Rangers FC Thread

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Gents,

A thread just for the Rangers fans, to discuss the going's on at your club and discussion's about the up and coming games and results.


Please keep this sensible otherwise it will be removed,

Happy chatting!
 
I will be keeping an active eye on this thread as a nuetral, it maybe better if only Rangers fans post in here unless theres some genuine news or information concerning Football or Rangers football club in particular, anyway no wind ups or shite, you all get the picture ;)

Have Fun
 
fook how shit are rangers we better get a grip we need to win 3 in a row lol
with no money again we are still in every thing, so we are not as bad as the timz would make you think we are
 
Sporting v Rangers (agg 1 - 1)

Uefa Europa League, round of 32 second leg
Venue: Estádio José Alvalade Date: Thursday, 24 February Kick-off: 1800 GMT

Rangers captain David Weir has shaken off a stomach bug to take his usual place against Sporting Lisbon.

Weir is joined by Madjid Bougherra and Kyle Bartley in a three-man central defence, with the tie balanced at 1-1.

El-Hadji Diouf will lead the attack and there is a rare start for John Fleck in midfield, along with Steven Davis, Maurice Edu and Steven Whittaker.

Lee McCulloch, Steven Naismith and Jamie Ness are out through injury, while Nikica Jelavic is ineligible.

Sporting skipper Daniel Carrico is suspended, with Marco Torsiglieri his likely replacement in central defence.

The home side are going through a rough patch and lost 2-0 at home to Benfica in Monday's Lisbon derby, with the visitors earning a tenth straight league win to go 15 points clear.

Despite the win, Benfica are themselves eight points adrift of leaders Porto, with Sporting a distant third.

The Lisbon side have the advantage in the Europa League, however, with Rangers having to score on Thursday to progress because of the Portuguese side's away goal in Glasgow.

Rangers manager Walter Smith's resources are also stretched, with third-choice goalkeeper Grant Adam travelling despite carrying an injury.

That is because Neil Alexander's wife is expecting a child and so the second-choice stopper could be called away at any time.

Smith said: "The injury situation has meant that we don't have an awful lot spare in our group.

"It is just one of those things that I have said all along this season that we always need a bit of luck injury and suspension-wise.

"So we are a bit stretched, but hopefully we can handle that."

In the absence of Jelavic, who played for Rapid Vienna earlier in the tournament, Smith has gone for Diouf up front.

Kyle Lafferty played as a lone striker in the first leg and squandered a number of opportunities.

Scotland midfielder McCulloch flew to Lisbon on Wednesday but only as an observer as he still faces several weeks out after undergoing knee surgery.

Kirk Broadfoot and Andrew Little remain long-term absentees through injury.
 
Sporting Lisbon 2 - 2 Rangers: Away goals enough to send Rangers through
Agg: 3-3, Rangers win on away goals

edu-1.jpg

Rangers' Maurice Edu left, is congratulated David Healy. Picture: AP

MAURICE Edu scored a dramatic last-gasp goal to send Rangers into the last 16 of the Europa League, where they will meet PSV Eindhoven, as Sporting Lisbon crashed out of the competition.

El-Hadji Diouf claimed his first goal for Rangers before strikes from former Rangers midfielder Pedro Mendes and Yannick Djalo appeared to have secured victory for the home side at the Jose Alvalade Stadium.

But Edu pounced in injury time with the decisive goal in the tie as Rangers triumphed on away goals after the first leg had ended 1-1.

Diouf was handed the job of getting the goals for Rangers as the lone striker, taking on the role from Kyle Lafferty, who was dropped from the first leg after spurning several chances.

Kyle Bartley and John Fleck, who was making his first start in three months, were drafted into the side following the 1-1 draw at Ibrox, with Vladimir Weiss also out of the side and named among the substitutes.

Steven Whittaker - who netted in the first leg - demonstrated his versatility once again when he was deployed in an unfamiliar central midfield position, with Rangers short of options in that area of the park.

