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Mar 17 2009 By James Traynor WALTER SMITH has a decision to make and he needs to make it quickly. It might already be too late but if Rangers are to have any chance of winning the SPL he has to act ruthlessly and he has to act now. Frankly, the manager's choice should be an easy one because the evidence is damning. It isn't the up-and-down form of Steven Whittaker or David Weir's lack of mobility Rangers' fans should be fretting about. And forget the tiresome debate about Kris Boyd. These players are not the real problem and with all the intensity of aprison spotlight during a jail break, Rangers need to turn the focus of attention on one player, and one player only. Barry Ferguson. The biggest under-achiever in the Rangers squad has to be benched. The captain has brought nothing to the side since his return from a spell south of the Border and he is now more of a hindrance than a benefit to the team. As a skipper Rangers would be better with Captain Jack Sparrow. At least he's crafty enough not to lose the pieces of silver no matter the odds against him. This will sound like blasphemy to some because Ferguson is the Ibrox club's captain and everybody knows he'd be a season ticket-holder if he hadn't made it as a pro. He is a Rangers man through and through but he's not a leader of Rangers men and this club is heading towards the world's end. He looks much better than he actually is with his puffed-out chest and his bristling indignation when things don't go Rangers' or his way. He shouts a lot and often points like a cop on rush-hour traffic duty. Sadly, he is Rangers' all-action zero and it is time for people inside Ibrox not just to admit the truth but to act on it. Rangers have gone backwards since Ferguson returned and although he cannot be held responsible - other than taking �£25,000 a week in wages - for the club's financial meltdown you would have thought he, of all the players on the books, would have been setting the correct example in difficult times. After all, he was rescued from the south to give Rangers direction and impetus. He was seen as the one man who could drag the side towards league titles but he's been part of only one championship triumph. He rejoined in the January of season 2004-05 and AlexMcLeish's Rangers went on to win the title. That was the last one as Celtic threaten now to make it four in a row and you have to ask what Ferguson has actually achieved in that time. Apart from make life tougher than it might have been for Paul Le Guen. This isn't to suggest Ferguson was responsible for the Frenchman's Scottish nightmare but he could have helped more by making sure all players were behind the manager. Instead, splits developed within the camp and Le Guen realised his gamble in taking over from McLeish had failed. When the going is rough and faith is dwindling a club needs an onfield leader to work on the pysche of the squad pulling the factions together and making sure they're united in the cause of winning. But with Ferguson this club lost under Le Guen and they continue to lose while the same man continues to wear the armband in the centre of midfield. Without his captain Le Guen had no chance and now, perversely, Smith has little chance with him. Unfortunate coincidence? His apologists - and he isn't short of them - will say yes but Ferguson and Rangers' failure in the championship are linked because he has not been able to drive his team through tough games and he hasn't dominated opponents never mind matches. But since we mentioned coincidence, how about this: Why is it Rangers were a better, more skilful and free-flowing team when he was injured? And why is it that players like Kirk Broadfoot, Steven Whittaker, and even Pedro Mendes looked better when the captain wasn't around? Could it be he has a stifling effect on others or that one or two retreat into their shells when Ferguson is on the pitch moaning at everyone? He is supposed to be the midfield general and it's because of that myth Smith has been playing Steve Davis on the right of midfield when he is at his best in the centre. He wants to play there and now is the time for Smith to shuffle him inside to his real position. There's nothing to lose and everything to gain because Smith has kept faith with Ferguson and allowed him ample opportunity to prove he is the man. It's clear now he isn't and because Rangers are running out of time and matches they must do something radical. There is no time left for Ferguson to prove himself worthy of a start in the centre of midfield and the team would lose nothing if Smith left him out. Those players who appear to shrink in stature when he's about might again become emboldened in his absence and it isn't as though Smith is without alternatives to play on the right. Nacho Novo is fit again and if nothing else Rangers would benefit from his running, passion, and fierce desire to be a winner. Also, you just know the little Spaniard still believes it's a privilege to wear the jersey and his is exactly the attitude Rangers want right now. There's also Steven Naismith, who could play wide right, and that would free up Novo to go straight through the middle with Kenny Miller, although he looks as though he has lost confidence, Kyle Lafferty or Boyd. And because drastic times call for drastic measures why not let John Fleck play his preferred position just off the strikers, although that would leave a gap to be filled on the left. Accommodating the right players for the correct times is always difficult but by sticking with what is regarded more or less as the norm Rangers are losing the title to Celtic. Bold changes could be Smith's only salvation. It's easy to sit on the outside as a neutral observer but it is obvious Rangers need a shake-up and binning Ferguson just might be the start of a revival. If you weigh up his contribution since coming back to Ibrox nothing much would be lost. But just look at what might be gained. It might even be his own reinvention. http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/football/spl/rangers/2009/03/17/rangers-must-axe-barry-ferguson-before-they-blow-chance-of-winning-title-86908-21204544/

f fortune favours the brave then it surely follows that the converse also rings true. Rangers' misfortune in Sunday's Co-operative Insurance Cup final stemmed largely from their own faintheartedness. Walter Smith has never been one to gamble recklessly with team selection but it is one thing to be cautious and respectful of the opposition, and quite another to be ultra conservative to the point of strangling all creativity. For Smith, the fear of losing has now overtaken the desire to win. Simply put, Rangers should not be lining up in a 4-5-1 formation at a neutral venue. It is a system just about acceptable away from home against one of Europe's leading lights, or in a league match at Celtic Park. A national cup final at Hampden against Celtic is like heads up at poker. Smith assessed his hand, calculated what Gordon Strachan had on the other side of the table, and effectively folded. It spoke volumes about the Rangers manager's evaluation of his squad that he did not entrust them with the task of taking the game to their opponents, preferring instead to try to nullify Celtic and hope to sneak something on the counter-attack or from set-pieces. The irony, of course, is that both Celtic goals arrived from dead balls and that they similarly lined up 4-5-1. Gordon Strachan, though, turned the problem of a misfiring strikeforce into an opportunity by playing an extra midfielder, and allowing Aiden McGeady to roam free in a supporting role beside Scott McDonald. He has also shown a willingness to indulge his flair players like McGeady, Shunsuke Nakamura and Scott Brown in the knowledge that it is better to try to win a game, rather than simply attempting not to lose it. McGeady, Nakamura, and Brown may lack defensive discipline on occasion but they at least offer a regular spark in attack. Rangers, in contrast, were lifeless. advertisement They, too, had players at Hampden capable of offering an injection of ingenuity. Unlike Celtic's, however, they were all dressed in suits and seated in the stand. It would be unfair to lambast Christian Dailly, who has been a fine servant to many clubs as well as the national team throughout a distinguished career, but his inclusion on the bench aged 35 and without an appearance to his name for six months, was baffling. With just five substitutes permitted in this competition, Dailly's inclusion, presumably in case Kirk Broadfoot succumbed to the foot injury that had been troubling him in the build-up, used a berth that could have been taken by Steven Naismith, John Fleck, DaMarcus Beasley, or Aaron Niguez. Granted, none of that quartet has posed a consistent threat this season, but up against a Celtic defence shorn of its best operator - Gary Caldwell was redeployed in midfield - any one of them would surely have created at least a handful of chances. Denied any real service from the wings and with Kenny Miller utilised as a lone(ly) striker, it was little surprise that Rangers failed to score for the third Old Firm game in succession. Kyle Lafferty was his team's best player on the day but was given only half an hour in his preferred position through the middle before he was taken off. Kris Boyd and Nacho Novo made next to no impact from the bench, Pedro Mendes did little to suggest he should be a contender for Player of the Year, while Barry Ferguson's days of dominating the midfield battles seem increasingly to be behind him. Smith, reportedly, had prepared all week to play 4-4-2 with Lee McCulloch stationed wide on the left behind a front two of Lafferty and Miller. On receiving Celtic's teamsheet, however, Smith had a change of heart. Sensing the need to go like for like in midfield, McCulloch was moved inside, Lafferty shunted to the wing, and Miller left to go it alone up front. The reshuffled unit contained Celtic for 90 minutes before Darren O'Dea made the breakthrough early in extra time. Rangers had precious few resources with which to respond and paid the ultimate price. Smith now has 10 league matches left in which to make amends and shape his legacy. Should Rangers fail to win the title, it seems unlikely he will be given another season to try to end the championship drought. Another season without success and Celtic would be halfway towards 10-in-a-row. Should Smith win the title this season he may decide, aged 61, there will not be a better time to walk away. Ever the pragmatist, he will realise that one cup final defeat does not signal a need for panic. Until the shock loss to Inverness Caledonian Thistle recently, Rangers had gone through their opening 10 games of 2009 undefeated, conceding only two goals in that time. Madjid Bougherra, injured on Sunday, will return this weekend to further fortify the defence. A case could also be made for Steven Davis to be given an overdue opportunity to play in the central midfield role he so craves at the expense of either Ferguson or Mendes. Lafferty has done enough to earn an extended run at centre forward, while Fleck will return hungrier after dropping out of the side following a stellar start. Navigating the closing weeks of the season will be a real test of nerves for all involved. It will take strong hearts and minds. Sometimes it will also require a sense of adventure and a willingness to take a gamble. Fortune does favour the brave, after all. http://www.theherald.co.uk/sport/headlines/display.var.2495904.0.Time_for_Smith_to_abandon_his_conservative_instincts.php

