What to believe in the great Rangers Jelavic hunt?
Conflicting stories but still room for hope for Gers fans
Depending on your working day, you can sometimes miss out on some of the breaking stories. You may be lucky enough to have mobile or internet access to keep you up to speed with all the latest internet rumours but sometimes stories pass you by.
It turns out that various sources, with Tribal Football taking the biggest flier with the story, announced Rangers had captured the Croatian striker from Rapid Vienna. Many felt that the capture of James Beattie at the weekend signalled the end of the pursuit of Jelavic but the rumour mill suggested otherwise.
With no official confirmation on the Rangers site, the story started to look shakier and shakier and then the BBC site went live with a heading saying that ‘Rangers fail in bid for Rapid Vienna striker’.
On one hand, you may think that was that…but this is football and with the transfer window still open, nothing can be ruled out. The most telling statement for us came from Alfred Hortnagl, the Sporting Director of Rapid Vienna.
The BBC article ran with these quotes from Hortnagl:
“He will be staying with Rapid Vienna ahead of our two important Europa League ties against Aston Villa.”
“We do not have time to bring in a new player before the matches, so Jelavic won’t be leaving the club.”
On the surface, that seems like a strong rebuke but have a think about it, it certainly doesn’t rule out the possibility of Rangers clinching the player after the Europa League ties.
Rapid, Rangers and the players representatives could easily come to an agreement about the future of the player, allowing the player to play for Rapid in these games and to allow his current club to work behind the scenes on gaining a replacement.
In our opinion, the Jelavic deal won’t be happening for the next week and half but we wouldn’t rule it out completely before the window slams shut. That’s hardly a bold suggestion, no doubt about that but a little patience is required.
The funding for this signing and the need of Rangers to bring in another striker are matters that can be discussed over the next week or so but for now, everyone should hang fire and see how the Jelavic deal pans out.
Rangers fans, still hopeful of this deal taking place?
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From what i’ve heard and the bits ive seen i think he would be a useful acquisition and would like to see him at Ibrox.
However. if he plays in the Europa play off i believe that is him then cup-tied for Europe, which could bury any deal.
Although, my thoughts are how much is Europe a priority this season for Rangers? My hope as a fan is just not to get embarrassed and if we can take 3rd place in the group and another tie or dare i wish 2 in the Europa knock outs i would be more than happy.
So reckon priority must be retaining the domestic title as Celtic are hungry for it this season. And with that in mind the urge to get Jelavic on board may still be strong.
I will watch with interest.
If Rangers sign Jevalic after he plays for Rapid Vienna in the games against Aston Villa would he be eligible for Rangers Champions League campaign?
If he wasn’t available for the Champions League games would it really be worth the investment of over £3 million when Miller, Laffetry and Beattie have probably enough fire-power to beat most Scottish teams.
To be honest guys, seen so many conflicting stories and reports regarding the status of Jelavic being cup-tied or not, we’d be wary of adding any further mistruths to the story!
Jelavic will only be cuptied if rapid Vienna make it into the group stages not if he plays in the 2 games , he will be a magnificent signing for rangers he is top drawer !
Glyn, I’ve not seen too much of Jelavic apart from his demolition of the Celtic defence last year but his goal stats are not that great for the amount of money required for Rangers to spend to bring him to Ibrox.
Career total Played – 128 Scored – 36
Cheers for that Glynn.
I will agree but it’s his all round game play that is there with the price , he’s big , strong , can shoot outside the box and is a workhorse , bit a think the main reason wattie wants him is because he can hold the ball upfront and with the way we will probably set up (4 -5_1in Europe that gives players from the midfield time to get forward I.e Davis, Naismith and probably miller deployed just behind him ! I realy realy want him here my personal opinion is he will be like a wrecking ball in the Dunc mold and will allow others room to create with attention on his strength !
Dubcentral
He’s a player thats improved each season, Last season he got 28 goals in 48 games, which included 9 goals in 12 Euro games. Pretty good scoring if you ask me.
This season 4 goals in 4 Euro games thus far.
All I can say is if he plays in the first game against Aston villa, lets hope villa take 5 off them so we can get him quicker.
Woo-hoooo!
The Huns sign 2 players in 3 years!
I fear the worst this season with all the speculation surrounding jelavic, in my opinion, the most urgent priority should be in midfield and defense, i can see many a goal scored against us if we dont strengthen those areas, it wiil be a long and very tough campaign and the depth in squad will haunt us and it wont be in the attacking departments, celtic look faster, stronger and hungrier than they have for some years and our midfield and defense will be tested even more and in europe. I know the finances are tight and therefore we must spend wisely and keep the goals against at a minimum, only for bad finishing and good goalkeeping, kilmarnock would have started our campaign off disasterously.
