Frankie

Of course there are no guarantees in football. However, we can base our expectations on confidence in our the kind of virtues successful teams have. Virtues sadly lacking which means any confidence is minimal. To be clear I still think we can win the title and certainly haven't surrendered it. However, I think it is most unlikely based upon the evidence befoe me.

Sums it up perfectly.

I'd argue we won't win a damn thing because our players and manager are too cautious... That's are point so it's obvious that eventually we'll suffer from the same traits. You can't have one without the other. Criticism is natural when the team are playing bad continually. I'd see the point if we only had 20,000 at matches but our fans are buying season tickets and attending away matches in record-breaking numbers. Our loyalty and belief can't be questioned in situ - even if on forums etc we're struggling to be confident. And what happens then. The manager et al shirk responsibility again by moaning about that criticism. This is all one huge vicious circle and we need leadership to get out of it. That can only come from the club even if some fans are trying to apply positive criticism via projects like ours.

Cal, some fans (including myself) be 'gutless' but it isn't without good reason. And I don't see many people being gleeful about it. The facts are many problems still exist at the club. I agree some fans should try and rise above it (and many do) but having the same rubbish thrown at us week after week means people will get fed up. As such, unhappiness and negativity will prevail over optimism and positivity. That's sad but true. It's primarily up to the management and the players to change that. There is only so much investment and support the fans can provide without true leadership from the actual club.

Amen. And on that happy note, I'm away to my kip to dream of Marvin Andrews, Fir Park, Easter Road and helicopters...

Possibly. Certainly an unprecedented fixture list and awful officiating added to the challenge... Unfortunately, we haven't built on such a 'moral' victory. The Kaunas loss was unacceptable while our transfer dealings and financial management have contributed to where we are now. I see little evidence of improvement and more examples of the same mistakes (on and off the field). Like I say, I admire your optimism but am struggling to match it. At Ibrox on Saturday though I'll be shouting as loud as anyone trying to make others believe it. I'm glad you're able to do that here...

I must admit it is refreshing to read some positivity for a change even I can't share in it. Let's just hope he's right.

Such swings don't just happen automatically though Shroomz. It takes hard work, belief, passion and character to win back titles never mind win 3 out of 4. Some of these attributes are sadly missing from many areas of the club - even the fans; yours truly included. And they've not just went missing recently either. They've been missing for almost 10 years on the kind of level required to become the dominant force again.

Thanks for that Norris... Maybe you should get Rita to stock less OK magazines and more Rangers tomes...? PS: Cammy wrote a short book review at the time of the competition and he was disappointed with the sectarian stuff in it as well. I'm surprised Smith allowed this to pass but I guess it is just a sign of the times at Ibrox nowadays where upon we always have to talk about alleged past failings instead of positives. It wouldn't surprise me if this is a result of Jack Irvine's mob rather than the author who I'll admit to knowing next to nothing about. Birlinn themselves are usually decent publishers. I guess in some ways it could be argued that at least we're not ashamed to discuss the more contentious parts of our history. Personally, I'd rather we concentrated on the good.

Just opened the site now and it is fine for me mate...

I don't think he's afraid. Just far too conservative and hoping we have enough to sneak games via one bit of magic. Unfortunately, that also goes for the opposition and we are suffering from that lack of tactical ambition.

I've never watched the UEFA Cup final on TV. But from what I can remember from being at the game itself, I thought we played quite reasonably well over the piece. Conservative yes but we did try to get forward unlike games against Barca etc earlier in the season. The first half we did sit too deep but we looked comfortable defensively and Zenit looked to be struggling to break us down. As such, DA cleverly sat his team back himself for the 2nd period which essentially forced into the game as an attacking force which, in turn, created space for the Russians. Eventually they took advantage scoring from one of our usual poor thrown in set plays. After that we tried our best to to get forward and missed an injury time sitter before they scored another on the break as we committed men forward. All in all, nowhere near as bad or as defensive a performance as some make out.

Was injured for months at the start of the season but even so has fell completely out of the picture....

Of course criticism should be tempered when necessary but I don't even see Ferguson moaning all that often. In fact, I don't think he does it enough. The only player I see moan during games is Allan McGregor. We need more leaders prepared to take responsibility for their own game and others. Not complaints about the minimal few that do.

Yep, Ferguson's lack of mobility and Smith's lack of trust in Edu means we have a malfunctioning midfield. That causes problems defensively and offensively. Smith must change that if we're to challenge for the title.

I don't deny we are stifling Mendes' creativity with a lack of complementing players. However, the lad himself is not doing enough generally. He attempts the 'world cup' pass too often, doesn't get forward enough (when was the last time he was in the opposition box) and his work-rate off the ball is poor (in attack and defence). I've heard the same excuses given for Ferguson's poor displays - i.e. we don't have the attacking players for him to pass to. Partly true but that doesn't explain the generic lack of quality. Let's play Edu or Davis beside Mendes and utilise wide men and attackers in their preferred roles.

