As far as results go, a 2-1
victory over Hibernian during the first competitive outing at Ibrox is, on the
face of it, respectable enough. Hibs are, after all, a recently-demoted SPL
team with a decent enough squad and recent experience of the highest level in Scotland, not
to mention endowed with new management under the watchful eye of former Celtic
defender Alan Stubbs.
victory over Hibernian during the first competitive outing at Ibrox is, on the
face of it, respectable enough. Hibs are, after all, a recently-demoted SPL
team with a decent enough squad and recent experience of the highest level in Scotland, not
to mention endowed with new management under the watchful eye of former Celtic
defender Alan Stubbs.
So to win in Govan against these
visitors in the first round of the Petrofac Training Cup (or ‘Ramsden’s Cup to
you and me) was certainly not an objectionable outcome.
visitors in the first round of the Petrofac Training Cup (or ‘Ramsden’s Cup to
you and me) was certainly not an objectionable outcome.
However, what the final score
fails to illustrate was just how utterly dreadful Rangers were in this match,
and how manager Ally McCoist was, once again, completely unable to get the best
out of his players.
fails to illustrate was just how utterly dreadful Rangers were in this match,
and how manager Ally McCoist was, once again, completely unable to get the best
out of his players.
The team selection was bad
enough, with a 3-man wall at the back. Now I will admit I am not a total
opponent of the 3-man backline with two flankers in midfield, but you
absolutely need the right players to do it well. Martin O’Neill’s Celtic side
of the early noughties were an example, with 3 men-mountains at the back in
Valgaeren, Mjallby and Balde, while Agathe and a utility man like Thompson or
Petta would cover the flanks. It worked well because Celtic had the players to
do it, sadly.
enough, with a 3-man wall at the back. Now I will admit I am not a total
opponent of the 3-man backline with two flankers in midfield, but you
absolutely need the right players to do it well. Martin O’Neill’s Celtic side
of the early noughties were an example, with 3 men-mountains at the back in
Valgaeren, Mjallby and Balde, while Agathe and a utility man like Thompson or
Petta would cover the flanks. It worked well because Celtic had the players to
do it, sadly.
Rangers, even more sadly, do not. Lee McCulloch as a
defender will never be up to scratch, and Foster is dire going forward. There
is also the long-standing problem that Nicky Law, charged with supporting the
strikers, simply cannot carry out that role. Truth be told he fails to carry
out any role these days, but starts
anyway being one of Ally’s ‘pals’. So Boyd and Miller up front were starved of
decent service, something predictable when you looked at the lineup.
defender will never be up to scratch, and Foster is dire going forward. There
is also the long-standing problem that Nicky Law, charged with supporting the
strikers, simply cannot carry out that role. Truth be told he fails to carry
out any role these days, but starts
anyway being one of Ally’s ‘pals’. So Boyd and Miller up front were starved of
decent service, something predictable when you looked at the lineup.
Now, being fair, the first 25
minutes actually were not half bad. While Rangers did not exactly shine, they
were not poor and indeed thanks to MacLeod’s wonderful strike did take a
borderline deserved lead.
minutes actually were not half bad. While Rangers did not exactly shine, they
were not poor and indeed thanks to MacLeod’s wonderful strike did take a
borderline deserved lead.
Unfortunately that was as good as
it got for McCoist’s men and thereafter Stubbs’ outfit grew into the match and
fully deserved their equaliser in the second half. Rangers just looked worse
and worse as the match continued, which is simply not acceptable. There was no
blood and thunder after the half time break, something McCoist is repeatedly
guilty of, and despite Law’s late, late winner which nicked this one deep into
extra-time, it cannot be forgotten Hibs were down to 10 men and still more than
holding their own after Danny Handling’s harsh red card for a careless but not
malicious challenge.
it got for McCoist’s men and thereafter Stubbs’ outfit grew into the match and
fully deserved their equaliser in the second half. Rangers just looked worse
and worse as the match continued, which is simply not acceptable. There was no
blood and thunder after the half time break, something McCoist is repeatedly
guilty of, and despite Law’s late, late winner which nicked this one deep into
extra-time, it cannot be forgotten Hibs were down to 10 men and still more than
holding their own after Danny Handling’s harsh red card for a careless but not
malicious challenge.
