Lee Wallace

[BigChap 15]

This is an article copied and pasted from the Times, this guy is a proper role model and seems to spend his time productively rather than just playing golf and shagging. He's exactly the kind of guy Rangers need to build a lasting future.

Lee Wallace was excluded from Scotland selection because Craig Levein felt the defender was literally out of his league, but the same cannot be said of Wallace’s mind.

The Rangers left-back will return to international football after a three-year absence on Tuesday in the World Cup qualifying match with Croatia, but if Wallace’s well-documented decision to stay at Ibrox and play in the lower reaches of Scottish football cost him caps, he has been using his time to

good effect.

The 26-year-old has spent the last three seasons taking his coaching ­badges and even manages an amateur team in Edinburgh. Wallace has also been studying Ajax as part of his SFA ‘B’ licence assessment, the team that will be on the other side of Glasgow on ­October 22 on Champions League ­duty. He even offered his notes to Neil Lennon, the Celtic manager.

Stepping back on to the Hampden Park pitch on Tuesday will seem strange to Wallace. He suffered a ­cruciate ligament injury there in September 2010 against Liechtenstein and was out for six months. That was the last of his seven caps and Levein offered concern about Wallace’s situation for the defender, who was still with Heart of Midlothian then and playing in the top-flight.

However, Wallace moved to Rangers and when they went into liquidation, the defender chose to remain with the new club and play in the fourth-tier while his fellow internationals, Steven Naismith and Allan McGregor, left. ­Levein did not select Wallace again but Gordon Strachan brought him back ­into the fold in the win away to FYR Macedonia last month.

“There was never a discussion ­between Craig Levein and myself,” Wallace said yesterday. “I just went by what was said in the media, that it would be hard for him as a manager to pick someone who was playing in the bottom tier of Scottish football. I totally respected him for that as I respected him as a manager. I put my sole focus into Rangers.

“It’s been brilliant working with this manager [strachan]. It is the third squad I’ve been involved in. There’s ­certainly a great level of respect from the players towards him. The manager, plus assistants Mark [McGhee] and Stuart [McCall] are a great team. You certainly know what your job is when you go into a game. You know how the opposition play, all their strengths and weaknesses.”

Unlike most footballers, that sort of in-depth analysis is right up Wallace’s street. “I did my ‘B’ licence in the summer, nine days at Largs,” he said. “My homework task had to be in last week. It was a team analysis and you had to pick a team and look at their strengths and weaknesses. I am back at the end of October for a couple of tutorial days and then we will get assessed so I can go straight onto the ‘A’ licence next year.

“I have enjoyed that side of things. It’s great coming away here and seeing the manager prepare at international level and prepare to play top-class players, like in the two past games. I have taken a team for the last three years, called Heriot Vale, and they are top of their league

“The team I studied was Ajax. It has been hard to find weaknesses with them. I am actually quite a geek when it comes to this but I hope it pays off in 20 years’ time. I did it because I was keen on Frank de Boer. I had read Pep Guardiola’s book in the summer but a friend on the course with me did Barcelona, so I opted for Ajax.

“It took me two weeks overall. I learnt a lot. It was an enjoyable task. Whereas some people might not enjoy the written work and the laptop work, I do. I will give Neil Lennon a bell if he wants. If he gives me his e-mail I can e-mail it over.”

[glasgowrangersno1 468]

Wallace is the best Scottish left back at the moment, no question.

Let himself down with that last comment though

[Poetry_In_Blue 1,043]

Can't read that they type is too small

[scarkev 3,540]

It's hard to take this article seriously and the standard of journalism in this country is reflected in this piece! So Wallace didn't win a cap against Macedonia? Oh and I love the standard lets randomly throw in a 'new club' jibe....despite factual evidence to the contrary! Pathetic!

Also.....I never had a conversation with levin and just went by what was said in the media....and I respected him for that! Eh? Doesn't make sense!

Joke article! Admin should delete this pointless thread IMO...,

[Brightside 41]

The big man is sheer class. Great footballer, great attitude.

[PromDeAnglais 6,858]

"However, Wallace moved to Rangers and when they went into liquidation, the defender chose to remain with the new club"

Bit of a contradiction there, how can you remain with something new?

Fud of a journalist.

[No.12 508]

"However, Wallace moved to Rangers and when they went into liquidation, the defender chose to remain with the new club"

Bit of a contradiction there, how can you remain with something new?

Fud of a journalist.

Well spotted.

[Drunk and disorderly. 15,094]

Email Lemon the address of a good dentist. That should be his priority Lee.

[elephants stoned 2,994]

Yeah i read a better article about Waldo a couple of days ago, not thrilled with him offering to email tlb his findings on Ajax tbh but like we have always said players live in a different world to us supporters and as Waldo didnt grow up a bear i suppose its maybe not his way of thinking to want to watch them crash and burn. Im impressed with his attitude in terms of planning for his future though at only 26 hes already doing his coaching badges and managing Herriot Vale a amature club, very impressive for someone so young

[MasterD 7,464]

Mess of an article.

Read about him doing the badges and coaching an amateur team yesterday in another article and it shows how dedicated he is to football.

[rangersross 6,729]

What is this, an article for ants?!

[Dutchy 1,200]

What is this, an article for ants?!

I'm sure uncles can read it too, but with some difficulty. Maybe you need tiny wee eyes to read it?

[Redsox1 1,361]

Mess of an article.

