Ibrox return on offer to Smith: Former boss in line for Rangers comeback

[der Berliner 3,889]

First, I am not running about and throw dirt at any Rangers player or manager. No matter how good or bad he is or was.

 

As for objectivity, essentially you can't debate about personal opinions here, but essentially solely facts. If you were to use them, you'd have to look at the years pre-Souness too, and matter of factly, not much farther. I started supporting roundabout 1983, the so-called "dark days". We hardly managed a top-three slot back then, won the odd league cup and had some short runs in Europe. Managers back then were John Greig and Jock Wallace. Going by the spending power Ally has had, you can probably equate them to him more than any other Rangers manager of these last two decades. Add to that the fact that he lost three to four backbone-players of the side early in the season, namely Naismith, Lafferty, Whittaker, and Jelavic. He could have done things tactically better, but the same arguments were levelled at Smith time and again ... but in the end we still managed 3IAR. Along with the injuries there was an alarming drop in form by some of the stalwarts, while those others could not rise to the challenge, a challenge that was marred by off-field troubles. These are no excuses, mind you, just stating facts. IMHO, no other manager would have fared any better under the circumstances and the personell involved. Ally's been here as a manager for less than a year. Given that and the circumstances he had to work with, I think I am quite right do ask some supporters to reign their statements about good or bad management somewhat?

Edited March 13, 2012 by der Berliner

[BlueMazza 0]

I can, for the simple reason McCoist had the teams full backing, whereas Le Guen had a mutiny to contend with. I think that negates that as a factor. Had Murray shown Ferguson etc the door and given Le Guen HIS full backing in time the players would have acted professionally.

 

Well then I will say had Ally not had to deal with the Craig Whyte era - and we're talking about all the board level sackings etc as well, the lack of funds despite promises - key players being injured etc then his season may well have come good too.

 

It's all 'what if's'. Ally will get a chance to show if he can do it or not but I still object to him being the worst Rangers manager ever.

[A Horse With No Name 0]

McCoist hasn't had the best of starts this season. He's a rookie manager @ Scotland's biggest club, which is going through it most torrid time in its 140 year history. There was little money for fresh players, he's had several key players injured, and one key player sold then add to that all the off field stuff.

 

I do agree that he has struggled on the field for the most part, however there have been glimpses at times of good play/tactics etc at times, just not enough.

I am not convinced about his long term suitability, but I am willing to give him a chance!!!

 

Be careful mate they kept saying that season after season with Ham & Eggs...

[Darthter 542]

I can, for the simple reason McCoist had the teams full backing, whereas Le Guen had a mutiny to contend with. I think that negates that as a factor. Had Murray shown Ferguson etc the door and given Le Guen HIS full backing in time the players would have acted professionally.

 

Don't think that argument stands up to be quite honest....

 

PLG had the financial backing of the Chairman - he was allowed to bring players in to "create" his team. Ferguson proved to be a thorn in PLG's side - as a manager IMHO, he failed to deal with it!!!

 

McCoist has had very little financial backing from the Chairman. The players he brought in were not 1st choice, but more a case of whatever he could get. A couple of them have proved their worth 10 times over....others have failed to shine for one reason or another.

 

You claim that given time PLG would have succeeded, yet you aren't prepared to give McCoist his chance to succeed. both had issues to deal with, and out of the two I would say that McCoist problems vastly outweigh anything PLG had to deal with. Through it all McCoist has remained strong & dignified - At the moment he is Rangers!!!

[Gribz 966]

I dont think McCoist is anyones 1st choice manager in an ideal world, but we have to be realistic and take onboard the situation. After all thats happened there is a morale argument that he deserves a proper shot at it. Nobody has seen what he can do in a situation where his hands arent tied. What we have seen is a few inept tactical decisions and some poor runs of forms especially at a time where I expected even more squad determination. But if the best plumber in the world was using plastic tools then he wouldnt be fixing the sinks as well as he could with propoer tools.

 

When the off field issues are sorted Im all up for a fresh start. Whether thats Ally in charge or someone else we just need a to move on from the current disaster. If it was my decision tomorrow then Id be giving Ally reassurance that he has one crack at it.

 

I also still think he needs a stronger coaching team which could make all the difference between Ally being a successful Rangers manager and one thats going to be forgotten about.

 

But regardless whatever way it goes, Ally is already cemented as a TOP club legend from his playing days and his loyality in the past 2 months will allow him to walk out with his head held high.

 

On the topic of Walter being back as DOF I would be fine with this but will it overmine McCoist in anyway??

