Latest news with #KrisBoyd
BBC News
19 hours ago
- Business
- BBC News
Martin a 'fantastic' Rangers appointment, says Boyd
Kris Boyd understands Rangers fan concerns about new head coach Russell Martin, but believes the Ibrox club have made a "fantastic" decision in appointing the former MK Dons, Swansea and Southampton striker Boyd feels Martin's past experience at Ibrox as a player, and his proven ability to improve teams, makes him the "right appointment"."A lot of fans are unhappy and have got concerns," Boyd said on Sky Sports. "I completely understand that. "But when you speak to people within football, Martin is highly thought of. This move is one he wanted. He decided Rangers were for him."It's a fantastic appointment. He's already been here as a player, he understands the pressure and the demands that are put on you as a player, but as a manager that's totally different - you have to deal with everything."Boyd describes Martin, who had a brief loan spell at Rangers in 2018, as a "football encyclopaedia" and "someone who's been driven by wanting to be a coach for a long, long time".The former Scotland defender's managerial career was on a perfect trajectory after a rapid rise from England's third tier to the top Martin was sacked by Southampton in December amid a run of just one win from their opening 16 Premier League new Rangers boss faced criticism for refusing to adjust his possession-based style of play, but Boyd feels he will improve as a coach as a result of that difficult time."Will he be a better manager for that? Absolutely," Boyd added. "If he was given more time, I'm not saying he would have turned it around, but people would look at him differently. "You've got to praise managers who have a style of play about them. Coming up through the [Championship] play-offs with Southampton, he had to change a lot. "He changed the style and culture so quickly, you still have to say it was a job well done."
Scottish Sun
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Rangers ‘probably can't afford' to pay off forgotten £3m star – so he may have a future after all, says Kris Boyd
Will the new manager give him a chance? STAYING PUT? Rangers 'probably can't afford' to pay off forgotten £3m star – so he may have a future after all, says Kris Boyd Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) IT promises to be a summer of change at Ibrox with new owners, a new manager and new players. But could some stars remain at the club despite looking like they were on the road out? Sign up for the Rangers newsletter Sign up 2 Rabbi Matondo scored his first international goal for Wales this year Credit: Reuters 2 But his future with Rangers remains uncertain Credit: Kenny Ramsay The current Rangers squad is in need of an overhaul and already several players have departed upon the expiration of their contracts. Cyriel Dessers has been linked with a move abroad and there could also be serious interest in Nicolas Raskin as the summer progresses. However, certain fringe players are on hefty deals and they could prove problematic to move on. That's the view of former Rangers star and SunSport columnist Kris Boyd. One such example is Rabbi Matondo. The Welsh winger spent the second half of last season on loan at Hannover. He has struggled to make a consistent impact in Scotland since his £3m arrival from Schakle in 2022. And despite an impressive start to life at Hannover his season petered out with a whimper. And Boyd thinks he could prove difficult to shift off the wage bill for Gers. He told Top Rated Bingo Sites: "The thing is you never know because he is under contract and it is easy to say their time is up and they have to move on but when you are under contract, the club probably can't afford to pay it off. Kris Boyd says Rangers players were in SHOCK that 'ghost goal' against Hibs wasn't given "I'm not just talking about Rabbi Matondo, but there's others in the same boat. "There'll be a new manager coming in, so you just never know what way they are going to play. "We've seen in other seasons that Rabbi Matondo can be a threat and cause teams problems. "He has struggled to do it on a consistent basis and that may be one of the reasons Rangers have been inconsistent because a lot of their players have been inconsistent. "Some of them have found levels for some weeks but then disappeared in other weeks. "Rabbi Matondo has been out on loan, and it hasn't worked for him." Boyd added: "I'm sure Rangers would have hoped for him to go out on loan and recoup some of the money they paid for him, but it is not to be. "We've seen it before when players go out on loan and think 'that's it, it's done and we are going to move on' but with everything changing at Ibrox in the summer, he might come back and produce the goods. "If he is going to do that then he will have to do a lot more than what he has produced in recent seasons." Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
Daily Mail
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
In Case You Missed It: Derek's defection and Ancelotti for Ibrox... it's been another wild week in the wacky world of Scottish football
