SteveC 150 Posted August 20, 2017 Share Posted August 20, 2017 (edited) http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/40992977 Former Aberdeen captain Alex McLeish predicts his old club will this season again finish runners-up to Celtic in the Scottish Premiership. However, he describes it as the "mission" of Rangers, the team he managed to a domestic treble in season 2002-03, to halt champions Celtic. "I see the Dons being second," the 58-year-old told BBC Radio Scotland. "Derek McInnes has made good acquisitions and it is there for Rangers to try to usurp him." McLeish, who also enjoyed success in charge of Motherwell and Hibernian, joked that Rangers fans would be "ganging up" on him for tipping the club for whom he played in central defence almost 700 times. But, as Celtic target a seventh consecutive title, the former Scotland manager thinks the Reds have the edge over Pedro Caixinha's Rangers team when it comes to being runners-up. He is impressed with the standard of players to have arrived at Pittodrie over the summer, such as Kari Arnason, Greg Tansey, Ryan Christie, Stevie May, Greg Stewart, Nicky Maynard and Gary Mackay-Steven. McLeish continued: "I still think Aberdeen are the favourites. They still have a really good chance of finishing second. Aberdeen celebrate beating Ipswich Town in the Uefa Cup in 1981 Alex McLeish (top right) and his Aberdeen team-mates celebrate beating Ipswich Town in the Uefa Cup in 1981 "Derek McInnes has bought wisely again. If you look at the guys he's recruited, there is good experience there. Stevie May - what a buy that is. "Being first, that's the only thing that Rangers fans crave but common sense would tell you that they should be accepting second. "People talk about 'let's stop 10 in a row'. They've got to stop seven in a row. That is their mission this season. "I've said Aberdeen could finish above them but Rangers have still got to pull out all the stops to try to beat Celtic this season." McLeish describes the treble-winning Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers as an "all-round terrific package", with a successful blend of man-management and coaching skills. "Brendan came to Birmingham when he was out of work," he recalled. "I invited him in for a day's training. "I knew he was an educated guy. I think he learned a lot about man-management over maybe a sacking or two and going on to manage players like Steven Gerrard (at Liverpool) and doing it with great aplomb." McLeish was Scotland manager in 2007 before leaving for Birmingham City. He is urging the Tartan Army to get behind the current boss Gordon Strachan for September's World Cup qualifiers against Lithuania and Malta, insisting Scotland can win both games. Asked if he would welcome a return to the Scotland job one day, he replied: "Yeah, I would, absolutely. You kind of evolve in your life and there comes a moment when you think 'that would really suit me'. "I've got the experience and they say experience is forever. It would be a great challenge in the future. You never know." Edited August 20, 2017 by SteveC url 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gonzo79 15,294 Posted August 20, 2017 Share Posted August 20, 2017 Hard to disagree with anything McLeish says there. We have to turn things around ASAP. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
the gunslinger 3,366 Posted August 20, 2017 Share Posted August 20, 2017 Right now im not surprised 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill 13,717 Posted August 20, 2017 Share Posted August 20, 2017 IfI were a gambler, which I'm not, I'd bet on Aberdeen finishing second too 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jhunter 0 Posted August 20, 2017 Share Posted August 20, 2017 he's right we were in a battle with hearts hibs and aberdeen we've taken 1 point from 6 at home 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RANGERRAB 3,667 Posted August 20, 2017 Share Posted August 20, 2017 Still early days mind you.... Hibz getting humped 3-1 at home to Accies wasn't expected was it ? 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete 2,499 Posted August 21, 2017 Share Posted August 21, 2017 Pedro has only won 3 games from 11 at Ibrox. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill 13,717 Posted August 21, 2017 Share Posted August 21, 2017 It's too late now of course and I wish Pedro well but Derek McInnes is probably the manager we needed. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gribz 850 Posted August 21, 2017 Share Posted August 21, 2017 It's too late now of course and I wish Pedro well but Derek McInnes is probably the manager we needed. Not sure. Id be taking Neil Warnock all day long. Just to come in and win a load of games. Big Eck perhaps fancies the Aberdeen gig after McInnes, he obviously still has one job left in him. As for the Scotland manager comment I think Allardyce would be the one for that. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waltersgotstyle 307 Posted August 21, 2017 Share Posted August 21, 2017 McLeish is just bitter that he never got the gig. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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