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Unfinished business For this to work we need to get the scouts off their arses and if Walter Smith is the man to lead the way is also debatable, given his record in actually playing young players. Davie Weir? I rest my case.

I hope he does come back stronger and better but i would rather he produced the goods before shouting his mouth off.

http://www.sportinglife.com/football/scottishpremier/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=soccer/08/07/03/SOCCER_Rangers.html&TEAMHD=scotspremiership Veteran defenders Christian Dailly and David Weir have both signed new deals with Rangers. The Scottish pair have each committed to staying at Ibrox for another year after impressing last season. Dailly, 34, quickly adapted to life at Rangers after joining on a short-term deal from West Ham in January, while Weir, 38, was brought to Glasgow by manager Walter Smith shortly after his own return to the club 18 months ago. Weir insists he was always going to extend his stay after discovering that a new offer was on the table. He said: "I'm delighted, I've enjoyed every minute since I've been up here. "Football-wise there wasn't any decision to make. "As soon as the manager said he wanted me to stay for another year, I was delighted. "I didn't think I'd be here for two-and-a-half years. "In football you can't afford to look that far ahead, especially at my age. "So initially it was just a short-term deal but I'm delighted now that it has stretched and stretched." Weir's partnership with Carlos Cuellar in the heart of the defence was crucial to Rangers' success last season, as they won the Scottish Cup and CIS Insurance Cup and narrowly missed out on the UEFA Cup and Clydesdale Bank Premier League trophies. The former Everton man played a total of 68 games for both club and country in what proved to be an epic campaign for the veteran centre-half. Weir is now hoping to have a significant part to play when Rangers' new season gets under way with a Champions League qualifier against Santa Coloma or FBK Kaunas later this month. He told Rangers' website: "You want to play every game. As a player you want to be in the team week-in, week-out. "I obviously want to be involved and that will be my aim. But it's up to me to try to do that."

Barry Ferguson made his debuut as a 16 year old in season 94\95 but it was when Dick Advocaat arrived in season 1998/1999 that he became a regular member of the team. In 2001\2002 he became the youngest ever Rangers Captain at the age of 23. In his first season under his leadership Fergie led Rangers to a cup double but rumours were already ripe that Dick Advocaat had lost the dressing room and that there was a Dutch-Scottish divide. Dick Advocaat was promoted to technical manager and Alex McLeish took over the managerial reigns. In 2002\2003 Fergie captained Rangers to a Scottish treble of the two cups and the league championship. He was named player of the year and became a cult hero to some supporters. He has never captained a league winning team since. At the start of season 2003\04 he left Ibrox to join Blackburn in which some supporters think he committed a cardinal sin and see him as a turncoat, while other supporters think he was pushed unwillingly out the door to ease the financial pressures, Rangers were under at that time. During a tormented time at Blackburn in which he claimed to be homesick, he suffered a serious injury,when he fractured a knee cap. Admitting he had made a mistake in leaving Rangers and after much negotiation Barry returned to Rangers just before the transfer window shut in January 2005. He played his part in helping Rangers led by captain Fernando Ricksen, lift the SPL trophy with virtually the last kick of the ball in what was called helicopter Sunday. At the beginning of season 2005\06 Barry was reinstated as Captain which again split the Rangers support in pro and anti Fergie groups. As Rangers League chances quickly diminished again rumours of dressing room troubles reared their head and Alex McLeish was informed he would be leaving at the end of the season. A great run in the Champions League, where Rangers reached the knock-out stages gave McLeish a great add on to his CV, and the supporters hope for the new season under paul le Guen. Rangers had a great start to the season under PLG which was without an injured Barry Ferguson. Some would say we played the best football in years. When Fergie was fit, PLG reinstated him in the team and quickly results started to go pear shaped. Again dressing room drama's were hitting the media. Players not wanting to follow special diets. Players not wanting to train twice a day. PLG dropped Barry Ferguson saying he was undermining his authority. David Murray chose to back Fergie and possibly keep the majority of fans happy and let Paul le Guen walk away on mutual agreement. Enter Walter Smith, who has been brought back in to steady the ship. He supposedly warns Fergie to toe the line. Fergie is pushed into a more forward attacking position, playing behind the lone striker in a 4-5-1 formation. With only a handful of good performances again this season and Rangers losing an almost unassailable lead, Barry is once again portrayed as captain courageous playing through the pain barrier for the love of his team. Rangers supporters again seem split on the Barry Ferguson enigma. Is he the super captain he portrays or is he the dressing room snake in the grass PLG tried to oust? Is he a team player or is he on a one man ego trip? Is Barry Ferguson unmissable as many supporters believe or is he actually a negative catalyst on the team? Is Barry Ferguson the world class player some people believe he is or the mediocre player other supporters see him as? That he has a Rangers heart is beyond question but does that give him an endless claim to a starting place no matter how he performs? Personally i think he does have the best for Rangers at heart but in that lies his pitfall. I believe he thinks he is Rangers knight in shining armour and the weight of the club lies on his shoulders. I also do not think we got the same player back from Blackburn that left us eighteen months earlier. Barry Ferguson is not unmissable and certainly not bigger than Rangers football club. I am under no disillusion that he will be replaced in this transfer window but it must be time to evaluate his true worth to the team and have a replacement waiting in the wings.

