretty intense." Beasley, who has put himself back in the Rangers picture by scoring against AC Milan last week, added: "it could be a really big week for me with the Celtic game coming too. "Celtic games are the same and I'll take all of that as it comes. It would be great to think I could be part of both of them" Beasley is one of a handful of Rangers players away on international duty. Kyle Lafferty and Steven Davis are with Northern Ireland in San Marino for a World Cup qualifier they must win while Madjid Bougherra is in Algeria for a friendly with Benin. It will be Friday before all of them are back at Murray Park