[craig 5,199]

So then name me a worse one - with the 'possible' exception of Ham & Eggs there hasn't been one! I'd certainly exclude PLG because I think given time (and the players not playing as rebels) he would have done well.

 

 

Ahhhh, so PLG wasnt given time but Ally has been ? come on. PLG left in January, we went into admin in mid-February - so Ally had, what, 6 weeks more time before the proverbial hit the fan. That seems like an agenda to me.

 

Our league position and points gained are far superior under AM than they were under PLG we were struggling to maintain 3nd place under PLG and looking increasingly likely to drop to 3rd. The only reason that happens under AM is due to the 10 point reduction.

 

As for players playing like rebels, that is hardly something that should be used to support PLG's reign as manager. Part of the job is getting the players to play for you and if a manager cant do that (as PLG clearly couldnt) then he is clearly a failure.

 

Further, if you wish to use that excuse then you could use the excuse of extenuating circumstances for McCoist. The loss of Naismith, the cloud of administration (which starts way before Feb 14th) - I think they are every bit as legitimate as the "players playing like rebels" defence, and in the case of the admin problems far more of a defence due to it being something that the manager cant control and it has an incredible affect on the players.

 

I didnt want PLG to leave either as I thought that the potential was there. However, you cant use conjecture to make such determinations - AM HAS been a better manager than PLG. PLG's managerial stints post RFC would also suggest that I was wrong - he has hardly been successful wherever he has gone subsequent to us.

 

Harsh doesnt even begin to describe it. We didnt do well under numerous managers, including the Greatest ever Ranger. And they didnt have the spectre of administration hanging over them.

 

Seems you almost have a personal dislike to McCoist.

[craig 5,199]

Had Murray shown Ferguson etc the door and given Le Guen HIS full backing in time the players would have acted professionally.

 

Pretty sure that SDM DID give PLG his full backing and was prepared to sack BF but PLG asked to leave.

[Guest Dutchy]

Ally has certainly had some rather unfortunate circumstances to deal with and in his first season as manager, he's not done well. Some of decisions have been confusing, so that must be the reason that the players were playing like assholes.

 

I'd support the manager, but having said that, if we're beat by DU this weekend, it's certainly time to think about the managers position. I don't see WS coming back permantly, but as a temp to steady the ship until the end of the season.

 

Remember all the howls of derision at his line-ups.

[A Horse With No Name 0]

Re PLG it would require a thread all by itself to tackle that issue, but in relation to McCoist PLG had a proven track record in France. I'd also dispute people saying he was given the chairmans full backing, he may have backed him privately but his position became unworkable because it wasn't done Publicly, and while that was the case the media found it very easy to be divisive.

 

Ferguson was a great Rangers midfielder but we the fans should have been far more critical of him - a lot of water will have to flow under the bridge before I forget his shameful role!

 

By the way if McCoist didn't learn how to manage a team with WS by his side, and after 6 months he wasn't up to the task then for me that's enough time, had our financial situation been better I would have sacked him before the January window.

 

As for being loyal to him, most people said let him have to the end of the season to see if he could turn things round - by the time Administration hit us we were in freefall with Ally standing at the dugout ABSOLUTELY clueless!

 

That may seem harsh, but it's the truth and as my Ma used to say 'tell the truth and shame the devil'. By the most Celtic fans (inc Lennon) say Ally needs more time, they would...

 

Never let sentiment cloud your judgement I say.

[A Horse With No Name 0]

Re PLG it would require a thread all by itself to tackle that issue, but in relation to McCoist PLG had a proven track record in France. I'd also dispute people saying he was given the chairmans full backing, he may have backed him privately but his position became unworkable because it wasn't done Publicly, and while that was the case the media found it very easy to be divisive.

 

Ferguson was a great Rangers midfielder but we the fans should have been far more critical of him - a lot of water will have to flow under the bridge before I forget his shameful role!

 

By the way if McCoist didn't learn how to manage a team with WS by his side, and after 6 months he wasn't up to the task then for me that's enough time, had our financial situation been better I would have sacked him before the January window.

 

As for being loyal to him, most people said let him have to the end of the season to see if he could turn things round - by the time Administration hit us we were in freefall with Ally standing at the dugout ABSOLUTELY clueless!

 

That may seem harsh, but it's the truth and as my Ma used to say 'tell the truth and shame the devil'. By the most Celtic fans (inc Lennon) say Ally needs more time, they would...

 

Never let sentiment cloud your judgement I say.