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Charlie M
Hi.
As some of you may remember, I started a similar career on FM13 where I took control of Rangers and attempted to guide them back to the pinnacle of the Scottish game. Well this is a similar ride. I'm gonna' take control of Rangers and update my career in a story format as often as I can. I look forward to seeing how well I can do.
Aims:-
- Return Rangers to the top tier of Scottish football.
- Win the Scottish Premiership.
- Qualify for the Champions League Group stages. Or further if possible.
- Improve the standing of Scottish football within the World game.
Rules:-- Try and achieve the above with at least 40% Scottish players in the squad.
Playable Leagues Loaded:-Charlie M
TUESDAY, 2ND JULY 2013 11:20
Balancing The Books
WRITTEN BY ANDREW DICKSON
Chief Executive Craig Mather concedes Rangers may have to move more players on to ensure they stay within their budget
CRAIG MATHER admits Rangers may have to move more players on in order to shape the squad the way Ally McCoist wants it.
The manager is still keen to recruit additional new faces for the forthcoming campaign, during which the Light Blues will be favourites to win the Second Division.
So far chief executive Mather has been keen to facilitate McCoist’s wishes and that remains the case – but only to a point.
The Lancastrian knows there’s a requirement to stay within the budget and that means people may have to move on.
Gers are making saving after losing the likes of Carlos Bocanegra, Dorin Goian, Neil Alexander and Francisco Sandaza in recent months.
At present, they have a first-team pool of almost 30 players and that may have to be brought down slightly to remain affordable.
Mather told RangersTV: “More of the squad could be moving on. There’s potential for that, I’m not going to sit here and hide it.
“Ally has made no secret of the fact he’d like to make one or two more signings if possible and in principle I have no problem with that.
“We do have to balance the books though and look at it accordingly. It would be good for the stability of the club if we can get a couple more moved on as well.”
Rangers will go into the new season with their player registration embargo running until the end of August.
That means they could play as many as eight competitive games without the seven men who have been recruited over the summer featuring as signed players.
They can, of course, play as trialists but Gers can only field two of them in any one game and there are limits regarding how many matches each individual can feature in.
That presents an availability problem and the easy option would be to retain as many current players as possible until near the end of the transfer window.
But Mather is looking at the picture and maintains if people do leave, they’ll go when the circumstances are best rather than when they are most convenient.
He added: “It is going to be a juggling act and we only found out recently that the trialists will be able to play after all. Under SPL rules they couldn’t but under SFL rules they could.
“We’re only going to be able to play two of the new players as trialists in each game so we’ll need to balance things there.
“What we have to do is make decisions based upon the longevity of the club rather than just a four-week period.
“We will play the cards as they come at us rather than worry about the first month only at the moment. It’s a long season.”
Shedender
Off topic: I'm still managing Rangers on FM13, won thirteen consecutive SPL titles and left Ibrox for a brand spanking new stadium, oh and I've won two Champions League's. So, yeah, good luck with this one fella and I will definitely be following.
SR67
The best I managed to get the SPL in the coefficients in FM13 was 11th on my final career and Scotland reached 10th in the world rankings.
Charlie M
TUESDAY, 2ND JULY 2013 15:00
Backroom Staff Leave The Club
WRITTEN BY ANDREW DICKSON
Kenny McDowall (left) has decided to end his time at the club as part of a backroom shake-up
ASSISTANT Manager Kenny McDowall and Chief Scout Sandy Jardine were part of a group of staff at the club who have agreed to terminate their contracts as Ally McCoist looks to prepare for the coming season.
McDowall has enjoyed a fine working relationship with Ally since they were both hired by Walter Smith on his return to the club in January 2007.
Since Smith's departure at the end of the 2010/11 season, McDowall had been promoted to Assistant Manager to the gaffer.
Club Legend Sandy Jardine made the decision to terminate his contract with the club and retire to a Public Relations role, formerly held by fellow club legend John Greig.
McDowall, 50, said: "I've had five-and-a-half fantastic years at Rangers and have really enjoyed my relationship and experience of working alongside Ally and Walter, along with the rest of the staff at the club.
