Rousseau

you are profoundly wrong

I am demonstrably correct. We wiped the floor with Aberdeen and Hearts, so clearly we have a much better/higher level than we've shown. Most of the time, unfortunately, it has been utterly dreadful.

Looking back on the game, I can't believe we lost. As bad as we were for spells -- large spells at that -- I lost count of the number of glorious chances we missed. That's not management or the board; you can argue management is getting them into the position to create those chances, which they did. Ultimately it's down to the players to take them. We (the team) are desperately short of confidence. I truly believe we are much better than what we've shown. The number of mistakes is just incredible. It's desperately disappointing.

I might be wrong, but would an ex-Manager be able to constrain himself from interfering in first team matters?

 

I should have said, if he had the D of F position.

That's a good point. Clearly they shouldn't if they understand the role, but I can appreciate it may be difficult for traditional former managers.

Does he really think he is so good that he can pick and choose when he plays and that we'll jump at the chance to add him? I'd chase him. Then again, Chesney is the boss so he'll be able to do what he likes.

While I'm not sure Martin Jol is the right man -- for manager or DoF -- I do think the idea of getting someone in now to then take on the DoF role in the summer is a good move from the board. Of course, it is pure speculation at this point.

BetVictor Verified account

‏@BetVictor 1h

1 hour ago

 

Martin Jol is now joint fav for the #Rangers job.

 

Apparently, he'll be in attendance @ tonight's match...

 

https://twitter.com/BetVictor

What for? I thought we were trying to convince him to join?

If that's how he treats a journalist, imagine what he'd say to the players now!

Brilliant.

I'm astonished Leicester got out of Sevilla with only a 1-goal deficit. I was thinking it would be a case of how many for Sevilla; and although they did dominate, they couldn't quite take their chances. I'm a big fan of Jorge Sampaoli, a tactical genius; his sides are always brilliant to watch.

On another note, I see Blackburn Rovers sacked Owen Coyle YESTERDAY and have appointed Tony Mowbray TODAY. That's a total of ONE day it took them to appoint a manager. One, uno, ein, un, una.

Just wait and see how that turns out, though. I think Venkys just pull any old name out the hat -- no wonder they've gone through several managers in the last 3 seasons.

We need to get the DoF in first, if that is the route we're taking. It will take time, as it is an important decision.

I see your points but unfortunately the demand at Ibrox is immense and we may see another PLG type appointment where we try to play football, change diets off the park but he wont get time. That's not to say PLG would have worked out but the difference is Rangers demand winning, Southampton can afford defeats and are a stepping stone for likes of Koeman and Poch - and while they both play good football they certainly would be involved in decision making off the park.

 

You are right how Southampton have implemented this throughout their club from U14s to the first team but they went down to league 1 while doing this. If ever we had a chance to do it then it was 2012 and play the youth but now we are back in the top flight being top 2 is a must again and that means winning ugly.

 

Its still only stage 2 in the recovery and finishing second is the target then getting further income from the Europa league. If the board can get the merchandising side with Ashley sorted between playing Europa league and having further income it will then allow us to buy a better standard of player as we go on. This is where FdB would be good, I think he would mix youth with experience and play well...and Murray Park needs to start producing - it was set up for state of the art yet just hasn't produced bar maybe Alan Hutton who we got a good fee for. Perhaps I'll throw Allan McGregor in as a success also.

It sounds a bit short-termist to me. Of course, the best time was 2012 but we wasted that be being owned/run be wasters. Southampton are just the nearest successful example; they implemented their model when they reached their lowest ebb, and it helped get them back up. There are many teams that have a demand for success that have implemented this model, like Bayern, Ajax and Barcelona; and it's not mutually exclusive with winning. We can get a coach in that can get us winning, but we can also implement a DoF model. To me, it sounds like you want to buy success now and then implement a DoF structure, which sounds counter-intuitive to me. How can we ever expect the youth set-up to work if we don't have the structure in place? Surely, we need to get the structure implemented as soon as possible to give us the best possible chance of success in the long-term?

Even if we get a new manager in that gets us winning, we'll be successful only in the short-term. Eventually he'll leave or get sacked and we'll need to rebuild the squad again. All the while trying to pounce on any Champions League crumbs. I don't believe that is sustainable.

We are some of the most impatient fans in the world but we just need to deal with it; for I believe if we can get the right structure in place we'll be in a much better place long-term so these cyclical crises are mitigated as much as possible. We're already going through a turbulent time, what's a little bit more turbulence?

Brilliant read! Thanks!

I find it fascinating how full-backs are used -- predominantly as wingers nowadays -- and their development. I think we all have a fixed perception of a certain position, but in truth it evolves with time.

Also interesting to see that Guardiola has essentially used a formation (MW - 3-2-2-3) first used over 60 years prior!

Dougie Freedman...

[tweet]834015248692740096[/tweet]

I was thinking about Chelsea's less ideal model. They have a DoF who has singed for them the best young talent in Europe -- Lukaku, Courtois, De Bruyne etc. and loaned them out -- it's just that they've signed managers that don't fit with that model. So, Mourinho, who is a manager in the traditional sense, didn't like those players for whatever reason. If they had signed a coach that fit into that model they'd have an outstanding squad of young talent. If those players (Lukaku, De Bruyne etc.) had been part of say, Southampton's model, they would've been given a pathway into the first-team and would be first-team players -- before being sold on for mega-bucks!

