No short cuts back to success for Rangers fans

[Frankie 8,198]

http://www.gersnet.co.uk/index.php/news-category/current-affairs/544-no-short-cuts-back-to-success-for-rangers-fans

 

Amidst the usual negative reaction to a poor result at Ibrox on Saturday, I was struck by just how willing some people were to exaggerate. I won't repeat some of the nonsense thrown the way of the players and manager but it's fair to say many comments were unhelpful. Juxtapose that backlash with hundreds/thousands of fans leaving the game early (from the 75th minute no less!) then I was just as disappointed at the fickle nature of our support than the actual draw with Morton.

 

Clearly though any constructive criticism does has a lot of merit and we ignore fan opinion at our peril. Importantly, as I highlighted after we dropped points away to Livingston, the problems we faced against them and Morton are nothing new. Teams will sit deep, we'll need to break them down and we can ill-afford passengers. Moreover, if we're sloppy defensively when the opposition does counter then we'll concede enough goals to cause us problems. For that reason, it's certainly frustrating that such obvious tactical issues remain prevalent and dressing-room summits or not, these deficiencies need to be addressed.

 

Indeed, all over the top reactions aside, because we've struggled to address these defects it is fair to say our squad isn't good enough and I doubt many people would genuinely argue with that. Yes, Mark Warburton prefers to work with a compact squad and it's good to see younger players featuring regularly but as we struggled on Saturday I clearly wasn't the only fan non-plussed with what we had to change the game. Guys like Clark, Shiels and Oduwa have all contributed to a reasonable degree this season but the jury is out on how effective they are in a general sense. Add in perennially injured players like Templeton and Bell then an agreeably efficient squad quickly becomes too thin. Worse, players who aren't playing quite as well don't have a replacement to sharpen them up. For example, James Tavernier has had an impressive début season but with only the unconvincing Fraser Aird as deputy, it's no surprise to see his contribution falter of late.

 

Thankfully, by and large the manager acknowledges the need for new players and it would be a surprise if at least two or three didn't arrive next month. That improved competition for places should spur the existing lads on and, as much as the above criticisms are valid, we shouldn't forget just how effective we've been in the majority of games this season. Even on Saturday we still played well enough in patches but just lacked that extra guile and quality to finish the game off. It can also be argued that the stop-start nature of our recent schedule hasn't helped so with a tough festive schedule coming up, there should be no excuses in the matches against Falkirk and Hibs either side of Christmas day.

 

We may still be in 2015 but these two games could prove pivotal in terms of the Championship title race. Not only do we have a resurgent Hibs - unbeaten since we won at Ibrox in late August - but a hungry Falkirk side doing their best to keep up with both of us. Rangers may rightly still be favourites for the title but those who predicted a stroll to the Premiership were wrong and as Hibs have shown with wins over the New Firm in the League Cup, writing off the Edinburgh side is premature. Mark Warburton may make light of Alan Stubbs' attempted mind games but he must take their challenge seriously. As must any Rangers fans who think we're somehow entitled to success rather than having to earn it.

 

In that sense there are no easy short cuts back to where we used to be. Not only do we have to appreciate the budgetary restraints on the manager's pursuit of new players, our current league position won't excite many targets either. Yes, a packed Ibrox every other Saturday helps but irritable jeers from the stands and a half-empty stadium by the 85th minute won't. Bearing that in mind, when we appraise the club at the moment we have to peruse the whole package. Yes, we don't want to follow court cases instead of cup games but, for the next few years at least, these legal challenges will be as much a part of our future as any league match. After all how can we spend millions on new players when we're hamstrung by the corporate pillaging of recent years? Unfortunately until we're free of all litigation then it's difficult to plan effectively.

 

Consequently, patience is most definitely a virtue nowadays for Rangers fans. As much as we're all eager to get back to the top of the Scottish game, it's not going to happen right away and there are many obstacles still to face along the way. Yes, we're already approaching four years since the oldco entered administration but there's no end in sight to the difficulties that period brought the club. Therefore, as much as we need to see composure, fortitude and endurance on the field, we as a support need to partake of the same qualities off it. Bill Struth's famous quotes have never been more valid. We must heed them.

Edited December 15, 2015 by Frankie

[ian1964 10,486]

Life after Ally McCoist at Rangers: A year on since he resigned as Rangers manager

 

IN the year since Ally McCoist first tendered his resignation from Rangers, the club has experienced a lot of change.

 

IT was the start of a crazy few months at Rangers as Ally McCoist handed in his resignation on the morning of an important league clash with Queen of the South.

 

The Rangers legend had finally had enough after poor on-field performances and even worse off-field showings and quit on December 13 2014.

 

Despite the poor performances, the move shocked Scottish football and it was soon revealed that McCoist had triggered a 12-month notice period and would go on gardening leave until the end of the year, or until he had agreed a pay-off with the club.

 

A source close to him at the time said that McCoist had quit to move the focus back onto the board's mismanagement of the club and a hectic few months followed.

 

So what has changed at Ibrox in the year since he quit?

