Reformation Bear

Just back. Played well. Good, disciplined performance. Decent set-up and good substitutions at the right time.
Black was the best player on the park. MacLeod seems to be the golden boy and gets the attention and man of the match despite not actually doing all that much during the match outside of the goal for me. MacGregor was good and is showing up well now. Positions himself well and is never out muscled. Moshni was solid (other than the obligatory blip) and Wallace played well again.
All in, a good day at the office. Well done, lads.

Hearing that the Rangers for Yes group are going to be giving out flyers to try and persuade bears to vote yes at games between now and the vote.
Bit controversial in my book as sport and politics shouldnt mix and i think some bears may not be receptive to such things.

: #prayfortheMariborClubSecretary

Good night indeed. A Rangers win, septic out of CL(twice) and I got 6 away results up.

@paddypower: GOAL! Maribo have taken the lead against Celtic!
"Quick lads, get the rulebook out!"

So he thinks we'll do well in the cups?

I'm at Hampden - where is every fukker?

Falkirk ran close to being promoted to the top flight last season and you could see why from tonight's performance. So to go there off the back of less than confident performances and still steal a win and not concede any goals was a sign that at least the team has dug in and has enough of a collective 'winning' mentality to see the job done tonight.
That could just as easily have been a Premiership side we were playing tonight. In fact the additional pressure on Rangers this season to win promotion from the Championship may well be a factor in the shakey start to the season. Next season - if we are good enough to win promotion at the end of this season - it seems to me to be more than possible that play could be better because the remit would be to get competitive in the first season and not to win it so overall less intense pressure. There is a big difference and the weight of responsibility and expectation for this current season is large - I hope the players are up for it and deliver for the sake of Rangers football club.

Falkirk ran close to being promoted to the top flight last season and you could see why from tonight's performance. So to go there off the back of less than confident performances and still steal a win and not concede any goals was a sign that at least the team has dug in and has enough of a collective 'winning' mentality to see the job done tonight.
That could just as easily have been a Premiership side we were playing tonight. In fact the additional pressure on Rangers this season to win promotion from the Championship may well be a factor in the shakey start to the season. Next season - if we are good enough to win promotion at the end of this season - it seems to me to be more than possible that play could be better because the remit would be to get competitive in the first season and not to win it so overall less intense pressure. There is a big difference and the weight of responsibility and expectation for this current season is large - I hope the players are up for it and deliver for the sake of Rangers football club.

Nicky Clark showed enough in 25 minutes to knock on the door for a starting place. Give him a chance please

You fair foxed them there Ally, give them a false sense of security, draw them in then fuck ye, deflection and a chesty in, they didnae know whit hit them ! Pure genius ! As you say it's going to be a bumpy ride !

Cammy Bell the saviour, totally different outcome if he hadn't made those saves,
Great run by Aird to set up the first, that first goal absolutely destroyed Falkirk's belief.
Delighted with the win, sick of seeing us skating on thin ice though.

Surely he'll be installed after Dave King's takeover, prompting the headline 'Berg-for King'.
Works better if you say it quickly out loud.

It's been painful, very painful, when will the pain end? the squad should be honorary dentists every game's like pulling teeth

Worrying how shite we actually are

A lack of zip and urgency about our play. Midfield not connected well enough with attack. Too many sideways passes. As usual far far too many long balls just aimed in the general direction of the strikers and hoping to feed off scraps. We have not really threatened the Hibs goal other than for the one goal scored. We don't look like scoring any more. No real threat emerging from the flanks. Can't recall a single instance of getting in behind the Hibs defence.
Lethargic performance so far - that this from a team that players were claiming were sharp and ready to go and wanted to set a tone. The only positive I've seen - and of course its a biggie - is that we scored the only goal so far. If we've had a pre-season to get to the point where the pace is set and the tempo is clear and crisp then so far its escaped me.

A lack of zip and urgency about our play. Midfield not connected well enough with attack. Too many sideways passes. As usual far far too many long balls just aimed in the general direction of the strikers and hoping to feed off scraps. We have not really threatened the Hibs goal other than for the one goal scored. We don't look like scoring any more. No real threat emerging from the flanks. Can't recall a single instance of getting in behind the Hibs defence.
Lethargic performance so far - that this from a team that players were claiming were sharp and ready to go and wanted to set a tone. The only positive I've seen - and of course its a biggie - is that we scored the only goal so far. If we've had a pre-season to get to the point where the pace is set and the tempo is clear and crisp then so far its escaped me.

