Even if, as looks very likely, Rangers win the Third Division title this year, it will still leave the club in the bottom tier, should league reconstruction go ahead as is currently mooted.
This will not really trouble most Gers fans as it does not disrupt in any way the timescale expected to reach the top tier again.
Most Rangers supporters are happy to continue on the adventure that sees the club connect again with the grassroots of Scottish football, while buillding the squad into a formidable force that can dominate the game once more in this country.
I think I speak for the vast majority of Rangers fans when I say that exacting revenge upon those seeped in hatred of The Rangers will be something to look forward to.
To that end, I have a very simple proposal:
Do it on the field of play.
Starting now.
Rangers must use this time re-building to inculcate in the team a no mercy or quarter given mentality. Rangers must become the most ruthless team in history, with an indomitable will to crush every opponent in every game.
This merciless attitude must pervade every aspect of the team.
I am not talking about the will to win that is expected of players who don the light blue jersey. I am talking about something way beyond that – a killer instinct that makes the team feared by every opponent.
All the stuff about making friends on the journey is still valid. But that is a job for club officials and fans. The playing staff of Rangers must be honed into a machine that crushes all opposition.
If this attitude is adopted and developed now, it will strike terror into the hearts of opponents by the time the Rangers team works its way up the leagues.
Rangers fans must lose the attitude that 1-1 draws at home with a 10-man Elgin team are acceptable because it’s an off day and we are waltzing the league anyway.
It’s time for everybody connected with Rangers to say that no matter what happens off the pitch, the wrath of Rangers will most definitely be shown on it. I know that channelling the hurt and anger of the past months onto the field of play is the path favoured by many ex-players as the means of exacting revenge.
Rangers must go all out to annihilate the opposition in every game the team plays.
I have no doubt that Ally McCoist the player would have been up for that.
The question is: Is Ally McCoist the manager?
If the answer is yes, then Super Ally could become the Bill Struth of his generation.
No mercy.
By the way , bill , love this Rangers crest with RUTHLESS on it , no fancy scrolls , just the crest with RUTHLESS , if they want a new Rangers they will get a new Rangers .WE ARE GODS PEOPLE.
i remember when mr souness manager,i don’t think there was many players under the height of 6ft.the team was built on strength height and skill.i remember when mr souness bought neil cooper from aberdeen for about £300.000 and i thought to myself why has he signed this guy,but after a few games you seen the reason why.we are missing that dig in the middle of the park.ian black had the chance to take game by the scruff of the neck but was posted missing.but we must remember that this is a rebuilding process and it will take time.i still believe that ally is the man to take us forward,and if he is not then he will be the first to say.
Bill , any chance of a campaign for Rangers officials doning bowler hats for the next visit to the big jock new arena ? I reckon Charlie blue would be right up for it NO SURRENDER.
Yesterday was one of the most lethargic peformances I have ever seen from a Rangers team,simply trying to do just enough to get by is not acceptable to over 46,000 fans who travelled to Ibrox for the game.It may be a young team with a few older heads there but long ball after long ball does absolutely nothing and it is somehting Ally must address immediately.The Annan match was another perfect example,the 4g pitch is made for the short passing game but what did we do……go with the long ball.We have the players to play this type of game but Ally’s tactics fall way short at times.
Bill I’m sure all at rangers will be thinking about is getting out of these backwater leagues, nothing else. How they do it and who with will be of no importance to c green, he needs rangers back playing for bigger cash and dearer match tickets etc. It looks like you are asking rangers to “prep” themselves for coming back up by hammering everyone and anyone on the way. This won’t happen as he will spend on players as what league he is in.
It’s my ideal scenario
Bill, I think that there must be under 18s out there worldwide that we should get on the cheap and develop over the next three years , Spanish , Portuguese, dutch clubs do it , I believe our scouting system is not up to the job , how many lads from Ulster do we miss out on ? Also I hope ally does become a great Rangers manager , he is certainly the unluckiest ! But he must , and I am not nitpicking here , act the part of a Rangers manager get that club suit back on ! Do not act like that green toothed Ned , or wee Chesney or that jumping idiot leprechaun , if I had my way a Rangers manager would have a bowler hat on!!!!!!
You mean on the 12th?
