chilledbear

@RFC_Youth: This is the youngest team Ian Durrant has fielded as U20s manager. The average age is 18.8.

@RFC_Youth: U20 team to play Dundee United: McCrorie Brandon White Dykes Brownlie Lang Jeffries Ashmore Currie Thompson Roberts

@RFC_Youth: 12' GOAL! BRADON! 0-1 He latches onto a short throw from Jeffries to skip into the box and fire home, impressively, on the angle.

Just rumours at the moment. @alanles007: @VidmarFF @exposingphil @NewcoTed meeting this week should hopefully bring some good news for the club. @VidmarFF: @alanles007 @exposingphil @NewcoTed Are you hearing murmurs re Sports Direct? Because I am. @alanles007: @VidmarFF @exposingphil @NewcoTed king on route to meeting with Ashley. @exposingphil: @VidmarFF @alanles007 @NewcoTed With charges last week balance of power in negotiations definitely shifted. @VidmarFF: @exposingphil @alanles007 @NewcoTed Indeed. I'm hearing they are keen to reach agreement.

Some reliable sources mentioning this on twitter today.

His daughter tweeted this yesterday. http://twitter.com/Kristen0112/status/640608540747526144/photo/1

Good post D'Art. I'm sure Sandy Jardine would have been at the forefront in the building of bridges, for all our sakes it has to be done.

This Zak Rudden always seems to be among the goals, whatever age group. Decent player ??

Criticised our defending earlier in the season, and still feel we cannot always play this way. Decided just to enjoy the journey.

The 4 ladies at the top of the pic. http://willievass.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/050915-Rangers-v-Raith-Rovers/G0000AJ84ebLJ1bE/I0000gJ3ekWB.WW8/C0000MIVcNn8eIWw

Enjoy........ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bl6vnl3D_rY&ab_channel=chommy

Re number 4 Fraud cases are not easy cases to prosecute and as far as I'm aware do not have a good success rate. What was the last big fraud case in Scotland and how did it turn out ?

Wonderful to watch, and his lead up to Barrie McKays goal. A wee shout for McKay, I always thought he might come good if given a chance. Glad for the lad.

Let's enjoy this, I think after the last few years we deserve it. Kind of unbelievable things have turned so quickly. Some of the football is a joy to watch, looking forward to see how we perform against an St. Johnstone.

Davie Weir had him at SU.

@mrandrewdickson: Folk asking if I expect any business from @RangersFC before the window closes. I know MW said 'probably not' but it wouldn't surprise me.

Kevin McDonald Wolves in January. So says rumours on FF and Twitter.

Very good and informative article. Davie Weir was some signing by WS.

We are big news with our results and sold out Ibrox games, they miss us more than we missed them.

I like the thinking behind this, not before time to be honest. RANGERS Under 14s will travel to Northern Ireland this weekend to take part in a four team tournament with a French Academy, the Northern Ireland national team and Everton. Under the guidance of former Rangers captain Ally Dawson and fellow coach Gary Gibson, it will be the second event the U14s have attended in the last two weeks having been defeated in the final of a tournament last weekend in Newcastle featuring Newcastle United, Sunderland and Middlesbrough. Also this weekend the under 11s and under 12s will travel to Blackburn to face Blackburn Rovers in 9 v 9 matches at their Academy. These tournaments and visits south of the border are now a regular occurrence and are part of a new Academy strategy to challenge the young Rangers players as often as possible. Head of Academy Craig Mulholland said: “Playing ‘best v best’ matches as often as possible will accelerate the development of our young Academy players and this will be the third tournament that the 14s group have attended since the start of the season. “The under 9s, 10s, 11s, 12s, 16s and 17s have also played in top tournaments or played in England against Premier League opposition this season resulting in matches against the likes of Manchester City, Liverpool, Newcastle, Sunderland, AIK Stockholm and Tottenham Hotspur. “Exposing our players to this level of opposition is critical to their development if our Academy is to improve the quality of player we produce and achieve our aim of developing lads who can play at the highest level of the game in the Champions League. “Taking on these challenges is a key component of the new culture we are creating within the Academy. “If the emphasis in our Academy was all about winning then you may not take these challenges however our focus is firmly on player development. “While these tournaments can throw up a range of different results we have no doubt in the longer term it will help us produce technically excellent, intelligent footballers and that is far more important than whether one of our teams wins a match at youth level. These tournaments are exciting for the players and the staff and it allows us to put Rangers name back among the big clubs in Europe where we belong. “It also allows us to put our new style of play and football philosophy into practice and for the staff it is an opportunity to observe and share best practice with coaches from other clubs. “We hope all of the lads have a great time this weekend and gain a lot from the experience.” http://www.rangers.co.uk/news/academy-news/item/9975-u14s-on-their-travels-again