JOHN FLECK is one of four Rangers youngsters to be named in Billy Stark's Scotland U21 squad for the country's forthcoming European Championship 2011 qualifiers. Andrew ShinnieIt is Fleck's first call-up for the under-21 set-up and he is joined by goalkeeper Scott Gallacher, midfielder Andrew Shinnie and striker Rory Loy. The 2009 European Championship finals will be played this summer in Sweden but with Scotland failing to progress to this stage they will now get their qualifying campaign for 2011 underway with a double-header against Group 10 opponents Albania. The fixture dates are as follows: Albania v Scotland Ruzhdi Bizhuta Stadium, Elbasan Saturday, March 28 - Kick-off: 3.30pm Scotland v Albania The Falkirk Stadium, Falkirk Wednesday, April 1 - Kick-off: 5.30pm Scotland's other Group 10 opponents are Austria, Belarus and Azerbaijan. The ten group winners and four best runners-up advance to the Final Tournament Play Off which will take place between the 9th and 13th of October 2010.

And I can’t believe that I’m typing this, we are now the only team able to win the domestic treble. Even after the Inverness debacle, we are still in pole position to land a historic eighth treble and the quest for this treble begins in earnest today. The CO-OP Cup Final has come under various guises over the years, but it is a tournament that has been very kind to us and one that we have been very successful in over the years. On Sunday we will be aiming to win the league cup for a record breaking 26th time. The first official Scottish League Cup was contested in season 1946-47 and we defeated Aberdeen in the Hampden final. Whilst Sunday gives us the opportunity to win the first leg of the treble, it could also give us a psychological boost for the remainder of the league campaign where we have slipped to second favourites after the terrible league performance last Wednesday against ICT at Ibrox. Once again, a diabolical substitution cost us a vital three points in the race for the title. Instead of making a straight swap – Fleck off and Aaron on, Walter Smith decides to replace Edu (one of our better performers on the night) with Lafferty, a change that required four players moving positions and resulted in us losing all momentum that eventually cost us the three points. Sunday will also give an indication as to how the remainder of the season will pan out player / tactics wise. It is a cup final, a one off occasion so you would expect out management team to select a team to win the trophy, rather than a team not to lose the game. The same can be said for the remaining league games. We are now three points behind so the emphasis is on us to win all our remaining SPL games to ensure that the league title comes home to Ibrox. I for one am not confident of the above. I fully expect a 4-5-1 today and can imagine Walter resorting to this formation in the SPL, especially on our travels. The players and management have shown a lack of belief and courage when it was required most. We have been given ample opportunities to cement our place at the top of the SPL, but every-time these opportunities present themselves, we shoot ourselves in the foot. The only consolation is that today’s opposition are as bad as we are. Take out their 7-1 drubbing of St Mirren then their recent form is actually worse than ours. Our ability to win the SPL this season takes on extra significance given the perilous financial situation that we find ourselves in. Another season without Champions League money is unthinkable, so winning the SPL is a must (both financially and more importantly, to stop them from making it four in a row) and the warning shots have been fired. No matter what trophies we happen to win this season, we will be selling at least eight players in the summer. Fail to reach the Champions League, this number may rise. This again is unthinkable as this would further weaken our squad thus making it harder to mount a domestic challenge next season – it’s the classic snowball effect of downsizing. We are in pole position in the Scottish Cup given Celtc’s loss to St Mirren at the weekend, a result that should have lifted our collective spirits as once again, it showed how ordinary a team that they are. Faced with pace and physical presence they struggle (were you watching Mr Smith?). I would gladly give up the two domestic cups to ensure that we win the SPL. That would be hard to take admittedly, especially given Sunday’s opponents. It is always unbearable losing to them, but losing to them in a final hurts even more (see below). The league is the priority, but today, lets enjoy our day in the sun (hopefully) and lets get the Old Lady rocking. Cammy F -

STEVEN NAISMITH gave Walter Smith something to think about this afternoon by scoring a first-half double as Rangers' Reserves beat Hibs 2-1 at Murray Park. Steven NaismithWith a League Cup final against Celtic only days away Naisy showed the gaffer his desire to be involved with an impressive 90-minute display. The 22-year-old, playing in his preferred role through the middle, was lively from the kick-off and bagged the opening goal on 24 minutes. A John Fleck corner was nodded down by Christian Dailly and his teammate was there to hammer the ball home past Andrew McNeil. The second goal arrived just seconds before the half-time interval. Fleck again delivered a teasing cross from a corner and Naismith stepped away from his marker before heading the ball in to the net. Tommy Wilson admitted after the final whistle that slackness crept in to his side's play after the restart and DaMarcus Beasley was guily of missing a snip when he was one-on-one with McNeil. The American got the ball tangled between his legs before it was cleared to safety. John Fleck A third goal at this stage would have killed off Hibs' chances but and they were to pull a goal back on 70 minutes. Substitute Damon Gray played in Jack Wilson who angled a tidy finish beyond Neil Alexander. In the dying stages the impressive Mo Edu skipped past three men before rifling a low shot across McNeil. Unfortunately it went inches wide of target but it showed the midfielder's undoubted athletiscism and his potential at pushing forward in to the last third. In the end Rangers' deservedly secured three points and the fixture proved an excellent run-out for first-team players such as Beasley, Fleck, Hemdani and Steven Smith. It was Naismith, however, that really threw his name in the hat for Sunday's final and he clearly relished being utilised as a striker again. RANGERS: Alexander; Lowing, Webster (Harvey), Dailly, S. Smith; Lennon, Hemdani (Wylde), Edu, Beasley (Little); Fleck, Naismith Subs Not Used: Gallacher, Kinniburgh

RANGERS' Reserves are back in action this afternoon when the take on Hibs at Murray Park and several first-team stars will be out to impress ahead of Sunday's League Cup final. Coach Tommy Wilson will be able to field a strong starting eleven for today's SPL clash and Hibs are likely to do the same with Mixu Paatelainen's team not in action last weekend. Neil Alexander, Christian Dailly, Andy Webster, Steven Naismith, Brahim Hemdani, Mo Edu, John Fleck, Steven Naismith and DaMarcus Beasley are all available for selection for Gers. Today's game will kick-off at 1pm.

The introduction of McCulloch yesterday showed that Smith certainly still has his say in Cup game matters or that McCoist agrees with him. The fact he came on ahead of Edu and went on to play the holding role (before being forced to centre-half) shows that we will undoubtedly be playing 4-5-1 this Sunday... Can't see Fleck, Aaron or Beasley getting into the team either so that means either Miller of Lafferty being played on the left wing as well. Surely we should be taking the game to Celtic than being wary of a team that is no better than us and is having defensive and goalscoring problems? 4-5-1 can be a decent system when required. Next week it isn't.

