MrSifter

I actually wrote to the SFA recently about youth development in this country. Obviously they won't be interested but I actually think the problems with youth football and football culture in Scotland generally is a much bigger problem than Rangers. Issues as I see it are this: Not enough kids playing football Kids not playing and being coached from a young enough age Lack of structured coaching time Lack of football in the context of schools Scottish footballing mentality - it is retarded and stuck in a very old fashioned mindset Any serious initiative would be a ten to twenty year plan. Sadly i don't think there is the will or courage to make real and genuine changes.

I'm not sure how much further we can take this thread and how much further you and I can debate. You say I don't back up my points and can't handle your "cut and thrust". You also imply that I'm a thick mick. I admire your debating skill - resort to casting aspersions and name calling. On the Earl Haig front - as stated previously I am happy to meet anyone prior to or post Hibs match. As an aside, if the Scotbear on here is the same one that used to post on Follow Follow then I can state I've met him a couple of times and used to sit near him at Ibrox. He's tall, about 6ft 3 inches, red hair, sat in the Govan rear, first section near screen at the Broomloan and attended the games with his old man. If it's not the same guy then apologies. I think he was from down Gourock/Greenock way. Now lets get onto this "cut and thrust" of yours. Reading back through the thread I cannot see where your superior debating style and “cut and thrust” has won out (although that is for others, not you or I, to judge) and I also don’t see where I’ve failed to “back-up” my points. We’ll have to agree to disagree on why many of the 3000 failed to renew. You believe it is purely down to the recession. In my own circle of friends I can state, without equivocation or any mental reservation, that it is purely down to having had enough of the dross on show. Nothing whatsoever to do with financial constraints. The merits or otherwise of Smith are purely about personal opinion. You rate him highly, I think he is no better than mediocre. These are not statistical facts that can be “backed-up” one way or the other. Smith has many good points but he has many points in the debit side as well. I cannot, hand on heart, say I enjoy watching his teams. I don’t enjoy watching his current Rangers team, I didn’t enjoy watching his Scotland team, his Everton team were equally dire. First time around at Rangers his record is incredible on a trophy haul front and like every other bear I was caught up in the NIAR hysteria. I’m not going to make this thread a debate about that part of his stewardship. That is for another thread. Working without a contract when you earn £20K per week and are already a multi-millionaire is not quite as noble as some people want to believe. For the last time I’ll state this: I do not enjoy watching Smith’s current Rangers side. The team do not look fit The team play dour, uninspiring football The players appear clueless at set pieces (free kicks, throw-ins and corners) The team fail to string passes together The players do not move well off the ball The players seem to be going back the way in terms of ability (touch, movement, passing, fitness) I am not presenting these as “facts”. They are just my opinion.

I'm done for the night but I'll finish on two points. If you think the recession is the main reason 3000 never renewed then you need to not only get off your knees but also get your head out the sand. I know of at least a dozen who never renewed because of the dross on offer. I have no idea your age but these guys have been going through thick and thin since the 60s. Point 2 - champions and Im glad of it, make no mistake. But i grew up when that was expected every season. I also grew up going and expecting to enjoy the games. Tell you what though, if all we aspire to is beating that crap across the city then stop the world because I want off.

I would say all of them....... why address my points when you can just imply I'm an Earl Haig? You obviously rate Smith and think his signings are good, his brand of football is good to watch. I'm actually really happy that someone gets so much enjoyment out of Smith's brand of football. I do not get anywhere close to your level of satisfaction. I hate to shock you but quite a few share my point of view. Maybe, just maybe that's why 3000 never renewed. As for some positivity? When there's things to be positive about then I will be. It's a bleak landscape for me at the minute where Rangers is concerned.

He could leave for Scotland tomorrow if he so wanted and has said no..... Not a particularly adroit deflection. I'd hardly say managing that pool of duds is a better offer anyway. Smith has some great qualities but for me his brand of football is coma inducing. I simply get no enjoyment out of watching his teams. We became the biggest club bar none with the quality of Struth's teams, good job Wattie's one up front and players out of position wasn'ton show in those days.

GCL - what points am I not backing up?

Just for clarity then. Is it people's belief that Smith et al are purely in this for the love and would never be swayed if a better offer came along?

GCL - implying I'm a Shettleston goes beyond the pale. I'm happy to meet up anyone who thinks I'm one of them prior to the Hibs away match in December. I don't expect to do Smith's job but for the money he earns and the money lavished on the squad I expect any manager to do better and actually produce a quality of football that is entertaining. Blind faith and acceptance of those in positions of power at the Club have led us to where we are. Get off your knees man.