@AndyNewportPA: Warburton also confirms Marius Zaliukas' days with Gers are "limited" + says there is no hard feelings after Darren McGregor signed for Hibs

Looks like Durrant is enjoying the new Manager. A THOROUGHLY dominant performance from Rangers under-20s in their 2-0 win over Inverness tonight left coach Ian Durrant absolutely thrilled. Dylan Dykes had the youngsters ahead early before Robbie Crawford sealed the points in the second half to make it two wins and a draw from the youngsters’ opening three games in the SPFL Development League. Afterwards, Durrant spoke to RangersTV.tv and explained: “We were excellent from start to finish, and we totally dominated the game, and the win was just reward for the work they put in tonight. “We’ll find out on Friday when we do our video analysis just how much possession we had, but even on the eye you saw how much we dominated and also our eagerness and willingness to get on the ball tonight was exceptional, and it was a really good team effort. “We lost our centre-forward – Ryan Hardie – to the first team, which we don’t mind doing, so we had to put Robbie Crawford in there as a makeshift, and I thought he was absolutely excellent.” The two goals scored by Rangers tonight really were excellent, with Dykes doing extremely well to finish on the slide from the edge of the area, before Crawford combined with Fraser Aird with a well-worked corner kick routine to make it 2-0. And the two strikes, as well as a number of individual performances, left Durrant delighted. He added: “Big Dylan has come in and shown a great desire to drive forward and that was a great finish from him. “We said to Robbie at half time to keep persevering and he would get his rewards – and it worked out that way with a great finish. “There’s a right feelgood factor around the club just now from the first team all the way down to the 20s, the 17s and the 16s, and with our new formation and way of playing the boys are really enjoying it, and I thought individually tonight there were some great performances. “At times Inverness were chasing their tails, but we showed really good patience, and you can see the way they are trying to evolve and play the game, and on any other night we might have scored more goals.” Motherwell are next up for Durrant’s men next Tuesday, with the Steelmen having won one and lost the other of the two matches they’ve played so far. Durrant said: “They will all be tough games, and Motherwell are always a stuffy team. We’ll go out and stick to our principals and what we’re trying to implement here.” http://www.rangers.co.uk/news/academy-news/item/9954-durrant-thrilled-with-win

@RFC_Youth: RANGERS: Robby McCrorie, Aird, Halkett, Ross McCrorie, White, Murdoch, Thompson, Dykes, Jeffries, Crawford, Roberts. @RFC_Youth: 3' A lively start here in the Dumbarton sunshine from Rangers, and once again boss Mark Warburton and assistant David Weir are here to watch Not able to do much more I'm afraid.

Our young players surely must benefit from training and playing with these lads, they look to have amazing ability.

