chilledbear 16 Posted December 26, 2015 Share Posted December 26, 2015 (edited) I know it's the Record but some of this I agree with. GARY looks at Rangers' recent dip in form and says that too many in the side are no longer working hard enough. IT is time for Rangers players to grow a set and Mark Warburton to develop a spine. What a dreary narrative has emerged in recent weeks, along the lines that Championship rivals now have Rangers sussed after they recorded only two league wins in their last six games. It’s a lot of claptrap and at the very least insulting to some of the emerging young bosses in the second tier of the Scottish game, never mind wily old heads such as Peter Houston and Jim Duffy. They knew within a week of watching how to counter the threat of Rangers, but were powerless to act so long as Warburton’s side continued to come at their sides like a jailbreak from juvenile detention. They were a team of sharp haircuts and even sharper movement, zipping accurate passes at pace in the final third, turning defences and rarely without two and three options in possession, always hunting in packs to retrieve the ball on the rare occasions it broke down. Now? Too many Rangers players are no longer working hard enough and are beginning to take their places for granted as the myth of competition in Warburton’s squad, looking increasingly threadbare in quality, is exposed. Players such as James Tavernier, Martyn Waghorn and Andy Halliday have been coasting in recent weeks on the crest of their fine early season form. If they’re not careful, they’ll be foundering in a sea of fan discontent, especially if Hibs leave Ibrox on Monday with three points and a place at the top of the table - and don’t bet against it. Alan Stubbs has indulged in more wind-ups this week than Johnny Knoxville. From a tunnel bust-up against Queen of the South to the goading of Rangers, he has gone from fracas to Jackass. Goodness, anyone would think the former Celtic defender - the mischievous glint in his eye at East Mains on Tuesday was something to see - has indentified thin skins as a potential Ibrox picking point. Still, Stubbs is right to push his luck after somehow winning a reprieve for John McGinn to play the festive fixtures against Queens and Rangers following his red card a fortnight ago against Falkirk. A £250 appeal buy-in, power point presentation, a personal appearance and character references from everyone but his next door neighbour apparently did the trick for the Scotland under-21 midfielder. Still, we can at least be confident in assuming the three person independent panel was balanced by the presence of a former whistler to give an insight into the decision made by whistler Kevin Clancy, right? No matter, a victory for Hibs at Ibrox will take them clear at the top of the Championship for the first time this season and serious questions will be asked about the ability of Warburton to deliver title success, not to mention the lack of pragmatism around his football philosophy. Warburton, like Stubbs, has yet to commit his family to life in Scotland, which does little to inspire confidence both men will still be in charge if these two clubs go toe-to-toe in the Premiership next season. Warburton’s team, despite its early promise, has looked increasingly bereft of balance, a fatal combination when added to jaded and lacklustre performers. His centre halfs look slow and have little authority, his midfield lacks aggression and Gedion Zelalem is a nice player, but sits in the corner and says absolutely nothing. Waghorn has netted 20 goals this season and yet a six yard sniffer would arguably have made Marco Negri’s total in the first four months of 1997 looked as paltry as the return from Gary Birtles when he moved to Man United. In fairness, Warburton’s relatively late arrival at Ibrox in the summer meant recruitment was done on the hop but goalkeeper Wes Foderingham apart, the spine of his side is weak. Rangers are supposed to be building a team to challenge Celtic at the top end of the Premiership next season but there is not one player in the current Ibrox squad would command a place in Ronny Deila’s starting line up. Warburton must address the issues in the weeks ahead, but that also requires Dave King and his board releasing significantly more than the £600,000 they forked out on transfer fees six months ago. There can be no return to the boom and bust era of Sir David Murray but King has previously conceded Rangers require over-investment in the coming seasons before they can begin to run the club on a break even basis. King must provide his manager with financial backing because even if his reign turns out to be closer in length to Paul le Guen than Bill Struth, Rangers must emerge from the Championship this season. Warburton will be under pressure to recruit more wisely than he has until now if that war chest under the wine cellar in Johannesburg is prised open. It’s a Rand old team to play for. http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/opinion/sport/gary-ralston-its-time-rangers-7067619#ICID Edited December 26, 2015 by chilledbear 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
der Berliner 3,803 Posted December 26, 2015 Share Posted December 26, 2015 Actually, you can agree with a lot of what is being said above. Much of it echoes what is being said on this board. We are at the half-way stage of the championship race, so nothing is won, no matter who wins on Monday. But January will sure impact on what will happen in the second half of the campaign. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tannochsidebear 2,429 Posted December 26, 2015 Share Posted December 26, 2015 Do "journalists" actually get employed and paid to write articles like that? No wonder I gave up buying newspapers in the last millennium , what a complete non-story written entirely to stoke up some controversy. The sooner everyone stops buying or online reading these horrible outlets and they can be killed off for good will be much better for everyone, apart from those working there of course, but with talent like that, these guys should be able to find jobs in sports direct no problem. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
trublusince1982 243 Posted December 26, 2015 Share Posted December 26, 2015 agree with pretty much all the points in that just don't agree with the need for the tone. What's wrong with a civilised discussion of the points? why the need to constantly snipe? 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruno55 0 Posted December 26, 2015 Share Posted December 26, 2015 Actually, you can agree with a lot of what is being said above. Much of it echoes what is being said on this board. We are at the half-way stage of the championship race, so nothing is won, no matter who wins on Monday. But January will sure impact on what will happen in the second half of the campaign. Gary is a big gers fan like us... 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bearman 9 Posted December 26, 2015 Share Posted December 26, 2015 Gary is a big gers fan like us... Shite paper and an odd last line to finish off with. What is it supposed to mean? 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chilledbear 16 Posted December 26, 2015 Author Share Posted December 26, 2015 agree with pretty much all the points in that just don't agree with the need for the tone. What's wrong with a civilised discussion of the points? why the need to constantly snipe? It is the comic called the Record, hence the tone. Saying that, the points made about the players and Manager are probably what most of us have been saying/thinking over the last few weeks. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
der Berliner 3,803 Posted December 26, 2015 Share Posted December 26, 2015 Oh, others follow suit ... Hibs boss won’t flinch in face of Rangers abuse Edinburgh Evening News 08:35 ( http://www.newsnow.co.uk/h/Sport/Football/Scottish+Championship/Rangers ) ... Warburton has said that he wants to talk Rangers with the media, not Stubbs, Hibs, any linked player or whatnot. They don't grasp it and warp their stories accordingly. Predictable and pathetic. Perhaps we should revert to handing them press releases instead and give them no chance to bother our boss with their rubbish?! 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tannochsidebear 2,429 Posted December 26, 2015 Share Posted December 26, 2015 I have said for ages that I would stop giving pressers for papers. Release all info through official club channels (website, Facebook Twitter, Rangers tv) and give the papers nothing. They have shown consistently that they abuse the access they are given, misrepresent what was said far too often, and generally are far more negative than positive. Not just our club but all clubs I would add. Do a televised interview so nothing can be misrepresented. Why should we give papers all this access and content for free? We are long long past the stage where the papers were a valuable source to promote upcoming games/events. We most certainly do not need them to survive. Can the opposite be said? 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete 2,499 Posted December 26, 2015 Share Posted December 26, 2015 It’s a Rand old team to play for. . What is it supposed to mean? I guess it is a joke on Dave King as the Rand is the currency of South Africa. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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