My kids keep me sane and protect me...

[ian1964 10,386]

... from trolls on social media, says Ally McCoist.

 

Ally McCoist has taken criticism throughout his career and says his five sons help him forget about the flak coming his way and protect him from online trolls.

 

By day, Ally McCoist has to deal with a Rangers squad under fire.

 

At night, he has his very own 
five-a-side team to look after in the shape of his sons, Alexander, Argyll, Mitchell, Arran and Harris.

 

In the wake of fierce criticism, the Ibrox boss finds solitude at home.

 

Sure, McCoist will still mull over 
decisions he has made or his team’s poor results – like last week’s 2-0 defeat to Hearts – but he admits time spent with his boys is the best way to escape any flak that might come his way.

 

He refuses point-blank to engage with social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter – and doesn’t pay any attention to radio phone-ins.

 

But he’s well aware of how difficult it might be for those closest to him to ignore it.

 

In fact, McCoist joked that his kids are now shielding HIM from the critics, rather than the other way around.

 

The Gers gaffer knows he’s under 
pressure but insists he’s used to it and is convinced that even his children 
have adopted the kind of thick skin 
he has needed at times during his 22-year association with the club.

 

After the damaging Championship loss at Tynecastle , his side now face Kilmarnock today in the Scottish Cup where another negative result will prompt another barrage of criticism.

 

McCoist said: “How do I cope? I’m fine, it’s just the disappointment, more than anything. The 
disappointment of losing a game is worse than the criticism after it because you know that’s 
coming. It’s part and parcel of the job here, I accept it.

 

“Defeats are harder to take. I’ve been involved at this club for well over 20 years and I know as well as anybody that when things go well you get a pat on the back.

 

“When they don’t, you get 
criticised. It’s just about getting the balance right and trying to treat the two the same.

 

“I’m very lucky having five boys and, particularly the younger ones, they tend to have other things on their mind apart from dad’s football.

 

“That’s a fantastic bonus. Of course, I’ll be 
sitting watching TV and things will flash through my mind about free-kicks or I’ll think, ‘How did we lose that?’

 

“I’m no different to any other coach or manager in that respect.

 

“But I’m fortunate to have five boys because they keep my feet on the ground and make me realise that while work is absolutely important and I do my best at it, there are other things as well.

 

“Do I have to shield the boys? The younger ones are fine. With the older ones, it’s harder – they’re big boys and there’s all the social media stuff.

 

“I try but it doesn’t work! They used to tell me when something bad was said about me – but they’ve gone the other way. I think they protect me now!

 

“I do worry about the older kids because they have feelings too but they’re big enough and sensible enough so I’m lucky. And yes, they have a thick skin. That’s a McCoist trait and it will be on all our epitaphs.”

 

Rangers are nine points behind Hearts in the Championship table and some of their performances this season simply haven’t been good enough.

 

McCoist’s players were slated last week by ex-Ibrox hero John Brown but, having gone through tough spells as a Gers player, the gaffer expects them to be man enough to handle it.

 

He said: “They have to brush it 
off. There is one thing guaranteed at Rangers – you’ll get criticised.

 

“So they have to handle it, they have to have broad shoulders. The proof of the pudding is that we went through the whole of last season undefeated in the league – and still got criticism.

 

“So you’re guaranteed to get it after a 2-0 defeat to Hearts. Nobody likes it but it’s part of football.

 

“There has been a lot of flak flying about but if you can’t deal with it, you’re in the wrong profession.

 

“When I got it as a player, it was the best thing to happen to me, in terms of being able to deal with stick. No matter what happens, I don’t think I’ll get it as bad as that.

 

“I’ve grown up to understand that it goes with the territory at Rangers. It’s still not pleasant – but it’s not about me.

 

“It’s about the team getting back to the top, that’s the bigger picture. If the players and me have to take a little criticism, or even a big bit, along the way so be it. We can’t take our eyes off the task of getting the club back to where it belongs.”

 

To do that they will have to hope that Hearts drop points in the Championship and Rangers go on a long winning run.

 

McCoist believes his team can do it but confessed that, post-administration, the Tynecastle club are in better shape off the pitch than the Ibrox outfit.

 

He said: “With Hearts, they seem to have come out of admin, had Ann Budge buy it and – bang – the whole thing has moved on. That hasn’t been the case with us. I don’t know where that leaves us.

 

“But I wouldn’t make comparisons between us and Hearts, that would be unfair. They went into administration and dropped a division. We suffered that and liquidation, went all the way down and lost all our players.

 

“So there are big differences. I do accept that Hearts seem to be in a very good place at this moment in time and good luck to them.”

 

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/kids-keep-sane-protect-trolls-4722012

[buster. 4,808]

McCoist has been given the full bhoona of PR back-up this week, with a daily Legend.

 

This family angle neatly ties it up and now it's back onto the pitch where he tends to find it more difficult.

[SteveC 150]

"He said: “They have to brush it 
off. There is one thing guaranteed at Rangers – you’ll get criticised.

 

“So they have to handle it, they have to have broad shoulders. The proof of the pudding is that we went through the whole of last season undefeated in the league – and still got criticism."

 

Makes me ill to read rubbish like this. Ally: You get criticised because year after year you've produced unwatchale pish and "last season undefeated" was no great feat, no feat at all - it was v village teams. So desperate to have this "achievement" as a future defence against incompetence you refused to blood youngsters or build for the future to instead go all out for the unbeaten record as though it were a trophy worth pushing players carrying knocks through to get while blocking any route for youth players to progress.

[Super Cooper 0]

Now playing the emotional card. This will no doubt win fans among our weak minded and female fans. I've went full circle with the man, from idolising and worshiping him, celebrating every goal he scored to now fully despising him and every word he utters. The mere mention of his name has me cringing and the sound of his voice makes me sick. He is unrecognizable to the happy, cheery bubbly wee guy who signed for us all those years ago. This is not Super Ally our legend.

[buster. 4,808]

SC.......... Any which way to keep his show (gravytrain) on track.

 

For me, it's went past the point where his past cuts any ice whatsoever.

He is dishonest and/or delusional.

[der Berliner 3,219]

Generally, I doubt that there was any less critique levelled at Rangers managers and players 20 or 30 years ago. Right now, social media and internet have "simply" added a whole new, more often than not vile dimension on things. No way around it. Every chap with a keyboard and internet access can swing the hatchet and you hardly envy the people it is aimed at.

 

McCoist's objectives are clear: getting the club promotion, no matter what. The rest, be it cup glory or decent football is a bonus. WE obviously demand it all, 24/7. That he hasn't delivered that "bonus", especially when it comes to football that you'd expect of a Rangers team, is the main reason why he's "under pressure" these days. People don't come to watch this half-hearted attempt of playing football and are hardly impressed by the way McCoist choses his team and the way he plays. This will not go down well with the powers in charge, you wonder at which point they deem it intolerable. IMHO, they won't lose much if they'd sack the manager after a defeat today. ST sales are done anyway, the support has been vocal enough about their want of change and a new manager will have a transfer window* to look forward to. There is quite some time to go till the next ST renewals are being send out. The status quo now would not change. Then again, they'd have to find a manager with a bit more courage and expertise than the current ones. A sign that they look to the future.

 

*I fully expect that about a handful of peripheral players will go out for good, while the odd freebie might be added.

[Super Cooper 0]

SC.......... Any which way to keep his show (gravytrain) on track.

 

For me, it's went past the point where his past cuts any ice whatsoever.

He is dishonest and/or delusional.

 

And, definitely and mate.