The Rangers Manager - Post Takeover (Hypothetical)

[OnlyOneAmoruso 0]

Thoughts on this?

 

If, hypothetically, we are under new ownership by the time summer comes around, is Smith the man to lead us into this new era?

 

As one of his most vehement defenders it may be surprising to some that I don't believe he is.

 

Let me say now that I think Smith has been great for Rangers and is easily the second most successful manager we've ever had.

 

I don't buy into the thought that he cannot build a team without reasonable funding or that he lacks the ability to nurture youth players into full blown first team stars.

I think Smith feels that the pressures of succeeding at Rangers makes this already arduous task that bit more difficult.

If Smith wins the treble this season, against the current backdrop then what will then be a 3.5 year period will rank up there with (if not superceding) his 7 year previous stint.

 

I just feel that a fresh approach is needed, as successful as Smith is. We need to find a balance between what clubs like PSV & Porto do whilst still recognising that we have to win every game (as I'm sure those clubs do too).

 

Our net needs to be cast far and wide in Scotland (much wider than it is just now). We should have employees all around Scotland scouting youth teams ranging from the very young to the mid teens and cherry picking the best talent and integrating them into our own youth set up.

 

We should be aiming to bring players in at the 16/17 mark from around Europe (our record in doing this is terrible (Kalenga, Jacmot, Kaupilla, Fetai) to name but a few) and nurturing them into possible first team players, useful squad players or players we are capable of making a profit on.

 

On top of that we should be looking at bringing in players such as the Bougherras, Cuellars & Van Bronckhorsts of this world and giving them the exposure and platform necessary to attract offers of double & treble their values.

 

Ally McCoist has been touted as the obvious replacement when Smith leaves and this is mostly met with scepticism due to his lack of experience. I think it's plain to see that McCoist takes a great interest in the youth players and always speaks very highly of them when questioned. Whether he can channel this into managing them fully and giving them the appropriate chances to grow is another matter. Of course, it's not just about bringing through youth players. We have no idea what type of manager McCoist will be or how much of a disciplinarian or tactician he is.

 

So my question is, do you think Smith should remain in charge IF we have new owners in the summer? If not, who do you recommend and what can they bring to the table?

Edited February 16, 2010 by OnlyOneAmoruso

[Dr Preston Burke 0]

Walter Smith should be allowed to stay for as long as he wants. I also don't believe that our squad would respond well to a foreign coach, though that's only a hunch.

[OnlyOneAmoruso 0]

Walter Smith should be allowed to stay for as long as he wants. I also don't believe that our squad would respond well to a foreign coach, though that's only a hunch.

 

There's certainly recent historical evidence to back up that theory. Perhaps it's necessary though?

 

I don't like the current youth set up that we have. I think a total overhaul of it is needed, from top to bottom. I don't think Smith has the inclination to do this as he rightly recognises we are in a win at all costs environment.

 

Le Guen clearly went about it in the wrong way and underestimated the job needed, however, I don't think it's impossible for it to be done and believe that ultimately it would be successful.

[chilledbear 16]

It's a very big problem, can we afford to miss out on CL money while making changes. It will be very very difficult, look across the City, new manager, new players, it takes time.

[OnlyOneAmoruso 0]

It's a very big problem, can we afford to miss out on CL money while making changes. It will be very very difficult, look across the City, new manager, new players, it takes time.

 

Exactly mate. I'd be intrigued to see how a manager would strike the balance between this. Across the city has been a shambles of a 'transformation'. A total rush job in my eyes.

 

I'd be looking at a 5-10 year plan being implemented. In the first team sense, not much would change for the first couple of years. It would be the layers beneath that which would be overhauled. Then gradually, hopefully with little impact to results, changes could be implemented to the first team.

 

I have no idea who could do this or who we could attract to perform such a job.

[Dr Preston Burke 0]

There's certainly recent historical evidence to back up that theory. Perhaps it's necessary though?

 

I don't like the current youth set up that we have. I think a total overhaul of it is needed, from top to bottom. I don't think Smith has the inclination to do this as he rightly recognises we are in a win at all costs environment.

