Alastair Johnston statement proves Rangers board are out of touch and simply don't care

[The Dude 20,026]

Quote

 

Rangers director Alastair Johnston appeared from nowhere last night with one of the more ridiculous comments to come out of the Ibrox boardroom in the last six years.

He claimed Gers were "ahead of the curve" in their recovery and it just shows how utterly out of touch those in power are with the current feeling amongst supporters.

The former Ibrox chairman's comments were presumably designed to give fans a bit of confidence in the direction the club is heading days after one of the worst Old Firm performances I can ever think of seeing.

The fact it is season ticket renewal time is surely a coincidence.

Is Johnston's idea of Rangers making progress the worst home record in over a century; three different managers starting three consecutive seasons; a club-record run without a win against celtic and people falling out at a rate that would make WWE jealous?

For someone who is high-ranking within marketing giants IMG, Johnston's comments are breathtakingly dumb to what is being said by fans across the breadth of the Rangers support.

And it isn't just Johnston on the board who appears absolutely oblivious to how the rank-and-file feel about how things are going at Ibrox just now. Chairman Dave King 's recent statement was the usual ill-timed and poorly thought-out bluster when it was least needed.

Oddly though, whenever anyone is trying to find the chairman for a comment on something he's either nowhere to be found or playing caddy and refusing to answer questions about Rangers.

While the fans are asked to dig deep and buy their season tickets before it is time for the new season's kits to be purchased, the board sit content that failure to win a major trophy for seven-years represents progress.

Sunday's visit of Hearts to Ibrox is quite probably going to have the same sort of uneasy atmosphere that hung over games in 2014 as the Easdales and Mike Ashley's hand-picked lackeys ran the show on Edmiston Drive with little regard for the club's progression.

Fans are still rightly furious at the players and manager for the gutless performance at Hampden against celtic, the board are likely to come in for the worst of it as groups like the Union Bears protest against the "obvious mismanagement" of the Light Blues.

While some will argue the distance between the likes of King and Johnston makes it harder for them to have their finger on the pulse of what is going on at Ibrox, try telling that to any of the millions worldwide who support teams - including both halves of the Old Firm - thousands of miles away without skipping a beat.

King and Johnston's distance from Ibrox isn't what leaves them ignorant of how supporters are feeling but the fact that they simply don't care how fans feel.

There is so much about the way that the Gers are being operated that feels just like it did in the latter years of David Murray's time as chairman/owner and the fans are getting perilously close to turning against the board completely.

The supporters have shown incredible patience since King and the Three Bears swept to power in 2015 on the back of fan power but those same fans are not going to keep blindly sleepwalking as they watch the Gers drift further and further into mediocrity.

To borrow a phrase that has been used a few times over the years by Rangers fans, we deserve better. And we deserve it soon.

 

https://www.BOYCOTT THIS LINK/sport/football/football-news/alastair-johnston-statement-proves-Rangers-12395512

[.Williamson. 81,992]

Fair play.

This feels like the first time I have liked and agreed with any of your articles 

[SeparateEntityMyArse 53,613]

After predictions we'd win the league and suggestions Murty should be made permanent manager, it's good to see a sensible article which I can actually agree with.

[Young Bob 1,360]

Thats actually very well put together.

[Gazza1212 1,212]

Yep can't disagree with that but with the exception of the last paragraph.

We only deserve better if we actually do something about it. 

[The Dude 20,026]

1 minute ago, Sportingintegritymyarse said:

After predictions we'd win the league and suggestions Murty should be made permanent manager, it's good to see a sensible article which I can actually agree with.

Without getting too far into it - it wasn't a prediction. I said in it that they were still massive favourites but given the spending and everything else going into the campaign before a ball had been kicked then our expectation level should be that we win the title. I'll expect us to win it next season too. And the season after.

 

[Courtyard Bear 41,357]

Just now, The Dude said:

Without getting too far into it - it wasn't a prediction. I said in it that they were still massive favourites but given the spending and everything else going into the campaign before a ball had been kicked then our expectation level should be that we win the title. I'll expect us to win it next season too. And the season after.

 

Did the record knock you back then? 

[The Dude 20,026]

2 minutes ago, Gazza1212 said:

Yep can't disagree with that but with the exception of the last paragraph.

We only deserve better if we actually do something about it. 

 

 

I understand this sentiment but disagree. We're football fans. We shouldn't need to be militant over who and how the club is being run. Football isn't about which teams fans keep the closest watch over what the board are doing but what goes on on the pitch.

[The Dude 20,026]

2 minutes ago, Courtyard Bear said:

Did the record knock you back then? 

I'd hope not. The OP was published on there a couple hours ago. Bastards better not have KB'd me and still publish my stuff.

[bob1873 417]

Personally I think they care but are totally out of touch with the supporters.  They care in that they probably believe that have the best interests of the club at heart and are doing the right things.  Ask most fans and they tell them they were miles off.

[Courtyard Bear 41,357]

Just now, The Dude said:

I'd hope not. The OP was published on there a couple hours ago. Bastards better not have KB'd me and still publish my stuff.

Never even noticed the link mate. ??

[Courtyard Bear 41,357]

Just now, bob1873 said:

Personally I think they care but are totally out of touch with the supporters.  They care in that they probably believe that have the best interests of the club at heart and are doing the right things.  Ask most fans and they tell them they were miles off.

I care about the club, but I wouldn’t even start to think about running it. 

[Siam69 26,861]

Keep the pressure and momentum going. 