"This wasn't an easy decision for me to make but I feel that I am now prepared to progress into a management role in my own right, so this will hopefully lead to a step forward.
"I wish Ally and the rest of the team the best of luck in the coming season and I will, of course, be keeping an eye on how the club are doing."
Fitness Coach Jamie Ramsden was the third member of staff to depart.
Charlie M
Thanks matey! Glad your reading.
Fantastic work on FM13! Haha, no pressure on me now then eh!?
Thanks mate, appreciate it! That's some good work with the coeffiicients, I was working on it in my last FM13 save but was nowhere near your level.
Charlie M
FRIDAY, 5TH JULY 2013 12:45
Staff Re-build Continues
WRITTEN BY ANDREW DICKSON
ALLY MCCOIST today moved forward with his plans to boost his back-room staff by bringing in no less than six new members of staff to the club.
Former Gillingham U-18s manager Steve Jones joins as Assistant Manager after Kenny McDowall departed the club earlier in the week.
Martyn Pert has become the clubs new Fitness Coach in what is his first role back into football since he left his post as Assistant Manager for the Bahrain National team.
Gavin Tait joins the club as a Scout while Nick Burgess, Martin O'Connor and Michael Watt add to the current coaching network at Ibrox.
Jones, 43, said: "I'm excited about joining the club.
"Rangers have a massive reputation and to be a part of that and help build on it is a terrific opportunity for me.
"I'm looking forward to getting started and helping set up the squad for the coming campaign."
Charlie M
6 July 2013
Last Updated at 16:57
Pre-match underdogs Rangers never threatened to cause an upset as they succumbed to a 3-1 defeat at Ibrox Stadium in the first of their Pre-Season friendlies.
The match started well for the home side with Dame N'Doye nearly handing them the lead on 11 minutes.
Rangers had to wait until the 53rd minute to break the deadlock when they took the lead through a well placed shot from Lewis MacLeod.
Midfielder Zalim Deryabkin equalised for Lokomotiv in the 77th minute with a deftly executed finish.
Nigerian star Victor Obinna put the visitors ahead with 4 minutes remaining in the game with a well-taken close-range finish.
The Lokomotiv Moscow fans might have been forgiven for thinking that their side would be happy with just the winner but the scoring wasn't over. Experienced striker Roman Pavlyuchenko finally rounded off the victory with a header in the 92nd minute.
Charlie M
MONDAY, 8TH JULY 2013 12:45
Gers Land Dunfermline In LC
WRITTEN BY LINDSAY HERRON
RANGERS will kick off their League Cup campaign against Dunfermline with the first round tie due to be played on Saturday, August 3 at East End Park.
The 27-times winners were paired up with the Fife side when the draw was made today at Hampden by former St Mirren captain and manager Tony Fitzpatrick – Saints, of course, are the holders - and former Dundee United manager Peter Houston.
Ally McCoist’s side reached the quarter-finals last season when they brushed aside East Fife 4-0, edged Falkirk 1-0 and then produced their best performance of the season to beat Motherwell 2-0.
However, the last eight clash with Inverness Caley Thistle ended in disappointment with a 3-0 defeat at Ibrox.
Rangers, of course, will face Dunfermline four times in SPFL action in the season ahead and they last visited East End Park on February 11, 2012 in the old SPL.
They ran out 4-1 winners that night with goals from Salim Kerkar, David Healy, Sone Aluko and club captain Lee McCulloch completing the scoring.
The last time the sides met in the League Cup on September 21, 2010 when Kyle Lafferty scored a hat-trick, Nikica Jelavic bagged a brace while Madjid Bougherra and Steven Naismith were also on target in a 7-2 win at Ibrox.
Charlie M
13 July 2013
Last Updated at 19:56
Rangers fans will be struggling not to get ahead of themselves after watching their side defeat Belgian top tier outfit K.A.A Gent 2-0 at Ibrox Stadium.
It was Gent who were on the front foot early on, with winger Yassine El Ghanassy missing two chances to put them ahead.
Ally McCoist's half-time team-talk seemed to have done the trick however, as his side took the lead a minute into the second half.
Young midfielder Robbie Crawford curled a fine 20-yard effort in off the post after a weak clearance from defender Ervin Zukanovic.
