buster.

Over the years, I've seen a few remarks on FF that didn't come to pass.

I watched the Klopp/Gerrard exchange and I have to say I've come off the fence of 'undecided' and am going 'No'. He just doesn't sound at all convincing or confident in himself and he doesn't appear to have the self-confidence in himself as a manager (compare that to Souness). IMO, he'd basically be cutting his teeth in an unforgiving enviroment and the probability of success would be low.

On the face of it, the "solid" names sound interesting but whether they could be attracted to Scottish football is debatable. To me, Gerrard comes accross as a Liverpool version of Barry Ferguson, in that there is no disputing his qualities as a player but when I have listened to him, it has been less than inspiring/insightful, as countless footballing cliches are used. ie. I don't think he'd be a great inspirational communicator. However, in his favour, he does seem to have got his head down and made an effort to 'go modern' within the Liverpool football operation.

I read somewhere that Gerrard had said around the turn of the year, that he wouldn't consider himself ready for a managerial job at the time and would review that at the seasons end.

STV going with it without qualification. https://stv.tv/sport/football/1413442-rangers-in-talks-with-steven-gerrard-to-become-new-manager/ Rangers have held talks with Steven Gerrard over the possibility of becoming the club's next manager. Ibrox director of football Mark Allen is leading the search for the next boss and Gerrard is in the frame to replace Graeme Murty. It's understood a number of candidates have expressed an interest in the post. The former Liverpool and England captain, who retired as a player in 2016, was appointed manager of Liverpool's under 18s team last summer. It's understood Allen is speaking to a number of candidates to take over the Ibrox hot seat, with Gerrard's name expected to be on a shortlist.

I'd ask those who don't fancy a Gerrard appointment, who would their realistic choice be.....Yes, we need experience and pragmatism but from who ? I'd prefer Clarke but don't think he'd take the job. All things considered, I'm struggling to come up with what would be considered as a low risk, feasible and 'acceptable' option. Hence, if it is to be Gerrard then we have to hope there is ample and appropriate support within his staff (especially scouting) and of course, financially. The support always follow the team and do their bit but they will also probably need to show more patience.

There was no chance given the priorities of those in charge at the time. The appointment of Warburton and general approach appeared to be on the right track, only to be derailed further down the line. Then it was scrambling around, waiting on the eventual knockback from Ross Wilson and a hurried bout of "institutional failure". Now, in the absence of a glowing list of potential candidates, it appears to be 'stick to strategy' but go for 'stardust' and not a simple 'laptop' (eg.Cathro type).

Gordon Strachan met Dermott Desmond by chance at the horse-racing where the latter asked the former if he would be prepared to manage Celtic one day. The answer was yes and a little further down the line, it happened. source: Gordon Strachan

If you want to build something you start with a good foundation and it's the football operation as a whole that has to brought up to as high a level as possible, as quickly as possible. Then, you have to have a first team set-up that takes full advantage. It's about getting value for money for every pound spent and adding value via improving footballers of all ages. If you can get as close to this as possible, you may have a better chance of on-field succes at home and abroad.

Real Madrid is mucho politics and you can see that those that have been successful tend to 'go with the flow', eg. Del Bosque, Zidane.

I think back to what Alastair Johnson said about the appointment of Pedro, eg "institutional failure", etc .....and wonder if there has been pressure to keep to the DoF structure wrt a new Head Coach/manager. I think you have to factor in that the list of names out there may have been smaller than often listed because of managers not wanting the job at this moment in time, eg. I don't think Clarke (my pick) would have taken it, just as McInnes in December. Given our history and the vageries of Scottish football , going 'foreign' would represent just as big a risk, even if they had some experience. IMO Frank de Boer wouldn't last a season. The McLaren or Pardew type would have been another disaster waiting to happen. Yes, they have experience but it's mostly collecting large pay-offs. 'Hair Island' would have become a comedy figure up here. So taking into consideration strategy, who is actually willing and 'star dust attraction' wrt selling project/attracting investors....... then Gerrard is a name that seems to fit the bill. I'm just glad it isn't Barry Ferguson

A "long-standing shoulder problem" doesn't sound good for a prospective medical, if we want a club to pay a decent fee.

Thanks Johnny !

Just had a look on oddschecker and the market (SkyBet) for the next Rangers manager seems to have been lifted. I saw Gerrard at 1/2 on earlier this morning. Anyone see it get any shorter ?

Was that GIF that Rosseau posted in the manager thread,..... this "same bird" that you mention ? It's just that it appeared if the "holistic medicine" was running down her chin.

Impossible to say, it's only mentioning that it has already happened. Inexperienced appointments can go either way and depend a lot on how well the individual is supported, both by his staff and financially. Souness got the support in both areas and was successful. Although it has to be noted the situation today is a different one. Greig didn't really get the same level of backing and seemed a reactionary/hasty decision by Willie Waddell.

Where did Souness go after Rangers ?

It's about the finance as well as the football and if you want to provide a imaginative project for prospective investors then Gerrard plus experienced Number 2 would probably work..... Investment is key wrt providing funds to bring in quality. I look at the candidates out there, the probability some wouldn't want the job and a Gerrard/Experienced Number 2 would be a gamble but no moreso than anyother prospective options out there. IMO, the likes of McLaren, Pardew would crash and burn anyway (ie.experience in failure). Personally, I'd go for Clarke but I doubt he'll want it. If it's a Gerrard/Experienced No.2 then so be it....the fans could get into that.

I don't think Gerrard would come as a Number 2 and the board may be looking to how the Souness appointment galvanised the club (importantly with Walter Smith beside him).

Gerrard is now 1/2 odds on with Sky this morning. Given the grapevine is suggesting the manager has already been chosen and that a prospective Number 2 would be noteworthy.....does this mean we are going to appoint Gerrard with an experienced Number 2 ?

When you consider the respective managerial appointments of Greig and Souness in retrospect, they were hugely significant as to how events would unfold for a number of years. ie. this upcoming appointment is very important multiplied by a lot.

Making signings and having a manager ready in waiting make sense. I hope Arfield and his knees are in good order. I'm amazed that the name of an already signed up manager is still a general secret if it has reached ITK posters.

Agreed and the opposition support know that. Not to mention Rod Petrie, who got away with some disgraceful remarks in the immediate aftermath of the 2016 Cup Final. IIRC Motherwell fans got away with severe goading of the Rangers support after the play off match. If you put Dave King or the Rangers support in the above examples, we'd have been hammered, at least in the media.