Red Litchies feel the power of the Gers

Starting XI (Arbroath): Morrison, Banjo,Hamilton, Scott, Travis, Donaldson, Linn, Chisholm, Cook, Erwin, Sheerin

Subs: Milne, Bayne, Yao, Smith, Sibanda, Keddie and Wilson

Booked: Travis and Chisholm

Subs Used: Bayne, Milne and Smith

Starting XI (Rangers): Bell, Faure, Wallace, Black, McCulloch, Mohsni, Aird, Law, Clark, Daly and MacLeod

Subs: Templeton, Hutton, Peralta, Simonsen, Crawford, Sanchez Cribari, Smith
Booked: Black and Mohsni

Subs Used: Crawford and Hutton

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My Man of the Match: Fraser Aird

Photo; my man of the match in action

Rangers made two changes to the side that beat Airdie on the 9th November, Peralta and Templeton get put on the bench making room for Aird and MacLeod to come into the starting XI. Arbroath made three changes to the starting XI that drew 2 all with East Fife, Smith, Keddie and Sibanda were dropped to the bench making room for player manager Sheerin, Milne and Travis.

As soon as the game kicked off Rangers were up the park and were in with a chance of scoring through Daly.

Goal One (Jon Daly, 2nd minute): An Black free kick, allowed Daly to take a right footed shot from very close range to the centre of the goal, giving Rangers the early lead.

Rangers managed to gain 3 corners in a row but nothing being able to come of them. A shot from McCulloch was missed as his header just went too high. Arbroath were trying to hard to gain a goal back with Linn having a shot on goal that Bell managed to save easily. Then play was down the other end where Wallace was having an attempt on goal. His shot just went wide of the right hand post. The attempt that MacLeod had was initially blocked however it wasn't blocked as much as the Arbroath keeper thought.

Goal  Two (Bradley Donaldson Own Goal, 26th minute): A shot from MacLeod was deflected into the back of the net by Donaldson, allowed Rangers to take the two goal lead.

After the second goal Rangers began to dominate the game with attempts coming from Faure and Law. Both of these attempts were missed though. Then it became corner after corner but nobody in the box managing to get onto the ball and stick into the back of the net to hopefully secure the points for Rangers at least for the first half anyway.

Goal Three (Nicky Clark, 40th minute): A free kick from Wallace, a header from Clark on the left side of the six yard box to the top left corner. Gave Rangers the three goal Advantage.

No action occurred after the goal and the half time whistle blew for half time and Rangers had a three goal lead.

Half time Arbroath 0 - 3 Rangers

Photo: Clark celebrating his goal

With Rangers up three goals, you would think they would start to relax more. This wasn't the case, within minutes of the game beginning Aird was already having a shot on goal. Unfortunately, this shot was saved by keeper Morrison. This didn't effect Arbroath, they still pushed Rangers up the park and tried to gain a goal back through Linn again. This attempt was blocked however.

This attempt on goal from Arbroath just made Rangers try three times more. Attempts coming from Law, Daly and Black. All these attempts were missed. Linn was looking like he was going to get a goal tonight, but his shot was blocked by Bell. 

Both teams made two subs. Arbroath were trying to get fresh legs on and Rangers were trying to keep their lead. More attempts from Daly and Clark were blocked and missed. Then attempts from Wallace, Hutton and Mohsni were missed as well. 

No other action is played and it ends Arbroath getting beat by 3 goals to 0.

Full Time Arbroath 0 - 3 Rangers

Photo: Law in action

Attendance: 3,902

Rangers make it 50 League goals in 13 games and 13 wins out of 13, on a very cold night at Gayfield.

I picked Fraser Aird as my man of the match because he showed that he deserves and place in he first team on a regular basis. He managed to create a lot of problems for the Arbroath defence with his pace from them young legs. He also managed to try and assist the strikers with their goals and managing to get a couple of chances on goal himself. Only one criticism I would have from him would be to tighten up his passing but for an 18 year old who had his first league game of the season he did not to bad and I hope to see him play more in the future.

Photo; man of the match

Should we support the younger generation of players?

Many people may think that it ain't a good idea to support for example Under 20s or even Under 17s. Why is this?