[SeparateEntityMyArse 53,613]

2 minutes ago, The Dude said:

Without getting too far into it - it wasn't a prediction. I said in it that they were still massive favourites but given the spending and everything else going into the campaign before a ball had been kicked then our expectation level should be that we win the title. I'll expect us to win it next season too. And the season after.

 

Not how I recall it.

Hmm revisionism.

 

"With hindsight, that was probably a bit ridiculous but, at the risk of looking ridiculous next year, I really think Rangers can win the title this season.

It's maybe just blind optimism but, after 25 years of going through this same thing every summer, you get used to expecting to win titles and lift cups and this season is no different.

I expect Rangers to win the league. They might not win it, and if they don't I'm sure I'll have this screenshotted and sent to me, but they have a much better chance than they did 12 months ago.

 

But then really thinking and expecting is predicting in my book . Your editor's too based on his blurb after title

Title: I expect Rangers to take the title from celtic this season and here is why - Rangers blogger

Our Gers blogger James Black sticks his neck on the line with this bold prediction.

[With Heart and Hand 8,949]

for seven plus years now we've been treated like fools

from McCoist postponing games cause duds were on international duty and blaming the weather

Warburton trying to convince us everything was fine in training

Green saying No Surrender and slagging the SFA

Pedro saying WATP

And now the current board saying we're ahead of the curve and constantly appluading us while assuring us lots is happening behind the scenes 

These people think we are gullible morons who should plod along to Ibrox with big smiles on our faces and be greatful we're not facing relegation. They think we'll believe any sort of bullshit they come up with and those who complain are just a nuisance trying to cause trouble

They think we are fucking idiots.

[The Dude 20,026]

1 minute ago, bob1873 said:

Personally I think they care but are totally out of touch with the supporters.  They care in that they probably believe that have the best interests of the club at heart and are doing the right things.  Ask most fans and they tell them they were miles off.

I'll be honest on this one, the headline isn't mine but (I assume) is taken from one of my comments in it saying they 'don't care what fans think.' Personally, I think that's a more accurate description than simply they don't care.

[BridgeIsBlue 66,595]

Good article that, well played. 

[Brian Fantana 28,894]

read AJ's pish this morning - he might as well have said "who the fucks Rangers and why you asking me??" cliueless bastard.

 

"ahead of the curve" FFS

 

[The Dude 20,026]

2 minutes ago, Sportingintegritymyarse said:

Not how I recall it.

Hmm revisionism.

 

"With hindsight, that was probably a bit ridiculous but, at the risk of looking ridiculous next year, I really think Rangers can win the title this season.

It's maybe just blind optimism but, after 25 years of going through this same thing every summer, you get used to expecting to win titles and lift cups and this season is no different.

I expect Rangers to win the league. They might not win it, and if they don't I'm sure I'll have this screenshotted and sent to me, but they have a much better chance than they did 12 months ago.

 

But then really thinking and expecting is predicting in my book . Your editor's too based on his blurb after title

Title: I expect Rangers to take the title from celtic this season and here is why - Rangers blogger

Our Gers blogger James Black sticks his neck on the line with this bold prediction.

I think Rangers 'CAN' win the league, not 'WILL' win the league. It was a response to stuff at the time saying the target should be second and we should just leave celtic to it and not focus on going for the title.

[Gazza1212 1,212]

2 minutes ago, The Dude said:

I understand this sentiment but disagree. We're football fans. We shouldn't need to be militant over who and how the club is being run. Football isn't about which teams fans keep the closest watch over what the board are doing but what goes on on the pitch.

It chokes me to make comparison to them but the similarities to their situation in the 90's just can't be ignored. 

Look where both clubs are now and then consider what you've said above . You get what you deserve in this life and football is no different. Like it or not their present situation was initiated by supporters pressure. 

[The Dude 20,026]

Just now, Gazza1212 said:

It chokes me to make comparison to them but the similarities to their situation in the 90's just can't be ignored. 

Look where both clubs are now and then consider what you've said above . You get what you deserve in this life and football is no different. Like it or not their present situation was initiated by supporters pressure. 

I made the comparison to someone last year on Twitter and was told it was nothing like it, bizarrerly. It's almost a mirror image of where they were. Their resolution was initiated by pressure but on the flipside, I wouldn't argue they deserved to go through that as a result of prior inaction.

[SeparateEntityMyArse 53,613]

2 minutes ago, The Dude said:

I think Rangers 'CAN' win the league, not 'WILL' win the league. It was a response to stuff at the time saying the target should be second and we should just leave celtic to it and not focus on going for the title.

It was I REALLY think Rangers can.

But hey I'm sure every one else sees that as an expectation not a prediction, rather than an author backtracking on anticipation of those screen shots.

[backup 4,724]

16 minutes ago, bob1873 said:

Personally I think they care but are totally out of touch with the supporters.  They care in that they probably believe that have the best interests of the club at heart and are doing the right things.  Ask most fans and they tell them they were miles off.

So they are fantasists, the board that is.

[The Dude 20,026]

Just now, Sportingintegritymyarse said:

It was I REALLY think Rangers can.

But hey I'm sure every one else sees that as an expectation not a prediction, rather than an author backtracking on anticipation of those screen shots.

People can see it however they want to, I'm telling you what was intended by it as the person who wrote it. If I was predicting Rangers were going to win it I would have said I really think Rangers will win it rather than can. Can is used because I felt we were genuinely capable of winning the title with some luck going our way. And expand on that more in the rest of the article. Although, I'm sure we had this same conversation 9 months ago or whenever it was published

[plumbGER 24,518]

Decent article tbf, but as a grown man i have no idea how many times people fall out in WWE.