Search the Community

I EXPECT Celtic to lose tomorrow's Old Firm derby at Ibrox - but it won't affect their grip on the Clydesdale Bank Premier League title and the march towards four-in-a-row. The outcome of this Glasgow derby and the two to follow will not, in my mind, determine the destination of this season's championship flag. Both teams have proved they can slip up elsewhere in the fixture list, and weaknesses in either defence tell me there are more points to be dropped at other grounds. I asked Gordon Strachan, in a special one-to-one interview this week, if he had enough leaders in his pack. The manager put forward a brave case for a number of his team, but a flawed one in my view. advertisement This is a Celtic side lacking the mental toughness, grit and deter- mination to win the physical battle facing them in the cauldron of Ibrox at 12.30pm tomorrow. Captain Stephen McManus is struggling with his fitness, but he has still to prove to me his credentials are worthy of the armband in the first place. Paul Hartley, Scott Brown and Barry Robson are an absolute must in the middle of the park to have any chance of at least a point. Pedro Mendes and Barry Ferguson could have a field day if Robson isn't fit, because Brown is the great enigma. At times, I've thought he was the real deal this season, someone to boss games, but there's no consistency. There's no Shaun Maloney or Aiden McGeady, but if the Celtic fans are honest, neither has had a major impact on Old Firm games for quite a while now and their absence is not the over-riding factor in the bookmakers' decision to make Walter Smith's side the favourites. If McManus is fit, Gary Caldwell could find himself in the holding role in midfield to allow Strachan to use Glenn Loovens' height to defend and switch to attack from set-pieces. Playing a half-fit Marc Crosas in the middle of the park would be a gamble. Rangers can get at both Celtic full-backs and, where before, Martin O'Neill's defenders tried to make sure crosses were blocked off at the source, these two give you enough chances to supply the strikers. Artur Boruc, as ever, is the ticking bomb in this fixture. If his head is not right, anything can happen. Strachan needs Artur focused and ready to perform. There are no excuses left for any more blunders. He's used up all his get-out-of-jail cards, saves rather than signs are what real Celtic fans want to see from the Holy Goalie. Shunsuke Nakamura is capable of a moment of genius, but he has been known to disappear in this fixture. Georgios Samaras and Scott McDonald are the last two parts of the jigsaw in this battle for Celtic, I'm not impressed by either. Can they go to Ibrox and boss an ageing David Weir and a player of limited ability' in Kirk Broadfoot? Let's wait and see. If you look at both defences, this should be a high- scoring 4-3 cracker. Both teams have inferior players playing out of position in the backline and that should spell goals. Rangers' winning ingredient for this fixture is home advantage and a greater hunger, especially from their front two. I expect Kris Boyd to get the nod to finally start an Old Firm game with his preferred partner Kenny Miller. Both men are desperate to do well in this game for different reasons. The game will be bossed from the middle of the park and the class of Ferguson will take its toll on the less exper-ienced campaigners wearing the Hoops. How Rangers fans still moan about their captain escapes me, but this match is tailor-made for the number six. The last line of defence for Smith is Allan McGregor. If he has his mind on the job on the park, then it could be a clean sheet but, like Boruc, he's part of the goalkeeper's union and calamity is sometimes never too far away. Big games need big players and they, in turn, win games. I don't think Celtic have enough to match Rangers over the 90 minutes of this encounter. If Strachan's team get a draw, they'll be lucky, very lucky. Thomson well up to derby day task THERE'S an old saying among the refereeing fraternity that will ring true by about 2.15pm tomorrow afternoon. You can't guarantee who scores, you can't guarantee who wins the game, but you can guarantee who gets the blame!' Step forward the 23rd man in the second Old Firm game of the season, referee Craig Thomson. At 36, there has to be better ways of spending your weekends than listening to 50,000 fans united in giving you stick. The lawyer from Paisley, however, is more than up to the job and, for me, is slowly but surely cementing his place as Scotland's top official. Regardless of how highly I rate Craig, there is one element in tomorrow's match that he will need that is not in the referee's manual ... luck! Every aspect of the man in the middle's decision-making will be scrutinised, analysed and then replayed again from 25 different camera angles on Setanta. What chance does he have with only one set of eyes? This will be Mr Thomson's fourth Old Firm match in charge, each as important as the last, but for the man in black each with different problems that require an instantaneous decision that hopefully, is the correct one at the end of the 90 minutes. Craig will sit down today with Hugh Dallas and have a coffee and a chat about the madness that will undoubtedly unfold. The requirements don't change - keep a cool head, get the players onside early, communicate without a sense of superiority, try to let the game flow and trust in the judgement of yourself and your assistants. It all sounds so easy, but when the noise engulfs you from the tunnel to the pitch and the shrill of your whistle signals the start of the battle, lesser men can lose sight of their role in one of the great derbies in football. Not so Craig. He's a streetwise official mentally, tactically and is physically prepared for the big one. Let's hope he has a good one, because if he doesn't there's only one direction the flak will be flying tomorrow night. http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/display.var.2477854.0.0.php

