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Hmmm, Hmmmm 30mill? Mr Smith.

I am starting to wonder if our Technical staff have a clue what they are doing. Surely any players we are interested in should have been scouted months ago and not leaving things to a last minute decision.

Music to the ears. Lets just hope he is not pushed out the door as Hutton was.

RANGERS: McGregor; Whittaker, Weir, Broadfoot, Papac; Novo, Hemdani, Thomson, McCulloch; Darcheville, Miller. Subs: G. Smith, Dailly, Velicka, Boyd, Adam, MacLachlan, Emslie, Furman.

What has happened to Rangers fans nowadays? "We're crap", "Walter Smith is a twat (or worse)", "We won't win the league", "Everyone is out to get us", "We've no money", "Our strips are poor", "Player X is an embarrassment" etc etc etc - I could go on all day! And I thought I came online to get away from the boss' or the wife's moaning? Let's begin by saying I totally understand why some fans are feeling a wee bit pessimistic. No league wins for 3 years and the disappointments of last season's failure to secure the title mean even the very best supporters amongst us will find it difficult to be overly positive. Add in a few injuries, a few signings that don't really excite and a few people stirring the pot; then we have a support that is suddenly in a negative vicious circle of the kind that breeds negativity hourly. But, we have to drawn the line somewhere surely? I'd like to take issue with a few of the more hysterical claims, if I may. 1. The last two matches have been pre-season friendlies: you know, the kind of games we've all played in. Walking pace, lack of sharpness, warm weather, tactical experiments, personnel tests, niggling strains and less than impressive results against minor sides. Generally, games that don't mean a lot in the grand scheme of things - ask Chelsea after we hammered them last season at Ibrox. 2. Injuries. Love him or loathe him, Barry Ferguson will be missed. His injury is a worrying one but it might also enable others to step out of his shadow. The other injuries don't concern me as they're not serious anyway. I'm just glad we've got them now - not when the real games start. By that time, Beasley, Lafferty, Cuellar and McGregor will all be back playing. Four damn good players nice and fresh for a long season! Smith wont be long behind them. 3. Signings. Sure, they're not Laudrups, Gascoignes, Goughs or Hateleys. However, they are all internationalists, have shown decent pedigree at club level and a couple even do the business at international level. Sure one we may not want to have seen at Ibrox again but I think the other two are interesting enough. Lafferty particularly will be a good bit of business IMO. The management team have also said they're actively pursuing other targets. Patience is a virtue in that regard. 4. Midfield creativity. I certainly empathise with worries about the dearth of this in our team. Losing Ferguson won't help and with Burke/Naismith both out until next year, we're once again short in this area. However, was I the only person to see John Fleck sneak on the flight to Germany? Did no-one else feel a funny twinge when he showed his class in a short Scottish Cup final cameo? I'm sure he started last night and played well as he scored his debut first XI goal also? Obviously, we can't base our hopes on a 16 year old raw teenager though? I mean, none of us have said it's about time we played the youths... Bears, I don't blame you for being worried. I am as well. We do need a couple of other players - a centre half and a midfielder would go a long way to quelling our fears. Imagine our Carlos with a aerially dominant partner with a bit of pace. Dream of Thomson winning a tackle and passing to a midfield dynamo who can run at the opposition. Do you really think Walter Smith - the man who led us to 9IAR - won't share those thoughts? Pull the other one! As I type this, the date is approaching the 18th of July. This is a month that ends with our first competitive game of the season; with the SPL starting again 10 days later. Over 3 weeks until we can really judge our position and even then it won't be too accurate. In that time we can moan more, we can panic more, we can slag each other off more and we can generally go against everything that is supposed to be about being a supporter of the Rangers. Or we could accept where we are, draw a line and move forward. "The cry was No Surrender" if you like.