Things move fast in football. And they don't move much faster than Derek McInnes' descent from king of the hill at Kilmarnock to villain of the piece with his defection to Hearts. Killie fans began the week with one eye on the possibility of a late flourish to snatch seventh spot in the Scottish Premiership, but their attention was diverted rather sharply by the sight of their manager on punditry duty last weekend doing very little to stop Kris Boyd's attempts at talking him all the way to Tynecastle. It very quickly became clear that rumours of Hearts' interest in the 53-year-old was more than just speculation, but his declaration that he wanted to see out the Rugby Park club's two remaining fixtures — with Hearts due in Ayrshire today — was always going to be fanciful. The whole affair has ultimately been a lot more messy than was necessary, but Mail Sport took a deep dive into the situation and reasoned that a sour ending at Killie could yet end in sweet success in Gorgie. And, who knows, in true Scottish football fashion, it could be that a former Hearts manager returns to Rugby Park to replace the departing boss. We will undoubtedly bring you the latest on that situation in the week ahead as it develops. Unfortunately, the behaviour of football supporters has again been in the spotlight over the last seven days. While the vast majority are there to support their team, a troublesome minority seem intent on causing trouble and Mail Sport pulled no punches in taking issue with the sense of entitlement that is currently blighting our game. Rangers are never far from the headlines these days and this last week was no different. Their search for a new manager certainly caught the eye across the continent when, on Monday, reports from Spain suggested that Carlo Ancelotti's son, Davide, was a frontrunner. An exciting name, at least, but something of an unknown as a manager. Mail Sport's Calum Crowe, for one, questioned the wisdom of looking at a rookie boss given the size of the job at Ibrox, while our Rangers Confidential team queried the motivation behind his name being thrown into the mix. The most uplifting football story from the last seven days came not on these shores but over in Italy, where Scottish success stories are hardly in short supply. Not to be outdone by the efforts of countrymen Scott McTominay and Billy Gilmour at Napoli, Bologna captain Lewis Ferguson made history on Wednesday by getting his hands on the Coppa Italia, the Rossoblu's first silverware in 51 years. The former Aberdeen and Hamilton midfielder revealed in the raucous post-match celebrations that he had prepared for his club's moment of destiny in Rome by watching a rerun of the Dons' 2018 Scottish Cup final defeat to Celtic to remind him of the pain he felt at coming away empty-handed. And it clearly had an effect as he put in a tremendous shift across the 90 minutes despite having struggled with various fitness issues this season. Even Ferguson's accomplishments could be put in the shade, however, should Hibernian Ladies complete a remarkable title triumph today. The Edinburgh club are on the brink of a first SWPL title after a season of stunning high achievement, outmuscling their three rivals from across the M8 — Rangers, Celtic and Glasgow City — for much of the season. Our intrepid On The Road icon Hugh MacDonald was there at their final home fixture, a 2-2 draw with Glasgow City, to uncover some remarkable stories from a team on the brink of 'doing a Leicester'. Speaking of Leicester, Mail Sport's most colourful read of the week came via an outrageously entertaining inside story on Jamie Vardy as he prepares to draw the curtain on his sensational spell with the Foxes. If you missed it, do catch it here... you won't be disappointed. Away from football, Andy Murray was back in the news as it was revealed that his coaching role with Novak Djokovic was coming to an end six weeks ahead of Wimbledon. Quite what the future holds for Murray is anyone's guess, but our fantastic Inside Tennis column gazed into the crystal ball to see whether a future working with Emma Raducanu could be on the horizon... or whether she may have already burned her bridges after THAT Wimbledon withdrawal last year. For something completely different, our unique Mail Sport Extreme column took the high road this week to cover the Highland Ultra Marathon on the barren Knoydart Peninsula in Lochaber. With many competitors used to running similar races in Arctic, desert and jungle conditions, we discover just what it is that makes our own land so unique and challenging. And if there's anything else you might have missed, don't forget to check out our home page for all the latest Scottish news and sport.
Scottish Sun
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Aberdeen have been spineless against Celtic for years – they'll be lambs to the slaughter at Hampden, writes Kris Boyd
The Rangers hero and SunSport columnist has explained where he believes the club has gone wrong THEY'RE DON Aberdeen have been spineless against Celtic for years – they'll be lambs to the slaughter at Hampden, writes Kris Boyd JUST wait, Aberdeen's players will soon be telling anyone who'll listen that they're ready to put up a fight against Celtic in the Scottish Cup final. No they won't. Advertisement 4 Aberdeen have struggled against Celtic this season Credit: Willie Vass 4 Brendan Rodgers celebrating win over the Dons in December Credit: Kenny Ramsay 4 Kris Boyd reckons the manager will be celebrating again at Hampden Credit: Willie Vass At Hampden next Saturday afternoon, Jimmy Thelin's Dons will be lambs to the slaughter. They'll vow to show some backbone. But I'm sorry, for as long as anyone can remember they've been spineless when it's come to this fixture. Advertisement Take a look at the stats if you don't believe me. It's now 30 games since they last beat Celtic and 17 of those matches were at Pittodrie. If you're a Dons fan and you think that's acceptable, then good luck to you. But if I was a season-ticket holder up there, I'd be asking some serious questions as to how it's come to this. Those supporters are a fickle bunch. They don't like it when anyone from outside the city dares to criticise them. Advertisement They seem to take it as some personal slight, especially when it's coming from me! Even though the stadium wasn't full on Wednesday night — and