Bill, I couldn’t agree more with your desire to see us go out there and inflict the maximum amount of football damage on those who challenge us. However, before we will be in a position to do so a lot of work is required on the skill set.
IMO yesterday’s unsatisfactory result, and the reason we are not destroying teams, came from our playmakers’ inability to deliver a telling ball. For example in Templeton and McKay we have two quick footed players with the ability to go past defenders almost at will. But then it breaks down because of the failure to deliver a lethal final pass.
Now this is an area where the coaching staff can be judged and so far they don’t seem up to the job. No one could ever doubt Ally’s love for or loyalty to the Rangers but the jury is still out on his ability to coach. If you blindly just accept that his goal this season is to win Div 3 then he’s doing a great job. But personally I’m looking for signs that he is capable of building a side which can take the top tier (whatever it is called by that time) by storm in 2015/16. I’m not seeing that yet.
Just in passing I’d like to pass my sympathy along to Neil Alexander. The man will have been frozen as stiff as a board yesterday by the time he had his aberration. He might not even have been tested had Templeton not concede the most stupid of fouls to allow them the opportunity. The bottom line is that we could have had a laugh at his misfortune had it turned 5-0 into 5-1 which, had the rest of them been performing, is not an unrealistic assessment of what might have been.
The biggest concern I have at the moment, is the weakening of the SFL’s stance over league reconstruction. The whisperings about the SPL getting their way, nust be stamped on, or the game in Scotland is doomed.
All the SPL want, is ‘control’, not an improvement to Scottish football. Their ideas are so draconian and misplaced, heavily weighted in shifting the power of Scottish football, over to their side, the dark side.
Green, needs to have a quick word with Longmuir, and remind him of what the Celtic-led syndicate are capable of. They are only interested in the cabal of poodles who suck up to them.
I thought Longmuir was the man Scottish football needed, but it’s beginning to look as if he’s willing to concede too much ground to that lot.
Rangers need to make a statement, that categorically states we wont kow-tow to the SPL, no matter what is agreed. Green said that he wasn’t afraid to use the power he has, for the good of Rangers. It’s time for him to keep his promise.
Whatever happens, Rangers is the rock they will break themselves upon
well if you would say what you really mean
we have a man who was bought to do what you want
but all he does is greet how hard the opposittion are in their tackles
I made no mention of hatchet men or players being thugs
it was implied
i believe you are harking back to a bygone era that you have no memory of
only what you have been told
the game has changed the way to break the opposition down is to use the skills that that the young yins undoubtably have
give them time
You seem to be the only one who saw the implication
I neither implied it nor said it
As for the guff about harking back to a bygone era – where is that in the blog?
Anything else you read that I didn’t write?
By all means disagree with what I write but don’t pull me up for stuff I did not say…
Graham,
I wouldn’t get overly concerned about what the restructured pattern is going to be. It is going to be a singularly difficult task to regenerate Scottish football whatever the make up of the divisions.
What concerns me is how a single ruling body (and IMO that is a paramount requirement) is going to come about. It is essential that Regan and Doncaster are allowed no part in this. I could get by with Longmuir at the helm but ideally I’d want a new face in there. We need somebody with a track record of being able to invigorate the game but be free of any baggage which opens him up to accusation of any ‘OF’ bias.
Just to throw a name into the hat, how about Clive Woodward? Also I think a single ruling body is more important that any restructuring so I’d like to see that happen before any decisions on the leagues structure is taken.
Sir Clive certainly leaves a legacy on structures, wherever he goes; Southampton FC, the Olympics. However, he also has a legacy of disliking the Scots, as many at the SRU will testify to. (Apparently , we didn’t kiss his arse before the World Cup final in Australia).
I can’t see him coming to stay in Glasgow, and sit in an office at Hampden every day, but it was a really good shout.
Gerard Houllier may also be considered. He has the experience of football in Britain, and he was a guiding light over 20 years ago, along with a few others, who started a revolution in French football. It led to a World Cup and Euro double, and the French have never looked back.
Whoever is charged with the job, it will have to be a Scottish solution. That means it has to fit our climate, culture and attitude to sport in general.