A family friends son at the age of nineteen was diagnosed with motor nuerones disease a couple of weeks back so his cousin and my self arranged for his dad his brother and himself to go the OF game to try and bring a bit of cheer back in to their lives. The family have had a torrid time since they recieved the bad news and it was great to bring a smile back to there faces even if it is only for a short period of time. I went up to give them the tickets during the week and they were absolutey delighted. And on seeing their sons reaction i pushed the boat out a bit more and gave him my season book for the rest of the season. But i would love to get him to parkhead for the OF game in febuary. So (and i know this is a really big ask) if anyone can get their hands on a spare ticket for that game I would really appreciate it. The young man in question has been given a death sentence before his life has even started and there is very little that i or those around him can do to make him feel better. infact the thought of going to the next old firm game is the only thing hes smiled at in the last three weeks since being diagnosed with the disease. I would love to see that smile on his face again and if anyone can help me out ill deeply indebted to you. merry christmas

KRIS BOYD today told Rangers boss Walter Smith he can improve on his disappointing strike rate against Celtic - if he is handed a start. Despite banging in 89 goals in just three years at Ibrox - including 18 in 19 games this season - Boyd has a poor track record in the Old Firm game. Indeed, the prolific hitman has only scored once against his side's age-old city rivals - in a 2-0 triumph at Ibrox at the end of the 2006/07 season. Even that effort came in a match which had next to no meaning for his team as Gordon Strachan's side had already sewn up the SPL title. advertisement However, that statistic is a bit deceptive. Amazingly, the 25-year-old has only been involved in the world-famous fixture on just four occasions, once as a late substitute, since joining from Kilmarnock. And the only time Kris started for Rangers against the Hoops on home soil was the game he managed to hit the target in. Having been in possibly the best goalscoring form of his life in recent months, he is itching to get involved from the kick-off in the latest showdown with the Parkhead club. Boyd confessed: "Obviously, I want to play in all of the team's big games and to show I can score against the best teams in Scotland. "I have been disappointed only to score once against Celtic in the past. That is something that I definitely want to improve upon. "I think it helps players in general, and myself in particular, to start games. Sometimes it can be difficult coming on and making an impression midway through a game, especially in the Old Firm game. "I would like to think I have done enough with my goals and my performances this season to merit my inclusion from the start this weekend. "I've been scoring goals and have struck up a good understanding with Kenny Miller." He went on: "We complement each other well. Kenny does a lot of work for the team outside the box and will run all day, whereas I pride myself on my finishing. But I am happy to drop deep and help the team out whatever way I can. "The way the team is playing just now we are going to create a few opportunities to score. I know that if I can get myself into good positions then I can take them. "We are four points behind Celtic and we are not happy to be in that position. We did well against Celtic earlier this season and a victory this weekend would go a long way towards helping us win the title again." In the past, Boyd's distinct lack of mobility and highly questionable work rate up front have perhaps resulted in him being left out of the equation in the Old Firm game and European matches. Since returning to the Govan club for a second stint as manager, Walter Smith has preferred to play Daniel Cousin, Jean-Claude Darcheville, Lee McCulloch, Kenny Miller, Nacho Novo and even Filip Sebo in attack. In the first meeting with Celtic this season at Parkhead back in August, he gave Cousin the nod even though the Gabonese internationalist had played just once all season - as a last-minute substitute against Falkirk. Kris was left out of the squad altogether for a game his side won 4-2 so prompting speculation that he would move on to pastures new in the weeks and months ahead. The chances are high that Boyd, who watched all Old Firm four games from the sidelines last season, will be involved from the off in the live Setanta match. Certainly, there would be an outcry among the Light Blue faithful if the Ayrshire-born player was omitted from the starting XI altogether this time around. For, with the help of Murray Park sports science guru Adam Owen, he has got himself in fantastic shape and his contribution to the Rangers cause is now far more than just goals. Kris admitted: "I have taken on board what I have been told by the coaches and have worked hard on my fitness in the summer and pre-season. "I think I am reaping the rewards of that in matches at the moment. I certainly think I would be able to handle anything the Old Firm game throws at me and am hoping I am involved." Smith has suggested the new lean and mean Boyd now has all the attributes he needs to emulate, and then outstrip, the goalscoring achievements of Ibrox legend Ally McCoist. However, current Gers assistant boss Super Ally had a happy knack of doing the business when it mattered most to supporters - in Old Firm games. He has 27 goals against Celtic to his name. Kris, then, has some considerable distance to go to catch up. Nevertheless, he is still determined bridge the gap -starting at Ibrox tomorrow. http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/display.var.2477858.0.0.php