The OP was about the case or sacking the Manager now. It's not going to happen 'now' because the objective he and the squad are working to as set by the Board in the April Review document is to win the Championship in this s2014/15 Unless it becomes evident that the objective won't be met or is under sufficient threat of not being met then despite all the threads, articles and posts Ally McCoist will be given the backing of the Board and, by implication, the benefit of doubt.
You can feel the tension in the threads and the posts about the pre-season games, the abilities of the Manager, the tactics, the playing players out of position and so on. As many have said there would have been no excuse in the last 2 seasons for not winning promotion. There is no excuse this season either with the quality (on paper) and experience of the squad. But the pressure at Rangers for success this season to return to the top fight could prove to be a burden too heavy for them. That may be what many in the Support privately consider to be a real risk and which brings itself out in posts that pick up on what are justifiably perceived to be managerial shortcomings that result in games where confidence in the end goal gets dented. The spiral of vocal concern takes hold and 40 odd pages later the debate and arguments are in full flow.
If the games in August go badly, or are on balance ('all in all' to borrow Ally's phrase following the Derby game) less than ideally where Rangers would want to be results-wise at he end of August, then 40 pages on here would look like the starter for 10. And its more than possible that the spiral of vocal concern is heard more loudly at game.......which would heap more pressure onto a squad where handling that pressure is (imo) far from evident at present. If any encouragement could be given it would be to back the team to the absolute hilt and save any vocal concerns for social media sites. Speaking entirely personally I want the team be given every opportunity and encouragement to deliver the results even if that is despite of and not necessary a direct consequence of the way they are set up to play.

On problem with results and performances like Derby yesterday and the pre-season lacklustre (a kind description) performances is that there is an inevitable expectation that SPFL quality players should perform to the level we think they should be capable of as individuals and as a team. That expectation draws on our history of success and of the quality of players we have had the honour to see playing for Rangers. And they fail to do so.
Another problem may well be the anxiety that on recent (end of last season) and current pre-season showing this expensively paid squad and the Manager just might not have it their lockers to deliver promotion this season. The thought of more than one season in the Championship is not a thought any of us wants to entertain. So Supporters (rightly in my view) look for a quality of performance and inspiration from the squad and the Manager. And so far in some measure it appears to me to be very lacking. Even Club website reports of pre-season games speak of or hint of disappointment in performances and results.
Today Nicky Law talks about setting a tone. Which is another way of saying the team needs to do more. A lot more if it really wants to set the right markers. it's a pity more had not been done on this during pre-season. Personally, I think the Club took on too much in the N.American tour with huge distances travelled and injuries picked up en route with little quality recovery time. It seems playing with a sole striker remains the favoured option, and it has revealed more acutely big deficiencies in defence despite new signings. It certainly is not the quality of Rangers team we have been used to seeing for the past few decades. We want to get back to what we were used to seeing and the current crop are not able to deliver that. They are what they are - mainly journeymen who can do a job. Could they be built into a team that inspires, into players with excellent selling potential? I struggle to see it the way things are going. Rangers is still as I understand it supposed to be a selling club - but it cannot seem to attract credible bids for players.
What's all this got to do with a thread about sacking the Manager now? Well they may be indicators of failings. Maybe even strong indicators. But so far each season since Div 3 the objective has been met - promotion. For this coming season the Review clearly states that the performance target for Season 2014/15 is Building a team and organisation to deliver the SPFL Championship in the first season in the division. If it became clear that the perfomance target was not going to be met, or was under sufficient threat of not being met then and only then do I think the Board would take steps to make changes. We are not at that point and may never reach that point. If the performances are ugly but promotion is won then this time next season we will be looking forward to SPFL games with Ally as Manager because he will have delivered on the objective.
The Board has found the funds to give him the players he wants (thus far) for this season. It could be that we do actually sell one or some players (or release them by mutual consent) so the squad could thin or if nobody goes it could yet become even more bloated if more players are added. I suspect Ally has had all of the backing he could reasonably have expected from the Board in terms of acquiring players for this season. If the team does not deliver or does not look like it will deliver then will be the time when Ally may well feel like many other football managers when the pressure comes not just from the terraces but from the men in suits on the Board who have to raise money for the football ambition. If the objective is not met then they may well be a whole lot more ruthless in their dealings than Ally is in getting the best out of this expensively paid squad. The time is not now - but around Christmas time and AGM time I would expect very close scrutiny from Supporters and the Board about the results obtained thus far.

