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  1. By Lindsay Herron IAN MURRAY has signed a contract with the Championship side Norwich City after agreeing a deal this afternoon. Rangers agreed tIan Murrayo let the versatile former Hibs captain go as he had found himself on the periphery of Walter Smith's squad. The Light Blues had initially looked for a transfer fee for Murray, who joined Rangers from Easter Road in the summer of 2005, but decided to let him move for free. Chief Exective Martin Bain said at today's Annual General Meeting: "We took a decision based on the players' wishes, the manager's wishes and where he sits on our books. Ian was not going to feature so we are saving money on the wage bill." Murray made 56 starts for Rangers in all competitions over the past two seasons but with the arrival of Carlos Cuellar, Kirk Broadfoot and Steven Whittaker he has been pushed down the pecking order. The deal with the Canaries has yet to be completed but manager Peter Grant would like to get it done today so that Murray can play in Saturday's game at Hull. Grant said today: "I watched him a lot when he was at Hibs as a boy and he was captain very, very young. "He has all the attributes you look for in a player. A top class professional, left sided and can play left-back, left midfield, central midfield and centre back - and he can do them all well." Sorry if this has already been posted but i couldn't see it anywhere.
  2. BOSS Walter Smith has revealed that he is checking out a number of players and may make some more moves before the transfer window shuts at the end of the month. The Rangers manager, who has made 10 signings since last season ended, feels that he needs a bit more balance to his squad and may try to bolster some areas. Ally McCoist and Walter SmithHe has confirmed that Portsmouth defender Dejan Stefanovic is one of a number of players he has been looking at. Smith said: "Stefanovic is one of a few players we are looking at and will continue to look at until the transfer window is closed. "We have to continue to look for players for one or two positions where we feel we might be a little bit short. "We have been looking at some players but it doesn't necessarily mean that we will act. "Although we have a big squad of players I still think we are a bit thin on the ground in certain areas, but if we don't make any further signings I will be more than happy to go with what I have. "Some people are suggesting that subsequent transfers may be dependent on qualification to the Champions League group phase but that's not the case. "It's just that we are covered more than adequately in some positions and not as much in others. "We just want a slightly better balance to the squad." Similarly, Smith has revealed that some players could go if clubs come in for them. He added: "Having a slightly bigger group than last year means we have to watch that we don't get frustration from the boys that are not playing. "So if some clubs come along for one or two of the boys then we will consider what they have to say." I remember Stefanovic from his Dutch day's and thought he was a good player. I think we were also linked with him before he went to Portsmouth. A good replacement for Weir imo.
  3. Top team stars on the comeback trail. Smith could be back by mid-September. Although how an initial 6-week injury descended into this is anyone's guess?
  4. ian1964

    Broadfoot

    KIRK BROADFOOT knows more than a few eyebrows were raised when Walter Smith plucked him from Paisley and made him a Rangers player. Now the cynics are more likely to be nodding their head in appreciation after seeing the former St Mirren star slot into three different roles in as many matches and performwell in each of them. Broadfoot might have made his name as a centre-half at Love Street but he's been used at right-back, left-back and on Saturday against Falkirk he added left-midfield to his collection after coming on as a sub and pitching in with a goal during the 7-2 rout of John Hughes' men. The 23-year-old admits he is loving every minute of it and insists he never had any doubts that he could make the jump from a provincial outfit to one of the Old Firm giants. Particularly when the captain of the club, Barry Ferguson, went out of his way to make him feel welcome. Broadfoot believes the togetherness of the squad is a major reason for Rangers' sensational start to the season and for his own promising start to his Ibrox career. The former Scotland Under-21 defender said: "When I arrived I wasn't daunted by it, I relished the challenge. If you don't relish it you're at the wrong place. If you go out onto the pitch scared you've failed straight away. Advertisement "I know it's going to get harder as more players come back from injury.But when I arrived I didn't feel overawed. "Barry Ferguson helped me settle right away. When the club captain does that it's great, but it is a bit like starting any new job because it takes time to get to know everyone." Broadfoot's ability to play just about anywhere can make him a regular on the park or on the bench - and with players like Brahim Hemdani, DaMarcus Beasley, Ian Murray, Charlie Adam, Filip Sebo and Alan Gow sitting in the stand at the weekend, he knows the competition has never been tougher. He said: "This is the biggest