Home > News Archive > December 2002

Tuesday, 31 December, 2002

Thompson terms agreed Rangers have agreed a deal to sign Steven Thompson from Dundee United when the transfer window opens. The Scotland international will complete the formalities of his switch to Ibrox on New Year's Day. The 24-year-old has been high on the list of targets for Gers manager Alex McLeish as he seeks to bolster his strike force. Steven Thompson prepares to head into 2003 as a Rangers player, he admits that this time last year the prospect of playing for the league leaders and being a Scotland international would have been beyond his wildest dreams. But he is determined to make sure that his good fortune continues into the new year as he attempts to make his mark at the Govan club. He added: "It has been a fantastic year for me - if someone had said to me this time last year that I would have seven caps for Scotland and be a Rangers player, I would have questioned their sanity. But I accepted the challenge of being a Scotland player, I took that on board, and I'm ready to do the same here. I've got my fingers crossed that I can do well here. There are a lot of talented players here who create a lot of chances so hopefully I can get on the end of those and score a few goals." McLeish agrees that Thompson's performances for the national team convinced him the striker was good enough to make the grade as a Rangers player. And he predicts the Paisley-born hitman will become a firm favourite with the Ibrox faithful if he shows the same commitment in a Rangers jersey. McLeish said: "His performances in a Scotland jersey certainly contributed. He is young, at the peak of his career, with many years ahead of him. If he gives everything in a Rangers jersey, the fans will love him."

Reid loaned to Cobblers Northampton have signed Rangers defender Paul Reid on loan for the rest of the season. The 20-year-old has made just 17 appearances for the Glasgow giants since leaving Carlisle in a £600,000 deal in June 2000. Reid spent three months on loan at First Division Preston last season, scoring on his debut against Sheffield Wednesday.

Friday, 20 December, 2002

3 out for Sunday Alex McLeish is still without three players for their game against Partick Thistle. Neil McCann (thigh), Maurice Ross (hip) and Mikel Arteta (hamstring) are all sidelined through injury. Lorenzo Amoruso is able to play on despite picking up a knock against Celtic a couple of weeks ago, and Claudio Caniggia has recovered from a virus. Team (from): Klos, Ricksen, Moore, Amoruso, Numan, Ferguson, Caniggia, Mols, De Boer, Konterman, Muscat, Latapy, McGregor, Arveladze, Lovenkrands, Hughes, Dodds, Malcolm, Brighton.

Monday, 16 December, 2002

3 game ban for Ricksen The Scottish Football Association insist Rangers defender Fernando Ricksen is unlikely to face further punishment other than a three-game ban for his dismissal against Dundee United. The 26-year-old was sent off for serious foul play by referee Stuart Dougal and will now miss next week's game at Partick before serving out the rest of his ban against Kilmarnock on December 29 and Dundee on January 2, before the start of the winter break. But SFA head of disciplinary matters Drew Herbertson maintains Ricksen will not be handed any further punishment. Herbertson said: "The player was sent off for serious foul play which carries 12 points. He goes through the 18-point threshold as a consequence and, on top of the automatic one-match suspension, he picks up a ban of two games from December 28. Any time a player goes through the threshold of 18 points, it counts as one ban for the current year, which determines the length of the suspension. The player then has it within his own hands to modify his behaviour. There is no likelihood of any further action taken by the SFA against Fernando Ricksen."

