ian1964

Andrew Dickson reports from Caledonian Stadium WALTER SMITH insists the most important thing Rangers can do is keep winning after they closed the gap between them and Celtic in the SPL to five points. Pedro Mendes celebratesThe Light Blues' 3-0 victory over Inverness at Caledonian Stadium today was crucial after their Old Firm rivals could only draw with Dundee United yesterday. It was the perfect response after last Saturday's derby defeat and showed, if proof was ever needed, that the championship race is still far from over. Pedro Mendes opened the scoring in the frozen north before Kris Boyd's double clinched a vital success. Smith said: "We started well enough in the first 10 or 15 minutes but then I thought we were poor in the last half hour of the first half. "The game itself dropped down a bit so it was up to us to lift things and we got off to a terrific start after the break. "Pedro scored a great goal once the game got underway again and I think that set us up for a good win. "We were a lot better in the second half than we had been in the first and were far more incisive. "The important thing for us just now is to win. Everybody makes the comparison between us and Celtic but the biggest thing is that we go on a run of victories.Kris Boyd scores the third goal against ICT "We need to look at our own performances rather than anybody else's. It's our fault we are trailing in the championship and we have to adjust to that. "We must make sure, in the games we have coming up, that we get into a situation where we can eradicate a few of the errors we've made in the first part of the season." Smith paid tribute to Mendes, whose goal just 24 seconds into the second period broke the deadlock for a Gers team badly needing to come out on top. The Portuguese midfielder's effort was sublime as he curled beyond Ryan Esson from 25 yards after good work by Nacho Novo. Smith added: "Pedro's goal was good and it was a welcome one as we needed something to lift us a little bit. "As I said to the players at half-time, we needed to get ourselves up as the game suited Caley Thistle with the way it was panning out. Pedro Mendes celebrates"We had to go on and win the game and we went on to do so after a good start. I felt we deserved to win." Mendes and Kenny Miller both came off in the latter stages with minor injuries but Smith does not expect either to be sidelined for long. With nine days now until the team's next game against St Johnstone in the Scottish Cup, it is hoped both will be fit enough to take part in that fixture. Smith said: "Kenny had a knock just above his knee and Pedro had to come off because he had a thigh strain. "Hopefully neither injury keeps them out for any great length of time. We'd like to think they'll recover before our next match."

FECK George Burley

Mmmmmmmmm............nearly called it right

Correct, and I would accept it

SSN just said Big Boogy is back today..........then backed that up saying Newcastle will offer �£6m for him ???

Yip, my my prescription McEwans Export:drink:, however despite the doom and gloom are capable of going up there and hammering them, so I'll stick with my prediction, but will accept a 1-0 win

I will go for Inverness 0 Rangers 4, Boyd 2,Miller & Novo

I have already said that if we get any decent offer for any of our players they will be sold, however I would be surprised if BF was sold

DAVIE WEIR hopes that a win at the Caledonian Stadium tomorrow can kick-start Rangers title challenge this season and that the club can follow that by going on a lengthy winning run. David WeirWith the Light Blues trailing seven points behind league leaders Celtic a victory in the Highland capital is now imperative at the start of 2009. Weir is fully aware that there is now an additional pressure on every Rangers player to hit top form week in, week out but has no doubt his team can rise to the challenge. He said: "It's true that there is not any margin for error for us now but perhaps that is a good thing. "We all realise that we can't drop any more points and we have to win every game. "This is always the case when you are at Rangers anyway but even more so now. "We've got to out and make things happen and only we can turn our current situation around. "There is still a lot of football to be played this season and anything can happen but we have to improve, especially away from home." Inverness Caley are currently joint bottom of the league with SPL newcomers Hamilton and their home record is the worst in the top flight. Nevertheless, Davie is expecting a 90 minutes battle with both teams in desperate need of three points. He said: "Everywhere is tough. In this league there no ground that you go to and get points easily. Steven Naismith "Inverness has been one of the harder places to go in the past even though they are in need of a good result as well. "We can take nothing for granted and all the players are aware that we need to play well to get all three points." Steven Naismith's return to the Gers squad is a huge boost for the club and Davie is delighted the club's �£2million signing is back in action. He said: "He has been out for a long time but he has worked very hard and he now deserves his chance to get back. "He is a good lad and the sooner we get him back into the squad the better. "You always welcome quality players returning and he falls into that category. He will offer competition up front and that's good. "I'm sure he will be desperate to make an impression.