Gent pushed to get back into the match as the second half continued with end-to-end action.
The victory was sealed for the Scottish League One side when captain Lee McCulloch lost his marker to get on the end of a David Templeton cross to nod the ball into the net leaving Sergio Padt with no chance.
Charlie M
SUNDAY, 14TH JULY 2013 12:45
Palmer Joins Kilmarnock
WRITTEN BY ANDREW DICKSON
SENIOR scout Charlie Palmer has left the club to take up a role working with ex-Rangers midfielder Allan Johnston at Kilmarnock.
The former St. Mirren man has been appointed in the same role at Rugby Park.
Palmer previously worked for the club from February 2003 til September 2007. He returned in January 2011 and has been with the Gers since. He moves on with the blessing of Light Blues boss Ally McCoist.
McCoist has wasted no time in bringing in Charlie's replacement, with 53-year-old Willie Melville hired to take over his role.
Melville has previously held the same position at Livingston and Hamilton Accies and will be charged with the responsibiity of identifying young, talented players.
Charlie M
17 July 2013
Last Updated at 21:50
Rangers will have undoubtedly been the more contented of the two teams by clinching a somewhat surprising 1-1 draw against French League 1 club Evian.
Almost directly from kick-off the Ibrox side looked dangerous and they didn't have to wait long to open the scoring when David Templeton rounded off a skillful run from the right-wing in the 3rd minute with an accurate finish into the bottom corner to get the Light Blues off to a flyer.
A minute later the visitors almost equalized, had it not been for the heroics of Rangers youth keeper Alan Smith to deny Evian's Argentinian striker Marco Ruben.
Another two chances came for Ally McCoist's men but David Templeton and Dean Shiels spurned chances to double the lead.
The worry was evident on the Gers boss' face in the 22nd minute, when Dean Shiels had to be stretchered off and replaced by Barrie McKay.
It took until the 30-minute mark for Evian to bite back, with Senegalese striker Modou Sougou pulling the sides level with an audacious left-footed shot.
Cedric Barbosa had a chance from a free-kick early in the second half but his effort was well over the bar.
Substitute McKay missed a chance to be the hero of the night when he screwed a shot wide in the 51st minute.
Sougou continued to be a threat to the Rangers defense and almost came close to adding to his tally but he could only direct his header wide.
French centre-back Aldo Angoula had a last-minute opportunity to secure a win for the away side but his header was never in danger of troubling Smith.
Charlie M
WEDNESDAY, 17TH JULY 2013 22:00
Shiels Facing Weeks Out
WRITTEN BY LINDSAY HERRON
ALLY McCOIST is resigned to losing Dean Shiels for a number of weeks with a sprained ankle.
Shiels suffered the injury only twenty-two minutes into tonights 1-1 draw with Evian.
The former Kilmarnock star had an x-ray which has shown that the ankle is not broken but there is a serious strain.
Shiels was a key signing for McCoist but is now going to miss the start of the Scottish League One campaign.
The Rangers boss said: “The good news is Dean’s ankle is not broken. He has been for an x-ray and there is still massive swelling but it looks like a really bad strain.
“He will get a scan in the next few days when the swelling is down. We can’t put an exact timescale on a return but it’s not great because he is a big player for us.
“Especially as we can't use any of our new arrivals this summer until early September.
“That makes it a bigger blow for us but there is not much that we can do about it except to just get on with it.”
Charlie M
20 July 2013
Last Updated at 17:45
By Clive Lindsay
BBC Scotland Sport
Rangers' preparations for their upcoming Scottish League One campaign stepped up a gear as they ran out 6-0 winners in their latest friendly against Cambuslang Rangers at Somervell park.
Just 2 minutes into the game, Northern Ireland striker Andy Little had a chance to put the Gers in-front but he wasn't able to keep his header on target.
It didn't take long after that for the Ibrox side to take the lead through a sublime strike from in-form David Templeton. The winger cut inside from the left, skipped past a Martin Gallacher challenge and struck a scorcher from 15-yards out.
Rangers' lead was doubled only a minute later, through skipper Lee McCulloch. Martin Gallacher had a poor clearance from a corner which barely cleared the 6-yard box and Lee McCulloch rose above his marker to power a header into the net.