Sunday, 08 December, 2002

Moore thanks Numan Craig Moore has thanked team-mate Arthur Numan for the moment of bravery that prevented the Australian from scoring for both sides in the Old Firm derby. Moore put in an excellent performance in his side's 3-2 Ibrox victory, the highlight of which was a headed equaliser in the 10th minute. Moore beat goalkeeper Robert Douglas to a Fernando Ricksen corner to cancel out Chris Sutton's 19-second opener, which is understood to be the quickest ever Old Firm derby goal. Ronald de Boer and Michael Mols added a goal each to give Rangers a 3-1 half-time lead, but after the restart Celtic hit back. Martin O'Neill had sent on Alan Thompson in place of Steve Guppy and the former Aston Villa man made an immediate impact. And it was his cross that Moore inadvertently directed towards his own net until Numan bravely intervened at the far post at full stretch at the expense of a painful landing. The equaliser was Moore's first Old Firm goal for Rangers, although he had previously put through his own goal in a 3-0 Celtic win at Hampden Park in the 1994-95 season. He said: "It was a good chance wasn't it! I knew Thompson was going to cut it back so I was trying to read it but it didn't go back as far as I had thought and it came off my toe. I think Arthur did very well to clear the ball and he took a knock for me as well so I had to thank him after the game." It turned out to be a pivotal moment in the game as, for all Celtic's subsequent pressure, they could only manage a goal from John Hartson and the points were Rangers'. The result took Rangers to the top of the table with a two-point advantage over their rivals. Moore added: "I'm really pleased with the result, especially after the start we got off to. To come back from that was really pleasing. We were looking for all three points and we have managed to do that. It was one of my most enjoyable Old Firm games but, as for it being my best game, I don't really know." Moore reckoned conceding the Sutton goal so early had actually been a blessing in disguise. He said: "At least it gives you plenty of time to get back into the game and it probably gave us a kick up the backside that we needed." Rangers manager Alex McLeish was full of praise for the defender, who has been nominated for inclusion in the club's Hall of Fame. McLeish said: "He was outstanding. He's really a threat in the opposition's box with his timing of runs and he climbs really well. And he was a really strong defender for us."

McLeish's reaction Alex McLeish declared his side's 3-2 victory over Celtic as his most satisfying Old Firm success yet. McLeish has yet to sample the bitter taste of defeat in the six derby games that have been played since he succeeded Dick Advocaat at the Ibrox helm less than a year ago. He had steered them to two cup wins and three league draws and this was Rangers' first league derby success since a 5-1 thrashing of their rivals more than two years ago. Rangers recovered from the shock of conceding a Chris Sutton goal in fewer than 19 seconds to take the points thanks to first half replies from Craig Moore, Ronald de Boer and Michael Mols. The result meant Rangers moved ahead of their rivals to the top of the table as the closest championship race since 1996-97 took another twist. McLeish said: "It is the most satisfying because it is now, it has happened now. The next one, if we were lucky enough to win that, then that would be the most satisfying. You can't look back. Obviously I needed to have some sort of success against Celtic to stamp my mark on the club but we have got to look forward." McLeish also spared his defence a panning for their woeful defending to concede what is almost certainly the quickest ever goal in an Old Firm derby. He said: "We sat off their forwards from the kick-off and we were punished for it. But we knew there were still 89-and-a-half minutes to go and I was confident we would make chances. The character of the team then came to the fore. If the defenders had a wee aberration for the goal they then showed that they were big players by reacting in a really positive manner. That's what good players are all about. They make a mistake and come back stronger. I don't think there is a need for a real autopsy on it."

Tuesday, 03 December, 2002

Duo return for Livi game Rangers have been boosted by the return of two key players for the visit of Livingston. Striker Peter Lovenkrands and defender Maurice Ross have recovered from knee and hip problems respectively and will start on the bench.

Arteta out for Old Firm game Alec McLeish admits Mikel Arteta has little chance of featuring on Saturday. The Spaniard suffered a hamstring injury in the 4-0 win at Hearts on Sunday and is unlikely to play in the Ibrox showdown. McLeish said: "Mikel is definitely toiling and not just for our game on Wednesday against Livingston. He's a major doubt now for the Celtic match, which could make things a little difficult for us because we already had some injury problems. Mikel has been immense for us this season and, if we have to do without him for the Old Firm game, I suppose you could say that would be a major blow because he has been one of my first picks. Without him the system and the set-up may be weakened, but I believe we have enough still to cope and get things right. I'll still have some options, but right now I'd rather not say what my plans will be if Mikel doesn't make it."

Sunday, 01 December, 2002

Amoruso to return Alex McLeish will bring back defender Lorenzo Amoruso for Sunday's visit to Tyncastle to face Hearts. Amoruso's deputy Bob Malcolm has been praised by the boss for his efforts, McLeish said: "Bob has been a great deputy and his confidence has increased with every game but I will be brining back the experience and presence of Amoruso." Michael Mols has yet to fully recover from a dead leg he picked up at the end of last weekends win against Dunfermline and with three matches in six days he may not be risked, although he himself will be hoping to make it. Danish striker Peter Lovenkrands will not be returning for the match against Hearts, he is still suffering with a knee problem, but he could well be back in contention for the Livingston match in mid-week. Lovenkrands said: "I won't make the Hearts game but I could return against Livingston and get a match under my belt before the Celtic clash."