MADJID BOUGHERRA admits the pressure is on Rangers to win this weekend's Old Firm clash with Celtic at Ibrox. Walter Smith's men go into the game trailing the Parkhead outfit by four points at the halfway stage in the championship. bougherra_160Defender Bougherra expects Gordon Strachan's team to push for victory as they try to gain revenge for Gers' 4-2 win the last time the sides met. But he realises the visitors would be happy with a draw too for the sake of preserving their lead and he knows it's up to the Light Blues to ensure they go home empty handed. Bougherra said: "This is one of the big games in the championship because Celtic are in front of us and we are four points behind them. "We need to come back and win to ensure we stay close to them at the top of the league table. "I'm still quite new in Scotland so I haven't followed the game here too much but I know Celtic have a good team. "They are leading the league so it really goes without saying they have some good players. "They can come to Ibrox with no more pressure on them than we've got. They're the ones with a four-point lead and a draw would be okay for them. "At the same time, they will try beat us because we won against them last time and we must make sure that doesn't happen."Madjid Bougherra Bougherra insists losing would not spell the end of Rangers' title hopes should they slump to defeat in the derby. It would certainly make overtaking their Glasgow neighbours in the league table more difficult but the Algerian feels that would still be possible were Gers to come off worst. The stopper, who should be fit to play tomorrow, added: "Losing would not destroy our title ambitions. "The last time I spoke to the press, we were seven points behind and now we're four away from Celtic. "If we had won at Dundee United, the gap would have been down to two and that shows how quickly things can change. "The championship is long and there is still half a season to go. At this point, we have another 19 games to play yet."

WALTER SMITH wants the Old Firm to play in a European League and leave their reserve teams to battle it out for the SPL. The Rangers boss insists a new set-up can help bridge the financial chasm that exists between the continent's elite clubs and Scotland's big two. Smith admitted his team have no chance of competing at the business end of the Champions League while they earn a fraction of the money the big guns in England, Spain, Germany and Italy make. And he wants UEFA to sanction a new European League involving big clubs in small countries - teams like Rangers, Celtic, Ajax, Anderlecht, Marseille, Porto and Benfica. He is advocating a league that would run at weekends - but insists Rangers would still put out a B team to play in the SPL should it ever come about. And Smith believes that would make the Scottish league more competitive - giving the non-Old Firm clubs a much better chance of winning the title. Smith said:"Rangers and Celtic are two huge clubs who deserve to be in a better circumstance than they are in in Scotland. There are a number of big clubs all over Europe who find themselves in the same position. "We are nearly all hamstrung in terms of finance in comparison to the bigger leagues and few people are doing a great deal to try and equalise that. "UEFA have got to help bigger clubs in small countries and there are a whole load of them out there, desperate to get closer to the likes of England, Germany, Spain and Italy in financial terms. "It's the biggest problem in European football at the moment and it impacts on us at Rangers and Celtic. "The problem is wider than just letting a few more teams into the Champions League. "There should still be a Champions League but there should be a European League to rival ordinary domestic leagues. "We should have a Saturday fixture in a European League. If Rangers and Celtic were offered the chance to play in a new European format I would agree to that. "But that doesn't mean we couldn't have teams here. I would hope we could still have a team making a decent challenge in the Scottish league but it would give the other teams in Scotland an opportunity to win, which they are not getting for the same reasons we are not getting them European-wise." Smith's frustration at being unable to compete with the game's giants was voiced as he looked back on a year that saw his team reach the UEFA Cup Final then fail to make the Champions League only three months later. But even if Rangers had reached the Champions League, Smith is adamant it would have taken a miracle to come close to winning it. He added:"UEFA have to come up with a way of helping teams challenge the big teams in the Champions League at the present moment. "Benfica, Porto, teams like that, have a similar problem to Rangers and Celtic in terms of making a challenge in the Champions League. None of us are making a challenge. "Who is going to win it - a Real Madrid or Manchester United. You won't get Ajax or Porto doing it again. "It needs a closing of the gap in financial terms and there's no way of doing it at the moment. "UEFA has a responsibility to look at that and to give the opportunity to big clubs in a small-country environment to get a level of finance that would help them compete." http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/2008/12/24/rangers-and-celtic-must-quit-scotland-to-have-chance-of-success-warns-walter-smith-86908-20993073/