If people really think about what those teams are doing for the future of Scottish football, they wouldn't have such an objection to supporting them

Personally I go to every home game that I can for my teams Under 20s, this has allowed me to see what talent my team and others in the Scottish game have to offer. Many boys who are now playing first team games week in week out have probably came through the ranks at their current club or another club in Scotland. A few boys that have come through the ranks at Scottish clubs are people like John Souttar, Ryan Gauld and even bigger names such as Stuart Armstrong and Johnny Russell all came through the Dundee United Youth Academy. Gary Mackay-Steven also came through the ranks at Ross County. From other clubs in Scotland boys like Chris Johnston (Kilmarnock), Fraser Aird and Lewis Macleod (Rangers). 

Photo; Gayfield(Home of Arbroath FC) where some of the United Under 20s games get played.

To start of with the bigger names like  Stuart Armstrong who is still playing for Dundee United after coming through the 20s ranking. Armstrong started off his career in Dyce, playing for their boys club before moving up to Inverness to play for Calley Thistle. He then moved on to play for United Under 20s with only missing four Youth Games and netting 13 goals in his first season. Armstrong is now a regular for United has been for a few years now. Armstrong has also had many caps for Scotland's Under 21s and is lucky enough to captain them. 

Other names like Johnny Russell and Gary Mackay-Steven also came through ranks at (now) SPFL clubs. For Mackay-Steven it was Dingwall side Ross County and for Russell it was Dundee United. Both of these boys have played for their country at various levels. Now Mackay-Steven is still Dundee's Messi and manages to play most weeks for the Tanngerine side. However for Russell, his United career might be over for just now as he is gone to do bigger and better stuff at English side Derby County.

Photo; Johnny Russell training for United alongside Gary Mackay-Steven

More younger names such as John Souttar and Ryan Gauld who have just recently broke into the first team at Dundee United. Souttar making is debut in a 'New Firm Derby' at the start of this year at the young age of 16 years and 100 days, making him the youngest player to play for United. Along side Souttar, Gauld also broke into the team. Gauld made his first debut as a sub in May 2013. Both these boys were brought in from Brechin City boys club and went on to play for the Under 15s. This opened gate ways for boy of them allowing them to break through to the 17s then the 20s and now the first team. Both have also had various apperances for Scotland Under 19s. 

Players from other teams such as Chris Johnston who has came through the ranks at Kilmarnock and has now broke into the first team at the age of 17. Like the others Johnston came through the now the 20s rank (the 19s rank before) to break through into the first team under previous manager Kenny Shiels. Allowing Johnston into the team it allowed him have better confidence in himself and his playing career. Most weeks Johnston is either playing for the first team or on the bench. He is now a full time Kilmarnock player and is very rarely not in the team.

From Rangers Lewis Macleod and Fraser Aird just to mention a few have broke through the ranks at Rangers. Macleod started his youth career at Rangers in 2004 till 2012 when he broke into the senior team. Aird started his youth career in Canada until the age of 16 where he made a massive move to Rangers to play for their youth team in 2011. Aird played for their youth team for a year before breaking through to the senior team with team mate Macleod in 2012. Both players had their fair share of games with Aird being the Hampden hero last season for Rangers. Now Aird sometimes still plays with the 20s as he doesn't get many games with the first team. As for Macleod he is either playing or on the bench every week for Rangers, he has also represented Scotland at various levels.

Photo; Lewis Macleod in action for Rangers first team

For all these young players they have all came through the ranks at various different clubs. They have all done well for themselves and have proven to the fans of their clubs that the youth system is really working. Especially with big names like Johnny Russell being involved in the Dundee United youth system and now plays for a massive club in England. Why shouldn't we support the younger generation if they are going to turn out to be fantastic players? Watching young Souttar and Gauld playing is a honour, many boys look up to them as they are still 17 and are playing for a SPFL club.

Even now their are still players who are playing in the Under 20s League and look like they could break through to the first team very soon. Players at Dundee United would be Darren Petrie, Euan Spark, Mark Russell and even Jamie Montgomery. Petrie and Spark have recently signed new contracts keeping them at United till 2016. Petrie has already had his debut for United on the same day as Souttar did and has also been out on loan to give him some experience. However, none of the other boys have managed to get their debut, Spark has been on the bench but not managing to get onto the park. Hopefully these boys will break through soon.