CARLOS Cuellar has added another awards double to his personal trophy collection after a fantastic first season at Ibrox. Carlos CuellarThe big defender picked up the club's Player of the Year and Players' Player of the Year awards at a glittering ceremony at the Hilton hotel in Glasgow tonight. 26-year-old Cuellar had already been named as the top performer in Scotland by SPL sponsors Clydesdale Bank and the Scottish Football Writers' Association. Now the Spaniard has been recognised by his light blues team mates and thousands of fans from around the world who voted for him as their top Gers star last season. He said: "It was fantastic to be voted the Player of the Year for Scotland and to be voted for by the Rangers' fans is special too." Walter Smith has been delighted with his defender's first season at Ibrox and says Cuellar is a deserving winner. Smith said: "Carlos has been a terrific signing for us. I think he came to us at the right time in his career and he has played exceptionally well for us both domestically and in Europe. "Sometimes it's easier for players who come from abroad to show up better in the European matches because the SPL games are different to what they are used to. "But Carlos has handled both with great aplomb and he is fully deserving of his awards." John Fleck16-year-old John Fleck picked up the Young Player of the Year trophy after playing a key role in another double for Billy Kirkwood's youth team. Fleck scored on the club's recent pre season tour of Germany and will be hoping to make the step up to Smith's first team more regularly this season. At the opposite end of the age range in Smith's squad is the winner of the John Greig Achievement Award, Davie Weir. Cuellar's centre back partner managed over 60 games for Rangers and further appearances at international level - a fantastic achievement for a player who turned 38 before the end of last season. Weir played a crucial role alongside Cuellar as Rangers enjoyed an incredible run to the UEFA Cup final in Manchester. Steven Whittaker scoresAnd it was that competition that would produce the pick of the club's goals last term as Steven Whittaker collected the Carling Fans' Goal of the Season award for his strike against Sporting Lisbon. Whittaker's mazy run and finish to cap a fantastic performance in Lisbon will live long in the memory of every fan that travelled to Portugal for the quarter final clash. It was a popular winner, edging out other Euro strikes from Charlie Adam and Daniel Cousin and domestic goals from Barry Ferguson and Lee McCulloch.

Another Boyd thread I know, but I agree with Hately (as you all know) we would be mad to let him go. I hope he is more than a bit part or impact player (although it looks likely) Velicka loogs good, Miller the same as many expected although its still early and we havent seen anything of Lafferty. JCD and Cousin still here which suprises me. As Hately says in the article, if we want the player, just go and get him. Unfortunately we havent done this for a while, the possible exception of Lafferty.

Nacho seems to forget that Fergie played last season and the creativity wasn't that great either. Smith saying we are in no rush for a midfielder. Help!

Och it is only a Friendly.

WALTER SMITH has announced that Davie Weir will lead Rangers into the new campaign. The 38-year-old centre back who is such an influence will be captain while Barry Ferguson recovers from the ankle surgery he had last Monday. And Smith says he is a deserving candidate for the way he has managed to keep himself in such fantastic shape. He said: "David Weir will captain the team while Barry Ferguson is injured. He has done it before. "David was a big part of our major success last season. It is not an easy decision for any manager to make or even talk about when it comes to a player's age but he deserves tremendous credit. "Initially we signed him for a year and he did really well for us but it is starting to come into the equation when you get to 38. "Paolo Maldini is 40, was going to retire and then changed his mind so you have to compliment these guys for the discipline and professionalism. "Good luck to all of these guys but nobody deserves it more than big Davie for the way he conducts himself. "I have not come across a more honest professional. He is a great man but he has a lot about him as well; he does not like losing."

WALTER SMITH is predicting that Kevin Thomson and Stevie Whittaker will become key players for Rangers in the new campaign. As he prepares to face Schalke in the Veltins Arena this afternoon, Smith reckons the former Hibs pair will raise their game to a higher level. And he also feels Lee McCulloch can offer more have established himself at Rangers now. Smith said: "Not just because Barry is injured but I think in terms of his own progression Kevin can move forward and be a terrific and important player for us this season. "It always takes a bitKevin Thomson of time to make the transition from, for example, Hibs to Rangers and settle in. "I think he did that last season, when he played exceptionally well in parts for us. This season I am looking for more maturity and consistency in his play. "He is ready for that and Steven Whittaker is exactly the same; I hope he too can come to the fore a bit more. "I do not think he has been inhibited by Barry's presence I just think it is a natural aspect of coming to Rangers and Celtic and playing with that higher expectancy week in, week out. "It is different if you are talking about a player at 28 who has been around a bit but at 22 and 23 it takes a bit longer to settle. "Steven is a right back it was just last season, with him capable of playing in other positions, that circumstances dictated. At the start, we had Alan Hutton and I felt Steven could work well in front of him wide right. "Lee is another in that bracket. He is slightly more experienced but he has had that year behind him now and is also quite adaptable. He is another who will have an influence this season, I have no doubt about that." Smith has no doubts that Schalke will represent a major test for his side as he tries to find the right formation for the vital Champions League qualifiers.Steven Whittaker Carlos Cueller, Kyle Lafferty and DaMarcus Beaasley will all miss out along with Allan McGregor and it will be interesting to see who Smith chooses for the front places. He said: Schalke will be a good team. I think they came close to the title two years ago but won only one of their last four games and lost out to Stuttgart and they finished third last season "They have spent money again this summer to try and take it that one step further so they will be a good test. ahead of our Champions League matches, "They have changed quite a bit since last season and are maybe not totally at the stage they have been at." Meanwhile, Smith has revealed that he has arranged three closed door games for next week in addition to the friendlies against Clyde and Raith Rovers to give match action to all of his squad.