KENNY MILLER helped slay Celtic four months ago - and is determined to repeat the feat this weekend in the second Old Firm clash of the season. Kenny Miller celebrates his second goal at ParkheadThe striker hit a double in Rangers' 4-2 win at Parkhead in August and his goals were his first for the club since signing on at Ibrox in the summer. Miller has gone on to score five more counters since that memorable day and has been one of the Light Blues' best performers so far this term. But he's not the type to rest on his laurels and is preparing to do the spadework required to record another derby win on Saturday. Miller, a likely starter alongside Kris Boyd in attack, said: "This is a game you look forward whether it is at home or away. "Obviously after the first result, which was massive, we have to make sure we get the same kind of result in front of our home fans. "We have to win every game, never mind Celtic games. However, there is obviously a great deal of importance attached to this one. "We are behind in the title race and we are at home so we have to make it count. Everyone is going to be so up for it so we just have to get the right result."Kenny Miller scores his second goal at Parkhead Miller's brace at Celtic Park just three weeks into the campaign is the obvious highlight from his second spell in Govan. But as he reflects on that day, he still winces as he thinks of the dream hat-trick he might have had. A minute from the end of play, Nacho Novo played Miller in on goal but Artur Boruc - at fault for the forward's second goal - saved well. Miller added: "First and foremost, we had to get the right result and we were comfortable winners on the day. Kenny Miller celebrates his second goal at Parkhead"However, scoring the two goals was very special and I could not have scripted it better as they were my first goals since returning to the club. "I couldn't have picked a better place to score them. Getting off the mark would always be important but the fact they were against our arch rivals made it all the sweeter. "I did have a chance of a hat-trick which would have been unbelievable and I actually caught the ball as well as I would have hoped. "I was trying to give Artur Boruc the eyes but he obviously read me - I put the ball where I wanted to put it but it ended up a routine save for him."

Getting in the mood for Saturday. Everyone post and Old Firm goal: [ame=http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=48wW984rORg]YouTube - Barry Ferguson Freekick In 2002 Scottish Cup Final[/ame]

Bougherra says Old Firm tame compared to north Africa

Carlos Cuellar and Stilian Petrov may have moved on from Rangers and Celtic but their thoughts will be with their former clubs on Saturday. More...

CELTIC'S Dutch striker Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink could be in line for a shock comeback in Saturday's Old Firm crunch at Ibrox. Record Sportcan reveal he has rejoined first-team training and has not given up hope of proving his fitness to play at least some part in the match. Vennegoor of Hesselink has not kicked a ball since October 4 when he injured his groin in the 4-0 win over Hamilton and had been ruled out of boss Gordon Strachan's plans for Ibrox. But he will train this morning at Lennoxtown and will be given another punishing workout on Boxing Day.

The Scottish Premier League is open to the Old Firm joining a European league but warns it could take several years to establish. More...

A SLUR campaign against Celtic legend Jock Stein has hit a mobile phone text service, it was revealed last night. The vile bigots behind the ââ?¬Ë?Big Jock Knewââ?¬â?¢ claims say the former manager kept quiet about a sex abuse scandal at the club. Now punters who text 118 118 to ask the question ââ?¬Å?What did big Jock know?ââ?¬Â get an answer hinting that Stein failed to report Celtic Boys Club molester Jim Torbett to cops. Abuse ... Jim Torbett Abuse ... Jim Torbett The response reads: ââ?¬Å?Big Jock Knew refers to the ex-manager of Celtic football club Jock Stein. ââ?¬Å?It pertains to a matter that Stein knew but didnââ?¬â?¢t report to the authorities.ââ?¬Â A section of Rangers fans have been blasted for singing ââ?¬Ë?Big Jock Knewââ?¬â?¢ at Old Firm games. The chant alleges former Scotland boss Stein tried to cover up Torbettââ?¬â?¢s sordid activities in the 1970s. But last night the 118 118 link was slammed by Celtic fan and MP George Galloway. Mr Galloway said: ââ?¬Å?There are no depths these disgusting bigots wonââ?¬â?¢t sink to. They could slither under the belly of a snake with ease. ââ?¬Å?Steinââ?¬â?¢s name and reputation will live on when these anonymous bigots are dust.ââ?¬Â Galloway added: ââ?¬Å?Thanks to The Scottish Sun for pointing this out. Iââ?¬â?¢ll be raising this in Parliament immediately.ââ?¬Â Torbett was convicted of abusing several lads who played for Celtic Boys Club in the 70s. Advertisement His crimes became public in 1996 when former player Alan Brazil revealed that he had been molested at the age of 13 at Torbettââ?¬â?¢s home in Sighthill, Glasgow. Torbett was jailed for two-and-a-half years in 1998. Last night a spokesman for 118 118 said: ââ?¬Å?We have looked into this. ââ?¬Å?The answer to the question just refers to a historical subject matter without offering any opinion or implication.ââ?¬Â http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/news/article2064748.ece

