Frankie

Not a bad draw but certainly could have been easier...

Wouldn't surprise me if a Don from Sicily owned the company though....

I don't think anyone is expecting miracles. I do think we expect and deserve more than what is being served up. Lack of commitment, motivation, quality, consistency and passion caused by a complete inability to do the basics correct are the mandate of the manager. While our league position may not tell the whole story, we are failing on all the above. A game in hand against Dundee Utd shouldn't change that very accurate and most valid conclusion. Sure Walter Smith can't make his players play good football and win games. But if we're not doing this - and we're not - then he should be making changes. By not making those changes (and he isn't - see Whittaker, Davis, Naismith) then he is culpable so deserves criticism. Of course such criticism should be reasoned but because these problems are nothing new, people are rightly frustrated and losing patience. Smith complained of a lack of creativity in the team on Saturday? Who's fault is that?

I see Novo's white briefs more as a flag of surrender as we once again drop points at Pittodrie....

Yep, I'm told a few players couldn't afford the kitty 'fee' for the night out on Saturday so it would be interesting to find out who did and who didn't go because of this....

Don't disagree with that MF - the blame can certainly be extended throughout the club and the continual under-performance of the board is one that has played a central part in our backwards trek. However, no-one is telling me that a squad of players who are capable of winning titles and playing well; along with a manager of the greatest experience and knowledge cannot regroup to win this title. They're on the front-line and they're not going to be relieved by others so they need to stand up and be counted. They are the problem but they are also the solution. Surely at some point they have to look in the mirror and see they're not doing anywhere near enough. When our goalkeeper, a 17 year old and a 39 year old centre-half are amongst our best players for the season, surely embarrassment at the very least will force some into action?

I don't normally refer to Greek mythology in my articles but as Rangers players partied Saturday night away in their private booth with VIP table service at 'Panacea' nightclub in Manchester, the connotations of the club name with healing and solutions certainly struck a chord. It was in the mid-late 1990s that Richard Gough stated 'the team that drinks together, wins together' and when one looks back at that decade of dominance for our club; not many people would disagree with his comment. The 9IAR team spirit was second to none and hardly any of the squad during that time of supremacy lacked commitment - home-grown or foreign in background. As such, our club ruled the SPL and Walter Smith was the King who reigned over that success. Fast forward ten years and that same King reigns over markedly different circumstances. The club dynasty is one that appears at its end, there is no money to replace under-performing players and success is more inconsistent than guaranteed. Indeed, our problems are rife and despite still being in with a chance of topping the league come the end of 2009, King Walter is no longer the omniscient legend we all though he was last century. But, he can still be our panacea. To fulfil that role, we can only hope he finally sees the same difficulties we do. Sure, his loyalty to players who have helped deliver the relative success we've seen over the last 2 years is a virtue we shouldn't readily dismiss. After all dropping players for the odd bad game (or mistake) isn't a way to build confidence and morale half-way through another must-win season. However, there is a fine line between supporting his players and blind loyalty. That fine line has arguably been crossed with the continual selection of Steven Whittaker whose confidence is shot in ways every opposition team and every opposition player is clearly taking advantage off. The belief in Steven Davis to finally take up the mantle of Barry Ferguson in assuming responsibility for igniting our attacking play is one that is more misplaced with every match he lets us down. Stubbornness and familiarity are also managerial aspects we must criticise carefully. Consistency of selection is agreeable, consistency of strategy breeds success while faith in tactics has seen us challenge on many fronts since Smith returned. However, once again, the fine line between faith and questionable selection of players simply because of a winning system has been crossed. Despite his faults Lee McCulloch has done reasonably well this season and has arguably out-performed others in midfield. Unfortunately, when not accompanied by another holding player, he lacks the guile necessary to dominate the engine-room. Adding Steven Naismith - a centre forward only has been proven surely - to the mix isn't innovative or exciting; merely bizarre and too demanding of a player that lacks the physical nature required when up against 5 man opposition systems. Ability to change brings us back to 'panacea' and immediate evidence that Smith (and his managerial assistants) may not be the solution comes with their attempts at starting XI changes, substitutions or transfers. Quite simply they have bought badly; over-complicate their team with player after player out of their preferred position; and seem incapable of making substitutions during matches to change our fortunes. As such, it is difficult to believe that with these same issues still prevalent they can address the problems now - in a December where our home and away form will be challenged by any team who can see the same obvious faults as we do. Can Walter Smith et al really retain the league title? That in itself raises more short-term questions. Will the manager's contract be renewed in January? What about key players such as Kris Boyd? Can the club afford to reject the financial temptations of English sides courting those players that are performing to the level required? Just how much is this off-the-field speculation affecting the players? Or was a good night on the p!ss enough to foster a renewed sense of optimism, spirit and commitment amongst a group of players who look otherwise lost or AWOL when we need them most? What is clear is that we need to see this spirit; this belief and this passion to get our league bid back on track. And, as seems to be a recurring theme whenever one examines the fortunes of Rangers, we need a leader; a real captain of men to induce these qualities in an era where money, extravagance and excitement are no longer possible in the short-term. But that isn't a reason for not competing more strongly than we have been. At the weekend, our manager talked about a lack of creativity in his team while our club captain conceded we're going backwards while others take the fight to us. The time is now for Walter to be the creative one, Davie Weir to communicate that and every player at the club to lead from the front foot. Do that and Walter may be the King of Kings - do not and the Rangers empire may only crumble further. Thus, when our players enjoyed the luxuries of Panacea on Saturday night I hope the fine wines and food were taken along with a substantial serving of humble pie. For they and our manager are the only solution available so it is time for them to earn their crust. As such, when we visit central Scotland on Saturday, I hope to see clear evidence that our players are up for a new Battle of Falkirk and a belated battle fever has arisen from the team-bonding of the weekend. Anything less is unacceptable.

