Featured Video
Mbappé's Rollercoaster Season 🎢
RangersMedia Club News: News, Views and a Fleck of Stardust
RangersMedia .co.ukJan 19, 2009
The Games
It wasn't too long ago that we were eight points behind, the title was gone, Walter had to go, and none of the players were good enough. It's amazing what a couple of weeks in football can do. Don't get me wrong, I know as well as the next man that we are no where near being the finished article but what I do do is try and look for the positives in life.
It wasn't too long ago that we were eight points behind, the title was gone, Walter had to go, and none of the players were good enough. It's amazing what a couple of weeks in football can do. Don't get me wrong, I know as well as the next man that we are no where near being the finished article but what I do do is try and look for the positives in life.
***
The title race is back on big time with a good result against Falkirk which also saw the full debut of one of our most promising talents, John Fleck.
Fleck not only started the game but also ran out Man of The Match, despite some noticeable performances from other first team regulars such as Mendes and Davis. Well done wee man, you have a glorious future in blue ahead of you.
TOP NEWS
Madrid Fines Players $590K 😲
'Mbappé Out' Petition Gaining Steam 😳
Star-Studded World Cup Ad 🤩
Players, management and supporters have been quick to intimate their pleasure at the talent shown by Fleck. David Weir this morning was singing his praises, but stopped short of drawing any comparisons to Wayne Rooney:
"He was probably the best player on the park. We don't want to build him up too much but he is the kind of lad who isn't affected by anything. He has the biggest chance in the world and we're all going to try and help him make the most of it.
"He was probably the best player on the park. We don't want to build him up too much but he is the kind of lad who isn't affected by anything. He has the biggest chance in the world and we're all going to try and help him make the most of it.
"I don't think there is any comparison with Wayne. It wouldn't be fair to John to do that but everyone could see what he's capable of."
Steve Davis, scorer of a sublime third goal and surely a goal of the month was next to show strong support for Fleck as he was quoted as saying about the teenager:
"He is a great talent and he is definitely one for the future. He showed that in this game and got a deserved man of the match award. He has been training with us for a long time and he wanted to take those performances in training into a game. He has done that now and he has all the attributes to be a top player."
The wee big man Fleck, 17, was really proud to get his first game and hopes he can hold down his place and make his starting jersey his own:
"To be named man of the match was pretty special and hopefully I have done enough to stay in the team. There were definitely a few nerves before kick-off but I thought I did well in the early stages and then fell out of the game a wee bit midway through the first half. In the second I got back into it and I'm just glad we got the win.
Steve Davis, scorer of a sublime third goal and surely a goal of the month was next to show strong support for Fleck as he was quoted as saying about the teenager:
"He is a great talent and he is definitely one for the future. He showed that in this game and got a deserved man of the match award. He has been training with us for a long time and he wanted to take those performances in training into a game. He has done that now and he has all the attributes to be a top player."
The wee big man Fleck, 17, was really proud to get his first game and hopes he can hold down his place and make his starting jersey his own:
"To be named man of the match was pretty special and hopefully I have done enough to stay in the team. There were definitely a few nerves before kick-off but I thought I did well in the early stages and then fell out of the game a wee bit midway through the first half. In the second I got back into it and I'm just glad we got the win.
"It was great to get a game against Falkirk and all the boys helped me through it. I only found out that I was playing when the gaffer read the team earlier in the day, although a few people had said that I would start. I wasn't expecting it but was really chuffed."
Boyd also proved that his value to the Gers is probably more than the clubs valuation of him. Two goals again will unfortunately have the vultures circling and could tempt Birmingham into upping their contract offer but while he's still a bear his contribution is top notch an his basic summary is Boyd = Goals.
It was great to see the big man pumping his crest as he bagged the first goal of his brace.
You can read a full report of the game on RangersMedia via this link.
You can read a full report of the game on RangersMedia via this link.
The young guns were back firing this week in an under 19 friendly against Dunfermline. It was a tight affair with Dunfermline taking the lead before Bagci equalised. Dunfermline took the lead and it was left to a late Hemmings strike to steal something from the game for the under nineteens.