Read about him doing the badges and coaching an amateur team yesterday in another article and it shows how dedicated he is to football.

I have a friend who plays for Fulham youths and ALL the players go through their badges. They all study the game of football. No surprise that they have a dutch manager there. Would it do our young players any harm learning about different systems etc ? maybe keep them out of Nando`s a bit.

[Brightside 41]

I have a friend who plays for Fulham youths and ALL the players go through their badges. They all study the game of football. No surprise that they have a dutch manager there. Would it do our young players any harm learning about different systems etc ? maybe keep them out of Nando`s a bit.

That sounds like an excellent idea.

[Corky True Legend 2,682]

If - sorry - when he gets his "A" badge, can he take over as our manager? Would that satisfy the "Ally oot" brigade?

[Bluepeter9 5,167]

Well done to lee - great role model for any professional footballer !

[rfc_watp 1,503]

Probably my favourite Rangers player tbh. Why don't we have a song for him??? He defo deserves one!

[allgers 735]

Levein was a trumpet how can you give that respect, Ally takes a bit of stick for playing one up front at times, playing none up front is a whole new ball game...

[VERITAS VOS LIBREBETS 3,428]

Anyone got spare binoculars?

[simplythebest 11,453]

Hopefully we can hang onto him for a long time.

[Inigo 33,373]

"However, Wallace moved to Rangers and when they went into liquidation, the defender chose to remain with the new club"

Bit of a contradiction there, how can you remain with something new?

Fud of a journalist.

Who is the journo? Couldn't stop the wee agenda oozing out.

[devref 201]

Hopefully we can hang onto him for a long time.

thinking most of us feel that way. hope I am wrong but I can see some of the smaller epl clubs chasing him in the window or at the end of the season.

[allgers 735]

This is an article copied and pasted from the Times, this guy is a proper role model and seems to spend his time productively rather than just playing golf and shagging. He's exactly the kind of guy Rangers need to build a lasting future.

Lee Wallace was excluded from Scotland selection because Craig Levein felt the defender was literally out of his league, but the same cannot be said of Wallace’s mind.

The Rangers left-back will return to international football after a three-year absence on Tuesday in the World Cup qualifying match with Croatia, but if Wallace’s well-documented decision to stay at Ibrox and play in the lower reaches of Scottish football cost him caps, he has been using his time to

good effect.

The 26-year-old has spent the last three seasons taking his coaching ­badges and even manages an amateur team in Edinburgh. Wallace has also been studying Ajax as part of his SFA ‘B’ licence assessment, the team that will be on the other side of Glasgow on ­October 22 on Champions League ­duty. He even offered his notes to Neil Lennon, the Celtic manager.

Stepping back on to the Hampden Park pitch on Tuesday will seem strange to Wallace. He suffered a ­cruciate ligament injury there in September 2010 against Liechtenstein and was out for six months. That was the last of his seven caps and Levein offered concern about Wallace’s situation for the defender, who was still with Heart of Midlothian then and playing in the top-flight.

However, Wallace moved to Rangers and when they went into liquidation, the defender chose to remain with the new club and play in the fourth-tier while his fellow internationals, Steven Naismith and Allan McGregor, left. ­Levein did not select Wallace again but Gordon Strachan brought him back ­into the fold in the win away to FYR Macedonia last month.

“There was never a discussion ­between Craig Levein and myself,” Wallace said yesterday. “I just went by what was said in the media, that it would be hard for him as a manager to pick someone who was playing in the bottom tier of Scottish football. I totally respected him for that as I respected him as a manager. I put my sole focus into Rangers.

“It’s been brilliant working with this manager [strachan]. It is the third squad I’ve been involved in. There’s ­certainly a great level of respect from the players towards him. The manager, plus assistants Mark [McGhee] and Stuart [McCall] are a great team. You certainly know what your job is when you go into a game. You know how the opposition play, all their strengths and weaknesses.”

Unlike most footballers, that sort of in-depth analysis is right up Wallace’s street. “I did my ‘B’ licence in the summer, nine days at Largs,” he said. “My homework task had to be in last week. It was a team analysis and you had to pick a team and look at their strengths and weaknesses. I am back at the end of October for a couple of tutorial days and then we will get assessed so I can go straight onto the ‘A’ licence next year.

“I have enjoyed that side of things. It’s great coming away here and seeing the manager prepare at international level and prepare to play top-class players, like in the two past games. I have taken a team for the last three years, called Heriot Vale, and they are top of their league

“The team I studied was Ajax. It has been hard to find weaknesses with them. I am actually quite a geek when it comes to this but I hope it pays off in 20 years’ time. I did it because I was keen on Frank de Boer. I had read Pep Guardiola’s book in the summer but a friend on the course with me did Barcelona, so I opted for Ajax.

“It took me two weeks overall. I learnt a lot. It was an enjoyable task. Whereas some people might not enjoy the written work and the laptop work, I do. I will give Neil Lennon a bell if he wants. If he gives me his e-mail I can e-mail it over.”

Some people aspire to playing golf and shagging!!!

[Creampuff 22,630]

There's never any doubt when you look at Lee Wallace that he's a complete professional.

[WilliamFyfe 1,438]

Apart from the article saying he joined a new club it's a good read.

Lee Wallace is a great pro. He's our future captain.

I appriciate Lee Wallace staying and so so.

Best left back Scotland have.