Once again Bill I am writing to see if you were listening to BBC’s phone-in programme after yesterdays match. I don’t usually get irate about the rantings and ravings of the other lot’s supporters but on last night’s show once again they gave at least 5-8 minutes airplay for a guy called Tam from Glasgow who has been on EVERY phone-in on Scotland’s airways but always gets turned off by every other radio station apart from Radio Scotland. Eventually they did turn him off but not before he managed to bring up the usual crap. Nothing to get to upset about, no, but then the microphone was handed to big laughable-everybody’s-pal Stuart Cosgrove, who in turn continued the Ranger’s hating theme for another 5 minutes. He then asked Chick Young’s opinion about what was being said and when Chick, who seemed rather embaressed about the whole affair, did not agree big Stu then decided to have a go at Chick. At this point I could take no more and had to turn off the station. This man Cosgrove is now beginning to iritate me and no doubt other Rangers fans to the extent that he should not be getting anymore airtime pm a so-called un-biased radio show.
You won’t get an argument from me
Cosgrove should be made to wear a diver’s helmet before talking about Rangers because he starts to spit whenever he talks about the Gers
A muppet among muppets
Total muppet … It’s the eyes that get me though … you wonder what goes on in his mind behind that wee pair ehmmmmmmmm !
so you want to turn the young yins into thugs
rather than show their skills
bill this is the 21st century not the bygone days of hatchet men
This is a great example of somebody who can’t read
it’s not hatchet men he wants Simmy. it’s players with the attitudes of guys like Brown, Gough and even wee Nacho. put a shift in and play hard BUT fair. be ruthless in attack (take chances) and be strong and terrifying in defence (hard and fair tackling).
make Ibrox a stadium that others fear coming to due to the noise and support for our team on the pitch. make them fear the noise in their tiny away grounds when the bears come to town.
heart and passion 365 days a year, no letting others back up
That’s it
Once again i agree wholeheartedly with you Bill and once again any criticism is deemed an attack on the manager, not so in my opinion, there have been a large number of below par performances and If honest we generally beat teams in second half of games due to superior fitness after generally mundane 1st half performances.I posted before that my concern is not just the fact that we’re anything but ruthless but more that we re not progressing to the extent that 2 years from now we will still be rebuilding at a stage when we should be the finished article , to me this is the managers responsibility , a heavy responsibility yes , but it’s not exactly the Premiership is it
Thank you
Yet another reader who sees what I write and doesn’t see it as an attack on the manager
Glad to see some people can actually read
It won’t work, Bill. A killer instinct must come from the manager (Jock Wallace’s “Battle fever…” for example) and I don’t see this coming over in Ally’s teams.
He may have been one of the most ruthless goal scorers of his time, but as a manager he leaves a lot to be desired in my opinion.
Bang on
If he can put that ruthless streak he had as a player into his managerial bag, he will be a legend
Well im disappointed u have asked the question “is Ally the right Manager” its like saying U write great blogs everyday, my view is you dont most of them I like but one like this I dont but hey it makes for a good debate and a laugh for the Manky mob reading. Does Ally pick the right team or has the strongest players available to him to pick the right team. We normally score plenty of goals but defence has let a few in, this is the area that needs players but what do you now we cant bring in players until we are allowed. Like most I was disappointed in the result yesterday I also felt for Alexander he was totally gutted and all we did was boo our team at the end. I also happen to think that this is a good learning curve for our youngsters we wont win every game so they will need to learn how to cope and bounce back from this. I thought there was some very good play yesterday, Alexander great save just after we scored, Black had a good game, Hutton, Templeton and McKay just a few I thought did well yesterday but it just didnt happen, it was just one of these games. I am sure Ally and players are disappointed along with the rest of us but personally I am totally getting pissed off with how neg some of us have become about players Manager etc. The fact is we have only ever lost 2 games league+cup we are 17 clear at the top sometimes I kick myself and say are we 17 point adrift at the foot of the table because at times with some of the posts I read would give you this impression.
On the reconstruction I agree it wont matter what they come up with it wont effect us regardless unless its just 2 leagues of 20. I just dont understand the thinking behind the 12 12 18 system it will not better scottish football nor gen more money into the our game nor promote youth systems at clubs. Clubs are doing this now because not alot can afford to buy players or retain the better ones.
I’m disappointed with this comment
Most of your comments are ok but this one is rubbish
It’s a good laugh for the manky mob as you call them, though
I hope that the team develops a killer instinct and that the coaching staff continually improves in line with that too.
