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

RM poster 'BlueIsTheColour' gives his recommendations on how the club could look to improve via a more refined and wider-ranging scouting network. http://www.gersnetonline.co.uk/newsite/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=748&Itemid=2 Part One The Rangers of 2009 is not the club we all once knew. No longer can we attract Europe's best players when they are at the top of their game. In fact, nowadays we would struggle to pay their appearance bonuses, never mind their weekly salaries. The club is suffering the effects of an economic downturn and poor money-management from the Boardroom to the Manager's Office. In correlation with this fact, we are seeing a decline in the quality of performances produced on the pitch. There is no doubt about it; we are in the midst of a decline. Every year we have to sell our top players, qualify for the Champions League and continue to fill Ibrox with 50,000 fans, just so as we break even and don't record a loss year on year. Something has to change. David Murray and Walter Smith have constantly reminded us as fans that the days of big spending are over and that we cannot compete financially with the top European sides that are paying ludicrous amounts of money for players. But why are we making excuses for our predicament? We should be creating a new vision for the club, one which will see us compete in the Champions League, assert dominance in the SPL and become an attractive club again. I have such a vision; it is neither complicated nor costly. It is the creation of a multi-level scouting network which can identify the best young hidden talent from across the globe, find players who are within our price range and who will improve the squad and also give the manager a chance to explore avenues never before open to him. It is the future. At present, our transfer policy is very limited and many would say is failing. Our main source of players is close to home, from either the English Championship or the SPL. Due to the inflated transfer market in England, we are being forced to scrounge for bargains that may or may not improve our first team, or even be good enough to play for us at all. Walter Smith has spent �£30 million on players since returning to the club and only a handful of those signings have made a big impact on the first team. Too much money is being wasted when we can least afford it. The problem is that we have no real process of identifying players. It appears that our scouting system consists of looking to the over-priced English market, snapping-up the best talent in the SPL and attempting to sign any players that have impressed against us in Europe. That's hardly constructive, I'm sure you will agree. The whole system needs to be scrapped and reinvented. The pressure should not be on the manager to identify, scout and sign players whom he thinks can do well at Rangers. He also shouldn't have just one or two men who can go and report on players who catch his eye. I believe that the club should firstly appoint a Director of Football who will oversee the development of youth players, a new scouting system and will answer directly to the manager and Chairman. Following this there should be the process of hiring around ten top scouts, who will each bring a different wealth of knowledge to the club. For example, one or two scouts who have their finger on the pulse of the South American game, another two each for the Asian and African games, and the remaining 4 to report on the European game. This would only be a starting block, over time the network will inevitably expand and the more contacts the scouts can establish the more players that will be brought to the Director of Football's attention. Each scout will be responsible for creating an ever-changing dossier of players in their respective Continents who are great prospects, proven players or under-rated professionals. A list of between 15-20 of their top recommendations should be created, and constantly updated, for every playing position. Any specific talents or frailties should be noted as well as an in-depth description of how each player operates, the price tag and the possible sell-on value. Of course, this will not all happen overnight or be a quick-fix to our current problems. It is a clear and concise plan for the future which will have many benefits for both the club and the supporters. First and foremost it makes the job of manager so much easier. When he identifies a position that needs filled within the team he doesn't have to start his search from scratch, there will already be a vast wealth of information available to him on many players from around the globe. He has a knowledgeable Director of Football to consult with as well as each individual scout who can help find the player(s) who would be most suited to the manager's playing style and structure. This could inevitably reduce the amount of signings who are unable to make the grade in the Rangers first-team. There are also the financial benefits to such a system. It will uncover many talented young players who have yet to appear on the radar of the big European clubs and in doing so, give us a conveyor belt of talent from all over the world. If these players are successful they can then be sold on for much larger fees than the club originally paid without leaving gaping holes in the first team. The club can also save money by buying from poorer leagues than the English Championship, which will undoubtedly see superior players available for a fraction of the price of their over-valued English counterparts. The clubs' image will see a massive benefit, as will merchandise sales if an ambitious but prudent marketing structure is put in place. With the club finding players from all over the world, we can create an image of being truly global and use this to attract merchandise sales from football-mad countries like China, Japan and the USA where there is huge potential for massive revenue in this department. I won't go into too much detail on this point as it will hopefully be covered in more depth within another article. [CONTINUED]

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

By Andrew Dickson SASA PAPAC has played down the importance of winning Sunday's Old Firm fixture and insists Rangers can win the league whatever the result. The Light Blues go into their clash with Celtic trailing Gordon Strachan's team by two points in the SPL table. Sasa PapacClaiming a derby victory wouldn't only send Gers top of the pile - it would also give them a huge psychological boost with three months of the season remaining. But even if Walter Smith's men lose and fall further behind their rivals, Papac is adamant it won't spell the end of their title hopes. With 13 rounds of fixtures to follow the derby, the Bosnian feels there will still be plenty of opportunities to climb to the summit. He said: "It is important we put Celtic under pressure and that we win as many games as we possibly can. "It would be great to get a victory again this weekend like we did when we last went to Parkhead in August. "But this match is just one of 14 we still have to play and there are many points still up for grabs. "We just need to concentrate as the end of the season is still some way away and a lot can happen as both sides have dropped points. "We have both beaten each other in the derby this season and lost to other teams in the championship too. "I won the league when I was at Austria Vienna and my dream now is to lift the SPL trophy here for Rangers. "It would be the best moment of my career. We will need a lot of points to do it but I feel confident we can get enough, regardless of what happens on Sunday."