JOHN FLECK says he's ignoring all the hype about him after he scored his first goal for Rangers on Wednesday night. John FleckThe 16-year-old broke his Light Blues duck when he grabbed the clincher six minutes from the end of the 3-1 friendly win over Sportfreunde Lotte. Big things are expected from Fleck, whose double proved decisive in last season's Youth Cup final win against Celtic at Hampden. But he isn't paying any attention to it the anticipation of others and is focused only on playing his way into Walter Smith's first-team plans now. Fleck said: "I just let all of that bypass me and allow people to keep talking. I'm sure there folk are a few out there who don't like me as well. "I feel I've learned a lot in the last 12 months but all that matters now is that I keep doing what I'm doing. "I don't know what will happen this season but I'll just keep working hard and doing my best to get into the squad. "A few of the young lads have a chance of being involved because of the SPL's under-21 rule but if I keep doing what I'm doing, hopefully that'll be enough for me." Fleck was thrilled to find the net against Lotte, his goal coming after a lay-off from debutant Andrius Velicka.John Fleck But it says much about the high standards he sets himself that he feels he should have got on the scoresheet much sooner than he did. Fleck added: "Obviously it was great for me to start and for the team to win. I should probably have had three or four goals but it was still good to score one. "With the first couple of chances I had, I was still nervous as it was early in the game and I hit them straight away. "I was unlucky with another one but the last one sat up well and I was really pleased that it went in." Fleck is relishing his opportunity to work with Smith's squad here in Holland and in Germany this week. He was also involved in last summer's pre-season tour, making a brief appearance in the 4-2 win over SV Lippstadt as a replacement for Nacho Novo. But having just completed a top-team game for the first time, the teenager believes he is making progress and few would disagree. Boyd congratulates Fleck after his great strikeFleck said: "It is great being away with the team this week. This is all I ever wanted to do and after being part of the group at this stage last year, it is good to be here again. "Last summer, I got a few minutes in one of the matches but now I've just played a full game and hopefully I'll just keep progressing now. "Getting that long on the pitch with the boys is only going to help me. I might feel a bit tired afterwards but it can only be good for the future. "People are stronger and tougher than me at this level and when I'm working with the first team, they move the ball about a lot quicker but I'm getting used to that."

Rangers seem to have offered Boyd up to meet the price.

Stevie Smith out for 4-6 weeks and Kyle Lafferty out for the next 3.... Carlos Cuellar will also miss Saturday's match... http://www.rangers.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,5~1345916,00.html

I don't know that much about him i am afraid. He has been longer in Wales than in holland as a football player.

Dissapointing that he will miss the opening qualifier so hopefully he makes a speedy recovery.