Sporting's dismal league campaign meant they were under pressure to deliver on the European stage and they were out of the traps quickly, testing Allan McGregor in the opening minutes.

Whittaker gifted possession to Djalo who unleashed from six yards but his angled drive was confidently blocked by the Rangers goalkeeper.
Rangers surged into the lead with 20 minutes gone when Steven Davis raced on to a Richard Foster ball down the right flank before picking out Diouf for the header at the back post.

With their away goal from the first leg now cancelled out, Sporting set about trying to haul themselves back into the tie.

Mendes had a go from distance with a shot that fell wide, before setting up Alberto Zapater who hooked over for the home side.

Sporting continued to push forward and could have had a penalty when Joao Pereira went to ground under pressure from Bartley but Italian referee Paolo Tagliavento ignored the pleas.

But they were back on level terms after 42 minutes when David Weir failed to clear an Evaldo ball into the box, which bounced off Bartley and fell for Helder Postiga who set up Mendes to rifle past McGregor.

There was an altercation between Diouf and Marco Torsiglieri as the players left the pitch at half-time, with the Rangers forward clearly furious with the actions of his opponent, who appeared to catch Diouf with an elbow.

Once the second half was under way, it was Sporting who had the best of the chances and McGregor was called into action to produce an impressive save to prevent Matias Fernandez's swerving free-kick from finding the back of the net.

The home side should have been celebrating when Mendes turned provider for Pereira but he somehow managed to nod over from close range, before then seeing a point-blank shot blocked by McGregor.

Rangers made a double switch with 20 minutes to go when David Weir and Fleck were withdrawn, and Lafferty and Weiss were thrown into the action with the tie still hanging in the balance.

When those changes failed to yield a winner, David Healy was introduced in place of Diouf but it was Sporting who netted again just seconds later with 83 minutes on the clock.

Pereira delivered the cross to the back post where Djalo beat Foster to the ball to send a firm header past McGregor.

Just when Sporting thought they had sealed their passage to the last 16, Rangers grabbed an equaliser in injury-time when Healy's cross was met by Edu who remained in an onside position to stab home the goal that won the tie.

Source: scotsman.com
 
Real Comedy Gold

Came across this.. Classic

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gt9s9j340lQ]YouTube - no tims in europe = celtic football club[/ame]
 
Under 19s thrash Motherwell 8-1

RANGERS under-19s swept aside Motherwell with an emphatic 8-1 win at Murray Park this afternoon.

Billy Kirkwood's side scored four times in each half to see off a side that has caused them problems in recent seasons.

Rhys McCabe's goal after 20 minutes got the ball rolling for the Gers before Dylan McGeouch, Kal Naismith and Andrew Mitchell added further counters before the break.

4-1 ahead at the interval the Light Blues didn't take their foot of the gas as Naismith and McGeouch added one more each, either side of a double for Kane Hemmings.

Hemmings was on fine form once again and was frustrated to have to wait until after the hour mark for his first goal, having played a significant part in the home side's first five.

He was involved in some neat play at the edge of the area to set up McCabe's opener, a fine curling finish from 20 yards.

That settled a Light Blues side that while rarely looking troubled had struggled to create any clear cut chances in the opening stages.

But having got the opener the home side didn't have to wait long for a second and again Hemmings was instrumental.

He broke away down the right flank and used his pace and power to stretch the Motherwell defence before rolling the ball in to McGeouch's path for the simplest of finishes.

It looked like the home side were in total control, so Kirkwood will have been disappointed with the manner in which they lost a goal after 27 minutes.

A disputed free kick on the edge of the area was well struck, but beat both the Gers' wall and keeper Gary Inglis all too easily.

While the 19s coach will have been annoyed by that moment he must have been delighted with his side's response.

Just three minutes later a fine counter attack saw Hemmings again exploit Well's out of position left back, bursting forward down the Gers' right.

