Alan Smith (A First!!)

First ever Republic of Ireland (youth) international to sign for Rangers. Brave decision really especially for a young lad. Walter Smith says he will be in first team within 2 years. He is only 17. Thoughts??

He's certainbly the first in recent history, but there have been 3 former internationals from the republic of ireland  who have played for rangers.

It's a good move for the lad.  He'll be training with some good players and if he's good enough he'll get in and eventually move on to a EPL club.  If gets in and isn't good enough, he'll probably move to another SPL club. 

Either way going to a club like that provides a massive parachute for young lads that going to a smaller club doesn't.  So good luck to him.  I can't see him getting any abuse from Rangers fans anyway - although the aura around him might be intimidating, hopefuly he can rise above it.  If any Celtic fans give him abuse, then they're as bigoted as the "Ireland" fans who kept targetting Rangers players on the opposition in international games for special treatment.  I remember Alan Maybury getting sh1t thrown at him in the street when he used to cycle around fairview in and whitehall to training in a rangers tracksuit he had brought back from a trial. 

Let's hope if he does make it and get in the Ireland team those scumbags don't get near a ticket or else we could have another Lee Carsley incident (where he was disgracefully booed and then cheered when he was taken off against Russia, basically for not being Roy Keane).  I am not entirely against voicing approval at an association but singling out your own players for individual abuse is almost inexcusable.

Some reaction from Rangers fans to the signing

no offense but its not usually the scum element that post on forums plus any scum that do are removed by mods.  I think he will get abuse like lennon got at windsor especially if he akes it into the republic first team.

He's from Cobh!

@bout Alan Maybury

Edited by Propagandhi - 24 Jul 2010 at 7:15am

The Newcastle player Alan Smith is a Rangers fan. What a coincidence!

The Q Man wrote: he ll probably get more abuse of the barstool celtic brigade in ireland than he ll get off the huns in glasgow who go the games

The Q Man wrote: deise316 wrote: The Q Man wrote: he ll probably get more abuse of the barstool celtic brigade in ireland than he ll get off the huns in glasgow who go the games     Yer on the button there Q, and it will probably be worse if he becomes a regular. Best of luck to the youngfella anyway       i think i read some where that a lad from monaghan near the border had been offered trials with rangers and his dad wouldnt let him go as he was afraid of what would happen to his family in there own community im nearly sure he played in one of the drogheda youth teams

Cant find the story but there was some lad from Drogheda and his aul lad was threatened by Celtic fans.