Latest news with #Panathinaikos
Daily Record
3 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
Jack Butland proves ill Rangers fit despite brilliance as Celtic transfer theory on Engels is back to front
Game On tackles the big talking points as Graeme Young and Ryan McDonald chew over the burning issues Some Rangers fans had completely lost faith in Jack Butland after a catalogue of blunders last season. But has the Ibrox shot stopper redeemed himself with his heroics against Panathinaikos on Tuesday night? That's just one of the hot topics tackled in this week's episode of Game On - available every Friday on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts - as Graeme Young and Ryan McDonald chew over all the big talking points in Scottish football, served up in handy bite-sized chunks. Across the city, the clock is ticking on Celtic's £40million winner-takes-all Champions League playoff - and fans are demanding major reinforcements. The Parkhead board has five weeks to match Brendan Rodgers' ambition, but there's an even more pressing deadline looming that simply has to take priority. Throw in some chat about Craig Gordon's No1 status at Hearts and with Scotland, plus a lively debate around Josh Taylor's place in boxing history, and there's plenty for Record Sport's resident chinwaggers to sink their teeth into. You can watch the full podcast in the player above, or listen here. Rangers transfer priorities Ryan McDonald: I think they definitely need a left-back. Max Aarons played there against Panathinaikos but he's right-footed. Jefte was linked with Chelsea in January for £12/15million, don't know where that came from. He's nowhere near that standard. Ridvan's time has come and gone. He's never going to make it at Rangers, he's too injury-prone. When he is fit, he's a decent player, but he's far too injury-prone. Rangers need to clear the decks and have players that they can rely upon week in, week out. They need robust players and Ridvan is certainly not that. I can see him going back to Turkey, so I think left-back has got to be a priority. They are looking at strengthening the attacking areas too with £10million wingers. Graeme Young: That would be a statement of intent by the 49ers. Ryan McDonald: It would be. Whether it would be a straight loan deal or a £10million option to buy for Jesurun Rak-Sakyi, it's unclear at the minute. He looks like a real talent. Speaking to some Crystal Palace fans as well, they would be disappointed to lose him. I also think Rangers need a striker. Igamane will probably leave for big money and will fund more signings. You can't rely on Danilo. And Cyriel Dessers is Cyriel Dessers. He's always going to split opinion. He's Jekyll and Hyde and the best of times but he's still got a great scoring record. If he's to go, that's 24 goals out of your team so you need to replace him. Left-back and attacking areas for Rangers to strengthen. Graeme Young: I'm going to be controversial here. Jack Butland was excellent the other night in goals, but you could see straight away that Rangers need a sweeper keeper. That opens it up and makes it a different team. The way they want to move the ball out of defence, they need a keeper that's comfortable on the ball. Jack Butland's an important player, brilliant the other night and he'll need to be very good in Athens as well. It's not on him, but it's a different position they are looking for between the sticks. Celtic's transfer ambitions Ryan McDonald: Everyone talks about how it's five weeks until transfer deadline day. But the deadline for Celtic to get players in should be Thursday, August 14 because that's when they need to register their Champions League squad for the playoffs. That's less than three weeks away. So there's a matter of urgency to get signings in. I know Celtic like to leave it late to get their big-money signings, and yes, that could depend upon whether they qualify for the Champions League. Will Yang and Marco Tilio get you through to the group stages? You saw the difference in quality against Ajax in the attacking areas. Celtic seriously need to strengthen up top and they could do with another midfielder as well. They've got a luxury of options in the middle of the park but I really feel they need a powerhouse in the engine room, someone of the ilk of Victor Wanyama. They need muscle and power in the midfield especially when it comes to playing against Europe's elite. Graeme Young: I think Nygren playing more attacking midfield has caught some people by surprise as well. The assumption was maybe that he'd play in the wing like he did last season. He's a proper player. The bit I don't understand about Celtic is you watch them in Munich, they take Bayern all the way, you'd be moving heaven and earth then to get ahead of the game on transfers. It's obvious that this team is a level up, Brendan Rodgers has managed to take them a level up in the Champions League. With the amount of money in the bank, they need proper players. There's this theory that Engels and Idah's price tags have added a hesitance to go big again, but I think it's the opposite. I think you go again because that's where you are as a club."
