JohnMc

Yip, wise words. I've no idea what this is all about, if the club want to support the armed forces they could easily do it without turning it into a May Day Moscow parade.

I can remember in the not too distant past Sandy Jardine being lambasted on supporter message-boards. Some of the stuff written about him was incredibly harsh and some spoke about him in a way you wouldn't expect them to speak about a Celtic legend far less one our own. Needless to say you don't read that kind of comment about Jardine now. I think something similar will happen with McCoist, at some point in the future people will start to look at his entire career rather than just the last 12 months and McCoist will once again be recognised as arguably the greatest living Ranger. Thankfully it seems the people running our club have a more balanced view of McCoist than some of the posters on here and elsewhere.

When you've done this I can forgive most other transgressions.

To return to a favourite theme of mine at the level professional sportsmen operate at the differences in fitness are often psychological. The great Jock Wallace didn't make players run up and down sand dunes because it actually made them fitter, he did it because they thought it made them fitter. Thinking you are fitter can make a difference to how you play. Psychology is so important at top level sport, particularly with individual sports like golf and tennis but also with team sports. A player believing they are faster or stronger or simply better performs differently to one who doesn't.

There are no guarantees it improves the player's development but on balance I think it's better than playing under-age or reserve football. The issue isn't so much are loans good for a player though it's are they good for the sport, that's a different question. Take the example of Courtois, the Chelsea keeper. A lot of people would look at his case and say the loan system works, but I disagree. Chelsea bought him from Genk in Belgium and he played three seasons on loan at Athletico Madrid before rejoining Chelsea. Had he remained at Genk for those three years then the standard of Belgian football would have improved as it would have had better players in it. On top of that Madrid get a player without having to pay the going rate for him, giving them an advantage over their rivals. Lastly Chelsea get to take a punt, safe in the knowledge that he costs them very little in the grand scheme if things and he might work out. The reality is very, very few of those 30 odd Chelsea players out on loan will ever make their first team. That being the case I think they should be employed by and playing for a side where they can make the first team. That way their employer must invest both time and money into developing them safe in the knowledge that investment is worthwhile if the player improves. That's not the case with loan players, there is no long term planning with them, only short term gain and that's not really in anyone's interest. Football is a transient business at the best of times but loaning players out by the dozen simply exacerbates this. No one will convince me that Scott Allen or Islam Feruz's careers were improved by joining big English sides and being sent on loan for almost their entire time there. They'd both have been better off staying at their original clubs and moving when developed to a level where ready to take the next step. The players would have benefited from that, their developing clubs would have benefited and the club buying them would have benefited too. Money talks, I get that, but the balance in football is so skewed in the favour of a small number of very wealthy clubs already that allowing them to factory farm players on a percentages basis simply further diminishes competition and will ultimately disillusion supporters of clubs outside that elite.

I expect the UEFA will make a rule change soon to limit the number of players any club can have and then loan out. Chelsea had 30 players out on loan last season, that's farcical, in total there are close to 160 players registered to EPL sides out on loan in other countries this season. I expect this stockpiling of players to be outlawed by UEFA in the near future, it's both anti-competitive and holding back player development. No club should have more than half a dozen players out on loan at one time and no club should have any more than three loan players in their squad in my opinion.

Like everyone else it's difficult not to get carried away when you see the football we're playing, but it's important we don't. For a start we've not played anyone good yet, the second tier of Scottish football is not a high level. Secondly I'd like to see how this side reacts to a setback, that will tell us a lot about the team and spirit and resilience in it. We'll get a game where nothing goes right, as has been said up thread when the weather deteriorates it'll be harder to play our style and with a thin squad we'll inevitably have some issues with injuries as the season goes on. So with that in mind I think it's unrealistic to expect us to score five goals in every match we play, so I'll accept winning four trophies this season and being invited to represent our country at the Euro 16 finals as long as we make the semis. Anything less and I'll not be back.

That's hysterical, well done Raith. The shadowy hand of the establishment at work again clearly.