squad I've seen. There are 30 players who could come into the first team and do a job. "The Under-21 rule takes three off straight away but it's a battle to make the bench now, never mind the starting line-up." Broadfoot was delighted with the victory over Falkirk, which stretched Rangers' run of victories at home and in Europe to six since the start of the campaign. He was particularly happy to notch his first goal for the club, particularly as his own fan club was sitting in the stand. He said: "That's my first goal for Rangers. I'm a Rangers fan so to score for Rangers at Ibrox is a dream come true. "My mum and dad were at the game along with four of my friends. When I switched my phone on there were quite a few text messages with people congratulating me. It was a good day all round to be honest." The defender was delighted to see the strikers do the business, with Daniel Cousin and Jean-Claude Darcheville grabbing two goals each and Kris Boyd making a welcome return to the scoresheet. He said: "Danny came in from the start and did very well. Once he starts speaking English he'll be even better. "He doesn't understand anything really but his knowledge of the game shows. "Kris and Darche then came off the bench to score too so it's pleasing. I think as a squad we're starting to gel." Interesting interview,sorry if it's old news but working overseas,i was just wondering what the fans are thinking about him as i've not seen much of him :cheers:
  5. http://www.gersnetonline.net/newsite/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=475&Itemid=1 Is it a bird? Is it a plane? Is it the last bastion of objectivity in the Scottish press? Is it a Rangers hating sensationalist who earns a living condemning sectarianism while taking every opportunity to fan its flames? Well, it depends who you talk to, but one thing I can say about Graham Spiers is that he writes horribly. Some Rangers fans get really worked up after reading some of Mr. Spiersââ?¬â?¢ articles, but I wonder where they get the energy ââ?¬â?? by the time Iââ?¬â?¢m finished Iââ?¬â?¢d be more likely to have the energy for strong emotion having necked a few jellies: they have that same somniferous effect. Iââ?¬â?¢m willing to allow for the possibility that itââ?¬â?¢s just me (itââ?¬â?¢s unarguable heââ?¬â?¢s written for various high-brow newspapers and has no doubt won awards and the like) - but Iââ?¬â?¢ve read some of the best and worst of humanityââ?¬â?¢s legacy in literature and havenââ?¬â?¢t found a writing style quite as irritating and sleep-inducing as Grahamââ?¬â?¢s. For quite a while I couldnââ?¬â?¢t put my finger on exactly what it was I didnââ?¬â?¢t like ââ?¬â?? Iââ?¬â?¢m a student of literature so I can hardly moan at him for his tendency to use big words, and given that I amble on myself I canââ?¬â?¢t really blame him for meandering from the point. But then I realised that I didnââ?¬â?¢t mind Nietzsche using big words because complex situations demand big words but Graham seemed to continuously use them borderline out of context just to remind us that heââ?¬â?¢s intelligent and knows them. And I also realised I didnââ?¬â?¢t mind Wittgenstein spanning a sentence over a whole page because the difficult subjects he was discussing demanded that every statement be fully qualified in its textual and environmental context; but if a sentence takes up a whole paragraph when discussing the comparatively simple matter of a football match then the chances are youââ?¬â?¢ve got your linguistic head up your own arse. So, hereââ?¬â?¢s my theory ââ?¬â?? I donââ?¬â?¢t know about your primary school, but at mine the teacher gave us words we had to use in a sentence as homework. To encourage you to develop your vocabulary at that age you got nice gold stars and ticks and whatnot for writing longer sentences with more obscure ââ?¬Ë?describing wordsââ?¬â?¢. Of course, when you get to secondary school they start to teach you the value of ââ?¬Ë?showingââ?¬â?¢ rather than ââ?¬Ë?tellingââ?¬â?¢, and how when grownups write itââ?¬â?¢s just silly to use a big word where an ordinary everyday small one will do, and how they shouldnââ?¬â?¢t write a million words where five will do. Reserve those big words and prosaic grand sounding sentences for where they are most effective and required, otherwise youââ?¬â?¢ll just sound like youââ?¬â?¢re trying to convince people you are intelligent, and sound all poncy. Or, if you want to be really clever, they say, you can use big words ââ?¬Ë?ironicallyââ?¬â?¢ by putting them beside slang ââ?¬â?? like I did in the opening paragraph with ââ?¬Ë?somniferousââ?¬â?¢. (This is all a lie, incidentally, but had my teacher been teaching the syllabus instead of stopping people attacking each other with chairs, Iââ?¬â?¢m reliably told that this is what she would have been saying). I think Graham has essentially stuck to the primary school style of writing mixed with archaic grandiose sounding phrases. So, letââ?¬â?¢s put my theory - that Graham Spiersââ?¬â?¢ writing is like a studious primary school childââ?¬â?¢s homework - to the test. A short while ago I read his article entitled ââ?¬Å?Hughes manages to focus on positives after goal rushââ?¬Â [1]. I didnââ?¬â?¢t realise that this was actually a Spiers article, and the promising snappy opening sentence did nothing to give the game away: ââ?