Carrick hitman keen to make fast start to new season to avoid relegation dogfight again
Rangers won on the opening day last year but went on to record seven consecutive League defeats which left them languishing at the bottom of the table.
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Daily Record
15 minutes ago
- Daily Record
Who will win Viktoria Plzen vs Rangers? Our writers deliver predictions for Champions League showdown
Russell Martin's men have a three goal advantage but will want a big win on the road after more dropped points domestically Rangers are in the driving seat for the Champions League play-off round after a thumping win at Ibrox as they head for Plzen looking to finish the job. Russell Martin's men defeated Viktoria Plzen 3-0 last midweek thanks to Djeidi Gassama's double and a penalty from Cyriel Dessers. New boy Oliver Antman made quite the impression on his debut but after experiencing the highs of Europe once more, the Light Blues slipped up domestically once again in as many weeks as they dropped points at home to Dundee. Skipper James Tavernier rescued a point from the spot in added-time to make it two draws from two games in the Premiership. Despite leading by three goals, the message will be clear from Martin and his staff that the job is not done and it is only half-time. Scott McDermott It's Rangers' favourite scoreline at the minute and the same again will see Martin's side through to the play-off. These players have proved - in big European away games - they can get the job done and they're halfway there after a terrific display at Ibrox. Gers should score in Czech Republic which should kill off Plzen. Viktoria Plzen 1 Rangers 1 Andy Newport Russell Martin's short stint as Ibrox boss has been a rollercoaster so far but his side are firmly on track for the Champions League play-offs after last week's first leg win. The new look Light Blues have toiled badly domestically against compact defences but the onus will be on Plzen to come out and try to recover some pride after that hammering in Glasgow. Martin will hope his side again find the space to exploit. Plzen 0 Rangers 2 Keith Jackson It's midweek and a European tie so Russell Martin can relax in the knowledge that his players will actually fancy going to their work. The tie was effectively killed stone dead at Ibrox last week but Rangers can do us all a favour and boost the coefficient with an away win against a very average Czech side. Viktoria Plzen 0 Rangers 2 Gavin Berry It's job done for Russell Martin's side - or at least it should be - after their emphatic win at Ibrox. The Czechs will be the ones who have to go all out to get back in the tie and it will just be about making sure there are no dramas for Rangers. Viktoria Plzen 1 Rangers 1 Scott Burns I know Rangers have been poor domestically but I can see them getting another win in Europe. The Czechs aren't the strongest and I can see Russell Martin's team booking their place in the play-off in style with two wins. Viktoria Plzen 1 Rangers 2 Michael Gannon Rangers can hit the Euro switch again and see it out. Plzen will need to have a go and it'll leave plenty of space to exploit. Gers are more likely to add to their advantage and go through with room to spare. Viktoria Plzen 1 Rangers 2
BBC News
16 minutes ago
- BBC News
Newcastle's 'nightmare' - how can they resolve Isak and rescue their transfer window?
So far, Newcastle's pre-season has been a nightmare. There is no other way of describing have had a disastrous transfer window, missing out on every one of their top targets they went for, and on top of that they have got Alexander Isak's situation hanging over them as they get ready for the opening way or another they have to resolve it, but that won't be easy. Isak clearly wants to leave St James' Park and join Liverpool, but he cannot be sold if they don't get anyone in to replace not just one new striker Newcastle need, either. Callum Wilson moved on earlier in the summer so the reality is that if they don't get two centre-forwards in, Isak does not go is still a possible scenario and, if he is still at Newcastle when the window closes at the start of September, things get interesting because he will want to play - he could be playing for his World Cup place with Sweden at next summer's are a lot of ifs, buts and maybes surrounding Isak at the moment, but over the next two or three weeks we will find out a lot more about how things could pan the moment, though, Newcastle's priority is Saturday and their trip to Aston Villa. I feel for manager Eddie Howe and the rest of the players who are having to deal with all the noise around this when it is not their fault, and Isak is not going to be with them for that game - which is really disappointing. 'Liverpool are never going to get Isak for £110m' This summer should have been a time for Newcastle to really kick on after last season, following the highs of claiming their first domestic trophy for 70 years and then qualifying for the Champions League.I don't know how or why it has been allowed to happen, but right now it feels like much of that momentum has been went into the summer with no chief executive or sporting director, which I find amazing. They knew Darren Eales was stepping down as chief executive last September - 11 months ago - and Paul Mitchell left as sporting director at the end of June.I don't know why they haven't appointed anyone yet or if that has hindered them in the transfer market, because I am not inside the club, but from the outside it is not a good look. It's a mess, and it begs the question about who has making the big they have to deal with Isak as well. There are two sides to every story and we haven't heard from Isak yet, or anyone inside his camp, other than him saying he wants to explore his don't know when he told the club that, how he told them, or what his feelings are about exactly why he wants out. What we do know is that Liverpool have offered £110m for recent years we have seen Enzo Fernandez, Declan