Darthter

As stated before, no-one (from what I can see) is questioning the clubs professionalism, or harshly judging anyone..... I simply started this thread to ask the question as to my Matt McKay isn't making the team sheet. The reason for the question is that he is a recent signing ie. the club paid money for his services, they are also paying a decent wage, the guy has traveled 1/2 way round the world to play yet he isn't even getting on the bench. In the current financial climate, it is unwise to spend that kind of cash on a player, then doing nothing with him. It may be a case of him not performing in training, he may of had a bust up with management, he may just not fit into McCoist's master plan.....we don't know, that's why we're discussing it!!! The only person who knows why he isn't getting a look in is McCoist. It's kinda like going out & buying a new car, then it sitting in the drive for 6months without turning a wheel. Your neighbours will wonder why your not using it, some may even ask, but only you know why. The situation with McKay/Bedoya & others is even more confusing when - in the fans eyes - certain regulars of the team are performing below par. You have stated that extra players are needed for cover - exactly....but that cover doesn't appear to be used, instead other "regular" players are played out of position in order to cover the gap. The whole point of having a squad is so that they can be used. There's no negative judging, calls of unprofessionalism or anything else intended....just a simple question - Why???

This may be a far out suggestion.....he may actually love playing for the club....

I've certainly never called the club on management unprofessional!!!! Simply asking why people think he (and others) are not getting a game or even on the bench....

we don't know...that's why we're discussing. It could simply be that when Coisty signed Bedoya & McKay he had an idea how he wanted the side to play....that plan me have changed, and therefore is player requirement???

You do make a number of valid points above..... Davis IS one of the best players in the team, but he's not been recently. Just because he's had the captains arm band (in the absence of Davie Weir), that doesn't mean he should be immune from being dropped. Competition for places only works if the manager is willing to drop those who aren't performing - this doesn't appear to be happening. As for needing a defensive midfielder.....I would go along with this in certain games - where the opposition are possibly stronger than you. However, this SHOULDN'T hold true for the majority of SPL or cup games. Rangers & Celtic are the 2 best teams in the country without doubt, we shouldn't NEED to play a defensive midfielder - we should be on the attack.....the overly defensive nature of our play has been all too evident this season.

IMHO....Aluko walked into the team coz there wasn't adequate cover in the right wing position - hence why he was signed. He has been given the chance and has grasped it with both hands & done very well. With the likes of McKay & Bedoya, there is competition for their preferred position in midfield - Davis/Edu/McCulloch being the preferred options. If those guys were playing well, I don't think folk wo9uld be overly bothers about others not getting a game. However, in general they ahve been playing poorly, yet they remain the automatic choices. Then injury or suspensions come in - an ideal opportunity for those fringe guys to get a chance - and the manager opts to either play a centre back (Bartley) or a left back (Papac) instead of a guy who favoured position is midfield - makes no sense to me. No-one is trying to imply that they are "more professional" than the folk in charge.....we are simply asking questions & discussing possibilities. Given the current financial status of the club, it does seem strange that we are spending what little money we have on players then not giving them a chance to play. As for playing them in friendlies....I believe McKay has played in a few, and from what I have heard, he's done well - even getting on the score sheet against Killie in mid-week. There may well be valid reasons for certain players not getting a game, but right now know one knows what they are!!!

That is partly what I was trying to get at above.....There's a space needing filled in midfield - Lets use someone who primarily a left back (but is a regular started) to fill it, even though there is a number of actual midfielders to choose from!!!

That is very true, and I also agree with pretty much the rest of your post as well!!! However, The whole point in building a squad is so that you have a pool of players, that you are confident of being up to the standard required to win games whenever they are called upon. I believe Rangers actually have a fairly large squad of players to choose from, however there is only a limited number that ever get picked. McKay & Bedoya for example are both regular international players, playing for decent countries - they should both be more than capable of playing in the SPL - more so in the early rounds of the Scottish cup!!! I found the selection of Kerkar @ Arbroath a strange one.....He's been with the club a number of years, had VERY little game time, and only just scored his 1st professional goal - yet he firstly gets selected for the match squad ahead of McKay, and then gets time on the park, while Bedoya sits on his backside again!!! I get the impression that McCoist is still working from The Walter Smith book of tactics & team selection, trying to stick with the players that did so well for WS as much as possible. I think he needs to really take a chance and stamp his own mark on the team - HIS players, and HIS tactics!!!

In fairness, the "alleged" story broke in the media first....then confirmed, after being questioned directly by the club. When the media get wind of a potential target and question McCoist directly about it, do you expect him to lie??? McCoist has confirmed SOME interest in the player, but nothing more really. IMHO, this is a problem due to the increased media access in the last few years - twitter, facebook, internet etc. Rumours & leaks are easy to get into the public domain where they can quickly become "fact". This then looks like the club are conducting their business in a very public manner....

I think it a tad unfair to label McKay, Bedoya and even Ortiz as failures or a waste of money so early in their time here - especially given the game time they have received. Ortiz didn't impress at all initially when played on the left wing, but he did look a lot better on the right. If what is being said is true that he performs best as a right back, he could be in with a shout at the moment to show what he can do their. From what I have seen, he is a squad player and nothing more. As for McKay & Bedoya, they are more difficult to call, simply coz they haven't played. Bedoya has come on a couple of times as a late sub, but that's not really enough to judge him on. How many first team appearances has McKay made??? According to Wikipedia, a grand total of 3...with no goals & 1 assist. Is that really enough to form an accurate impression of his ability???