¬Å?Every so often football has a pleasing habit of throwing up a match like thisââ?¬Â. Lovely. By the end of the second sentence (and, incidentally, the entire first paragraph) I was in no doubt of the author. It is a single sentence that includes the phrases ââ?¬Å?poured goalsââ?¬Â, ââ?¬Å?late splurgeââ?¬Â, ââ?¬Å?three in the final five minutesââ?¬Â, ââ?¬Å?sent the Rangers fans home happyââ?¬Â, ââ?¬Å?poor John Hughesââ?¬Â, ââ?¬Å?the Falkirk managerââ?¬Â, ââ?¬Å?groping around for a postmatch perspectiveââ?¬Â, ââ?¬Å?famously verbalââ?¬Â and quite ironically concludes that ââ?¬Å?Big Yogiââ?¬Â was ââ?¬Å?talking gibberishââ?¬Â. Iââ?¬â?¢m not sure if he read this back to himself; but if youââ?¬â?¢re going to summarise the match, make the unlikely comparison of the Rangers fansââ?¬â?¢ reaction and the Falkirk mangerââ?¬â?¢s, and conclude that someone is talking gibberish, all in a single sentence, then you probably want to do it in one that, at very least, Stephen Fry wouldnââ?¬â?¢t struggle to say aloud. At this point he doesnââ?¬â?¢t condescend to let us in on the gibberish Big Yogi was talking, but weââ?¬â?¢ll take his word for the moment. The next paragraph is entirely concise and to the point. To be fair this might be because it largely constitutes a quote from Walter Smith. Graham Spiers is definitely at his most concise when quoting. Perhaps for dramatic effect this brief flash of brevity is followed by one of the most astoundingly inappropriate sentences Iââ?¬â?¢ve ever seen committed to print when discussing a football match: ââ?¬Å?So let us examine more keenly this peculiarity of a gameââ?¬Â. As a general rule you shouldnââ?¬â?¢t write (unless youââ?¬â?¢re a poet) something you wouldnââ?¬â?¢t say in real life. I find it hard to believe that the top man in Oxford University in Jane Austenââ?¬â?¢s time would say ââ?¬Å?So let us examine more keenly this peculiarity of a theoryââ?¬Â with a straight face, never mind Graham Spiers discussing a football match whose only ââ?¬Ë?peculiarityââ?¬â?¢ to be ââ?¬Ë?keenly examinedââ?¬â?¢ was the fairly common scenario that the scoreline didnââ?¬â?¢t quite reflect the difference between the teams. After a fairly straightforward analysis of the game we build towards the climax hinted at in the first paragraph: that the score was so bafflingly unrepresentative of the game that it reduced poor Big Yogi to the incoherence of someone who had just survived a trainwreck. The quote chosen to represent John Hughesââ?¬â?¢ ââ?¬Ë?maniaââ?¬â?¢ and ââ?¬Ë?babblingââ?¬â?¢ reads like this: ââ?¬Å?We played some good football and make no mistake, we are a right good football side,ââ?¬Â he said. ââ?¬Å?At 3-2, I thought to myself, ââ?¬Ë?oh-ho, here we go, weââ?¬â?¢ll get right back into this.ââ?¬â?¢ Weââ?¬â?¢ve done something that few clubs ever do ââ?¬â?? weââ?¬â?¢ve come to Ibrox and taken two goals off Rangers.ââ?¬Â Iââ?¬â?¢m not sure about you, but that makes perfect sense to me. It certainly makes more sense than Spiersââ?¬â?¢ assessment of our new singing Cousin.... who is... wait for it.... ââ?¬Å?extremely decentââ?¬Â. Iââ?¬â?¢m not quite sure who edits these articles (I know Spiers was the sports editor at the Herald, so I assume if this is anything but a downwards step he must be at the Times) but you would think that this phrase making no sense in the English language would be good enough reason to re-think it. Players can be extremely good, or extremely bad, but not extremely decent ââ?¬â?? just like water can be extremely hot, or extremely cold, but not extremely lukewarm. The word ââ?¬Ë?decentââ?¬â?¢ implies no extremeness one way or the other. I mean, if John Hughes was ââ?¬Ë?babblingââ?¬â?¢ speaking shortly after the game, youââ?¬â?¢ve got to wonder how someone whoââ?¬â?¢s had at least 24 hours and the benefits of an editorial process can come out with something that makes absolutely no sense in our native tongue. So, to wrap up then, I donââ?¬â?¢t read Graham Spiers not because I have anything personally against him, but because I find his writing sometimes cringeworthy, sometimes sleep inducing. Itââ?¬â?¢s part of the staple diet of sitcoms to parody essentially unintelligent characters by making them speak in Ye Old English and use big words out of context. I get the same sense of akwardness when I read a Graham Spiers article ââ?¬â?? but perhaps this is what The Times readership is after? Maybe thereââ?¬â?¢s a whole stratum of society I have no access to where people go around speaking like this to each other. The problem is, though, that even if he used all these grand phrases poetically, and properly, he would still be talking about a game of football. He hasnââ?¬â?¢t picked up a secret and super-intellectual slant on the game all us mere mortals have missed, heââ?¬â?¢s basically just said ââ?¬Å?the score didnââ?¬â?¢t reflect the gameââ?¬Â with all the hyperbolic flair of a wean who gets good marks in their primary school homework because theyââ?¬â?¢ve said an ordinary thing in a prolix way. Its all the insight of a tabloid phone-in (that Iââ?¬â?¢m sure Graham would never associate himself with) couched in the language of someone parodying Ye Old English. Man, if I ever meet you Iââ?¬â?¢ll quite happily give you a gold star, but I wouldnââ?¬â?¢t pay Ã?£1 or whatever it is for The Times to hear what I heard in the pub after the game in un-necessarily verbose language. I donââ?¬â?¢t think the ââ?¬Ë?high-browââ?¬â?¢ readership of The Times will be fooled by it either. And as much as Iââ?¬â?¢d love to know what happened between PLG and Barry Ferguson I donââ?¬â?¢t think my sanity could handle English used in this way for a couple of hundred pages, and Iââ?¬â?¢ll be very suprised if people can in general. [1] http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/scotland/article2288780.ece