it definitely wasn't after 85 minutes — it was telling how the players didn't do a lap of honour after their final home game of the season. If everything was rosy in the garden, surely the fans would have thanked them for their efforts and given their team a rousing send-off for Hampden. Moment Aberdeen & Dunfermline fans join together to pay tribute to legendary former manager Jimmy Calderwood We're talking about one of Scottish football's proudest clubs, for me, the fourth biggest in the country behind Rangers, Celtic and Hearts. So how come it's become the norm for Aberdeen to roll over like they do? Advertisement I look at that club right now and don't like what I see. It's as if it has lost its identity. Thelin is a manager they worked extremely hard to get after they decided to part ways with Barry Robson. Initially, it looked like a good appointment. The team had an unbelievable start to the season, winning 15 of 16 games and battling back to a 2-2 draw at Celtic Park — and looking capable of splitting the Old Firm in some people's eyes. Thelin's team had energy, intensity, pace and power. I'd argue the fixtures were kind to them at the start, with a relatively easy run of Premiership games and facing lower-league opposition in the Premier Sports Cup. Advertisement But fair play, I'm not going to be churlish, they still had to win them and they did. They deserved all the praise they got for getting points on the board. 4 But soon that energy disappeared. Their pressing game was nowhere to be seen and in no time they were dropping down the table. Now? They look utterly lifeless. Put it this way, tot up their points tally from their last 25 Premiership fixtures and they're joint-bottom with St Johnstone on 22 points and two behind Ross County. Advertisement We're talking relegation form, however anyone wants to break it down. So what's gone wrong? If one or two players lose form then that is understandable. It can happen in football at any level. But it's hard to name anyone in the Dons squad who hasn't had a slump. That's what makes me think there's something off at Pittodrie. Of course, I may be wrong. It's possible it's all down to the players and no one else. Advertisement But I've seen it happen when there was an overnight culture shift and I wonder if something similar is going on there. At first, when a new manager comes in with bold ideas, players buy into it. More often that not, they relish the opportunity to embrace something different and give it everything they've got. But the problem comes if they start to question the methods. Businesses and residents brace themselves for Celtic title celebrations I'm not saying that's what is happening with Thelin, I don't speak to anyone at Pittodrie. But from my experience, it strikes me as a possibility. Advertisement The worrying thing for Aberdeen is that they have gone all in on the Swede. They've backed him to the hilt financially and now have a squad bursting at the seams with Scandinavians. That's no criticism of players from that part of thew world, by the way. Erling Haaland is the world's best goalscorer and he's Scandi! But it's like Aberdeen have put all their eggs in one basket. Thelin has been given so much control when it's come to recruitment that it's no easy fix. Advertisement And to me it feels like Aberdeen have lost their way somewhere along the line. Their strategy used to be based on snapping up the best up-and-coming talents in Scotland and giving them a platform to develop. I'm thinking about Ryan Christie, Kenny McLean, Lewis Ferguson and Jonny Hayes. They also brought through their own promising kids like Scott McKenna, Connor Barron, Ryan Jack and Calvin Ramsay. And they made the odd big-money signing like Bojan Miovski, who was sensational business. Advertisement But who in that squad right now could they sell this summer for a good profit? I really can't think of anyone at all. The pathway doesn't seem to be there either. Seventeen-year-old Fletcher Boyd looks like he could kick on, but it seems his route is being blocked by the likes of Oday Dabbagh and Pape Gueye. Maybe I'm wrong with all this. I suppose it's possible Aberdeen will turn up at Hampden next weekend and produce a performance that prevents Celtic from clinching another Treble. We've not seen much of Dave Cormack lately. But then I'm sure he'll make himself available for interview at Hampden, like he did after the semi-final victory over Hearts. Advertisement That's if he doesn't ask Thelin to step aside to lead the team out. Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
BBC News
15-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Aberdeen won't 'lay a glove' on Celtic in cup final
Former Scotland defender Maurice Ross has criticised the nature of Aberdeen's heavy Premiership defeat by Celtic on Dons were beaten 5-1 at Pittodrie against a Celtic side who had made eight changes in order to give fringe players an opportunity and rest key names before the sides meet again in the Scottish Cup final later this former Scotland international in Kris Boyd called Jimmy Thelin's side "spineless" on Sky Sports. Ross didn't disagree with that assessment and says he would be shocked if Aberdeen were to lift the Scottish Cup this season."I can understand why he said it," Ross told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast. "Celtic can be on fire and pick you off, it's how you go about your business against a Celtic team playing training ground football and it's still 5-1."Was there anybody getting a wee bit naughty? Did they accept it? I don't see Aberdeen laying a glove on Celtic in the cup final. "It will be a party atmosphere at Hampden and Celtic are cruising at the moment. I don't see anything other than a Celtic win."