It’s become a saga of epic proportions!!
What pressure the lad will be under if we DO sign him as the longer it takes, the more will be added to the expectation of what he can do for the club. My understanding is that if he does play in the qualifier, he then becomes ineligible for the competition even if they lose, however I’ve been wrong before! Like some of the other posters though, we need cover in midfield and especially width which we’ve been crying out for a long time now. Walter seems adamant that he will sign another 3 players before the window ends which is encouraging given the circumstances surrounding the club at present,
Oh forgot to say to Happy Dude
Woo-hooooo
2 titles in 2 years, nae dough and two in a row!! lol
Expect Kenny Miller to be gone if Jelavic is signed. In fact, it may not be certain Miller will stay regardless of Jelavic arriving or not. For Rangers to cough up £4M on a player who will be cup-tied would be, to put it mildly, a shock.
Does put into perspective Rangers’ ‘attempts’ to keep Boyd. Offering higher wages to Jelavic, plus a hefty transfer fee, when they could have kept Boyd for a lot less. Why not just say ‘we want him to stay… but he’s not good enough a) for the money he wants and b) to play in Europe/Old Firm games’?
No need to answer.
And where’s Georgie Welcome? What happened to him? He wasn’t leaving without a deal last I heard?
Latest press reports indicate Georgie is still welcoming the chase as a Rangers trialist.
Think it was said there could be up to 4 trialists at Ibrox.
Welcome, the boy from Arsenal, a French defender and maybe a winger – sorry, this reply hasn’t really been researched, just trying to recall what was said on the Twitter this morning.
STV saying they expect Jelavic in Glasgow today to conclude a deal!! Quote from Martin Bain.
The never ending story …………
WeKnowSFA it looks like the winger you are talking about is Etienne Esajas, I think he used to play for Sheffield Wednesday and recently had a trial with Charlton.
Nacer Barazite and Georgie Welcome are also both due to feature in a bounce match against Partick Thistle at Murray Park today.
Why the fuss about him being cup tied in the Champions League, All that the Champs league is now for Rangers is a money spinner, we proved last year that we cant compete
We should still look to sign him with winning the league in mind, and the cash boost that comes with it, I am afraid Rangers will use the CL eniligibility as another excuse for not getting their man, its a red herring as far as I am concerned
We will bring in 3 nobodies instead of bringing this guy in, the nobodies will be of the 30 something year old and not of the 24 year old up and coming top striker variety, lets be honest
To be honest Scooter, before the window closes, it wouldn’t shock us to see Jelavic in and Miller out.
This would reduce the wage bill, ensure Rangers don’t lose a player for free at the end of the season and have a player with a re-sell value.
There is then a risk in having two new strikers as your top men…but some days getting out of bed is a risk!
Anyone else think this (or similar) may happen?
I would accept that to be honest, think Miller has done a great job for us but he’s not getting any younger, 31 now I think
You swap a trier with a finisher, only problem being who does all the running Miller does?
Think ive stated before, Rangers right now are a joke, taking players on trial who failed at Sheff wed and couldnt win a contract at Charlton??!!!!!!!!!! Was going to say it cant get any worse, I have a feeling it may do though!
To lose your two leading scorers from previous season would be a bit unfortunate. But it it’s possible Celtic and Rangers might be in the same boat by the close of the transfer window. If the rumours are true that Samaras and Miller are joining Boyd & Keane on there way out of Glasgow.
I am just not unhappy that Boyd has gone, I think Miller would be the bigger loss
Boyd will struggle in the Chamionship, the fact he went to Boro suggests he knows his own limitations
I think a front 2 of Jelavic and Beattie isnt any way weaker than Kenny Miller and kris Boyd
There’s good players out there without going with household names , bougy , cuellar , Davis just have a little faith in your team and to describe the champions as a joke is ur pinion but I’m expecting good things at ibrox with the chance finaly givin to youth players who will come in and play for the jersey with passion instead ov shite like rothen , if we keep the spins ov our team and tweak it with youth then we will do wel if not this year then the young lads will get some quality experience and build for next !!!!! In Walter we trust !!!!
Glyn
The reason I say we (and trust me I want things to be better as much as the next rangers fan) is simple
We leaked to the press we had £5M to spend this summer, something that was done to try and placate us fans, we then sold 2 players for £4m and freed up probably about £4m in wages for a year, my calculation means we shoudl have had £13m to spend IF TRUE
We have brought in Beattie, who i think will do a job, we are today hastily arranging a practice match to see an Arsenal youngster, a honduran that nobody has heard of an en ex Sheff wed player who couldnt get a contract at Charlton, and we are leading the fans down the garden path over Jelavic, you know as well as I do this deal will collapse because of someone else, who are we to demand to Rapid that the player be in Glasgow today, their decision not ours surely??