Jun 30 2008 Hugh Keevins MOTHERWELL boss Mark McGhee will today make another bid for Rangers' Alan Gow after losing Ross McCormack to Cardiff. McGhee doesn't yet know how much he will receive from theWelsh club in a compensation package for former Rangers striker McCormack. But he will have talks with Motherwell owner John Boyle today to ask for whatever money is freed up to be devoted to the chase for Gow. McGhee said: "If Alan has turned down the chance to join Norwich I'm definitely interested in getting him from Motherwell. "I've spoken to Walter Smith about the player before now and I'll be speaking to him again." The main stumbling block is Gow is believed to bank three times more in weekly wages at Ibrox than the highest paid Motherwell player. But the man who rejected Burnley before Norwich is a home bird and the short distance between his house in Clydebank and Motherwell could be the short cut to a deal being done that ends Gow's stay as a misfit at Ibrox. Taking a wage cut to get his career back on track may not be such a bad move. Sitting for another year in the Ibrox reserves isn't going to do him any good at all. With Beasly, Lafferty, McCulloch and Adam all going for the left wing place the chances that Gow will get a start is minimal.

Walter Smith: Judge Kenny Miller on the present, not the past :eek: I hope that statement is just a red herring, if not then i see the same midfield slog we have had for the last 3 years.

If you look at Lafferty's CV it doesn't really read that good but i suppose the fact that Celtic and a few other teams were desperate to get him must show he does have something. It will be interesting to see in the pre-season how good he is.

The opening Old Firm match of the season at Celtic Park has been switched from Saturday August 30 to Sunday August 31 with a kick off time still to be confirmed. Walter Smith's team will also feature as Setanta's live match the previous weekend when their trip to Pittodrie to face Aberdeen will be moved to an early Saturday start. Instead of the scheduled 3pm kick off on Saturday August 23, Smith's men will kick off against the Dons at 12.30pm. Rangers may face a European fixture between those two SPL clashes with the second leg of the third qualifying round of the Champions League due to be played on August 26 and 27.

I hope he doesn't get injured because he has the same contract as Webster. Even if he gets injured in the last 3 games we still have to buy him.

Hmmmmm. Did Walter or Bain not say he was for sale directly after he signed that contract. I am sure it was on the official site.

http://www.sportinglife.com/football/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=soccer/08/06/26/manual_103242.html&TEAMHD=soccer Certainly sounds like an interesting signing given the quality of the teams also apparently previously interested.

Sorry another three years of Davie Wier frightens me. I think the Davis saga will drag on until the window is shutting.

