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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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...