Latest news with #Boyd
The Herald Scotland
15 hours ago
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
Rangers hero warns over what's to come despite optimism
The team will once again have a new look personnel wise with the manager looking to do more business after bringing in seven to date - Joe Rothwell, Djeidi Gassama, Thelo Aasgaard, Emmanuel Fernandez, Max Aarons, Nasser Djiga and Lyall Cameron - although the latter was already signed on a pre-contract. A win over Panathinaikos in Champions League qualifying was an encouraging start but it was an incomplete performance as the squad continues to gel and get used to the manager's way of playing. That all suggests it is going to be a work in progress. However, Boyd is not ruling out a title challenge in the first season. Asked if his old club could be genuine title contenders, he said: "They can be. If you go back to last season, there's going to be a lot of change. Celtic weren't a problem for [[Rangers]] last season. They took seven points, [[Celtic]] took four points. "Rangers' problem was against everybody else. Whether that is another problem that Russell Martin is going to have to solve as well, is it that you can get yourselves up for big games? "Europe wasn't a problem for a lot of the guys either. But going to smaller grounds or having to break down defences at Ibrox was a problem for [[Rangers]]. "They have to problem-solve that and start getting results on a regular basis. Beating the rest, see where that takes you. In this country we always look at winning the Old Firms and you win the league. "Last season proved that's the biggest load of nonsense ever. You've got to win the games against the rest and see where that takes you." All that said, Boyd concedes there could be a sticky period for the Ibrox club, their new manager and the fans. With the expansive style Martin wants to play, there is always the risk of giving up opportunities to the opposition. That is especially the case when you are in the early stages of your progression as a team. Read more: So, despite the former goalscorer's earlier prediction, he has warned supporters there will be times where they're left puzzled over what the new boss is trying to do. "You always run the risk," he pointed out. "We still see Manchester City, the best teams in the world, give away opportunities playing that way. "If you want to implement that style, there is going to be risk attached to it. Russell Martin thinks the reward outweighs the risk. We can't argue with him right now because he's only in the door. There were opportunities at Panathinaikos last week, but Rangers won the game 2-0. "There will be moments where I imagine every Rangers fan is probably sitting with their head in their hands thinking, 'What are we doing here?' "The reality is that is the coach Russell Martin is. There's going to be some moments along the way. If you look at any coach that's tried to implement that style, it does take time. "We're all in agreement that in Glasgow you don't get time, and if it does go pear-shaped early doors, he's going to be under pressure. There's no getting away from it. "Even if it was Walter Smith or whoever was in charge of Rangers, if you're out of Europe and you're points behind Celtic after the opening stage of the season, you're going to be under pressure." In previous seasons, Rangers have started slowly and left themselves playing catch up almost from the outset. With the early fixtures they have, Boyd senses a chance to get off to a good start this time. He sees it as imperative. The pundit added: "It's vitally important because you don't want to be playing catch up straight away. The two previous seasons... start negative and everybody's on your case. All of a sudden it becomes must-win games. "At Rangers you're under pressure every single game, but if you've got off to a bad start and haven't won the previous week, the pressure is more intensified and you are under severe pressure to win those games. "Rangers, looking at it, the games they've got give them a good opportunity to get off to a good start. They've got to look at that with the first Old Firm game at home as well. You've got to be looking to get into that with an opportunity to move ahead of Celtic. "In previous seasons, going into that first Old Firm game, Rangers have probably been having to beat Celtic to get back level or to keep in touch with them. "This season gives them an opportunity to get off to a good start with the fixtures they've got. No disrespect to the teams that they're going to face, but you expect Rangers to win those games going into that Old Firm game."