Football too easily lends itself to hysterical judgment. It hasn't taken long for Rangers' 1-0 defeat by Inverness Caledonian Thistle at Ibrox on Wednesday night to be decreed a ââ?¬Å?calamityââ?¬Â and a ââ?¬Å?disasterââ?¬Â, with every claim ranging from calls for Walter Smith's head to the permanent dumping of Kris Boyd being made. Rangers, a club with every chance of winning the 2009 title, are said to be at a low ebb. Caley Thistle's victory was certainly a setback for Smith's side but too much is already being read into the result. The chase for the Clydesdale Bank Premier League title, at both Celtic Park and Ibrox, is going to endure quite a few more such moments as Wednesday night, so it seems silly to sound off emphatically about the harm that Terry Butcher's men have done to Rangers. Come early April, let's just see how many more random glitches have been added to the plot. Rangers were poor on Wednesday but they weren't ââ?¬Å?disgracefulââ?¬Â or ââ?¬Å?shockingââ?¬Â as some hot-headed supporters around the pressbox were claiming. Caley Thistle, in truth, were extremely lucky to win and, as stonewall a penalty as David Weir's late challenge on David Proctor was, Butcher's team had hardly been within 30 yards of Allan McGregor's goal. The fact that Rangers revealed some obvious flaws cannot conceal the fact that they were blatantly robbed at the death. Those who rant and rave at Smith's renowned caution may also pause to consider some of the aspects of Rangers' failings on the night. John Fleck, whom you could almost be forgiven for thinking was a new, young Diego Maradona in our midst, given some of his press coverage, played poorly, losing possession easily or running up blind alleys with the ball. A few Ibrox diehards were yelling for Fleck to be taken off long before he was on Wednesday, and it should serve again to warn those who already have this young footballer's mesmerising career mapped out ahead of him. Related Links * Fans turn on sorry Rangers * Someone is letting Rangers down These games happen every so often. Before Wednesday night Rangers had been running into some decent form - unlike Celtic - and their defence had begun to look stingy in the extreme. Right now, one match cannot be said to have undone all of that, and talk of the wheels coming off Rangers' title challenge is simply absurd. What you do need if you are a Rangers supporter today, given some of the players at the club, is a well of compassion and patience which are normally alien to football supporters. In their different ways Boyd, Kirk Broadfoot, Steven Davis and Maurice Edu all have the ability to infuriate. Davis, in particular, is neat and tidy, but for a Ã?£4million player should probably have more severe weapons in his arsenal. In Edu's case, it is still too early to judge, though some remain faintly amazed that Rangers paid an alleged Ã?£2.6million for the player. In terms of such a price, is Edu a Filip Sebo - all Ã?£1.8million of him - all over again? The most infuriating Rangers player of all remains Boyd: what a goalscorer and what a plodder. When Boyd, in the opening moments against Caley Thistle, was given time and space in the old inside-left channel in the penalty area, but then over-ran the ball, Ibrox let out a knowing groan. The striker will forever have his limitations, and when he is enduring one of his leaner scoring spells, such as now, they will always be held against him. Some of Britain's greatest goalscorers have also been average footballers, but their goals were all that mattered. That truth is something that Boyd is going to have to live with. In the weeks and months ahead Rangers have still to go to Celtic Park, Tannadice, Tynecastle, Easter Road and many another testing ground. As the noose tightens in the SPL race, Celtic face an equal gamut of hazardous trips. If last season's dramatic closing weeks taught us anything, it surely is that early March is no time to be making weighty pronouncements about the title race. It seems inconceivable that both halves of the Old Firm do not have stumbles and failures remaining within them. Smith looked a mite world-weary as he faced the media after Wednesday's humbling defeat. Ibrox had just been on his back, and for a brief moment he resembled the same Smith who bore the pressure somewhat less well in his first innings with Rangers back in the 1990s. But the 60-year-old Ibrox manager has seen it all, and will not be joining those who have started writing the club's 2008-09 obituary. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/scotland/article5854044.ece

by Thomas Jordan AFTER waiting four months for their opportunity to return to the top of the table, Rangers latest reign as league leaders lasted all of 11 days. Hardly the hallmark of a team with the durability required to succeed as champions. The 1-0 defeat at the hands of Caley Thistle this week has prompted questions over the Ibrox club's title credentials. The obvious one, of course, will be do they have the bottle to come out on top in such a fiercely contested title battle? A two-week shutdown from the league, as they take on Hamilton Accies in the quarter-finals of the Scottish Cup before facing Celtic in the Co-operative Insurance Cup Final at Hampden Park, will put Rangers' title challenge on the back burner. advertisement That, however, will do little to dilute concerns among the Light Blue legions that their defeat to the Highlanders is a signal that this squad doesn't have what it takes to stop Celtic making it four-in-a-row. The implications if Rangers don't win the league are huge. From a financial perspective, it is imperative the riches that go hand in hand with entry to the Champions League are secured next season after failure to reach that stage this season left a �£10million black hole in the club's finances. Winning the championship this season will once again offer the SPL winners direct entry to the group stage of the competition. The runners-up, like this season, would face two qualifying games, but the standard of opposition standing in their path will dramatically increase under Uefa's qualification criteria revamp. On March 21 against Hearts, Walter Smith will turn his full attention back of the title race with Celtic now out in front, albeit only marginally with a three-point advantage. He will have 10 matches which will not only shape their season, but possibly the foreseeable future of the club. Does the Rangers manager have the players at his disposal to come out in top against a Celtic side that has already shown, not just last season but in previous campaigns, that they are good enough to prosper under the white heat of a title run-in? Indeed, captain Barry Ferguson is the only member of Walter Smith's squad who has truly influenced and delivered title success. Nacho Novo, who is currently out injured, has also played his part in the past as Alex McLeish delivered two championship trophies in 2005. But he has been no more than a bit-part player at Rangers in recent seasons. Here, SportTimes takes a look at the men who will be required to stand up and be counted in 10 league games of monumental importance to the Ibrox club. IN GOOD HANDS Allan McGregor has returned to the sort of form that brought speculation of a �£9m move to the Premiership last season. After a difficult start to the campaign, as he tried to find his feet following a long injury lay-off, the Ibrox goalkeeper is once again turning in some vital performances. McGregor's goal has been breached only four times in 13 matches. So this isn't a position that would cause Smith much concern. FULL-BACK FAILINGS Smith's first task as they prepare to welcome a rejuvenated Hearts side to Ibrox will be to find a replacement for the suspended Davie Weir. The stopper's red card, following a rare mistake which gifted Caley the three points on Wednesday, will mean he'll have to sit out against his former club. On previous occasions, Kirk Broadfoot has been moved inside from his usual right-back beat and Steven Whittaker has come out of cold storage to play as a full-back. That, you'd imagine, would tempt most opposing managers to try and expose Gers backline. Madjid Bougherra has been their most consistent defender throughout this season. Indeed, Smith probably doesn't like to dwell on what his defence would be like without him at its heart As for Weir, his displays, in fairness, have been pretty consistent. It's the full-back areas that let Rangers down. The way they play, both see plenty of the ball and are encouraged to push forward. While Broadfoot is always willing to do so, too often his final ball simply isn't good enough. At least, however, he is willing to get involved in the game. Papac, no doubt to the constant frustration of the Rangers management, is far more reluctant to join in on attacks. So is it a defence you could bank on to hold firm? Well, their recent form has been impressive, but cracks could appear the more pressure is put on them. WIDE-BOYS REQUIRED Pedro Mendes's influence has been badly missing in Rangers recent two matches. The Portuguese playmaker provides an extra dimension to their attacking play in particular. His passes are crisp, he spots things early and, unlike many of his colleagues, he isn't too predictable at times. Next to him will be the captain Ferguson. Having been over the course many times before, he knows what it takes to deliver a championship. And, as skipper, he knows there are more eyes on him than any other member of the Rangers squad. Maybe Rangers' biggest problem is that they don't boast natural wide players. For all Steven Davis has enjoyed an excellent campaign, he isn't an out-and-out winger. Neither is Kyle Lafferty, Lee McCulloch, Steven Naismith nor the various players deployed on the left of midfield this season. Perhaps the most comfortable in such a position is young John Fleck. But he is still cutting his teeth at this level. It would be unfair, for all his natural ability and enthusiasm, to expect him to carry older and more experienced team-mates between now and the end of the season. Overall, Rangers have a midfield that works well enough together but there have been several occasions this season when they could have played all night and not carved out a chance for any of the striker. BOYD BACK-UP Who scores the goals if Kris Boyd isn't bagging them? Kenny Miller pops up now and again with one, sometimes two, but can he do it when it matters most? Can he keep a cool head inside the penalty area when that one of only chance of the game comes his way? History would suggest not. Lafferty is struggling to provide clues as to how he is going to become a key player at Rangers and while Novo is always a threat coming off the bench, his injury problems could prevent him from being at his best for some time. This department, probably more than any other, will be the one that Smith will be concerned about the most. When everything is going well, they are most certainly capable of finding the back of the net. In the comings weeks, however, there will be more than one occasion when Smith is on the sidelines hoping to one of his frontman to snatch a goal that transformers what is appearing to be one point into three. Time, of course, will tell. Only a fool would predict the outcome of the current championship. But Rangers aren't only playing for the title - the financial baggage it carries means the future of the club is at stake. http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/display.var.2493863.0.0.php