On problem with results and performances like Derby yesterday and the pre-season lacklustre (a kind description) performances is that there is an inevitable expectation that SPFL quality players should perform to the level we think they should be capable of as individuals and as a team. That expectation draws on our history of success and of the quality of players we have had the honour to see playing for Rangers. And they fail to do so.
Another problem may well be the anxiety that on recent (end of last season) and current pre-season showing this expensively paid squad and the Manager just might not have it their lockers to deliver promotion this season. The thought of more than one season in the Championship is not a thought any of us wants to entertain. So Supporters (rightly in my view) look for a quality of performance and inspiration from the squad and the Manager. And so far in some measure it appears to me to be very lacking. Even Club website reports of pre-season games speak of or hint of disappointment in performances and results.
Today Nicky Law talks about setting a tone. Which is another way of saying the team needs to do more. A lot more if it really wants to set the right markers. it's a pity more had not been done on this during pre-season. Personally, I think the Club took on too much in the N.American tour with huge distances travelled and injuries picked up en route with little quality recovery time. It seems playing with a sole striker remains the favoured option, and it has revealed more acutely big deficiencies in defence despite new signings. It certainly is not the quality of Rangers team we have been used to seeing for the past few decades. We want to get back to what we were used to seeing and the current crop are not able to deliver that. They are what they are - mainly journeymen who can do a job. Could they be built into a team that inspires, into players with excellent selling potential? I struggle to see it the way things are going. Rangers is still as I understand it supposed to be a selling club - but it cannot seem to attract credible bids for players.
What's all this got to do with a thread about sacking the Manager now? Well they may be indicators of failings. Maybe even strong indicators. But so far each season since Div 3 the objective has been met - promotion. For this coming season the Review clearly states that the performance target for Season 2014/15 is Building a team and organisation to deliver the SPFL Championship in the first season in the division. If it became clear that the perfomance target was not going to be met, or was under sufficient threat of not being met then and only then do I think the Board would take steps to make changes. We are not at that point and may never reach that point. If the performances are ugly but promotion is won then this time next season we will be looking forward to SPFL games with Ally as Manager because he will have delivered on the objective.
The Board has found the funds to give him the players he wants (thus far) for this season. It could be that we do actually sell one or some players (or release them by mutual consent) so the squad could thin or if nobody goes it could yet become even more bloated if more players are added. I suspect Ally has had all of the backing he could reasonably have expected from the Board in terms of acquiring players for this season. If the team does not deliver or does not look like it will deliver then will be the time when Ally may well feel like many other football managers when the pressure comes not just from the terraces but from the men in suits on the Board who have to raise money for the football ambition. If the objective is not met then they may well be a whole lot more ruthless in their dealings than Ally is in getting the best out of this expensively paid squad. The time is not now - but around Christmas time and AGM time I would expect very close scrutiny from Supporters and the Board about the results obtained thus far.

I think in the end it may boil down to money. Right now the Board cannot really lose if they keep Ally and his coaching staff. They have delivered in the last 2 seasons. They have some support in the media and if they are fired then that support may round on the Board if the successor did not deliver quickly. They (the Board) don't really need to confront this until around Christmas time when the key matter to consider would be - is the Manager and team on a course to deliver promotion at the end of this season? If the judgement is 'yes' (despite performances) then he would most likely remain. If the judgement was 'no' then solid justification would be there for change in terms of results up to that point. If the judgement was 'maybe' then my guess is he'd get the benefit of the doubt until it became clear later in the season whether or not he was going to deliver. If it became clear before season's end that promotion did not appear likely and if we were out of major cups then change before next season would seem to me to be inevitable. A second or more season in the Championship watching the dross on show during pre-season and during the latter part of last season from SPFL-quality players would - it seems to me - be a convincing demstration that enough time had been allowed and that there was insufficient ability to get the best out of (by Scottish standards) highly rewarded players.
Back to money - the cost of releasing them may be far preferable to the cost of missing out on promption for this season and maybe a second if there needed to be substatial rebuilding. It would boil down to weighing up which cost hit is the least painful to take for the sake of the Club. The period around Christmas and the AGM could be a very stressful time for everyone. More so if a funds are raised by the Board the Autumn with the SPFL in mind and if the performances were such that the promotion objective was threatened.