Against Elgin it was clear that the team thought that it could do just enough rather than put Elgin to the sword by half time. Caught out. Wisen up guys. 100 % effort and commitment every week and the Rangers fans will support you no matter what.
Personally I really want the current coaching staff to be a major success for years to come. All must improve week on week for this to happen. Playerwise – Any player not giving his all should be left in no doubt as to where that leaves him – dropped, subbed or on the way out.
WATP
Leggoland, produced a very good insight into Rangers form, when one man is named in the starting 11, below par performance yesterday, this one named man back in starting 11 Hm, is this a coincidence.
Fully agree with the total killer instinct, in an individual contested sport predominently like Golf , Tennis, where one man / woman is competing, the killer instinct is paramount if that individual wants to become the best and stay the best.
Dont see why 11 players who make a team should not bear the same killer instinct to become and maintain an unparalled skilled team
have some fans forgot the form of Mr Alexander during the Uefa cup run, and his loyalty to the Rangers
In the past twenty years or so, Rangers teams have developed a mentality, of keeping what we have ( when we get a lead) which drives me round the bend.
Teams like Moan Utd and Scumothy are the polar opposite of us in these situations, I have watched both of them playing no more than average, whilst sometimes struggling desperately, then they score and you can almost see them grow in stature.
Now I never want us to be anything like either of those two, who I abhor, but I would love to see us developing their siege mentality, when we get in front.
I know some Bears will say, what about the games we are winning 4 and 5 nil, or one.
I am sure we will find that in most of those instances, it is because we have scored a second goal, before we have had time to apply our negative tactics.
Another excellent Blog Bill, more power to your elbow WATP
Bit off the subject but please read.
A Blog from Tal Fanzine about Phil Mc Multimonikers written by one of his “own” Two Whites Don’t Make A Wong!
February 2012
The story of The Boy Who Cried Wolf came to mind when I read a recent piece from Phil MacGiollabhain’s blog, or maybe it’s more fitting of that scene in Carry On Cleo when Kenneth Williams’ character Ceaser shouts ‘INFAMY! INFAMY! THEY’VE ALL GOT IT IN FOR ME!’
http://www.philmacgiollabhain.ie/when-the-truth-makes-you-a-target/
The article masquerades as a blog about pioneering, brave journalists, risking their lives against violent dictatorships to get their copy in against overwhelming odds. Closer inspection of the article, however, reveals it as a completely self-regarding egotistical piece about MacGiollabhain himself and his inflated opinion of himself and his ‘journalistic’ work.
In his fevered imagination Phil puts what he does on a blog (that largely obsesses over rangers) alongside those journalists who are literally dying to tell their stories in war-torn parts of the world. That he equates his ramblings about rangers’ financial crisis with the serious work of journalists in the Middle East and North Africa speaks volumes. This is the dream world that Phil lives in, where he is the avenging angel, armed with notepad, pen and press card. He puts his Walter Mitty lifestyle writing dispatches about Celtic, and more often rangers, from the idyll of Donegal on a par with war correspondents.
One thing for sure is that there is a financial appeal coming soon, because whenever this particular ‘bhoy cries wolf’ it usually ends with him begging Celtic supporters to part with more of their hard earned cash so that he can continue to do little more than sit at the other side of a computer playing with himself.
Perhaps the most curious aspect of the campaign against rangers being waged by ‘the rebel fantasist’ is that he is the namesake of the new rangers’ owner (Note: Craig Whyte was rangers’ owner at time of writing). That’s right, Phil MacGiollabhain, the self-proclaimed ‘rebel journalist’ is actually plain old Philip White, originally from Baillieston.
Is this a ‘blood feud’? I think we should be told!
MacMadman has been living his fantasy life with his fantasy name for some years now, but those who know him by his real name – Phil White – have many stories to tell of his cowardice and sly backstabbing of both friend and foe alike over the years.
One thing that all who know of his past agree on is that when the going gets tough MacWhite gets going, leaving others to clean up the mess he has left behind.
The first hint of Phil White’s unstable mental condition came as far back as the 1987 General Election when he was the election agent for an SNP candidate in the east end of Glasgow. Using his contacts in the local republican movement, the ‘Pied Piper of Baillieston’ gathered some young Republican Flute Band members and supporters of the Irish republican cause around him. In his usual crass way, he sarcastically nicknamed this group of young republican electioneers, “The Provisional SNP”. Oh how he laughed.
