Gaffer

Until they have the meeting I'm not sure what else they can say. This was just an announcement to demonstrate they are doing something. Would be great to see if they get any more clarity than we have at the moment. I'd hope not, after all it shouldn't take Club 1872 to get involved before the board realises we are concerned.

I was gutted yesterday. It wasn't because we lost (afterall we've suffered that a few times this season), but it was more the way we appear to have thrown the possession system out of the window within a week of MW leaving. I thought the same system applied to the kids as it did the first team. If that's the case, I've no idea why Murray needs to change the style. If he is changing the style, I think his role is in jeopardy. If he didn't change the style, it may be that the more senior players in the team are going rogue and changing it themselves. Either way, Murty will only have another couple of weeks to show that he does have a plan, or that he can control a bunch of senior players with their own ideas. The team has lost faith in the system. Perhaps that's better than them losing faith in each other. I think that's the problem though. Some of the players have lost faith in some of the others and until Murty grasps that and makes the changes, faith in the system will continue to be undermined. I like Halliday and Miller but they slow the play down too much. RK needs to have a time out for a couple of weeks. It'll hurt his morale but it's hurting the team more and you can see that especially when WF gets the ball. He just doesn't want to give it back to RK and looks nervous now. I had my head in my hands yesterday. All this talk of McLeish coming back had me worried. Then when I saw us yesterday I thought somehow Ally had managed to sneak back in charge. For me this demonstrates why a DoF is an ideal setup. There's always a second line of defence (pardon the pun) if one leaves. Had we had a DoF, Murty could have coached the team but the DoF would have been the figure of authority behind him, making it clear that the players can't do their own thing, and that Murty has to maintain the style of play the club wants. It's been said that the worst thing to lose is hope, and that's how I felt yesterday. I had hoped that the style (possession and pressing) had at least been embedded in the team. I had hoped that the players would up their game and press harder and move the ball quicker. Not only did they fail to even try the passing or pressing game, but they appeared to be under their own direction, leaving Murty as merely a spectator. I now just hope we can make some sort of decent announcement soon re the future structure of the club and appointments of DoF and head coach. If we don't, I fear we lose hope quickly.

Going by some of the names suggested on this site, we could do a lot worse than give Murty the role until the end of the season.

I disagree with you rbr: what do the more traditional managers say then that's more insightful? Modern day managers talk about possession and transitions because they're taught how important it is. They perhaps should go into more detail about what this actually means but it's an enlightened era of football managers these days. So it's not hip - it's just the modern language to reflect the modern game. I do however agree with you that delivering it is the difficult part. However, surely knowing what you're trying to deliver is the first and most important step. Too many managers think you set a formation, bring in the best players you can, motivate them and then send them out to the pitch. Let's just hope that we get the right guy in charge and that he knows what he's trying to deliver, as well as having the skills to deliver it. If they do that, I don't care How "bland" they are in the pressers.

I like the sound of that brief quote from him. Why do so few managers appreciate the tactical side of the game. They (and pundits) talk only of formations, but that's almost irrelevant, and modern day coaches are learning that. He mentions about the transitions in the game and this is something I mentioned in another thread. We need a plan and a system that takes advantage of those transitions regardless of whether it's us losing the ball or winning control of the ball. I want us to take another chance on a manager with a strategy and a coherent philosophy. It didn't quite work with MW but it was worth the risk. It's still worth the risk and I'd support someone like this. If he's not successful then that's fine, we just move on again. But if he is .....

Am I missing something on this thread? Of all the legitimate questions we could/should be asking at this time, why should this something we/you would focus on BH? I don't care whether it's personally funded, or costs 1k or 10k. It's utterly irrelevant, unless you can tell me otherwise. I'm not rating our board or chairman based on their expenses. I'm rating them and want us to hold them to account based on how well they do in appointing a new manager and finding ways to secure th necessary investment in the club. I can understand why trouble-making and attention seeking journalists write about this type of thing, but why you?

