JohnMc

It was down most of yesterday for me. The upside is my productivity was the highest for months!

Time to say thanks to Frankie, the mods and the people who keep this place online and working, I appreciate the time, effort and money you put in. Have a great Christmas when it comes.

Surprisingly honest from the ex-Celtic captain. He might not be invited to smash open the giant bottle filled with pennies at the Sons of Donegal supporters club doo now.

And Scottish/British/Irish managers haven't done very well abroad; and Scottish teams under Scottish/British/Irish managers have, overall, a poor record in Euro-competitions.

The recent Euro finals ( 9 and !4 years ago) were achieved by a very physical side (Bobo Balde a footballer? Anyone?), and Walter Smith's Berlin Wall tactics

 

I think that Scottish fitba' is too crude, and old fashioned, and Scottish players too immersed in that culture for a 'Continental' (a word almost exclusively used sneeringly) to prosper. It's not 'special', it is parochial, introverted, Luddite, stuck in the glaur, and as a result self limiting and self limited. That's the way we like it (Ha Ha Ha Ha), apparently.

I don't entirely disagree with you, but I do think a level of pragmatism is required, particularly for where our club is just now. There's fixing Scottish football and then there's finding a manager that can make Rangers challenge and ultimately succeed domestically. The former isn't something we can do on our own. I'm not convinced there's any desire to improve Scottish football among the people who actually do have the power to either.

The latter is entirely within our gift but I'd be concerned if we appointed a promising, young Italian or Spanish manager for example. At this stage I think we need someone who can hit the ground running, create an indomitable team spirit and bring the game to Celtic who've had it too easy for 18 months or so now. With the disparity in finances we won't be able to buy better players than Celtic so we need to create a better team. To do that we need someone who understands how Scottish and British footballers tick. Like it or not that's who we'll be largely picking from for at least the next couple of years.

In terms of dragging Scottish football out of the "glaur" as you beautifully described it that requires a systematic change to our league structure, how our clubs are funded, how we use young players, how we judge 'success' and how we reward it. The next Rangers manager won't be able to affect much, if any, of that.

Ain't that the truth.

 

I have been pondering the 'special qualities' of Scottish football, for some time -all of 5 minutes- and I have identified these traits:

 

-it is physical: you have to, as they say, 'earn the right' to actually play football (man's game, etc.)

-technical coaching is derided (man's game, etc.)

-skill, even modest skill, is the exception rather than the rule (man's game, etc.)

-'parking the bus' is the height of tactical sophistication

-officiating is among the very worst in Europe: in a 3rd world country it would likely be put down to bribery

-it doesn't really have much time for johnny foreigner, with his fancy Dan ideas, practices (man's game, etc.)

-it derides johnny foreigner's idiosyncratic use of English, which it takes to indicate his stupidity/general uselessness

-it thinks that you require to be steeped in it to prosper

-the media subscribe to, support, and preach all of the above

 

Oh, it's 'special', right enough: 'special' in the way that the 'special' Clinic is 'special'.

And yet, whilst enjoying your post, to date non-British/Irish managers haven't done well in Scotland. Advocaat won the league and had us playing some fantastic football but he'd a budget so far above every other side in the league. When Celtic did get their act together, and brought in O'Neill, Advocaat was found wanting. Le Guen and more recently Pedro haven't achieved anything.

At Celtic Wim Janson won the league against an ageing Rangers side, but it was still a reasonable achievement and Delia won the league but, frankly, a monkey could have managed Celtic to the league title in the seasons we were absent. Venglos was an abject failure.

Away from Glasgow, where 'success' might be easier to achieve there are no obvious successes either. Ivan Golac won the cup with Dundee Utd but was poor in the league and was sacked. The Norwegian Aberdeen had was horrendous, nearly got them relegated. Hearts have had a few, Paulo Sergio won the cup but the rest were pretty uninspiring. Motherwell had a Fin who'd done well in Finland but failed in Lanarkshire and Frank Sauzee at Hibs didn't last a season. Paatelainan has had some success but he's almost Scottish he's been here so long.

Lastly, Bertie Vogts. No more needs said.

So whilst I agree football in this country is lacking something, indeed it's lacking lots, simply bringing in a 'foreign' manager doesn't seem to be the answer. For whatever reason an understanding and experience of football in this country, or at least British football, does seem to be a prerequisite for success if history is anything to go by.

The thing with Murty is he's managed to create some sort of team spirit and the side is showing a degree of fight now. I've no idea if he's capable of managing us full time, but in the short time he has been in charge he's galvanised a squad that looked beaten whenever things went against them on the park. He deserves a lot of credit for that. Neither Caixinho nor Warburton's teams latterly had that. Perhaps the wheels will come off after a few setbacks, but whoever takes us over full-time can at least see that this squad is capable of better results than it was getting.

I would hope we are looking at Lewis Morgan from St Mirren!, also a wee rumour on FF of interest in Jordan Jones from Killie??

 

Everyone's looking at Lewis Morgan. Fairly strong rumours that a deal has already been agreed with Celtic where he'll sign for them but remain at St Mirren for another 18 months on loan.