ARCHIE CAMPBELL has recently watched on as Gers teammate John Fleck forced his way in to Walter Smith's first-team plans and the young striker hopes to follow in his friend's footsteps in the not too distant future. Archie CampbellCampbell has been in electric form for Billy Kirkwood's under-19s this season, scoring 13 goals in 16 starts, and his ability to hit the net has kept his side in the chase for another domestic double. The Fife-born hitman joined Rangers at the tender age of 14 and came through the ranks with Fleck at club and international level. The pair featured for Scotland's U16s in the Victory Shield and were being touted as two of the most promising players in the country at that time. While Fleck has shot to stardom in 2009 Campbell has been continuing his development with the 19s and doing his best to impress so that he can take the next step in his blossoming career. At 17 he has plenty of time on his side but Archie admits he would love to be one of the next players from the under-19 squad to be drafted in to the top-team. He said: "I think the young players at the club have really been given a chance by the manager recently which is great. "Flecky, of course, has been brilliant but we have also seen the likes of Danny Wilson and Jamie Ness on the bench and they are only 17. "I am roughly the same age as them so hopefully if I can keep scoring goals I might get a chance in the future. "We will wait and see what happens but I think there is a big opportunity for all the players right now. Archie Campbell "Flecky has shown what can be achieved if you work hard, show the right attitude and impress the coaches here." Archie's pace and ability to find the net made him a stand-out as he progressed through the ranks at Murray Park. These attributes have again been evident in 2008/09 and he bagged a double against Hamilton Accies on Saturday to add to his impressive tally this season. He said: "I have been pleased with the way I have played this season and hopefully I am improving all the time. "I have managed to get a few goals and still have another year wit the 19s so I am happy with that but I know I need to keep working hard on every part of my game. "Right now I am trying to get stronger by working in the gym with the physios and this will help me a lot on the pitch." Rangers will take on Inverness Caley Thistle in the semi-final stage of the SFA Youth Cup on March 29 after the Highland Jags beat Old Firm rivals Celtic in a dramatic penalty shoot-out at the Tulloch Stadium. The tie will give the Murray Park starlets another chance to run out at Ibrox Stadium and Archie is not surprised to be facing Caley for a place in the final. He said: "I think most people thought that would be up against Celtic but I knew it was going to be a tough game for them. Archie Campbell"Caley made it difficult for us earlier in the season and I am sure they will do that again when they come to Glasgow later in the month. "But we are at home and the holders of the Cup so we will be confident going in to it and have a good chance of going through. "It's great the game is at Ibrox and we all want to get to the final at Hampden. Hopefully we can do that." The 19s have now extended their lead at the top of the league to four points after closest rivals Hibs drew with Celtic and Rangers romped to a 4-0 win over Hamilton on Sunday. Despite having a young squad Archie is confident his team have the quality and character to win the title again this season. He added: "The team have done great so far but we have to keep it going. "We still have a lot of big games coming up and need to have the right attitude going in to every one. "We are a young group of players but we are confident going in to every game and always think we can get three points." The 19s next match is against Dundee United on Saturday at Thomson Park, Dundee, kick-off 1pm.

It was one thing recently for the Old Firm to drop out of the Deloitte Top-20 List for Europeââ?¬â?¢s richest football clubs: when you consider the Milans, Real Madrids and Manchester Uniteds of this world, what right do either Rangers or Celtic have to be permanently hobnobbing with the elite? Within the Scottish context, though, I was still shocked by the poor financial health of Rangers, given their most recent set of accounts issued in recent days. It was alarming, even given their Champions League exit in August, to note that Rangersââ?¬â?¢ turnover amounted to a feeble Ã?£21 million ââ?¬â?? almost Ã?£13 million down on the previous year and just 44 per cent of Celticââ?¬â?¢s equivalent figure. Even worse were the ancillary figures in their interim report. Rangers made a pretax loss of Ã?£2.7 million, down Ã?£6 million on 2007, and their retained loss was Ã?£4 million, a decline of Ã?£6.2 million on the previous year. It appears that Rangers are on course this season for a total income-from-trading of around Ã?£42 million to Ã?£43 million, way below the target the Ibrox hierarchy should be hitting in this day and age. Or, put it another way, the amount of business that Rangers will generate in the present financial year will be less than Celtic posted for their first six months. Sir David Murray recently rebuked ââ?¬Å?the amateur economistsââ?¬Â who had been poring over Rangersââ?¬â?¢ figures and picking holes. In one sense he is on sure ground: his business track record stands as a testament to his financial bravado and risk-taking. But Murray, surely, will deplore the fact that Rangers are falling so far behind Celtic in almost every area off the park. Compared with Rangersââ?¬â?¢ six-month Ã?£4 million loss, Celtic have just posted an Ã?£8 million profit, and are making millions more than Rangers from their commercial affairs. The Old Firm were never meant to be as unequal as this. Even worse now is that old, dreaded subject of Murray and Rangers: debt. Four years ago, Murray, scolded by coverage of Rangersââ?¬â?¢ near Ã?£80 million net debt, vowed to wipe out the Ibrox overload and proceeded to chip away at it. Ultimately, it took the absorption of the Rangers debt by Murrayââ?¬â?¢s umbrella company, Murray International Holdings, to fix the problem, but, nonetheless, fixed in that sense it was. But look at it now. Rangers tried and failed to sell a principal playing asset during January, and now we know why. Their figures to December 31 have set alarm bells ringing again, and the Ibrox debt is once more estimated to be somewhere between Ã?£25 million and Ã?£30 million and rising. Again, the contrast with Celtic will pain those Rangers fans who crave the day when their club are back on a healthy footing. Celtic have just announced that their debt is less than Ã?£1 million, which means that, over the next two years, they will be in a far healthier position to enhance their team. Given all this, when you recall the August day that Rangers sold Carlos CuÃ?©llar to Aston Villa for Ã?£8 million, it all makes more sense now. Rangers will not have received all of that money up front, but their loss-making would have looked even worse had CuÃ?©llar not been sacrificed. It is putting it too strongly to say that Rangers are back in a financial mess, but their financial performance is deeply unimpressive. The question is, who is to blame? Many Rangers fans are asking: why is their club being run so much worse than Celtic? Is Murray to blame? Is Martin Bain, the clubââ?¬â?¢s chief executive, at fault? Is it Andrew Dickson, Rangersââ?¬â?¢ head of football administration and Bainââ?¬â?¢s right-hand man? Someone is certainly falling below standards inside Ibrox. Murray cites the Champions League as if it is a cureall. He was at it again on Friday, claiming that ââ?¬Å?the importance of qualifying for the Champions Leagueââ?¬Â was underpinned by Rangersââ?¬â?¢ poor financial figures. The Champions League, however, should not be the be-all and end-all of their commercial worth. Given that qualifying for Europeââ?¬â?¢s elite club tournament has been an erratic business in recent years, Rangers should have a business formula in place that preserves them when they are not in Europe. Right now, evidently, that formula has escaped the clubââ?¬â?¢s boardroom. And another thing... Undermining of Strachan so difficult to fathom These days some of the most embittered and aggrieved football supporters I come across are those of Celtic. There is a vocal rump of them who dislike Gordon Strachan, dislike the football his team play, and have constantly disliked his signing policy. ââ?¬Å?Strachan demeans Celtic,ââ?¬Â one of them told me recently, while another fan I spoke to actually said: ââ?¬Å?He is not a manager worthy of Celticââ?¬â?¢s name.ââ?¬Â And just to stem the conspiracy theorists, both of these people were of my own faith-tradition, which is to say, of the Reformed tradition. And they donââ?¬â?¢t seem to be alone among Celtic fans in their views. It leaves me wondering . . . if Strachan does go on to make it four championships in a row with Celtic, just how the heck are these people going to explain their position? It would be indefensible, wouldnââ?¬â?¢t it? Refreshing attitude One of the most refreshing parts of my tasks from last week was hearing out James McCarthy on the subject of bigotry. The young Hamilton Academical star has a right to feel as vehement as anyone on the subject, given the abuse he takes from the terraces, yet McCarthy was utterly refreshing when asked about the anticipated singing of The Famine Song by Rangers supporters at New Douglas Park on Saturday. ââ?¬Å?It doesnââ?¬â?¢t bother me in the slightest,ââ?¬Â McCarthy said. ââ?¬Å?These people are just idiots. There are always people in a crowd who want to abuse me, but it just goes in one ear and out the other. Like I say, itââ?¬â?¢s a bunch of idiots shouting.ââ?¬Â With an attitude like this, sometimes I wonder why the rest of us bother about such chants. If McCarthy can bring himself to laugh it off, and believes that it just makes the choristers seem slightly thick, why should the rest of us care about it? Laborious process So Henry McLeish, Scotlandââ?¬â?¢s former first minister, is to chair a coalition committee wherein a procedure for streamlining between Scotlandââ?¬â?¢s three football governing bodies ââ?¬â?? the SFA, the SPL and the SFL ââ?¬â?? is to be established. Would someone wake me up once they have their findings? Young guns misfire It was billed as the John Fleck v James McCarthy show at New Douglas Park on Saturday, but neither showed up in the Hamilton-Rangers game. Fleck was dropped by Rangers, while McCarthy, who did play, failed to ââ?¬Å?turn upââ?¬Â in the old, disparaging phrase for footballers who donââ?¬â?¢t perform. May it serve as a lesson to those ââ?¬â?? and Iââ?¬â?¢ve been counted among them myself ââ?¬â?? who have tended to speak of these two young players as if young Diego Maradonas have appeared among us in Scotland. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/scotland/article5828321.ece