The Lang found themselves in even more trouble only 4 minutes later when dangerous winger, David Templeton, sent the away side 3-0 up with an audacious shot.
The pressure continued as Rangers had chances from Lee McCulloch, Ian Black, Kyle Hutton and Sebastian Faure but were unable to make any of them count.
Templeton completed a first-half hat-trick on the 27th minute however, when his fantastic effort from 20-yards out found it's way into the back of the net off the post.
Jimmy Wright had a rare chance for the home side just before half-time but he was unable to keep his shot under the crossbar.
The second half continued in the same fashion as the first, with Rangers dominating the match and having chances to increase their lead from Barrie McKay and Andy Little.
On 57 minutes the Light Blues finally added to their tally, with captain Lee McCulloch rifling a shot into the bottom corner following a good passing move from Ally McCoists side.
The rest of the game continued to be all Rangers as they hardly gave their opponents a chance, with Lee McCullosh completing the scoring - and his hat-trick - in the 91st minute when he unleashed a volley at goal in a satisfying game for the old Third Division Champions.
Charlie M
SUNDAY, 21st JULY 2013 15:00
Morton Home Tie In Ramsdens
WRITTEN BY DAVID MELVIN
RANGERS have been drawn to face Morton at Ibrox in the Ramsdens Cup First Round in today's draw.
Ally McCoist's side will face the team who finished second in last season's First Division campaign on July 27.
The Ton reached the Second Round of the competition last year, before losing out 2-1 to eventual winners Queen of the South.
Ironically, Queens also put McCoist's men out of the same competition last year on penalties when the sides met in the Quarter Finals.
Remarkably, the last meeting between the two teams was February 2000 in the Scottish Cup Fourth Round, Rangers winning 1-0 on that occasion with a rare goal from ex-skipper Craig Moore separating the sides.
Charlie M
22 July 2013
Last Updated at 22:05
By Jim Spence
BBC Scotland Sport
Rangers' turned this friendly on it's head with a smash and grab victory over Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road.
12 minutes into the match, Rangers took the lead against the run of play thanks to Brian Murphy's lax clearance giving Lee McCulloch a chance to pounce and fire the visitors into the lead.
Within five minutes, Charlie Austin had two chances to level the scoring but the new signing couldn't seem to find a way past Alan Smith in the Rangers goal.
On 27 minutes, QPR were perhaps unlucky not to equalize when Nedum Onouha's header found the net, only for the play to be called back and a free-kick awarded to the Glasgow side for a Joey Barton foul on Andrew Mitchell.
Alan Smith continued to frustrate Charlie Austin when the young 'keeper again kept out a chance for the Englishman to score.
The pressure continued as Rangers had chances from Lee McCulloch, Ian Black, Kyle Hutton and Sebastian Faure but were unable to make any of them count.
Harry Redknapp's side continued to probe and create chances but seemed to have forgotten how to convert them. Their misery was added to when Jermaine Jenas was stretchered off in the 59th minute.
Minutes later it was former Fulham striker Bobby Zamora's turn at goal when he beat Ross Perry to a cross but his header floated harmlessly into the clutches of Smith.
As the match went on, The Hoops continued to create chance-after-chance with Karl Henry and Frankie Sutherland also squandering chances to pull their side level.
Josh Hunt-Laurel also had a chance to convert a late move but was foiled by the in-form Irish keeper, Smith.
A few eyebrows will be raised by this scoreline but in honesty, on any other day the result could have been far different.
Charlie M
FRIDAY, 26th JULY 2013 12:00
Down To The Bare Bones
WRITTEN BY ANDREW DICKSON
ALLY McCOIST admits he’s down to the bare bones as he prepares to take on Morton minus a full team of players this weekend in the Ramsden's Cup.
Each of the club’s eight new recruits is ineligible for the tie at Ibrox and that depletes the Light Blues squad considerably.
Jon Daly, Arnold Peralta, Nicky Law, Nicky Clark, Steven Smith, Richard Foster, Cammy Bell and Bilel Mohsni will all be out of action due to competition rules due to the club's recent transfer embargo.
