Kris Boyd
By: sazmclean |
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Another transfer window brings with it yet more speculation about the future of Kris Boyd.
The prolific striker, who has recently broken Henrik Larsson’s record to become the top-scorer of the SPL with 160 goals to Larsson’s 158, has been linked with a variety of clubs both in England and abroad.
Birmingham manager Alex McLeish has reinstated his interest after negations to take the striker to St. Andrews fell apart in the last January transfer window. City rivals Aston Villa have also been linked to Boyd in the press but neither confirm that any talks have taken place.
Aside from interest from the English Premiership a random assortment of clubs from Turkey, France and Russia have also been named.
Aside from speculation about a possible move away from Ibrox, Boyd has been made an offer by Rangers to increase his wages to £18,000 a week from a reported £12,000. However, when asked if there was any news on this front manager Walter Smith said: “With Kris we’re not any further forward. There is obviously continued speculation about what he might do but we just have to accept that.”
Losing Boyd from Rangers would be a massive blow for the club and some may fear that should he leave then chances of the league would go with him. There is no denying that the Miller – Boyd partnership is the one which works best at the club at the moment. Their absence over the past few games, through suspension (Miller) and injury (Boyd) has been notable.
Category: Team News
Hamilton 0-1 Rangers
By: sazmclean | 1 Comment
Hamilton 0 – 1 Rangers
Saturday 16th Jan 2010, 12.30
New Douglas Park
Clydesdale Bank Premier League
Attendance: 5,343
Referee: M Tumilty.
Team Line-Ups:
Hamilton: Cerny, Hastings, McLaughlin (82), Elebert, Canning, van Zanten (59), Mensing, McArthur, Neil, M. Paixao, Antoine – Curier.
Subs: Sullivan, Murdoch, McClenahan (59), Elliot, F. Paixao, Kirkpatrick, Crawford (82).
Rangers: McGregor, Broadfoot (71), Weir, Wilson, Papac, Whittaker, Edu, Davis, Thomson, Novo (Goal, 77), Lafferty.
Subs: Little, Alexander, Smith, Ness, Loy, Fleck (71).
RANGERS defeat Hamilton with a Nacho Novo goal in a tough game at New Douglas Park.
At a time when Rangers face trouble both on and off the pitch it was an all important goal from the Spaniard in the second half of the game.
The result took Rangers to a ten-point lead over Celtic at the top of the SPL table. Hours later and Celtic could only achieve a draw at home against Falkirk and so Rangers are still comfortable at the top with a nine-point lead.
Injuries and suspensions have resulted in Rangers being without many important players. The loss of both Kris Boyd (recovering from an operation from a groin injury) and Kenny Miller (suspended) was especially evident in this game. Lee McCulloch was also suspended. Absences of Madjid Bougherra (on International duty with Algeria at the African Cup of Nations) and Pedro Mendes, Steven Naismith and DaMarcus Beasley all out with injuries also caused a problem for the Rangers manager.
Rangers started as the more promising side in the first couple of minutes of the game and it was unfortunate for Steven Whittaker that his run down the left led to nothing.
Kyle Lafferty, who is rapidly running out of chances to prove his worth to the Ibrox manager, was also unlucky when his shot went over the bar.
The positivity from Rangers did not last long in the first half and it wasn’t long before Hamilton began to dominate.
Kirk Broadfoot was the first Rangers player to be caught off guard by the Accies as player Richard Hastings was allowed too much freedom on the left wing. His cross met Marco Paixao but his header headed straight for Allan McGregor. This gave Hamilton the confidence that Rangers seemed to lack throughout the first half.
Simon Mensing had the first real chance of the game when Steven Davis let Hastings out of his sight but kid Danny Wilson deflected the ball away. Despite this Rangers still struggled in the first half and looked completely disjointed.
Lafferty and Novo combined towards the end of half-time but couldn’t result in a goal and Rangers ended the first half in frustration.
There was a notable change at the start of the second half for the away side when Lafferty won a free kick, fortunately for the Accies the ball was punted away by their defence. Whittaker also took a shot at goal, but unfortunately for Rangers it went just wide.
A change in shape was also fundamental to the change in the team with Novo moving to the right while Whittaker pushing further forward.
Broadfoot was the first in the second half to have a decent chance but his header was at the wrong side of the post.
This was another much needed boost of confidence that Rangers needed. Whittaker was set up by Davis but shot into the side of the net.
Lafferty had the next good chance with a set up from Sasa Papac. However, he completely screwed it up and his finish was shocking.
McGregor was lucky when Hamilton took advantage and Curier’s shot went just inches past the left hand post.
Broadfoot was substituted for John Fleck just after the 70-minute mark which had a positive effect as Novo scored the only goal of the game only seven minutes later.