  6. A lot has been said about Walter Smith now having a much bigger squad compared to Paul Le Guen's last season; however, I disagree. It seems to me that 14 players have left since the start of last season, and 14 have arrived, keeping the numbers constant. The massive difference is in the quality and experience of the players. Out --- Letizi Klos Bardsley Ricksen Rodriguez Svensson Ponroy Sionko Rae Clement N'Diaye Martin Prso Stanger In -- Carroll Smith Braodfoot Wier Webster Cueller Ehiogu Whitaker Thomson Gow McCulloch Beasley Darcheville Cousin Stayed ------ MacGregor Hutton Papac Murray Smith NOvo Burke Ferguson Hemdani Adam Sebo Boyd Buffel Looking at those that stayed, there are 13 players who play reasonably often enough to consider them first team players; therefore, Walter has had just over a 50% turnover in first team playing staff. That amount can reasonably be expected to significantly change the fortunes of the team and when you think what Walter did with 3 changes in January (not counting Webster who didn't play), you have to wonder what he can do now with what he could call his own team. The amazing 100% start to this season looks to be an excellent appetizer for the main course to come, with the players able to shut up shop and force a win while still not gelling with each other and then score 7 in a game when the jelly is starting to set. To further dwell in our improvement it's interesting to look at the teams you could make up with the players which Smith, Le Guen and McLiesh have latterly brought in, as well as a team made up from the Rangers youth ranks (including a few older ones for experience). Smith ----- Carroll Braodfoot Wier Cueller Webster Whitaker Thomson McCulloch Beasley Darcheville Cousin Le Guen ------- Letizi Bardsley Svensson Ponroy Papac Sionko Clement N'Diaye Martin Sebo Stanger McLeish ------- Wattereus Rodriguez Andrews Kyrgiakos Murray Novo Hemdani Buffel Rae Prso Boyd Murray Park ----------- MacGregor Hutton Pressley McLean Smith Burke Ferguson Hughes Adam MacCormack MacLean To me Smith's team look by far the best, with Le Guen's looking by far the worst. That in itself suggests we should have a much better season this year; especially since Smith's squad includes some of the best players that he didn't sign - MacGregor, Hutton, Papac, Smith, Burke, Hemdani, Ferguson, Adam, Novo, and Boyd. What is also apparent, is that Smith is also a huge managerial improvement over both Le Guen and McLeish.
  7. At least according to the express and as quoted by Walter.
  8. The only problem with Barry Ferguson is he's better than his team-mates
  9. By Emma Dodds Walter Smith has admitted he thought the goal would never come for Rangers tonight, but has praised his players for fighting until the end against Red Star at Ibrox. Novo scores against Red Star The Light Blues now take a slender one-goal lead to Belgrade in a fortnight's time and although this tie is by no means finished, they are in poll position to progress. It was a hard-fought victory by Gers and they had to contend with some physical play from the visitors, with seven of their players being booked, but Novo took his goal well much to Smith's delight. He said: "The tie is not over we know that, but it was a good feeling to see the ball hit the back of the net. "We're obviously pleased with the result, it was a tight game and not many chances for either side. But we kept going and secured what was eventually a good result. "We are proving very hard to score against and while it might not be the most pleasing on the eye just now, it's effective. "It's always hard to strike a balance between defending and attacking because the away goal is so valuable, so to come away with a win and a clean sheet is very pleasing. "We know there are certain aspects of our game we need to improve on, but tonight we did a decent job and will look forward to the return leg. "It's been a busy period for us thus far, but the players are coping well and hopefully that can continue.The referee warns a Red Star player "Nacho has a great spirit and we know what he can offer to the team. He always gives his all and once again tonight he scored a crucial goal. "He took it well and the players deserve credit for fighting until the final whistle because that goal came late." Rangers now have two SPL matches, against Falkirk and Kilmarnock, before going to Belgrade for the match on August 28 and Smith is hopeful his side can do enough to progress into the group stage. He added: "We have managed to win all the games we've played so far and are proving hard to break down. "Our players have worked extremely hard and that is a good foundation for us. I'm sure we'll see an improvement in time, once everyone gets to know each other. "For now we're in a winning position and hopefully we can hold on to that in Belgrade."
