OceanRain Posted April 27, 2011 Share Posted April 27, 2011 Walter Smith says winning their final four matches would be a great finish to Rangers' season, regardless of whether they retain their title.Celtic are a point behind Smith's side but have a game in hand."It would be a terrific finish to the season, regardless of how the championship finishes up," said Smith."Of course we obviously hope that if we can win each match then that pressure will result in Celtic doing something that would be of benefit to us."The destiny of the title slipped out of Rangers' hands on Sunday, when they were held to a goalless draw by Celtic at Ibrox.But the Light Blues will extend their advantage in the Scottish Premier League to four points if they beat Motherwell on Saturday - 24 hours before Celtic host Dundee United.And, if they beat the Scottish Cup finalists at Fir Park, Rangers would definitely top the table if they win their following two matches, against Hearts and Dundee United at home, with Celtic playing the following day on each occasion.Continue reading the main story We are hopeful we will have Lee and Jamie back in the squad, but neither of them will be fully match fitWalter Smith Rangers manager"We had a situation a few weeks ago where, if we had beaten Dundee United, we would be in a position where we were in charge of our own destiny, but unfortunately we lost that game," manager Smith told Rangers' website."So we had the chance to get that back in the Old Firm game at the weekend and we didn't take it."It was a good performance from the team overall, but we didn't take our chances."Since the Dundee United game that we lost, we have been on a good run and we obviously realise that we need to win our remaining four matches and see what happens."Smith hopes to have midfielders Jamie Ness and Lee McCulloch back from injury for the run-in, but they are unlikely to start against Motherwell.McCulloch is pushing for a return from knee surgery, while Ness has been troubled by a calf strain."We will have to see how things go as we reach the weekend," added Smith. "We are hopeful we will have Lee and Jamie back in the squad, but neither of them will be fully match fit."Jamie has had more games in the second half of the season than Lee, but they have both been missing for a while, so we will have to be careful."We would certainly like to have them back for the remaining matches."My link Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1st_Jan_1994 Posted April 27, 2011 Share Posted April 27, 2011 Terrific finish = winning the league. Nothing else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OceanRain Posted April 27, 2011 Author Share Posted April 27, 2011 Terrific finish = winning the league. Nothing else.My first thought when I read the article headline too.Losing the title to Lennon? 'Terrific'?Jesus, Walter... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
broxibear87 Posted April 27, 2011 Share Posted April 27, 2011 Terrific finish = winning the league. Nothing else. This.4 wins mean the square root of fuck all if theres no red, white and blue ribbons on the league trophy in May. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caseyjones Posted April 27, 2011 Share Posted April 27, 2011 Jesus wept. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
50ShadesofBlue Posted April 27, 2011 Share Posted April 27, 2011 Let's put this season into perspective. Nae money, reduced squad, lots of injuries to main players...I think that's what Walter is getting at. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KERRZO Posted April 27, 2011 Share Posted April 27, 2011 All he is saying is he hopes his players do him proud and gave us all the 4 wins we need to have a chance Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ogbg Posted April 27, 2011 Share Posted April 27, 2011 He didn't say it would be a terrific season. He said it would be a terrific finish. He acknowledged that we slipped up against Dundee Utd.I agree with what he says. We can't control what happens to them so to win our last 4 games would be the best finish that we could muster. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeneralCartmanLee Posted April 27, 2011 Share Posted April 27, 2011 Walter should just publicly discourage the team to get 4 wins, that would probably work better..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1st_Jan_1994 Posted April 27, 2011 Share Posted April 27, 2011 Let's put this season into perspective. Nae money, reduced squad, lots of injuries to main players...I think that's what Walter is getting at.Yet he still doesn't help himself by utilising the squad and making subs at appropriate times.I don't want this to turn into a pro/anti Walter Smith thread. I know he's a natural born pragmatist which has it's plus points but I sometimes wonder if that sort of "it will be a terrific finish to season regardless of outcome" attitude filters down to some of his players. Guys like Edu, Papac and Lafferty who don't look like they give a fuck half the time as it is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1st_Jan_1994 Posted April 27, 2011 Share Posted April 27, 2011 Walter should just publicly discourage the team to get 4 wins, that would probably work better.....Or maybe he could just boot their arse and get them playing better. Just a wee idea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeneralCartmanLee Posted April 27, 2011 Share Posted April 27, 2011 Or maybe he could just boot their arse and get them playing better. Just a wee idea.How do you know he hasn't.You would need to be pretty daft to think what he says to the press in public is what he says to the players in private.....ah.