Papac again pushed through from the back to set up Fleck who took a touch before forcing Cerny into a save. The rebound from this looked as though it would result in a corner but, instead, Novo managed to shoot the opener from an almost impossibly tight angle.
Soon after, Lafferty had yet another chance which he failed to deliver. With only the keeper to beat he still managed to miss.
Papac was the last to have a shot as an amazing run took him within six yards. However, he took it just slightly too far and never made the goal. Moments later the game was over as referee Mike Tumilty blew the whistle.
After the match, manager Walter Smith was pleased with the win but not thrilled with the team’s performance in the first half.
He said: “The win was the most important thing, though the first half performance wasn’t good enough.
“We didn’t play well at all. The Accies were by far the better team in the first half of the game. [In the] second half we did a lot better and put the Accies under a bit more pressure by creating more opportunities.
He was pleased with the performances both of Papac and of youngster John Fleck. Of Papac he said: “[it was] a terrific run for him, he’s doing exceptionally well.”
Impressed with Fleck he said: “he made a little bit of difference today when he came on. He brightened up the team a little and had a couple of shots on goal himself.”
Though frustrated with his team’s first half performance Smith is satisfied that due to the situation with the team completely stretched with suspensions and injuries they got a good result.
“Taking that [the situation] into consideration and the midfield of Kevin Thomson and Maurice Edu who haven’t played a great deal of football recently, it is always going to be awkward to go against a team who have got all their players fit.”
Adding: “We’ve never found it easy to win here.”
Rangers will face Hamilton for the third time in ten days on Tuesday night and Smith is optimistic, “hopefully we can take home advantage on Tuesday.”
Of the currently injured players, Pedro Mendes, DaMarcus Beasley and Steven Naismith will take part in a specially organised bounce game on Wednesday in order to get them back into the first team squad as soon as possible.
Category: Team NewsWilson and Fleck Turn Down Lucrative New Contracts
By: sazmclean | Add Comments
YOUNGSTERS John Fleck and Danny Wilson have rejected their chance to stay at Ibrox come the end of their current contracts.
The players, both aged 18, have turned down offers put to them by the club. It is thought that their English-based agents have advised them to concentrate on furthering their careers down South in the English Premier League.
Manager Walter Smith is shocked and dismayed at this outcome as two of the most promising youngsters to come out of the Murray Park set up are poised to leave Rangers next year.
He said: Contractual aspects are being placed before careers. That’s the most disappointing factor, as younger boys are going to get far more opportunities now.”
Although Smith has faced criticism in the past for over-looking younger players, both Wilson and Fleck have had decent chances so far this season in order to make their mark on the first team.
Wilson made his first team debut three months ago and has so far made nine first team appearances including impressive performances in the Champions League. Premiership clubs, including Spurs and Manchester United, have been interested in the player for some time. It could be said that Wilson only recieved his opportunities due to various problems with injuries and Madjid Bougherra, but it would be difficult to argue that the kid does not now deserve a place in the current first team squad.
Fleck, who has been much hyped for many years now, has so far failed to live up to the expectations placed upon him. Until today he had not made a first team appearance for over a month and his last start was against Aberdeen on November 28. Although, he is undoubtedly a promising player it seems that it is his attitude which let’s him down at times.
Talks began with the player’s agents last week but Walter Smith is not confident that there will be any dramatic change in either the player’s or their agent’s stances.
He said: “It’s disappointing that they’ve done that but that’s the world that we live in at the moment.
“I’ve not had any conversations with the player’s agents to find out their reasons for turning down the deals but it’s quite straight forward. They’ve turned it down so they must see an opportunity elsewhere which would probably need to be down in England, I would imagine.”
Although Rangers would be ensured compensation should either player sign a pre-contract at another club next January due to FIFA transfer rules it would still be nowhere near what the club would stand to receive on the open market.
Category: Team NewsNo more Europe for Rangers
By: sazmclean | 2 Comments
So, last night Rangers went crashing out of Europe in a 2-0 loss against VfB Stuttgart at Ibrox. Heartbroken? Yes. Devastated? Yes. Unexpected? Well, not exactly. Walter Smith pretty much said it himself, as did the captain Davie Weir, in the post-match interview: The team just wasn’t good enough. It’s been a struggle throughout the entire competition, in a group which many of us thought was sure to get us into the final sixteen. This wasn’t to be, a 4-1 defeat at Ibrox was followed by another and the realisation sunk in that although Champions League football was nothing but a distant dream. Maybe Europa league (or whatever it is they’re calling it this week?), but last night put paid to that idea as well.
But, in a search for any positives, we can now focus on domestic titles instead as we have a treble to win. Onwards and upwards…or something like that.