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

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

by Thomas Jordan FORFAR will have to invest in additional floodlights if they want to cash in on their rearranged Homecoming Scottish Cup clash with Rangers on February 18. The Third Division minnows are still desperate to land an �£82,500 windfall from Sky TV for their fifth round showdown with Walter Smith's men that was postponed yesterday. Rangers are furious with the SFA for leaving it as late as the morning of the game to carry out a final pitch inspection - despite making concerns known last Thursday that forecasts of minus seven would put the match in jeopardy. Smith and his players travelled to Dundee on Saturday to prepare, and many supporters were already well on their way when the match was finally postponed at around 9am. advertisement Forfar now have just over a week to make arrangements to improve their floodlights to enhance the quality of pictures should Sky - who have agreed to show the St Mirren v Motherwell replay live the night before - agree to screen the fixture. Forfar secretary David MacGregor said: "We're hoping Sky will stick with us. There will be an issue with floodlights. I think we'd need to get extra ones in to enhance the quality of the pictures. But that's something we'll talk to them about if they are still showing the game." Rangers chief executive Martin Bain accused the SFA of incompetence following the last-minute postponement. He blasted: "We wrote to the SFA on Thursday afternoon highlighting the long-range weather forecast and we sent them a copy of it, which indicated temperatures on Saturday would drop to minus seven. "All the SFA said was the earliest a pitch inspection could take place was 24 hours before kick-off and they'd take cognisance of our comments. Clearly they have not." Station Park did pass an inspection by a local referee on Saturday morning and, while the club had three separate plastic covers on the pitch overnight, arctic temperatures meant there was never any realistic chance of the game going ahead. The SFA, however, have hit-back. A spokesman said: "We have every sympathy for fans who had begun their journey when the game was called off. "We were working on information that the temperatures were going to be consistently low over the weekend - that's why we called for a pitch inspection yesterday morning and why we kept the referee up there overnight. "The pitch was perfectly playable yesterday. It wasn't even touch and go. But there was a dramatic drop in temperature on Saturday night that wasn't forecast. "The Forfar groundsman said it was minus nine at one point. I don't know what more we could have done." Refree Eddie Smith made the decision to call the game off and said: "A lot of areas on the park were solid and covered in ice and for the safety of everyone involved I had no hesitation in calling it off." http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/display.var.2488025.0.0.php

by Lindsay Herron NACHO NOVO is almost certainly out of the vital Old Firm clash at Parkhead on February 15 after damaging his ankle in today's 2-0 win over Dundee United. The little Spaniard, who was the inspiration for last Wednesday's Co-operative Insurance Cup win over Falkirk, took a knock early in the game and then suffered again just before half-time, forcing him tNacho Novo gets treatmento come off. The Rangers medical team have confirmed there is no break but there is considerable discomfort. Boss Walter Smith said: "He has a badly sprained ankle and it will keep him out for a few weeks so that is a disappointing aspect." Sasa Papac, however, will be ready for the Celtic clash. He was left out of today's game which meant that he could not incur a booking which would rule him out of the Celtic game by going through the penalty points barrier. Smith, however, insisted the move was tactical. He said: "We had a situation there where Dundee United's aerial threat was something we had to handle and I just felt that Kirk Broadfoot would handle that on the left side. "However, Sasa will be back - I just felt it was something we had to do today."

ALLY McCoist watched Rangers' teenage sensation John Fleck go head to head with Milan's superstars on Wednesday and insists the youngster fits right in next to the best. John FleckThe Gers Assistant boss was impressed with the 17-year-old's contribution but knows the young Scot has a long way to go before he is regularly rubbing shoulders with the best in the game. And he says Fleck is in just the right place to continue the development that has propelled him into Walter Smith's first team plans in recent weeks. He said: "John didn't look out of place in that company but we have to just keep an eye on things and monitor the situation. "It's all very encouraging but we just have to keep trying to help him and teach him and keep encouraging him and hopefully things will keep progressing. "He has a lovely left foot, he takes the ball in very well. Certain elements remind me of different players but not one individual. "I don't see the comparison with Wayne Rooney myself. People will always try to make these kinds of comparisons but I don't see it - he doesn't remind me of any one player in particular." John Fleck, Rangers scores a penalty for RangersFleck was surprisingly omitted from the most recent international squads despite still being eligible at several levels, but McCoist believes that won't prove a problem for a player who opened his scoring account for the club last weekend. He added: "I don't see a problem with him not being in the squads, I don't think it will do him any harm to be honest because I think we're all in agreement that in time he'll be in all sorts of international squads. "The fact that he's not in these ones is certainly no problem to me and I don't think it's a problem for him either." John FleckNothing seems to have fazed the young star since his introduction to first team duties on a regular basis and McCoist believes Fleck will be in the right frame of mind if he is called on to face Forfar on Sunday. He said: "The great thing about John is that he knows what it's all about. That might be a strange thing to say about a 17-year-old lad but what I mean is that he's grown up in the area. "He's a west of Scotland boy, a Rangers supporter. Like, for example, John Brown, Ian Ferguson or Ian Durrant and the thing these lads had in common was that they knew what it meant to play for the club. "Being a local lad means you know the importance of playing any game for Rangers, whether it be against AC Milan or Forfar."