SIR DAVID MURRAY knows no one can escape the brutal impact of the global credit crunch. Not the High Street chains who have crumbled in the face of multi-million pound debts. Not the highly-paid bankers who are now shouldering the blame for much of this desperate crisis. Not even the superstar footballers whose sky-high salaries are about to hit a downward spiral. Rangersââ?¬â?¢ newly-published club accounts paint a gloomy picture of the finances. But the chairman insists the big spending stops now as Gers seek to cope with these unprecedented times. No fewer than EIGHT first-team stars will be cut adrift this summer. David Weir, Christian Dailly and high-earner Brahim Hemdani are out of contract at the end of the season. The likes of Charlie Adam, Steven Smith and DaMarcus Beasley are likely to be moved on. Andrius Velicka and Graeme Smith are also expected to be casualties of the cash cutbacks. Murray has warned the stars who stay the days of bumper wages may be gone FOREVER. He said: ââ?¬Å?We had far too many players, too big a squad and no safety net in Europe this season. ââ?¬Å?The absence of European competition, together with the economic downturn, has confirmed the size of the squad was neither sustainable from a financial nor football point of view. ââ?¬Å?It is our aim to rationalise the squad to a more manageable level going forward, and integrate the young talent now emerging from Murray Park. ââ?¬Å?Next season our wage bill will be down by between Ã?£4-5million. ââ?¬Å?I would say that within a couple of years it will be a rare commodity in Scotland to have a player on wages beginning with a two. ââ?¬Å?And the vast majority might not even be beginning with a one.ââ?¬Â That is an ominous warning to Ibrox mainstays like Kris Boyd and skipper Barry Ferguson. Both are closing on the final year of their contracts and will soon be due to open negotiations with chief executive Martin Bain. Boyd is unlikely to receive an offer to match the Ã?£17,000-a-week he rejected from Birmingham. Ferguson can expect to be asked to take a mammoth cut on his Ã?£25,000-a-week-plus contract. Murray wants the first-team squad slashed from 28 to 20. The big names will be supplemented by home-grown kids like John Fleck, Jamie Ness and Danny Wilson. After the crushing blow of Kaunas, the chairman has vowed to never again rely so heavily on Euro cash. He added: ââ?¬Å?The situation is unfortunate but we knew this was coming. ââ?¬Å?We have to bring down costs and this financial downturn is a reality check for everyone. ââ?¬Å?If we stick with the business model I talked about in January, which we will, then we will be fine.ââ?¬Â Advertisement Click here Gersââ?¬â?¢ increasing debt levels are in stark contrast to the upbeat financial figures unveiled by Celtic last week. The crucial income stream from the Champions League has been vital to the Hoops. So as the Old Firm again battle for the SPL title, the price of success and the cost of failure has never been higher. The golden ticket of direct entry to next seasonââ?¬â?¢s Champions League is worth up to Ã?£15m. He said: ââ?¬Å?We are competing well again in both domestic cups, we are in the final of the Co-op Cup and the quarter-finals of the Scottish Cup. ââ?¬Å?Savings in operating costs through efficiencies and reduced European expenditure have been partly offset by higher player wage costs and other charges due to last summerââ?¬â?¢s signings. ââ?¬Å?Incorporating the effect of these additions to the squad, less the gain on sale of players, results in an overall decrease of Ã?£5.8m in profit before interest and tax to a net loss of Ã?£2.7m. ââ?¬Å?Due to the increase in the average debt, the interest charge of Ã?£1.4m was Ã?£0.6m higher than the same period last year, resulting in a retained loss after tax of Ã?£3.9m compared to a retained profit of Ã?£2.3m last year.ââ?¬Â The figures, while hardly unexpected, make worrying reading for Gers fans. Itââ?¬â?¢s not quite a case of win-or-bust for Gers in the SPL title chase. But the clock is ticking on some very high-profile stars. http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/spl/article2280715.ece

Andrew Dickson reports from New Douglas Park RANGERS manager Walter Smith has made two changes to his team for this afternoon's crucial SPL clash with Hamilton Accies. Following the news we brought you earlier today which revealed Pedro Mendes is out, Mo Edu comes in to take his place in central midfield alongside Barry Ferguson. Kyle Lafferty also starts and he replaces John Fleck on the left side of midfield, with Steven Davis taking up his usual place on the right flank. It's the usual back five with Allan McGregor in goals and a defensive line of Kirk Broadfoot, David Weir, Madjid Bougherra and Sasa Papac. Following their three-goal show against Kilmarnock seven days ago, it's no surprise that Kenny Miller and Kris Boyd are retained up front. Boyd in particular will be keen to find the net again today, having already done so against Hamilton on six occasions this term. DaMarcus Beasley is amongst the substitutes and returns to the squad after he had to come off against Forfar 10 days ago. With Gers kicking off at 12.30pm, this is a great opportunity for them to increase their lead at the top of the SPL before Celtic play St Mirren at 3pm. The Light Blues have a 100% record in three games with Billy Reid's Accies this season but will be wary after initially falling behind in two of them. RANGERS: McGregor; Broadfoot, Weir, Bougherra, Papac; Davis, Edu, Ferguson, Lafferty; Miller, Boyd. Subs: Alexander, Aaron, Beasley, Fleck, Dailly, Naismith, Whittaker