  10. Red Star Belgrade coach Milorad Kosanovic believes snuffing out the threat of Barry Ferguson is the key to success over Rangers. The Serbian champions take on the Glasgow giants in the first leg of their final Champions League qualifier at Ibrox on Tuesday night with high hopes of progressing to the lucrative group stages. Kosanovic - who replaced sacked boss Bosko Djurovski last week - has identified several danger men within the Rangers' ranks. But he admits skipper Ferguson poses the biggest threat to his team's chances. He said: "We have to take care of their two forwards Daniel Cousin and Jean-Claude Darcheville as well as DaMarcus Beasley. "But especially we have to take care of Barry Ferguson. "If we stop him then we would expect it to help our chances - but you never know." Rangers' boss Walter Smith has admitted the change of management at Red Star means he is venturing into the unknown tomorrow night. But Kosanovic insists he knows exactly what to expect from their hosts. "The usual," he said. "They are going to play as they play every week, they won't change that. "They have one style of play and everything is in order so they have no reason to change - they cannot change just for one game. "They can maybe change some details but not their way of playing. "It's not a boring style, it's just the way Glasgow Rangers play. They play very simple, fast, strong and beautiful. "Yes it will be physical but that is football today. If you cannot play like this, don't play." Kosanovic has been in charge for just one game, their goalless league opener at the weekend and he added: "I don't have a first 11 like Rangers have, we are still trying to find the way that is best for us. "Yes this game has come a little bit too early for me." here's hoping this game has come too soon for them i think we will need a couple of goals to go over there with just to make sure but even so I'm confident that we can beat this mob convincingly i hope :cheers:
  11. http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/16047/Qu-Bo-says-no-to-Rangers- RANGERS have been foiled in a bid to land Chinese World Cup star Qu Bo. Express Sport can reveal that Walter Smith had hoped to bring the international striker over on trial but that move has been blocked by his club, Qingdao. The Chinese Super League club had initially given their 27-year-old striker permission to travel to Scotland but that agreement has now fallen through due to Rangers and Qingdao's new season commitments. Rangers wrote personally to issue the invitation to Qu Bo and hoped to get him over after China's Asian Cup campaign but that has now collapsed. His club are keen to cash-in on their �£1 million-rated star but the timing meant that the Ibrox trial was going to run too close to the Chinese signing deadline and Qingdao don't think they had enough time to find a suitable replacement. Qu Bo has been told that he can come over on trial in November but now the frontman, who can also play wide on the right, faces an anxious wait to see if Walter Smith will go back in for him. The Chinese star is seen as his country's top frontman and played in all three World Cup games back in 2002 against Brazil, Turkey and Costa Rica. Not long after that he had a successful trial at Tottenham where he was offered a contract but it collapsed because of work permit problems. Former Rangers boss Graeme Souness at Blackburn was also keen on him but he also failed to get a work permit but since then Qu Bo has played in enough domestic and international games to meet the strict British criteria. If Rangers do keep the door open for him then he could become the third Chinese professional to play in the SPL after Du Wei's infamous stop-off at Celtic and Fan Zhiyi also has a brief spell at Dundee. Rangers, though, are aware there could be a massive commercial spin-off if they do decide to take a chance on Qu Bo.
  12. Rams eye up Hemdani By PETER JARDINE Premiership new boys Derby County are lining up a �£1million bid for Rangers midfielder Brahim Hemdani. Manager Billy Davies and his Pride Park staff are believed to have monitored the player in the recent Ibrox friendly win over Chelsea. And now they could invite Walter Smith to decide if he wants to part with Hemdani, who has two years left on his contract in Glasgow. The Frenchman could be tempted by the lure of Premiership wages, while Rangers may feel they could redirect the funds elsewhere during the remainder of the transfer window. With Kevin Thomson, Barry Ferguson, Lee McCulloch, Steven Whittaker and Charlie Adam all chasing places, Smith already has a series of Scottish options as cover for the midfield. Former Marseille captain Hemdani was signed on a Bosman by Alex McLeish before his final season in charge, but injury troubled the 29-year-old initially at Ibrox. He won a regular place last year under Paul le Guen and Smith and scored spectacular goals against Celtic and Osasuna. He was then later named as the club's in-house Player of the Year. Sources close to Hemdani suggest he may be content to remain at Rangers but a Derby bid could change that situation and there may be other interest if it becomes clear that he might be allowed to leave.
