Walter: no buys?

[Ibroxblue 122]

Smith refuses to panic buy

Rangers boss Walter Smith says he will buy no new players in January if he cannot secure anyone who will go straight into the first team.

Smith signed 10 players before the end of the summer transfer window.

However, several of those, such as Alan Gow, Kirk Broadfoot and goalkeepers Graeme Smith and Roy Carroll, have struggled to break into the team.

Rangers have recently been linked with moves for Hibernian full-back David Murphy and Aston Villa striker Luke Moore but Smith admits it is difficult to sign good players halfway through the season.

And, as Rangers bid to move top of the SPL with victory over Dundee United on Saturday, Smith is largely satisfied with his squad.

"We'll just work our way through like every other club," he told Rangers World.

"It's an awkward time, the January transfer window. Clubs don't want to let good players leave at this specific time.

"At the present moment we have a good pool of players. We are happy with the squad.

"We have improvements that could be made in one or two positions, but unless we can find players who are better we will go on with the squad that we have.

"But I would hope, like everyone else, we will be able to add one or maybe two players during this January transfer window."

Smith is also hoping to have Charlie Adam available for the visit of United as the midfielder makes good progress following a thigh injury.

However, Lee McCulloch is still struggling with a calf injury that would have ruled him out of Wednesday's scheduled Old Firm derby, which was postponed following the death of Motherwell skipper Phil O'Donnell.

Defender Sasa Papac is also a fitness doubt after being hit by tonsilitis and flu.

Smith will also have to make changes in the coming games as McCulloch and Alan Hutton prepare to serve suspensions.

McCulloch is out of next Tuesday's SPL trip to St Mirren after his sending-off at Aberdeen before Christmas put him through the disciplinary points threshold.

And Scotland full-back Alan Hutton will miss the Saints game and the clash with Gretna the following midweek, although he will be available for the Scottish Cup tie against East Stirlingshire in between.

http://www.teamtalk.com/football/story/0,1...3020098,00.html

[Rohan 23]

A good thing.

Should buy for the sake of improvement only.

[Muff 245]

I agree. If we cant get players of real quality then there is no point in making any signings. We have enough mediocre/decent players, we now have to sign genuine quality!