 

The Board

 

The biggest change of them all. Battles are still ongoing but Rangers appear to be on a steady footing under the new board after years of turmoil under Craig Whyte and then Charles Green, David Somers, the Easdale brothers and Mike Ashley.

 

But with Dave King, Paul Murray, John Gilligan and co now running things at Ibrox after winning the EGM back in March this year , the club have seen fans return from the boycott and are enjoying crowded stadiums once again.

 

 

Manager

McCoist quitting led to Rangers having three managers in 2015. Kenny McDowall replaced McCoist in the hotseat to begin with, before Stuart McCall took charge in March following the EGM.

 

McDowall's time in charge wasn't a happy one as he clearly didn't want the job, and his reign saw Rangers win just three of 10 games in charge, with a 4-0 defeat to Hibs in his first match as boss.

 

He was replaced by former Gers midfielder McCall, and things went a bit better under his leadership before a heavy 6-1 aggregate defeat in the play-off final against Motherwell condemned the club to another year in the Championship.

 

Another new manager was needed in the summer and the job was offered to former Brentford boss Mark Warburton and his assistant David Weir.

 

With a Rangers legend by his side, Warburton has impressed the Ibrox fans despite a recent slump in form as they top the Championship table by three points ahead of Hibs.

 

The squad

The first team squad has had a complete overhaul under Warburton with no fewer than 11 players leaving Ibrox in the summer when their contracts expired.

 

The likes of Kris Boyd, Richard Foster, Ian Black, Steve Simonsen, Lee Robinson, Bilel Mohsni, Sebastien Faure, Jon Daly, Kyle Hutton, Lee McCulloch and Steven Smith all leaving before Warburton took charge, and Darren McGregor, Marius Zaliukas and Calum Gallagher leaving the club in the months to follow.

 

And there were plenty who joined the club as well. Danny Wilson returned to the club for a second spell while Wes Foderingham, James Tavernier, Rob Kiernan, Andy Halliday, Jason Holt, Martyn Waghorn and Jordan Thompson also signed permanent deals with Nathan Oduwa, Dom Ball and Gedion Zelalem joining on loan deals.

And what about McCoist himself?

 

Well, after finally agreeing a pay-off with Rangers in September, McCoist returned to TV and joined BT Sport as a co-commentator and analyst.

 

McCoist had built up a successful TV career prior to returning to Ibrox as Walter Smith's assistant in 2007, and he'll be hoping that his return can be just as good.

 

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/life-after-ally-mccoist-rangers-7015521

[buster. 4,846]

I'm going to plagarise the poster 'Giantchelsea' from FF and borrow his line that neatly encapsulates things.

 

"It's a work in progress being done with one hand tied behind our back, it's important that everyone realises that."

[Frankie 8,198]

I'm going to plagarise the poster 'Giantchelsea' from FF and borrow his line that neatly encapsulates things.

 

"It's a work in progress being done with one hand tied behind our back, it's important that everyone realises that."

 

Absolutely fair comment but as much as that is the case, we need to do more on the park.

 

Although we may only have one hand, it's still more than the likes of Morton and Livi have so there's no excuse for not taking full points.

 

This Saturday is shaping up to be a big test for the players and manager in that sense.

[RANGERRAB 3,340]

Unless MW gets resources to improve the team I don't see him staying here. A Swansea or Fulham offer will come in eventually & he'll go.

[Frankie 8,198]

Unless MW gets resources to improve the team I don't see him staying here. A Swansea or Fulham offer will come in eventually & he'll go.

 

I'm pretty sure the manager will be well aware of what's on offer at each stage of the job and he usually warns of making too many signings.

 

It's also up to him to prove he can sign the right players as well as every penny counts.

[buster. 4,846]

Absolutely fair comment but as much as that is the case, we need to do more on the park.

 

Although we may only have one hand, it's still more than the likes of Morton and Livi have so there's no excuse for not taking full points.

 

This Saturday is shaping up to be a big test for the players and manager in that sense.

 

I'd agree that we need to do more on the park in the sense of getting past this blip and ensuring promotion.

I think that is fair, in that the players are good enough to do so and have at this level already shown themselve to be.

 

These next couple of games would be a good time for the players and the manager to show us that they are the best team in the division.

[MacK1950 2,253]

It is time to do so and stop harping on about dressing room discussions and managerial talk of how they are analysing after each game and go out and do the business.

After all I have scored many a 147 in snooker then realised I am watching and not playing so the team should remember they are playing and not watching.

[boabie 230]

Absolutely fair comment but as much as that is the case, we need to do more on the park.

 

Although we may only have one hand, it's still more than the likes of Morton and Livi have so there's no excuse for not taking full points.

 

This Saturday is shaping up to be a big test for the players and manager in that sense.

 

We may only have one hand Frankie, but a hand has two sides to it. I feel that sometimes we will need to turn it over and show the other side. In no way am I advocating a return to hoofing the ball 40 yards up the park. But 40 passes ending up in the same place as that passage began is something the opposition appear to be getting wise to. Time for the manager to bring in a few new faces will solve a sticky patch we are in now.