By Andrew Dickson WALTER SMITH has refused to reveal whether he intends to start Kris Boyd in this weekend's Old Firm derby with Celtic. Kris Boyd celebrates his 150th club goalThe Rangers striker is in excellent form just now and after 18 goals so far this season, his confidence is as high as ever. His return against the Parkhead side over the years is the one thing which has let him down and he has just one career goal against them to his credit. That came in a 2-0 win at the end of the 2006/07 season but he hasn't featured in any of the five derbies since then. He has often been left out because of his poor workrate but that has improved considerably in recent months. As such, Smith now must decide whether to use the potent hitman and insists he'll not make his verdict known until the day of the game. He said: "Kris is doing very well for us at the moment. He is the leading scorer in Scotland by far and his return has been very good. "He has always scored goals and there has always been consistency in that respect but this season he has been working hard for the team as well.Kris Boyd "I think Kris has tried to add a little bit more to his game than he has done previously. In the past, he has relied solely on his goals but he has added to that. "The good thing is he has shown that hasn't taken away from his talents as a striker and that has been the most important aspect. "I haven't included Kris in a lot of games before and whether he starts at the weekend, you'll need to wait and see. "It is always difficult to leave Kris Boyd out of your team because he is a natural goalscorer. "It was difficult all the way through last season but that's why we are here. It's our job to make difficult decisions sometimes."

By Andrew Dickson MADJID BOUGHERRA reckons Kris Boyd and Kenny Miller are the best strike pair in the SPL. The defender, who is winning his battle to be fit for Saturday's Old Firm clash with Celtic, has been hugely impressed by them since he signed for Rangers in the summer. Kris Boyd celebrates his goal with Kenny MillerBoyd, of course, is the country's leading scorer with 18 goals and Miller has another seven to his credit, including two in the last derby four months ago. As Gers prepare to meet their rivals at Ibrox again this weekend, Bougherra is confident having the deadly duo in his team can help the Light Blues to three points. He said: "For me, I think they are the best forward pairing in the league. They are two very different strikers. "One of them is running all the time and the other is a good finisher. That is fantastic and Boydy is scoring in nearly every game at the moment. "When you are a defender, you are very confident that you'll win if you can keep a clean sheet because you have strikers like them in your side. "We always have a chance of winning when Kris is in the team. He is a great penalty-box player. "When you have someone like him in your team, you know your chances of scoring are very high. "I like Boydy because a defender might look at him and think because he doesn't run as much that that's okay.Miller and Boyd celebrate the first goal "Then they see how dangerous he is when he catches sight of goal and in the area, he is very hard to keep control of. He is fantastic every day in training and he is top class." Bougherra rates Boyd so highly he has compared him to Eric Cantona - but only when he scores. The way the ex-Kilmarnock hitman celebrates reminds his colleague of the Manchester United legend. Bougherra added: "I can't think of anyone in particular I could compare him to as a player but I told him that when he scores he is like Cantona. "Watch him the next time he scores and you will see what I mean. He postures just like him when he celebrates!"

From contacts: This will result in crowd trouble if they try to arrest people en masse while ignoring songs about the IRA.