The Herald Scotland
5 hours ago
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
Joe Rothwell in Rangers vow over Panathinaikos second leg
Russell Martin's men struggled for the most part before decisive goals from 19-year-old Findlay Curtis and debutant Djeidi Gassama, either side of Panathinaikos right-back Giorgos Vagiannidis receiving his marching orders after picking up the second of two yellow cards for a foul on Curtis. Ahead of the second leg in Athens – which follows a friendly against Middlesbrough at Ibrox on Saturday – Rothwell was asked if the Light Blues can feel in command of the tie. 'I think we have to now, yeah,' he said. 'Obviously, 2-0, it's a good scoreline, especially in this format. 'So we'll go out there and obviously we won't be looking to defend it. We'll try and go out there and win the game and score as many goals as we can. Read more: 'It (2-0 win) can be huge. I think he (Martin) said in his press conference, it was not going to be a season-defining game but we wanted to go out there and put a show on and really show how he wants to do things. 'I think we managed to do that, controlled the game as we like to do and just a bit disappointed that we didn't go and probably kill the game off a little bit more.' The Light Blues should have been behind before Curtis opened the scoring in the 52nd minute, with Martin having to settle his new charges down at the interval before an improved performance in the second half. Rothwell said: 'He said to just stick to what we do. 'We went away from it a little bit, in terms of how we want to play, and in the first 10, 15 (minutes) I think we started the game really well and then probably came away from it a little bit. 'And then obviously with them going down to 10 men, we've managed to control the game and probably disappointed we didn't probably get a few more in the end, but we can't complain, it's a win and we take a lead over there.' Rothwell was impressed and inspired by his first taste of a European night at Ibrox. He said: 'Loved it. Obviously you hear stories from the outside, but when you actually get out there and experience it, it's fantastic and I'm sure the fans are going to be behind us in every single game and we'll need them. 'There'll be times where it might be a bit tough for us, but I'm sure they'll get behind us and then get us over the finish line. 'I think you can really see what the manager wants us to do and how we want to play and I thought it was obviously another good test for us and we came through it in the end.'
Scotsman
7 hours ago
- Sport
- Scotsman
'Hopefully a catalyst': Rangers new hero gets rave reviews as original position revealed
Thomson recalls working with teenager who is leaving big impression at Ibrox Sign up to our Football newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Although being told he was playing the day before the match was the recipe for a restless night's sleep, it did at least mean Findlay Curtis, Rangers' man of the moment, was given plenty of notice to round up his family and friends. He made it more than worth their while when he scored such a memorable goal in front of them to set the Ibrox side on their way to a fine win against Panathinaikos in Russell Martin's first game in charge. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The 19-year-old, who was making only his second Rangers start, later explained that he had his own fan club in the crowd; his mum and dad, his girlfriend's mum and dad, his brother and sister and several pals. He managed to pick them out at the end of the Champions League qualifier, amid the pandemonium. Findlay Curtis opened the scoring for Rangers against Panathinaikos. | SNS Group He might have spotted someone else looking down beaming with pride from the Bill Struth Main Stand. In attendance in his role as a match analyst for Rangers TV, Kevin Thomson won't pretend that he shaped the player's career or had anything like as profound an influence as that. But Curtis was part of the first team Thomson was involved with at Ibrox after the former midfielder started coaching at the Rangers Academy in 2018, initially on a part-time basis. They were not world beaters at the time, he recalls, but Curtis showed plenty of promise and more importantly at the time, desire. Although Martin deployed him on the left wing on Tuesday night, he initially caught the eye as a striker. 'I worked with him when I got my first job at Rangers with Greg Statt,' recalls Thomson. 'He was part the '06 group, which was under-13s – he was only a 12-year-old lad. When I first came across him he was more of a goalscorer, more of a '9'. He was running in behind and playing on the shoulder, more of a through-the-middle type striker. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Curtis was 'a brilliant lad' 'He was a brilliant lad, great to work with. It was probably not the strongest group that '06 group at the time but it was probably one of the most enjoyable groups I have had to work with. When you think of some of the boys, the tiny, miniscule way that I have helped these lads is smaller than a pin drop. But it was still a pleasure to work with them for that period and watch them grow.' 'Although it was many moons ago, I could almost name team now,' he adds. 'Cooper Knox, who's been with Stirling Albion. Crispin McLean, who I think was down at Fleetwood, big Niall Rogerson from Dumfries who was at Queen of the South last year. There's Zander Hutton (who is still at Rangers), he was also part of that team. For a group who did not have a brilliant, brilliant reputation, a lot of them have gone on and done all right. Fingers crossed Findlay can be a catalyst for that group.' Curtis has certainly showed what's possible. It's not often that Thomson is left speechless, and fortunately he wasn't struck dumb on Tuesday given his reporting responsibilities. However, he acknowledged that it was emotional to see someone he remembers chucking a bib at when he was 12-years-old giving seasoned professionals such a torrid time. Kevin Thomson was performing TV duties at Ibrox. | SNS Group 'I know he has come back in top, top condition,' Thomson said. 'He has impressed the manager when he has had opportunities, not just with his fitness levels but also with his technical ability. The top end of the pitch at a club like Rangers is ultra-competitive so any opportunity he does get, like the other night, he has to take it with both hands and try to stake a claim for himself moving forward. That's the key – to get in and stay in rather than just having a flashing moment. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'He has got the type of personality that I think will relish that. He's obviously a big Bluenose so it would have been a dream for him. I was proud as punch watching him. I am sure he will be the first to say that it wasn't his brilliant best performance but he got a brilliant goal at a critical time and he did some unbelievably industrious work to help the team back down the pitch. 'He was not only involved for the goal but he was also involved in the second big incident when he took a took a great first touch and cut across the defender's body to get the lad a second yellow card, which was no doubt a big factor in the game.'
