RangersMedia News: The Bio-Mechanical, Buy-Anyone, Bi-Weekly News Update

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NEWS AND TRANSFER TALES

Ok. Seriously. What is going on?

As I sit here trying to make some sense of all the goings on Rangers related of the last few days to put into our RangersMedia "bitesize news roundup," I am struggling to get my head around it all.

"Bitesize" would not be the word to use as there has been enough rumour, counter-rumour, transfer obscurity and unbelievable goings on in the past few days to make Hearts or Newcastle look like well ran clubs.

Well, where to start. Firstly, there is the Barry Ferguson transfer. This rumour surfaced at the start of the weekend as it was claimed by Joe Kinnear that he had made and enquiry for our club captain. This was then quashed by our manager, who claimed that to his knowledge, that of his Chairman and the Cheif Executive, there had been no bid or even an enquiry.

Kris Boyd then came out in the press the next day supporting his teammate and saying that not only do we need Barry to stay, but we should be looking to tie him down to the club for as long as we can. Suspicious goings on indeed.

One may even be as cynical as to suggest that Ferguson may have been looking to position himself for negotiations on a new deal. Little did he know the full extent of the financial burden that will have been weighing heavily on the minds of Murray, Bain, and even Walter and the fact that his current reported £32k per week salary would most certainly not be improved.

Did he lay down a gauntlet to Murray and Bain and is now rueing the fact that they have said "aye, sure Barry, if you want to go then you can."?

Then there is the Kris Boyd shenanigans. Again, at the start of the week it was revealed that Alex McLeish at Birmingham had launched an enquiry into the availability of Rangers and the SPLs top scorer this season.

This enquiry was followed by a resounding "your damn right aye, he's available" from our management and several transfer offers were made until a package believed to be worth £3.75 million to Rangers was agreed. Kris then travelled down to Brum for a medical, which he passed (I'd love to hear the results of a bleep test), yet it was the personal terms that couldn't be agreed.

News has surfaced today in the Daily Record that the wages offered to Kris Boyd were some way off what he was asking for. It is rumoured that Boyd receives around £11k per week at Ibrox and he was looking for £20k basic at Birmingham with an appearance bonus of around £7k.

However, he was only offered around £12k with the same bonus. However, with Boyd having travelled down and underwent a medical, the majority of us will not be surprised if he does leave before the end of the transfer window. Kris returned to Glasgow and is training with the squad ahead of the game against St Johnstone on Tuesday coming.

But no, as it comes to light, we apparently need to sell someone. The desperation in the air from our management reeks. This is where there is yet more confusion. If Boyd doesn't go, and Barry doesn't go, then we have to find someone else to leave.

Murray was quoted in a press conference yesterday that, "We did not budget for losing to Kaunas, we have a squad of 28 players and we simply cannot sustain that level of outgoing compared to whats coming in".

I would like to ask then that if we didn't budget for that, then why did we proceed to spend the cash that we did after Kaunas? Why did we spend millions of pounds on players that are only accentuating and beefing up an already full squad and not playing first team football?

Why the sudden rush? Why the need to show our hand to the rest of the buying market? Surely that is nothing short of counterproductive. Why tell the media and the rest of the managers in Scotland, England and the continent that we have to sell now, and imply that we have to sell fast?

Who will it be then? McGregor or Bourgherra seem the most likely, but surely not Davis or Mendes?

There is a real difference of opinion on this one also. Many would be happy to see Barry leave, and some would also be happy to see Boyd leave. Why do any have to leave at all? Why the sudden need for money?

Don't forget this is the same season that we prepared for by signing copious amounts of players, albeit after Kaunas and for good money at that!

Ultimately, we will see one of our senior players leave before the closing of the transfer window. Sadly that could be any one of the following; Boyd, Ferguson, Davis, Bourgherra, McGregor, Mendes. Our only real saleable assets. The rest of our players are up for grabs too if the cash is right or there is a willingness to take the players wages on.

Anyways, I digress. The rest of the transfer news still isnt clear cut.

Alan Gow has failed a medial due to a "bio-mechanical" problem.

Nope, I have no idea what that means either, but it has stalled his transfer to Wolves for a reported six figure sum. Apparently the deal isn't dead though and it may still go through. All Rangers have to do is sort out this bio-mechanical problem. Someone get the oil that has been in the medicine cabinet since the last time Dado's knees were done.

*Faints*

Chris Burke has left the club today to to join Championship high fliers Cardiff. Has he been hiding down there all season? I can barely remember what he looks like and that's after he played against the Celtic on the 27th.

Nevertheless, I'd like to wish Burkey all the best and I hope he discovers his hunger (might sort out the fainting) for the game and can start to produce some of the forum that used to get us all on the edges of our seats every time he had the ball at his feet.

*Comes round from fainting*

Peter Loverkrands today too came one step closer to returning to Ibrox after his contract was terminated with Shalke by "mutual consent". He is in Glasgow and has been offered to train with Rangers at Murray Park. Whether we are going to offer him a deal is anyones guess.