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OceanRain Posted April 27, 2011 Author Share Posted April 27, 2011 "regardless of how the championship finishes up," If the title goes East, it will not have been a terrific finish to the season.I understand what others are saying about no cash, limited squad etc, but that's the bottom line.In fact, it will probably be the worst outcome since falling at the final hurdle for 10IAR. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gid Posted April 27, 2011 Share Posted April 27, 2011 All he is saying is he hopes his players do him proud and gave us all the 4 wins we need to have a chance Correct Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeneralCartmanLee Posted April 27, 2011 Share Posted April 27, 2011 If the title goes East, it will not have been a terrific finish to the season.I understand what others are saying about no cash, limited squad etc, but that's the bottom line.In fact, it will probably be the worst outcome since falling at the final hurdle for 10IAR.Worse than finishing 3rd.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1st_Jan_1994 Posted April 27, 2011 Share Posted April 27, 2011 How do you know he hasn't.You would need to be pretty daft to think what he says to the press in public is what he says to the players in private.....ah....Here's hoping. Here's hoping. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caseyjones Posted April 27, 2011 Share Posted April 27, 2011 If the title goes East, it will not have been a terrific finish to the season.I understand what others are saying about no cash, limited squad etc, but that's the bottom line.In fact, it will probably be the worst outcome since falling at the final hurdle for 10IAR.Oh aye, and how many trophies have you won?......yadda yadda yadda......If we lose the league, there will be no limit to the amount of excuses that come out, but it won't be down to Smith. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OceanRain Posted April 27, 2011 Author Share Posted April 27, 2011 Worse than finishing 3rd.... Losing to Lennon, Mjallby and Alan fucking Thompson?Yes, in my opinion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OceanRain Posted April 27, 2011 Author Share Posted April 27, 2011 Oh aye, and how many trophies have you won?......yadda yadda yadda......If we lose the league, there will be no limit to the amount of excuses that come out, but it won't be down to Smith.Where did I say that exactly? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1st_Jan_1994 Posted April 27, 2011 Share Posted April 27, 2011 Where did I say that exactly?He's siding with you.He's talking about in general.If we lose the league the usual excuses will be trotted out about a small squad and no money etc. Smith will be exempt from all blame - as usual. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minstral Posted April 27, 2011 Share Posted April 27, 2011 Can you imagine Lennon parading the league trophy around the San Giro, the thought of it makes me sick. We have only ourselves to blame, just like Walters first season back when we had the title won and flung it away, just lets us hope that we have not done the same thing again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gunslinger Posted April 27, 2011 Share Posted April 27, 2011 if he wins his last 4 this would represent his best points total so far i believe. against a backdrop of savage cuts and little support in realith from the bank. that would be quite a feat. whether it will be enough to win the league depends. celtc can only throw it away now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeneralCartmanLee Posted April 27, 2011 Share Posted April 27, 2011 Losing to Lennon, Mjallby and Alan fucking Thompson?Yes, in my opinion.Your opinion is ridiculous then..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OceanRain Posted April 27, 2011 Author Share Posted April 27, 2011 He's siding with you.He's talking about in general.If we lose the league the usual excuses will be trotted out about a small squad and no money etc. Smith will be exempt from all blame - as usual.I don't blame Smith though. Well, he shoulders some of the blame. Tactically we've been horrendous at times. But it's the cack-handed way the club's been run under Murray and co. that fucks me off. Aplogies to Casey for getting the wrong end of the stick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeneralCartmanLee Posted April 27, 2011 Share Posted April 27, 2011 Oh aye, and how many trophies have you won?......yadda yadda yadda......If we lose the league, there will be no limit to the amount of excuses that come out, but it won't be down to Smith.Buck stops with smith and i will back him to the hilt.He has had huge disadvantages this season but he is the team manager Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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