The Scout reports...

Rangers manager Walter Smith says the friendly against AC Milan at Ibrox has whetted his appetite for an extended run in Europe next season. More...

By Andrew Dickson LEE McCULLOCH hopes he might have a future as a defensive midfielder after impressing in that role for Rangers last night. The former Wigan star turned out in the position against Aberdeen last month and produced an excellent performance in the Light Blues' 0-0 draw at Pittodrie. Lee McCullochHe had another outing there yesterday in the 2-2 friendly draw with AC Milan and once more gave a good account of himself. Having linked up with Pedro Mendes and Mo Edu in the engine room against the Rossoneri, McCulloch is looking to build on the progress he has made. The 30-year-old has been used everywhere by Gers in the last 18 months except at full-back and in goals. But while he maintains he'll happily play wherever Walter Smith puts him, it goes without saying that he's determined to make a place in the team his own. McCulloch said: "It was good to sit in midfield with Pedro and Maurice in front of me. I really enjoyed it. "I think when I'm playing either at the back or as a defensive midfielder, I can influence the game a little bit more. "I don't get to do that if I'm playing wide on the left or the right and I'm not really a winger, although I know the manager has his reasons for putting me there sometimes. "I'll go out and play to the best of my abilities wherever I'm used and I'll play anywhere to get a game. "But against Milan I thought I did really well in that sitting role and I'm really pleased with how things went for me. Lee McCulloch tackles Ronaldinho"I didn't think I would play as many games as I did last season so it's not a great surprise to me that I've been used less over the last few months. "But the gaffer knows I want to play. There's not one particular position I feel I should be used in or aiming for and I'll go with whatever decision the manager makes." McCulloch and his Rangers team-mates took plenty of heart from their meeting with Carlo Ancelotti's Serie A superstars. DaMarcus Beasley gave the hosts a second-half lead and Sasa Papac secured a draw after Alexandre Pato and Kaka struck for the Italians. McCulloch added: "I thought we did really well in the first half and that we passed the ball around to the same standard as Milan. "In the second half, they probably came into the game a little bit more and really showed their quality. "The players they brought on are fantastic but we played some good stuff and showed great spirit so I'd say 2-2 was probably a fair result overall."

A couple of weeks ago our finances were apparently such that we had to sell at least one of our more valuable players. Murray said it and called for the support to see reason in a changed financial reality. Even Walter Smith was persuaded to read in public from the Murray script. Hell, the whole world knew that we were in a perilous situation. Well we didn't sell so what happens now? Was Murray simply "at it" yet again or is there something he might now want to tell us about our finances. Should he come clean and explain the consequences of not meeting his own declared necessity of raising urgently needed funds? The apparent about-face and subsequent silence makes no sense. Either he was spinning to cover up his lack of judgement or, as a captain of industry, he should explain what happens now. Or does he only make annoucements in pursuit of his own personal interest?

AC MILAN arrive in Glasgow today for tonight''s glamour friendly with Rangers hoping that negotiations thousands of miles away will make David Beckham their player for keeps. Beckham, currentllDavid Beckhamy on loan from LA Galaxy, will lead a star-studded line-up against Walter Smith's side at Ibrox but a deal could done to make him a Milan player permanently. AC Milan general manager Adriano Galliani said: "Beckham's lawyers are talking to the Los Angeles Galaxy, who are the rightful owners of his registration. "If they show themselves to be ready to look at a deal, we would be really happy to do so. At the moment there's neither optimism nor pessimism. "The player belongs to Galaxy. We wish they decide to release him, but if they don't change their minds the player is theirs. "We are looking to get him either on loan until the end of the season or on a permanent basis. Otherwise, with the greatest regret from everyone - starting with me - Beckham will have to go." Galliani added: "Players can make their choices but their clubs can refuse their wishes.David Beckham and Kaka AC Milan "Moreover, the Los Angeles Galaxy have always been very nice to us and have behaved in a very gentlemanly manner. "In any case at this moment there are no dealings and we haven't made an offer, but Beckham's lawyers are talking with Los Angeles. "There is time until March 8 to get us round a table and close a possible deal." Beckham's arrival has boosted the Rossoneri, who have avoided defeat in their last five league games while climbing to second in the Serie A standings, six points behind league leaders Inter Milan.

Walter Smith reportedly said yesterday:- "We have managed to trim our squad a little with some players leaving. It will happen in a more natural way in the summer when contracts expire." So, I'm wondering whose contracts will expire in the summer. I count Hemdani, Dailly & IIRC, Stevie Smith. Is there anyone else?