As usual, another really interesting piece by you Frankie. Maybe I need to replace my blue tinted spectacles but I think we have some really good players. And dare I say it, I think Kiernan can be a good player too. We've got really technical players in my opinion. What they seem to lack is the organisational sense when we are in particular positions on the field. The movement is good and the passing can be very slick at times but I've been concerned for some time at the lack of positional awareness. I thought MW was aware of this because he often spoke about the "pitch geography" in the first six months, but now I'm not sure. We play a 4-3-3 but the shape never seems to change regardless of whether we have the ball or not. This doesn't make sense. Normally a 4-3-3 becomes a 3 (2 x CBs and a holding midfielder) - 4 - 3 by the time you get to the final third, giving enough forward players to create space, whilst keeping things tight in the middle of the park to deal with fast counter attacks. Then it can change to 4-5-1 when defending. What annoys me is that the holding midfielder never seems to take up that role in attack and the two centre backs don't get wide either. If they went wide we wouldn't have the same defensive problems when the opposition breaks up our attacks. This is the type of tactical awareness and system I'd expect to be hammered in to the players by now but it's not working. And since Weir didn't play in a system with wide centre halfs im not sure he knows how to fix it either. It's this tactical stuff that I think we need to fix, and if we do that I think we'd do well with the players we have. And another peculiar thing is why we play McKay in that position. I've heard MW say that he can play as a winger or a number 10, but when has he ever played the number 10 role? I agree he'd be great at it, but where in our system does a central attacking midfielder play? That just doesn't make sense to me either. 4-2-3-1 is now popular for a reason and it's what I'd like us to adopt. It's popular because it's a solid setup for transitions in play, and it's simple for players to understand and apply. In that system we need two good offensive wing backs which we have in Wallace and Tav. We need a good holding midfielder which we'd need to bring in. It needs a technically gifted number 10 which McKay could be and a central striker with good movement and both Dodoo and Waghorn can fit that bill. The rest of the team just needs to be fit and technically decent which I think applies to this squad. MWs plan A was good but not great. If we have a system that fits our players, which as I've already opined are technically very good there's no reason why this squad isnt capable of doing well next season and in Europe. I really don't think we are that far away and I don't think we need to pin our hopes on signing more than 3 or 4 players in the summer. What we do need is the right managerial appointment. I don't envy the board's responsibility in identifying and securing the services of the next manager. I'd just love to know though how they'll select him. What questions will the board ask in the interview to ensure they get the right person? I don't think they know so it's a real punt. I'd offer to help them but this might just create a conflict of interest. After all, I can't really write the questions if I intend to apply for the job too. Or can I? Come on DK. If ever we needed to see how good you are, it's now.

I can't believe we're on here discussing the prospect of AM coming back. I know he won a lot with us before, but so did Walter and I don't want him back either. Let's be honest, we've not played any sort of football between Advocat leaving and Warburton arriving. Now that I've got a taste of decent football (leaving the lack of cutting edge and poor defence aside), I can't face going back to that. I love when we win but I can remember the days when we won just about every game under Smith and yet I still felt so underwhelmed. I could just about accept a temporary appointment of AM or WS for a couple of months to see us into second place, but please please please don't tell me that any of you are accepting the prospect of these former managers being part of our future. For the first time we have a squad full of technical players just crying out for some direction. We've never had that many technically gifted players (relative to "them") before. You can teach technical players to defend and play to a system so let's get someone who can do that. I never saw any sort of system under any manager except advocat and MW so we know we need someone new now. Clearly MW couldn't give them the answers in the first or final third but many of the younger managers now can, thanks to the quality of coaching for coaches these days. So I don't mind if our next manager is a risk (i.e. Relatively unknown), but whoever it is I hope it's someone with new ideas. I'd buy into that, even if it later turned out not to work. It's got to be a risk worth taking, and it would keep the optimism strong. I think we need that!!

You are worrying unnecessarily Frankie. As long as we execute our plan A properly, we won't need a defence. I suspect we may lose a goal, but I think we will be so up for this game and willing to impress a packed house that this could be the ideal setting for a hat (magic one of course) full of goals for us.

That's a very strong front 6 but as others have said, the main difference is in what we have on the bench. If this was our starting line up, we could have a great front six on the bench: Rossiter, Windass and Holt, and then Dodoo, MOH and Miller. I'd be happy going in with that team too. How many other times in our history could we say that? As for the defence, I'm not too concerned. Our plan A of keeping the ball is working well and I think we will have a couple of games this season where we wouldn't even need the keeper. I'm serious. We do miss a load of chances but I'd also expect us to hammer a few teams this season when everything just clicks. Of course the reverse is true that our attacking approach will result in games where it goes against us but no one in their right mind would sacrifice this style of football. The team is operating far higher than the sum of its parts and I can't see anyone living with us throughout the whole season.