WALTER SMITH has told Kris Boyd he wants him to stay at Rangers - and guaranteed the striker a major role in his new-look side. Boyd is being chased by Championship outfit Cardiff who are expected to increase the s2.5million offer they had rejected on Friday night. The Scotland star does not want to leave Ibrox despite the arrival of three new hitmen and feels he can help Gers win the SPL and make an impact in the Champions League next season. Boss Smith shares that view and held a heart-to-heart with the player to assure him he will be a key man. The Gers gaffer knows Boyd guarantees at least 25 goals a season and won't authorise his sale. A source close to Boyd told MailSport: "Kris thought he may have to leave but has been assured he is in the manager's plans and is delighted because quitting Rangers is the last thing he wants. "Kris can now focus on helping Rangers and improving his own game. "The past few days have been unsettling but he now knows the situation and is happy the gaffer wants him." It is more likely Daniel Cousin will be offloaded for around s2.5million and Jean-Claude Darcheville may also be heading for the exit. Rangers have spent more than s6m in the past week to land Kenny Miller, Andrius Velicka and Kyle Lafferty. But rather than being surplus to requirements, Boyd will be given the chance to partner Miller up front, particularly in home games. Darcheville's future is now in real doubt yet he insists he'll still be at Ibrox next term to fight for a starting slot. The Frenchman said: "The fact Rangers have signed three strikers doesn't worry me - it excites me. "If we can strengthen all positions we'll have a strong squad and at a big club you need competition for places. "I love Rangers and am settled here. I don't want to leave." Meanwhile, Gers have snubbed three SPL clubs who want Alan Gow - despite trying to flog him to Burnley as part of the Lafferty deal. Dundee United, Motherwell and Aberdeen have all made enquiries but Ibrox chiefs would rather sell the 25-year-old to England. Gow will return for preseason training on Thursday but his future lies away from Ibrox and several Championship clubs could move in. **From sunday mail**

I know he looked fantastic when he first arrived last season, and was playing through the middle. BUT, he did lose a hell of a lot of admirers towards the later end of the season when pushed out to the right. Is he the plaer we are looking for or needing and worthy of such a fee? Played out on the right, I'd say no, played through the middle yes. But then who then forms the mifield for us with BF, KT, BH, SD and possibly a couple of others. I think it's unfortunate we haven't sold or got rid of anone yet to get a clearer picture of whats in WS's mind for next season. Just interested in everyones thoughts...

" I hope he stays but i must admit having 9mill to spend on a play-maker would make me really think about letting him go.

Striker Jean-Claude Darcheville has vowed to stay at Rangers and fight for a first-team place despite the arrival of plenty of competition this summer. Gers boss Walter Smith has bolstered his attacking options with the triple capture of Kenny Miller, Andrius Velicka and Kyle Lafferty this month. However, the veteran French forward insists he is happy to remain at Ibrox and prove he deserves to start games next season. Darcheville, who was the club's top scorer with 15 goals last season, said: "The fact Rangers have brought in three new strikers doesn't worry me - it excites me. "I see a lot of potential at Rangers. I love the club and I am settled in Scotland. I don't want to leave."

Evening Bears, I've been a Liverpool fan since the mid nineties and I'm delighted both clubs are meeting again. Was there for Walter Smith's testimonial and even saw Michael Owen miss an open goal from 6 yards at the Copeland end.. anyways I'm wanting to go down early on the day and get my photo taken with Stevie G, Torres, Carragher etc and I've never done this before. Anyone know when would be the best time to head down?? cheers

Will keep these posts separate from the main thread as the thrust is linked directly with Gersnet... http://www.gersnetonline.net/newsite/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=649&Itemid=1 Tennis, golf and RFC supporter group splits boring you? Time for The_Insider to tell you of the latest info he's heard regarding any comings and goings at the club. It's all good, clean fun so please don't get too excited (or more likely depressed) at the gossip we bring you in this light-hearted look through the transfer window... As usual we'll start with the players Rangers are interested in. Despite downmarket red-tops claiming war-chests of Ã?£20million, the money currently available to Walter Smith is nowhere near that amount. As it stands, despite raking in around Ã?£30million last season (from Hutton/Europe) the manager only has Ã?£6million to play with ââ?¬â?? plus any income from players who do leave. Kenny Miller has already arrived ââ?¬â?? much to the disappointment of many Rangers fans ââ?¬â?? so around Ã?£1.6million has already been spent. Because of this arrival Peter LÃ?¸venkrands will now definitely not be coming back to Ibrox. Not sure that will cheer up those of us still depressed at the return of Miller but I donââ?¬â?¢t think weââ?¬â?¢d have coped with two average ex-players coming back in one summer. Moving on, as he was in January, Kyle Lafferty is still very much in Smithââ?¬â?¢s sights. Able to play wide or in attack, the big Northern Irish player may be beyond Rangersââ?¬â?¢ current budget though. Rangers have offered Ã?£2.2million but Burnley are holding out for around twice that fee ââ?¬â?? with Celtic and Wolves the other clubs seriously interested. Rangers are also now monitoring the Dundee Utd midfielder Morgaro Gomis. The former Montpellier and Chelsea youth player has risen up the ranks quickly from spells in English lower league football before being signed by the Tayside club from Cowdenbeath. Impressive displays in three games against Rangers means the club may put in a modest offer for the Frenchman whose contract runs out next summer. Utd are also interested in a couple of Rangers fringe players so a swap deal may please both parties. All the above are hardly rumours which will excite the support so the pressure will be on the club to move on as many fringe players as possible to maximise the budget available to the manager. Several players are available and, while the club donââ?¬â?¢t want to lose prize asset Carlos Cuellar, The_Insider has heard the Spaniard actually has a Ã?£10million release clause in his contract. The player himself doesnââ?¬â?¢t want to go but after the Hutton debacle, who knows what his future will hold. Allan McGregor is another asset whose future is in doubt. Rumours have been abound for many months now that the Scotland international goalkeeper is interested in a move to Spurs. Gersnetââ?¬â?¢s information is that Smith will allow the keeper to leave for around Ã?£8million although Spurs prefer a stepped deal from around Ã?£5million. Despite paper talk of interest from various English clubs in Kevin Thomson the club have not had any offers for the player. However, the lad is looking to sign a new, improved contract and who can blame him a considering he also did his skipperââ?¬â?¢s hard work for much of the campaign. Rangers would do well to instil a disciplinary clause into any negotiations and save themselves some money ahead of his inevitable bookings next season. The strongest link out we have heard in recent days is that Jean-Claude Darcheville will be on his way in the summer. A Ã?£1.5million fee has been agreed with an as yet unnamed continental side so it appears the likeable French strikerââ?¬â?¢s Rangers career has finally been hamstrung. Thatââ?¬â?¢s all for this week, so if you can bear the excitement and tension, keep an eye on the site (and forum) for all the latest transfer gossip concerning the Rangers. :box:

Everyone will have, and are entitled to their thoughts regarding the return to Rangers of Kenny Miller. Iââ?¬â?¢ve heard Rangers fans claim that they are against this signing for varying reasons : he played for Celtc, the way he ââ?¬Ë?over-celebratedââ?¬â?¢ his goal against Rangers whilst playing for Celtc, and the one I plump for, he just isnââ?¬â?¢t good enough. Now, I hope, for the clubs sake, that Miller proves me, and a whole lot of other Rangers fans wrong. I hope in 12 months time that I am sitting here admitting to eating humble pie, however, I have my reservations. Kenny Miller is a ââ?¬Ë?run-of-the-millââ?¬â?¢ player ââ?¬â?? nothing more or nothing less. Kenny Miller, in my opinion found his level at Hibernian and that isnââ?¬â?¢t meant as a slight on the Edinburgh club, or Miller himself. Miller then found himself in the spot-light when Dick Advocaat bought him and then decided not to play him every often. Walter Smith and his backroom staff obviously rate Miller highly, as we as a club are no longer in the position to pay Ã?£2M for a squad player ââ?¬â?? Kenny Miller has been bought to spearhead our attack next season, of that there is no doubt. So, the question is, is Kenny Miller better than anything we currently have at Ibrox, or any other striker that is within our ââ?¬Ë?budgetââ?¬â?¢? To me, the answer is NO. Is Kenny Miller the player to shoot us to the SPL title? Is Kenny Miller the player that could have nicked us a goal in Eastlands Stadium to clinch the UEFA Cup? Nothing that I have witnessed from the striker tells me he is. In fact, I would argue that Kenny Miller isnââ?¬â?¢t a striker who could have won us 2 domestic cups competitions this year (and regular readers will know my feelings on Kris Boyd). In my opinion, the signing of Miller shows the diluted ambitions of our great club. I read a worrying, but very accurate description of Rangers on another website where a poster described Rangers as ââ?¬Ë?the smallest big club in the worldââ?¬â?¢. It seems that no matter how we do on or off the pitch, our current custodian downsizes our ambitions and chances of success year after year. This season we came tantalizingly close to a historic quadruple and with a little investment and an improvement in our squad, we would have taken significant strides over the close season and hopefully signed the players required to take that extra step in the SPL and UEFA Cup. However, it appears that any player leaving Rangers will no longer be replaces by someone of greater ability (another broken Murray promise). As a club, we made over Ã?£30M from our run in the CL and UEFA Cup and cashed in on Alan Hutton to the tune of Ã?£9M. Not for one moment am I suggesting that all of this money should have been given to the manager, but a significant amount should be released to ensure that next season we can win the SPL and maybe, just maybe, go one better in Europe. Watching Holland last night served as a stark wake-up / reality call for me. Watching Gio reminded me of the players that we once had, players with genuine pace, genuine guile and genuine pace. Players who could win you games and players who are everything we are currently lacking. Van Bronkhurst was never going to spend his entire career at Ibrox, but was an outstanding talent who has developed into a true international class footballer. It is worth remembering that Brian Laudrup cost Rangers Ã?£2.5M, Gazza, Mols, Negri cost in the region of Ã?£4M (each), all of whom are far more exciting than any player we are currently being linked with. We simply canââ?¬â?¢t afford to purchase more ââ?¬Ë?squadââ?¬â?¢ players this summer. We have the basis of a decent squad, but we need genuine prospects / players to supplement these players. However, if SDMââ?¬â?¢s track record is to continue, we are likely to see more Kirk Broadfoots (again, no disrespect to Kirk) than Giovanni Van Bronkhursts. In essence, this is the sorry story that the resigning for Kenny Miller reemphasises to this Rangers supporter and this will never change until the current custodian is removed from his post. As for Kenny Miller, like every Rangers player before him, he will receive nothing less that 100% backing from myslef when ever he pulls on that Rangers jersey but I have a feeling that he, even more that MoJo will split the Rangers support. But that is another topic for another thread. Cammy F ââ?¬â?? Support The Dublin Loyal - We Are The Peopleââ?¬Â¦.