How much game time has the three of them had??? Ortiz has had the most timeout of the three. for most of that game time, he was played out of position. When he played in a more preferred position his game improved. McKay & Bedoya have hardly featured at all. Bedoya has at least made the bench though. If they are not good enough, why all the hastle (with Bedoya especially) of signing them??? McCoist must have seen them play before signing!!! Also, when you look at how some of the players have been performing, they've been terrible, yet McKay especially STILL can't get on the bench, never mind actually getting a game.

I read in another thread that he scored against Killie in a bounce game yesterday - don't know what the rest of his play was like though. However, you'd think that if he's playing in bounce games, and getting goals, he must be doing something decent.....

What is the script with McKay???? He was bought following rave reviews from "trusted" sources, is a regular international, moves 1/2 way round the world but can't even get on the bench against Arbroath..... From Willie Vass' training photos, he appears to be integrating with the rest of the squad, and I believe has stated in an interview that he's enjoying being here....so why can't he get a game, or even on the bench???

taking a slightly different slant.... I am assuming that the PLUS membership isn't free.....with that being the case, maybe they are weighing up the cost of being listed compared to the benefits gained from it!!! for example....if it costs £50k per annum to be listed, which in turn generates £20k in share trading it doesn't seem worthwhile to maintain the PLUS membership. That £20k of share trading could still be generated, but without the £50k outgoing.... (Note: The above numbers are for example only....I have absolutely no idea if they are remotely true...) Addition: Just found the PLUS Annual fees: Up to £3m market capitalisation = £5,665 minimum fee - increment per £1m market capitalisation thereafter = £258 Maximum fee = £51,500 Based on the above....I'm not sure what the annual cost would be to Rangers.....its gonna be several thousand pounds anyway....

I would agree that the Papac/Wallace combination is generally working well - they provide cover for each other and are able to swap positions. However, the next game is against 2nd division Arbroath.....I would give Wylde a bit of game time for this one. He needs to maintain his development - and he has come on greatly since playing regularly in the 1st team. There is a possibility that the Arbroath defense will not close Wylde down quite as quickly as SPL ones, therefor giving him a bit more time to do things properly.

My cynical self can't help thinking its come at a VERY convenient time.....he's been playing pants, then suddenly picks up an injury. I'm thinking is saves Coisty dropping him - in the public/media eyes anyway.....

The players need to be in top physical condition....they are supposed to athletes after all. During a game, they don't always have the ball @ their feet. Running, sprinting turning should be of top importance imho. If the players are fit, they can focus better on what their doing during the game.

Does anyone actually KNOW what constitutes an average days training @ Murray Park??? How long do the players spend training as a squad/individually etc??? Is there a standard timetable eg fitness fro an hour, then tactics, etc??? I get the impression that something isn't right. St Mirren totally played us off the park, with a team that is worth a fraction of ours. We also have a team full of International grade players, yet they can't string 2 passes together. Regardless of the Manager's tactics, or team selection, the players on the pitch seem to be struggling. What are teams like St Mirren doing differently to Rangers???

Do STV need to be impartial???? The BBC are a public funded body, so they have to be impartial (allegedly)....STV on the other hand are a commercial entity and therefore have a lot more freedom.

While McCoist HAS to accept a portion of the blame for the team selection and general tactics, I think that pales into insignificance when you consider how the players are actually performing!!!! They are struggling to string 2 passes together - eg. against St Mirren, Whittaker took a throw in to Edu....edu's return pass went 5 yds to the left and out of play - you can't blame McCoist for that!!! The flip side of that, is are the training schedules etc up to scratch??? St Mirren played the Gers off the park - what are they doing so differently to us??? I think McCoist's view is the correct one - Stand as a team, fall as a team....there are faults everywhere!!!

I'd take anything more than what we paid!!! No player is irreplaceable - except maybe McCulloch.....might struggle to get someone so naff!!!

Goian & Boca are the only 2 regular starters. Aluko has only been available for something like 3 games (and started 2) - he could/should go the way of Boca/Goian though. As for Ortiz - def not a regular, and Wallace hasn't been a regular either (Papac being the preferred unless one @ LB, one @ LM). McCoist also seem to favour playing people out of position instead of utilising "Squad" players.....Why play Papac in mid, when you have McKay, Bedoya and some of the youngsters available????

They wouldn't get a game!!!! (just like the last load of purchases....)

Good article.... However, one of your "downsides" is that he only scores against "poorer" opposition...... obviously something that the team doesn't need, coz we've been absolutely bangin' them in against Hibs, St Mirren etc!!! Its obvious that Boyd does have his faults....but at the moment, if Jellyfish is out (for any reason), we will struggle for goals. Lafferty can be a decent goal scorer, but he's not consistent. Healy has a proven record, yet never been given a run in the team. Hemmings is seemingly out with a knee injury fro a good while, and obviously Naisy won't be available anytime soon. For all his lack of mobility/effort etc, Boyd did bring vital goals to the team, which can lift the spirits of the other 10 Gers on the pitch. There is a risk that he doesn't re-live his pas glories, but unless a calculated gamble is taken, we'll never know.

My take on the comment is that having a secure fan base has helped bring the players, rather than the cash generated.