Rangers manager Walter Smith has condemned the SPL rule which forces clubs to include 3 U21 players in a matchday squad.
Smith says it should be the quality of the players rather than their age which dictates team selection.
"A lot of younger players are getting involved in 1st team games far too easily," he informed Rangers News.
"It is simply due to their age and not because they are making the demands of football. That is wrong."
Smith had Steven Lennon, Jordan McMillan and Steven Kinniburgh among his 7 substitutes for the league opener at Inverness.
Lennon, McMillan and Paul Emslie were selected for Saturday's Ibrox clash with St Mirren.
But none of the youngsters got any further than the bench, whilst more established players sat in the stand.
"I feel that the U21 ruling pushes you to put a young player in there and lets them think they have achieved a certain level without them actually doing anything to achieve that level," added Smith.
"We have had young players come in to our team over the years, Barry Ferguson, Charlie Miller and Steven Pressley, for example, and every one of them has done so regardless of their age. In the next few years I am sure we will have several young players here pushing their way into the 1st team however they will not do so because they are U21 however rather because they are good footballers. That should be the criteria for picking a team, not due to someone's age."
Charlie Adam, who hit 14 goals from midfield for Rangers last season, was a spectator for the St Mirren match, along with Ian Murray and summer signing Alan Gow.
"It could be better if the players would feel like they were involved, even as a substitute," mentioned Smith.
"As it stands only now you must leave out reasonably experienced players who then feel like they are not getting any opportunity to get close to the team."
13 08 2007
Former Celtic midfielder Stephen Pearson was rewarded Monday for helping Derby return to the English top flight with a call up to the Scotland squad.
Pearson, who has 6 caps, was named by manager Alex McLeish in his 22 man team for the friendly against visitors South Africa at Pittodrie in Aberdeen on August 22.
"It is a chance for us to look at another midfield whilst at the same time bearing in mind that win is still very important for us," mentioned McLeish.
"We would like to win this game however I have rested some of the senior players and I have got them on a stand-by list should we have any problems."
The 24 year old Pearson's former Motherwell team mate James McFadden is also included inspite of missing Everton's 1st match of the season through injury.
But there is no place for Rangers midfielder Charlie Adam or Kilmarnock forward Steven Naismith following their Scotland debuts in June.
Naismith was named in the U21 team for their clash with the Czech Republic the night before the South Africa game.
However, McLeish urged the young pair to show patience. "If they are disappointed to be left out, they should not be. They only must keep the form they have shown," he said. "It is important we do not rush the young players."
Scotland squad
Goalkeepers, Neil Alexander (Ipswich/ENG), Craig Gordon (Sunderland/ENG), David Marshall (Norwich/ENG), Allan McGregor (Rangers)
Defenders, Graham Alexander (Preston/ENG), Russell Anderson (Sunderland/ENG), Gary Caldwell (Celtic), Alan Hutton (Rangers), Jay McEveley (Derby/ENG), Stephen McManus (Celtic), Steven Pressley (Celtic)
Midfielders, Scott Brown (Celtic), Darren Fletcher (Manchester Utd/ENG), Stephen Pearson (Derby/ENG), Barry Robson (Dundee Utd), Gary Teale (Derby/ENG)
Forwards, Craig Beattie (West Bromwich/ENG), Kris Boyd (Rangers), James McFadden (Everton/ENG), Shaun Maloney (Villa/ENG), Kenny Miller (Celtic), Garry O'Connor (Birmingham/ENG)
04 08 2007
Skipper Barry Ferguson gave Rangers a significant psychological boost by inspiring a 3-0 win over Inverness on the opening day of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League campaign.
The long trek north to the Highlands was a daunting prospect for the Ibrox side, who endured 2 defeats and a draw against Charlie Christie's side last term.
Results of that ilk typified a dismal season for the Glasgow giants and today's win, thanks to a double from Ferguson and a Nacho Novo strike, will be seen as a signal of intent as Rangers attempt to mount a realistic challenge for Celtic's SPL crown.
Manager Walter Smith made 2 changes from the side which scraped a 2-0 triumph over FK Zeta in the midweek Champions League qualifier, Charlie Adam and Jean-Claude Darcheville making way for the introduction of Kevin Thomson and DaMarcus Beasley.
It was the U.S international who could have opened the scoring early on, pouncing on a Ferguson through-ball and racing down the left flank and into the box. Beasley's blistering pace had taken him past several Caley Thistle players however he had taken too long to pull the trigger and goalie Michael Fraser had raced off his line to block.
Kris Boyd was then the 1st player to be booked with only 11 minutes on the clock for a challenge on Ian Black, who needed treatment. The home crowd howled vehemently at the foul, however the away fans were in raptures 5 minutes later.
A long ball from Allan McGregor was touched into the path of Ferguson by Lee McCulloch and the Ibrox captain unleashed a superb, left footed volley which cracked off the inside of the post and into the back of the net from 20 yards.
Brahim Hemdani then had his name taken by referee Kenny Clark for a foul on Dennis Wyness, before Rangers should have doubled their advantage.
Boyd was singled out for most of the criticism following the poor display against Zeta, hitting the post in the opening seconds of the qualifier before missing a sitter in the 2nd half.
He had the chance to silence his critics when Ferguson released him into the box, however the luckless forward was denied by the woodwork for the 2nd time in 4 days as his effort rattled off the crossbar.
Ferguson was the provider again, this time delivering a good ball to the feet of Beasley however the winger fired straight at the goalkeeper, with Boyd waiting for the ball several yards out and with the gaping net in his sights.
