Fingers crossed for happy ending

WILLIE MILLLER

16 May 1998

RANGERS will go in to today's Scottish Cup final determined to bring a happy end to what has been, by the standards they have set themselves for many years, a disappointing season.

It will also be a swansong for many of the players who have been pivotal in their huge success.

Richard Gough and Brian Laudrup definitely will be playing their football elsewhere come the summer, and a host of others are likely to follow them out of the door.

It was no coincidence that Rangers' resurgence occurred when Gough returned to Ibrox from America and today he'll be keen to end his Rangers career - this time for real - with a winner's medal.

There is no doubt he will be a key man against Hearts, along with the off-form Brian Laudrup.

The Dane, although I have great respect for him, has had his mind elsewhere for some time and has not been nearly as effective as he can be.

Having said that, he is a big stage player and the final will give him the opportunity to show that he does have pride in achieving success.

If, like in the last Scottish Cup final between the two, he can strike up a bond with Gordon Durie then Hearts could again be left deflated.

They will have learned from their previous finals and their exceptional young players such as David Weir, Neil McCann, and Colin Cameron have really come of age this season.

It was a masterstroke by Hearts to bring in Weir, who is someone I've always admired.

He was a player with great potential which is now being realised with him being picked for the World Cup.

He has a big future ahead of him, as does McCann, who has developed into a really exciting talent.

Although the Hearts team have a lot of young players I do not feel it will be in any way a hindrance because they have been over the course before and in fact the pressure of the occasion may be greater for the older players, like John Robertson, who will feel this could be their last big cup final.

In all honesty I think this could be Hearts' best opportunity to win the trophy for a long time.

Rangers staggered to the finishing line this season and have really not played at all well.

Before Gough returned to the defence, Rangers had no solidity whatsoever, and all through the season there have been a lot of players who were going on to the park with thoughts of the future on their minds.

Whatever the outcome, it is shaping up nicely for an entertaining final.

q I DON'T think there were too many shock inclusions or omissions from Craig Brown's squad for their American tour, which will more or less be the same squad that will feature in the World Cup.

There were a few eyebrows raised when Brown announced that Rangers' Stuart McCall and Ally McCoist would not be travelling with the party to the States, but when looking at the squad, as well as how Craig has set out his formation in recent friendlies, the emphasis will be on fitness.

Clearly injuries and age have taken their toll on both men, who have been used sparingly by their club, and so it would seem right to include younger, fitter players for what will be a difficult three matches.

I think Craig already has his team finalised and Scott Booth has been given the nod over McCoist, even though he didn't really grasp the chance in the friendlies.

He has a first class international record, though, and I think that made up Craig's mind, as well as the fact that he's young and fit.

Also, with the amount of defenders listed it looks like horses for courses in France, with the focus on avoiding defeat.

q I HONESTLY don't know where to begin with the Celtic issue which really has taken the shine off their championship win.

There is quite obviously a gulf between the men at the top and the management team.

Fergus McCann has done a terrific job on the business side but it is clear that he doesn't understand the footballing mentality.

Both he and Jock Brown have had a major communication breakdown with Wim Jansen and now they face another summer searching for a new manager.

It'll need to be decided in double quick time because now they have the Champions' League preliminaries to worry about before the start of the season.

I see that Wim's assistant, Murdo MacLeod, has already thrown his hat into the ring for the post, but with all due respect, I think they will try to entice a big name from abroad, although Craig Brown is a likely candidate from these shores.

Personally, I think they will be looking for someone of the stature of the French national coach Aimet Jacquet.

Taken from the Herald