His cross was perfect for the onrushing Kal Naismith who calmly controlled his finish beyond a helpless Motherwell keeper.

That re-established the home side's control and they got the goal that reflected their dominance with five minutes of the half remaining.

Only Andy Mitchell will know if he meant the effort as a shot on goal or a cross, but his ball from wide on the left drifted beyond the visiting keeper and high in to the net.

There was always a risk that the home side would take their foot off the gas in the second period but buoyed by Kirkwood's encouragement they took the game to Motherwell from the kick off.

McGeouch almost added to the scoring six minutes in to the half but his effort drifted over the top.

Once again Hemmings was causing all sorts of problems for the visiting defence, who couldn't live with his pace or power.

And when he held the ball up on the edge of the area with 57 minutes played he had the perfect runner in Naismith who overlapped to chip the ball delightfully over the advancing keeper and make it five for the Light Blues.

It looked increasingly like Hemmings would spend the whole afternoon as a provider, with another opportunity going begging on the hour mark.

But he rectified that three minutes later when he latched on to Gordon Dick's long ball and slotted home for his first of the afternoon and the Light Blues' sixth.

He didn't have to wait long for his double as his combination with Naismith paid off again, the latter's shot being spilled by the Well keeper, allowing Hemmings a simple finish in the box.

However perhaps the pick of the goals came last as McGeouch rounded off the scoring with a little over 15 minutes remaining.

He waltzed past a host of challenges as he cut in from the left flank and curled a lovely finish low in to the corner to wrap up a brilliant win for Rangers that keeps them top of the under-19 table.

You can see highlights and post match reaction from today's victory on Blues News next week. Click here to sign up for RangersTV.tv now.


http://www.rangers.co.uk/articles/20...54024_2303046?
 
SPL COULD HELP OUT RANGERS


WALTER SMITH was thrown a glimmer of hope last night as the SPL admitted they are “sympathetic” to Rangers’ ever-increasing fixture chaos.

The Ibrox side are still going or glory on four fronts – the SPL the Scottish Cup, the League Cup and the Europa League.

But following the weather problems in December and January they are already lagging behind others in terms of games played.

That led to a call from Smith for some help after the Gers beat Sporting Lisbon to progress in Europe, even though he acknowledged the problems faced by the Hampden officials who schedule matches.

And last night SPL secretary Iain Blair revealed the fixture calendar for the remaining months of the season will be looked at very closely over the next few days.

Blair said: “As far as I could see Walter is looking for no favours, just for us to look at everything sympathetically and with understanding and I would hope we do that with all our fixturing. He wasn’t being critical.

“The problem is we have a certain amount of games to be played and that, right now, there are a lot of variables involved.

“We don’t know in Rangers’ case, for instance, how far they will go in the Scottish Cup or in the Europa League.

“Although the one thing that does seem certain is that they will be playing more games between now and the end of the season than any other club.

“We will try to be understanding of the challenges they face

“At the moment, though, the only scope for options I can see – and it’s only a possible option – is that fixture 34, the first after the split, could be delayed but then only by four or five days.

“I will be looking at the whole situation for all the clubs in the next few days.”

It’s only a crumb that the SPL are throwing the Gers’ way, but Blair is hamstrung to a large extent.

He added: “There is no scope for example, to play after the Scottish Cup Final because Scotland, along with Ireland and Waes, are playing in the Carling Nations Cup then.

“All I can really add is that we’re aware of the situation and were going to look at it in detail this week.”

Madjid Bougherra believes a spot of good old-fashioned R&R will be the key to the Gers’ quest for glory.

The Ibrox defender admitted he’s feeling the physical strain of the four-pronged trophy assault already but declared: “Rest and recuperation will now be very important so we can try and stay fresh for every game.”

And despite the latest Euro triumph by the Light Blues the Algerian remains focused on the SPL championship as the priority ahead of anything else.