On top of that, Dean Shiels is unfit because of an ankle injury.
Ian Black will also miss out as he completes a one-match suspension.
The likes of David Templeton and Fraser Aird could be set to come into the first XI and Andy Murdoch joined the squad for training this afternoon.
McCoist said: “It’s a really, really tricky one for us because we can’t play any of our new signings at all.
“Luckily for us, the boys we have at our disposal have heavily featured in our pre-season matches.
“That’s still far from ideal as we are short ten players and it will be a really tough game, Allan is doing a good job there.
“Welcoming them here when down to the bare bones again though is going to make it difficult for us but we’ll just have to deal with it.”
McCoist had heard lots of people suggesting his side might be seen as dark horses in the major knockout competitions this season.
And he admits with the players he has brought in and the better preparations Rangers have had this summer that he can see why that’s the case.
Due to the restrictions McCoist is operating with both in this round and the next if his men get through, he has played down Gers’ prospects in the Challenge Cup.
But he added: “Obviously we’d like a run in all of the cups this season and tomorrow gives us an opportunity to start going on one. That would be nice.
“Celtic will be most people’s favourites to lift the cups and the top flight championship at this moment in time but I would include ourselves in the ‘hoping for a run’ category.
“I think the expectation for the Scottish Cup could perhaps be higher but the fact we’re effectively playing with last year’s team tomorrow would temper things a little bit.
“I’m very, very hopeful we can get through but it’s the round after next before we’d be able to play all of our squad as registered players.”
Charlie M
27 July 2013
Last Updated at 18:05
By Brian McLauchlin
BBC Scotland Sport
Rangers had their midfield to thank on a hard and bouncy surface at Ibrox Stadium as they showed their strikers how to finish.
The Challenge Cup tie started off slowly with the first chance of the match falling to Sebastian Faure in the 11th minute when the former Lyon youngster met a David Templeton cross but his header didn't hit the target.
Morton had a chance to go a goal up 10 minutes later after Joe McKee intercepted a Templeton pass but Rangers 'keeper Alan Smith matched the midfielders shot.
Lewis MacLeod found himself with a chance in the 26th minute but hi right-footed striker was well wide.
Templeton himself had a chance to open the scoring just after the half-hour mark but his shot was easily held by Nicolas Caraux.
The deadlock was finally broken a minute later when Morton were awarded a penalty after Lewis MacLeod was adjudged to have tripped Reece Hands.
McKee stepped up for the Scottish Championship and calmly slotted the ball into the bottom corner.
Rangers pulled level just before the Half-Time whistle when David Templeton, continuing on his brilliant pre-season form, found himself with some space and fired a half-volley in from a tight angle to even the scores.
It didn't take long after the re-start for rangers to pull ahead, Templeton intercepting a throw-in for the away side and his left-footed shot went under the body of the diving Caraux and into the net.
This seemed to spark the game into life as both sides had chances through Fouad Bachirou and Templeton again.
Former Hearts winger Templeton continued to terrorize the Ton defense and completed his hat-trick with a hopeful shot after Lewis MacLeod set him up with a neat headed pass.
Lee McCulloch had a chance from a free-kick in the closing minutes to make it 4-1 but his effort floated over the bar.
Charlie M
SUNDAY, 28th JULY 2013 12:00
Season Ticket Sales Hit 35k
WRITTEN BY DAVID MELVIN
RANGERS fans have taken this year's season ticket sales to new levels as the 35,000 mark was hit this week.
Now, with a little over a week until the first home match of the season, sales levels are already well ahead of the same period last season.
When the league campaign saw its first Ibrox match last season, 32,500 had signed up for season tickets.
This year, despite the first home match in SPFL falling a week earlier than last season's, supporters have surpassed that number by 2,500.
You can still sign up for a Season Ticket before the first home league match of the season next Saturday.
Charlie M
SUNDAY, 28th JULY 2013 14:30
Raith Trip In Ramsdens Cup
WRITTEN BY DAVID MELVIN
RANGERS have been handed an away fixture at Raith Rovers in today's draw for the Ramsdens Challenge Cup Second Round.
The Light Blues travel to Stark's Park to face Raith, who finished sixth in last season's First Division campaign, on August 13.