The National
16 hours ago
- Sport
- The National
Rangers hero warns over what's to come despite optimism
Russell Martin is in the door and trying to implement his style but it has been evident from the games so far he will need more time to get his players to perfect that. The team will once again have a new look personnel wise with the manager looking to do more business after bringing in seven to date - Joe Rothwell, Djeidi Gassama, Thelo Aasgaard, Emmanuel Fernandez, Max Aarons, Nasser Djiga and Lyall Cameron - although the latter was already signed on a pre-contract. A win over Panathinaikos in Champions League qualifying was an encouraging start but it was an incomplete performance as the squad continues to gel and get used to the manager's way of playing. That all suggests it is going to be a work in progress. However, Boyd is not ruling out a title challenge in the first season. Asked if his old club could be genuine title contenders, he said: "They can be. If you go back to last season, there's going to be a lot of change. Celtic weren't a problem for [[Rangers]] last season. They took seven points, [[Celtic]] took four points. "Rangers' problem was against everybody else. Whether that is another problem that Russell Martin is going to have to solve as well, is it that you can get yourselves up for big games? "Europe wasn't a problem for a lot of the guys either. But going to smaller grounds or having to break down defences at Ibrox was a problem for [[Rangers]]. "They have to problem-solve that and start getting results on a regular basis. Beating the rest, see where that takes you. In this country we always look at winning the Old Firms and you win the league. "Last season proved that's the biggest load of nonsense ever. You've got to win the games against the rest and see where that takes you." All that said, Boyd concedes there could be a sticky period for the Ibrox club, their new manager and the fans. With the expansive style Martin wants to play, there is always the risk of giving up opportunities to the opposition. That is especially the case when you are in the early stages of your progression as a team. Read more: So, despite the former goalscorer's earlier prediction, he has warned supporters there will be times where they're left puzzled over what the new boss is trying to do. "You always run the risk," he pointed out. "We still see Manchester City, the best teams in the world, give away opportunities playing that way. "If you want to implement that style, there is going to be risk attached to it. Russell Martin thinks the reward outweighs the risk. We can't argue with him right now because he's only in the door. There were opportunities at Panathinaikos last week, but Rangers won the game 2-0. "There will be moments where I imagine every Rangers fan is probably sitting with their head in their hands thinking, 'What are we doing here?' "The reality is that is the coach Russell Martin is. There's going to be some moments along the way. If you look at any coach that's tried to implement that style, it does take time. "We're all in agreement that in Glasgow you don't get time, and if it does go pear-shaped early doors, he's going to be under pressure. There's no getting away from it. "Even if it was Walter Smith or whoever was in charge of Rangers, if you're out of Europe and you're points behind Celtic after the opening stage of the season, you're going to be under pressure." In previous seasons, Rangers have started slowly and left themselves playing catch up almost from the outset. With the early fixtures they have, Boyd senses a chance to get off to a good start this time. He sees it as imperative. The pundit added: "It's vitally important because you don't want to be playing catch up straight away. The two previous seasons... start negative and everybody's on your case. All of a sudden it becomes must-win games. "At Rangers you're under pressure every single game, but if you've got off to a bad start and haven't won the previous week, the pressure is more intensified and you are under severe pressure to win those games. "Rangers, looking at it, the games they've got give them a good opportunity to get off to a good start. They've got to look at that with the first Old Firm game at home as well. You've got to be looking to get into that with an opportunity to move ahead of Celtic. "In previous seasons, going into that first Old Firm game, Rangers have probably been having to beat Celtic to get back level or to keep in touch with them. "This season gives them an opportunity to get off to a good start with the fixtures they've got. No disrespect to the teams that they're going to face, but you expect Rangers to win those games going into that Old Firm game."
Glasgow Times
a day ago
- Sport
- Glasgow Times
Kris Boyd in Rangers signing warning over Mikey Moore
The Ibrox club are favourites to secure the 17-year-old winger for the season, beating competition from English Championship clubs. Moore is eager to move to Glasgow, and the deal is expected to be finalised soon, although some details remain. While the prospect of Moore's arrival has generated excitement, Boyd has cautioned fans to manage their expectations. The former Rangers striker believes that a loan move to either side of the Old Firm carries much higher pressure than a typical loan stint in England's lower leagues. He said: "Moore's a young boy who'll be looking for an opportunity to kick on, but there's a little bit of a risk attached to a first loan move. "He's shown in any opportunities he's had at Tottenham that he has a chance. "But it can be difficult because a lot of Premier League players in England who go out on loan go to a level where they've got time to adapt, whether it's the Championship or other teams who don't have to play under the same pressure as [[Rangers]] and Celtic have." Boyd also highlighted the need for clarity regarding [[Rangers]]' striking options, with Cyriel Dessers and Hamza Igamane potentially leaving the club amid interest from European teams. He said: "The Cyriel Dessers and Hamza Igamane situation needs to be addressed one way or another. "Everybody needs clarity on that pretty quickly. "The league starts on Saturday, and your two most important players on the pitch are your goalkeeper and your number nine. "Rangers are no further forward as to who their number nine is - the top goalscorer from last season is still being linked with moves away, he's not played a lot of football, and he's still got a level of fitness to get to. "For me, there's still no guarantee who's going to be that number nine for Rangers. "If Mikey Moore is to come in, it's a big ask for him to come in and be Rangers' number nine and lead the attack." Boyd's comments come after Russell Martin's first competitive game as [[Rangers]] manager resulted in a 2-0 victory over Panathinaikos in Champions League qualifying. However, Boyd believes there is still much work to be done to get the team where Martin wants them, particularly given the expansive style of play he is trying to instil. He said: "If you go on last week's performance against Panathinaikos, there's still a bit of work to be done for Rangers. "With Russell Martin coming in and implementing a new style, it's not going to be fixed overnight and there's no doubt there were going to be some teething problems and that's going to be the case for a number of weeks. "When you're coming in and you want to implement the style of play that he wants, you're going to make mistakes. "There's going to be scary moments within the games." Martin has previously stated that his squad will look different by the end of the transfer window, suggesting there is still much movement to come, including potential departures.