Feb 26 2009 By Hugh Keevins ALLY McCOIST will help build a lasting tribute to Davie Cooper on Friday night ... then honour his old pal's memory by continuing the search for the Super Coopers of tomorrow. A debate about the health of Scottish football has raged since Walter Smith and Gordon Strachan attacked the level of criticism aimed at the last Old Firm game. McCoist doesn't deny some of the stick was justified but refuses to believe this country's well of talent has dried up. Along with Celtic coach Neil Lennon, McCoist will tomorrow help with the fund raising for a sensory park for special needs children in Clydebank, the town where Cooper began and ended his playing career. But Rangers' assistant manager refuses to believe the exceptional skills Cooper possessed, and which ultimately took him to Rangers and a place in the national side, have skipped a generation. McCoist said: "I'm a glass half full kind of guy. I'll concede Coop was the last of the breed of players who learned their football in the streets but I won't accept pessimism so far as the future is concerned. "The talent is still out there and Scotland will continue to produce the type of player who makes you feel the anticipation of the crowd whenever he gets on to the ball. "Kids don't play on the streets any more for a variety of reasons but that doesn't mean to say genius no longer exists. "Aiden McGeady has ability to go past people for Celtic. Aaron and John Fleck at Ibrox have it as well. They're the players who produce the stuff the fans go to the pub on a Saturday night and talk about. "The priority for coaches is to make sure the team they work for wins matches. If we don't do that, we don't have a job but football has an obligation to entertain After the Old Firm had been slaughtered for the derby game, I felt we went out against Kilmarnock with a 'Let's show these people' attitude. "Coop was the consummate entertainer. Whether it was the swivel of the hips or the 40-yard pass, he entertained no matter the fixture or the surroundings. "The highest tribute I can pay him is to say I worked many times with Ruud Gullit on TV and he was always raving about Davie and a game he played against him while he was at Feyenoord. "I like the idea of a lasting tribute to Davie in Clydebank because I first became aware of him in 1976 when the Bankies took Rangers to four games in the League Cup before we got rid of them. I won't name names but there were two Rangers full-backs who tried swopping sides of the park during the first of those games because one of them was getting such a chasing from this young kid. "Coop was, first and foremost, a humble man but when people talk about him they don't mention his medals, they talk about his skill." Cooper, who died in 1995, was revered by his team-mates at Ibrox and McCoist smiled as he recalled one occasion when they literally pulled his leg. He said: "It was Coop's testimonial match and we racked our brains over a gift. "Then one of the lads had a brainwave and got the right leg off a tailor's dummy and wrapped it up in brown paper with the message, 'What do you give the man who's got everything ?' "I couldn't put a price on what that left peg of his would be worth in today's transfer market. Beyond price I would say. "I appreciate there's more to the game than goalscorers and I say that as someone who made his name as one. Rangers had three quality finishes on Saturday against Kilmarnock and Pedro Mendes was outstanding with defence-splitting passes. "But fans love the genius of a Coop or a Jinky Johnstone or a Willie Henderson. We need more like them and I know they can still be found." Part of McCoist's remit is to help discover and develop stars of the future - a job a certain ex-colleague would never have expected him to take. He said: "I can guarantee Coop will be looking down at me shaking his head. The prospect of me in management would have tickled him. "Never a day goes by that I don't think about him and Tommy Burns. You might go from the Old Firm to work elsewhere but in your heart and mind you never leave Rangers or Celtic. "Stefan Klos once told me it was what distinguished the Old Firm from German clubs. "That's why Davie will be on my mind when I pay tribute to him in Clydebank on Friday night. He had that magic ingredient and others will come to show they have it too." http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/football/spl/rangers/2009/02/26/exclusive-duty-is-on-us-to-find-the-new-generation-of-davie-coopers-insists-ally-mccoist-86908-21153912/

WALTER SMITH believes there is more to come from his group of young stars as Rangers work towards the end of a huge season. Aaron celebratesThe Rangers boss saw young Spaniard Aaron Niguez notch his first goal for the club in Forfar in Wednesday night and feels the under-21 international will continue to be involved in the business end of the season. After signing on a two year loan deal from Valencia in the summer Aaron has been a regular in Tommy Wilson's reserve side but has seen his first team chances restricted. However Smith now sees the winger emerging from a period of settling in Glasgow and hopes he can make a similar impact to Murray Park starlet John Fleck. He said: "I don't think we've held Aaron back. He's like a lot of the younger players that we've had come in this year. "From the start of the season they have all found that they have a settling in period to work through before they can show their best. John Fleck and Andreas Hinkel"Aaron has - in the last month or so - been doing very well, but unfortunately for him that coincided with John Fleck coming in to the team and playing well in the same position. "But he has been doing well and he has shown when he comes on that he's very bright - and he's an entirely different kind of player from John. "So I would hope that we will start to get him featuring in quite a number of games between now and the end of the season."

I like to play poker. Not for bags of money, just a couple of quid. But wether your a high roller or just playing for small change the principles are just the same. Im no superstar either. I can though read a game and see whats going on and generally can tell when the best time to put my chips in. Ill wait till i get a good hand or identify when my opponent is weak and use that to my advantage. But if i dont do anything one thing will happen. My chips will slowly dwindle as the blinds go round the table and go up as time goes on and ill be left with nothing. Basically if you dont put my chips in the pot you wont win. You have to at some point take a chance. you have to bully your opponents on the table and let them know whos boss. Yesterday was the Ideal time for Walter Smith throw his chips into the pot and show his hand to our bitter rivals on the other side of the city. It was time to show them whos boss, to up the stakes and let thm know we meant business. Our bitter rivals have been showing weakness for quite some time now and we should have been taking advantage of the situation. But we didnt. Instead we opted to half the pot when we did in fact hold the better cards. We were weak when we should have been strong. and let our opponents live to play another hand into the bargain. and that is a dangerous game to play. you wont get the oppertunity to dispose of you oponents all that often so when the opertunity arrives you have to take it with both hands. Walter Smith is playing a very dangerous game. his over causiousness borders on gutless when we should be stepping up to the plate and stating our intent. He opts for saftey when we should be showing tact and guile leaving a side void of skill and imagination. But the real price is being paid by the players and you have ask what effect Walters negative tactics have on them. When you ask a player to continually play in the defensive mode that Smith so much desires for so long it must surely affect his ability and style in the long term. Basically I believe Smith is draining the life out of our players. guy like Whittaker, Beadsley, McCulloch etc came and were pretty decent players who looked to be good prospects but over time their form has deteriorated to nothing. Even ferguson seems to be suffering too. There are just far too many off form player at Ibrox at the minute and for me it is no coincidence. you dont get so many players turning bad for no reason. I blame Smith and his negativety. nobody shines in our team anymore. There are no standouts. nobody catches the eye. nobody flourishes. What future lies for the likes of fleck in Walters tacticle nightmare? If our first team players are being dragged into the myre by our manger what chance in hell do our kids have? How are they going to expand their game and realise their potential in the current setup? The truth is they wont, and that is the most worring thing of all.

JOHN FLECK will become Rangers' youngest OId Firm debutant for almost 25 years when he faces Celtic at Parkhead today. Walter Smith has kept faith in the teenage star, who will play on the left side of midfield in a 4-1-4-1 formation which means a holding midfield slot for Lee McCulloch and a lone striking role for Kyle Lafferty. Derek Ferguson was two months younger than Fleck when he played against Celtic in a 1-1 draw at Parkhead in December 1984. The line-up is much as expected with Lafferty given the major striking role and McCulloch charged with sitting in behind the regular four of Steve Davis, Barry Ferguson, Pedro Mendes and Fleck. RANGERS: McGregor; Broadfoot, Weir, Bougherra, Papac; McCulloch; Davis, Mendes, Ferguson, Fleck; Lafferty.

