As was the player, so is the manager.

[Senna 735]

Ally McCoist is in Rangers' Hall of Fame as the club's record goalscorer with 355 goals, and a haul of medals that would rival that of the whole of this year's Team GB. He was a supreme forward, complete with pace, devastating positional sense, the ability to evade defenders with disguised runs and an almost unerring finishing ability.

It seems then, that as he was as a player, Ally is shaping up to be so as a manager - running his gameplan on attacking prowess. Some of his transfer dealings this season were to tie up Francisco Sandaza, Kevin Kyle, Dean Shiels amongst signing defender Emilson Cribari and midfielder Ian Black.

The names of Shiels, Sandaza and Kyle would be considered average striking options at SPL level, but added to Andrew Little, Lee McCulloch, Kal Naismith and others, at Division Three level, this is a mighty ol' set of forwards. Indeed, in our three league games, we are the highest scorers in Division 3 with eight goals. There is every argument that it should be more, and this almost proves the theory in question.

Ally's strikers are good enough to bang in a minimum of 15 each this season in my opinion, but they are not getting the service they need just now. We'll come back to Sandaza - for me, he'll start knocking them in when he gets shot of his rustiness. The problems in McCoist's team so far are in the middle of the park and at the back.

Midfield is an issue for a couple of reasons.

Black isn't enough to dominate an opposing four or five man midfield himself. He is good, but he's not that good, not even at Division 3 level.

Jig is not, and will never be, a central midfield player. It's too alien to his game - stick him up front as a battering ram and he'll be just fine.

The youngsters in Barrie McKay and Lewis MacLeod are good, but they're too young and lightweight at this level. That's no fault of their own, that's just the way things are.

There is a devastating lack of width in the middle of the park, and it's costing us. Forwards like Kyle and Sandaza need decent service from a wide area, and Little isn't providing it. That's no slight on Andy either, he's been our best player so far by a distance, but a right midfielder he is not. Shiels would do well on the right or left flank, but for some reason, Ally is playing him one off the striker(s). This is hurting us. Even the width given from Wallace and Broadfoot was a much needed boost at times in games, and has created a few goals already this season.

Defence is an issue right now, but there are signs that this is on the way to being repaired. With the arrivals of Emilson Cribari, Sebastien Faure and Anestis Argyriou, things are looking better than they had been. Exits of big earners in Kirk Broadfoot, Dorin Goian (albeit for just a year) as well as the Judas Brigade (Whittaker et al) have seen the rebuilding of the defence around players like Ross Perry, Lee Wallace and Carlos Bocanegra. Time will tell whether McCoist's signings here gel and form the formidable defence, however Ally is leaving it late to provide cover at left back for the injury prone Wallace.

I am fully expecting an Ally McCoist team to score a barrowload of goals, and yet be a little bit suspect defensively. So far, that supposition is right on the mark, but only a fool would judge McCoist fully so far.

By contrast, his mentor and Rangers' unofficial Godfather, Walter Smith was a solid if unspectacular defender throughout his playing career at Dumbarton and Dundee Hibernian. The outstanding memory of Smith's teams for me, was that of a resolute defence, and sometimes one that failed to take its' chances up the other end of the pitch.

Think for a second of the staunch defenders that became stars under Smith in his second spell alone: David Weir, Carlos Cuellar, Madjid Bougherra, Sasa Papac, Alan Hutton, Christian Dailly, Kirk Broadfoot and Danny Wilson were all successes under Walter, and there is no doubt we were hugely successful with these defenders.

Smith never lost a title in his second spell (we were robbed in '08, let's not kid ourselves on), we reached a European final and beat opposition including Lyon, Fiorentina, Sporting Lisbon, Stuttgart and Werder Bremen en route to that final, and a handful of domestic cups to boot. The overlying emphasis of that period was a staunch, no-nonsense defence with the attacking play not always enjoyable on the eye.

In Europe, we were especially defensive and given that we made three Champions League group stages and the UEFA Cup Final, it was a system that worked for us. Again, it was also indicative of Smith's style as a player - one who took no crap and no chances at the back, and slightly unadventurous going forward.

With all that said, remember and apply that theory again to the man that many are now claiming is the Greatest Ever Ranger (albeit unofficially), and it looks apparent that his management style is starting to emulate his playing career - that of a daring attacker, reliant on goals for success, with less focus on the defence.

That's not to say Ally is ignoring the defence - he's not, but his first targets and signings were all attackers and the defensive signings have all been left to fill in afterwards.

