Rangers Banter Archive September 18 2013

18 Sep 2013 18:54:29
Is it not time that all the silly comparisons are put to bed and that we look at standards. By that, I mean, the standards we have tried to maintain, both on the park and off of it.
Since the 50's, I have been proud to support the Glasgow Rangers. However, in recent years we have not maintained the standards expected. e. g. Would Eric Caldow have nipped out for a bet before a game? Would Scot Symon have condoned him doing so? Would Richard Gough bet against his beloved team?
I hope you get the drift?
But the most disgusting development within football is that the game of the people has become the toy of the 'well to do' and the con men, with the people being pawns to be used as they wish.
Always remember, the people mean nothing to these *********, who see us as plebs, there to be used.
billyb

Billyb i'm a celtic fan and you are 100%
correct in your description of todays footballers. Prima donnas the lot of them. jamie.

18 Sep 2013 14:57:29
The Formation is Wrong but McCoist Isn't 33 goals scored, 4 conceded. 8 wins out of 9. By any team in any league's standard that is an exceptional record. Let us just pause and reflect on this:

In 5 league matches Rangers have scored 23 goals. 23. Only 2 conceded. Two. In 4 cup matches, one was an undeniably disastrous 2-1 defeat, but the rest were comfortable victories amassing 10 goals conceding none in the process.

Compare this with the same stage last season. By the end of play on September the 18th 2012 it was: 6 wins, 3 draws and 1 defeat. 23 goals in all competitions and 8 conceded. While it is not quite going from straight defeats to straight wins the difference is absolutely compelling.

The crucial addition has been some high quality football. When you have players like Lewis MacLeod, Nicky Law, Arnold Peralta and Lee Wallace you expect a decent standard of play, and this season Rangers are undeniably giving it.

And yet, pre-match, the intriguing arguments always centre around selection policy. Up till recently young Kyle McAusland had been more than holding his own at right back. His performances were frankly excellent. However he lost his place at Ibrox against Arbroath, ditched from the first-team squad completely once the transfer embargo was lifted and was replaced by Sebastien Faure in that slot, despite the young Frenchman's predilection for centre back. The former Lyon player has been very good indeed at the heart of defence, so this dropping of McAusland, switching of Faure to RB while Lee McCulloch, primarily a striker, took up position at the backline, was a very curious scenario indeed.

Furthermore, Andrew Little was installed at right wing again, while the likes of Templeton and McKay sat on the bench.

It is easy to see why there were disgruntled reactions to selection. Yet the team ran out ultimately comfortable winners despite an awful first half. An early second half goal for the visitors saw Rangers finally clicking into life and put 5 past Scott Morrison, including a hat-trick for McCulloch.

Again, last night, curiosity reigned as Steven Smith, impressive in his natural left-back position v the Red Lichties found himself shifted forward into a left midfield role instead for the trip to Palmerston to accommodate the return of Lee Wallace behind him, while holding midfielder Peralta continued on the wing. McCulloch stayed at centre-back.

Again, another comfortable 3-0 win with goals from the increasingly impressive Bilel Mohsni, solid target man Jon Daly and the captain himself rounding it all off.

So, despite the ire at selections, formations, and the apparent 'unfair' dropping of players who are doing themselves proud, with the team winning this comfortably and looking this imperious is there any argument supporting objection to manager Ally McCoist's work this season?

I was displeased as the next fellow to see McAusland dropped but you cannot argue with a 5-1 win. And therein lies the rub. McCoist struggled last year with a poor squad which had been denied a pre-season. This season with a vastly superior one the team is clearly performing and getting convincing results despite any disagreement over who plays where.

No Rangers fan can argue with 33 goals scored and 4 conceded in 9 matches. To do otherwise is baseless.

McCoist may not be Carlo Ancelotti but for now the job is being done and done very well at that.

Long may it continue.

Youve bought a lower premier / upper championship team to compete with part timers. of course you're going to win. Just give it a season chaps!

@ OP

“…you expect a decent standard of play, and this season Rangers are undeniably giving it” then later you say “…ran out ultimately comfortable winners despite an awful first half”. Make your mind up!

End of the day we have an SPL quality team playing part-timers and we should be cruising it, not struggling for 60 to 80 minutes of each game. Yes, they have come through in the end, but this is about entertainment as well as end result.

Still too much kick and punt for my liking.