America’s next top soccer star is a hotly run contest. It might not have a primetime cable TV slot, or Tyra Banks as host, but competition is fierce. Social media provides the judging panel, with YouTube clips and vines of a rabona or a Panenka from a US-born winger playing in a lowly European league enough to provoke a virtual frenzy – usually in the direction of Jurgen Klinsmann’s Twitter account. Previous contestants have failed to fulfil their promise: most notably Freddy Adu, but also perhaps Jozy Altidore, and to a certain extent Landon Donovan (although admitting so might be seen by some as soccer sacrilege). Now the country’s soccer collective have their hopes pinned on two teenagers. Gedion Zelalem of Arsenal and Bayern Munich’s Julian Green are the vanguard of America’s not totally American next generation. Zelalem (born in Berlin) and Green (born in Tampa but moved to Germany aged two) now find themselves at a pivotal juncture of their careers, with both players requiring first-team opportunities to hasten their development. And so with Green fresh from spending last season on loan at Hamburg, Zelalem is on the brink of a loan move of his own, by agreeing to join Rangers until January at least. But does a talent once described as possessing the ability to “dribble like Iniesta and pass like Xavi” belong at a higher level? Arsenal’s Gedion Zelalem to join Rangers on loan until January Read more On first impressions, the Scottish Championship is not the most obviousplace for Zelalem to develop as the world-class player he hopes to become, but US soccer’s next great hope is hardly pitching up at Alloa Athletic or Greenock Morton. At Rangers, under new manager Mark Warburton – a refreshingly progressive and forward-thinking coach – Zelalem will receive a more fitting induction to the senior game than seems apparent. The Glasgow club haven’t always been the best for developing wünderkinds. Ally McCoist’s side were a distinctly one-dimensional, hoof-and-hunt outfit last season, and had Rangers approached Arsenal for Zelalem this time last year, it’s fair to assume Arsène Wenger wouldn’t have been so willing to send the youngster north. Now, however, Rangers are a different team. Under new ownership and management, Rangers – for so long a toxic headline – look like a functional soccer side again. While McCoist’s side was a mishmash of washed-up and worn-out names, Warburton’s team are dynamic, incisive and exciting – making them the perfect fit for Zelalem. Scottish soccer is better than is often credited, but it’s also true that at such a level the German-born USA youth international would be a shining star in a winning team – and nothing builds confidence and stature like winning. In soccer terms, a move would appear to suit all three vested parties. A number of English Championship sides were reported to be interested in taking the 18-year-old on loan this season, although the player himself is thought to favour a spell in Scotland after visiting Rangers’ impressive Murray Park training facility for talks with Warburton on Tuesday. Wenger must make the right call on what is best for his young prodigy, with the allure of keeping Zelalem close by at a London club like Fulham surely strong. And yet the Arsenal boss must also recognise the additional benefits of sending Zelalem – who has only made two senior appearances for the Gunners – to Glasgow. Perhaps more so than ever before, Rangers are expected to win every game this season, having missed out on promotion to the top-flight last term. Such pressure, and playing in front of crowds of more than 50,000 on occasion, can only serve the teenager well at Arsenal – where the mental demands of delivering Premier League can crush even the brightest of young talents. A loan spell at Rangers could in fact be the ideal education. For Rangers, the benefits of securing a loan deal for Zelalem are clear. Warburton missed out on the signing of Scott Allan – their marquee summer target who joined Celtic last week – but the Arsenal teenager might be an even better fit, as a speedy, sharp-witted, adaptable midfielder with impeccable technique. Of course, no one can completely safeguard the surefire success of a player – even one of such ability – but Zelalem is not short of ringing references from those who have seen him at close quarters. “It won’t be long before he is ready [for the Arsenal first-team],” Jack Wilshere mused of Zelalem last year. “He sees passes that not a lot of players can, and he’s so comfortable on the ball. Even in training, he’s a nightmare to play against. He keeps the ball away from you and shields it. He’s not very big but he’s strong. He drifts in and out of players. Technically, he’s right up there. He can use his left and right and he sees so many passes.” Such qualities have drawn Warburton to Zelalem, as he looks to build a side out of keeping with how soccer in Scotland is widely regarded. Scotland can be a challenging place for players of his mould – Spurs loanee Nathan Oduwa was lambasted by an opposition defender last week for having the audacity to attempt a piece of trickery – but Rangers would appear to provide Zelalem with a platform to vindicate some of his own hype. Glasgow might be the perfect home for America’s next top soccer star. http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/aug/19/gedion-zelalem-usa-soccer-star-arsenal-rangers