WALTER SMITH has urged his players to hit top form in 2009 and go on a winning run that can keep the club's title hopes alive. Walter SmithInconsistency, especially away from home, has cost Rangers dear this season and the gaffer knows improvements have to be made on the road starting this weekend at Inverness. The Gers are under pressure to win their next four league fixtures before travelling to Parkhead on February 15 and Smith realises this must be his side's immediate goal. The return of Madjid Bougherra will be a big boost ahead of Sunday's crucial SPL clash at the Caledonian Stadium while Steven Naismith will also travel north and could feature in the game. Walter said: "I think the seven point gap puts us under pressure to go on a winning run, that is something we have placed upon ourselves. "We have to make sure we start picking up three points every weekend and we haven't yet managed to do that this season. "There has always been a few wins then a draw or a defeat so we need to go on a run and that starts on Sunday. "Caley are not going through their best period and they will be fighting for points. "It was never an easy place to go to although this season they have lost as many games at home as they maybe have in previous years. Steven Naismith "Regardless, it will be a tough match for us. "Injury wise Mo Edu is a doubt with an ankle injury. "He has been out for three weeks now but I would hope he will be back for our Cup game against St. Johnstone. "Madjid Bougherra is now back and he will be fit to play on Sunday against Caley. "Steven Naismith is also in our group of players going up. He has had three games now since he has come back from injury. I will wait to see how he feels. "We played a bounce match against St. Johnstone earlier in the week so he is now getting back to a level of match fitness." Craig BrewsterWith Caley now in a relegation dogfight after losing their last five SPL game there have been calls for manager Craig Brewster to call it a day. Smith, however, hopes he gets time to turn things around. He said: "Obviously when a bit of pressure comes to any club things can happen this way. "But Craig took over at Caley when they were not going through the best of times and he lifted their fortunes a bit. "Again they are going through a tough period but he will want to see them through that. "I think Inverness are a very well run club and I don't think they will make any hasty decisions in that respect. "I believe Craig is the man who can pick them up. "He has done this before and I hope he can do that again after Sunday of course!"

PORTSMOUTH are lining up a stunning �£9million bid for Celtic midfield ace Scott Brown. SunSport can reveal Pompey boss Tony Adams has had the dynamic playmaker watched in THREE recent Hoops games. And Brownâ��s all-action performance in the 1-0 Old Firm triumph at Ibrox has convinced the Fratton Park club to tee up a move. Parkhead boss Gordon Strachan will be reluctant to offload a player he sees as crucial to his sideâ��s hopes of clinching a fourth successive SPL title. But former England and Arsenal hero Adams could test Celticâ��s resolve with a bumper offer for the Scotland star. Pompey have just sold Lassana Diarra to Real Madrid for a breathtaking �£20m. And Jermaine Defoe is set to follow him out the door â�� handing the south coast side another potential �£16m windfall. That leaves them well placed to come in with a megabucks bid should Celtic give any hint they are willing to deal. Losing the all-action Diarra was a huge blow for the FA Cup holders. But itâ��s understood Adams has discussed Brownâ��s abilities with his staff and been sufficiently impressed to include him on a short-list of targets, which also includes Middlesbroughâ��s Gary Oâ��Neil. Brown cost Celtic a record �£4.4million in May 2007, but he failed to convince fans in his debut campaign. This season, though, the 23-year-old has been outstanding in Celticâ��s engine room and Strachan wonâ��t want to lose him. The Fifer signed a five-year, �£25,000-a-week deal as Celtic beat off competition from rivals Rangers to his signature. Pompey would comfortably be able to improve Brownâ��s wages. Newcastle United are among other clubs who have tracked his progress. http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/spl/article2086783.ece

http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/news/article2087660.ece

