Blinkyman

"Prime example today of why people have doubts." So give us your play by play on how 'you' would have changed the game. Half time talk, team shape for the second half, subs - who comes off and why, who goes on and why etc., etc.? "The emblem of the critic is the dung beetle that lives on other peoples shite", Mark Twain "A leech in the locks of literature", Robert Burns

What went before is for the novelists, script writers, historians, lawyers, judges to sort out. As it stands Ally has a second kick at the can, whether you or I like it or not. Charles Green has that covered. Only time will tell.......... .........................bad hopeless bits, or needs & wants as I'd like to call it: That we picked-up the players we did, but just not enough of them before the door slammed shut. Didn't go into debt again, despite all our new found wealth!? (that's the sarcastic bit) Not enough defenders? Not enough quality defenders? Not enough experience? No pre-season? We couldn't get on the field for all the politics off it!? We're lucky to be playing at all (you can take that either way, if you like) Small pitches? (no room to move, trying spread out and pass the ball, 1,2,3, opponents on you before you can take a breath, look up, pass) Every game a cup tie, we're going to show them even if we have to kick them off the park to do it!? Can't string two passes together, ball control, ball retention, can't get it out of our own end, passing back to the goalie all the time. Hoof it up the park. Alexander's 30 second warning as he waves to the opposition that he's about to hoof it and hand it to them on a plate? Never thinks about throwing it or kicking to a defender. Hopeless you say, in ability and desire? Inadequate, incompetent, despondent, bleak, Incurable, no possibility of solution, well maybe so in this age of instant gratification. The game is not dead in Scotland, we've only had our head in the lofty clouds way up there in the SPhell (where business men are gangsters and honest men are fools), where there is a real danger that it might collapse (if the attendance figures, viewing stats, amongst the very entertaining no score draws are anything to go by) Meanhwile, back on earth in the lowly 3rd devision where we have to face these big bruising cluggers fresh from the highland leagues, Juniors or the English 4th division are ready to hurt you to a point just short of breaking a leg (maybe), they lay down artificial turf, slopping pitches, fierce open parks where the wind howls from 4 directions at once. ............Get the picture? Well down here is the real game, the game we remember, wi' the jakits on the grund. (snotters up the sleeve, wit dae ye meen come in out the cauld....) Good honest effort, heart and desire, and a will to just play the game. Truth is, I forgot how good it could be........... Somebody on here said it was a fresh start, clean slate, an opportunity, and so it is by god. An old friend Doddie, who's son played somewhere in England, St. Johnstone & ended up at Ross County many moons ago used to say "it's a man's game. (sliding tackle, 50/50 ball, shoulder to shoulder, they shall not pass defending, what is that?) When we played it was a ba' ye hud tae kick no a bloody balloon". Remember when the bladder was hingin' out and the laces had knots in them? Must have been a big medicine ball, is all I can say. Better than watching a bunch of fairy ballerinas swan diving, with one eye on the ref and another on the linesman while they roll over like they've been shot (strictly according to Hollywood rules, remember the cameras are watching). Crowding out the ref, arguing, pulling his shirt, protesting their innocence like some second rate 'B' picture con man that you can see through like a pain of glass. How could you no see that was a penalty? But I digress........ We already have the advantage, we've got McCoist! (........just said that to annoy a few folk) But seriously........ we do. With our 20 year-old's, young guns, Captain Courageous, any SFL team would be grateful & proud of any 'one' of them. I'd be doing them a dis-service if I was to that say I could not find way more +'s than -'s in all of them. All have been hot or cold at some point but the spark, the brilliance, the moves, a burst of speed, agility, the goals we've seen, (these laddies know where the net is!) heads up passing not always completed (but if it had come off) the ideas are there, the anticipation that next time if it comes off, real promise of quality from such young players. Coupled with the known, proven talent we've witnessed and acquired from other teams. There is only one way for me and that is up through the divisions. As Bill Struth said "we'll have our failures and days of anxiety" so it may not be a high speed elevator to the top, but we'll get there, in time. I just don't see the hopelessness you speak of.

Tin hat on, chin-strap securely fastened, here goes - Deficiencies, Failings & Questions - ...from the worry merchants, the paranoid & delusional, the prophets of doom, the coffin nailers, the soap box brigade in general we're told we need or don't need the following, depending on the source - ethos, philosophy, blueprints, tactics & tactical awareness, mind-sets, performances, common denominators, bigger picture(s), new identities, can he take us forward, or building for the future in Europe.......... the criticisms, unrealistic expectations go on & on & on........ On Philosophy - Bill Struth has given us all the philosophy we need IMHO Great expectations - Future = 2, 3, 5, 10 years, Europe, take your pick, it's one week at a time for me. Bring on Saturday at 3 o'clock. Character building is a work in progress, and it started July 29th. Reality = 9wins, 1 loss, 3 draws (not a bad set of statistics considering where and how we started the season, IMHO) Ally McCoist, Ian Durrant, Kenny McDowell and the 26 first team players are all we've got for the foreseeable future. Fortunate are we to have so many that must be the envy of the SPL. We may need to look to the Reserves & Youth before the season is out. I hope there are a few more gems in there like MacLeod, McKay, Aird etc. Beautiful game you say !? ............. you're having a laugh, this is the SFL3. Down-right ugly, raw, brutal at times certainly, but it shows just as much excitement, passion, flashes of brilliance, quality, style, and pure entertainment for me, than the SPL. There's a lot less diving, and Oscar winning performances than I saw from Barcelona & Co this week too. But not up to the standard of the Junior Cup Final, Auckinleck v Shotts Bon Accord on some days. Fact, reality, get over it. It's the agony & ecstasy of fitba'.................... just enjoy the ride. Please keep the toys in the pram, thank-you. Give it time, have faith, patience, tolerance, understanding, May is a long way off. To get the juice out of the orange - you have to have it in the palm of your hand. Kicking it doesn't get the same result. Ally has earned the right to our respect on & off the field, let us as fans show some character and stand behind our men & boys! My tumbler is more than half full, is yours? (no doubt you'll tell me what's in it) Blinkyman P.S. please don't mention last year, or Walter, that was then, this is now, onward to yesterday.

Does anyone know if it was the artificial turf or a tackle that cause the injury? (On RangersTV you saw Temps pass the ball and next he is on the ground holding the ankle)

Stumbled on "GERSNET" today and I've been pleasantly surprised by the clean, well organised layout. It seems like a place I'd like to visit daily as I seek out all things Rangers. I like the 'new' Rangers website but it doesn't go far enough for me, no rumours, gossip, opinions :-) Just spent the last four months on the 'old sod' but was sadly disappointed in the quality of what was available in the newspapers. We don't have too many allies out there do we !? Last season I listened to the Real Radio Football Phone-In and enjoyed the laugh, not everyone's cup of tea I know, but I for one will miss it. Radio Clyde's Superscoreboard is another story. Have to admit I detect a difference in attitude (both on air and in the DR) from Keevins since his banishment in the east. After a half hour or so of browsing what has been most noticeable is the absence of four letter words that seems to be the norm elsewhere.............. Finally, my hope is for more patience with McCoist who has been magnificent under terrible pressure, faith in Charles Green (not blind faith), time for our team to blend as we start to build up steam. I think there are still players who will leave and yes we need more but from what I have seen in McKay, MacLeod, Perry, Hutton, Naismith, Hegarty etc. keep playing them, don't burn them out, let them develop, they are our future. Andy Little, in my book, can play on the right wing, right back, in fact any position he wants to play as long as he keeps scoring goals. Then Now & for Ever