Super_Ally

I'm here all week if you want some betting tips?

No Gerrard. Liverpool are definitely out if they weren't already.

Interesting that Smith played just an hour. Hopefully a sign he will retain his place against Hibs with the match not til Sunday. The same may be true for Velicka who I see came off before FT too.

What a difference a couple of weeks make. Even before the clouds began circling over Ibrox after the behaviour of a couple of the club�s biggest stars on international duty, there was a general malaise and negativity down Govan way. Having let a lead in the SPL slip, with Celtic stretching their advantage at the top to 3 points overturning a 10 goal deficit in the goal difference and taking the league title out of our hands, even accounting for the remaining Old Firm match at Ibrox. This was followed up with a lacklustre defeat in the CIS cup. Finally all the excitement and hype of last season�s enthralling chase for four trophies had ebbed away. Questions are continually asked of Smith�s tactics and of team formations and line ups. Summer signings are under increasing scrutiny. So the last thing we needed was the suspension of the club captain and the number 1. A squad decimated by injuries to Thomson, Lafferty, Miller and Papac amongst others. Without so many key performers how could we possibly halt the relentless march of Strachan�s side to another title? Therein lies the problem with objectively discussing football, especially when it surrounds Scotland�s most successful team. Everything is either rosy, or we facing the apocalypse. There is no in between. When in reality the truth lies somewhere in the middle. There are shades of grey. Whilst all the newspapers column inches were taken up with ex-pros and pundits lining up to take a pop at Ferguson and McGregor, new club captain Davie Weir and his team mates have gone about their business in quiet if unspectacular fashion. Weir�s first opportunity to lead his side out as fully fledge captain, as opposed to the stand in role he has ably filled in the past, resulted in a 1-0 victory. A satisfactory outcome at the end of a difficult week for Rangers Football club. At this stage of the season, every game is about earning the 3 points and not worrying about the manner in which they are achieved. The win at the Falkirk Stadium was the beginning of a welcome return to goal-scoring form of Kris Boyd. After not scoring for 5 games, the prolific hitman has found the back of the net 4 times in the last 3 games and is looking to continue his scoring form in the season run in as we chase league and cup success. Lee McCulloch filled in for Ferguson in his absence against the SPL�s basement club. However injury to the former-Wigan midfielder saw Edu promoted to the role of Pedro Mendes� engine room partner. The young American, having had longer to settle in a new country had looked more composed and has been more involved than in his earlier cameo�s this season. Smith�s injury and suspension ravaged side followed up that victory with a maximum 3 points against another struggling side in St Mirren. The Paisley outfit looked like they were in for a long afternoon when Boyd and then Beasley fired Rangers into an early 2-0 deficit. Much like other recent fixtures, such as the dropped points against Hearts, we failed to kill off McPherson�s side and an Andy Dorman second half strike made for a nervy finish. In truth however St Mirren rarely threatened and another deserved victory was ensured. Even in spite of the opposition, 2 back to back away victories will bread confidence given our away record in recent years. Edu followed up his late appearance against Falkirk with his first goal for the club and a strong performance that led to him being given some spectators motm award. The appalling anti-football tactics of St Mirren, with some tackles more recognised in the Octagon at a UFC event, increased Rangers mounting injury problems with both Papac and Beasley first half casualties. As alluded to at the start of this piece though, along with the imminent return of Lafferty, Papac and Beasley are expected to return in the coming weeks. Andrius Velicka made a second late appearance as a sub as we ran the clock down. Even the Lithuanian himself will no doubt have been surprised to return to the starting line up for the first time this year as we welcomed Mark McGhee�s Cel.... sorry Motherwell to Ibrox. With just 2 minutes on the clock, the big Lithuanian had repaid his manager�s faith with the opening goal and is being picked by some as a surprise starter in the upcoming Old Firm. Not to be undone by his strike partner, Boyd scored for the third match in succession with another goal of the season contender before rounding off the victory with a penalty after Brian McLean felled Mendes in the box. After the international fall out, Smith will have been incredibly pleased to have picked up maximum points. The first time his side have won 3 games in a row since September and he will be looking to extend that run when we travel to Leith on Sunday. Smith will also be pleased in the manner in which Edu has come into the midfield and offered a balance that arguably was missing when Mendes and Ferguson, two players who are excellent going forward but less disciplined defensively, play together. Neil Alexander has stepped in to fill McGregor�s gloves to great effect and it demonstrates the defensive strength of Walter Smith�s squad that such a massive change at a critical stage of the season has barely been worthy of discussion since Alexander first pulled on the gloves against Falkirk. The return of Stevie Smith to offer competition to Papac, who is hoping to be fit for this weekend�s match, is another welcome boost. Smith played in left midfield against Motherwell as Walter looked to ease him back into fold and with the inability of any player to make that position his own, the committed display against our Lanarkshire neighbours should be enough to allow Steven to keep his place this weekend. As had been mentioned earlier on, Boyd�s return to goal-scoring form has come at a vital time with Lafferty and Miller struggling for fitness and Novo and Naismith struggling for form. The Ayrshire hitman is looking to break the 30 goal mark and if he can get near to the 39 he scored the year Eck bought him from Killie there is every possibility that will be enough to secure league flag number 52. The emergence of Velicka from the wilderness could also be important with striking options getting thinner by the week. Added to all of this, the relentless pursuit of victories and 3 points, the return to form of key players and the re-emergence of some of the squad�s forgotten men is the boost of the announcement of the final Old Firm fixture, confirmed for the second post-split fixture on May 9th. This news means that Bougherra�s one match suspension, that rules him out of the opening post split tie will be served when Celtic travel to Govan. The Algerian stopper was unavailable as McDonald took advantage of Kirk Broadfoot�s lack of games in his favoured centre-back role and Celtic ran out 1-0 winners. He was also unable to prevent the 2-0 loss last month. The classy defender has to be the leading candidate for both Rangers and the SPL�s POTY. I, as no doubt most other fans, will be relieved that the Bougherra should be marshalling our back line in the final Old Firm encounter of the year. There are a number of issues still to be addressed at Ibrox and Murray Park, both on the field and in the boardroom. However, recent weeks have shown we have strength in depth of quality within the squad and a strength of character capable of winning this League and the Scottish Cup. If we win the two games prior to the Old Firm, beginning with Hibs this weekend, will take us into the Old Firm knowing a victory at Ibrox will put us in the driving seat for the Championship with all the momentum on our side of the city. The opportunity is there. It is up to Walter Smith, Davie Weir and co. to grasp it with both hands.