I actually think Celtic have signed some poor players this pre season, but lets not debate that they have at least targetted some, done the deals quickly and are not making it up on a day by day basis.
The young players you mentioned WILL NOT be good enough, we are a joke, even if it hurts me to say that
Re: Celtic’s poor signings – Mulgrew has looked a poor defender but appears to be the back-up…as long as Celtic bring in a first choice left back.
The jury is rightly out on Murphy but as 4th/5th striker, will be better than Killen. Which isn’t praise at all to be honest.
The rest have either shown promise or potential or seem reasonable signings on paper but again, that accounts for 6 players….and you can see further turnover in Celtic’s squad this month.
Bringing in a large number requires them to gel quickly – not impossible but needs it all to click sharpish.
This is in contrast to Rangers where the main body of the team that has won 2 in a row remains…but reinforcements are required…and any (if any) sales are made, replacements will be needed.
Still think Rangers need more width in their squad to help them along this season…but Walter Smith has said this, so we are hardly being clever in saying this.
It may be the 25 man squad issue in England may be the answer for some of the gaps at both clubs. This means it’s going to the deadline…
Without looking like I am trying to cause an argment (as if!) Do you think that all these signings Celtic have made make them better than last season, missing Boruc, Keane, McGeady?? I would argue thay are bigger players for the club than Rangers have lost, Kevin Thomson apart, I am not unhapy at who Rangers have let go, Wilson was always going to go to a higher level and only played 20x! Novo, Beasley, Smith happy that they have gone to be honest, were never first picks on the team sheet
It is glaringly ovbious however that we need to replace them due to lack of bodies, we wil not miss their “ability”
Would also think Celtic PLC will be panicking at yesterdays results and wouldnt imagine too much more happening at Parkhead!
Meant to add, i like Jo Ledley, have always thought he looked a decent player and the Mexican boy looks decent also, the rest, in my opinion, wouldnt worry our Walter i dont think
Could be wrong!
Celtc, at the moment, are definitely weaker.
You could make a compelling argument that Celtics 5 best players last season were:
McGeady, Keane, Boruc, N’Guemo and Hinkel.
4 not there now, the other all set to go.
However, don’t think the new signings are overall poor, which was our point – certainly weren’t saying Celtic have improved over what they had.
However, we think it’ll be a different Celtic, there is more of a spine and more desire will likely be shown. Which is sometimes more important than signings.
scooter I don’t understand how you can come out and say that the youth will not be good enough ? The lads have got to start somewhere and they ard not at rangers just to clean boots they are there to learn and ply their trade this just might be ther time to shine wilson was classed as just a boy last year and with a couple ov injured players stepped in and was outstanding and from what I here Wilson isn’t the only highly promising lad that’s on his way to the top so just gave a little patiance and give the youth a chance to emerge into the light and show us all why they have been playing with such z great club like Rangers !
Maybe someone should tell Martin Bain this before he blows all Lloyds TSB/Taxpayers money on a player he won’t be able to play in Europe.
If Jelavic plays for Rapid Vienna in the playoff round (not a qualifying round) against Aston Villa then he’s cup tied for both Europa League and Champions League group stages
http://www.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles/Download/Regulations/competitions/Regulations/01/48/42/49/1484249_DOWNLOAD.pdf
18.07 As a rule, a player may not play in a UEFA club competition (i.e. UEFA
Champions League and UEFA Europa League, but not UEFA Super Cup) for
more than one club in the course of the same season. Exceptionally,
however, a player who has been fielded in the first, second or third qualifying
round of the UEFA Champions League or UEFA Europa League is entitled to
play in the UEFA Champions League or UEFA Europa League for another
club as from the group stage, provided that his former club did not qualify for
the group phase of either the UEFA Champions League or the UEFA Europa
League; moreover, as from the start of the round of 16 (round of 32 for UEFA
Europa League), a player can be registered in accordance with paragraphs
18.17 to 18.20 below. For the avoidance of doubt, a substitute player who
has not been fielded is entitled to play for another club competing in the
UEFA Champions League or UEFA Europa League in the course of the
same season, provided that he is registered with the UEFA administration in
accordance with the present regulations.
Now it looks like Stoke could be interested in Rapide Vienna’s Jelavic and with Stoke not being in Europe this season they won’t care if he get cup tied playing against Aston Villa.