The Boyd Done Good As many long-term readers of my rants and posts on GersNet will testify, I have never been Boydââ?¬â?¢s number one fan. However, I have always stated that if Boyd could improve on his all-round game, add this to his undoubted goal-scoring talent, then heââ?¬â?¢s be an asset to our team. Saturdayââ?¬â?¢s game against Hibernian was in my opinion one of the best ââ?¬Ë?all-roundââ?¬â?¢ games Boyd has had in a Rangers jersey. He tracked back, he linked up play, his movement was decent and after missing a guilt-edged chance in the opening five minutes, scored a goal that only Boyd could score. It wasnââ?¬â?¢t a typical overhead kick, it was just the art of somehow getting the ball to nestle in the back of the net. Saturday was also saw us witness one of the most one-sided 1-0 victories in a long time. Hibernian came with a plan to frustrate us, get everyone behind the ball and not allow our midfield the time or space to utilise Millers clever runs. Credit to the players, they stuck to the task well, even when those in the stands were displaying signs of impatience and were reduced to cat-calling. Ferguson and Mendes showed further signs of a growing understanding and Mendes had his best game since the 4-2 mauling of the MOPES at Parkhead. His intelligent passing and audacious shooting was a joy to behold and certainly livened up the proceedings. I also thought that Papac and SW had very decent games in the full-back areas. With Hibs sitting deep, both took the opportunity to break forward and help to try to unlock the defence. I was disappointed in Hibsââ?¬â?¢ approach, as on their day, they are one of the better SPL teams and tend to play a very decent level of football. I know they had a few key players out injured, but expected them to put more into the game. It seemed that they had resigned themselves to a defeat even before a ball was kicked. You're Just Our Feeder Club This wee ditty is often sung when we play Hibs as we have over the years, signed various players from the Edinburgh club. In recent history players like Kenny Miller, Ian Murray, Steven Whittaker and Kevin Thomson have made the short journey along the M8 and joined Rangers from Hibernian. Others like Craig Patterson who went on to captain The Rangers and in my opinion, the best two players weââ?¬â?¢ve signed from Hibs are Andy Goram and Colin Stein. Both these players went on to make outstanding contributions to The Rangers and both are rightly remembered with great fondness within our support. However, whilst Colin Stein took no time to settle into the groove at Ibrox netting a total of eight goals in his first three games, whilst Andy Goram leaked uncharacteristic goals in his opening spell between the sticks. Stein with the subject of the first Ã?£100,000 pounds transfer between Scottish Clubs and went on to become a firm favourite and a permanent fixture in the Rangers line-up. His bustling style and fantastic heading ability saw Stein score hugely important goals for Rangers including a strike in the Cup Winners Cup Final in Barcalona and the goal that won the 1975 championship. If I remember correctly, he is also the last player to have scored a hat-trick for Scotland. Colin lives local to me and some may find it surprising that he is now a joiner with a local firm and was a very decent at bowls! Andy Goram recovered after a shaky start and established himself into Rangers folk-lore as one of the finest keepers we have had. The list of astonish saves is endless, but the one to deny Hugedonkey at Ibrox was one of the best saves I have ever seen. Both players have actually attended various dances at our RSC and both were a credit to themselves and Rangers Football Club. Worrying Rumours Following on from Super Allyââ?¬â?¢s thread regarding worrying and shocking rumours - http://www.gersnetonline.net/vb/showthread.php?t=9290 here are a few that I heard (from various sources over the weekend) that are as worrying : We have contacted and opened negotiations with Bobo Baldesââ?¬â?¢s representatives with a view to taking the Celtc stopper once his contract expires at Parkhead. This deal is said to be at an advanced stage and could be completed soon. Balde will see out the remainder of his contract at Celtc and move to Rangers in the summer under freedom of contract. West Brom had a Ã?£5M bid for Kevin Thomson accepted by Rangers and the deal was to be concluded in January. However, after Thomsonââ?¬â?¢s injury and West Brom losing sponsorship (with T-Mobile) this deal has been scrapped. West Brom are actually in some financial difficulty as they have lost and failed to replace T-Mobile as shirt sponsors and have gone public locally asking for local investors to invest in the club. However, I am led to believe that Birmingham City are also keen on Thomson and will test Rangersââ?¬â?¢ resolve with a Ã?£5M bid in the summer. If we get a bid from Birmingham, Thomson will be sold. Our finances appear to be a lot worse than any of us thought. Martin Bain has been tasked to make further reductions to the spiralling wage bill, hence the reason as many as 10 players will leave Ibrox in January. Kirk Broadfootââ?¬â?¢s agent was sent packing from Murray Park with a flee in his ear after inquiring about a pay rise for Broadfoot now he is an international player. It is believed that Kirk is on Ã?£2K per week and his agent asked for ~Ã?£4K and was politely told to ââ?¬Ë?beat itââ?¬â?¢. Wonder if this is why young Kirk was demoted to the bench recently. All of the above is unsubstantiated but heard this from a few people, not just one source. Get Into Them Once the turkey and the roast potatoes (am I still allowed to refer to potatoes in this sensitive Old Firm week ââ?¬â?? donââ?¬â?¢t want to offended anyone especially at this time of year) has been digested, weââ?¬â?¢ll welcome our bitter neighbours to our home for the 2nd Old Firm game of the season. The damning statistics regarding our inconsistent form says that even a Rangers win (our 2nd of the season) will still see us trailing the MOPES by a point. That is as hard to swallow as the turkey ââ?¬â?? potentially 2 Old Firm victories and still behind them in the race for the SPL. These encounters are never ââ?¬Ë?tameââ?¬â?¢, but itââ?¬â?¢s time that we crank this game up a notch or two. They have been allowed to swagger around in this fixture recently and itââ?¬â?¢s time that we reverted back to the days of Jock Wallace and got the battle fever on. Lets barrack them from start to finish, lets get on the backs of the officials, lets drown out their bile with Rangers songs (and the odd verse of the hockey cokey), lets get right fookin into them (in a non-sectarian manner you understand). The Rolly-Polly Goalie should be our prime target. This ââ?¬Ë?manââ?¬â?¢ is unstable ââ?¬â?? lets hound him. The players should also be getting into his ear at every opportunity. We should be shooting on site (praying for squigglers), barging him at cross-balls and generally making his life uncomfortable. He isnââ?¬â?¢t in the best frame of minds, so lets try and capitalize on that. Whilst doing all of the above, lets not get on the backs of our players, they need and deserve our full support. Itââ?¬â?¢s worth remembering that anything other than a victory isnââ?¬â?¢t really good enough for us. I would expect Walter Smith to now stick with the 4-4-2 formation and he could stick with Saturdays starting 11. Donââ?¬â?¢t be fooled by the MOPES claims of injury, suspensions etc, theyââ?¬â?¢ll have their strongest 11 on the pitch on Saturday, make no mistake about that. Please Santa, 3 points for The Rangers. Merry Xmas & A Happy New Year Just like to take this opportunity in wishing all fellow GersNet contributors and all Rangers fans a very merry xmas and a happy new year. Cammy F