Dextor - absolutely not! My point is fairly straightforward. I don't think we should forget players and managers in this day and age are careerists. If a better offer came along they'd all go. In that sense I view them ad nothing better than hired help. Players and managers come and go. The one thing I view as indispensable is the support.

GCL - you completeley miss the point being made. Were Smith et al boyhood bluenoses? No question. Are they diehard Rangers men or career pros now? That's certainly open to debate. Previously when Murray took us to the brink Numan was offered around a quarter of his current wage to renew. Given our current situation I'd have hoped Smith (on approx £20k per week) would take £5k per week. I've no doubt most on here would happily work for that. Maybe for that money we could get a manager that plays players in position, sets out a team to attack, pass fluidly, move and be in good physical condition. Then again, I'm just an overly ambitious dreamer.

Will Bain be offering Smith et al the same sort of paycut he offered Numan? If not, why not? If he does, and they accept I'll be the first to congratulate them as altruistic Rangers men.

Can I ask the Smith fans on this thread: How often under Smith do you come away from a game and say "What a smashing game of football, I really enjoyed that today"? Or how often do we say "Brutal game but it's another three points". Being absolutely honest I'm struggling to think of any games I actually enjoy for style of football and quality of play. Sure we have a bit of drama the odd time but it's usually through farce than quality.

When was this interview shown...the 34th of julember ? You're right, I made it up... If memory serves me it was an interview where Fergie said at the end "now go and win the league Walter." It was the season we lost out because of the UEFA Cup run. As I said before, I'm not placing much significance on a three or four month stint working as an old mate's assistant. Perhaps I'm wrong though, perhaps he was a much sought after manager in England before the SFA snapped him up five or six months after he left United.

I saw an interview with Fergie on RTV where he said he took Smith on as his assistant to try and get him back into football. It certainly wasn't a long term option. But hey, a three or four month tenure working for an old mate must have incredible significance. I stand to be corrected but I don't believe after his Everton tenure he was pursued as a manager by anyone other than the SFA.

I will be astonished if we sign anyone in January. As Smith said "are people still not getting it?......."

That comment was just a bit of devilment from me! Johnston is undoubtedly a success and I admire him for that (in the same way I admired Murray's business success pre-Rangers) but lets face facts. He's there to find a buyer then he'll be off. We are in a self perpetuating vicious circle of short termism. It depresses me as there appears no way out at the moment.

Smith perplexes me as a manager but one thing is for sure; I have seldom enjoyed watching any of his teams in the last ten years. I'm not too sure that we should be "grateful" to him for working without a contract. He is paid handsomely by the Club (and by extension the fans as we are the biggest contributors to the Club's turnover), he would not pick up those kind of wages anywhere else in Scotland (the dregs of humanity aside) and no-one wanted him in England after his tenure at Everton.

Is Smith working for free? If he isn't, do we know what his weekly wage is?

I don't get this to be honest. What's the difference between raising funds by having a shirt sponsor and raising funds by having a sponsor name of the stadium? Generating new revenue streams is what we should be exploring. I doubt we'd stop calling it Ibrox if say, BSkyB sponsored the stadium. I doubt I'd phone my old man and say "Da', I'll pick you up, we'll go for a pint in the Rosie then head to the bSkyB arena".

I guess my point is that I don't think these key issues are ever covered satisfactorily. It's all pie in the sky stuff or nudge, nudge, wink, wink, we're working on it, trust us, we know what we're doing as captains of industry. For my money they have not given one proposal to increase revenue streams, scouting is an absolute mess (just like Smith's tenure in the 90s) and I have yet to see any pro-active PR when anyone other than Murray, Greig, Bain or Smith is brutalised in the press. I admire your unwavering support of and confidence in the Board.

The stadium is the least important of the issues I raised (although it could and should play its part in helping raise new monies). Ibrox used to be pristine and was very well maintained. Can we say that now? It's the Broken Windows theory.

Do you think it was covered properly? I love the Main Stand, it is a timeless piece of architecture but the rest of the stadium is showing its age. I also think it is not as well maintained as in past years. The stadium is probably the least important issue at the minute. I'd rank them as: 1. Finances - specifically what new revenue streams are being explored. 2. On the park 3. PR 4. Stadium

Hi guys, new poster. Was unable to attend today but got to say I'm disappointed again with the AGM reports I've read. It always amazes me what people find important. My list would be: Finances – what needs to be done to have an ongoing sustainable business model and what new income streams are the board working on. PR – when is this going to be managed pro-actively and aggressively when necessary. On the park – brand of football, global scouting and youth development Stadium – looks dilapidated, what plans for regeneration.