Rangers will look for three points against St Johnstone today before leaving league action behind again for their Scottish Cup replay against Celtic at Parkhead on Wednesday.

And then it will be only another week before they embark on the next stage of the Europa League adventure against PSV Eindhoven in Holland.

Bougherra said: “The championship is the priority, of course. We want to win the title so we get back into the Champions League again next season. We need to keep winning in the league and we know that.

“Hopefully we will be OK this weekend because Nikica Jelavic will be ready because he couldn’t play against Sporting Lisbon and others like Vladimir Weiss and David Healy are ready too.

“It’s back to the reality of the championship after we worked so hard in Lisbon to get the result we needed.

“This is not the first year we have been involved like this in Europe as well as chasing domestic prizes and rest along with recovery time will be the key if we want to win things.”

Source: Express.co.uk
 
2-0 @ half time so the plot thickens :banana::banana::banana:
 
Rangers 4 - 0 St Johnstone

Nikica Jelavic's double helped ensure that Rangers narrowed the gap at the top of the league to five points.

Jelavic fired the opener following Rangers' first spell of pressure after four minutes at Ibrox.

Jody Morris forced Rangers goalkeeper Allan McGregor into a superb save before Lafferty headed the home side's second four minutes before the break.

Papac's fine finish made it 3-0 on 81 minutes and Jelavic swept in another for the home side in stoppage time.

And the victory ensured that the Ibrox men capitalised on Celtic's slip up earlier in the day.

Combined with the Scottish Premier League leaders' 2-0 defeat away to Motherwell, the reigning champions are now five points behind with two games in hand.

And it completed a heartening few days for Walter Smith's side, who responded to last Sunday's defeat at Celtic Park with progress in the Europa League.

_51443756_weir_warmup.jpg


Rangers captain David Weir had been rested after overcoming illness to play against Sporting on Thursday, the veteran's place at the heart of the defence being taken by Kyle Bartley.

The introduction of Kyle Lafferty, Vladimir Weiss, Nikica Jelavic and David Healy added to the home side's attacking options, with El-Hadji Diouf, Richard Foster and John Fleck being the others to drop out.

Saints made one change following their draw with Dundee United, Stevie May replacing the injured Jamie Adams in the starting line-up but with new signing Danny Invincibile only finding a place on the bench.

The day had already started well for Rangers, with Celtic's defeat by Motherwell being completed at Fir Park less than half an hour before kick-off.

And it only took another four minutes for the Ibrox men to add an opening goal to the celebrations.

_51444653_jelavic_goal.jpg


A shot from Maurice Edu - who netted the decisive goal in the Europa League - was blocked and Jelavic was the first to react and pounce on the loose ball before dispatching an unstoppable volley past the grasp of Peter Enckelman.

There were suggestions that the ball had struck the hand of Rangers defender Madjid Bougherra in the build-up, but referee Steven McLean pointed to the centre circle.

Lafferty attempted to add to the scoreline, but the St Johnstone goalkeeper was up to the task this time and able to smother at the near post.

Saints lost the influential Michael Duberry to injury after 17 minutes, with Alan Maybury coming on and slotting into the reshuffled defence.

Rangers were threatening again when Lafferty whipped a cross into the box from the left that was missed by Jelavic and fell for Healy, but the Northern Irishman's shot was blocked well by Enckelman.

The home side had to make a change of their own when Weiss limped off and youngster Gregg Wylde was thrown into the action after 27 minutes.

Lafferty then squandered a great chance when he collected a lovely pass from Steven Davis only to hook well over when he should at least have tested the goalkeeper.

The big striker fired straight into Enckelman's arms when Lafferty remained onside with only the goalkeeper to beat, with Davis again the provider.

St Johnstone had rarely threatened but would have equalised if Rangers goalkeeper Allan McGregor had not produced a breathtaking save from a fine Jody Morris drive.