Celtic captain Stephen McManus is to have his injured knee assessed to find out if he will make the Old Firm game. More...

By Andrew Dickson WALTER SMITH insists there's no advantage to be gained by Rangers if they win a day before Celtic play this weekend. The Light Blues entertain Hibernian at Ibrox tomorrow before Gordon Strachan's Parkhead side travels to play Falkirk at Westfield on Sunday. Walter SmithIt will be the fourth successive weekend that Gers have played before their Old Firm rivals and the two will then meet in the derby next Saturday in Govan. The gap between the teams at the top of the SPL currently stands at four points with 18 rounds of fixtures gone and the halfway point in the season approaching. But while some feel Rangers can strike a psychological blow to their fellow challengers by bringing the gap down to one - however temporarily - Smith isn't one of them. "I don't think playing before Celtic really matters," he said. "We operate under that sort of pressure every single week. "We just have to keep winning our games and the most important thing when we play Hibs tomorrow is that we get the victory. "We will see what happens after that. None of these things are that important - the pressure is simply on whoever is chasing and that is us at the moment. "We must accept that and know, going into each game, that our main objective is to win the match. The onus is on us to come out on top.Walter Smith in Kaunas "If we win our next two games, we will be in a far better position than we're in at the moment but we know doing that will be tough." Smith refused to be drawn on speculation linking Rangers with a move Spartak Moscow defender Martin Stranzl. There have been media reports saying the manager is keen on the Austrian stopper but he refused to confirm if that was the case. Smith did reveal Madjid Bougherra, who he hoped would be fit enough to play this weekend, is still doubtful for tomorrow's game with a thigh knock despite training today. If he misses out, he'll be one of five first-team players sidelined for the clash with the Easter Road outfit. Chris Burke has fallen victim to the flu outbreak currently sweeping across Scotland and is too unwell to be considered. Maurice Edu and Andrius Velicka are also unavailable as they both have ankle knocks. Long-term crock Kevin Thomson is the other casualty.

by Alison McConnell SCOTLAND is facing Champions League armageddon after it was revealed the SPL winners will have to qualify for the money-spinning elite group stages from 2010 - alongside Europe's minnow clubs. This season's title winners WILL go straight into the Champions League. But the season after that both the league champions and the runners-up will face a gruelling qualifying campaign to book their passage into the group stages. Greece have leap-frogged Scotland in the co-efficient table after Olympiakos thumped Hertha Berlin 4-0 last night, meaning Scotland have just one more season on a golden ticket into the group stages of the Champions League. And, with Panathinaikos awaiting their fate in the Champions League draw later today, Greece will consolidate that twelfth spot in the provisional UEFA co-efficient table. Only the top 12 countries enjoy automatic entry into the group stages. advertisement However, while the regulations for the revamped Champions League qualification format have not yet formally been published by UEFA, it is more than likely that the champions of the 13th placed nation - at this time that is Scotland -could still gain automatic entry if the Champions League holders also qualify through their domestic league position. That means that if, for example, Manchester United were to win the Premiership and the Champions League, then the SPL winners would go straight into the Champions League through the back door. So, in that event, it is vital that Scotland hang on to 13th spot. That slot is currently under threat by Belgium who have two clubs left in the Uefa Cup. A combined six more victories from Standard Liege and Club Brugge would take Belgium above Scotland. Denmark too are an outside threat with Aalborg still in the Uefa Cup as well. Celtic and Rangers know the serious hazards that lie in wait in the qualifying stages. Celtic were put to the sword by Artmedia Bratislava in 2005 and had to go without European football for a full season, while this year Kaunas heaped the same fate on Rangers. And the bad news is that it is only going to get harder. Uefa President Michel Platini wants the qualifying games for the Champions League to be revamped and that mean is an even tougher route to the Champions League group stage. Given the financial incentives available, it would be a nightmare for both Celtic and Rangers if they were to miss out on Champions League football. Despite missing out on both the last 16 of the Champions League and the latter stages of UEFA Cup this season, Celtic still stand to make around �£15m from their participation. And in the current climate when the gap between the top teams and the rest is particularly galling, it is vital that these kind of finances are brought in in order to help strengthen teams. Missing out on that money on a regular basis would be a disaster for the Old Firm who are struggling as it is to bridge the chasm. http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/display.var.2476602.0.0.php