Jan 2 2009 By Keith Jackson RANGERS were given the perfect New Year's Day pick-me-up last night when Kevin Thomson revealed his career-saving operation has been a complete success. Thomson went under the knife in London on Hogmanay to finally have his shattered left knee rebuilt - two months after it was mangled during an SPL clash at Rugby Park. Record Sport can reveal the surgery had to be delayed after doctors spotted a life-threatening blood clot which had formed on Thomson's left calf. The stricken 24-year-old was finally given the all clear to go under the knife last week and jetted down south on Tuesday to put his career in the hands of Dr Andrew Williams, Britain's top knee injury specialist. And yesterday, in an exclusive interview with Record Sport from his hospital bed, Thomson revealed the surgery went so well he was back walking within a couple of hours of leaving the theatre. He said: "I know it might not sound like the ideal way to spend Hogmanay - lying in a hospital bed on my own in London pumped to the eyeballs with morphine - but I could not have wished for better news. "After everything I've been through in the last couple of months I'm just delighted to be here. "It's gone better than any of us had expected. The surgeon thought when he opened me up he would have to repair both my medial ligaments and maybe my cartilage. "But because of complications we had to delay the operation and that gave me time to do a lot of physiotherapy. "I worked hard and it seems the medial ligaments have repaired themselves as a result. "That meant all the doc had to do was concentrate on building a new interior ligament, which was obviously always going to be the most important part. "It seems to have gone well because I already have movement back in the joint and I've been up walking already. I can't tell you how good that felt." Thomson now hopes to be back in full training at Murray Park before the rest of his Ibrox team-mates report back for a not her punishing pre-season. He said: "That's the plan. The surgeon is extremely happy with the way it's gone and says there is no reason why I can't be back in six months. "I've been through this once before and I'm not naive enough to think there won't be a hiccup or two along the way but I'd be lying if I said I didn't want to be back as soon as possible. "July is seven months away so with a bit of luck I should have a good four or five weeks of training under my belt by the time the rest of the lads come back in from their holidays. "I've not been the luckiest of boys so far with injuries but I'm due a bit of luck and touch wood I'll get it in the New Year. "There's a long way to go but all I can think about is pulling on that shirt again and getting on with my Rangers career." Meanwhile, Ibrox boss Walter Smith will assess whether Andy Webster and Alan Gow have a place in his plans when they return this month after loan spells at English Championship sides. Webster has spent the first half of the season at Bristol City, where it was hoped he would be able to build on his fitness after suffering a series of injuries. But he picked up several minor knocks and made just six appearances during his spell at Ashton Gate. Gow had a reasonably successful stint at Blackpool, scoring five goals in 17 games. Smith said: "We'll see what happens when they come back and review the situation." http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/2009/01/02/exclusive-new-year-all-clear-for-kevin-thomson-after-career-saving-operation-86908-21009845/

ALAN GOW is hoping to clinch a move to Championship pace-setters Wolves in the next couple of days. Alan GowThe former Falkirk frontman, who has had a difficult time since joining Rangers in the summer of 2007, is wanted by Mick McCarthy whose side are looking good for Premiership football next season. Ibrox boss Walter Smith revealed today that Wolves have made contact about Gow and that negotiations are now underway over a fee. Gow, who has only appeared twice for Rangers, spent the first half of this season on loan at Blackpool where he caught the eye of the Molineux side. He was back at Murray Park this morning and took part in the first team training session. Now if a fee can be agreed it looks like he will move to the Black Country to join the side who are seven points clear at the top of the Championship. Tomorrow Wolves travel to face Alex McLeish's Birmingham, who sit second along with Reading, and if they can win that one they will take another huge step towards their Premiership dream. Clearly it would be a terrific move for Gow but it will all depend on Wolves and Rangers reaching an agreement. Smith said today: "We have had an inquiry from Wolves for Alan Gow and negotiatoions are on-going." Gow could be one of a number of fringe players to move on in the January transfer window.

by Lindsay Herron MADJID BOUGHERRA will be back for Rangers at Inverness on Sunday and Davie Weir hopes the Algerian defender is here for the long haul. Bougherra has missed the last three matches with a thigh strain but is fit to return to partner Weir at the Caledonian Stadium. Madjid Bougherra, RangersToday it has been reported that Newcastle United are ready to make a bid for the centre back, who joined Rangers from Charlton last summer, but Walter Smith has said that no inquiries have been made. Weir and Bougherra have formed a good partnership in the centre of defence and Weir hopes it can continue for the rest of this campaign. He said:"Of course, I would love Madjid to stay. He has done very well for us and we have missed him in the last few weeks." Manager Smith made it clear that he does not want to lose any of his regular starters and is only interested in selling players who are on the periphery of his squad. However, he tempered that by pointing out that the sale of Alan Hutton to Tottenham was sanctioned this time last year because the fee of around �£9million was something Rangers could not turn down. He said: "As I have said before we have 28 players in the squad and there are a number who have been not been involved regularly and clearly that is going to be a source of frustration. "We would want to keep the group who are involved week in, week out. "However, we were in a situation last year with Alan Hutton in that we wanted to keep him but the bid was such that we had to take it so you can never say that this won't happen again."

I don't think JCD is wrong in what he is saying, after all he was offered his salary, he accepted,and then he was asked to leave, he accepted it. Thanks for your services JCD and all the best

Walter, why don't you just come out and tell the players that you want to move on that they are just not good enough ?, they are big boys, or do you not know ?