You can read a full report of the game on RangersMedia provided very kindly by the fantastic Rangers Under 19 Blog by Elfideldo.
You can read a full report of the game on RangersMedia provided very kindly by the fantastic Rangers Under 19 Blog by Elfideldo.
The Injuries
Not so much injuries but suspensions that are grabbing the headlines this week with Sasa's sending off against Falkirk at the weekend. There is certainly not two bigger games he couldn't have missed.
Not so much injuries but suspensions that are grabbing the headlines this week with Sasa's sending off against Falkirk at the weekend. There is certainly not two bigger games he couldn't have missed.
The first is against Aberdeen and the second comes a couple of games later against United when his points threshold ban comes in. A big miss when you consider that either Whittaker or Broadfoot will likely take the left back slot for these games.
Elsewhere, Alan Gow went to see a specialist last week to try to ascertain the problems (biomechanical!?) he encountered during his medical with Wolves which ultimately stopped the move.
Elsewhere, Alan Gow went to see a specialist last week to try to ascertain the problems (biomechanical!?) he encountered during his medical with Wolves which ultimately stopped the move.
Also, Maurice Edu was back in full training last week although the weekends game came too quickly meanwhile Kyle Lafferty is still in rehabilitation after a knee ligament strain.
The Transfers
The window is well into its final couple of weeks and there is still to be any major movements in or more seriously, out of Ibrox. A couple of loan moves doesn't help our financial position and with the lack of activity for our fringe players, a big name has still to be sold.
The window is well into its final couple of weeks and there is still to be any major movements in or more seriously, out of Ibrox. A couple of loan moves doesn't help our financial position and with the lack of activity for our fringe players, a big name has still to be sold.
The big worry here is that the closer it gets to the end of the window, the more desperate we may become and the cheaper we might have to sell the star names.
The rumour mill still ticks over though and here's a list of the latest ramblings.
The rumour mill still ticks over though and here's a list of the latest ramblings.
- Boyd to Lazio (chairman of whom admits to never having heard of Boyd) / Birmingham (again)
- Fleck and Wilson to Man U, Arsenal or Spurs
- McGregor to Arsenal for a fee of around £4.5 million
- Salim Arrache From Marseilles
- Baird on loan from Fulham
Although not strictly transfer news, it was encouraging to hear Walter Smith this weekend saying that in the future he will be using his youth talents more:
"We will lose players come the end of the season when their contracts run down, and we will still look to sign one or two players - but others will step up from our youth ranks. Ideally you want a squad of 20 with maybe six youth players to augment that. And we feel that there are a few ready to now step in from the ranks to be those players."
With several of our young guns already out on loan for first team action, it is hoped that they will be more rounded professionals come the start of next season to step into the breach. Signs are certainly encouraging after Fleck making his first team debut at the weekend and McMillan chomping at the bit for his first start on loan at Hamilton.
"We will lose players come the end of the season when their contracts run down, and we will still look to sign one or two players - but others will step up from our youth ranks. Ideally you want a squad of 20 with maybe six youth players to augment that. And we feel that there are a few ready to now step in from the ranks to be those players."
With several of our young guns already out on loan for first team action, it is hoped that they will be more rounded professionals come the start of next season to step into the breach. Signs are certainly encouraging after Fleck making his first team debut at the weekend and McMillan chomping at the bit for his first start on loan at Hamilton.
The Rest
The biggest talking point of all the Scottish Media this week has to be the 17 point plan of the RST and the "We Deserve Better" campaign. The campaign basically highlighted what they see as the downfalls of the current regime and the points they would like to be addressed. It has sent ripples through the support with split views on backing the cause.
Also, Rangers have teamed up with BT and the Football Foundation, the UK's largest sports charity, in an project designed to tackle digital exclusion amongst Glasgow's youths.
The biggest talking point of all the Scottish Media this week has to be the 17 point plan of the RST and the "We Deserve Better" campaign. The campaign basically highlighted what they see as the downfalls of the current regime and the points they would like to be addressed. It has sent ripples through the support with split views on backing the cause.