Some have said that Lovenkrands only plays when he needs a contract. Well, putting him on a deal until the end of the season might just be the perfect tonic if we do lose Kris Boyd as a hungry Peter Lovenkrands playing through the middle might do well, even as an impact player.

Other rumours surfacing involve the slow burner of the transfer window, the moving of Madjid Bourgherra. Furthermore, it has been claimed today that Ipswich are showing an interest in Lee McCulloch, that Charlie Adam has been politely shown where he can exit from and that we are not interested in Sunderlands flute playing David Healy.

And finally, Rangers youth prospect and the player many felt should be getting a chance at right back, Jordan McMillan, has joined Hamilton until the end of May. We all wish him well and hope that he can show the rest of the SPL his quality and come back in the summer a more rounded player and one that is ready for the step to the first team.

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THE GAMES

A closed-door match was held the other day with Morton at Murray Park and many first-team squad members played or were involved. Rangers won the game 1-0 thanks to a goal from the now departed Chris Burke.

Andy Webster, back from a loan at Bristol City, played the full match as did the returning Steven Naismith. The Morton side contained "The Doctor" Kenny Deuchar who is back over home and playing during the MLS off season. Not quite as glamorous as AC Milan or Bayern Munich!

The Rangers team was as follows: Alexander, Whittaker, Dailly (Wilson 70), Webster, Smith, Burke (Aaron 54), Naismith, Adam, Beasley (Efrem 54), Lafferty (Fleck 44), Velicka

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THE INJURY FRONT

Kyle Lafferty received a knock to his knee during the bounce game and was taken off as a precaution. It was rumoured that the injury may have been serious, perhaps even ligament damage. But it was announced by Rangers that after a scan it is not as serious as first anticipated and he may be back relatively soon, nothing like the six weeks that had been quoted.

Steven Naismith is again back and ready for first team action, yet it is hoped that his transition to the first team will be slow and nurturing. Mo Edu has been suffering from an ankle knock and is now back running and Lee McCulloch is back training with the first team after suffering from back pain since a bounce game against St Johnstone on the 30th December.

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WANT MORE?

Glasgow Rangers Football Club: Lest We Forget
Written by D'Artagnan

Yet another article from one of RangersMedia's finest writers. This article is a rousing mantra and reminder that we will not forget who we are and that we will never falter in our support for the club we love.

The article is surmised by a fantastic quote at the end by the author John Allan and it is one I will share with you now as I know it will draw you towards reading the rest of the article:

"That is the story of the Rangers. They have had good times and bad times, critical times and times of exultation. No club with the same modest origin can claim so distinguished a record of achievement. They were not born in the lap of luxury.

"They have been the architects of their own fortune, and, simply because of that, they have become equipped with the moral resistive force to grapple with adversity, which is better than being coddled in the cradle and whining when the wind blows cold.

"May all who look upon the old club with a friendly eye stand prepared, by precept and example, to protect its interests and its good name."

Hallmarks of an effective CEO or Chairman
Written by CanadianGer

In the first of two articles to be published today, CanadianGer looks at the capabilities of our current esteemed leader of all things Rangers...no, not Barry Ferguson...Sir David Murray.

Perhaps I should rephrase that to incapabilities, as there are not too many fans that will find too many positives today about him at this precise time in our clubs history.

One of the main factors that CanadianGer illuminates is the lack of foresight and innovation that he has(n't) shown towards the club. We've heard the moonbeams but we haven't actually seen any proof of these.

Sometimes, I for one, feel that Mr Murray just lifts us up in his arms such as one would a crying baby and attempts to pacify us with his magical tales of the good times that will come if we stop our noise.

What is Joe Kinnear's Game?
Written by Danny

This article by Danny discusses the current situation Barry and our club finds itself down to the apparent transfer whims of Dublin-born Newcastle "manager" Joe Kinnear. As Danny states, and we all know, Rangers have previous with Newcastle in the January transfer window as we sold them Boumsong for a tremendous profit some years ago.

Yet this potential move smells a little off, if it isn't the claim and counter-claim between managers, its the prices being banded about or the general aura we seem to have as the January sales at Ibrox prepare to close in.

As Danny quite rightly discusses, it isnt just Barry and Bourgherra, its rumours of Mendes and a whole streak of piss from the other side of Glasgow too.

Is Kinnear not a stop-gap replacement? The signing of Barry might make sense for the Toon if they need a stop gap midfielder. But to move some of the 'best' Old Firm talent lock-stock down to Newcastle seems a little iffy.

Is it infact not the whims of Kinnear we should be discussing, but those of agents that seem to be manoeuvring their players contract positions or making dreams of pastures new come true for players?

We might not know until it happens. Danny rightly states that "we as fans tend to find it cause for concern that transfer speculation regarding departures is conspicuous by its absence" - this time round we should find cause for concern in its presence.

Silly season. Indeed.

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FORUM CHAT

New Strips Deal - Due to be announced in next few months
http://forum.rangersmedia.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=95108

Schalke release Lovenkrands, Flattered with Rangers link
http://forum.rangersmedia.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=95091

Boyd to Birmingham Transfer Discussion
http://forum.rangersmedia.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=94288


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