That's the attitude. Into this shower Rangers.

In short: Might be back this weekend: Papac Back fro St Mirren Cup Semi: McCulloch Beasley Maybe back for Celtic: Lafferty No date set yet: Miller Broadfoot Out for Season: Thomson Still looking poor for us on the injury front. So even better news about the OF date and Boogies being available. Edit: forgot to add good to have a recognised LB in Papac available even though we did ok without him last time out.

Brilliant news. Boogie available. :cheers:

Just noticed that too. Good news. Not read the article in full yet though. Any indication of when he will be available for selection again?

No he didn't. I thought Gribz was the only one that believed this. Boyd can't play the role. I don't disagree. I just don't think this current Rangers squad is suited to that formation with such negative tactics. The above wasn't a defence of Boyd or arguing for the sake of arguing a point I could not succesfully do so. It was pointing out that we are not equipped with the players to play 4-5-1 in Scotland and consistently get the win through playing better than our opponents. Seriously, it is a worrying situation when we're commending Sebo, a Striker lets remember, for some reckless slide tackles and absolutely no attacking play of note over a player who is an effective attacker but not a defender. Sebo's performance at Parkhead has grown some kind of mythical status. It was an improvement by his standards. But did we have any shots. Did he do aaything exciting going forward? Or did he play like a donkey of a centre back or I dunno a WWE wrestler asked to do a job upfront?