Guys, lets get this in perspective, massive debts, one signing so far in 2 years, boyd, novo, wilson, thompson, gone. Who else before start of season.? No buyer for the club, Murray silent on the finance front, Bain, failing to complete deals and looking very amateurish in the market, threadbare squad, and walter in his last year trying to perform the impossible yet again, 2 or 3 injuries or suspensions and things could look very bleak indeed. Never mind who celtic sign, good bad or indifferent, we must get our own house in order, we are papering over cracks that could soon become crisis. Walter has proven you cant buy titles, but, he must be given the financial support to improve the team in the correct areas, jelavic may be more than a decent player but at what price, i maintain, the money would be wiser spent elsewhere on the field, midfield and defence and if possible add goodwillie from dundee untd, hes young, hungry, knows the scottish game, scores goals and affordable, strengthen middle and back 4 and that will be good enough to secure the title yet again. Jelavic, good player good idea, but not prudent spending.
Welcome No More – Sir Walter of Rangers has decide not to go for any of the trialists they had on show against Partick Thistle yesterday including Georgie Welcome who scored a hat-trick in the game.
http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/editor-s-picks/walter-smiith-says-no-deal-as-trialists-fail-to-impress-1.1049026
Im sick ov fukn saying this to people jelavic will NOT be cuptied if Aston villa knock rapid Vienna outonly if they make it to the group stages will make him ineligable to play what’s so hard about that to understand ! If villa take apart Vienna tommorow nite then expect jelavic signed by Friday or Saturday !!!!!!!!!!!
Thing is Glyn, you can swear and be angry all you want but the regulations for the 2010/11 Champions League indicate otherwise:
http://en.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/index.html
The regulations can be found at the above site.
We didn’t want to comment on the post until we were certain they referred to the current season – after all, the rounds in the Champions League /Europa League qualifying round have changed in number in the past few years.
However, reading the regulations – only rounds 1, 2 and 3 are eligible for not cup-tieing a player if they fail to reach the group stages.
This round is the play-off round (in effect, round 4) and is therefore not eligible for the exception stated within the guidelines.
If you can indicate where we are going wrong with our reading of the regulations Glyn, we’d be delighted to hear it and we’ll give you your proper dues.
It does state 1st 2nd and 3rd but no indication ov the playoff round , I read a statement from one ov uefas spokesman that stated only if rapid rapid Vienna qualify for the group staged than jelavic will be cup-tied , i’ve took this in good faith but we will wait and see soon enough !!!!!
Fair doos Glyn…its just a bit worrying how hard it is to get a definitive answer for this issue.
The Uefa website needs an ‘Ask Jeeves’ section…maybe an ‘Ask Michel Platini’ section?
Glyn…the phrase you’re looking for is
Expressio unius est exclusio alterius
the lack of the specific mention of the playoff round means anyone who plays in that round is cuptied…no matter the outcome..
Jelavic is also cup tied if Rapid get through even if he plays no part against Villa..as he has already played in the qualifying rounds..
Jelavic will only be eligible for Rangers in CL group if he doesnt play against Villa and Villa knock out rapid..
don’t trust UEFA “statements”…just read the rules!!!
Personaly I think all this cuptied player stuff is utter nonsense and the seeding is a disgrace they’ve took the romance out ov it , basicly it’s just a breeding ground for money laundering ov the big clubs , they don’t want any small teams to get thru for one reason only an that’s TV money how good would it be if they just put everyone in a bowl for the group stages and drew it out then you could get some magnificent games all battling thru every game instead ov smashing teams then resting players for the last two games , it’s not even the champions league it’s a total shambles teams can win it and not even be champions ov their own league but be deemed best in Europe it’s a FARCE !!!!!!
Glyn – Rangers didn’t win the Scottish or League Cup in 1971 would you suggest that they shouldn’t have been in the European Cup Winners Cup the year they won it?
Wel a wasn’t anywhere near born then but if you read my comment correctly I was actualy referring to the champions league which is clearly present day ! The cup winners cup was alll about a mixture ov teams I’m presuming rangers got in on a technicality by the way you’ve used ur context but how can u try to put the old cup winners cup and CHAMPIONS league in comparison anyone can win the home cups but winning a league at home is far far harder that’s why I think it’s ridiculous that u can be champions ov Europe but not even your own country, or even change the name to nearly champions and champions league it needs to be addresed the whole set up needs to change ANC bring back the cup winners cup !!!!!
Jelavic finally coming to Ibrox today, should be unveiled with Weiss tomorrow.
Does Jelavic have enough full international caps to get a work permit in Scotland?
Jelavic has six caps but, under Home Office rules, must have featured in 75 per cent of games. Friendly games are not considered by the Home Office
Dubcentral … Do u ever have a good thing to say about rangers ? Every comment is pesamistic ( excuse my spelling ) u just look for the bad in everything !!!!!