http://www.gersnetonline.net/newsite/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=657&Itemid=1 After Kenny Millerââ?¬â?¢s debut for his much debated second spell at Rangers, I think itââ?¬â?¢s time for an objective look at what this controversial signing really brings to the table. First off, I donââ?¬â?¢t blame any Rangers fan for not welcoming this player with open arms to our club. In todayââ?¬â?¢s financial climate, Ã?£2million is a lot of money for any player ââ?¬â?? not least one who failed in his first spell and has hardly shown throughout his career to be the kind of genuine quality player the club talked about bringing in over the summer. Add in his ridiculous chest-beating antics after scoring against us at Celtic then his signing was never going to be popular. After impressing at Hibs and winning the ââ?¬Ë?Young Player of the Yearââ?¬â?¢ award in 1999/2000, like many a player before and after him, Miller made the journey along the M8 to sign for Rangers. As he will again later this month, he made his competitive debut at Ibrox against Kaunas and went on to spend 18 months at the club. During that time he actually had some decent games which reflected his potential ââ?¬â?? goals against Monaco in the CL and the 5 goal spree against St Mirren the highlights of his one full season in his first spell at the club. He also played an important part in wins against other teams (including the 5-1 against Celtic) but in a season where the Dick Advocaat era imploded with various senior players (Konterman, Ricksen and Moore) all losing their discipline while the crazy signing of Tore Andre Flo relegated Miller to little less than a bit-part player after Xmas, Miller proved to be an easy scapegoat for the manager and the fans as the Oranje-era fell apart. Since then Millerââ?¬â?¢s career and goal-scoring record has been inconsistent due to a combination of injuries and manager fall-outs with regard to his best position and overall worth to the team. Millerââ?¬â?¢s previous with regard to being quick to run to the media certainly havenââ?¬â?¢t helped his reputation either. As such, itââ?¬â?¢s arguably at international level where heââ?¬â?¢s been most accepted by any fans. No-one can deny that Millerââ?¬â?¢s contribution in a reasonably resurgent Scotland side has been valuable. His industry, working of the channels and the odd goal has shown he can play a bit against decent opposition. His natural game is probably well suited to teams where the pressure of actually scoring goals and winning games isnââ?¬â?¢t of the level of the very best teams (domestic or international). The question remains: is he good enough for Rangers? As with any new signing that question isnââ?¬â?¢t easy to answer. At first glance his striker statistics ââ?¬â?? specifically goals scored ââ?¬â?? are hardly impressive. However, most fans will agree, itââ?¬â?¢s not really goals where Miller excels. His first touch is also poor, his finishing average and itââ?¬â?¢s only his work-rate that allows these flaws to be minimised. In saying that, Miller reads the game pretty well and shows decent awareness in possession also. All in all, heââ?¬â?¢s a difficult player to make an honest and accurate judgement on. Therefore, I think itââ?¬â?¢s fair to say the signing represents a more than moderate gamble by Walter Smith. Itââ?¬â?¢s this gamble that puzzles me though. Why take the risk on a player the fans were never going to accept initially? Smith did enough last season to allow the majority of fans to say his second spell in charge could help take Rangers back to the successes of his previous reign. Latter disappointments in the UEFA Cup Final (yes, thatââ?¬â?¢s final) and losing the league late on did temper that optimism somewhat though. As such the signing of Miller allowed the more sceptical of our fans more room to voice their negativity. And, to be fair, they have a point. So, when the season finally gets going: when the competitive games start; when the CL qualifier lottery begins; and when the SPL battle gets under-way; it wonââ?¬â?¢t just be Kenny Miller needing to persuade many fans that his second spell will be a success - Walter Smith will also have the jury out as well. Thus, was the signing of Kenny Miller a gamble worth taking? Or does it place needless extra pressure on a manager who may find that his legendary status amongst the Rangers support is brought into disrepute because of signing an average ex-Celtic player? The dice have been thrown.

He will miss the pre season trip to Holland and Germany... http://www.rangers.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,5~1341974,00.html

im quite sure walter smith all but promised a creative midfielder at the end of last season, as it was so apparent it was needed. but now everyone's started talking about our new first 11 - do we think that we're going to go with pretty much what we have? are there creative midfielders in mind that perhaps we dont know about yet?

Sporting striker Milan Purovic has admitted he is keen to leave Lisbon amid reports that Rangers are one of the clubs keen on signing him. The target man has interested clubs in Belgium, Germany and Turkey but his agent Zoran Stojadinovic claimed recently that Walter Smith's Uefa Cup runners-up were keen to buy his client. Although he has returned to Portugal for pre-season training, the Montenegrin marksman remains determined to move on. "I would like to leave and find another club to play in and continue my career," Purovic insisted to Diario Digital. "But now I am here to train. "Let's see what happens." Smith has already strengthened in the attacking department and may not view Purovic as a priority, with Anderlecht believed to be joining the chase for his signature.

I think this is brilliant news as Ive always liked Durrant. Not sure of everyone elses thoughts but I thought WS underplayed him when he got back from that horrendous injury. Yet he went onto play into his 30's. Great player and we could have got more from him IMO. Having a player like that must help the kids coming through.

I thought he was excellent two seasons ago but got really frustrated last season by his turning and passing the ball back. I don't know if that was because we only had one option\target up front but he just seemed to go in one direction and that was backwards.

I don't think he will get a game under Smith so it would be better for all if he can get a move.

Sorry i can't say Mo Johnston and Kenny Miller in the one sentence.

I hope we don't sign him on the basis of 500.000 after 50 games. We know after 49 games he will never play again.