WHEN the January transfer window slammed shut at 5pm on Monday night it would have been understandable if Walter Smith breathed a deep sigh of relief. Having batted away more questions about player speculation than Babe Ruth hit home runs the gaffer can now focus his full attention on forthcoming games and he is not the only one glad to see the back of this unsettling period. Allan McGregor celebrates at the final whistleAllan McGregor was one of several first-team regulars linked with a move away from Ibrox in recent weeks due to his high market value but the club's No. 1 is delighted his immediate future is now set in stone. The talented keeper, who celebrated his 27th birthday on January 31st, admits he has unfinished business at Rangers and that helping his teammates lift the SPL trophy in May is at the top of his priority list. Leaving the club with a domestic treble hanging in the balance was never on Greeg's agenda and he is confident of adding to his medal collection from now until May. He said: "Personally, I am glad to see the back of the transfer window. "So much is said in newspapers and on websites about this player leaving or that one going somewhere else that it can become a bit annoying. "But, for me, all the rumours just go in one ear and out the other. "I don't tend to read papers at the best of times so I take everything with a pinch of salt. "If something happens and a player does move on that is part and parcel of football. "We have a very big squad and the biggest difficulty the gaffer has is keeping everyone happy. "If you have 28 players there are inevitably some that are going to be frustrated at not being involved, that is only natural. Allan McGregor saves a shot on goal "But I suppose the biggest worry in January is when you lose a key player, someone who has been a big part of the team in the first-half of the season. "Last year we sold Alan Hutton who was brilliant but Spurs obviously offered a lot of money. "At that time it was a blow but we regrouped and big Kirk came in and has done a great job. "That is the sort of thing that can happen to any club and you have to deal with it. "I am just glad all the rumours and speculation is now over and we can move forward." Allan McGregor, ScotlandAllan believes there is a steely determination in the Gers' squad to bring the SPL trophy back to the Ibrox Trophy Room in May and insists that if this dream scenario becomes a reality it will be up there with the best moments of his life. He said: "If we do win the league you will see on my face just how much it means to me, it would be frightening. "I remember how it felt to win the championship being on the bench at Easter Road in 2005 so I can only imagine what it would be like if we can do it this season. "But at this moment lifting the trophy is just a dream and it's alright saying you would love to win it, the fact is we have to go on and actually do it. "There is still a lot of football to be played and we have some massive games coming up. "The players here always stick together and if we have a disappointing result on a Saturday we pick ourselves up as soon as possible. "It's been like that a wee bit this season, there has been a lot of disappointing results but we are still in it. "We maybe shouldn't be with the amount of points we have dropped but we are and there is still so much to fight for." This weekend Walter Smith's squad continue their quest to retain the Scottish Cup when they travel to Forfar to take on the Loons in round five. Station Park might not be the most glamorous of venues but it is a place Allan holds close to his heart. Allan McGregor On February 24, 2002 the keeper was handed his long-awaited Rangers debut by Alex McLeish and he remembers it vividly to this day. The Light Blues were 6-0 up when Greeg's replaced Stefen Klos as a 73rd minute substitute but, nevertheless, it remains a highlight of his career. He said: "Going on against Forfar back then was great for me although it came as a real shock. "I was doing a wee warm-up at the side of the pitch and Andy Watson came over and asked me if I wanted to go on. "I thought he was at the wind-up because Stefan wasn't injured or anything like that. "But he was serious and I just said 'go on then, let's go' and that was me making my debut. "We were 6-0 up at the time and I didn't really have too much to do but it was still magic to get a game, I was buzzing. "I remember the changing rooms were small and it was really cold but it was a special moment for me. "You always remember where you made your Rangers debut."