Feb 14 2009 James Traynor JOHN FLECK, by all accounts, is a level-headed teenager who can rely on the guidance of decent, down-to-earth parents. Just as well. Rarely in the long history of this game can so much have been written and spoken about an emerging talent. And almost all of it has been guff. Some hacks and commentators, who really ought to know better, already have this 17-year-old down as a special talent and one or two have actually attempted to chastise George Burley for not promoting him to the senior national squad with immediate effect. That's almost as equally weird as the SFA's oversight - and let's be clear on this, the coaches did forget about him when it was decided he wouldn't be in the Under-19s for afriendly in France. That left him out of every squad last week but the hysteria surrounding Fleck is one more indication of just how badly off we are for genuine talents. This product of the oft-maligned Murray Park development system has something, of that there is no doubt, but whether or not he possesses enough technique, intelligence, pace and desire to overcome a lack of height remains to be seen. We can only hope. What is beyond debate is Fleck's readiness to start against Celtic at Parkhead tomorrow, even if his performances so far have not merited the blaring headlines. He has been good and immensely promising and has added a spark to Rangers' play. So the best thing Walter Smith can do is kick this too-much too-soon nonsense out of play, stand back and let Fleck show what he's got. Besides, when you look at Rangers' squad, Fleck is as ready for this moment as anyone of the others, even those with vast experience of the Old Firm arena. But there's another reason he should be thrown in at the deep end tomorrow. You see, right now this boy is not acquainted with fear. He is still at that age where he believes he can do anything, be anything and beat everyone. He hasn't been affected by the trappings of fame and fortune and hasn't built up a name or an aura yet so has no reputation on which to fall back should he perform badly. That's why he has to make the most of every opportunity to shine. Fleck is fresh and untainted and the way he barged forward to take a penalty against Dundee United at Ibrox and score his first goal for the big team suggests he is in a hurry to reach his goals. The agent who was on BBC Radio Scotland the other night bleating about the pace and momentum building up around his client would do well to bear this in mind. The player's own talent and attitude will determine the speed of his development rather than anything written or said about him but the agent seemed to be saying everyone should stay away from Fleck. Preposterous, but this agent fellow went on tomake a great deal about how awful it was that people were approaching Fleck on the streets. "Everybody wants a piece of him," he said. No they don't. They might just want an autograph or something as simple as a smile in response if they wish him well as they pass. There are athletes from other sports all over the world who have to deal with public adulation from a young age and it hasn't ruined them. Look at Andy Murray. He feeds off the attention and turns it to positive energy. The trouble with football types, though, is they think they're so much different, but Fleck should look beyond football for his role models and always remember in his business it pays better if you are noticed and in demand everywhere. But of course he'll have to maintain progress if he's to remain in the spotlight and that means he must take tests like Old Firm matches in his stride. And it would make more sense to play him from the start rather than hold him in reserve hoping the game unfolds favourably enough for Rangers to introduce him when the pressure is off. If Fleck starts and the evidence begins to show he isn't ready after all there is no harm done if he is subbed. He's still young and no one would judge him harshly because of that so there is more to be gained by placing him in the eye of the storm than there is to be lost by leaving him out. Surely Smith will see it this way, although he is unlikely to start Kris Boyd, even if he has been insisting he should be given another chance against Celtic. Rangers, it's fairly certain, will opt for a 4-1-4-1 formation with Lee McCulloch between the usual back four and the middle line of Steven Davis, Barry Ferguson, Pedro Mendesand Fleck. Kyle Lafferty will probably get the nod ahead of Kenny Miller who has just returned from injury, while Celtic's manager Gordon Strachan will need to assess the condition of ScottMcDonald and Shunsuke Nakamura who were on World Cup duty in Japan. Naka played and McDonald didn't but it's the possible effects of long-haul flights that will be concerning Strachan. The boss must also have some doubts about the mental state of his keeper Artur Boruc. The Pole is in trouble for whacking Aiden McGeady and can expect to be hit by a club record fine after tomorrow's showdown, so he has some clutter to clear from a head that isn't always properly screwed on. And will McGeady play? Only if Strachan believes Nakamura's travels have left him drained but it all adds up to an intriguing match and hopefully the standard of play will be better than the last Old Firm game. The Ibrox encounter, which Celtic won 1-0, was bereft of decent football and the players owe their fans an improvement. Rangers also believe that having dragged themselves back to within touching distance of the defending SPL champions they must make sure the two-point gap doesn't widen, but it could all depend on which players win their head to heads. It is never wise to predict the outcome of these contests, which are often battles of will, but if these individual struggles include Boruc against any inner demons, Nakamura and McDonald against fatigue and Fleck against Andreas Hinkel then Rangers might win a second successive match at Parkhead in the SPL this season. 'Fleck should look beyond football for his role models and always remember in his business it's better to be noticed elsewhere' http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/football/spl/rangers/2009/02/14/john-fleck-can-be-an-old-firm-star-if-he-gets-the-better-of-andreas-hinkel-86908-21122444/

Rangers can go top for the first time this year if their manager can put pragmatism aside and play his most potent striker It is the most glaring example so far of Walter Smith's Kris Boyd conundrum that the Rangers manager is far from certain to pick a player who has rattled in 71 goals in 77 league starts for Sunday's Old Firm game. Without question on this occasion, though, Boyd should be handed a key role in a match which will revolve around each manager's use of his striking options. Boyd has, famously or infamously depending on your perspective, notched only a single goal against Celtic during his three years in light blue. Such a statistic flies in the face of his prolific record against the rest of the SPL but owes much to the fact that the marksman has seldom actually featured in the country's biggest derby. When Rangers won at Celtic Park on 31 August, Boyd was not even deemed worthy of a place in their 18-man squad. Smith's pragmatic approach ââ?¬â?? he isn't Marcello Lippi's biggest fan for nothing ââ?¬â?? has regularly reared its head in this fixture. Facing a Celtic defence which has conceded 25 times in 24 league outings suggests the Rangers manager can be more bold this time around as he seeks to achieve back-to-back victories at Parkhead. Boyd's form, probably much to the angst of a certain George Burley, has peaked to such an extent recently that the palpable prospect of the former Kilmarnock man being sold to Birmingham City last month had discerning Rangers followers sensing their club was handing another championship to Celtic. There was no move to the Midlands ââ?¬â?? as much to the delight of Boyd as those who idolise him ââ?¬â?? and the sight of his name on Sunday's team-sheet would surely worry a shaky Celtic back-line and their error-prone goalkeeper. If Boyd features from the outset, it will be as one of two rather than a lone striker. Smith has been unfortunate in losing Nacho Novo to injury just when the little Spaniard was in danger of making himself useful again; restored from the wing, where he was regularly anonymous, Novo had started to excel as a second striker. Notably, he scored 25 goals from that position when Rangers were last crowned champions. Kenny Miller, troubled by hamstring problems recently, is the ideal man to partner Boyd, as an ability to rise to the big occasion should compensate for the Scotland striker's lack of match sharpness. Smith's alternative would seem over-cautious given Celtic's current troubles. Miller has worked as a lone forward in the past ââ?¬â?? the manager has publicly stated he does not favour Boyd in such a position ââ?¬â?? and could do so again. That would look like a tacit admission, however, that he regards Celtic's porous defence as stronger than reality suggests. Moreover, is there really a need to use Lee McCulloch as a holding midfielder with Celtic virtually certain to retain an orthodox 4-4-2 stance? Scott Brown, while a danger breaking from Gordon Strachan's midfield, leaves space behind him which Pedro Mendes will seek to capitalise on. And will Smith persist with the youthful John Fleck? At 17, he has been hailed as something of Scottish football's saviour since the turn of the year. A poor showing at Pittodrie against Aberdeen and a penalty goal against Dundee United, it would seem, are sufficient motivations to have certain sections of the public and media hail you as a messiah. It is worrying, if predictable, that such pressures are put on one so young ââ?¬â?? wasn't Simon Donnelly supposed to be the new Kenny Dalglish at one stage? And what ever happened to Steven Smith? Fleck, to his credit, is as physically mature as he is fearless and would relish his first Old Firm outing at this stage. The cautious Smith may think otherwise; a recall for the hitherto invisible DaMarcus Beasley is certainly possible. Strachan, too, has a crucial forward dilemma. Jan Venegoor of Hesselink has troubled Rangers in the past but, amid a series of injuries, the robust Dutchman has cut a peripheral figure this season. Celtic's manager, while fond of aerial prowess to complement the crossing ability of Shunsuke Nakamura and Aiden McGeady, cannot pick a team based on former glories alone. Georgios Samaras is the more viable partner for Scott McDonald, the latter one of few certain home starters at Parkhead. That pairing were immense at Ibrox on 27 December as McDonald's superb goal claimed a Celtic win; Samaras, for all his failings, is his club's top scorer this season and unquestionably understands the intensity of Glasgow derby. Comparing this derby with the Manchester equivalent, in which he has also featured, the Greek explained in conversation last week: "They have the same hatred but it means more here ââ?¬â?? it is politics, community, religion, something different from other derbies. I am really glad to be part of it, it is a great feeling." No sensation beats winning, even if Smith regularly maintains that the over-riding sense even in victory is one of relief that you have not been beaten. Rangers have a genuine opportunity to top the table for the first time this year, that chance will grow if their manager exposes Celtic's shortcomings by deploying his most potent striker and attacking straight from kick-off. :cheers: http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/2009/feb/13/kris-boyd-walter-smith-rangers-celtic-old-firm