The Rovers earned their place in the draw thanks to an emphatic 6-0 win over Brechin.
Rangers of course won their way in to the draw with a 3-1 win over Morton to open the season at the weekend.
Both teams haven't played each other in a competitive fixture in over 16 years, the last meeting being April 1997 in the old Scottish Premier Division. A match that Rangers won 6-0 with goals from Gordan Petric, a brace from current Reserve Team manager Gordon Durie, David Robertson, Brian Laudrup and the gaffer himself Ally McCoist.
Charlie M
Nottingham Forest eye move for Rangers defender Wallace
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BY LIAM FRAME
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BILLY Davies could be set to add to his squad - by luring a player from Scottish League Two Champions Rangers.
Lee Wallace currently plays for Rangers, and was reportedly watched by the Forest manager during pre-season.
The 25-year-old Scotland defender started out at Scottish Premiership side Hearts, where he made 138 appearances.
Since joining Rangers in 2011, Wallace has played 61 games despite suffering minor injury problems since his £1.5 million move from the Jambos.
Rangers are understood to be reluctant to let the full-back leave, with Ally McCoist viewing him as an integral part of his efforts to restore Rangers to the top of Scottish football.
Wallace, who has made 6 international appearances for Scotland, could use a switch to Forest as a stepping stone to a regular place in Gordon Strachan's side.
When contacted regarding the speculation, Ally McCoist said: "There's no chance that I'm willing to let Lee leave.
"I'd like to hope that he shares the same ambition as me for Rangers and wants to stay and help work towards that.
"I'm good pals with Billy and there's been no contact so far. If we do have a chat regarding Lee's availability I'll be advising him to look elsewhere".
Charlie M
MONDAY, 29th JULY 2013 16:20
McCulloch Adds To Injury Woes
WRITTEN BY ANDREW DICKSON
ALLY MCCOIST'S preparations for the start of the season have been dealt another blow with the news that Lee McCulloch could now face two weeks out of action through injury.
The skipper has suffered a strained wrist after he over-exerted himself lifting weights during training.
Another addition to the currently unavailable list at the club will be less than pleasing for the gaffer, who already has 8 new signings unavailable to play until September.
Just over a week ago, winger Dean Shiels was ruled out for around 6 weeks with a badly sprained ankle.
The Light Blues boss said: "Well obviously this is going to set us back a wee bit.
"Lee had been working on his strength ahead of the new season and has just pushed a wee bit too hard by the looks of things.
"It's making this a little bit tougher with us missing him and Dean for a while, on top of the new lads who we can't use.
"We are hopeful that Lee only misses a few matches and we can get him back in the team for the Forfar match in the middle of next month, at least that's what we are aiming for."
Charlie M
3 August 2013
Last Updated at 16:45
By Jim Spence
BBC Scotland Sport
Rangers showed their superiority in a 3-2 win over Dunfermline Athletic during their Scottish Communities League Cup First Round game at East End Park, but they could and should have scored more.
Northern Ireland striker Andy Little got the away side off to a flyer when he opened the scoring in the first minute of the game.
A Barry McKay ball into the box was panically cleared by Luke Johnston but the ball fell nicely for Little who won't get many easier chances to score.
Rangers continued to dominate the early stages with centre-half pairing Ross Perry and Sebastian Faure both missing headed chances to increase the lead.
The Gers had thought they had doubled their lead in the 17th minute when Little pounced on a shot which cannoned off the crossbar but the linesman had already flagged for offside.
Chances continued to rain down on the Pars goal with Ian Black and Andy Little forcing good saves from Ryan Scully between the home sticks.
The Light Blues finally added to their lead 37 minutes in through a Ross Perry header from a pin-point Black corner.
Minutes later the Fife side appeared to be sinking without a trace when they went three goals down thanks to the versatile Little who got up above Stephen Husband to head home an Ian Black floated ball into the box.
Frustration seemed to get the better of Jamie McCluskey when the midfielder's ugly two-footed challenge on dangerous winger David Templeton earned him an early bath and reduced his side to 10-men just before half-time.
The half-time break seemed to rejuvenate Jim Jefferies' men, Jordan Moore having a chance to pull a goal back on early in the second half but his shot was wide.