DAVIE WEIR is set to agree a deal that will keep him at Rangers for another year. The veteran 38-year-old defender was offered an extension by boss Walter Smith at the end of last season. http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/display.var.2330441.0.0.php

http://www.gersnetonline.net/newsite/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=648&Itemid=1 After last weekââ?¬â?¢s playing staff report cards, itââ?¬â?¢s time to move onto some analysis of the management team. Walter Smith is certainly the main man here so, while Ally McCoist and Kenny McDowall have played their part and deserve to share in any praise/criticism, Iââ?¬â?¢ll concentrate on Walter. First off, I think we have to give praise where praise is due. When Smith took over in January 2007, the club were struggling badly, hadnââ?¬â?¢t won a trophy in over 2 years and the dressing room appeared split under the disastrous Paul Le Guen reign. The new manager identified the immediate problems and via some important signings begun the task of re-building. When he took over Smith was always at pains to say this would take time. He wanted to make the team difficult to beat first and foremost then move forward from there. In the latter part of season 2006/07, he did that ââ?¬â?? beating Celtic twice ââ?¬â?? and generally giving the fans something to buy into last summer. Further investment in the playing squad to the tune of Ã?£12million meant the chairman was also buying into this second Smith tenure in a way he didnââ?¬â?¢t with Le Guen. The signings Smith did make were greeted with conservativeness by the bulk of the support. Thomson and Weir (who arrived in January), followed by Beasley, Darcheville, Cousin, Gow, Broadfoot, Carroll, Whittaker, McCulloch, Cuellar and Naismith were interesting signings but none really captured the imagination of the support. Nonetheless, a large number of players did come in and the squad did look an improved one ââ?¬â?? if lacking in an immediate sense of excitement. The season started well. Championsââ?¬â?¢ League Group Stage qualification secured meant the risky financial gamble on MIH revolving credit facilities had been a successful one. A strengthening title bid and a decent CL campaign resulting in European football after Xmas suggested the club was back on the right track. What would 2008 bring? The answer was a European run none of us would have dreamt of, followed by the kind of disappointment that means the fans are once again nursing their depression during the close season. The Scottish Cup and CIS Cup wins were scarce reward for a roller-coaster season. Is our depression warranted then or should we concentrate on the positives ââ?¬â?? difficult as it may be after such a mentally exhausting season? A bit of both is how Iââ?¬â?¢d like to approach Smithsââ?¬â?¢ rating. Letââ?¬â?¢s concentrate on the negatives first. Despite the obvious problems with fixture congestion in the latter part of the season, it was a crushing blow to not win the SPL title. To lose a ten point lead in little over 6 weeks is unacceptable and Walter Smith must share responsibility for that. His inconsistent approach to team selection, personnel rotation and an overly defensive playing style meant while we were securing fine results in Europe, at home we could barely beat teams home or away. Quite simply because we were so defensive in Europe, we couldnââ?¬â?¢t switch to a more attacking frame of mind domestically when required. This resulted in the dropping of points which was unsustainable if we were to win the league. Essentially, as we did in Europe, Smith tried to defend his SPL lead as opposed to develop it via a fresh approach in terms of players and system on return from our UEFA Cup duties. Add in doubtful loyalty to under-performing players such as Broadfoot, Ferguson, McCulloch and Cousin then we had a team that was stumbling from game to game as opposed to striding through them. The style of play was bland, uninspiring, easy for opposition teams to play against and generally not good enough. Walter Smith canââ?¬â?¢t take the sole blame for losing the title thereafter but neither can he hide from it. What was obvious as the season went on was the distinct lack of creativity quality in the side. Injuries to our creative players (Beasley, Naismith and Burke) meant our direct style would be the norm despite indications earlier in the season that we could play attractive attacking football. Some fans advocated the return of Buffel or the introduction of Gow, Furman or Fleck to bring back some flair to the side but the fleeting glimpse in the less important games was our lot. We paid with this absence of a creative edge with the loss of the title. Of course there are mitigating reasons for Smithââ?