Bougherra out of cup final

[ian1964 10,416]

By Ron Scott

 

Ibrox defender Madjid Bougherra.MADJID BOUGHERRA (right) has been ruled out of today�s Co-operative Insurance Cup Final against Celtic at Hampden.

 

That was the sensational news from the Rangers camp last night.

 

It�s a crushing blow for the Ibrox club as the big French-Algerian defender has been their most consistent player all season.

 

He has struggled all week with a calf injury picked up in last Sunday�s Homecoming Scottish Cup tie against Hamilton Accies, and has failed to recover in time to play today.

 

Major headache

 

Bougherra�s absence leaves Rangers manager Walter Smith with a major headache over who to pair in central defence with Davie Weir.

 

Kirk Broadfoot is the obvious choice, but his fitness is not guaranteed either. He has missed the last couple of games with a foot injury.

 

The former St Mirren centre-half will be given every chance to make it, but much will depend on whether he suffers a reaction from yesterday�s training session.

 

If Broadfoot is ruled out, too, Smith�s choice is a straight one between Lee McCulloch and Christian Dailly.

 

McCulloch has this season been converted into a defensive midfielder, and he also partnered Weir in central defence for a few games towards the end of last year.

 

Decision

 

Meanwhile, Dailly�s last start for Rangers was back in September.

 

Smith has also to decide whether to use leading scorer Kris Boyd.

 

With Kyle Lafferty favourite to start alongside Kenny Miller, Boyd�s best bet will be a place on the bench, but even that is not guaranteed with Nacho Novo fit again.

 

Celtic have no last-minute injury scares, with manager Gordon Strachan�s only dilemma being who to pair upfront with Scott McDonald.

 

The choice lies between Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink or Georgios Samaras.

 

Although Samaras has 14 goals to his credit, don�t be surprised if the Dutchman starts.

 

Strachan may also opt for the experience of Paul Hartley in midfield ahead of young Spaniard Marc Crosas.

 

http://www.thesundaypost.co.uk/postindex.htm

[Super_Ally 0]

Might it force us to play a more attacking line up and formation and play to our strengths instead of looking to contain them?

 

If McCulloch does play CB, we'd either have to play Davis in the middle 3 with 2 genuine wide players in the 4-5-1 or go 4-4-2 surely? Unless Edu played the holding role. Thinking on it, it will be the latter from Walter wont it.

[ian1964 10,416]

Yip, I can see McCulloch @ CB & Edu playing the holding role

[Super_Ally 0]

Yip, I can see McCulloch @ CB & Edu playing the holding role

 

 

Is anyone else a bit deflated by this in terms of confidence. Biggest player we could have had out for this one imo. I think the 1-0 showed that.

 

Fortunately i'll wake up tomorrow full of confidence. I always do, but right now my belief has dropped a little. Still think we'll win right enough, just that it will be harder.

[Super_Ally 0]

RANGERS star Madjid Bougherra is OUT of today’s Co-op Cup Final — and Kris Boyd is set to miss out as well.

 

Algerian stopper, Bougy has lost his fitness battle after failing to shake off a calf injury in time to face Celtic.

 

Striker Boyd is set to be left out of Walter Smith’s squad altogether, with fit-again Nacho Novo on the bench instead.

 

Gers defender Kirk Broadfoot is also struggling, but he trained yesterday and if there is no reaction this morning he will partner David Weir, with Steven Whittaker at right-back.

 

http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/scot...Bougherra.html

 

Nae Boyd too!!!

 

Mistake imo, even if it is a demostration of his place at the club. Bad timing.

 

Hope we wont rue that if true.

[ian1964 10,416]

Yip, I can see McCulloch @ CB & Edu playing the holding role

 

Unless of course Kirk plays CB, if he is fit

[Bluedell 5,341]

Very worrying.

[porno_piper 0]

oh dear...This shows how fragile our club is at the moment, one big player out and we have no one even half as good as him to replace him with... and no money to buy someone in the next transfer window. We really need to get something done about this. just look at what McDonald done to Broadfoot at Ibrox for the goal they scored. Not exactly a confidence boost. Could it be the old Ibrox mind games though? Try to get them over confident? Or am I just hoping?

 

C'mon Rangers!!

[ian1964 10,416]

SSN reporting Bougherra is a doubt ????

[Super_Ally 0]

Hopefully we're just pulling the Marin O'Neil school of mind games.