Rice and Jack Grealish go for around £100m so, if that is the bar, they are never going to get Isak - a 25-year-old striker who has scored 44 Premier League goals across the past two seasons - for £110m. I don't think you'd get Dan Burn for that, to be have named their price, which is nearer to £150m, so we will have to see what Liverpool do next. The top and bottom of it is that if Newcastle don't get the money they want, or the two strikers they need, then Isak stays. Why Wissa and Watkins would be a good fit I am not angry about the way Isak has behaved, because I know how football works. I'm disappointed and surprised that this is happening now, but I have been in the game long enough to understand why we have got to this seems obvious that Liverpool have got into him, or his agent, to turn his head and make him want to go there. From a players' perspective, rather than a fan, I get the mentality where he has made his mind up about what is best for his future it is the club that matters most here and, whatever happens next, the crux of the matter is that Newcastle United are far bigger than any one individual - it always has been, and always will move on all the time, and do what they have to do, but the club is always there. That's the one constant, every Newcastle have to look after themselves, which means that if they are contemplating letting Isak go for whatever price they want for him, then they also need to get two strikers they want in before they can do they are available, Brentford's Yoane Wissa and Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins are proven Premier League strikers and probably the best-case scenario from Newcastle's point of the same time, I appreciate fans of those clubs won't like their centre-forwards being linked with moves away, the same way Newcastle supporters feel right situation, in particular, sounds very similar to Isak's. It just shows you that this is something that happens in football all the time, and of course it is frustrating when you are on the wrong end of it. How will other new strikers settle in? It is very difficult to predict what Newcastle's season could look like until Isak's future is sorted out, but it could still be a very good have got one of, if not the best, midfields in the country, they are really strong in wide areas and it looks like they are signing another centre-half in AC Milan's Malick looking at the bigger picture, whether Isak stays or goes and they can bring two quality strikers in, they have still got a very good so, I am still not sure they would be able to improve on last season's fifth-place finish. Last season's top four have done so much good business and gone so big in the transfer market, it is going to be extremely difficult for any of the chasing pack to break into those places, not just terms of the title I see Liverpool as favourites, even without Isak. You just have to look at what they did last season, and how they won the title at a have seen Trent Alexander-Arnold leave, and tragically lost Diogo Jota, but have spent heavily to strengthen their squad and won't be distracted by having any stars coming to the end of their contract. Who knows what they might do under Arne Slot if they got another forward as good as Isak is, finally have an out-and-out striker in Viktor Gyokeres and will believe that, after three successive second places, he can get them over the line in a title race. Their top scorer in the Premier League last season was Kai Havertz with nine goals, so that tells you what they have been Gyokeres fits in is one of the things I am really looking forward to finding out in the new campaign, and it is the same with other strikers at new clubs, like Liam Delap and Joao Pedro at Chelsea. I don't think they are finished yet in the transfer market, and their attack is already looking a lot more dangerous than last same applies with how Benjamin Sesko settles in at Manchester United. I was disappointed that he chose to go there over Newcastle, but at the same time I saw him live several times last season and he is a player with potential, rather than offering guaranteed goals.I see what Sesko's strengths are, but £74m is a lot of money for a player with room for improvement. At 22 he is no way the finished article, but there will still be big pressure on him to Sesko, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, Manchester United have spent more than £200m on their forward line, but I still don't see them getting in next season's top four.I think it's almost impossible for them to go from 15th to the Champions League places, even if fifth place is good enough again. Instead I have them finishing anywhere between sixth and 10th, but no Shearer was speaking to BBC Sport's Chris Bevan.
Glasgow Times
an hour ago
- Glasgow Times
Rangers to strike Loan Cooperation Agreements with three clubs
The SFA introduced the new initiative this summer, allowing clubs to send up to five players on loan to a single outfit in every lower-league Scottish division. The players have to be eligible to play for Scotland and can still turn out for their parent club's youth sides during their loan to a lower league club. It had previously been reported that Rangers would strike an agreement with Raith Rovers and the Kirkcaldy side are set to be the Championship partner of the Ibrox men. Read more: But they are set to take full advantage of the new rule by striking agreements with Alloa in League One and Stirling Albion in League Two as well, reports the Rangers Review. A Scottish FA statement last month read: 'The Cooperation System was voted through by clubs following recommendations by the Scottish FA's Transition Report. 'The new system provides greater flexibility to the previous domestic loan quotas by enabling players in the key 'transition phase' of 16-21, who are eligible to represent the Scotland national teams, to join a lower-league club but be able to move between the parent and cooperation club throughout the season to increase playing time.'