There are many other players who I could mention that I have seen play in the 20s League who are potentially candidates for breaking into the first team sooner rather than later. I hope after reading this more people want to go and support the younger generation of players. I personally am so glad that I have had the opportunity to watch some of these players before they broke into the first team.

Photo; Mark Russell a possible contender for breaking through into the first team soon in action in the 20s League.

Inspirational Players - Shiels and McCulloch

In this blog I tend to tell you about people that I find inspirational from Scottish football both on a personal level and from a playing perspective their names are Dean Shiels and Lee McCulloch. Some people might say that you shouldn't find people who don't play for your team an inspiration, well I think they are wrong. Why should it matter who you support if the player is rightfully an inspiration to anyone.

Firstly, I will speak about Dean Shiels. If you have any disability especially a sight one, Shiels would be an inspiration for you. Shiels born in the small town of Magheafelt in Northern Ireland on 1st February 1985. Due to a domestic accident at a young age causing him to loose in one of his eyes. Most people would stop doing what they loved because they thought they would be unable to do this. Well it hasn't stop Shiels. His father Kenny Shiels (ex Kilmarnock FC manager) help his son get to where he is now. Shiels started his professional career in Scotland at Edinburgh side Hibernian for 5 years, then moved down to England to play for Doncaster Rovers for a short spell of 3 years before going out on loan to Kilmarnock who is father managed for 6 months. After being out on loan Shiels signed for Kilmarnock for the following season. In that season, Shiels scored the only goal of the Scottish League Cup Semi Final against Ayrshire Rivals Ayr United on 28 January.

Photo; Lee McCulloch with Dean Shiels and Fraser Aird.

Shiels had the emotional task of scoring against Rangers in their first match after entering administration. Shiels was really emotional after scoring because he was also a Rangers fan. After that Shiels went on to play in Kilmarnock's Scottish League Cup Final win over Celtic. Shiels rejected a new contract with Kilmarnock and went on to sign for Rangers, who are his boyhood team. He signed for Rangers on 31 July 2012 and made his first appearance in a Scottish League Cup tie against East Fife on 7 August.

That's a bit of background on Dean Shiels. During his time at Rangers he has had many injuries even with the injuries he managed to net a few goals for Rangers. On 2 February 2013, Rangers visited Tannadice Park to play Dundee United in the Scottish Cup, Dundee United won 3-0 but Shiels played fantastic. He was also nice enough to get a photo with me along with a few other Rangers boys.

I have unreal respect for this man because with me having a sight problem myself it shows that nothing should stop you getting to achieve your dreams. I ain't a Rangers supporter so maybe it's wrong to find him an inspiration but I do. It shouldn't matter what team you support. Nothing should stop you respecting other footballers as they are still people who you can find inspirational from or find them a great player, if my case I find him both inspirational and a great player. If you get the chance to see in play and meet him please go watch him because it is really worth it. 

Photo; Dean Shiels with Lee McCulloch

Secondly, Lee McCulloch is an inspiration to me because he is such a dedicated player and an amazing captain. McCulloch was born 14 May 1978 in Bellshill, Scotland.

As a youth player McCulloch played for Rangers, Cumbernauld United before going on to Motherwell where he started his professional football career. McCulloch was at Motherwell for 5 years and netting 27 goals for the North Lanarkshire side.  He then moved down to England to play for Wigan Athletic, in his time at Wigan he managed to net 46 goals in only 6 years. In 2007, he moved back up to Scotland to play for Rangers who he is currently playing for and captaining.

Photo; Lee McCulloch with young Fraser Aird

At school, McCulloch wasn't the best of pupils. All he wanted to do was to play football professionally. He finally managed to play football professionally and he now captains his boyhood heroes. He shows people that it doesn't matter how bad you are at school you can never stop dreaming. McCulloch hasn't stopped dreaming and look where that has got him.