Ok, that makes sense but I'll ask you then .... Who can we afford that's a proven goal scorer? I would love to think it's possible but I seriously doubt it. I'd suggest that we can only afford an out of contract older player, or someone coming in on loan. Every team is after proven goal scorers and unfortunately I can't see us competing with most of them financially. I'd love to come on here tomorrow or even next week and find that the magician has pulled a rabbit out of the hat (preferably a fast, skilful, 20 goals per season rabbit), and I'll cling to that hope like everyone else. However, if he doesn't, I'll still go into this season feeling better than I have done since Advocaat left. Actually, I felt good going into the PLG era, but Ferguson, McGregor and Boyd soon spoiled any prospect of a revolution at that time. Thank god those days are in the past though. Class, respect, discipline and professionalism have been returned to the club. #64 ... We're on our way to 10 in a row. Can you feel it too?

I agree with you, but who? Surely anyone who is prolific and who has the movement and skill required for our style will be well out of our financial reach. Bradshaw and Grigg, etc are good and are relatively cheap players but I'm not sure they'd fit in with our style. I'm happy if we bring in a younger player and take the risk on them. We've got enough to put in a decent league challenge as it is. If we are lucky and the players gel well we could even win it this year with the current squad. If we get a young striker that develops quickly, we could be runaway winners for a few years to come. I really want Ball to sign and I'm hoping that's who MW is waiting on. He is a young guy for a defender and could develop over the next two years into a top class defender and possible future captain.

World's Awesomest Training Park ....... Or we could just abbreviate and use its initials

Trublu: Your posts on this subject come across as being highly cynical but perhaps that's understandable after the past x years. I agree that he is being a little political in his answers, but I believe this is just a case of setting expectations rather than anything more Machiavellian. Like everyone else on here I want to get answers to the questions, but I also want to see them deliver on their commitments. So far I'm very satisfied with our transfers. Who would have thought 18 months ago that we would be in a position to sign some hot prospects (like Rossiter), never mind the likes of Barton and Kranjcar? I didn't. To see guys like that being attracted to our club is a massive step forward, and to see them come in to develop some exciting new talent is exactly what we all want. If we continue with this transfer policy I will be one happy bear. Isn't that what DK is articulating? Isn't he just delivering what he's said in his response? I'm glad we have guys like you that will naturally keep pushing for more details, and give us the alternative view, but to be taken seriously you need to strike the right balance and be a little fairer in your assessment/opinion. But that's just my opinion.

This is a good response from DK. He's managing our expectations, and I'm looking forward to seeing the responses to my questions. 2,300 responses to his request for questions! That's a terrific reaction from the fans. He's taken a brave step in giving us the opportunity to ask. Will he be brave enough to answer them? Who knows, but he'd have to be stupid not to. After the veil of secrecy surrounding the club for so long, this is a great opportunity to continue the journey of rebuilding the trust between the fans and the people who run our club. Interesting times

If the club manages this process well, it could be a very constructive and refreshing start to the new season. My questions are: 1. How many more permanent players and how many more loan players can we expect to see before the season starts? 2. What is the impact of these new signings on the financial position of the club? Will the season ticket and advertising income cover these costs or will the club require further investments/loans to cover these costs? 3. What succession planning steps are being taken by the club to ensure that we continue with the same style of play and youth development, even if key members of the staff leave? 4. Do you expect the manager to sign a contract extension? If so, when? 5. When can the fans expect to hear an update relating to the issues involving Rangers Retail and the associated deals with Sports Direct? 6. GIven that I'm a senior financial services executive (just like MW was), and given that I too am successful in coaching young players (with the relevant coaching badges, just like MW), what are my chances of taking over from Mark Warburton when he leaves (having won our 60th)? Where do I send my cv?

It's been a wonderful season and has restored my enthusiasm for the game. I enjoyed the Advocaat years when we played with a really identifiable style. I also enjoyed the individual brilliance of Laudrup, Cooper and Gazza. However the football we've played this season is better than anything I've ever witnessed in our game up here. We have a style of football which we need to maintain. It's fast. It's simple. It's exciting. It's everything that football should be. The team ethics are spot on and the behaviour from the management team just oozes class. It makes you proud doesn't it!?! I coach an under 15s team and it's such a bonus being able to use your own team as an example of how the game should be played. What has made the season even more enjoyable for me is the daily reading material on Gersnet. It has kept me updated with everything I could possibly have wanted to know this season. It has made me laugh. It has on occasion made me angry and disappointed too, but not very often. It's a brilliant source of info on all things Rangers so I'd propose an addition to this Rangers Report ..... The Gersnet Team and all posters You guys n gals get a 10. I've never posted before but it seemed like the right time to express my opinion.