Former Rangers defender Maurice Ross says he would advise teenage Ibrox forward John Fleck to avoid Glasgow city centre. More...

by Lindsay Herron IAN DURRANT was just a kid when he sampled the Old Firm atmosphere for the first time and he handled it like a seasoned professional. He has no doubts John Fleck can do the same on Sunday if he is selected for the third Rangers-Celtic showdown of the season. Fleck is in line to make his debut in the often volatile Glasgow derby having performed very well in the last four Rangers matches. And first team coach Durrant, who was 18 when he made his bow in this fixture back in 1985, insists the teenage star is ready. He told Rangers World: "He can handle it. Of course it's a big arena and it's an Old Firm game but he is in the first team on merit and we have been happy with his contributions. "He is a very good football player and the other parts of his game will come with the more experience he gains. "Right now he is enjoying his football. At his age there are no barriers. He just wants to get out there and play." Rangers, of course, can go top of the league for the first time since the beginning of November. Durrant added: "The incentive is there. We know if we win the game we can go on and win the league. "But I'm sure we would be delighted with a draw. As long as we don't lose the game I think we can be happy. "The down side of it is that we have had a few players on international duty and we can only hope that they come back unscathed. "If we have a clean bill of health then it will give the manager food for thought for Sunday. "It would be great if we could win on Sunday but it is the toughest of venues. We know that Celtic will be hurting from the 4-2 game earlier this season but if our attitude is right and we produce the same form then we can win the game. "We are on a great run. The boys can hopefully keep the run going."

George Burley is considering Rangers teenager John Fleck for the World Cup qualifier against the Netherlands. More...

RANGERS' under-19s will be looking to take one step closer to retaining the SFA Youth when they face Motherwell in the fifth round stage at Fir Park on Sunday (kick-off: 1pm). The Murray Park starlets have already beaten Brora Rangers and Dumbarton convincingly in this season's competition but will expect a far tougher challenge against the young Steelmen. Motherwell beat Kilmarnock and Livingston to set up a mouthwatering tie against the Gers and currently sit fifth in the Under-19 League after 13 games. Gordon Young's side suffered a 2-1 defeat when they last travelled to Murray Park on November 29. On that occasion goals from Isa Bagci and Archie Campbell proved enough for the Light Blues but it was John Fleck's performance that stood out on the day. Kirkwood is looking forward to seeing his side in competitive action following Saturday's league postponement against Aberdeen and is expecting another entertaining game. He said: "It's great for our boys to be playing at Fir Park this weekend. "They have had the chance to play at Ibrox twice now against Brora and Dumbarton and it is a thrill for them to run out at these venues. "On both occasions we managed to progress and we now have a tough test in front of us against a good Motherwell team. Andrew Little and John Fleck with the SFA Youth Cup "They will be desperate for a win against us at home but as the holders of the Cup we need to rise to the occasion and make sure we are up for it. "In the past couple of seasons we have reached the final of the tournament and that is our aim again this season. "To get to Hampden is very special for these young players but along the way you always have to face tricky hurdles and that is exactly what we can expect this weekend."

Good read, all the sounds are that he'll keep his feet on the ground. Also thought there were other EPL clubs keeping an eye on him than just Manu.

With the 3rd Old Firm derby galloping over the horizon, our thoughts turn to the formation and personnel that Walter Smith and his staff will deploy against the auld enemy. Would it be overly dramatic to say that the outcome of this game could shape our short to medium term destiny? After losing the last Old Firm game at Ibrox, many pundits as well as Rangers supporters, myself included, claimed that the league was over and Rangers would labour to the conclusion of the season that would see Celtc warp up their forth consecutive SPL title. In fairness, we have laboured, but luckily and thankfully, so have Celtc. If our worst fears are realised on Sunday, will they be as generous in the remainder of the season? Whilst Rangers are fragile both on and off the pitch at the moment, it could be argued that Celtc are just as fragile on the pitch. So, will Walter and his staff ââ?¬Ë?stickââ?¬â?¢ or ââ?¬Ë?twistââ?¬â?¢ on Sunday? Will they be happy to return from Torbett Towers undefeated which would see us, at worse, 2 points behind with a relatively easy (on paper) run of games ahead of us? Or will he, like the vast majority of us would advocate, go for the jugular and attack Celtc and expose their glaring weaknesses? Off course, by ââ?¬Ë?twistingââ?¬â?¢, we give Celtc the opportunity to win the game and take a 5 point lead. However, even by ââ?¬Ë?stickingââ?¬â?¢ and playing safe, we could also lose the game (a dodgy refereeing decision, a deflected shot, an individual error etc). There is also the unknown factor of the ââ?¬Ë?Walters unexpected player(s) selectionââ?¬â?¢ to consider and throw into the equation. Unluckily for us, we donââ?¬â?¢t have a Daniel Cousin clicking his heels at Murray Park looking to impress EPL suitors. There is also the advantage that everyone believes that Walter Smith will ââ?¬Ë?stickââ?¬â?¢ and go negatively into the game with a 4-5-1 formation that will include, say Lee McCulloch playing the role he did successfully recently at Pittodrie. Now, by rights, McCulloch shouldnââ?¬â?¢t get anywhere near the starting eleven, but Walter has a history (recently) of the unexpected in these fixtures. As stated above, Celtc are fragile at the moment and have obvious weaknesses that we have exposed in the past. Their defence is strong, but static. They will swallow up a ââ?¬Ë?high-ballââ?¬â?¢ game but will not enjoy playing in a ââ?¬Ë?football gameââ?¬â?¢. Get the ball down, get the ball into wide areas and play in and around their immobile defence. Celtc have good forward thinking players, but get them going backwards and working in their own half and in their own area, you not only nullify their threat, you make them uncomfortable. So, will Walter play a ââ?¬Ë?bluffââ?¬â?¢ and go 4-4-2 with genuine width in the team and two mobile forwards who can get the ball down and attack their back line? Or will he go for the double bluff and play 4-5-1 with Miller or Lafferty as a lone striker? Given that he started 4-5-1 in the recent friendly with AC Milan indicates that he is tempted to start with this formation with Lafferty up top with Miller and Fleck supporting from the wide areas with Ferguson, Mendes and Davis (or more likely McCulloch) in the midfield. Either way, this game may not determine our short to medium term destiny, but if we are defeated, I canââ?¬â?¢t see Celtc being as generous and wasting another five point gap in the title run in. We must leave Torbett Towers on Sunday afternoon with at least a share of the spoils to remain in contention in the SPL title race. If we defeat Celtc, I would say that we would be in prime position in the title race. So Walter, ââ?¬Ë?stickââ?¬â?¢ or twistââ?¬â?¢?, as long as we donââ?¬â?¢t go bust - in more ways than one. Cammy F -