Gribz

You've got a fair point, when players dont have the ability and natural talent then blood and guts and togetherness with a strong XI can have an impact - although usually in one off games. Momentum, team spirit and determination is all just as important. Look at the Gers side in 92-93 who got so close in the CL, there wasnt a world class player in the team but they had all the other factors. There was some quality players but not world class and we were a goal away from the CL final. Hard work did as much.

Well "fits the bill" only works out with facts and winning games, even Jose doesnt fit Man Utd right now, they expect better. Dont mention West Ham please

Few years ago Id have volleyed the Warnock rumour but he has now proven to be a top manager in the Championship. Id have loved him to take over just for 1 year. He has the thick skin needed for the joke media.

Not true though. That one is the only one that couldnt be planned as Carvalhal was still in a job when Clement left. Pardew and WBA chairman get on well so that fit. The two Davids have wanted Moyes for a while - it fits for them - maybe not the fans.

I had a load of Rangers news also from late 80s and early 90s. The late 80s ones were in the old broadsheet style. Not sure where they are but my folks cleared out my old room and only found a load of previous shirts. Will need to dig everything out next time im over.

Its probably a two fold point, we knew what we were doing sacking Pedro - absolutely. But absolutely no clue going forward to appoint a new guy. I cant buy that McInnes couldnt have been picked up had it been done properly. It seems all eggs were in the McInnes basket for some reason. I would love to have been a fly on the wall when all the CVs were being reviewed just to see who these guys are who werent of a high enough quality. All good mate, suffering a bit this morning after a champagne fest last night flying back from Dubai. But hair of the dog and all that later in build up to tomorrows game. Hope you had a good Christmas, you back in UK for it?

Of course they knew what they were doing, firstly they knew they needed a change as the previous manager wasnt working out, they couldnt possibly sack the manager if they didnt know what they were doing. They all knew change was needed. The next step is where the question is and Boro, West Ham and West brom all knew exactly what they were doing and who they were going to appoint. It wasnt a case of just taking who was available at all with those 3. Pardew is close with WBA chairman, Moyes has always been on the two Davids wishlist and Boro knew Pulis has better experience than Monk after his Stoke days.

Tennis players stats would be interesting also, they have short bursts of high impact plus only move around at say 50% to 75% on average (pure guess) but for 3 hours and in tournaments every second day. These guys are super fit.

The amount of managers being appointed so quickly recently asks the question what exactly are we doing (or was we doing until appointing Murty). Swansea just appointed Carvalhal - had two good seasons with the owls but stumbled this season. Middlesboro - appointed Pulis - they didnt wait. Sheff Wed - In talks with McLaren. West Ham - Took Moyes on straight away. West Brom - Didnt waste any time on Pardew. These clubs just went for it and I think only Swansea were the team who didnt have a plan in place as Carvalhal was still in the Sheff Wed job when Clement was sacked. But it looks like Boro saw Pulis availability and fancied his record more than trust in Monk. Not saying any of the managers there would have been a good choice but point being the clubs knew what they were doing.

Cracking player, one of my earlier favourites and in a list of wonderful wingers. Unfortunately it was the antics of Celtic and Hearts fans that learned me what racism was. I was only 7 or 8 when Walters signed and those fans disgraced themselves but had no idea what it meant at first.

I also think there is a mental laziness and a difference between lazy and unfit. Some players can turn it on in the odd game here. I think thats a bigger crime. Nothing worse than a "1 good game out of 6 player". If a player has an off day and its 5 out of 6 good games fans will accept that. I also dont disagree with the European style of strikers and wingers like Waddle not tracking back (depending on the game and score), there is much to benefit from leaving players high up and reserving their oxygen. But the point being so long as when that ball comes to that area of the pitch that player is as mobile as he can be.

Could actually be a ploy by the board to wait until nearer renewal time before appointing. If we appointed a manager in around March (even for next season) it wouldnt be the worst timing, it gives the new guy 6 competitive games or so to look at what he has rather than come in pre season and do guess work. The McLaren talk scares me a bit, I just dont think he has the strong personality needed to deal with the gold fish bowl or media pressure he will get.

Once we got the monkey off the back in April 1989 (think it was 2-1 with McCoist getting a knock in from a Ian Ferguson free kick - first win there in many a year) we then went there for the best part of 10 years and won at a canter. Then there was the stand out 3-0 win at the shame game when we won the title under Advocaat on their patch - utterly took them apart. Under McLeish v ONeill there was some torrid games but when Walter returned we had them again (The late Big Ugo and Daniel Cousin spring to mind). At the moment I am probably not alone and thinking we would bite the hand off for a draw like Murty got last season.

not just that, Messi turns to lightning at any point and looks after himself with the right diet, same as Ryan Giggs who too up yogo in his 30s. Compare that to Kris Boyd.

Im more with Pete on this when it comes to basic fitness, hard work is what gets you to a level. Where sports science may come in is using monitoriing methods to see if you can improve or have dropped a fitness level. Some players are going to be fitter thn others, thats just humans for you taking age and lung capacity into it.

Strange, they won at Sheff Wed today. 3 pts off the play off spots at the half way stage.

Not even debatable. I had one of them at Ibrox years ago, missed 4 goals in a 5-0 win against someone.

184 pages and we end up with Murty albeit until next summer. That says how poor things are when Rangers cant attract or find a Manager. The only positive way to look at it is that anyone who did come in wont be branded "second choice". I think Murty needs an experienced guy to come in and assist him. Our home form in the first half of the season has been awful and a run of wins is needed. Just looking at some of the awful results, a few more points out of them and we'd have been in a title race out of nowhere, but now its slipped massively again.

Good game to watch but both their own downfall. Liverpool should have been out of sight by half time. Arsenal got a goal out of nothing then Mignolet gifted them the equalizer. Arsenal were lucky and a point for them papered over the cracks. Wenger got it all wrong and had Mane and Salah scored before half time it could have been another 4-0. Mass rebuild needed at Arsenal. Monreal, Iwobi and Xhaka not good enough, Sanchez not interested and they should have cashed in last summer, but they should grab any offer in January as he is going downhill, he is one of the players who peaked around 26 or 27 but so much football in the last 4 summers has taken its toll. Players like Maitland Niles being played ahead of Kolansanic is bizarre.

The way Murray and Knox have aged I was thinking it might be Albertz But having not seen Knox for a while he has of course aged. but it took me until I saw the crutches to click it was Murray.

This has been discussed over and over. Ill advised is probably all he has in self defense but he should have been old enough and mature to step back if other team mates were like Davis. But even if he did feel the need to speak out the choice of words were wrong. "Why isnt people knocking on his door".

The betting rules are wrong and harsh. It should be against to bet for or against your own team or self (depending what sport) but a betting ban is silly altogether. If say a Liverpool player wants to have a flutter on Real Madrid v Barca then whats the problem.

I dont doubt his coaching skills as a No.2 as Sir Alex recommends him. But i dont think he has a strong enough personality to deal with being Head Coach at Rangers.

It is but McLaren isn't a good head coach unless he has a manager with him. Head coach IMO is still No.1 for footballing terms.

And he has been injured all season, if things were going well for Naismith and he was playing for Norwich he wouldn't be looking for a move at all.