  13. Uefa launches inquiry into racism Beasley scored in the Champions League tie against Zeta Uefa has said it will hold an inquiry into alleged racist taunts during Rangers' 1-0 Champions League qualifying victory over FK Zeta. Goalscorer DaMarcus Beasley and Jean-Claude Darcheville were both subjected to verbal abuse by home fans. Uefa spokesman William Gaillard told BBC Five Live: "We have decided to open an investigation as there were many witnesses who reported the problems. "Our policy is zero tolerance towards racism. We take this issue seriously." Interview: Rangers manager Walter Smith Interview: Rangers' Barry Ferguson He added: "We have to find out the hard facts and that will be done through the reports of the referee and the delegates. This is the 21st century and we are still having trouble with racism DaMarcus Beasley "Also, if there were any other independent observers at the game, send us their reports and we always take those into account. "We will be thorough in our investigations." Beasley, who hit the 81st-minute winner against Zeta, had earlier urged Fifa and Uefa to take action. "That's something Fifa and Uefa must fight with and solve," he said. The United States international revealed he suffered similar abuse when playing for previous club PSV Eindhoven. "This is the 21st century and we are still having trouble with it," he stated. "I've faced that kind of situation throughout my whole career in Europe, not so much during my playing days in England, but even in Holland I've had similar problems." Uefa will also consider incidents in which bottles were thrown from a stand containing home supporters when Zeta were denied a penalty in the second half - and an incident of Rangers substitute Charlie Adam being struck by a lighter. Red Star Belgrade could be the next opponents for Rangers in the Champions League. The Serbian side lead Levadia Tallinn 1-0 after the first leg and face a tricky test in Estonia on Wednesday evening. MY SPORT: DEBATE Whilst not forgetting about our own issues, let's hope something is done by Uefa govanwest But Beasley recalled a Champions League qualifier he played for PSV against Red Star in August 2004, when he also came in for abuse. "I remember playing against Red Star Belgrade, and I mention them as they could be our next opponents in the Champions League, and I still remember some racist chants at that away match," he said. "I will discuss the situation with Rangers because I feel strongly about it and we will decide if we should file a complaint." There were no reported incidents of Rangers supporters misbehaving during the game. They had been warned that any incidents of sectarian chanting could result in strong-handed action by Uefa against the club. Rangers manager Walter Smith praised his side for subduing the threat of Zeta to progress from the second round of Champions League qualifying. "It was always going to be a nervy game," he told BBC Sport after the 3-0 aggregate victory. "I thought we handled it well. "Zeta showed in the first game that they are dangerous if allowed to play. "It was never going to be an easy match but we nullified any problems in the second game." Smith was particularly pleased with his defence and added: "Going through was the most important aspect but that's three competitive games without losing a goal. "That was Kirk Broadfoot's first full game, while Carlos Cuellar looks like he has played there for a long time." SEE ALSO Zeta 0-1 Rangers (agg: 0-3) 07 Aug 07 | Rangers British clubs get tough Euro draw 03 Aug 07 | Europe Smith content with Ibrox victory 31 Jul 07 | Rangers Rangers 2-0 FK Zeta 31 Jul 07 | Europe -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- RELATED BBC LINKS: Rangers fans' views on My Sport BBC Where I Live - Scotland Glasgow weather BBC Sport SPL RELATED INTERNET LINKS: Rangers The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites
  14. Murray tips Celts to retain the title By Ron Scott SIR DAVID MURRAY fully expects to spend well in excess of Ã?£10 million on new players before the transfer window closes. Yet the Rangers chairman admits Celtic remain favourites to win the title. ââ?¬Å?They have won the Championship for the last two seasons and the bookies have made them favourites this time, too,ââ?¬Â he conceded. ââ?¬Å?Itââ?¬â?¢s difficult to disagree. ââ?¬Å?But we must make a serious challenge and be there or thereabouts. We canââ?¬â?¢t afford to be so far behind Celtic again.ââ?¬Â Rangers have already spent around Ã?£5 million on new faces, but Murray insisted, ââ?¬Å?Weââ?¬â?¢re not finished yet. Weââ?¬â?¢ll make at least two more quality signings, if not three. We definitely want another top-class striker.ââ?¬Â Rumours Murray played down rumours in France that his club are about to sign 30-year-old striker Daniel Cousin from Lens for Ã?£1 million, and re-iterated they wonââ?¬â?¢t be increasing their Ã?£1.5 million bid for Kilmarnockââ?¬â?¢s Stevie Naismith. Heââ?¬â?¢s determined not to break the clubââ?¬â?¢s wage structure. ââ?¬Å?Meeting the Ã?£4.4 million transfer fee to Hibs for Scott Brown was not a problem. But we were not prepared to pay the Ã?£25,000-a-week heââ?¬â?¢s reputedly on at Celtic,ââ?¬Â said Murray. ââ?¬Å?Before you know it the deal ends up costing around Ã?£14-Ã?£15-million by the time you add on wages for a five-year contract. ââ?¬Å?We must have parity in the dressing-room. ââ?¬Å?Young Scottish players coming through can expect to earn between Ã?£2000 and Ã?£3000-a-week, rising to Ã?£6-7000 if they get a decent run in the first team. ââ?¬Å?By the time theyââ?¬â?¢re regulars, the figure is between Ã?£10-12,000, going as high as Ã?£16,000-a-week with bonuses. ââ?¬Å?The key is to reach the Champions League proper. Thatââ?¬â?¢s where the club makes money and the players earn huge bonuses.ââ?¬Â Revealed Rangersââ?¬â?¢ financial figures will be revealed this week and itââ?¬â?¢s anticipated they will show a debt of around Ã?£12 million. But Murray insisted, ââ?¬Å?Our debt is totally manageable.ââ?¬Â He has now entered his 20th year as chairman, and admits he wonââ?¬â?¢t go on for ever. ââ?¬Å?Weââ?¬â?¢ve won 13 titles in these 19 years, but some time Iââ?¬â?¢ll decide I donââ?¬â?¢t want to do this forever,ââ?¬Â he said. ââ?¬Å?Iââ?¬â?¢ve been on the dancefloor with a couple of interested parties, but Iââ?¬â?¢ll only sell my legacy if Iââ?¬â?¢m convinced the future of the club is in good hands. ââ?¬Å?There is no point someone having to beg, steal and borrow to buy the club then having nothing left to invest. ââ?¬Å?Iââ?¬â?¢m re-invigorated since Walter Smith returned and I remain committed as proved by the money being spent.ââ?¬Â