On 11th July 2007, Rangers announced the signing of McCulloch. In doing so McCulloch, picked up three points of another kind. This time is was for speeding. At that time he penned a four year deal which would secure him as a Rangers player till 2011. On 12 August 2011, McCulloch penned another deal securing him till 2013. Then on 31st October 2012, he added another contract extension securing him till 2015. He is such a dedicated Rangers player and this is paid off when he got given captaincy on 1st September 2012.

As Rangers went into liquidation, he decided that he would take a massive wage cut instead of leaving his boyhood heroes like many other people were doing at that moment in time. Instead of taking a 25-75% wage cut he does it for FREE! That is what you call passion for playing for Rangers. He has had a fantastic spell at Rangers and I can see him finishing his career at Rangers. So far he has netted over 50 goals for the Glasgow side, for a defender this isn't a bad statistic. He is now beginning to play upfront more and being able to go back into defence if he is needed.

Again I have seen McCulloch play a few times, I yet still have to meet him. I'm sure that it won't be long till I get the honour of meeting him. For me, I find McCulloch an inspiration because he has inspired so many youngesters in the Rangers squad today, such as Fraser Aird and Lewis Macleod. This is what you call a captain. Being able to make the best out of situations. He just wants to play football for his boyhood heroes like a few of the other current Rangers squad. If I was a Rangers supporter he would be my hero by far, I have never seen anybody be such an amazing captain at any club.

Photo; Lee McCulloch kissing the captains armband

As I said before if you get the chance to go watch these boys please do because they are so worth it. If they score please be clapping and cheering inside because if you could see passion in these boys faces when they scored and when they are even just on the park playing for Rangers. Also if you are lucky enough to meet them, please tell them how much of an inspiration to anyone they are.

Fraser Aird - Future Talent. My View.

Fraser Aird, is a Canadian born professional footballer for Glasgow Rangers FC. Fraser was born on the 2nd February 1995 in Toronto, Canada.

Rangers are Fraser's boyhood hero's, who he's finally getting the chance to play for them along with netting a few goals as he goes. Fraser made probably one of the biggest decision of his life at the young age of 16 to fly half way across the world just to play for the famous Glasgow Rangers. He signed for them in 2011 and is still playing for them to this day in 2013.

During his first season at Rangers he made his first team debut on the 23rd September 2012, in the 4-1 win over Montrose in the Scottish Third Division or League One as it is called now. On the 29th December 2012, he became a Hampden Hero. Now many people would think being a Hampden hero would be scoring in a cup final or scoring for Scotland. Not for young Aird, he scored against Queens Park in a Scottish Third Division match.  

Photo; Fraser Aird and Rangers Captain Lee McCulloch (or Jig as fans know him) after Aird becoming Hampdens hero!

After signing for Rangers his international career took off as well, he is eligibly to play for Scotland and he chose to play for them. In the 2011/12 season Aird made 8 appearances for the Scottish Under 17s with netting 2 goals in that time as well. Aird is currently playing for the under 19s squad and has one appearance so far. However, who cares about international appearances when this boy is a up coming talent at Rangers.

In his first season professional season at Rangers, Aird had a total of 22 appearances and 3 goals. That is amazing coming from a 17 year old boy who's just changed his life to play for his boyhood hero's.

In my opinion, I have seen Aird play on many occasions and scoring on a few as well. I have also met Fraser ironically on his birthday after the 3-0 lose over Dundee United. If there was one person who should deserve more credit than they actually get it's this boy right here! He has worked so hard over the last two years to get to where is his now, he should be an inspiration for others because he has left his family and flew half way across the world just to play football. Lucky, it is worth his time leaving Canada and playing in Scotland.

The passion Aird has for the game is incredible, nothing will ever let that go away from him. Seeing him score and kissing the Rangers badge really shows how much he loves the club he is playing for. As much as I probably shouldn't like Aird because of who I support, I know a good footballer when I see one. Aird is defiantly one to look out for in the future. This Canadian lad is coming for you Scottish Football. 

Photo; Aird kissing the Rangers badge after scoring the goal against Queens Park.

 

If you ever have the chance go watch Aird play and if you can meet him. He is one of the most nicest boys to meet and won't ignore anyone just because you support a certain team. He is also a cracking player, if you are unfortunate enough for him to score against your team well I would hope you would be clapping for him inside because no doubt it would have been a cracking goal.