Season Review Dethroned in the Comatorium

[Sutton_blows_goats 6,331]

  On 02/05/2025 at 07:04, ranger_syntax said:

This is just a way to admit that you have lost the argument.

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That is because is no logic to your argument. Other mob fc regularly find domestic success while simultaneously being whipping boys in Europe.

[Frankie 8,957]

  On 01/05/2025 at 21:11, Uilleam said:

Thank you for your observations. But, tell me, when were we last sat upon the throne of Scottish football?

It was, I think, some time ago.

 

 

 

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I can't speak for the author but I suspect 'dethroned' means in the context of being Scotland's most successful club which is no longer the case.

[Scott7 6,842]

  On 01/05/2025 at 20:40, ranger_syntax said:

European success is a necessary, but not sufficient, condition for domestic success.

 

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When Walter Smith was manager there were not many successful seasons in European competitions. Perhaps the absence of intensive midweek matches made domestic victories easier. 
Some statto may be able to explode that theory.

[Uilleam 6,518]

  On 02/05/2025 at 08:09, Frankie said:

I can't speak for the author but I suspect 'dethroned' means in the context of being Scotland's most successful club which is no longer the case.

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Aah! Thanks.

[Frankie 8,957]

As for other aspects of the debate, of course there have been some small relative successes over the last ten years with our ongoing ability to compete in the Europa League something we can appreciate. However, given our lack of domestic silverware in the same period, I'm of the opinion our Europa League form is in spite of the club being run poorly rather than any defined strategy.

 

There have been too many bad decisions to suggest otherwise. Yes, the Gerrard appointment worked fairly well and to win our 55th title as Celtic went for their 10th in a row in an unbeaten league season cannot be under-estimated. Unfortunately, some of the decisions subsequent to that have been poor - from manager choice, to the way the football department was operated to a clearly dreadful transfer strategy (incoming and outgoings) right through to CapEx mistakes so anyone claiming the board have done a good job are not looking at the broader picture.

Now, like most folk, I don't think any of this was done with bad intentions - in fact, I'm sure the opposite is true - but, nevertheless, the club has been too inconsistently run to offer consistency on the field.  Again, there have been positives - the commercial side has improved, I like NEH as an investment and I hope they've attracted a suitable buyer to secure a more successful future but, overall there has not been enough demonstrably good work to suggest anything other than failure for the incumbents. 

 

Ergo, as Celtic do overtake us on and off the field, then we absolutely have been dethroned as Scotland's most successful club on the field and as the Establishment club off it. 

[Frankie 8,957]

  On 02/05/2025 at 08:15, Scott7 said:

When Walter Smith was manager there were not many successful seasons in European competitions. Perhaps the absence of intensive midweek matches made domestic victories easier. 
Some statto may be able to explode that theory.

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It's a fascinating opposite of recent years and I do agree the sheer number of games we play now affects our ability to compete and home and abroad.

 

All the more reason for a modern football operation that is geared for 60+ games a season: a manager able to be tactically diverse for two very different challenges, a sporting director able to offer the platform for rotating 28 first team players, a scout able to provide athletic, mentally strong targets with a board able to insist on a model that ensures continuity throughout. 

 

Much easier said than done - in fact, few achieve it - but it has to be the target and anything less will just see us fall further back.  I hope this is what the 49rs group have identified in their belief Rangers are an investment worthy of their time and money.

[Graeme Ro55 1,147]

  On 01/05/2025 at 17:09, CammyF said:

I hope I'm not alone in believing that's the European level we should be at every season (as a minimum). 

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Surely our minimum should be competing with teams similarly funded. We have been regularly beating teams way above our pay grade in europe. I think we should put down the torches and pitchforks that we shake at the board, managment and players and applaud their achievments, concerning the Europa League. Not everything has been doom and gloom before the Americans arrival.  

[Frankie 8,957]

  On 02/05/2025 at 08:38, Graeme Ro55 said:

Surely our minimum should be competing with teams similarly funded. We have been regularly beating teams way above our pay grade in europe. I think we should put down the torches and pitchforks that we shake at the board, managment and players and applaud their achievments, concerning the Europa League. Not everything has been doom and gloom before the Americans arrival.  

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The two need not be exclusive of each other.

 

Yes, we've done well in Europe and many of the games in the last five years will live long in the memory but, ultimately, we're still failing and must find improvement domestically as, without that, we'll arguably fall further behind Celtic.

 

A balance has to be found and that will not be easy.

[Sutton_blows_goats 6,331]

  On 02/05/2025 at 08:15, Scott7 said:

When Walter Smith was manager there were not many successful seasons in European competitions. Perhaps the absence of intensive midweek matches made domestic victories easier. 
Some statto may be able to explode that theory.

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There have been a number of changes in terms of squad regulations, the reduced standing of clubs like Dynamo Kyiv, Steaua Bucharest etc and the evolution in the style of play since Walters first term. The expulsion and staged return to Europe for the English teams.  There are many factors IMO.

 

 

[Rousseau 11,973]

I don't think it's unreasonable to suggest that our European campaigns have been relatively successful; not in absolute terms, like trophies, but it has brought in valuable income, without which we'd be in an even worse place. 

 

But, I think the point is, it's only one duck: we need a lot more ducks in a row to bring about the sort of success we desire. 

 

I don't see the need to tar everything. The situation is often more complex than reducing it to the cliched 'omnishambles.'