That it took the added time for
Law’s very fine strike to win this one shows just how stagnant McCoist’s
management is.
Law’s very fine strike to win this one shows just how stagnant McCoist’s
management is.
Every match is the same old
clique act of playing his buddies and not the best players, while quality youth
such as McAusland and McKay fade ever more from the picture. And every half
time sees little change from the dressing room.
clique act of playing his buddies and not the best players, while quality youth
such as McAusland and McKay fade ever more from the picture. And every half
time sees little change from the dressing room.
With a real test on Sunday when
the men from Gorgie come to visit in the opening match of the Championship
season awaiting Rangers, it is abundantly clear that the Hearts result (and
performance) needs a drastic improvement.
the men from Gorgie come to visit in the opening match of the Championship
season awaiting Rangers, it is abundantly clear that the Hearts result (and
performance) needs a drastic improvement.
How long will McCoist’s ‘we don’t
do walking away’ line and loyalty during the dark days buy him? It is almost a
taboo to criticise him in light of what he gave us back then, but that was then
and this is now. We respect and admire those acts but his management is
mutually exclusive to this, and sooner we separate the manager from the admin
figurehead the better.
do walking away’ line and loyalty during the dark days buy him? It is almost a
taboo to criticise him in light of what he gave us back then, but that was then
and this is now. We respect and admire those acts but his management is
mutually exclusive to this, and sooner we separate the manager from the admin
figurehead the better.
If Rangers fail to convince on
Sunday McCoist will simply end up under more pressure, and it would be a sad
end to see a Rangers team managed by him ending up in football disarray and him
being fired.
Sunday McCoist will simply end up under more pressure, and it would be a sad
end to see a Rangers team managed by him ending up in football disarray and him
being fired.
He is a legend on the pitch, but
thus far he has been pretty dire as a manager, and it is not unfair to point it
out.
thus far he has been pretty dire as a manager, and it is not unfair to point it
out.
Totally agree with everything you said . If super was to be axed it would be a sad end to his legendary career at the Gers. But I know it's a big shout but I would love us to go for king Arthur Numan to be the next manager .
ally is past his sell by date he is technically naïve and cannot see past his pal big jig ,anybody with an ounce of football sense could do better.I was a big fan of ally as a player but as a manager he has no leadership qualities or technical know how
The sad truth of the matter is that the club cannot dispense with Ally's skills, simply due to the fact that we cannot afford to pay the cost of severance. Considering the financial uncertainty the club is experiencing, if Ally was as true blue as he professes, then he should at least offer to manage for a more realistic salary than what he is being paid.
Unfortunately Ally does not have it as far as managing the team is concerned. He has given his all for the club he loves but he now needs to hand over the reigns to a more tactical Management Team. I will be watching the match on Sunday against Hearts with bated breath.
First game of the season and we won……….at least Ally has instilled into his players the need to win. How come Stubbs gets all the credit but didn't win.
Far too early to write off Ally.
Think some of what you say is a bit over the top after 1 game of the new season and formation.jig was decent at the back yes his time is running out but we are seeing change remember 451 last year?at least he seen it wasn't working in second half an changed it to 442. Cut some slack for now and put the safety back on the gun everyone has an itchy trigger finger right now and enjoy the football
Come on you gets let's get into them all and show them wat it,s about,
Slack, you are having a laugh, remind yourself how much he is being paid, remind yourself how many season tickets that his salary would buy then take a deep breath and see a full stadium and a team that can play football, regrettably, something Ally is struggling to achieve as a manager!
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