Apologies in advance to anyone looking for tactical insight or even the likely team. The Renaissance Men – Rangers v Raith Rovers The ironic thing about The Renaissance is it required the Dark Ages and the Bubonic Plague to create the circumstances for it to happen in the first place. Plague carrying fleas living on rats spread terror and death throughout the fourteenth century, the population of Florence literally halved during one year, the population of England reduced by 25%. As no one knew what caused the plague and how it was spread the traditional medicine men were impotent, people turned on each other, schisms appeared and minorities were persecuted, brutally at times. People were helpless, insanitary conditions encouraged its spread and everyone was affected; it was a living hell. Yet from that hell eventually came opportunity. Those who remained fit were sought after and this led to freedoms previously unheard of. People born in poverty were now able to command much more as the need for labour outstripped the supply. The price of food dropped, there were far fewer people to feed after all, and so diets improved for everyone else. More importantly people who had lived so closely with death on a daily basis began to embrace life like never before. From this pit of despair and horror the first shoots of what we now know as The Renaissance took root. The Renaissance was a cultural movement that had a profound affect on life both at the time and indeed right up to the present day. Starting in Italy, and spreading to the rest of Europe its influence was felt in literature, philosophy, art, music, politics, science, religion, it was a time of enlightenment, of opportunity and of advancement. The word renaissance comes from the French and it literally means to be born again; rebirth. It’s been a difficult few years for the Rangers support. Rats of a different kind brought a plague to our house and for a long time we knew of no antidote and weren’t sure there would be any survivors. The medicine men we’d previously loved and relied on were impotent in the face of such wanton destruction. Factions created, fault lines appeared and public schisms were the order of the day. The plague-like happenings off the field were matched by the malady on it. A Rangers team being trounced, twice, by an impoverished and very limited Motherwell side was a fitting end to a dark, dark period in our history. Yet here we are, some three or so months later, in a time of Renaissance. I don’t use the word renaissance simply because we’re winning matches again, it’s because of the way we’re winning these matches. Frankly watching Rangers this season is like watching a different club, you know, one of those good ones from somewhere else. But then we are literally a new side and, most importantly, we have a new leader. Whatever anyone thinks of our current board of directors the appointment of Mark Warburton already looks inspired. An Englishmen with no previous connection to the club or experience in Scotland, who has never played professional football and only actually became a manager two years ago should have been a divine comedy of a signing yet looks like being the smartest move we’ve made in a long time. On paper it’s an appointment that should have seen us remain in hell, yet suddenly our purgatory doesn’t seem so bad and the promise of a return to paradise, or at least the SPFL Premiership, looks a distinct possibility. Our support are once again embracing life, not only are we filling the dear old stadium but we’re looking forward to it again, no, better than that, we’re actually enjoying it. So we should be. After years of persecution from outside and what Police Scotland and the Procurator Fiscal currently view as criminality inside the club, we’d forgotten that this is meant to be fun. Those highly paid, pampered and feted athletes are supposed to thrill us, inspire us, and leave us wanting more. After a diet of Ian Black and Kevin bloody Kyle it’s no wonder I’m gorging myself on this current side. Ironically the pass and move, the possession game, the angles, the runs from deep, the overlaps and the work ethic when not in possession are disguising the fact that Rangers don’t currently have players of great quality. Seriously, Bradford didn’t deem Andy Halliday worthy of a new contract and James Tavernier couldn’t get into the Wigan side. Even more damning than that Barrie McKay couldn’t get into the Rangers one last season! Now those three and the rest have us on the edge of our seats as they link and move and drive and cover and score, oh do they score. Fourteen goals in four league matches, that’s double what the next best in the league has scored. Goals are coming from all over the pitch, fullbacks, deep-lying midfielders, wide players you’re never sure where the next goal is coming from, yet already you’re sure it’s coming. Our side on Saturday is unlikely to change from the one that comprehensively beat Queen of the South last Sunday. If Wallace is out I suspect Ball will start, but it could be Aird. Wallace would be a miss if he’s injured and as most of us still see our defence as our potential Achilles Heel losing anyone from it will stretch resources. Yet, frankly, if Warburton chose to play another forward instead of a left-back I’d cheer, out scoring our opponents is where it’s at right now, and I love it. Our visitors on Saturday are the never glamorous Raith Rovers. The Kirkcaldy side are unbeaten at home this season but have lost every match away since a narrow win in July against Cowdenbeath in the Challenge Cup. Indeed Raith Rovers haven’t even scored a goal away from home since then. The recent addition of Jon Daly to their attack isn’t likely to change that statistic if his performances last season are anything to go by. I’m being unfair on the big Irishman though, nobody should be judged on last season. If both sides play to their potential Rangers should win comfortably, we’re in form and full of confidence, it’s been a long, long time since I wrote that. Embrace life and enjoy the renaissance, you’ve earned the right.

I'll have the preview for Saturday ready tomorrow, will I open a thread or post it in here for inspection first? I don't think I've said anything that'll get the site into trouble, not much on the actual game either mind, but you knew that would be the case when you agreed to let me write it.

This is probably entirely unimportant but I'm curious, why is Green at Livingston police station rather than say Helen Street or another Glasgow station?

Aye maybe, he's hardly a first pick though, is he? Can't say I watch many of their games (although I surprisingly found myself glued to the radio on Tuesday night...) but I get the impression Forrest's career has stalled and it would be no surprise if he's playing for Barnsely or Dundee Utd this time next year. It might be I just simply struggle to give them credit for anything.

Whilst I take your point McKay has been playing first team football for the last couple of years, just not for us. He was at Morton who were a division higher than us at the time and the Raith Rovers who were in the same league as us. Ironically being away on loan might have been the best thing for him although I doubt very much that was a deliberate strategy.

Really? I can think of Aiden McGeady who broke through in 2004 and at a push Maloney who made his debut 14 years ago so it's not exactly a prolific production line of dribbling midgets they're running over there. Who am I missing?