Silversmith ââ?¬â?? The Biography of Walter Smith ââ?¬â?? Neil Drysdale (Birlinn ââ?¬â?? http://www.birlinn.co.uk) I had been looking forward to reading and critiquing this book for sometime and have to say that, in the main, Neil Drysdale doesnââ?¬â?¢t disappoint. His biography of Walter Smith is excellently written, well put together, historically correct (unlike some official publications) and is an honest assessment of the ex and current incumbent Rangers manager. There are a few minor complaints regarding the content of this book (which Iââ?¬â?¢ll cover later) but overall, this is a fantastic read and I would recommend the book to all Rangers supporters. Walter played for and was Dundee UTDââ?¬â?¢s assistant manager under Jim McLean and has also managed Everton and Scotland, however, as the vast majority of his managerial career was served at Ibrox, the book dedicates most of its pages to his two stints as Rangers manager. The book also serves as a brilliant insight into the ââ?¬Ë?privateââ?¬â?¢ aspects to Walter Smithââ?¬â?¢s characteristics which have served him well in his professional career. When reading about Walterââ?¬â?¢s Calvinistic views and ideals, his strong family ties and his love for Rangers Football Club, it is easy to see why he treasures his time at Rangers and as well as treasuring our traditions and history, he also installs these great values into anyone and everyone who is employed at Ibrox. The book starts in poignant fashion as it details the happenings in and around Ibrox on the day of the Ibrox disaster where 66 of our brethren were tragically killed whilst watching The Rangers. Walter Smith was in attendance that day and the events and aftermath of this tragedy stayed with him forever. This opening chapter is brilliantly written and is worth purchasing the book for in itself. Whilst reading any account of that tragic day, I always get goose-bumps and a lump in my throat. Drysdales account is no different. The book then goes on to tell of Walters playing career that saw him play for junior football with Ashfield whilst serving his time as an electrician. He then played professionally for Dundee United and Dumbarton. In his earlier career with Dundee United, Walter also held down a fulltime job as an electrician. After playing 250 games for Dundee United he was invited onto the coaching staff by then manager Jerry Kerr who coincidently, played for Rangers after the 2nd World War. The book also gives an insight into how Walter missed the opportunity to move to Ibrox when Jim McLean refused the Rangers managers job the subsequently led to the return of Jock Wallace and then the Souness revolution, which Walter Smith would play a hugely influential part. As youââ?¬â?¢d expect, the vast majority of the book is dedicated to the Souness revolution and the nine-in-a-row era. This vastly successful part of our history is well documented, but again, Drysdale manages to document the successes whilst also questioning the obvious failings during this period. Near constant failure in Europe, an ageing team kept together which limped to 9-in-a-row and failed in itââ?¬â?¢s quest to achieve 10-in-a-row. All of the detail is in the book, all major games discussed and all through the book, events are punctuated with interviews / comments with the main protagonists. As I said in the opening of this review, there are a couple of minor points that concerned me and these are the old sectarianism chestnut. In the book, the Mo Johnston signing is detailed as is the outpouring of sectarianism for a tiny minority of Rangers supporters. To his credit, Drysdale does mention the fact that only 1 solitary season ticket book was handed back. However, all the furore surrounding the MoJo signing is blamed (mainly) on the Rangers support. There is no mention of the fact that MoJoââ?¬â?¢s family were attacked and his father assaulted by Celtic supporters. No mention that Johnston cannot return to the country of his birth due to ongoing death threats he receives from Celtic fans. Another contentious subject that is glossed over (it merits two lines in the book) was the vile racist abuse Mark Walters received on signing for Rangers both at Parkhead on his debut, then the following week at Tynecastle. There is also no mention of the fact that the racist abuse wasnââ?¬â?¢t consigned to the terraces with Walters being subjected to racist abuse on the pitch as well. There are also the tenuous and tedious remarks regarding Andy Goramââ?¬â?¢s unfounded links to the UVF. As I said, none of this should take anything away from the book, just something that I thought should be raised. After detailing Walters stints as Scotland and Everton manager, the tale end of the book looks at last seasons quadruple attempt which ultimately fell tantalizingly short. The author is obviously supportive of our attempts to have the season extended and puts in print what most of us think of Scotlandââ?¬â?¢s governing bodies. Walter Smithââ?¬â?¢s and Martin Bainââ?¬â?¢s public comments regarding this, and Celtics shameful approach to our request is also highlighted and supported. All in all this was a fantastic read and one that I would recommend to one and all. If asked to rate this book, I would say 8 out of 10. In closing the cover of the book states that this biography is ââ?¬Ë?a timely portrait of a man chiselled in the traditions of Rangersââ?¬â?¢ and the book certainly does deliver on this promise and it is hard after reading this book to argue that Walter Smith isnââ?¬â?¢t ââ?¬Ë?one of usââ?¬â?¢. I closing, I will quote Walter Smith; ââ?¬Ë?This Club is different; This club is Rangers Football Clubââ?¬â?¢ and the author ; ââ?¬Ë?It doesnââ?¬â?¢t matter how tough the task has proved, because Smith strives under scrutiny and being presented with challenges at Ibrox, the place where he and his grandfather thrilled to the sight of blue-clad warriors giving their all for what they sincerely believed to be the greatest club in the world. And, as Walter Smith will tell you, Rangers remain just thatââ?¬â?¢. Cammy F

In conjunction with our friends at Vision Sports Publishing, we have two copies of the following fantastic book available to win. The Rangers Miscellany By Robert McElroy Why are Rangers really nicknamed the Light Blues (it's not because of the colour of their shirts)? In which year did the club win every single one of its league matches? Find out in the all new Rangers Miscellany. Packed with stats, facts, lists, quotes and stories from the rich and illustrious history of the famous Glasgow club, this neat and fully illustrated hardback book also includes a full colour kits section, a complete history of the club's home and away kits. Buy here via the Vision Sports website. To be in with a chance of winning one of 2 copies of this superb book, please pm me with the name of the player who scored Rangers first goal of 2009. Entries accepted until midnight on 31st January. Admin decision is final. Book Review by Pete After being asked to review 'The Rangers Miscellany', the wait for it hitting the floor behind the letterbox seemed to take an age. One week to be exact. Extracting it from the packaging, a blue hardback book with a red binding and white lettering emerged. 'The Rangers Miscellany' is a book written by Robert McElroy, who is the editor of The Rangers Historian magazine. The book starts with a foreword by John Greig MBE who gives a short summing up of his Rangers career. His foreword ends with ââ?¬Å?This is more than a football club, it is an Institution that means so much to so many people worldwide. Even today more than half-a-century after I first gazed on the imposing faÃ?§ade that is the main stand at Ibrox Stadium it still gives me a thrill every time I turn into Edmiston Drive.ââ?¬Â These are Great words from a great man, with a true Rangers heart. The book is precisely what the title suggests, a fascinating collection of facts, statistics, quotes and short stories. It includes many stories of past Rangers legends, from Tom Vallance(1873-84) through to Ally McCoist(1983-98) and Richard Gough(1987-98). Many of the legends are still household names even today. Some of our greatest European nights are also relived, including our Cup Winners' Cup win in Barcelona. Rangers Managers are highlighted from William Wilton to Walter Smith and a history of our stadiums from turning up early at Flesherââ?¬â?¢s Haugh to claim the pitch, to having the most modern stadium in Europe. These main topics are surrounded by a collection of miscellaneous facts, figures and quotes. This is not a book that you have to torture yourself to put down in my opinion. In fact after a number of pages my head was so swimming in facts and figures that I just had to put it down. It is more like a whisky you have to sip rather than a beer you can guzzle down. This is a book for the connoisseur of Rangers history. I enjoyed the book as I can relate to many of the names and stories through my own experiences and the stories of my father. I do believe it is a book for the supporter who is interested in our clubs history. Not for someone who wants an enthralling, suspenseful read. Nonetheless it makes for an excellent companion and you'll find yourself enjoying the trivia when in the company of fellow fans!