I really despair at these rumours, I mean how the hell will either of these two improve Rangers............gimme a fucking break

Sell our best players, get rid of some of the dross off the wage bill, replace them with more dross and hope we can finish second !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

RANGERS boss Walter Smith has added Lee Miller and Robbie Neilson to his January wish-list. SunSport understands Smith has been keen on the Aberdeen striker and the Hearts right-back for the last year. And the Ibrox gaffer could move for both this month ââ?¬â? IF he can raise funds from a major clear-out. On-form Miller signed a two-year deal at Pittodrie in the summer to dash Smithââ?¬â?¢s hopes then. But now he is back on the trail of the target man, who has hit seven goals so far this season. Miller offers strength and finishing power and is also forcing himself into Scotland manager George Burleyââ?¬â?¢s thinking for the World Cup qualifiers. The 25-year-old was snapped up by boss Jimmy Calderwood for a nominal fee in August 2006 from Dundee United and has proved to be one of the Donsââ?¬â?¢ best signings in recent years. Neilson, meanwhile, was handed his one and only Scots cap by Smith in the Ukraine in October 2006. His contract is up at the end of the season and he is weighing up his options after 12 years at Tynecastle. Neilson joined Jambos from Rangers Boys Club. He could now agree a pre-contract for the 2009-10 season or be captured during the transfer window for a nominal amount. Alternatively, Gers could also use flop striker Andrius Velicka as a makeweight for a possible loan return to Tynecastle. Neilson, 28, is close to his best form again after injury worries, although he was at the centre of an explosive weekend post-match bust-up at Pittodrie. SunSport revealed how he hooked both Chris Maguire and Lee Mair in the tunnel after Aberdeenââ?¬â?¢s 1-0 win. Rangers gaffer Smith is desperate to overhaul a squad now languishing seven points behind bitter rivals Celtic who, after the 1-0 win at Ibrox, are hot favourites for four-in-a-row. He is also keen on bringing in a commanding stopper and has trailed the likes of Sporting Lisbonââ?¬â?¢s Tonel and Hearts captain Christophe Berra. Advertisement Click here But first he has to hope that the likes of Brahim Hemdani, Charlie Adam, Andy Webster, Alan Gow, Christian Dailly, Stevie Smith and Chris Burke can attract clubs. Meanwhile, Smith has had a loan bid for Swedish international Mattias Bjarsmyr thrown out by IFK Gothenburg. Smith asked if he could bring the twice-capped centre-half, 21, to Glasgow for the rest of the season.But Gothenburg are thought to want an up-front payment in the region of Ã?£2.5million for their prize asset, whose contract expires at the end of 2009. And they have vowed not to budge over their demands for the Sweden Under-21s skipper. Sporting director Hakan Mild said: ââ?¬Å?We are not interested in a loan deal. Such a move has never been in the equation for us.ââ?¬Â It seems certain Bjarsmyr will be sold this month. The player and Gothenburg are at loggerheads after he rejected a new deal. He was left fuming when Gothenburg placed such a massive fee on his head. Earlier this week Bjarsmyr had admitted he would be keen on a move to Rangers. But Gothenburg donââ?¬â?¢t want to lose him for nothing so will look to flog him elsewhere. Reports in Sweden claim he will move to either AZ Alkmaar or FC Groningen in Holland. http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/spl/article2084353.ece

Jan 1 2009 By Neil Cameron STEVEN FLETCHER could play his last game for Hibs in the Edinburgh derby as Middlesbrough were last night preparing a �£2.5million bid for him. Record Sport can reveal Boro boss Gareth Southgate will send a representative to Tynecastle for one final look at the striker before they make their move. We also understand the Premiership club held a board meeting on Tuesday night to discuss January transfer targets, with Fletcher top of their agenda. Southgate had planned to watch the 21-year-old prior to a bid being tabled and may still wait one more week to do that before Hibs receive an offer. That would be in the Scottish Cup tie at Easter Road a week on Sunday when he will be free as his side face Sunderland the day before. However, that is all a formality as the former England international is keen to land Fletcher. Hibs chief executive Rod Petrie was originally looking for around �£4m for his most valuable player but in the financial climate he will have to accept a lower price of �£2.5m with add-ons. Fletcher has been linked with a string of English clubs with Manchester City and Blackburn, before Paul Ince was sacked, most interested. However, he was most famously tipped for a move to Real Madrid after the Spanish giants had him watched. Meanwhile, Polish keeper Grzegorz Szamotulski has claimed he has agreed a deal to join Hibs. The former Dundee United No.1 says he will move to the SPL club until at least the end of the season. Szamotulski, 32, will provide competition for Yves Ma-Kalambay and Andy McNeil after a recent spell in Israeli football with FC Ashdod. He was hugely popular with fans during his time at Tannadice last season and earned a nickname he is happy to let stick. Szamotulski said: "The Mad Monk is back. It has been agreed I'll join Hibs. Everything was settled by fax over Christmas and I'll spend at least the next six months in Scotland. "I'm pleased and it was never true to say I failed to reach agreement with Hibs because of financial reasons." http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/2009/01/01/middlesbrough-set-to-swoop-for-2-5m-hibs-star-steven-fletcher-86908-21008153/