To be fair to McGregor he's very complimentary to Warburton and Weir in today's papers. What can't have been an easy conversation seems to have been handled very well by both parties.

McGregor has a poor injury record and the intensity and pace we're playing at might just be beyond him physically. I can't say I wish him all the best if I'm honest, Hibs losing every week is a much more attractive prospect for me.

Allan signing for Celtic should come as no surprise to anyone who has spent 30 seconds studying his career. He has no grasp of the concept of loyalty and is clearly only motivated by money. Whatever we might all think of Dundee Utd his departure from there was very unimpressive. They'd nurtured and developed him and he repays them by bolting for the door the second he could. His choice of clubs to sign for further underlines that it's his wallet that thinks for him. Fulham, then an EPL side with no real record of developing young players, probably made him very wealthy however his career went into reverse and he eventually washes up playing trials in the Scottish Championship four years later. Again, whatever we might feel about Hibs, they gave him a contract and a platform and invested time and effort in getting his career back on track. He repays them by agitating for a move away after one year. He can hardly be homesick so it can only be about the money, again. Now I accept that professional footballers view football as a job, any love or emotion they might have felt is kicked out of them when they first sign an S Form. But even viewed as a job and a source of income only, Allan has made some bad career decisions. He should have stayed at Dundee Utd, become a first team regular, got 50 first team matches under his belt and learned his trade before moving to bigger and better things. If he wasn't bright enough to see that his agent or someone in his family should have been. So if Allan signs for Celtic I'll shed no tears. He might go on to become a legend for them but more likely if he does well he'll be agitating for a move to Burnley or Stoke in 18 months time. The issue in this for me is Celtic showing they can weaken us, or at least prevent us from strengthening, if they want too. It's a marker being thrown down, a statement of intent from their board. We should be flattered, they clearly see us as a rival again, be interesting to see what our strategy to deal with this is though.

I've met him a few times and even worked with him once. I found him to be professional, friendly and hard working. He is what he is though, a Glasgow comedian of a certain vintage, he's not everyone's cup of tea but he has his audience. As for the boardroom stuff I know that during administration he was active behind the scenes for Paul Murray, approaching business contacts, introducing people he knew who might have the ability and inclination to help the club at that time to Murray. Rangers is a big, big part of his life and he's never been afraid to speak about that, something that has probably been to the detriment of his career particularly in recent years. I'd also point out that Andy Cameron is 75 years old now, he invariably holds different views on things from people half his age. He'll no doubt be irrelevant to many of our support now, but not all. We're a broad church and we should cater for that.

I'll do one, how about Raith Rovers in September? You can donate my 'fee' to something worthwhile of your choosing.

If King wasn't a Glaswegian raised bluenose who had previously ploughed money into the club and was a known quantity to many and if the club hadn't been on its knees I've a feeling a lot more people would have been very concerned about someone with his history taking over the club. I'm delighted that Ashley's cabal has been marginalised, and I do think King genuinely want's what is best for the club, but the media would not be doing it's job if it didn't say 'hang about, how can someone with his record be seen as fit and proper?'.

From memory English went to the Scotsman where writing about rugby was important for their private school Edinburgh readers. Seeing as no one reads the Scotsman now and it can't actually afford to pay journalists anymore he left. I guess he's talking about football now because it makes up 90% of all sport coverage in Scotland. Anyway, as much as I disagree with bans (or removal of press privilege) the BBC's reaction to it is indefensible and he deserves criticised for that. Interestingly he was one of the few journalists willing to criticise McCoist when he was our manager, both for his salary and the teams he put out. McCoist took very little criticism from the media even when he was being pilloried on here and places like it.

I think there's an assumption that because he's Irish he must support Celtic. English is from Limerick and that's an unusual town and county by Republic of Ireland standards. For a start it's the only part of the Republic of Ireland where rugby is the top sport, and it's the top sport by miles. In Dublin and other parts of Ireland rugby is a minority sport played in schools in the more affluent areas, by private schools or by Protestant schools. Not in Limerick where it's played by everyone no matter their background. This is English's background, he's a rugby man to his boots and would far rather report on that than football. If he has any football allegiances they're to one of the big English sides like pretty much everyone else in Ireland.

It's funny but my favourite sport's journalists are both Irish. David Walsh at the Sunday Times but particularly Paul Kimmage who has an insight into professional sport very few journalists possess and a curious writing style I really enjoy. Like you I actually quite like English and have never quite understood why he attracts as much opprobrium from our support as he does. Great piece, hope it gets read further afield than this thread.

Where was that played, Dumbarton? What a nmae for a ground, who'd have thought you'd ever long for a name like Boghead to return. Some really poor defending on show there. Both their goals were really badly defended by us and our first was a shocker for them to lose. However, our second was a thing of beauty, I could watch it all day.

I've no idea, on previous experience probably not. McLaughlin is biased, he seems to dislike Rangers for reasons we can only guess at, I wouldn't expect even treatment from him. I'm not quite sure what point you're trying to make though.