The home side finally got themselves back into the match on 58 minutes when on-loan Dundee United striker Robert Thomson scored a well-taken finish from a Chris Kane pass.
It was game-on in the 68th minute when Dunfermline scored again, this time through striker Jordan Moore when he found himself unmarked in the box to score a chance that would have been harder to miss.
Rangers had a number of chances to put the game beyond doubt in the final 15 minutes but Ally McCoist had to settle for a narrow victory.
Charlie M
TUESDAY, 6TH AUGUST 2013 12:15
Gers Get Killie In Cup
WRITTEN BY ANDREW DICKSON
RANGERS have been handed a tough draw against Scottish Premiership outfit Kilmarnock in the Scottish Communities League Cup Second Round.
The competitions most successful club were paired against the Ayrshire side when the draw was made at the National Stadium this afternoon.
The Light Blues have been drawn as the home team which means the match will take place at Ibrox Stadium on 28 August.
Allan Johnston's team, who won the competition in 2012, will provide a tough test for the Gers.
Rangers overcame Scottish League One rivals Dunfermline to book their place in the draw.
Both sides are no strangers, having played each other three times during the 2011/2012 season, Kilmarnock triumphing 1-0 on the last meeting in February of that season thanks to a goal from now-Rangers man Dean Shiels.
Charlie M
FRIDAY, 9 AUGUST 2013 13:55
Focused On Football
WRITTEN BY ANDREW DICKSON
ALLY McCOIST is focused on football despite a turbulent few weeks at Rangers as he prepares to face Brechin City in the first League One fixture of the season tomorrow.
Last Monday saw intense media speculation that Nottingham Forest manager Billy Davies was planning a swoop for Lee Wallace.
In the aftermath, McCoist rebuffed the speculation and insisted that he wants to keep Lee at the club.
On top of that, due to the transfer embargo, the gaffer is unable to add to a squad that is currently without 11 players through injury and ineligibility.
After a period of relative calm at Ibrox, speculation on players departing the club is dominating the news outlets once again.
But McCoist is keen to concentrate on his team making back-page headlines for the good things they do on the park.
He said: “The week got off to a good start at Dunfermline, that’s for sure, we got a much-needed boost being able to win the game with the amount of players we can't use.
“I made my views (on the Wallace speculation) crystal clear last week and that’s all I’ve got to say about that. I just want to focus on football now.
“The board will always have the final say. Decisions about the club will be made by them and I’ve just got to support them and the decisions they make, although I will always make it clear to them my thoughts on those decisions.
“Things have been topsy-turvy and up and down for various reasons throughout the summer but most importantly, we’re looking forward to a game tomorrow.
“I’m under as much pressure as I’ve ever been here and that’s plenty. I need to get results and get this team out of the division so we continue to progress up the leagues.
“That’s a pressure we’re all under and it’s one we’ve accepted and which we expect. We will handle it fine.
“Missing such a high number of players has a positive side, as it's giving some of the younger boys a chance to really stake their claim for a starting place in these early games.
“On top of that the League Cup game against Kilmarnock will come around before we can use the summer signings and that is a pretty big game against a good level opposition for these boys to aim for.
“I'm happy with the performance against Dunfermline, although the scoreline was pretty close, we had chances to win by a bigger margin and that is encouraging.
“After a great pre-season, our staff and players are totally focused on the season ahead and if we can continue our form into the league games we should do well.
"That's not to say that we will be under-estimating any of the sides that we will come up against this season, Dunfermline showed what they are capable of in the second half at the weekend.
"Tomorrow all I'll be asking of the lads is a good performance and result”.
Charlie M
10 August 2013
Last Updated at 17:10
By Jonathan Sutherland
BBC Scotland Sport
A brave performance from Brechin City saw them hold Ally McCoist's Rangers side to a 1-1 draw at Glebe Park.
The result is sure to put an early dent in Rangers' League One title hopes.
Rangers might well blame their sides poor start to the match, finding themselves a goal down within the first 20 minutes of the game.
The home side were awarded a questionable free-kick which was played into the Rangers penalty area by Bobby Barr, centre-half Harry Hooman managed to get himself onto the end of the pass and blasted a left-footed strike past a helpless Alan Smith.