  15. Chelsea's Frank Lampard has hailed Rangers fans as 'awesome' after Saturday's friendly at Ibrox. Although an almost full-strength Chelsea side suffered their first pre-season loss in Glasgow, going down 2-0 to late goals from Nacho Novo and Filip Sebo, Lampard described the occasion as the best friendly he has been involved in after being blown away by the home crowd. The England international said: "The Rangers fans were awesome, all the lads were talking about it. "The reception I got when I went to take corners during the game, and after when we were going off, was really nice. "They certainly love their own team, but it was very special to get that welcome. It was amazing really, and a very good game to play in for us, certainly the best friendly we've had. Next up for Rangers is their Champions League second round qualifier against Montenegrin champions Zeta and Lampard believes Walter Smith's men can see off the minnows and negotiate their way through a third qualifying round to make the lucrative group stages of the competition. "With that kind of backing from their crowd, they will be hard to beat. And I expect to see Rangers in the Champions League," Lampard said. Says it all. Wasnt at the game. Watched it pished on holiday. All i have heard is how good the fans were! Pat on the back to those who were there! WATP
  16. I hope he at least has a good idea, or is prepared to change things and is not afraid of dropping the "certs" Ferguson and Boyd.
  17. Hadn't seen either of these articles posted, if they have been, I apologize. Murray on Brown/Naismith: Rangers executive chairman Sir David Murray says that the Light Blues could not afford to sign new Celtic midfielder Scott Brown from Hibernian. He claims Brown could not have been accommodated in a new system which rewards key Ibrox players. He said: "If he's on the wages that have been reported how would that leave us with our other players? "Would Rangers' young Scots be happy to sign new deals on less than half what another young Scot was being paid?" Scotland cap Brown ended up at Celtic Park in a £4.4m transfer despite ongoing speculation that Ibrox was his preferred destination. Meanwhile, Murray also expressed an interest in reviving the club's wish to bring Kilmarnock's Steven Naismith to Ibrox. He remains hopeful of securing the Scotland striker, despite a summer-long signing saga, even though Rangers boss Walter Smith has withdrawn the club's latest bid. Kilmarnock chairman Michael Johnston has reported plenty of interest from other teams. And the Ibrox chief explained: "We've the greatest respect for Kilmarnock but if they have other clubs who want to buy the player, why don't they accept one of those bids they've received? "Walter has already spoken about the offer we made. "He's a good young player and we'd like to have him here but he's 20 years old and at that age you're buying potential." Murray is also backing Smith to bring Rangers closer to champions Celtic in the Scottish Premier League. "What we can't have is the gap there was last season. "Obviously we'd prefer to win it, but I think every Rangers supporter wants to see us compete." Murray On His Future: CHAIRMAN Sir David Murray says Rangers hope to bring in another three players before the transfer window closes and will spend as much as £10m in total rebuilding the squad. And he insists he has not found the right man or men to take over his role as custodian of the club. Murray has made it clear that if the right offer comes in he will step aside but so far he has not been offered an acceptable bid that will guaranteee the future of Rangers. He said: "What I have said repeatedly is that I am coming up for 20 years. I have been here 19 years and I have won 13 championships. "I said that I didn't want to do this job forever but I will only sell if the right person comes along whom I believe can take the club on to a better and higher level. "There have been a few nibbles but not the right people for me to hand over my legacy. "I think you can see we have been quite active again in the market. We will spend over £10million this year on players by the time the window closes. "We intend to bring in two or three more players. I am invigorated that Walter, Ally and Kenny are here. There has been a vibrancy. "I remain committed to the club. A lot of things have happened to me in the last couple of years but I am no less committed to Rangers Football Club. "There is no photo-fit of the ideal person to buy the club. I have to feel comfortable that my legacy and the future of the club will be in good hands. "It is very hard to remain popular for 19 years. I have been through all the highs and all the lows and all the successes and failures. "There is no point in someone coming along and using every single penny they have got to put them in a position to own the club." If the three are Whittaker, Cousin and Naismith.. Well, who knows.
