Criticism of Rangers' transfer record is over the top and Premiership table proves it

[The Dude 20,026]

After a pretty rough couple of weeks for Steven Gerrard's side, Rangers again rose to the top of the Premiership table on Sunday after a nervy 1-0 win over Hamilton at Ibrox as they looked to get over recent disappointments against Aberdeen, Dundee and Rapid Vienna.

With the European campaign over for the season, all focus now turns to the domestic scene as Gerrard looks to lead his side to their first title since 2011 - but I was left scratching my head in bewilderment reading Gordon Parks' MailSport column yesterday as he described Rangers' league showing so far as 'grim' while taking aim at Gerrard for praising Ibrox director of football Mark Allen for his work in the transfer market over the summer.

Read more: https://www.BOYCOTT THIS LINK/sport/football/football-news/criticism-Rangers-transfer-record-over-13744347

[SeparateEntityMyArse 53,722]

Criticism of Rangers' transfer record is over the top and Premiership table proves it - James Black

After a pretty rough couple of weeks for Steven Gerrard's side, Rangers again rose to the top of the Premiership table on Sunday after a nervy 1-0 win over Hamilton at Ibrox as they looked to get over recent disappointments against Aberdeen, Dundee and Rapid Vienna.

With the European campaign over for the season, all focus now turns to the domestic scene as Gerrard looks to lead his side to their first title since 2011 - but I was left scratching my head in bewilderment reading Gordon Parks' MailSport column yesterday as he described Rangers' league showing so far as 'grim' while taking aim at Gerrard for praising Ibrox director of football Mark Allenfor his work in the transfer market over the summer.

Now, the former striker is obviously entitled to his opinion - and as a former pro, he has some great insight that many who cover the game lack - but Sunday's column was short-sighted.

Ovie Ejaria was Rangers flop and many of Steven Gerrard's signings are the same - Gordon Parks

There's not a Rangers fan who'll disagree that there has to be some improvements at Ibrox in January if Gerrard's side is going to take that step and get their hands on the Premiership trophy come May but sitting two points off celtic with 22 games left to be played is far from 'grim'.

For the last few years, all we've heard is how Brendan Rodgers' side is some sort of unstoppable force domestically yet, just a few hours after Parks' column went live, Rangers are again top of the pile.

I'm not really sure what it is that Parks was expecting from the Gers this season but scoring more goals than any other side in the top flight, and conceding fewer than everybody not called celtic, doesn't really have me reaching for the white flag and preparing to concede the title before the Christmas decorations are packed away for another year.

With 15 new faces arriving at Ibrox over the summer - and just as many heading in the opposite direction - and the added pressure of facing an extra 14 games in Europe this season, Gerrard has made an impressive start to life in management.

The Liverpool icon will admit himself there are areas where he and his side can improve in the short-term but I'm almost certain that if you had offered him a run to the Europa League group stage (only to be knocked out on matchday six) and be very much in a title race then he would have bitten your hand off for it.

I know I would have.

Parks had a pop at Gerrard for his praise of Allen and claimed that only Allan McGregor has lifted himself out of 'mediocrity' since the start of the campaign. Apparently, Niko Katic is being 'found out' and Eros Grezda and Joe Worrall were scouted by Colonel Blink.

We're talking here about three young players who, if they were Scottish we'd still be calling kids who need to be wrapped in cotton wool. At 22, Katic has moved to a new country with a new language at a club where there is more pressure on him to succeed than he will have ever experienced at Slaven Belupo.

Grezda, 23, has started five games so far and has made a steady, if unremarkable, start to his Ibrox career as well as being a regular for his country after recovering from ankle surgery earlier in the year.

Worrall is a 21-year-old England U21 international and is at Ibrox to get more game time to continue his development.

Looking at the other new arrivals, Scotty Arfield has scored five times and created four assists in the league so far (celtic's latest superstar Ryan Christie has hit the net five times and failed to register an assist but is being lauded as the next big thing across the city).

Connor Goldson has been solid at the back since his arrival from Brighton and Gareth McAuley should prove to be a decent addition at the back as he uses his experience to help his much younger colleagues develop.

Ryan Kent is another who has impressed since arriving over the summer although another who moved from Anfield, defender Jon Flanagan, hasn't been great as he fills in for Borna Barisic at left-back.

Barisic is another who already looks as though he will be a fantastic signing for the Gers and the Croatian international has been a huge threat down the left for Gerrard's side either side of his injury problems.

Ovie Ejaria and Umar Sadiq's loan moves never worked out but it's far from the first transfer which hasn't worked out and certainly wont be the last - Sir Alex Ferguson said in one of his books that a 50 per cent hit rate on transfers can be considered a success.

Maybe I've missed something and they've changed they way that league tables are calculated but if being top of the table with a team riddled with 'mediocrity' is what passes for a 'grim' start to the season then I can only hope that it continues in the same vein over the next six months.

[cushynumber 25,178]

5 minutes ago, The Dude said:

After a pretty rough couple of weeks for Steven Gerrard's side, Rangers again rose to the top of the Premiership table on Sunday after a nervy 1-0 win over Hamilton at Ibrox as they looked to get over recent disappointments against Aberdeen, Dundee and Rapid Vienna.