Category: Team NewsRangers 3 – 0 Kilmarnock
By: sazmclean | Add Comments
Rangers went back to the top of the table today after a 3-0 win at Ibrox. Kris Boyd, Kenny Miller and Steven Whittaker scored all three goals in the first half.
Miller and Thomson were back in the squad with long-term injury lay-offs Edu, Broadfoot and Mendes remaining sidelined. Danny Wilson, with a man of the match performance, retained his place in the squad following Bougherra’s failure to report back on time from international duty (for the third time).
Kris Boyd (complete with porn-star moustache) opened the goal scoring with a well-taken finish in the seventh minute of the game. Minutes later an energetic Boyd found the back of the net again but it was ruled offside.
McGregor had his fair share of saves in the first half but retained a well-deserved clean sheet for the duration of the match.
Kenny Miller scored the second goal just before the 25minute mark, bringing the score to 2-0. Whittaker secured the 3-0 win just before half-time.
After the break the game lost energy, most notably when Boyd was subbed for Kyle Lafferty. Boyd had made probably one of his greatest performances in a Rangers shirt today and his influence over the game was noticeable in his absence after the 70th minute.
Kevin Thomson was the only Gers player to come close to bringing the score up to 4-0 but his shot in the last five minutes of the game hit the post.
Scorers:
Boyd 7
Miller 24
Whittaker 35
Team Line-Ups:
Rangers: Allan McGregor, Steven Whittaker, David Weir, Danny Wilson, Sasa Papac, Steven Davis, Lee McCulloch, Kevin Thomson, Steven Naismith (65), Kris Boyd (70), Kenny Miller (73)
Jamie Ness, Neil Alexander, Nacho Novo (65), Steven Smith, Andrew Little, John Fleck (73), Kyle Lafferty (70)
Kilmarnock: Mark Brown, James Fowler, Frazer Wright, Ryan O’Leary, Garry Hay, Gavin Skelton (60), Craig Bryson, Manuel Pascali (75), Jamie Hamill, Kevin Kyle (66), David Fernandez
Iain Flannigan, Cameron Bell, Allan Russell (66), Mehdi Taouil (60), Steven Old, Graeme Owens (75), Liam Kelly
Category: Team NewsRangers: The will they, won’t they, and should they?
By: sazmclean | 3 Comments
So, firstly, hello. I’ve just taken over the writing of this blog and hopefully will be doing so for some time to come. It’s my first blog so any comments, criticisms or passing thoughts as to how I’m doing would be great. As well as being a life-long Rangers fan I’m also a full-time student so with plenty of time on my hands I’ll be able to update this a few times a week with a bit of luck. But without further ado, I best get on with it.
I’ve been trying so hard to think of something that could be my first blog entry. I’ve been reading through the previous entries and I’ve noticed that my predecessor left off just at the end of last season, but so much has happened since then. We’ve lost a lot of players. The words “crisis” and “turmoil” are being bandied about by the tabloids in regards to our financial situation on an almost daily basis. Sir David Murray stepped down (again) as Chairman and the will they/won’t they buy the club debate about every millionaire that has even the most tenuous link to the club rages ever onwards.
Then, this week, after a long time coming, George Burley was sacked as Scotland manager. Since then a lot of memories of his disastrous tenure as boss came flooding back, many of them surrounding our own players. Lee McCulloch announced his retirement from international football; Kris Boyd declared himself unavailable for as long as Burley remained manager; Kirk Broadfoot got a bit upset and then “Boozegate.”
Now, reports of the past couple of days suggest that should Kris Boyd decide to get over himself he’ll be welcomed back into the fold. More controversially, in a staggering display of backpedalling (serving only to make themselves look idiotic), the SFA have decided that “Banned for Life” means only the managerial lifetime of George Burley when it comes to Allan McGregor and the recently-departed-from-Ibrox Barry Ferguson. My own personal opinion is that they shouldn’t have even been banned in the first place, a hefty fine and a suspension would have been more than sufficient but in a blatant case of shooting themselves in the foot, the SFA lost arguably three of the best players who could currently be playing for their country when they were needed most.
I can see Boyd and McGregor going back into the set-up. McGregor, especially, given his recent performances for Rangers has proven his worth and ability. However, Ferguson made it perfectly clear in interviews following his move to Birmingham City that he would no longer consider being part of the Scotland team even if the bans were revoked. Maybe he’ll change his mind, maybe not.
Of course, as soon as the news broke that Burley was for the off, heads started turning towards Ibrox for another reason: Walter Smith. Though today, thankfully, Smith has pledged his allegiance to Rangers once again, stating that he has no intention whatsoever of going back to Scotland. In a further statement he has cemented his loyalty towards the club in his intention to remain manager even when his contract expires in January. Whatever your opinions of Walter may be, and as stressful as some of his decisions sometimes are, (4-5-1, anyone?), I think it would be difficult to argue that there could be a better manager to get Rangers through the current difficulties which the club faces.