  18. With Pre-season friendlies well under way I thought id kick up a debate prior to the Champions League qualifiers. Over the summer weeks we have spoke about players coming in and out and all the rumours. But after getting plenty additions for the squad it looks as thought the trolley is full and we are at the check-outs after spending the best part of 6 million. Whether those who have came in are good enough is another debate, we all believe the depth in the squad is better but we all agree we could have been done with a higher profile name or two to go straight into the starting line up. So, after 2 trophyless seasons what must our realistic targets be for this season? and are we well enough equipped to meet that targets? Lets break it down into each competition we will enter. SPL - Finishing 3rd 2 seasons ago was a wake up call and last season we expected huge improvement only for it to get worse. If Walter Smith did not arrive then its anyones guess where we would have finished. But he improved us and we created a gap between ourselves and the pack chasing 2nd place. This season Smith doesnt have the excuse he is steading the ship - thats been done. However we did look the more stronger in the 2nd half of last season. We need to get off to a good start and the silly results against the bottom sides must be erased. Smith has shown he still knows how to get the better of Celtic so let that continue. The aim IMO is to win the league, its certainly not out of our reach, but at the minimum we have to at least be in the hunt by easter and not have it all over by Halloween. Domestic Cups - The less said about last years runs the better. They were nothing less than embarrassing. The 90s saw us winning cups left, right and centre but we havent been to Hampden for a Scottish cup final for 5 years now. Again IMO we should be looking to lift one of the cups, preferrably the Scottish cup. Europe - Champions League qualification is a MUST for financial reasons and to give us something to look forward to. It is also huge to get us progressing again on the park. Are we equipped to take on the big boys - No, probably not yet but we will still give it a crack. A good run would be to finish 3rd in a group (depending who we draw) and then entering the UEFA cup after Xmas. Anything more from the CL is a bonus, but we cant let Celtic go on and have another crack at it while making 10 million in the process while we are not even in it. Time will tell Bears but I expect us to be stronger domestically than the previous 2 seasons.
  19. I've highlighted a bit in bold. We may have signed 7 players but does anyone else agree with me that we have only really signed 3 potential first teamers? Obviously the 3 im talking about are Darcheville, Cuellar and Beasley, but the rest are going to be squad players. Now there isnt anything wrong with this as we need fine back up and good numbers but I still think we are crying out for at least 2 more players who will go straight into the first team. Maybe Gow will have a bit more to play as he is a vertisle player who can play in behind the strikers and I have a good feeling about him. But if we arent buying guys who are first pick then we arent improving IMO and we cant go into another season of being average after picking up no silverware in the last 2 seasons. Im not having a dig at Smith's buys here Im just saying in the up coming weeks we still need to buy 2 players who can make a difference.
  20. Don't know if I missed this when I was awol for a wee while, but not noticed it appear on here: Also Shinnie has signed a 3-year deal: Sorry if already posted.
  21. I know the Robinson story is an old one, but in the official site story it mentions a new youth loan signing:
  22. Taken from The Evening Times website..... I'd take him in a second. Great player.
  23. Anyone remember him from our game, i think he played in the first leg but not the second. the first leg we could not break down there defence so there is a positive. beasley was a good player but has faded away, lets hope he can get his career on track at Ibrox
  24. Think this is a great signing , has been a very busy day at Murray Park
  25. CHARLIE ADAM has given Rangers a huge pre-season boost by signing a new contract tying him to the club until 2012. The midfielder has committed his future to Rangers and is delighted to cap a fantastic debut campaign by penning a five-year deal. Since returning from St Mirren last summer Adam's reputation has risen considerably due to a string of excellent performances in the top team. After being given his chance by Paul Le Guen, the 22-year-old then held down his place in the side following Walter Smith's appointment and made over 40 appearances last term. His 14 goals also played a big part in helping the Light Blues cement a Champions League spot and Adam's efforts were subsequently rewarded with a call up to the Scotland squad. His involvement with the Dark Blues at the end of the season topped a great year and although he only had 20 days' rest in the summer, Charlie admits is feeling fit and raring to go. He told Rangers.co.uk: "It's great to be back and I am enjoying training so far. "We didn't get too long off but I really don't mind because we are here at Murray Park now preparing, hopefully, for a really successful season. "I am also delighted to get my contract sorted and commit my future to Rangers. "I have been here for a while, with two loan spells in between and I was happy with how I did last season. "To come back and play over 40 games was more than I could have expected and now to be rewarded with a new deal is fantastic. "I spoke to the manager and his advice influenced my decision to sign such a long-term deal. "What he said just confirmed my own thoughts and I'm pleased it's all finalised before the games start. "I will keep working hard and hopefully do well. We have strengthened the squad and I believe we can have a good season." Gload to see he has been sgined up, one of the best bits of talent to come out of Murray Park
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