The Herald Scotland
a day ago
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
Kris Boyd offers Rangers reality check on Mikey Moore
Moore is keen to take on the challenge of heading to Glasgow and it is a deal that is expected to be completed, even if there is work still to do. It is one that is creating some excitement but Boyd has offered some realism. The former Rangers striker reckons the pressures of moving on loan to either half of the Old Firm makes it very different to heading out further down the food chain in England, which tends to be the norm for young players down south. He said: 'Moore's a young boy who'll be looking for an opportunity to kick on but there's a little bit of a risk attached to a first loan move. 'He's shown in any opportunities he's had at Tottenham that he has a chance. 'But it can be difficult because a lot of Premier League players in England who go out on loan go to a level where they've got time to adapt, whether it's the Championship or other teams who don't have to play under the same pressure as [[Rangers]] and Celtic have." Russell Martin has repeatedly vowed that his squad will look different by the time the transfer window closes and you get the feeling there is plenty movement still to be done. That includes out the way and last season's two main strikers, Cyriel Dessers and Hamza Igamane, could both be on the way out with interest in their services from the continent. Boyd would like to see that situation resolved quickly given it is one of the most important areas of any team. "The Cyriel Dessers and Hamza Igamane situation needs to be addressed one way or another," he insisted. Read more: 'Everybody needs clarity on that pretty quickly. 'The league starts on Saturday and your two most important players on the pitch are your goalkeeper and your number nine. 'Rangers are no further forward as to who their number nine is - the top goalscorer from last season is still being linked with moves away, he's not played a lot of football, and he's still got a level of fitness to get to. 'For me, there's still no guarantee who's going to be that number nine for Rangers. 'If Mikey Moore is to come in, it's a big ask for him to come in and be Rangers' number nine and lead the attack. 'But Russell Martin will say he does need reinforcements in the forward area." Martin's first competitive game brought a positive result, beating Panathinaikos 2-0 in Champions League qualifying. But his team were not fully convincing and had the help of a red card for visiting defender Georgios Vagiannidis. Boyd reckons there is plenty of work to be done to get to where the new manager wants, especially with the expansive style of play he is attempting to implement. The pundit added: "If you go on last week's performance against Panathinaikos, there's still a bit of work to be done for Rangers. 'With Russell Martin coming in and implementing a new style, it's not going to be fixed overnight and there's no doubt there were going to be some teething problems and that's going to be the case for a number of weeks. 'When you're coming in and you want to implement the style of play that he wants, you're going to make mistakes. 'There's going to be scary moments within the games."
The National
a day ago
- Sport
- The National
Kris Boyd offers Rangers reality check on Mikey Moore
The Ibrox club are frontrunners to land the highly-rated winger, 17, on loan for the season ahead of clubs in the English Championship. Moore is keen to take on the challenge of heading to Glasgow and it is a deal that is expected to be completed, even if there is work still to do. It is one that is creating some excitement but Boyd has offered some realism. The former Rangers striker reckons the pressures of moving on loan to either half of the Old Firm makes it very different to heading out further down the food chain in England, which tends to be the norm for young players down south. He said: 'Moore's a young boy who'll be looking for an opportunity to kick on but there's a little bit of a risk attached to a first loan move. 'He's shown in any opportunities he's had at Tottenham that he has a chance. 'But it can be difficult because a lot of Premier League players in England who go out on loan go to a level where they've got time to adapt, whether it's the Championship or other teams who don't have to play under the same pressure as [[Rangers]] and Celtic have." Russell Martin has repeatedly vowed that his squad will look different by the time the transfer window closes and you get the feeling there is plenty movement still to be done. That includes out the way and last season's two main strikers, Cyriel Dessers and Hamza Igamane, could both be on the way out with interest in their services from the continent. Boyd would like to see that situation resolved quickly given it is one of the most important areas of any team. "The Cyriel Dessers and Hamza Igamane situation needs to be addressed one way or another," he insisted. Read more: 'Everybody needs clarity on that pretty quickly. 'The league starts on Saturday and your two most important players on the pitch are your goalkeeper and your number nine. 'Rangers are no further forward as to who their number nine is - the top goalscorer from last season is still being linked with moves away, he's not played a lot of football, and he's still got a level of fitness to get to. 'For me, there's still no guarantee who's going to be that number nine for Rangers. 'If Mikey Moore is to come in, it's a big ask for him to come in and be Rangers' number nine and lead the attack. 'But Russell Martin will say he does need reinforcements in the forward area." Martin's first competitive game brought a positive result, beating Panathinaikos 2-0 in Champions League qualifying. But his team were not fully convincing and had the help of a red card for visiting defender Georgios Vagiannidis. Boyd reckons there is plenty of work to be done to get to where the new manager wants, especially with the expansive style of play he is attempting to implement. The pundit added: "If you go on last week's performance against Panathinaikos, there's still a bit of work to be done for Rangers. 'With Russell Martin coming in and implementing a new style, it's not going to be fixed overnight and there's no doubt there were going to be some teething problems and that's going to be the case for a number of weeks. 'When you're coming in and you want to implement the style of play that he wants, you're going to make mistakes. 'There's going to be scary moments within the games."