Cleveland Taylor then sliced just wide from 18 yards as the Perth side and went close.

Lafferty eventually succeeded four minutes before the break when he rose above everyone else in the box to meet Wylde's corner and sent a firm header into the back of the net.

_51444698_lafferty_goal.jpg


It was back to the inaccurate Lafferty after the break, curling an effort high and wide after a cut-back from Jelavic.

Rangers were looking comfortable, but Murray Davidson came close to forcing them into a re-think with an effort into the side-netting.

Saints were beginning to dominate long phases of play, but Edu sent a powerful low drive just wide as the home side responded on the break.

Liam Craig went close for St Johnstone with a header, but Papac ensured there would be no fightback by finishing superbly after playing a one-two with Jelavic before scoring his fourth goal in six games against the Saints.

There was still time for Rangers' to have penalty claims rejected when Enckelman came off his line to clatter Wylde.

However, the winger did have a hand in a goal, cutting the ball back for Jelavic to score in the dying seconds.
 
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Vladimir Weiss is expected to miss Rangers’ Scottish Cup replay at Celtic through injury. The winger had been hoping to declare himself fit to play in the crunch match but it now appears that Walter Smith will be deprived of the Slovakian’s services.

Weiss limped out of Rangers’ 4-0 win against St Johnstone on Sunday but the extent of his ankle injury was not known and it was though he would be fit to face Neil Lennon’s side. Rangers confirmed on Tuesday that the diagnosis did not look good.

Though the injury is not serious, Weiss will undergo an x-ray to assess the damage. Rangers assistant manager Ally McCoist said that although no final decision had been taken on the player’s availability, he would almost certainly miss the match.

The Ibrox club will also be without Jamie Ness, who has still not recovered from the injury that ruled him out of matches against Sporting Lisbon and St Johnstone. Steven Naismith is also sidelined with a hamstring injury but is suspended for the cup match in any case.

David Weir will return to the back line after being rested for the win at Ibrox on Sunday.
 
AC Milan Midfielder Gennaro Gattuso Linked With Rangers

The combative Italian became a cult hero at Ibrox during his 15 month stay in the blue half of Glasgow in the late 1990s due to his all-action style and indomitable spirit. He was offloaded by Dick Advocaat, a move which proved to be a huge mistake as he has since gone on to star for Ac Milan twice winning the European Cup and helping Italy to lift the World Cup in 2006.
At 33 years of age, his legs no longer match his desire to compete it at the vert top level as shown by his implosion during the Champions League home defeat top Tottenham in which he twice attacked Spurs coach Joe Jordan and kept spoiling for a fight with other members of the opposition dressing room including the normally placid Peter Crouch. While Milan have an excellent reputation of elongating the careers of their players, it is believed that they are prepared to sell Gattuso at the end of the season with Rangers a possible destination.
The player has always spoken with affection about his time in Scotland and having married a Scottish girl the chances of him rejoining the club are pretty high though Rangers will no doubt face competition from other clubs around Europe who will be liable to offer him a more attractive wage packet.
 
Healy pays McCoist tribute

Rangers striker David Healy has hailed assistant boss Ally McCoist and believes he will be a success when he takes over as manager.

McCoist will take over as manager of Rangers when Walter Smith steps down at the end of the season and Healy is convinced the former Gers striker will be a success.

"Ally is a Rangers man through and through," he told the Evening Times. "If you have got guys like that throughout the club then, when the going gets tough, they can pick you up, tell you what it means to play here, explain what it means to win big trophies and big games."

Healy joined Rangers on a short-term contract for the remainder of the season in January and will be desperate to impress between now and the end of the campaign in order to earn a new deal.
 
A Heartwarming Tale of Generosity

Rangers are known for their family-like supporters. The kind of people who look out for one another, help each other out and stand together whenever possible. But I would never have expected what happened when I posted my story on Follow Follow’s message board...