Jamie Murphy would be decent signing although £1.2 million is a lot of money for us these days. He's a bluenose too.

I didn't think Holt was going to make it in the SPFL when we went up. But since coming into the side this season he's been immense, he's taken his chance and even if Dorrans was fit I'm not sure I'd drop Holt for him. His energy, his creativity and his fight typify the side over the last few weeks. For a wee guy he's got a big heart, you can't help but admire that.

You know for all Hibs carried the greater threat, not exactly surprising at Easter Road, Morelos should have scored a hat-trick, those two back post headers were great chances. Hibs goal was a wicked deflection and, yes, they had chances and close things in the second half but it wan't the hammering some are suggesting it was. Yip, they could have had a penalty, but so should we.

I couldn't be happier about the result. Beating Hibs never gets boring. For me that performance was everything that was missing from Pedro's sides. Early in the match we lose our captain and most experienced player from a side already featuring two teenagers and yet we fought, harried, cleared and backed each other up all night. It was the kind of battling performance all Rangers sides need to have. Sometimes the other side is just better on the night, so you need to be able to out fight them. Rotten December nights away from home are where markers are put down and real teams are forged, to come from behind is even more commendable.

The side clearly still has weaknesses, but now it has strengths too. Wee Holt's pass to Windass for the first was a thing of beauty and McCrorie was superb throughout, his emergence this season is really exciting. Remember that side was missing Wallace, Jack, Dorrans, Miller for most of it, four experienced and almost certain starters.

None of our directors hang out with 'Rangers people' in that sense. I'm assuming by that you mean ordinary working class Rangers supporters? Generally directors are successful business people who are mostly upper middle class and are unlikely to frequently be in the company of ordinary Rangers people unless its a function or event they are attending. Thats not a criticism of you or your perspective its just the way it is and has been for as long as I can remember.

I'm not sure that's fair. The Park's might be wealthy but they run a motoring group in the West of Scotland, they must come into contact with, and mix with, 'ordinary' Rangers supporters all the time. Paul Murray and John Bennett have visited supporters clubs in recent times and Murray certainly lives and works in Scotland, he's not an elusive millionaire, he's a fairly down to earth guy.

I do agree with Gonzo that King's remoteness must be a hindrance. I accept technology makes communication easier but there's still nothing to beat being in the same room as someone to know your message has been understood.

The biggest frustration for me is the missed opportunity regards putting pressure on Celtic. I'm realistic, Celtic have a better squad and a better first choice 11 than us currently but they've yet to be put under any pressure in Scotland and the last couple of months was our chance. Celtic were always liable to drop points domestically whilst in the Champions League, and so it's proved, but we didn't step up and win the matches we should have. Rodgers couldn't handle the pressure at Liverpool, I'd love to see how he'd react to some being applied up here.

Celtic will pick up injuries and suspensions as the league goes on, that we're not in a position to put pressure on them is very frustrating.

I don't think Be Boer's what we need just now. Our next manager will have to motivate and organise a squad of largely British players and look at signing new players from the lesser leagues of Europe. Is De Boer that guy?

Steve Clark is an interesting mention up thread. I wouldn't have even considered him in the summer but his work at Kilmarnock has been pretty impressive. The fact there isn't a favourite after all this time is damning in itself.

I'm in the enviable position of having never knowingly read anything Bill Leckie has written, doesn't sound like I'm missing much.

I don't understand the connection between Castle Greyskull and the Ibrox disaster. How does that connect?

Mike Ashley, bloody hell.

Ironically I thought Milne spoke quite well on Saturday. He avoided criticising Rangers other than to say the statement we issued should have had a name to it. As I'm one of the people who thought the statement was embarrassing I don't have much complaint about that. His later interview with Sky where he claims Rangers should apologise to McInnes is a nonsense though and suggests he's now getting carried away with himself.

McArthur? Really? He's a good wee player, but he's not a 'main' player; he's a supporting player. You can't build a team around him.

 

I think the point of a DoF is to take the transfers away from the regular managerial changes, so we have players that will be suited to any manager that comes in, which the DoF should be appointing. (Athough, if DM was the choice, I'm not sure they've thought this part through!) There may not be specific targets without a manger, but there should be player profiles, and if such a player was available, then I hope the DoF goes forward. The DoF structure works in so many instances, but our unfamiliarity with it will lead to some teething problems.

I don't think McArthur is the type of player to build a team around either, but that doesn't mean he shouldn't be signed and made captain. You wouldn't build a team around Lee Wallace either. But he's a step up from most at the club just now, he's only 30 so he's got four or five years ahead of him at SPFL level, he's experienced and he's a better midfielder than almost anyone else in the league.

I remain unconvinced by the Director of Football position but it'll be interesting to see what happens in January. We're clearly lacking in the wide areas and whoever becomes manager needs to address that. So if we sign any wide players in Jan we'll know it's the DoF who is pulling the strings on that. It also means we're not looking for a 'manager' but for a coach. McInnes is most definitely a manager.