With the European campaign over for the season, all focus now turns to the domestic scene as Gerrard looks to lead his side to their first title since 2011 - but I was left scratching my head in bewilderment reading Gordon Parks' MailSport column yesterday as he described Rangers' league showing so far as 'grim' while taking aim at Gerrard for praising Ibrox director of football Mark Allen for his work in the transfer market over the summer.

Read more: https://www.BOYCOTT THIS LINK/sport/football/football-news/criticism-Rangers-transfer-record-over-13744347

Its remarks dont stand up to any scrutiny at all. You give him too much respect. Good piece though.

[The Dude 20,026]

2 minutes ago, cushynumber said:

Its remarks dont stand up to any scrutiny at all. You give him too much respect. Good piece though.

Cheers/ I was tempted to go in hard on him but thought it wiser to play the ball rather than the man (this time).

[LochendBilly 8,413]

Once again, nail on head, keep it up matey.

[Helicopter Sundae 5,986]

9 minutes ago, The Dude said:

Cheers/ I was tempted to go in hard on him but thought it wiser to play the ball rather than the man (this time).

Very good article that, but if the boot was on the other foot, you would be nursing sore balls as you would have been played. Hard. The hatred shown to us by the DR is palpable.

 

[16BlueSherbert90 19,223]

Nice to see someone within the DR writing decent articles.... and I don't say that because it's a decent piece about us.  

[OhW 4,669]

8 minutes ago, Sweettartangirl said:

Nice to see someone within the DR writing decent articles.... and I don't say that because it's a decent piece about us.  

Yes you do. 

[scotty1976 1,671]

30 minutes ago, The Dude said:

Cheers/ I was tempted to go in hard on him but thought it wiser to play the ball rather than the man (this time).

You’re article probably covers what most of our supporters would say about the new signings. 100% agree with everything in your article.....but you did go easy on Parks. 

I genuinely thought his article was an embarrassment tbh. 

[16BlueSherbert90 19,223]

5 minutes ago, OhW said:

Yes you do. 

Zzzzz

[They Gnu 11,553]

Parks was, I was told, brought up a Rangers Fan, now like babbling chimp Chic Young he does everything he can to distance himself from that. 

[mitre_mouldmaster 21,509]

I think it would be a good idea to not copy and paste the article in cases like this.

We want to show that positive pieces on Rangers attract hits to the website.

It is self defeating otherwise. They wont see hits on positive Rangers stories and they wont commission them. It just provides incentive to belittle us and continue to go against us.

We have to start fighting smart here and winning the PR war as we have been fucking terrible at it in the past which is why they have the market sown up.

[SeparateEntityMyArse 53,722]

2 minutes ago, mitre_mouldmaster said:

I think it would be a good idea to not copy and paste the article in cases like this.

We want to show that positive pieces on Rangers attract hits to the website.

It is self defeating otherwise. They wont see hits on positive Rangers stories and they wont commission them. It just provides incentive to belittle us and continue to go against us.

We have to start fighting smart here and winning the PR war as we have been fucking terrible at it in the past which is why they have the market sown up.

You do your thing, I'll do mine.

[Leeds_Bear 8,110]

Another good piece. 

[gmcf 34,174]

Another good piece @The Dude . 

If we're a team full of ' mediocrity ' it doesn't say much for Brenda and his superstars. But then , I doubt you'll read anything about that . 

[jackrfc95 4,255]

As others have said could of went in a bit harder as his comments are so ridiculous but a decent article.

[Courtyard Bear 41,357]

Good article Dude. 

Do you just write them off your own back and it’s up to the paper if they go with it or do they ask you to write on specific topics?? 

[The Dude 20,026]

1 minute ago, Courtyard Bear said:

Good article Dude. 

Do you just write them off your own back and it’s up to the paper if you go with it or do they ask you to write on specific topics?? 

Cheers. Just off my own back. There's been one or two where they've asked me to try tie it in with something (mainly during OF build up) but usually I just write whatever comes to mind, send it over and see what they say.

[Dickie 12,905]

If he was going to do a piece on shit signings then maybe he should have started with st.brenda and his abysmal record even comparing to Delilah.

[D'Artagnan 13,319]

A factually based, evidenced article will always trump the nonsense and drivel from the anti Rangers brigade within the media.  Given the utter disaster Compper was for them, the rants of the like of Parks deserve to be utterly ridiculed, so well done to The Dude for doing so.

The only journo Ive seen crticising Celtc's recruitment (or lack thereof) has been Stewart Weir. Meanwhile I see that other Stewart - he of failed trialist fame - was busy suggesting Brown's reckless challenge at the weekend warranted nothing more than a yellow.  🤣

 

[onefootwillie 1,518]

Very good article and to the point. There is clearly an agenda against us . You can see it regularly in the press . Lawwell's Lapdogs out in force . 

[markem 7,281]

1 hour ago, The Dude said:

Cheers. Just off my own back. There's been one or two where they've asked me to try tie it in with something (mainly during OF build up) but usually I just write whatever comes to mind, send it over and see what they say.

It’s a good article Dude. Well played. 

[TMB 14,167]

I'm surprised The Dude is getting such a positive reaction.  Normally he's being lambasted just for associating with the Daily Record. 

 

[DeanMK 4,670]

The sooner the DR dies, the better. Good article though.

[Hadron Collider 30,881]

Good article Dude. As we know, Parks needs to justify himself at the rhodent, so talking/writing about Rangers sells papers. That’s what I see.