There I was, heading to Ibrox as usual to support the mighty Gers against Motherwell, with my boy at my side. At the back of the bus, doing our usual “name the starting line up” routine and having a laugh at my bad jokes. Every game my boy is excited to see his beloved Rangers, wearing his favourite Rangers Poppy scarf his papa gave him a few years ago with badges he’s been collecting every game, and proud to wear the scarf for his papa who couldn’t make the games anymore because he is in Erskine Hospital. We arrive at Govan and he runs off the bus full pelt, I chase after him in case he gets himself into bother. Before we know it we are in the underground station waiting on a train, and I realise he doesn’t have his scarf. Cue the tears and frantic running up the stairs to try and catch the bus. It was gone. My sons face was one of sheer distress. “Papa’s scarf dad, PAPA’S SCARF” he screamed and wailed. It was gone.

We had no choice but to continue to the game as time was pressing towards kick off. My boy was not saying a word with me trying to reassure him and take his mind off it. I asked him if he wanted me to buy him a new scarf and badges. He simply shakes his head and says, “I want papa’s scarf”. We watch the Gers win 6-0 easily against Motherwell, but my boy didn’t cheer once: He just sat in his seat with tears in his eyes, with me feeling completely useless and upset for him.

We leave Ibrox and I phone the bus company to find out if the bus I was on is still out. Luckily I had kept the ticket with the bus number etc on it. Found out the bus and driver is indeed still out and will be finishing at 6.30. So the Mrs came to pick up the wee man and I waited at Govan to hopefully catch the same bus and driver and pray the scarf had been handed in. Bus after bus stops, but not the one I wanted. I asked one driver if a scarf had been handed in, and the response I got was, “Naw, and even if it had I would wipe my a**e with it.”

Raging, cold and slightly emotional, I volley the side of the bus as it sets off from the bus stop. But it’s not making me feel any better. A sore toe is all I got from it. Then THE bus appears: Same driver and all. I ask the driver but he looks at me like I was talking a different language. Well I was; he was Polish. He just shook his head. I give up, go to the back of the bus half-hearted and looked for the scarf. Not there either. Gutted, I sit down, and I look down the bus and I see a glimpse of blue and white. I jump up off the seat and run down the bus: THE SCARF.

It’s there but the badges all gone, with just pin-holes where they once were. I get home and my boy looks up at me with hopeful eyes, “Did you find it Dad, did you?” I gave him the scarf and explained the badges were gone. He tried to look happy and said, “Well at least I have the scarf back” but I knew he was still upset at losing the badges.

As usual I go on the computer and head to Follow Follow to read about the game and peoples’ thought and comments. I decide to post my story of what happened and ask if there were any websites where I could buy badges for my wee boy. The response I got wasn’t quite what I was expecting. I get an offer from someone to send their personal badges to my son. I couldn’t believe people would part with their own possessions and send them to a stranger on the internet. Then another offer and another, eventually my inbox was full of people offering to send badges for me wee boy. I tried to tell them to not send their badges but they were all insistent. They wouldn’t even let me pay them for them.

Overwhelmed I shout my boy upstairs and sit him down on my knee. “This is why we are Rangers Fans son” I said. I read out the comments and messages. A smile spreads across his face and the excitement returned in his eyes.

The next few mornings the postman rings the doorbell and my boy belts downstairs like its Christmas morning. I still didn’t expect the response I got. Dozens of letters and jiffy bags with badges, notes, patches etc. Each one I opened the bigger the lump in my throat.
 
Weiss a major doubt for cup replay

Rangers midfielder Vladimir Weiss has been all but ruled out of the Scottish Cup fifth-round replay against Celtic.

The on-loan Manchester City player suffered an ankle injury against St Johnstone on Sunday and is a major doubt, although an X-ray showed no fracture.

Steven Naismith (hamstring) and Jamie Ness (groin) remain out along with long-term absentees Kirk Broadfoot (foot) and Lee McCulloch (knee).
 
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