Rangers manager Walter Smith says keeping his top players during the transfer window has boosted their hopes of winning the SPL title. More...

A Glimmer Of Hope It appears that everything and anything that is related to Rangers at the moment is as gruesome as the plot in an Allan Guthrie novel, isnââ?¬â?¢t ironic that we have been given the kiss-of-life in our quest to regain our title for the first time in 4 years? Following the fortunes, performances and results of our beloved club usually through gaps in clenched fingers and with bated breath, isnââ?¬â?¢t the easiest at the moment (that is an understatement). Despite our, and other, results going in our favour over the weekend, the overall performance from Rangers is no better than dross. However, we do have the ever improving and at times exhilarating performances of John Fleck to give us hope and some newfound confidence that the art of running at pace, pinpoint passing, guile, strength and belief in ones own ability isnââ?¬â?¢t a dead art in and around Ibrox. This was penned hours before the transfer window is due to close, so as I write this, John Fleck is still a Ranger! Iââ?¬â?¢ll touch on the off-field furore surrounding Fleck as this cannot be glossed over. Now, John Fleck wonââ?¬â?¢t have been the only 17 year old in a nightclub at the weekend, but he should know better. I hope that Walter Smith fines the lad and that the lad learns his lesson. It is also worth critiquing the coverage of this ââ?¬Ë?incidentââ?¬â?¢. When a Celtc player is accosted in public, you read about sectarian abuse, sectarian thugs, sectarian language etc. When a Ranger player is involved, this is downgraded to ââ?¬Ë?yobsââ?¬â?¢. Wonder why that is? Anyway, back to the positive side of this, as yet, short success story. We have all heard, read and seen Fleck over the last couple of years and we have all been raving about this young prospect, and rightly so. It isnââ?¬â?¢t often that such a talent is unearthed, coached correctly and is able to turn promise into real class. John Fleck has all the attributes to become ââ?¬Ë?the real dealââ?¬â?¢. If early glimpses of Fleck are to be built upon, we have a lad that is destined for greatness. We all want Fleck to develop like some of his predecessors; Hutton, McGregor, Ferguson et al, rather than bursting onto the scene only to disappear like; Adam, Burke, McCormack and McLean. Last seasons cameo in the Scottish Cup Final couldnââ?¬â?¢t have failed to wet our appetite for Fleck to burst onto the scene this season. He has been unlucky with injury and this meant that his opportunities were curtailed to a certain extent and we are now only beginning to see glimpses of his undoubted talent. If John Fleck can continue to mature and improve, there is no guessing on how good this player could be. He has all the attributes; fast, strong, character, awareness, guile etc. His strength of character was summed up at the penalty on Saturday. For a seventeen year old to physically out-manoeuvre and out muscle, not only the overetly physical Dundee United defence to win the award, but to out-muscle anyone who was going to attempt to stop him taking the resulting penalty. As someone near me commented; ââ?¬Ë?Baws of steelââ?¬â?¢. Now that we have a genuine reason to be cheerful, I donââ?¬â?¢t want to sound negative here, but we as fans MUST allow Fleck the space and opportunity to blossom. As will be the case, heââ?¬â?¢ll have off days, heââ?¬â?¢ll miss sitters, heââ?¬â?¢ll misplace passes. When this happens, we MUST stay with him. We mustnââ?¬â?¢t get on his back (ala Burke, Adam et al) and we mustnââ?¬â?¢t expect John Fleck to carry all our expectations on such slender shoulders. John Fleck is the genuine article and we MUSTNââ?¬â?¢T ruin him before he has an opportunity to deliver on his unmistakable promise. Back In The Race Thanks to Aberdeen and now Inverness Caly, we are well and truly back in the title race, and with out next SPL fixture being the third old-firm game of the season, we have the opportunity to go top of the pile. There will be plenty of time to analyise the forthcoming OF game as well as the merits of differing tactics and team selection. If we prepare correctly and enter this game with correct team and tactics there is no reason as to why we canââ?¬â?¢t get the performance and result that would see is leap-frog Celtc. However, that is for another day. Saturday saw us once again struggle to open up a very compact and resilient Dundee United defence. Whilst we werenââ?¬â?¢t at our best the officials once again didnââ?¬â?¢t help our cause. I thought that Grainger should have received a yellow card (at least) for his awful tackle on Nacho Novo which will see Novo miss at least 3 games (why did our medical staff allow Novo to continue for 20 minutes after being clearly in agony with this injury?). Television evidence also shows that Kyle Laffertyââ?¬â?¢s ââ?¬Ë?goalââ?¬â?¢ shouldnââ?¬â?¢t have been chocked off for off-side. He is clearly on-side and BOTH linesmen were quick to flag Rangers players off-side all game. The referee got the penalty award correct no matter what Craig Levin says. Looking at our performance, only Boogie, Novo (prior to injury) and Fleck rose above mediocrity and there are a few players who could and should be offering more. However, three points is three points and coupled with Celtcââ?¬â?¢s inability to defeat ICT (even after another incorrect off-side decision going their way) has allowed us to close the gap and given us another opportunity to get back into pole position in the SPL title race. State Of The Nation It isnââ?¬â?¢t often that I deviate from Rangers in my rants, but a couple of incidents that occurred on Saturday, coupled with the economic down-turn has moved me to discuss the dwindling state of this once great nation. On Saturday evening, a man was murdered in my street, allegedly knifed to death by a 16 year old youth over an argument relating to volume of music being played at a party (this wasnââ?¬â?¢t late, 10:30PM). The Mobile Police Incident Unit sitting round the corner the only reminder of this incident. Whilst discussing this with a friend yesterday, he told me about an incident that he witnessed on returning from the football on Saturday. He was walking towards Paisley Road West and saw a young Rangers fan being threatened and chased by knife wielding thugs (sounds like a headline from the rags). Now, after doing some investigation, it appears that this isnââ?¬â?¢t abnormal behaviour in and around that area. This really saddens this ââ?¬Ë?old-timerââ?¬â?¢ who whilst being able to remember gangs et al, canââ?¬â?¢t remember them carrying knifes as freely and readily as the youth of today. Is it now the norm to complain about noise level and get knifed for your troubles? Is it the norm for gangs of youths to chase down kids whilst wielding (not necessarily using) knifes? If so, our country is further in the shit that even this old cynic believed it was. Cammy F ââ?¬â??