STV News
7 hours ago
- Sport
- STV News
Joe Rothwell urges Rangers to kill off Panathinaikos tie
Joe Rothwell believes Rangers have to consider themselves in the box seat going into their crucial Champions League qualifier against Panathinaikos next Wednesday. The 30-year-old midfielder, signed from Bournemouth this summer, made his Gers debut in the 2-0 win over the 10-man Greek side at Ibrox on Tuesday night. Russell Martin's men struggled for the most part before decisive goals from 19-year-old Findlay Curtis and debutant Djeidi Gassama, either side of Panathinaikos right-back Giorgos Vagiannidis receiving his marching orders after picking up the second of two yellow cards for a foul on Curtis. Ahead of the second leg in Athens – which follows a friendly against Middlesbrough at Ibrox on Saturday – Rothwell was asked if the Light Blues can feel in command of the tie. 'I think we have to now, yeah,' he said. 'Obviously, 2-0, it's a good scoreline, especially in this format. 'So we'll go out there and obviously we won't be looking to defend it. We'll try and go out there and win the game and score as many goals as we can. 'It (2-0 win) can be huge. I think he (Martin) said in his press conference, it was not going to be a season-defining game but we wanted to go out there and put a show on and really show how he wants to do things. 'I think we managed to do that, controlled the game as we like to do and just a bit disappointed that we didn't go and probably kill the game off a little bit more.' The Light Blues should have been behind before Curtis opened the scoring in the 52nd minute, with Martin having to settle his new charges down at the interval before an improved performance in the second half. Rothwell said: 'He said to just stick to what we do. 'We went away from it a little bit, in terms of how we want to play, and in the first 10, 15 (minutes) I think we started the game really well and then probably came away from it a little bit. 'And then obviously with them going down to 10 men, we've managed to control the game and probably disappointed we didn't probably get a few more in the end, but we can't complain, it's a win and we take a lead over there.' Rothwell was impressed and inspired by his first taste of a European night at Ibrox. He said: 'Loved it. Obviously you hear stories from the outside, but when you actually get out there and experience it, it's fantastic and I'm sure the fans are going to be behind us in every single game and we'll need them. 'There'll be times where it might be a bit tough for us, but I'm sure they'll get behind us and then get us over the finish line. 'I think you can really see what the manager wants us to do and how we want to play and I thought it was obviously another good test for us and we came through it in the end.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Powys County Times
7 hours ago
- Sport
- Powys County Times
Joe Rothwell urges Rangers to kill off Panathinaikos tie
Joe Rothwell believes Rangers have to consider themselves in the box seat going into their crucial Champions League qualifier against Panathinaikos next Wednesday. The 30-year-old midfielder, signed from Bournemouth this summer, made his Gers debut in the 2-0 win over the 10-man Greek side at Ibrox on Tuesday night. Russell Martin's men struggled for the most part before decisive goals from 19-year-old Findlay Curtis and debutant Djeidi Gassama, either side of Panathinaikos right-back Giorgos Vagiannidis receiving his marching orders after picking up the second of two yellow cards for a foul on Curtis. Ahead of the second leg in Athens – which follows a friendly against Middlesbrough at Ibrox on Saturday – Rothwell was asked if the Light Blues can feel in command of the tie. 'I think we have to now, yeah,' he said. 'Obviously, 2-0, it's a good scoreline, especially in this format. 'So we'll go out there and obviously we won't be looking to defend it. We'll try and go out there and win the game and score as many goals as we can. 'It (2-0 win) can be huge. I think he (Martin) said in his press conference, it was not going to be a season-defining game but we wanted to go out there and put a show on and really show how he wants to do things. 'I think we managed to do that, controlled the game as we like to do and just a bit disappointed that we didn't go and probably kill the game off a little bit more.' The Light Blues should have been behind before Curtis opened the scoring in the 52nd minute, with Martin having to settle his new charges down at the interval before an improved performance in the second half. Rothwell said: 'He said to just stick to what we do. 'We went away from it a little bit, in terms of how we want to play, and in the first 10, 15 (minutes) I think we started the game really well and then probably came away from it a little bit. 'And then obviously with them going down to 10 men, we've managed to control the game and probably disappointed we didn't probably get a few more in the end, but we can't complain, it's a win and we take a lead over there.' Rothwell was impressed and inspired by his first taste of a European night at Ibrox. He said: 'Loved it. Obviously you hear stories from the outside, but when you actually get out there and experience it, it's fantastic and I'm sure the fans are going to be behind us in every single game and we'll need them. 'There'll be times where it might be a bit tough for us, but I'm sure they'll get behind us and then get us over the finish line. 'I think you can really see what the manager wants us to do and how we want to play and I thought it was obviously another good test for us and we came through it in the end.'