Without a permanent manager January is surely going to pass us by? By all means extend the contracts of promising young players but beyond that can we really approach players at other clubs, indeed can we even offer new contracts to out of contract players at Rangers like Wilson? McArthur is an attractive signing, I'd consider approaching him, offering our highest salary and appointing him captain, but he's not going to sign without knowing who the manager is. Indeed would Moult, or Walker either? What happens if we bring in a manager who just doesn't fancy them? It's another consequence of our inability to appoint a manager.

I'm far from convinced a Director of Football signing players without a manager is going to end well.

You know, before we slate McInnes too much, it's worth just assessing why a Rangers supporter and ex-player, someone who wants to move back to the Central belt for family reasons, would turn us down to remain at Aberdeen on a lower wage and with far less prospect of success. Let that sink in.

This isn't about McInnes and any lack of ambition, it's about the continued state of our club and the ineptitude of some of the people running it. For some of us it's feelin g a lot like 1983 all over again.

Yeah, sorry, put me in the 'who the hell signed that statement off' camp. If it was possible to make this whole debacle any more ridiculous someone Rangers managed it with a statement written in the tone of a 14 year old just knocked back at a school dance. No wonder McInnes doesn't fancy it.

Would Man Utd supporters tolerate a known hater as ass man? Would any other clubs in the world employ a hater of said club? Our enemies would love that, us doing their job for them. Not in a million years would I have TD near our club.

Sammy Lee was just appointed assistant at Everton.

John Robertson was assistant manager of Celtic.

Kenny McDowall was 1st team coach of Celtic.

George Graham at Spurs

Brian Clough at Leeds

Any ex-Gers at Aberdeen

Any ex-Aberdeen at Rangers

That Christie player on loan at Aberdeen from Celtic.

Footballers don't think like you and I. To them it's a job, pure and simple. I don't know very much about Tony Docherty but any reservations I have over him working for us are to do with concern over his ability (and his managerial partners).

Those two pics above of the free kick last season and the free kick this season remove any doubt and demonstrate exactly why we won this season but not last; black socks! Oh yes, forget about tactics, fight and desire, it's all down to the socks and Murty knows it.

The last two matches have been brilliant, I've really enjoyed them. Fight, desire, team spirit, backs to the wall defending at times and no shortage of superb football too. I wish we could play Aberdeen every week.

The Caxinha answer is a strange one. A simple 'we thought he was the right man, but it didn't work out, that happens in football' would have killed that question and been a truthful answer.

Everyone knows the search for our next manager is taking far too long, I'm not sure what anyone expected to learn on that front today. In the end there are guys on our board who have invested a significant amount of money into the club, money there is a real risk they might not get back. I can understand why they're being cautious over this appointment. They're only human, I'm not sure how much the Pedro appointment has cost the club but it'll be a fairly big sum. They'll be very reluctant to lose that kind of money again. That nervousness will inevitably lead to caution and time being taken. It's not ideal as a fan but I can understand it from their perspective.

I thought we saw some genuine tactical insight from Murty last night, and find the criticism of Miller puzzling. Murty must have studied how Aberdeen play and realised that their centre-backs are actually quite good at defending when facing the ball. They're big, strong defenders and will win most balls knocked up to forwards with their back to goal. So Miller was instructed to drag them out of position, take them out of their comfort zone and create space for others to exploit; and for once we did that superbly. Holt, Pena, Windass, Tav and John found space last night and made the most of it, but Miller was instrumental in that. It wasn't just headless chicken stuff from him it was considered and thoughtful, pulling defenders out of position, knowing he'd play no part in the move. It was a genuine team performance with controlled aggression, energy and a little bit of long overdue good fortune. We didn't have a failure last night, let's enjoy that today.

I should know who it is but I don't

 

Enlightenment please JohnMc

Jack Ross currently at St Mirren. How excited do you feel now!!!

Is the received wisdom not that when Mcinnes comes to Ibrox, he goes to Pittodrie?

Aberdeen approached Partick Thistle in the summer for permission to approach Archibald when they were sure McInnes was going to Sunderland. Whether he'd still be first choice is anyone's guess.

You know there is a manager we could almost certainly get if we wanted him. He's taken his current side from marooned at the foot of the table and relegation favourites to clear at the top of the table in less than 12 months, he's done that with around the fourth largest wage bill in the league. He's also served his time as a youth coach and assistant manager before stepping into the first team role. He'd a journeyman-like playing career in lower divisions in England and Scotland with some time in the top flight up here so knows the leagues and the players.

On top of that he's got a Honours Degree in Economics, wrote a weekly column for the BBC not-ghosted and was chairman of the Players Union. I've never heard his name mentioned in relation to us and I expect most would be horrified at him even being thought of.

Pena was clearly a gamble. Every report on him from Mexico suggested he has ability but has lost his way in recent years. I'm not sure a club like Rangers is the place for someone to find their way again. You can't have more than a couple of poor games before a decent percentage of the support will be on your back, plus the scrutiny Rangers players face day in day out is difficult for some players to adjust too. Add in the obvious cultural differences to everyday life and the odds are against Pena making it with us.

It's difficult to judge him though, none of us have seen enough, but Murty sees him everyday and clearly hasn't fancied him so far. Perhaps he'll score the winner tomorrow night and become an instant cult hero, stranger things have happened.