I thought Naismith started the season very well but has gradually got worse with every game. Of course he's not helped by being moved about far too often but, along with a few others, he can't even do the basics right now.

This is quoted in page 2 of the Duffy thread you posted KT8...

http://www.gersnetonline.co.uk/2010/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=169:aberdeen-1-0-rangers-player-ratings-and-mom-poll&catid=35:analysis&Itemid=67 Sorry this is a bit late... :box: for me this week.

Last day for this gentlemen...

Been offline over the weekend (needed a break after that gutless display at Pittodrie) but suffice to say the same questions remain... 1. Why do the Trust back this horse now after saying the same thing about King being the 'only show in town' only a few weeks ago? 2. What do Duffy et al offer to make the rest of us back them? 3. What are the Trust doing to lend weight to them being the fans' body to progress the above? Still too many questions than answers at this stage. Perhaps all parties could garner more support if they answered a few instead of playing this out in the media like some sort of circus sideshow...

Ach, I don't think anyone is being overly critical - just hoping that these young men have their full attention on their job before they go and have fun on their Xmas night out. Certainly a bit of team-bonding wouldn't go amiss after a poor midweek result and some tetchy comments in the media about our AWOL star centre-half.

...where many Rangers supporters find it tough to conjure up the match-day ticket money to follow The Gers, that the Rangers first-team squad will be flying to Manchester from Aberdeen directly after the Sheep game to enjoy themselves on a well-earned night out. Well..........not all of them will be heading south. Some can't afford the two-grand required for the 'kitty'. Nice work if you can get it, huh? [From our No1 Editor chum]

Looks like he'll be playing tomorrow in any case. Would be surprised if Wilson was dropped so perhaps Bougherra will play at right back?

I don't think there is any point in going over old ground here... I'm sure UCB will tell us more if or when progress is made.

I think they did say it would take a few weeks before they'd have something concrete to go to the support with...

Yeah, fair comment mate... I noticed Celtic have begun a new initiative using a Kirkintilloch school to 'employ' and teach young lads full-time much like what AMMS recommended in our STS report. It is this kind of scholarship idea which other countries use so successfully and why we're several years behind many other countries in this regard.

I guess some people will say that people who actually attend matches regularly (e.g. season ticket holders) are supporters while those that simply follow the fortunes of the club from their armchair are fans. It's not as simple as that obviously though.

Furthermore, if Redknapp is desperate for a new defender, why would he sign one that can't play for a month in January?

Interesting - certainly goes against what Bougherra says here... http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/spl/2748305/I-owe-you-gaffer.html

So no apology to the fans or the club for being late back.

Webster cannot be recalled until the end of the season IIRC...

Welcome to the forums ya weebluesoandso...

What are you? Do you have a season ticket for Ibrox?