CRAIG THOMSON has been named as the referee for the crucial Old Firm game at Ibrox on December 27. The whistler - who has recently gone part-time in his job as a lawyer to help him concentrate more on refereeing - has plenty of experience in the fixture now and is regarded as the best whistler in the country. Thomson's last Old Firm outing was Celtic's 3-2 win at home in April.

THE COUNTDOWN is on to the crucial second Old Firm derby of the season and it's a match no-one wants to miss. Rangers, of course, triumphed in the first meeting with that stunning 4-2 win at Parkhead back on August 31. However, since that day Celtic have opened a lead in the title race and Rangers are determined to notch their second win of the season against their rivals.Steven Davis, Rangers It's a match every fan wants to go to and you can win tickets right here. Check out this question: Who scored Rangers' first goal in the 4-2 win on August 31? A - Kenny Miller B - Daniel Cousin C - Pedro Mendes GOT IT? Now text GERS A, GERS B or GERS C to 88442 and you could be on your way to the big match. The competition closes on Monday, December 22 at 5pm so make sure your mobile is switched in at that time. Texts cost �£1.50 plus you usual rate.

It's my birthday on the 29th of this month and I just want one thing. The early birthday present (or a late xmas present if you like) of a crushing victory over Celtic with a Boyd hat trick. What's everyone's dream scenario for the 27th? (I know we have Hibs to deal with first but you cant help but look ahead to the next Old Firm).

Celtic midfielder Shaun Maloney is out of the Old Firm clash on 27 December after suffering a hamstring injury. More...

Free to enter comp on the Clydesdal Bank League website. If you win and there's a spare it best be coming my way!

RANGERS enjoyed the perfect weekend last week when their crushing 7-1 victory over Hamilton was followed the day after by title rivals Celtic dropping points to Hibs at Easter Road. Kenny Miller celebrates his goal against HamiltonBut Kenny Miller insists any thoughts of the four point gap between the Old Firm being narrowed with the aid of other clubs is out of Rangers players' minds as they prepare for a tough trip to Tannadice this weekend. A victory against Dundee United in the early kick off on Saturday would narrow the gap to a single point ahead of Celtic's meeting with Hearts at 3pm, but Miller says his side are concentrating only on their own fixtures. He said: "Obviously it's a boost but we can only take care of our own games. The slip ups we've had are the reason we were seven points behind at one stage. "We just have to keep winning games and if Celtic slip up that's a bonus for us. Last week it was the perfect weekend for us with seven goals and a good performance and then the result on Sunday was a big boost for us. "It's another big weekend this week and if we can get the win in the early game it puts that wee bit of pressure on Celtic if the gap is down to a point." Kenny MillerMiller knows that this is another crunch weekend as Rangers aim to pick up maximum points in the run up to the December 27 Old Firm meeting. He said: "It's massive for us. There's no point in us winning 7-1 and seeing Celtic slip up if we don't then narrow the gap again. "We've got Dundee Utd away and then Hibs at home and they don't come much tougher than that. We have to win those games to go in to the Old Firm game a maximum of four points behind. "It's natural when you're in that position that you'll check what their result is to see if we've gained any ground but at the end of the day we can only look at ourselves and try to win games. "If the opposition slips up then that's obviously a boost for us. For us the next game is always the toughest one, it doesn't matter where it is. "Tomorrow's is a big game for us and we know we need to win these kind of games to go on the long winning runs you need to pick up titles." Miller's contribution to that title bid has been to weigh in with 7 goals and help his strike partner Kris Boyd to notch another 16. Their combination drew praise from the Gers No.9 who hailed Miller as his perfect front line foil, a feeling echoed by Miller. Kenny Miller and Kris BoydHe added:"I think the way it's been going it's definitely getting better. It takes a bit of time to form a partnership but we spent some together with the national side and we get on well off the park. "I think you're starting to see that on the pitch. It's been my most productive partnership, certainly over the last 6 or 7 games and there have been a lot of goals flying in - mostly for big Boydy! "I'm enjoying my football and we're playing some cracking stuff at the moment. Myself and Boydy rely on service from the midfield and that's been fantastic this season."