An early lead encouraged the Angus side and they nearly doubled their lead in the 21st minute when former St. Johnstone striker Andy Jackson's half-volley whistled over the bar.
The Gers finally moved into gear and Lee Wallace had a chance to level the scoring after a delightful one-two with David Templeton set him up with a chance on goal but the full- back had his head in his hands after he failed to hit the target.
Striker Andy Little continued his recent goalscoring run in the 29th minute when he converted a simple chance in the Brechin 6-yard box to take his tally to three goals in as many games.
City almost went ahead for the second time in the game when goalscorer Hooman had another chance from a free-kick with ten minutes left of the half but he couldn't keep his shot down.
Little had another chance to score just before the break when he pounced on a Craig Nelson rebound but the 'keepers fantastic point-blank save kept the game even at the half-way point.
David Templeton had a chance to score early in the second half but Harry Hooman continued his excellent performance to block the wingers shot and deflect the ball out of play.
Barry McKay was next up with a chance to put the Gers a goal-to-the-good but his shot from distance flew harmlessly wide of the post.
The frustration was evident on the Rangers managers face as time was ticking down for his side to take three points from their opening league game, Andy Murdoch being the latest player to squander a chance to score.
As if losing two-points wasn't difficult enough for McCoist to swallow, Chris Hegarty's sending off in stoppage time would have only served to make things worse, especially when a looming ban will only make the Light Blues squad even more thread-bare.
Rangers Manager Ally McCoist:
"Disappointment. That's the first feeling that springs to mind.
"Especially when we consider that we created enough chances to win two or three games today. Our finishing just wasn't where it needs to be and we will have to work on that.
"We can't afford to be starting league games so poorly, we gave them too much in the early stages and, ultimately it cost us.
"We will do our best to move on and switch our focus on to improving our performance in the Raith Rovers match in mid-week".
Charlie M
MONDAY, 12 AUGUST 2013 13:55
Concerned But Optimistic
WRITTEN BY ANDREW DICKSON
ALLY McCOIST has concerns about going into tomorrow’s Ramsdens Cup tie against Raith with a depleted squad but is optimistic Rangers can claim a third round place.
The Light Blues will still be without all eight of their new signings due to the rules regarding the non-use of unregistered players at this stage of the competition as well as Dean Shiels and Andy Little through injury with Chris Hegarty and Lewis MacLeod on international duty with the Northern Ireland and Scotland U-19s respectively.
There is some good news, however, with Lee McCulloch hopeful of a return to fitness in-time to feature in the clash.
This means that McCoist is still working with largely the same group of players who he had available to him in 2012/13.
Coming off the back of Saturday's 1-1 draw at Brechin, however, the manager goes into the meeting with Grant Murray’s side at Stark's Park in a determined mood.
McCoist said: “It’s the same squad as we had last year and there are one or two concerns, yes, but there’s nothing we can do about it.
“We’d be happier going into this one with our full squad but we just have to go out and prepare right which we obviously attempt to do before every game.
“We’ll treat our opposition with the utmost of respect and it’s up to the boys who go out and play the game tomorrow night to do a job.
"We are expected to do our best in every competition we’re in and it’s no different in the Ramsdens Cup.
“We want to go all the way and it’s not ideal because of the circumstances in terms of the personnel we’re allowed to pick from but that’s where we are.
“No team has a divine right to win a game and we don’t think we’re any different but we do look to do well and our fans expect that.”
Rangers were lacklustre three days ago at Glebe Park and after a tricky opening phase of the game, they totally dominated and could even have won the match.
McCoist would love an improved level of performance this midweek but he expects Raith to come at his players.
McCoist added: “If I can get an improvement from Saturday I’d be delighted but Raith Rovers will fancy their chances of beating us.
“They have started their season really well, winning all three of their opening games in competitive competitions and that includes a win against Falkirk who are one of the favourites for that division.
“So they are going to be full of confidence going into this match, my job is too make sure that the boys we have at our disposal are prepared for that”.
Dan
Charlie M
Cheers matey, appreciate it. Thanks for reading too.
FMraynor