 

Le Guen clearly went about it in the wrong way and underestimated the job needed, however, I don't think it's impossible for it to be done and believe that ultimately it would be successful.

 

I just feel that after a decade of being second best (yes we won a lot of trophies but there was never any point in the last 10 years where you could say we were clearly better than Celtic) we shouldn't be advocating throwing away stability and sustained domestic success just because of Walter's age/poor record of bringing through youngsters/poor record in the Champions League (the three main reasons why people usually say he should leave)

 

We'd all love a thriving youth system but how many clubs in Britain as a whole are producing a lot of top quality youngsters on a regular basis? Liverpool haven't produced any in 10 years and they're one of the biggest clubs in the world. The last decade has saw 3 different Rangers teams created and then ripped up, replaced by even cheaper alternatives. I want to see this team play together for 4 or 5 years with 1 or 2 alterations per summer, not the 'complete overhaul' that a lot of long-termist supporters call for. Not yet anyway.

Edited February 16, 2010 by Dr Preston Burke

[pete 2,499]

As one of Walter Smith's biggest critics i am going to shock everyone and say i don't think it would be good to have a massive shake up unless the new owner has millions to spend. Walter has actually pleasantly surprised me with the shape of the team since December.

 

If we are going to go for a new manager which i think we will as Walter will chuck it whatever happens imo, I would not surprisingly go Dutch. Fred Rutten(PSV) Gertjan Verbeek(Heracles) Ron Jans(Groningen) would be my best picks.

Steve Mclaren would have been also a favourite but i am getting a bit pissed off with his touchline antics.

 

Jimmy Calderwood would be my Scottish choice as i feel he did a good job in Holland and at Aberdeen and seems to have revamped Killie.

[OnlyOneAmoruso 0]

 

We'd all love a thriving youth system but how many clubs in Britain as a whole are producing a lot of top quality youngsters on a regular basis? Liverpool haven't produced any in 10 years and they're one of the biggest clubs in the world. The last decade has saw 3 different Rangers teams created and then ripped up, replaced by even cheaper alternatives. I want to see this team play together for 4 or 5 years with 1 or 2 alterations per summer, not the 'complete overhaul' that a lot of long-termist supporters call for. Not yet anyway.

 

I don't agree that just because the Premiership isn't doing it doesn't mean we can't. Look to clubs on the continent such as PSV, Porto, Ajax amongst others who are doing it and being successful. Hell, the best club on the planet do it better than anyone.

 

As I said in a reply above it would be a gradual first team alteration. I also want this team to play together for many years, the core of the team is young enough to. It's about making plans to supplement and (years down the line) replacing them with minimum disruption and maximum gain.

[OnlyOneAmoruso 0]

As one of Walter Smith's biggest critics i am going to shock everyone and say i don't think it would be good to have a massive shake up unless the new owner has millions to spend. Walter has actually pleasantly surprised me with the shape of the team since December.

 

If we are going to go for a new manager which i think we will as Walter will chuck it whatever happens imo, I would not surprisingly go Dutch. Fred Rutten(PSV) Gertjan Verbeek(Heracles) Ron Jans(Groningen) would be my best picks.

Steve Mclaren would have been also a favourite but i am getting a bit pissed off with his touchline antics.

 

Jimmy Calderwood would be my Scottish choice as i feel he did a good job in Holland and at Aberdeen and seems to have revamped Killie.

 

Not sure about the Calderwood suggestion!

 

Living in Holland you'll know first hand how PSV and Ajax go about their business and if it's viable or not. Culture has a lot to do with it and people need to be willing to change.

 

I don't know anything about Verbeek or Jans but, if capable then you would think that a manager of a mid-table team in the Eredivisie would jump at the chance of a project at a club like ours.

[Frankie 8,675]

Really not sure to be honest...

 

By and large, Walter has done an excellent job but one gets the impression he wouldn't do so forever and a fresh face may be able to take us a step further - if finance allows.

 

However, I don't see many better candidates for the job as I doubt we'd struggle attract the cream of international managers while the PLG debacle shows a young, foreign manager is a gamble.