A decent suggestion mate and I'll certainly bow to your superior knowledge of his current work. No matter who we bring in, how long will the fans give him? Will he be expected to win the title? What budget will he get in the summer? Will he be expected to sell key players? What if he starts badly? These questions aren't reasons for not bringing in a new manager but they are difficult nonetheless.

Ferguson is worthy of criticism but Mendes and Davis have been equally bad (or even worse of late). The shouting at other players thing is a red herring. I'd be more annoyed if this didn't happen and if players can't accept criticism on the park, then they shouldn't be playing for Rangers. The whole team needs a shake up. Let's start by dropping Mendes or Ferguson (preferably the latter) and playing Edu or Davis in central midfield. Then let's play proper wide players - Beasley, Aaron or Novo. Finally let's have two players up front that can link the play and score goals. Lafferty and Naismith sound good to me.

A change may help but it is far from certain. It is a moot point at this stage anyway. However, one more bad result could change that. Unfortunately I don't see many realistic alternatives on the horizon for a replacement.

Yeah, these bonus payments make me sick. The bonus should be in winning and the pride obtained from that. In an era where the club is losing title after title, having to dismiss employee after employee and fans struggling in a recession; I'd have preferred our club captain to publicly forego bonuses and win titles without these unnecessary financial incentives.

The problem is that because our manager insists on player players out of position and has minimal balance in the team in other areas, any formation employed is going to be a hit and a miss. For me the biggest problem this season has been the loss of Kevin Thomson who provided industry, aggression and balance in midfield. This allowed the Mendes' and the Davis' of the world to get forward and dictate play in dangerous areas. Once we lost him, we gamble in many games with Mendes and Ferguson in midfield. Both are too similar - powderpuff, lack pace and don't get forward or track runners defensively. That means Davis almost always sits too deep as well. Usually we have enough quality to get through though but struggle in more difficult matches. Smith knows this. That's why against any reasonable opposition he plays another holding player - be it McCulloch or even Dailly FFS. All because he obviously doesn't trust Edu. Fair enough you might say. The lad is young, inexperienced and still adapting to our game. Well, as has been seen again this season, we can ill-afford the luxury of bedding in new recruits. And not at �£2.7million. The Thomson injury was a cruel blow which the manager cannot be blamed for. However, the lack of a suitable plan B is one he can be questioned over. We're similarly weak at the back and also lack strength up front. That's why we don't even play the likes of Naismith, Velicka, Edu, Beasley and McCulloch in their proper roles as it doesn't help our main problem of being a team devoid of confidence, morale, motivation, mobility and physical strength/fitness. Millions of pounds wasted with little chance of recouping the loss and even less chance of money being available to fix the team's problems. I've no idea how we fix it. Unfortunately, neither does Smith is seems.

The Dailly substitution made no sense whatsoever. Edu has hardly been brilliant of late but at least he's match fit, sharp and the experience would have been useful for him. Yet, we bring on Dailly who hasn't played for the first team since late September who will be freed come May. I'm no football tactician or expert so I'd love someone to try and explain Smith's rationale for this move...

It's an interesting point actually... Sometimes stubbornness and single-mindedness can be admired. Someone like Sir Alex Ferguson has made a legendary career out of it. However, care must be taken and occasionally mistakes must be admitted to and actioned over personal pride. The first real signs of these initial traits were with the Kenny Miller transfer. An average player at an expensive price who the fans couldn't get behind due to his previous Celtic affiliations. Many fans made their opinion known at several games last season. We didn't want him. However, we were told to like it or lump it. Fair enough - the manager decides his team and is entitled to live or die with such decisions. Well, the signing of Miller (who has been predictably average over the piece) and the continual over-use of a negative 4-5-1 outlook has put Smith into cardiac arrest. For now, he's on a MIH Life Support Machine. One more bad result and it could see some fans pulling the plug for them. As such, Smith must admit his mistakes and put his pride to one side. If he can demand that of certain players, then he should be doing the same. No more negativity.

It isn't the 4-5-1 that particularly irks me. It has its place and is a useful tactic. However, sometimes if it isn't working, then you must move from it. On Sunday we failed to do that. Celtic did change from a 4-5-1 to a 4-4-2 and it could be said it won them the game as when Samaras came on they looked more dangerous and held possession better in the final third. Meanwhile, when Boyd came on for us, the opposite could be said as he couldn't provide an outlet and, other than Novo, we couldn't get men forward to support the attack. These problems are not anything new for us. But they keep occurring which is surely unacceptable for any fan - Smith supporter or not.

You're right one bad result and a couple of decisions within that game shouldn't arguably mean a manager is sacked. However, these poor tactical decisions (and results) have happened several times now. Kaunas first and in other games this season before, during and after the weekend's result. Add in our dreadful dealings in the transfer market which has us perilously close to financial oblivion, then this ongoing bad performance is making Smith's position increasingly untenable. That may seem rather a daft statement when we almost won the UEFA Cup, almost won the league last season and are contesting all domestic competitions again this term, but we just are not getting any better or learning from our mistakes.