This arrogant, sniggering, disrespect of the republican movement (and those from its ranks who had volunteered to help him) was to prove to be Phil White’s undoing. Needless to say MacWindbag’s moniker for his little band of ‘volunteers’ was picked up by the press and, on being door-stepped by print and TV journalists, White only too obligingly recanted his sins, denied all knowledge of such a group’s existence (despite the fact that he himself had bestowed the ‘provo’ name on them) denied all links to Irish republicanism and duly disappeared from the political scene for about 4 years, until he re-emerged in 1990-1991 to lend a hand in setting up TAL. Armed with his new name, he reinvented himself from his baptised name of White to the entirely fictitious ‘MacGiollabhain’, assuming that his previous political indiscipline was now ‘in the past’ and would likely be forgotten. Incidentally, the name MacGiollabhain does not even translate properly from either Irish or English. Try looking up the name in the Irish telephone directory and I’ll wager that very few MacGiollabhain’s will you find, apart from MacMentallyUnstable’s clan in Donegal.
During his time with TAL, he contributed under the pseudonym Mick Derrig; a name borrowed from a member of the Flying Columns who Phil claimed as a relative. During a particularly violent period of anti-fascist activity in Glasgow, where people were out on an almost daily basis fighting fascists and loyalists on the streets, White took fright and disappeared, eventually relocating to the safe environs of Donegal. There are other more personal matters that took White to Donegal (via Ballymena) but we will spare him the embarrassment of exposing what a misogynistic and nasty piece of work he can be (all of it probably excused by him and attributed to his ‘depression’ no doubt). In Donegal, he ingratiated himself with the local republican movement, falsely claiming to have been ‘the editor of TAL Fanzine’. He wrote for An Phoblacht under the same Mick Derrig alias and earned his much waved around NUJ card through his work for the paper.
If this was all that Phil White/MacGiollabhain had ever done it would be nothing, but along the way this man who claims to be a ‘journalist’ working on behalf of Celtic supporters has made some of the most serious accusations and bizarre allegations against political activists in Ireland and Scotland. It is not necessary to go into details here, suffice to say that MacGobbledeegook’s allegations of ‘touting’ and smears of ‘paedophilia’ against Scottish republicans precipitated a nasty feud between two pro-independence republican organisations in Scotland that had only just started to work together politically. Questions still remain unanswered as to just exactly what White was playing at back then? Did he deliberately provoke this feud in order to scupper any political unity and effective actions that might occur? I remember discussing with a senior member of Anti-Fascist Action, White’s propensity for making unfounded claims about his own links to republicanism and his wild allegations against others. We concluded that he was more likely a fantasist than an agent provocateur. With the benefit of hindsight, however, that assessment may need to be reviewed.
In all respects Phil McGiollabhain is a person who enjoys pointing fingers at others and spreading malicious lies and rumours. This aspect of his ‘work’ is only ever done on the QT, he hasn’t the balls to publish some of the more bizarre allegations that he spreads by word of mouth in his malicious whispering campaigns. For example, in Phil’s world, the serial killer known as Bible John, is or was ‘a prominent member of the SNP’ (I kid you not, this is a claim made by him to many people – see me in court and I’ll produce the witnesses Philip). The actions of social workers and the police in the Orkney Child Abuse Case, which was proven to be based on false and erroneous claims, were defended by him. This in spite of the fact that it later transpired that the social workers involved had attended ‘satanic ritual identification’ courses run by an American right-wing Christian group with a crazy philosophy and a track record for smearing non-believers as ‘witches’ and ‘Satanists’. Even after questions were raised about the motives of the social workers involved in the case, MacGiollabhain, a social worker himself, still maintained that the adults and children at the centre of the enquiry ‘were part of an international paedophile ring’.
More recently he has turned his attentions to making whispering allegations and insinuations against senior members of Sinn Fein and the Republican Movement, whilst at the same time publishing a hypocritical blog article fawning over Martin McGuinness’ candidacy for president, a man that MacGiollabhain privately maligns at every opportunity. Indeed, by his own admission, senior members of the movement in Donegal now ‘cross the road to avoid him’.