By Andrew Dickson WALTER SMITH will wait until his loan Rangers return to the club before deciding whether they have a role to play in his Light Blues squad. A number of Ibrox players have been sent out to other clubs in the first half of the season and many of them are due to come back at various points this month. Andy WebsterThe most high-profile of those who have been away is Andy Webster, but he has not played as much as Smith would have liked him to at Bristol City. Defender Webster has made just six appearances for Gary Johnson's side, although the main reason for that has been a string of minor injuries. Alan Gow has arguably been the most successful player during this term's sabbaticals and he has scored five goals in 17 appearances for Championship side Blackpool. But given he had just two first-team outings last season at Rangers, he has been tipped to make a hasty exit when he moves back to Glasgow. The rest of those who have gone elsewhere are young reserve players and the likelihood is they'll go back to Gers' reserve and youth sides or go out on loan again. But Smith insists he'll only make decisions of each individual's future once they check back in at Murray Park in the next few weeks. He said: "In Andy's case, we put him out on loan to try to get him games so that he could get to a level of fitness that would lead to him returning to our squad.Alan Gow "It hasn't worked out like that and he has had a couple of injuries again and hasn't been playing on a regular basis. "Andy's problem is that we have to get him up to speed because he's had something like two years without regular first-team football. "He has been lucky to play half a dozen games in that time and it has not been an easy spell for him. "We will see what happens when he comes back and we'll review the situation then. Alan Gow is the same, as are the rest of the players we've had out. "With these players who are coming to us, as is part and parcel of the transfer window, we'll have to look at a larger group of players and cut it down."

Happy New Year to everyone and all the best for 2009

Surely WS was given the all clear by the medical staff to sign Prodan ?

Rangers are looking to fast-track �£2 million front man Steven Naismith back into the first team as they attempt to rescue their faltering SPL title challenge. Manager Walter Smith is set to give the player a surprise place in the squad heading north to face Inverness Caledonian Thistle this weekend after he came through a 90-minute game at Murray Park yesterday. Smith believes Naismith, who has been sidelined for eight months following cruciate knee-ligament surgery, could be the answer to his left-midfield problem position. He made his playing comeback when he scored against St Mirren before the Reserve League winter shutdown, but he has now been pushed on with further specially-arranged matches against Hamilton Accies and St Johnstone, thanks to the Ibrox club's undersoil-heated training pitch. Now Smith looks set to name Naismith in the squad that travels north at the weekend for the live Setanta showdown with Caley Thistle on Sunday lunchtime. Rangers have deployed a number of players on the left of midfield since the season began without great success - Nacho Novo, Kyle Lafferty, DaMarcus Beasley, Charlie Adam and Lee McCulloch all failing to make the position their own. Spanish teenager Aaron Niguez was even given a run as a substitute against Hamilton in the position. Naismith, 22, looked impressive in the role last season and was poised to face Fiorentina in the UEFA Cup semi-final when he was injured in the Scottish Cup semi-final against St Johnstone. He faced the Perth club again yesterday and played the whole 90 minutes in a punishing central-midfield role as goals from Andrius Velicka, Lafferty and Aaron gave a strong Rangers side a 3-1 win, although McCulloch took a knock. Boss Smith told the club website yesterday that his players must respond to the seven-point title deficit - and show the hallmark of champions displayed by Celtic. 'Obviously, in terms of the league, we have a lot to do in the second half of the season,' he said. 'We know the importance of trying to win all the remaining games. There is an added edge that we have reached the halfway stage of the season and we are seven points behind Celtic - which isn't what anyone wanted. 'We know we have to put together a really good run if we are to get ourselves back into the championship race. Credit to Celtic for showing their pride and determination in being champions to get them through a period when they've maybe not played their best football. We have not shown that edge. We have to develop that mentality.' Algerian defender Madjid Bougherra was initially scheduled to play as well yesterday, but wasn't risked in the bitter cold because of his niggling thigh injury and remains doubtful for the trip north. Rangers, meanwhile, won't let Novo leave Ibrox on the cheap. He is contracted until the summer of 2010 - and is not available on a Bosman deal next June as Deportivo La Coruna seem to believe. Novo's two goals for a Galician regional select impressed the Deportivo president but he is still to speak to his coach about any potential bid. Forgotten man Alan Gow was last night weighing up a �£250,000 permanent move to Blackpool.