Boyd is a goal scorer. Miller is a goal scorer. Clark is a goal scorer. Daly is a goal scorer. Gallagher is emerging as a goal scorer. Stoney is an emerging goal scorer.
Winning promotion out of the Championship at first attempt was always going to be the most difficult of the lower leagues. More so now that Hibs and Hearts are in it. Experienced goal scorers with a track record of handling the pressure at Rangers was always likely to be on the buying agenda to add to the options that can be fielded when it is nil nil with 20 mins to go and a win is needed. A bench with strong credible striking options would - I think - be what any manager wants. So adding Boyd - if he signs - adds to the strking options. Yes Stoney is also an emerging goal scorer (and others in the youth squad too) but I guess that if the top priority by a very very large distance is to win promotion this coming season then the opportunity to add (if affordable) experience and track record of delivery would win out over passing over that opportunity.
We all want back into the top flight asap and back to the very top of it also asap. Striking the balance between relying on experience and introducing emerging top talent will not be an easy job to do. At the end of the day after each game I expect the point will be did we win and is it another 3 points in the bag. Playing better football than we've seen all to often and getting players to perform as individuals and as a team to the best of their talents on a consistent basis will doubtless be a key thing to achieve. But points will be more important and for points you need goal scorers.

Boyd is a goal scorer. Miller is a goal scorer. Clark is a goal scorer. Daly is a goal scorer. Gallagher is emerging as a goal scorer. Stoney is an emerging goal scorer.
Winning promotion out of the Championship at first attempt was always going to be the most difficult of the lower leagues. More so now that Hibs and Hearts are in it. Experienced goal scorers with a track record of handling the pressure at Rangers was always likely to be on the buying agenda to add to the options that can be fielded when it is nil nil with 20 mins to go and a win is needed. A bench with strong credible striking options would - I think - be what any manager wants. So adding Boyd - if he signs - adds to the strking options. Yes Stoney is also an emerging goal scorer (and others in the youth squad too) but I guess that if the top priority by a very very large distance is to win promotion this coming season then the opportunity to add (if affordable) experience and track record of delivery would win out over passing over that opportunity.
We all want back into the top flight asap and back to the very top of it also asap. Striking the balance between relying on experience and introducing emerging top talent will not be an easy job to do. At the end of the day after each game I expect the point will be did we win and is it another 3 points in the bag. Playing better football than we've seen all to often and getting players to perform as individuals and as a team to the best of their talents on a consistent basis will doubtless be a key thing to achieve. But points will be more important and for points you need goal scorers.

Boyd is a goal scorer. Miller is a goal scorer. Clark is a goal scorer. Daly is a goal scorer. Gallagher is emerging as a goal scorer. Stoney is an emerging goal scorer.
Winning promotion out of the Championship at first attempt was always going to be the most difficult of the lower leagues. More so now that Hibs and Hearts are in it. Experienced goal scorers with a track record of handling the pressure at Rangers was always likely to be on the buying agenda to add to the options that can be fielded when it is nil nil with 20 mins to go and a win is needed. A bench with strong credible striking options would - I think - be what any manager wants. So adding Boyd - if he signs - adds to the strking options. Yes Stoney is also an emerging goal scorer (and others in the youth squad too) but I guess that if the top priority by a very very large distance is to win promotion this coming season then the opportunity to add (if affordable) experience and track record of delivery would win out over passing over that opportunity.
We all want back into the top flight asap and back to the very top of it also asap. Striking the balance between relying on experience and introducing emerging top talent will not be an easy job to do. At the end of the day after each game I expect the point will be did we win and is it another 3 points in the bag. Playing better football than we've seen all to often and getting players to perform as individuals and as a team to the best of their talents on a consistent basis will doubtless be a key thing to achieve. But points will be more important and for points you need goal scorers.

Boyd is a goal scorer. Miller is a goal scorer. Clark is a goal scorer. Daly is a goal scorer. Gallagher is emerging as a goal scorer. Stoney is an emerging goal scorer.
Winning promotion out of the Championship at first attempt was always going to be the most difficult of the lower leagues. More so now that Hibs and Hearts are in it. Experienced goal scorers with a track record of handling the pressure at Rangers was always likely to be on the buying agenda to add to the options that can be fielded when it is nil nil with 20 mins to go and a win is needed. A bench with strong credible striking options would - I think - be what any manager wants. So adding Boyd - if he signs - adds to the strking options. Yes Stoney is also an emerging goal scorer (and others in the youth squad too) but I guess that if the top priority by a very very large distance is to win promotion this coming season then the opportunity to add (if affordable) experience and track record of delivery would win out over passing over that opportunity.
We all want back into the top flight asap and back to the very top of it also asap. Striking the balance between relying on experience and introducing emerging top talent will not be an easy job to do. At the end of the day after each game I expect the point will be did we win and is it another 3 points in the bag. Playing better football than we've seen all to often and getting players to perform as individuals and as a team to the best of their talents on a consistent basis will doubtless be a key thing to achieve. But points will be more important and for points you need goal scorers.