It is this history of political indiscipline and the deliberate relaying of misinformation in order to foment discord in political organisations that requires thorough investigation. Indeed, given White-MacGiollabhain’s recent articles which give full support to police and state intervention on a range of matters, it is imperative that his personal and political history is looked at ‘in the round’ and not just through the green-tinted spectacles of the Celtic support, the ‘market’ that White constantly seeks to manipulate and exploit.
Totally agree with the points you’ve raised Bill and in particular the question regarding Ally the manager. As ruthless a player that you could hope to see but questions remain regarding this quality in his stewardship of the club. In Jig we have a skipper who represents us fans on the pitch with his battling qualities but I don’t believe that playing him up front or when he’s not having one of his better days is doing either him or the team any favours. My personal opinion is that central midfield or centre half has to be the way ahead as,playing him up front makes the job of the opposition manager a lot easier, ie stick a big centre half on him and let the two of them battle it out.Yesterday was the perfect example of this, surely when you’re up against ten men you should really go for it. Sandaza may not be everyone’s cup of tea but the ball sticks to him and he can turn a man and generally takes at least two of the opposition with him. This is a guy who will score goals but needs to be on the pitch not sitting on the bench. If jig isn’t performing then take him off if need be. It seems to me that unless Super shows us that he can make bold decisions he may rue the day.
Yesterday’s game should have been all over long before Alexanders howler, combination of poor finishing and bad passing was really the enemy yesterday, not a plucky Elgin defence. I was as down hearted as anyone else, but it seemed to me that big jig was having an off day, but rather than take him off he took off Hutton ( who had been having a good game aswell ) and pushed jig into midfield bit perplexed by that, but I have faith that Ally is the man, RTID
I wondered what your response would be today, and you dont disappoint. I have read with utter despair the majority of the rangers pages. Some calling Alexander to be dropped or sacked, some calling for McCoists head again, and most for some reason all shouting about worst performance and display to date.
I don’t agree with this killer instinct view, yes i want rangers to win and win well. But I dont support the idea of inhalation or embarrassing teams being the standard operating procedure. We seen not a year ago what happens when arrogance creeps in, Not one came to our aid and the supporters not the board or club employees took the fall out. Were were made to feel like out casts in our own country by every supporter and media outlet. I dont subscribe to the Nobody likes us we dont care thing. Not when you see your son come home in tears and battered and bruised from school.
We have been given the chance to change and to be the driving force that changes Scottish football for the better.
As for yesterday we paid for not taking chances when they were presented. The game turned when Mcleod went off. McKay as good as he looks does not have the last pass ability yet, you can run and beat players all day but if the final ball is bad what difference does it all make. yesterday Temps tried to many times to be a smart ass and bet himself, Jig had a bad game, maybe through not being totally over the knock,
Elgin must have watched the celtic barca video a few time about how to get 11 then 10 behind the ball. But most all luck when we needed a wee taste was on Elgins side.
Finally lets not forget we didnt lose. Even the greatest ever rangers teams did that at some point. We had just won 11 games on the bounce.
I think there are many that should actually look up the word SUPPORT and SUPPORTER
My blog today had very little to do with yesterday’s game
But just for the record, how much or little of the killer instinct would you want Rangers to have?
Could you, say, qualify it as a percentage?
5%? 10%? 25%? 50%?
Here here!!
3 “holding” midfielders … 1 upfront who is technically not a striker … against 10 men … I better stop before my blood pressure goes tonto … Anyway Bill, back to your article I agree with your views 1000000000%.
spot on again bill,, yesterdays match was our poorest display of the season.i am sure ally mccoistis a nice guy, however i doubt his abilty as a coach, his team formations are simply baffling david templeton is a winger and nothing else, young mckay is our most exciting player but others are oftenplayed before him. when elgin wentdown to 10 men we should have pushed more forward instead of having 3 men at the back marking one solitery elgin striker.
And if that solitary Elgin striker had cot a break and stripped that on defender it would have been all whines and whinges too. I cant agree on your Mckay theory, he is an exciting prospect i dont deny it, but his final ball needs work sometimes its shocking. He reminds me of Tommy McClean. Where as McLeod is nearer to the finished article and it was apparent yesterday when he went off that the team went flat.