RANGERS don't have a better squad than they had last season, but they do have a stronger one.

They have lost nine players, but of the guys who have left there has been a lot of deadwood cleared out.

Barry Ferguson was obviously the biggest name who left, but last season he was in and out of the side and he wasn't anywhere near as influential as he had been in past campaigns.

The real reason I think Gers are stronger is because they have more quality that they call on to change things if games are not going their way.

Steven Naismith and Kevin Thomson are essentially two new signings and I think they will go on to have their best ever seasons at the club.

Naismith got on the scoresheet at the weekend and I think we will see a lot of that as the season goes on. His strength is in getting into the box and getting on the end of things and he is also capable of creating chances for those around him.

I also reckon that young guys like Danny Wilson, who is only 17, John Fleck and Andy Little will have a part to play this term. They have had the chance to mature a bit and you could see from Saturday's game that Fleck has appeared to take on board some of the lessons of the past few weeks.

I hope he keeps his head down because he is a talented boy who can have a massive future at the club.

On Saturday's evidence I think there was a lot for Walter Smith to declare himself happy about. I know that there were blips in the performance and it wasn't quite as convincing as the scoreline suggests, but I don't think too many people will quibble with a 4-1 win on the opening day of the season.

But the big problem for Rangers in recent years has been the lack of consistency when they have been on the road. This weekend they have to go to Tynecastle and face Hearts and it is this performance that will give us a real chance to look at Rangers and judge them.

Hearts, I think, will be the biggest threat to the Old Firm this season and I will be interested to see just how Gers compete against them on Sunday because it is always a difficult ground to go to.

I don't think that Csaba Laszlo's team are capable of sustaining a genuine challenge and pushing the Old Firm for the title, but I do think they are up to taking a fair few points off them, especially at Tynecastle.

I suspect that Walter will be desperate to have Portuguese midfielder Pedro Mendes back for this one because he is a quality player and he is the type of guy that could swing things for Rangers in the middle of the park.

Thomson came on to a great ovation on Saturday but I don't think he is fit enough yet to start a game. He will maybe need another two or three weeks before he is up to match speed.

Until then I reckon that Steven Davis and Mendes, if fit, in the centre of midfield is an ideal partnership.

There was a lot of room for improvement on Saturday which will have been obvious to Walter, but with a few bodies back this week then it could be a stronger squad that travels through to Gorgie. Mac return is a sickener for deputy

I FELT a huge amount of sympathy for Neil Alexander when I saw the Rangers line-up for the opening match in the defence of their SPL crown.

I was absolutely certain he would get the nod to start the season and he will be absolutely gutted at the fact Allan McGregor is back in as No.1 because I cannot think of one occasion when Alexander let anybody down.

He has every right to go and demand an explanation from Walter Smith, but the bottom line is that he is seen as a back-up - and that is a tough one for him to take.

I actually think there is very little between the two keepers and the situation reminds me of my own time at Rangers when Stewart Kennedy and Peter McCloy were battling it out for the position.

They were two outstanding stoppers and it meant that if anyone had a couple of poor games they knew they were out.

McGregor has been very lucky after the events of last season to find himself in this position, but now he has to prove to Smith he can hold on to it.

He has to knuckle down and show a decent run of form because, if he does not, then it will be time for Alexander to come back in between the sticks. Top guns must fire for Hoops

CELTIC'S first-half performance against Aberdeen at Pittodrie was the best I have seen the men from the east end play in a long time.

The two wide players, Aiden McGeady and Shaun Maloney, were outstanding at Pittodrie and the former's second goal was a touch of class.

But their problem tonight is that Arsenal are not Aberdeen - and Gunners boss Arsene Wenger is no mug.

His two wide midfielders won't allow either Maloney or McGeady anywhere near the space they were afforded up north.

However, I believe Celtic are capable of springing a surprise on their own turf tonight, but I do fear for them over the two legs.

Watching Arsenal thrash Everton 6-1 proved they are a team that will challenge for both the Champions League and the Premiership.

I really cannot see Celtic doing it but, if I am proved wrong and they knock Arsenal out, it would be the Parkhead club's best European result since the Champions League format began. Kris is likely to miss out

KRIS BOYD'S lack of match sharpness showed up on Saturday and I wasn't too surprised because his involvement in pre-season has been limited.

I said last season that he would spend a lot of time on the bench this term and I still go along with that.

If he is still at the club when the transfer window shuts I suspect he will be behind Kyle Lafferty, Kenny Miller and Nacho Novo in the pecking order.

He is the kind of guy that is good to have on the bench because you can bring him on to get a goal, but I can't see him being a regular starter.

It wasn't just that he didn't score on Saturday - he didn't contribute elsewhere either. If he gets a chance, as he did against Falkirk, he really has to show something and I don't think he did that.