Also, Rangers have teamed up with BT and the Football Foundation, the UK's largest sports charity, in an project designed to tackle digital exclusion amongst Glasgow's youths.
"Communicating for Success" is a £1 million UK-wide programme using the power of football to help teenagers who might otherwise have difficulty engaging in education and securing a job when they leave school. Rangers' community manager Raymond Farrelly said that:
"The hook that football has on young people in Glasgow cannot be underestimated and this project will go a long way in getting these young people involved in a positive activity and re-engage them in the education process. We look forward to seeing some of the successes that this project will undoubtedly achieve."
The two men hand picked out of a line up by Neil Lennon, who couldn't remember a thing, have been jailed for two years following there attack of the Celtic coach. Previous convictions seem to have increased the sentence.
"The hook that football has on young people in Glasgow cannot be underestimated and this project will go a long way in getting these young people involved in a positive activity and re-engage them in the education process. We look forward to seeing some of the successes that this project will undoubtedly achieve."
The two men hand picked out of a line up by Neil Lennon, who couldn't remember a thing, have been jailed for two years following there attack of the Celtic coach. Previous convictions seem to have increased the sentence.
Want More?
Neil Lennon: Street Fighting Man
Written by CanadianGer
Over the last 10 years or so, there has not been a person who has incited as much anger within our support as Northern Irishman Neil Lennon. Since his retirement from playing and subsequent recruitment as a Celtic coach, Lennon has continued to live in Glasgow.
On September the 1st of last year, after Rangers had just wiped the floor with Celtic at Parkhead, Lennon was attacked and knocked unconscious by two men. The men have since been arrested, tried and found guilty of assault. None of this I'm sure is news to any of us; and many Rangers supporters have felt that this was in some way coming to him.
However, within this article, CanadianGer intimates his own feelings about the assault and the subsequent trial. It is going to be an interesting article to discuss as he states that since the religious prejudice part of the trial was dropped out of hand, this was merely as case of three men having a fight in the street that had had some grievance with each other.
Neil Lennon: Street Fighting Man
Written by CanadianGer
Over the last 10 years or so, there has not been a person who has incited as much anger within our support as Northern Irishman Neil Lennon. Since his retirement from playing and subsequent recruitment as a Celtic coach, Lennon has continued to live in Glasgow.
On September the 1st of last year, after Rangers had just wiped the floor with Celtic at Parkhead, Lennon was attacked and knocked unconscious by two men. The men have since been arrested, tried and found guilty of assault. None of this I'm sure is news to any of us; and many Rangers supporters have felt that this was in some way coming to him.
However, within this article, CanadianGer intimates his own feelings about the assault and the subsequent trial. It is going to be an interesting article to discuss as he states that since the religious prejudice part of the trial was dropped out of hand, this was merely as case of three men having a fight in the street that had had some grievance with each other.
Where Did It All Go Wrong For David Murray?
Written by Tannochsidebear
I'd urge everyone to read this article by Tannochsidebear. It is an in-depth analysis of how he feels Murray has found himself in the position he is with the fans. It tracks the situation since the moving upstairs of Advocaat, the appointment of McLeish and the unceremonious tenure of Paul Le Guen.
Ultimately, the article hinges on him asking one important question; "do we deserve better?"
Web site News
The Wee Rangers Club, venue for the first annual RangersMedia Sportsmans Dinner, is holding a Burns Supper this Friday, the 23rd of January. Tickets are priced at a superb £20 a head and will get you a three-course meal, a chance to meet several ex-Rangers players including Colin Jackson, John MacDonald, Colin Stein, Davie Provan, Johnny Hubbard, Billy Simpson and a few others.
The entertainment for the evening will be supplied by Bill Copland.
You can buy tickets at the club or call 0845 601 1873. Tickets can be ordered by telephone and paid on the night of the event.
"To be a Ranger is to sense the sacred trust of upholding all that such a name means in this shrine of football. They must be true in their conception of what the Ibrox tradition seeks from them. No true Ranger has ever failed in the tradition set him."
Bill Struth