Neither does Kenny Miller. And I'm yet to be convinced by Lafferty doing it either. That's not a criticism of those players. Just recognition of the fact that it is a very hard role to play, particularly when the two wide midfielders in the 5 and any one of the central midfielders tasked with the role of getting forward do not support the lone front man. Cousin seemed to manage it ok in Scotland. And Drogba seems adept at playing the role at the highest standard. However Drogba had excellent support from the likes of Cole, Robben and Lampard when Chelsea utilised the formation so effectively. I do not understand this fascination with the 4-5-1 when we don't have a striker to play the lone role effectively, nor the pace and width on the flanks or an attacking midfielder to support them. We should go into any game to win it. Deploying 4-5-1 and barring outrageous luck or individual brilliance and we are already reducing our options to a draw or a defeat. It's all very well saying Boyd can't play in a 4-5-1, but very few of the players in our pool compliment that formation. We're not playing in Europe looking for a nil-nil at home and then to score on the counter in the away tie. And if we expect to play like that in the run-in, games we need to win, we will lose the title to too many draws. Some teams will simply sit in and take the draw or teams like Hearts and Dundee United will take the game to us and likely the three points. We're not playing Fiorentina, Sporting Lisbon or Werder Bremen here. So why play like we are over-matched in quality where only luck will see us achieve the results we need???

Smith impressed you sufficiently to retain the LM spot? Would be good to see him save his Rangers career. Still think he could be a good player for us, although eventually moving back to LM. If Fergie is not to come in for Mendes I would be tempted not to play him at all. Edu has been one of the better midfielders imo and offers slightly better balance in a similar way to which Thomson did, though not nearly as effective. Personally though, as I say, I would rest Mendes to ensure his availability for the Old Firm. I would probably risk continuing Boyd with Miller and lafferty out and with the knowledge Smith probably doesn't want him for the OF anyway. Wouldn't really argue with your team though.

I think if some people had their way it would merely be the Northern Ireland squad playing at Ibrox.

Does that include Mendes right now though? :devil: Ian and Cal have said he's not the player some make out. What would be your starting XI?

Nutter. Where was it Pete?

Posted this after Fergie and Shagger let themselves, their club and their country down in the hope of stirring some positivity about the club. After all the other issues we'd battled through this season and trailing the mhanks, those two players actions just further added to the negativity surrounding the club and chances of success this year. However it's good to note since officially taking the captaincy til the end of the season Davie Weir has led the club to maximum points. Here's hoping the big man keeps it going til the end of the season. Starting with Hibs this weekend. 3 more points please Grandfather Time.

I imagine they have a few different schedules lined up already and are merely waiting to see who comprises the top 6 before publishing the final list.

Hateley's opinion of Boyd seems to have flip-flopped more than anybody's. Seems to contradict himself from week to week.

Wont argue that Bougherra is the one player I most want available for the OF match.

Do you think we could beat Hibs though with a midfield of Davis Fergie Edu Smith/Beasley/Fleck Ensuring Mendes would not be suspended for the arguably harder, final Old Firm game? You want the strongest team for every game, but if Mendes got booked this weekend he might not be available for Celtic and hence we couldn't play our strongest team. Might resting Mendes be the best way to utilise our squad in the run in.

With Well and Hibs being tied on points with Hibs the GD advantage prior to this evenings match does anyone have an opinion over which way we want this one to go with respect to us playing Hibs this weekend and how we would prefer the post=split fixtures to pan out?

I have heard that Boyd and Mendes are walking a disciplinary tight rope. If they were to be booked this weekend they would be unavailable for the second post split game with the way suspensions kick in and of course that fixture is currently pencilled in as the final Old Firm. Bearing that in mind would anyone be tempted to rest Mendes and play Barry to ensure the Portuguese playmaker is available for the Old Firm tie, be it the first or second post split game (I don't think there is any way they would risk having it later)? Or would you be worried it would weaken our team for the Hibs game and potentially cost us three points. THe Boyd situation is slightly different. I'm not sure we have an adequate replacement for him this weekend and Smith could very well drop him for the Old Firm in any case. What would Gersnet do?

First time we've won 3 on the bounce since September with Miller out. Blessing in disguise? :box::devil:

Even some Rangers fans will not be comfortable in reading that. Hopefully Boydie hasn't read that though as he usually performs better when he feels he has a point to prove. With yet another season of uninspiring candidates I would have to say he is in with a shout. Though I think he should have been nominated each year he's been here and should definitely have won it his first half season.

Would be foolhardy to go against the police's wishes. :devil:

I'd keep him if it was me and look to get him fit, match sharp and pushing for first choice. In this time of financial turmoil for the club surely this would be the cheaper choice too?