buster.

Whittaker is carrying a pelvic injury and may not start. I reckon 2 or 3 of their players may be touch and go. eg. Bartley, who is an important part of a battling midfield went off with an injury on Sunday.

We need to extend that contract, yesterday.

At a time when money is such an issue, the money men must look ahead and see McCrorie having the potential transfer value to be able to subsidize a season or so. They should also look at the reasons why we didn't get the corresponding value for the talents of Jamie Ness & Lewis McLeod and look after the lad. The positives are that unlike Charlie Adam, we aren't going to make the mistake of not seeing what is there and lose out...or...does the lad have a less than professional attitude a la Charlie Miller.

I didn't think it at all likely he'd play tomorrow.....I'd rather we look after him rather than push him too hard too soon.

I've just called Mélissa Theuriau and Yanet García to see if either fancied a dirty weekend up in Oban. Nae luck

Given the ambitions, traditions and resources of Manchester United they need a new manager who looks to spend the huge piles of money on actually building a football side. The reason McInnes was being considered for the Rangers job was the recognition that we weren't in a place that we could suddenly bridge the gap and first, we need a solid foundation.........but Man Utd are now in a place where they don't need to be patient, they need a manager who can take them further and have them playing the type of football associated with the club....and have realistic ambition of winning the title. At the moment, they may as well be Stoke City, relative to their neighbours. The Man Utd board may be doing well on the commercial front but their football operation has generally been badly managed since Alex Ferguson retired as manager.

Given the level of response we often come up with these days, you'd be as well buying a JCB digger to replace the shovel, instead of paying for 'PR'. Milne has come out of this well because we effectively supplied him with his lines. Since DK became chairman, he has been prone to make comments that make a rod for his and the club's back. This often what appears to be unthinking approach runs right through to 'the professionals' who supposedly look after communications. I look back to see who I believe DK had working PR at one stage (Leggo/prior to regime change) and how the requisitioners of 2013 ran their PR (winging it and asking messageboarders for advice)...... It's not that surprising to see a lack of real professionalism doesn't currently feature. The second part of a double whammy is that if the actual substance of whatever it may be is a car crash. This continually occurs when you are forever reacting to events, instead of better controlling them.

Mourinho is a master of deflection. Manchester derby: Jose Mourinho has water & milk thrown at him in row, Mikel Arteta cut ------------------ Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho had water and milk thrown at him and Manchester City coach Mikel Arteta suffered a cut head during a post-match row.............. .........The incident started when Mourinho responded to what he perceived to be over the top celebrations. Full article http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/42306141

Then I'd question the Man Utd board's decision to employ Mourinho and would view him as a relatively short-term occupant of the MU dug-out because the support want more stylish and attacking football and the club have the resources to make it possible. The name and CV of Mourinho buys time but not infinite time. In a way you could compare the rational for Mourinho at MU and proposed McInnes at Rangers. Short term stability needed but fresh appt required within 2/3 years.

Losing manager's jaiket will be on a very shoogly peg. After the disaster in Barcelona last season, PSG will view playing in Spain first as a potentially big advantage. Would be good if Beskitas, Real Madrid and Zenit (EL) get through to the next round.

Champions League last-16 draw: Juventus v Tottenham FC Basel v Manchester City Porto v Liverpool Sevilla v Manchester United Real Madrid v PSG Shakhtar Donetsk v Roma Chelsea v Barcelona Bayern Munich v Besiktas Couple of beauties with the big Spanish clubs and an interesting test for Sevilla.

We certainly need money and if there was around a million to go for McInnes, perhaps a competent CEO to manage the day to day would prove a good investment.

Know nothing about the individual but it's a positive to see the board making a move in an area where it is desperately needed. ie. acting on what they said at the AGM

Only if Mourinho was rigid to the point of stupidty. I don't think United have got the players to play the way Guardiola likes.

Some previous boards seemed to be actively active serving the interests of others and not the football club. #robbing bastards This board deserve a lot of criticism but it's a very different situation and comparisons are a bit.... oranges and tropical fruit found in Cayman Islands.

A lot will depend on the competence levels of those involved. For it to work well, you need the whole process to work from scouting, identification, signing, coaching, management. eg. until Rodgers came in at celtic, several of their signings looked poor. ie. they have a strategy/structure in place that wasn't working as it should because of a managerial appt. (Delia).

Again, sounds fine but apply current circumstances and you are only setting yourself up for am increasingly embarrassing succession of knockbacks. Money is a huge stumbling block. If Mr.X could see a 'warchest' that gave him a fighting chance of bridging the gap and matching expectation, the job has potential to be attractive and better. Otherwise, the short odds will be on you damaging any reputation you have. It's become a very difficult situation for the board and the perception of our board/club, out there in managerland is becoming more negative as the media bide their time waiting for our next defeat. I think the only chance for us of getting an exceptional manager is to go for an up and coming manager that grows into one, quickly. However, that in itself would represent a big gamble and one the current situation probably excludes. Out of work and experienced is more likely.

You can say that and whilst it sounds fair enough, it's not actually going to get what would be perceived as a decent result. The gap between perception and reality is mirroring the gap between expectation levels and resources available.

Ok,..... when's deadline ?

https://rangers.co.uk/news/academy-news/new-deals-mccrories/

If you already have something semi done for the Hibs game then I'll get out of your way and do one further down the line.

I'd be very careful if considering allocating large chunks of the wage bill to over 30's. In the last couple of seasons, whether due to injury or whatever, the return for what will have been large salaries has been negligible. Barton Kranjcar Senderos Hill Gilks Alves Dorrans Of the above, I'd say only Clint Hill did the job we hoped for. I accept it's early to judge Alves and Dorrans but signs aren't particularly positive. You can say it's not their fault if injured but when you sign over 30's, they tend to have a mileage that makes it more likely. That's without even touching on the absence of any potential sell-on value.

Yes, I think we have to look to have a manager in place to at least have some input/acceptance wrt any transfer window activity. Although I can't see much being spent unless we move other players off the wagebill and any payoffs will eat into any budget.

Money, if well invested affords opportunity to a manager/coach. Guardiola has used in such a way to create a footballing team, Mourinho has used it to create a big, solid unit with some speed. IMO Guardiola would have to make several important changes to the MU squad to be successful. What yesterday showed us is that Man Utd don't have an earthly wrt Champions League ambitions. It also showed why Man City are so far ahead in the League and are the first English side for years that are at a level where they can be considered as real contenders for the CL.