Novo's Wait NACHO NOVO has to wait for the swelling to go down on his damaged ankle before a scan will ascertain the damage but Rangers are still anticipating a three-week absence. The Spanish striker hurt his ankle in a challenge with Danny Grainger in the first half of Saturday's game with Dundee United and then suffered another knock just before half-time. Nacho Novo gets treatmentHe had to hobble out of the match in some discomfort and there is still quite a lot of swelling. The Ibrox medical team are now waiting for this to recede before they can learn the full extent of the damage. Boss Walter Smith said today: "The ankle was quite badly sprained so we will need to wait for the swelling to go down before he is able to have it scanned. "The first indications were that there was nothing broken but we will have to wait for things to settle down before we know how serious it is. "But I would expect it to be three weeks before he is back playing again." That being the case, it will be the Kilmarnock game on February 21 at the earliest before Novo is available again. Meanwhile, Mo Edu was in full training today and will feature at some point in Wednesday's glamour friendly with AC Milan

Hopefully a good move for him. Seems like we're shipping out most of our promising kids for 1st team experience at the moment.....

Exclusive by Lindsay Herron RINO GATTUSO will be hurting at Ibrox on Wednesday night because he will not be able to play against his beloved Rangers. A serious knee injury has wrecked his season and he is so disappointed that he won't be able to grace the turf once more. However, the combative midfielder who became a cult hero with the fans 11 years ago, will be thrilled to meet his mentor Walter Smith and believes the manager can deliver the SPL title this season. Rino Gattuso and Walter Smith Speaking exclusively to Rangers Media at the sensational Milanello training complex, he said: "My knee is getting better and I hope to be back in the squad within three months so I'm happy with that but I'm not happy that I will miss the chance to play against Rangers at Ibrox, "I will be coming to the game, though, and it will be great to meet up with some old friends. "I had only one and half years in Glasgow but it was a great time for me. I met a lot of great people and they all stay in my heart. "It's great that Walter Smith, Ally McCoist and Ian Durrant are all back at the Club and I saw them recently.Rino Gattuso celebrates his goal against Beitar Jerusalem "I was back at Ibrox a year ago for the game with Motherwell and I went down to the manager's office after the match and it was like meeting up with the family again. "Walter was the most important man in my career and the best man in career. He gave me my big chance to play for a big club and I will never forget that. "But he has been an influence in my life too, not just my job. He is a nice person and I speak to him on the phone from time to time. "I hope that Walter can be successful again and of course I want him to win the league. "There is a smaller gap now between Rangers and Celtic so there is a chance. "It is four years since Rangers won the league so I know that they will be desperate to win it this year. "Celtic are a hard team. They have players who have been together for a while and Strachan is a very clever manager. "But Rangers have good players too and they still have a good chance."