As half time approached Hemdani swung the ball to Carlos Cuellar and the centre-half, who netted in a pre season friendly against Ajax, was denied his 1st competitive goal when Fraser parried wide.
Boyd had suffered a knock in the 1st half and, clearly still struggling, was replaced by Novo 3 minutes after the restart, with the Spaniard playing on the right and McCulloch pushed further forward through the middle.
Rangers dominated the play early on however were finding it difficult to convert possession into clear-cut chances and Caley slowly started to grow in confidence.
They made a change of their own after 62 minutes, when Rory McAllister was sacrificed for Don Cowie, however any hope of a comeback was dashed when Rangers found the back of the net again 2 minutes later.
McCulloch did well to hold off 2 defenders to meet a long goal kick, before squaring into the path of the onrushing Novo, whose thunderous strike from only inside the box left Fraser with no chance.
Inverness shuffled their pack again, Roy McBain making way for Richie Hart and Dean McDonald taking the place of John Rankin.
With time fast running out, Hart tried his luck with a drive which deflected wide, before Wyness saw an angled effort held by McGregor.
However, Rangers ran out comfortable winners when Ferguson grabbed his 2nd of the day in the final minute, sending a cheeky lob over the goalie from 10 yards to set the Ibrox side up perfectly for next week's 2nd leg against Zeta in Montenegro.
01 08 2007
Rangers gained a vital 2-0 triumph over FK Zeta in the 1st leg of their Uefa Champions League qualifying 2nd round tie.
2 fortutious 2nd half goals from David Weir and Lee McCulloch were enough to give Walter Smith's side a lead to take into the 2nd leg next week.
Rangers finished the game with 10 men after Alan Hutton was sent off for picking up 2 bookings in the space of 60 seconds.
Rangers came flying out of the traps and almost broke the deadlock in the opening 10 seconds when Boyd burst into the box from Lee McCulloch's pass and struck his shot against the post.
The home side continued to throw everything at Zeta and Boyd was unlucky when he redirected Charlie Adam's wayward shot only wide of the target.
Jean-Claude Darcheville had a sight of goal on 12 minutes when he cut inside only to hit his shot straight at Zeta keeper Sasa Ivanovic.
Zeta created their 1st opening of the contest on 17 minutes when Bojan Ivanovic found space on the edge of the box only to drag his shot horribly wide of the target.
A minute later Adam saw his header from Hutton's cross tipped over the crossbar by Ivanovic.
Ivanovic was at the centre of the action again on 21 minutes when he palmed out Darcheville's angled shot and he was on hand to collect the rebound before McCulloch would get on the end of the loose ball.
Zeta started to get a foothold in the game and they went close to scoring on 39 minutes when Darko Markovic curled a free kick from the edge of the box only wide of Allan McGregor's goal.
The visitors were growing in confidence and Ivanovic sent over a dangerous cross which Hutton did well to clear from right under his own goal.
McCulloch had the last chance of the half when he fired in a shot from 25 yards which Ivanovic turned round the post.
Rangers really should have opened the scoring 4 minutes after the restart when Ferguson saw his long-range shot palmed out by Ivanovic and the ball fell to Boyd who somehow lifted his shot over the crossbar with the goal at his mercy.
Zeta won a dangerous free kick on the edge of the box on 54 minutes and Marko Cetkovic saw his curling effort well saved by McGregor.
Rangers made the breakthrough a minute later with a somewhat fortuitous goal from Weir.
Weir lobbed a hoping that ball into the Zeta box and, under load from Darcheville, Ivanovic missed the ball allowing it to drop into the unguarded net.
Rangers suffered a major blow close to the hour mark when Hutton was sent off after picking up 2 bookings in the space of a minute.
Hutton was booked for hauling down Zarko Korac on the edge of the box and the young defender was given his 2nd caution after needlessly charging down the resulting free kick to leave Rangers playing the last half hour with only 10 men.
Rangers doubled their lead on 73 minutes with a controversial effort from McCulloch.
McCulloch beat Ivanovic to a ball in the box to head goalwards and Novo appeared to bundle over Milan Radulovic as he tried to clear the danger, however much to Zeta's disbelief the referee allowed the goal to stand.
29 06 2007
Rangers midfielder Charlie Adam signed a new 5 year contract.
The 21 year old was one of the Ibrox club's most consistent performers in his breakthrough season.
Adam, who won his 1st Scotland cap against Austria in May, hit 14 goals and made 42 appearances for Rangers after a full term on loan at St Mirren.
"To come back and play more than 40 games was more than I could have expected," he informed the club website. "I am delighted to get my contract."
Adam signed a 3 year deal at Ibrox last October after impressing then manager Paul Le Guen.
But his excellent displays have earned him enhanced terms.
Manager Walter Smith will have several new faces at his disposal next season and Adam thinks Rangers can challenge champions Celtic.
"I spoke to the manager and his advice influenced my decision to sign such a long term deal," continued Adam.
"What he mentioned only said my own thoughts and I am pleased it is all finalised before the games start. I will keep working hard and hopefully do well. We have strengthened the team and I think we can have a good season."
22 06 2007
Charlie Adam will seal a new 5 year deal with Rangers.
The 21 year old midfielder proved to be one of the Ibrox club's most consistent performers during his breakthrough season, making more than 40 appearances last term.
The talented youngster now is looking set to be rewarded for those displays with a bumper new contract when he holds talks with manager Walter Smith next week.
Adam's agent Kenny Moyes informed the Daily Record, "Charlie would love to sign a long term contract at Rangers. It is what he has always wanted. We always mentioned we would see how lots of games he played last season, which was a lot, then have more talks. I would hope to meet them about Charlie and there is no reason for him to leave now."