¬â?¢s reluctance to be flexible. The number of games was unprecedented and unexpected. The fringe players available were hardly match-sharp, reliable or experienced. Changing the system too often could result in even more problems. We were still getting some positive results so why drop players? All these points are valid and should be considered when one questions the manager. We can also add in all the positives from the campaign. There are manyââ?¬Â¦. Walter Smith takes a lot of criticism for not being the type of manager who bloods younger players. I think that last season blew that theory out of the water. While we may not be playing the real youth per se - guys all 24 or under have formed the bulk of the team for large parts of the season. Broadfoot, Hutton, Davis, Whittaker, Thomson, Burke, Adam, Beasley and Naismith all played important parts in the squad while Smith also introduced Furman and Fleck into the first team. Even players like Cuellar, Papac and McGregor still have their best years ahead of them. The future of the squad is bright and Iââ?¬â?¢m confident that if a player is good enough, theyââ?¬â?¢ll play no matter their age. The next positive is one that has been missed in certain peopleââ?¬â?¢s haste to give our team the ridiculous anti-football label. Sure, at times we were too defensive and deserved criticism for that. However, every football team has to play to its strengths and our strength last season was our defence by far. Losing Alan Hutton and Alan McGregor reduced that effectiveness but the manner in which we defended in Europe is worthy of great praise. For many years people have wanted Scottish teams to be more mature, measured and intelligent in their approach to European matches and thereââ?¬â?¢s no doubt we achieved that to a reasonable extent last season. Add in some of the impressive results we did have last season - wins against the French and German champions, wins against other first class European opposition, wins against Celtic and our domestic cup successes means Smith can deliver in key games. The platform is there. All in all, I think we have to be measured in our analysis of the manager last season. I certainly donââ?¬â?¢t blame anyone for being wary for the future. Many of us remember Smithââ?¬â?¢s stubbornness and loyalty causing friction in his first spell at the club. Smithââ?¬â?¢s sides will always be more workmanlike than glamorous. Will he really ask difficult questions of Sir David Murray to ensure the club move forward again? Can he recover from the loss of the SPL title? To conclude, Walter Smith has achieved what he set out to do 18 months ago. Rangers are a difficult side to beat and we are now winning things again. The next stage is now even more important. Smith must bring genuine quality back to the first XI. Yes, weââ?¬â?¢ll need a small turnover of squad players (hence Kenny Miller) but we still require 3 top level signings on top of that - another defender, a creative player (wide or central) and a striker. If Smith can provide those imperative additions to the team then perhaps some of the recent criticism of what was still a decent season will be tempered somewhat. If not, then I doubt many fans will tolerate another season of defensive route one play with no title at the end of it. Neither would I blame them. Thus, the jury remains out then. Itââ?¬â?¢s up to Walter to show us he is the man to take us forward. We should get behind him to ensure that does happen. Walter Smith - 7

RANGERS are poised to make a shock bid for former Hearts striker Andrius Velicka. Record Sport can reveal the Ibrox club will table a s1million offer for the Lithuanian who joined Viking Stavanger in Norway from the Tynecastle club in February. Manager Walter Smith expects to get his man and is also confident the transfer of Kenny Miller will be completed this weekend. Velicka scored 14 goals in 26 games for Hearts last season, including one against Rangers at Ibrox. Smith hopes to land the 27-year-old hitman for around s1m, the same figure that took him to Norway where he scored three times in six appearances after his move. Smith expects Miller's controversial s1.75m switch from Derby County to be sealed before Monday. The Scotland striker will sign a three-year deal to become the first footballer in modern history to play for Rangers twice and also for Celtic.