And just what is Roy doing these days?

Oh, please no...

I don't think it matters what the guy's age is. All that matters is that he can implement a club-wide philosophy and scouting network. The coach needs to fit into it.

(Southampton's scouting network is incredibly technical so I can't see an older guy being able to implement it.)

I think the building blocks are in place. For me, a DoF is responsible for the overall club philosophy, playing style, scouting network/system and acquisition of the type of players that suit our way of playing etc. Like at Southampton, they have a distinct playing philosophy throughout the club, from youth to first-team, and all players are scouted to fit into that system. I think too many of us are thinking that because MW is gone that we need to start again. That is precisely the type of thing we need to avoid. MW has started to implement a club-wide philosophy and this should be continued. We now need a new manager/head coach that will be able to fit into it. Southampton, because they have a DoF and a club-wide philosphy, can target managers that cause little disruption -- Pochetino, Koeman and Puel were all chosen because they fit into the club's -- and DoF's -- philosophy; how many thought Pochetino was a ridiculous appointment at the time? It really wasn't because he was a coach that fit into their system. Ideally, we'd want a DoF in first to 'direct' the club philosophy. In essence MW was doing most of it himself.

A DoF would not interfere with team-affairs, otherwise he's not doing his job. He would be responsible for the players brought in, though. If the coach said he needed a left-back, the DoF would draw up a list -- ideally the list would already be there because they'd have a detailed scouting network of all positions and players with attributes that would fit into our club philosophy and price range -- and present that list to the coach, who would have a final say and choose the left-back he would want. We can't have a manager choosing any old left-back. The left-back would need to possess certain attributes that means he can fit into our philosophy, so any future manager can use him.

When you get excited about possible names like Pako Ayestaran, Gary Rowatt and Frank de Boer only to see the next name is Alan Irvine...

Who would you want playing in the team next year from the current lot? Hyndman and maybe McKay for me (but the latter only really when we are winning and no stomach is required, though granted he gets battered a lot). That's about it and Hyndman will be gone. Wes is not a safe custodian. None of our so called defenders can defend, with the possible exception of Hodson if he got a run at his own position. I don't think we have any fit midfielders who can play (Hyndman aside) and we've no forwards worth a candle (Miller now being too old.)

 

I see it as a total rebuild - literally a whole new team.

 

Since we were illegally and unfairly cast into the bottom league we have wasted chance after chance, year after year to actually use the time to build something.

 

It's terrifying, tbh. And folk on here are talking about Europe! We are shit in Scotland far less further afield.

It's an interesting question. If you are talking first-team, then very few. Perhaps, Foderingham, Wallace, Wilson, McKay, and maybe Garner -- depending on how he fits in. (And Hyndman but he'll be away.)

If you are talking squad, then I'd keep most. Even the much-maligned Halliday and Tavernier are 'decent' players that can be good squad players.

A good coach can elevate the current squad, so in that regard I don't think it's a total rebuild. It's certainly clear we need upgrades all over the park, but I don't think that necessarily means a complete re-build; merely better quality additions -- perhaps a few!

We were crap under mw.That we are worse now is no reason to regret getting rid of him.

Total rebuild required because of him.The fact that he is gone is the only upside to the whole season.

I agree we were crap and I'm looking forward to seeing where we go, but I think we had a settled way of playing that was semi-successful. We just needed better players, and MW failed to add to the group over the last few windows. I don't think we require a total rebuild. He has started the build. It is for another to continue it.

I don't think hunger and desire get you that far, although it maybe looks better. Aberdeen were awful today; Simple, percentage football with plenty of desire and hunger but it's not enough. Where does that get them? 2nd at a push. When they come up against a half-decent side in Europe they get rolled over.

I certainly expect a level of hunger and desire but I want more. I want a side that can actually play.

I lost count how many times I had my face in my hands after seeing too many players failing to take responsibility for loose balls and failing to control balls after more than one attempt. We spend too much time trying to get a ball under control than actually using it!

This was always going to be a tricky game. We have a group of players used to playing a certain way -- successfully or not -- and it's not really logical to expect them to be excellent at Murty's system -- which I don't think he knows what it is. We can and were playing a lot better than that, though.

LOL at Dundee celebrating like they've won the league. Percentage football won the day. Typical Scotland.

It has been clear for months that we need an upgrade all over the park, but at least we had way of playing with MW; I don't know what we are doing here? We can't expect a team of players not known for their physical acumen to suddenly be physical; that wasn't what we were about -- although I do expect the basic physical ability in any professional. We need a manager/coach in ASAP that can build on what MW started.

I'd put Muscat second bottom of the pile, firmly above McLeish.

Who would you like to see. Your negativity would be easier to take if we had a little glimpse of your ideal option.

Did you not have Conte and Chelsea written off after 4 games?

Sorry mate but I wouldn't allow him to even run the pie stall. Imo his time at Ibrox is over and he should be allowed to sink to his level - junior football.

That's a bit extreme. He's a decent player, just not suited to DM.

Actually, Halliday at LM/LWB could be quite a good move, allowing us to use his work-rate and pace while keeping him as far away from the centre of the pitch as possible!