Troo bloo

You make many valid points however I feel your taking a short term view on things. Look at the budget the manager has had compared to the teams we are playing. If you take QOS last season they managed to win the league and Ramsdens cup with a squad that cost a fraction of our current squad. I have no doubt we will win the league this season and probably next but what then? By the time we are back in the top league Celtic will be going for 5 in a row. Do u think Rangers under Ally will be able to challenge? I for one don't think so but it will still be expected. Currently I don't think any Rangers player would get into the Celtic team yet they will be expected to challenge when we go back up. Ally is only assembling a team to get back to the top league with no thought of challenging when we get there. The team needed building, good young talent should have been identified and brought to the club instead of journeyman SPL players

I appreciate you're living in the here and now in terms of football on the park, no complaints with that. I just wonder if you've seriously considered why we have these excellent stats and if you think it's a sustainable model for the long term future of the club? Everyone is entitled to their opinion but I just wonder if you'll feel the same if the club hits another financial brick wall in part caused by the ludicrous spending on players at this stage of our climb back? I get the argument about building a team for the prem but I feel doing this just now is deluded at best and wreckless at worst. At the end of the day it seems clear Ally is buying success when you or I could do the same job with this squad. I know he doesn't hold the purse but he has a responsibility to the fans and the club to be a responsible manager. I totally feel that he is not doing this and there are far better managers out there who would have cost less, spent less and got far more out of our young players with maybe some experience added from the lower divisions. Granted, the climb back would take longer (probably) but the club would be far more financially viable with a much more secure future. With that said, you surely have to ask why Ally? and why is he being allowed to spend all this money when it's clear we are again living beyond our means. Is it the case that we really have learned nothing? I doubt it. Is it the requirement that others want us back in the top division ASAP, maybe? Or is it that financial collapse again is the end game for money to be siphoned out of our pockets, probably. Whatever the reason I believe Ally would have to have one almighty brass neck to take credit for masterminding these quality football stats, either that or he really is that stupid, which I don't think he is.

18 Sep 2013 17:14:10
@op troo bloo are you drunk or deluded we are in the 3rd division playing part timers, we have internationals and with spfl players, we should be stuffing these teams, and as for the goals scored we should be scoring more (if the strikers were scoring regularly and not just the defenders) don't get me wrong apart from the Forfar game we are doing well if not playing that well (long balls) but let's not get carried away, the real test would be one of the top teams in th cup and then we could maybe judge where we are now!

18 Sep 2013 17:23:37
@troo bloo so wallace and law wouldn't get into the celtic team no? I think others would disagree with you there saying no rangers players would get into the celtic team, are you timmy (changed name) in disguise?

Very expensive professionals against part time school teachers, firemen, police officers, etc,.

The cost could sink the club when the job could be done for 25% of the cost. It's illogical.

Like drawing moths to a flame!

An honest man will thank you for a compliment.

A fool will take umbrage at the insult!

I don't think we will finish in top 3 in top league under ally so ally will overspend again, the ball came down with snow on it last night with the amount of times it was in the sky.

@6. If Law was good enough Celtic would have went for him. Remember he was a free. Wallace apart none of the current squad would get near the Celtic team. DH

@op. loads of info, undeniable facts on results, goals scored etc but how about producing stats on how many goals were scored after say 60 mins as your opponents started to tire and highlighted the unmistakable difference between part time and full time players and facilities? Or how about audited accounts, financial clarity and the truth about your clubs assets? I understand short term hope but perhaps you shd get your head out your a**e!

@6 typical response from someone who is incapable of debating a point. No neither Wallace or Law would get into the Celtic team. If Celtic would have wanted Law he would have been there just now. Do you really think he would have turned them down to join us in the 2nd division?

Alex1972 why does that make the person who posted the comment about no Rangers player getting into the Celtic team a timmy? Looks to me an honest assessment of the current Rangers team. Do you honestly believe Law would get into the Celtic side? Why then didn't they go for him during the summer then? Wallace maybe but they seem to be happy with Izaguirre and Mathews so why would they want Wallace?

Rangers would beat Celtic, hands down, no question. Wake up to the truth. Every player in every position is better. Can't think of one Celtic player I'd want replacing one of ours. Can't wait for the Milan match tonight.

@1 why don't you and your team revel in the p*h that's the spfl premiership but one thing you and your team must remember is we will be back wer we belong the champions of Scotland time is ticking roll on title 55

@15: so you're looking forward to being in a pish league?

@16 yes because that's wer we need to be to add to our world record of league titles

@1 they were all free so we never bought anyone

Alex 1972 the op is 100% correct no rangers player would get in the cfc team in fact none would even get on the bench FACT



KJA