Whats everyones realistic ideal XI next season including signings? We'd need to choose a formation. I cant see us getting a class creative player to move things to a 4-4-2 so id expect a 4-4-1-1 or 4-5-1 (which can be 4-2-3-1 aswell). Firstly I hope McGregor stays. Alexander is good back up but I wouldnt be over happy if he was our no.1 In defence we are all praying for Carlos to stay and I think he will. But with Weir not prepared to be a back up we need a new centre half. Webster could be the man but he has a lot to prove. At left back Papac and S Smith are fine here, hopefully we get the same from Papac as this season plus it would be great to see Smith get his pre-injury form back. Right back is a bit troubled for us. Lowing has never really came on and Whittaker gets preferred in midifield. Id start Whittaker and give him a run of games there. Broadfoot is a tryer but simple not good enough. Midfield - Hemdani looks to be on his way out so we can rule him out. Dailly is expected to stay so should be good cover. Thomson needs to take 1 step further next season but we need a player to compliment him. Barry Ferguson is on last chance saloon with some bears. Its not good playing superb 1 game then below average for 7 games, also he seems blameless and an auto pick whatever - something i dont like! If we could get someone better id be happy. Steven Davis may sign on which would be fine. In the wide positions id make Beasley first pick on the left with McCulloch as his back up. Adam would be 3rd choice. Novo would start on the right as we just dont have anyone else for that role at the moment. Strikers - Darcheville will currently be first pick with Boyd as his back up. Cousin and Sebo will be off the books and Naismith is injured. So we now need a striker or 2. Youngsters - I hope to see Furman, Lennon and Fleck step up and get more first team action next season. If you are good enough you are old enough, but I fear WS wont play them too much. Signings - Hopefully we dont need a keeper. But we possibly need a right back along with a centre half in defence. We need a central midfielder who knows how to break a defence down and a right sided player. 2 strikers will be needed aswell. Injured - Naismith and Burke will be out until 2009 So we can have a couple of teams like the following: ____________________McGregor____________________ Whittaker_____(Webster)_______Cuellar_________Papac Novo_________Ferguson________Thomson_____Beasley _______________________(Lovenkrands)_____________ ____________________Darcheville___________________ Back up: ____________________Alexander_____________________ New__________Broadfoot________New____________Smith New________Davis/Furman________Dailly__________McCulloch/Adam ___________Boyd/Fleck______New/Lennon____________ Obviously if we get players in who havent been mentioned they will fit into that systems, the above is just possibly realistic.

Jun 1 2008 Exclusive By Scott Mcdermott SPANISH star Carlos Cuellar is ready to commit himself to Rangers by signing a new long-term deal. The SPL Player of the Year has been a revelation in Glasgow since his s2.4million transfer from La Liga side Osasuna last summer. Despite Gers' dramatic collapse in the title race and defeat in the UEFA Cup Final, Cuellar has been outstanding for Walter Smith's side. His form has attracted the attention of Newcastle United as well as a host of Italian and Spanish outfits. But the 26-year-old's agent last night told MailSport there has been NO contact or official bid from any club. And Pedro Bravo hinted his client is so settled in Scotland he'd be willing to extend his current contract which expires in 2011. Bravo is adamant the only way Cuellar will leave is if chief executive Martin Bain receives a bid Gers can't turn down - like the s9million Spurs splashed out to land right-back Alan Hutton. Bravo said: "I have heard all the rumours about Newcastle and teams in Italy or Spain wanting Carlos. "But I haven't heard anything official. There has been no contact or bid. "Carlos is happy in Glasgow and doesn't want to leave. The Rangers fans have been incredible with him. "I spoke to Martin Bain in Manchester at the UEFA Cup Final and told him how happy Carlos is. "He told me Rangers are not interested in selling and that was good enough for me. "The only way Carlos would leave is if Rangers received a bid they decide they can't refuse. Then Martin would have to talk with me and Carlos. "But if Rangers want to speak to us about extending Carlos' contract I will be on the first flight to Glasgow. "Carlos is on holiday at the moment but loves life in Scotland and would be keen to stay."

Not a bad thing, he will be a good squad player who can fill in a number of positions.