Category: Team Newspotential landmine ahead for SPL
By: j | 1 Comment
With Irish broadcaster Setanta tumbling into deep financial crisis, all Scottish Premier League clubs are facing some highly turbulent days. At present Setanta owes the SPL its final £3m installment but given the companies crumbling business, unless it works out an arrangement with another broadcaster or receives an inflow of capital, not only is the final payment for the 2008/2009 campaign in jeopardy but next years £25m fee as well.
Setanta has until next Monday to pay the amounts owing before going into formal default. Should this occur, each SPL will be faced with some highly problematic cash flow situations and financing credit lines are likely to be tightened considerably.
While this problem is shared by all Scottish Premier League sides, the Gers face a number of balance sheet woes that must be dealt with. Should the existing broadcasting contract go into default the Rangers will likely need to expedite cost cutting measures.
After considerable thought and debate this will serve as my final post on the this blog. If you care to apply for this blog please contact Daryl with The Offside (click here) after reviewing the blogging guidelines at www.theoffside.com/bloggers.
Category: Team NewsRangers win Scottish Cup
By: j | 1 Comment
Walter Smith’s Rangers will need to expand their trophy case continues to expand as they won the Scottish Cup defeating Falkirk 1-0 at Hampden Park. In combination with the Scottish Premier League crown, the season wrought with so many early troubles has turned quickly for the Gers.
The winning strike came from Nacho Novo a minute after the break as he collected a throw-in from Saša Papac and sent a surprising dipping effort to the far right corner from outside the box. The goal seemed to have caught Falkirk ‘keeper Dani Mallo off the line as was left flat-footed by the simple turn and half-volley strike. The lead would certainly leave Falkirk supporters feel hard done by as they were the debatably the dominant side in the opening forty-five minutes. However after the break, Walter Smith ushered in Nacho Novo for Kris Boyd and the result was immediate. For the balance of the match fortune fall the Rangers way as Falkirk threatened on numerous occasions, even having a goal called by with a debatable offside call. However it was not be for the Falkirk side and Walter Smith and company completed the miraculous double.
Category: Team NewsChampions
By: j | Add Comments
The sweet taste of winning the championship can be claimed by the Rangers following their resounding 3-0 victory over Dundee United. With the victory the Rangers end their three year drought of the title via a stunning turnaround during their campaign.
If champions are born through adversity, the Rangers answered that call loud and clear. Through a year of much torment and surrounding with a heavy weight of financial problems lingering, the Gers fought back to enter the final weekend with tight lead over Celtic. Still there was the final match day, a nerve racking test against Dundee United in which only a victory is acceptable.
Any questions were answered without haste as the Rangers came out with blood-thirsty intent. However five-minutes in the Rangers had their lead as Steven Davis linked the ball to Kris Boyd, whose misfire was turned in by Kyle Lafferty from close range. Further changes came and went unfullfilled but just before the break the margin was doubled as Pedro Mendes pounded the ball in from twenty metres after Saša Papac free-kick was blocked by the wall. If there was any doubt to the outcome, seven minutes after the re-start Steven Whittaker crossed to Kris Boyd for a close range finish. As time ticked down, the Rangers incredible comeback to the campaign was dotted with the SPL championship.
Reaching the pinnacle of the SPL cannot be debated however for the Rangers it could very well have a massive positive impact upon their financial situation. That of-course is for another time as celebration has begun as Walter Smith’s men can hold their heads high as Scottish Premier League champions.
Category: Team NewsThe Rangers final test
By: j | Add Comments
The final weekend of each campaign is often the judge of a teams claret. Do they possess the mettle to press on against the stresses and strains of a full year, to close-out an opportunity for greatness or will they wilt under pressure. This is surely the road the Rangers go down on Sunday as a victory over Dundee United will guarantee they win the SPL crown.
Two points about Celtic, the Rangers can end their rivals three year hold of the SPL title with a victory. Fortune has certainly fallen the Gers way as their tumultuous season, starting with the fallout from the loss to FBK Kaunas in Champions League qualifying to the endless financial rumours has them on the cusp of the championship. However a late season swoon by Celtic opened the door for the Rangers and they quite took advantage of the situation.
However the task will be great for the Rangers as Dundee Utd can book a date to the Europa League with a point. In the end this comes down the the classic test, two sides with much on the line going toe-to-toe. It is a well-worn story-line but in matches such as these but the victor will be the side who “out-wants” the other.
Category: Team News
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