Over the years it has become almost impossible to pen a positive article on the fortunes of Rangers Football Club. Even whilst we were winning trophies under Alex McLeish, the signs were there for all to see (but many chose to ignore them). All our better players sold and replaced with an inferior standard and as was bound to happen, the results and trophies dried up and Alex McLeish was eventually sacked. McLeish was replaced by PLG and for a briefest of moments, we had a glimmer of hope, a promise of moonbeams and the chance to reshape our future and destiny. In true Rangers fashion, the PLG era failed to deliver on those promises and we all have our own thoughts on who was to blame for this failure. Walter Smith was brought back from managing Scotland to steady the ship and get us back on course. He achieved this to a certain extent and we were tantalisingly close to a record breaking season last season but ended up missing out on the glittering prizes and had to settle for the domestic cup double. However, no matter what has been happening on the field, this has been overshadowed by a consistently mismanaged club off the field. We are run by a captain of industry who appears to only be able to see to the end of his nose. During SDMâ��s 20 years in charge, there has NEVER been any long-term plans put in place or a long term agenda to strive towards. Everything has been reactive rather than proactive. Even as we enter the last hours of the transfer window, we, the paying customers, donâ��t know what will happen if the custodian fails to sell one of our prize assets before the window is closed and locked until the pre-season. Our Custodian, via his lap-dogs in the media, is on the offensive (as he tends to do when his ego has taken a bashing) telling everyone that everything he is doing is for the long-term good and that generating �£4M 5 months after sanctioning a �£20M spending spree isnâ��t his fault. He is also using his lap-dogs to marginalise the support and to ostracise those of us who dare question his motives, his financial management and his custodianship of OUR club. Our current management team appear to be contributing to this stench of negativity especially if you examine the team selection and reasons behind this for the recent game in Aberdeen. The reason Walter Smith chose to bench our leading scorer and play Lee McCulloch was simply down to Aberdeenâ��s 4 goal salvo against The Tims the previous week. Had Aberdeen not scored 4 times from set-pieces, Walter Smith wouldnâ��t have changed personnel and / or formation. Have The Rangers sunk so low that we have to change OUR game to suit Aberdeen? Gone are the halcyon days where we allowed the opposition to worry about our players, our strengths, our tactics, our formation etc. I understand the need to change and to react during games and during a season, but on a day where we could have gone top of the SPL, this sent out a negative message and should a complete lack of ambition in our quest to regain our title. It is worth noting here that we didnâ��t haul ourselves back into the SPL title race by improving our performances, we were allowed back in thanks to other teams taking points form a lacklustre Celtc team. It is my belief that Walter Smith either doesnâ��t trust his players, or doesnâ��t think they are good enough to go out and compete and win this SPL title. He is hoping that other clubs take points from Celtc and I believe that when we role up to Torbett Towers next month, if Boyd is still here, we will revert to 4-5-1 with Boyd once again warming the bench whilst we try to earn a draw instead of attacking the tims and trying to defeat them. Walter will be happy with a point, just like he was post-Pittodrie. I canâ��t agree with his assessment that we controlled / dominated the game. The game was dross, was there to win and we couldnâ��t win the game. We only really created chances in the last 15 minutes of the match with Boyd and Novo missing guilt-edged chances. Not having a go at Boyd, but I donâ��t think that he is as prolific with his head as he should be for a centre. If my memory serves me correctly, Boyd has only scored one headed goal this season. His headed effort at Pittodrie was a prime example. Boyd somehow managed to hit the defender rather than the back of the net when the goal was gaping. Walter Smith and Lee McCulloch stated this week that getting to the CIS Cup Final would be something to lift the gloom and unite the fans. Sorry Walter and Lee, whilst winning the CIS Cup would be nice, it doesnâ��t take away from the fact that there is a veil of negativity hanging over our beloved club and itâ��ll take a lot more than getting to the CIS Cup Final to lift the mood or to clear away the clouds to reveal clear blue skys bathed in sunshine (or should that moonbeams?). As I said at the start of this article, it has become all most impossible to pen a positive article regarding The Rangers and I canâ��t see this changing in the foreseeable future. Cammy F -

WALTER SMITH does not expect Dundee United to still be suffering a League Cup hangover when they visit Ibrox on Saturday. Walter SmithRangers' SPL opponents suffered a heart-breaking semi final defeat to Celtic at Hampden on Wednesday night after a remarkable penalty shootout. That set up an Old Firm final for the first time in six years and left United deflated after another spirited performance against one half of the Old Firm. But Smith fully expects Craig Levein's men to be back to their best when they take to the field tomorrow afternoon. He said: "I think there will be a good reaction from Dundee United tomorrow. "They will obviously have felt the disappointment of not reaching the final of the League Cup but they can be pleased about their performance on the night. It was excellent. Barry Ferguson and Morgaro Gomis"They have had good results against the Old Firm in recent games but not only that they have been terrific matches. "If you are a supporter coming along you would have enjoyed almost every one between the sides recently. "They have always been very tight and there are usually goals so it is a game to really look forward to." Smith again spoke of his respect for Levein and the job his opposite number has done since taking over at Tannadice. Walter Smith and Craig LeveinHe added: "He has done an excellent job at Tannadice. He went to United a couple of weeks before I returned to Rangers and he has lifted them up and they have played very well over the past 18 months or so. "This season they have shown that they are stepping up again and they have been terrific in terms of the manner in which they have played." The Ibrox boss can welcome Kyle Lafferty back to his squad ahead of the visit of Levein's side and he admits he is hopeful the Northern Ireland man can now get a run of games under his belt. He said: "It's important for him to get a run. He has not had that yet so we are hopeful he can get a level of consistency in to his play."