If his team are as successful as either Walter Smith's second-spell teams or as successful as his own playing career, he will be the Greatest Ever Ranger. He will be Simply The Best. He is Super Ally.

http://www.rangersmedia.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=912:mccoist-attack-first&catid=100:coaching&Itemid=528

[scarkev 3,540]

Mmm haven't seen much in the way of attacking prowess yet but hopefully given time that's the route we will be heading down with ally in charge.

[Alnic3856 358]

"Daring attacker reliant on goals for success" This would be true if it were not for the fact that it's not true, our forward play is fucking mind numbingly predictable,not saying this is Allys fault could be the players or a combination of both but to describe Rangers at present as a daringly attacking force is a fucking embarassment and is to be scoffed at.

[JograBear 1,082]

Attacking prowess? Lumping the long ball into the forward areas?

[Prince of Orange 84]

If we can sort the midfield out properly then I'd still like to see Jig and Little up top as the way he and Little have linked up at times so far have been excellent and will give us a good option to chamge things maybe in the last half hour with Sandaza who I believe will come good. Kyle will probably only be used in the last 10 to push some defenders around, don't see him doing too much tbh, not unless he loses a fair bit of beef and gets fit sharpish. We should build our midfield with Black, Shiels and McKay although the wee man will either need to get fitter or learn to temper the amount of runs he's making as he seems pretty tired by 75 minutes which is fair enough considering his work rate. We'll have a better idea of who should be in with them after we know our final squad when the transfer window shuts.

[loyalfollower 1,543]

Sus midfield out and get passing center back. We may not have great players but im alot calmer after sunday and i've got to back mccoist and as big marv once quoted 'keep believing'

[theiconicman 3,121]

We have a passing centre back - Cribari. The problem is we only have Black who is looking for the ball, or Alexander is pumping it long.

[WVB 2,560]

Lets just tear into him with some criticism, that should do the trick.

[papaguy51 941]

It should be the perfect opportunity for him to reinvent himself after last season, or to stamp his own authority on matches.

I still think he's trying to be too much like Sir Walter with the conservative football though. As I've said before, only Walter can manage like Walter. Mourinho couldn't manage like that, Sir Alex couldn't manage like that and Ally certainly can't.

I hope he does his own thing.

[MosesMcNeil 1,664]

Lets just tear into him with some criticism, that should do the trick.

You're doing a disservice to the stadium coaches suitably qualified with Sega's Football Manager 'fishel coaching badge.

You can't just dismiss the validity of the critique when claims like this are made: "There is a devastating lack of width in the middle of the park."

Not any old lack of width you see, but a 'devastating' lack of it. And that's only in the middle of the park - I'm too scared to ask about the lack of width in the, well, wide areas of the park.

I'm buying it. I think. Well, maybe...or...

[NorthernLights 2,529]

It should be the perfect opportunity for him to reinvent himself after last season, or to stamp his own authority on matches.

I still think he's trying to be too much like Sir Walter with the conservative football though. As I've said before, only Walter can manage like Walter. Mourinho couldn't manage like that, Sir Alex couldn't manage like that and Ally certainly can't.

I hope he does his own thing.

Mourinho certainly could. Had some excellent results. I see your point, though. Ally needs to go out and play a style that he thinks will get the best results. If he thinks that us counter-attacking and lumping it long against Peterhead and East Stirling is playing to our potential then we have a problem. Short passing is crucial if we want to open teams up. They won't be able to match us for fitness, so let's get them chasing the ball.

[trueblueal 2,117]

I'd like to see pace and skill up front. I'd be tempted to go with Little and Sandaza who will get sharper. I'd have Shiels behind then and McKay wide in support. I'd leave Jig at centre back in the third division. Excellent in the air, aggressive and can play out from the back. That's assuming Boca goes.

[Jela 2]

Would agree that we're desperate for a winger or two. But we need a midfielder who's willing to drop back and demand the ball from the defence. This would give the defenders and goalie no excuse for punting it, and allow said midfielder to dictate play and get the ball out wide.

[Senna 735]

You're doing a disservice to the stadium coaches suitably qualified with Sega's Football Manager 'fishel coaching badge.

You can't just dismiss the validity of the critique when claims like this are made: "There is a devastating lack of width in the middle of the park."

Not any old lack of width you see, but a 'devastating' lack of it. And that's only in the middle of the park - I'm too scared to ask about the lack of width in the, well, wide areas of the park.

I'm buying it. I think. Well, maybe...or...

Middle of the park as in midfield. Honestly...

[bombaybadboy08 15,660]

Good article although this part gives me the boak.

The youngsters in Barrie McKay and Lewis MacLeod are good, but they're too young and lightweight at this level

[ORCHARD LOYAL 119]

We need a player maker in the mould of Fergie or Mendes.

[koala bear 25]

Present tactics are brilliant if you are playing BASKETBALL