Neil McCann

[Gaffbear 4,096]

He was spot on when talking about our tactics going forward .....

[.Williamson. 82,509]

Top bloke 

[Laudrup1984 25,100]

1 hour ago, THE_MIGHTY_BEARS said:

Is he a proven coach?  Is he better than the guys we have now?  I thought Ally and Weir were Rangers men but is seems they can't coach worth a fuck.  There's more to being a coach than talking up Rangers as a pundit.

He was assistant and coach at Dunfermline. However I wouldn't necessarily shoehorn him into a coaching role. He would have to earn it of course and you make a valid point. The transition from pundit to coaching isn't as seamless as some may think.

What I would say though is McCann is a very impressive individual who time after time, IMO calls it right. And it's not about talking Rangers up. I don't even think he does do that. He's simply honest whether we play well or not. He has a great depth of knowledge and experience and whilst it's not essential to join us, the fact he knows the pressures of playing for us and knows the obstacles that one faces when playing for us his knowledge, experience and advice can only be a good thing i think. I'm certainly not an advocate of jobs for the boys. This kind of mentality IMO holds a lot of clubs back. Any role given would be based on merit, an interview process, visions, beliefs, ideas, knowledge etc but I do believe he could help us.

I'm not even specifically talking about a coaching role. Warburton, Weir and the players always mention in their press conferences and post match interviews how much emphasis they put on analysis of previous games, what their doing right, what their doing wrong, what they need to do better. I think a new set of eyes, eyes that, again IMO are very rarely wrong could benefit us going forward. I think it could be refreshing. I don't think we have a terrible squad so a few changes here and there COULD make a huge difference IMO. Of course there would be an element of risk involved but it would all be very low risk. McCann is a consummate professional and any critique he gives will always been done in the most professional and constructive manner. Warburton seems to encourage this and I think McCann could add value IMO. I think he could also have a word in the players ear about crossing a bloody ball too! Even just to have an informal chat with the guy to hear his thoughts and opinions would add value IMO.............

[Bruno's Manbun 2,631]

 Very credible and professional pundit and  unbiased. Unlike that absolute roaster on BT 

[jackrfc95 4,255]

Made a few good points about our tactics yesterday which I hadn't really thought about before. 

Always seems to talk a lot of sense. 

[jackrfc95 4,255]

Just now, 55Bear said:

 Very credible and professional pundit and  unbiased. Unlike that absolute roaster on BT 

McCann proving you can make a name for yourself being a good pundit. 

The other trying to make a name for himself by being an absolute prick. 

[Bruno's Manbun 2,631]

Just now, jackrfc95 said:

McCann proving you can make a name for yourself being a good pundit. 

The other trying to make a name for himself by being an absolute prick. 

Yeah very true. McCann is very easy to listen to and his views make sense. Can't stand the other haha

[Imodium 411]

He sounded really frustrated about the tactics and refusal to deviate from 433 and his analysis was spot on. You could tell he was hurting at the way we were playing

[Basrah Bear 2,981]

Neil was spot on yesterday and was telling it as it was. He was describing my pain and what I wanted to say. You could tell he was dying to swear as well. When mentioned that Garner had scored plenty in the white shirt at Preston he said he wants to try it in the (fucking )Blue shirt.

[cushynumber 25,178]

17 hours ago, Tom0411 said:

Listening to his summarising today and thought he was excellent. Despite being an ex Ger at one point he certainly didn't hold back criticising MW's tactics, and he was right. Mind you he is not up against much on some other channels.

I don't mind criticism coming from bears, where it is justified and based on experience. That's what he is there for and nobody should be above it.

[Canabear 4,565]

16 hours ago, Dazzler said:

He is a very good pundit.

Made a comment during the game about us playing at a training tempo and looking like a shambles (or words to that effect).

He was spot on.

Don't know what the dhims think about him, but McCann shows that you can play for the old firm and not be a complete knob when talking about them.

I was just going to post the same thing re the practice thing and he's not wrong imo.

It was the best summation of our play i've heard.

Succinct and to the point.

[MasterD 7,435]

Quote

From the Herald...

 

NEIL McCANN used to destroy defences when playing on the left wing for Rangers. Now he is more than happy to tear apart just about everything which is currently going on at his old club.

From Mark Warburton’s tactics and the lack of a Plan B, to failures in the transfer market, the confused role of Joe Garner and what Dave King thinks of it, everything was fair game for the player turned pundit.

Oh, and if Pep Guardiola can change his way to suit the country he earns a living in, why not the current Rangers manager.

McCann is a divisive figure on television, he is actually one of the more thoughtful of the many Scottish football analysts, but it would be a surprise if any Rangers supporter reads what he has to say and doesn’t nod their head.

Where to start? Perhaps it’s best if we go back to Saturday at Firhill where Rangers struggled to beat Partick Thistle, and this is what McCann had to say about the match.

“They’re [the team] massively under pressure from the Rangers fans and there were undertones from Dave King that he hasn’t spent wisely. Recruitment is massive and when you haven’t got loads to spend then you need to make sure that what you do spend is correct.

“His [Warburton] judgement has come under real scrutiny from upstairs and that’s a big problem. If you want money you need to say, ‘Look what I’ve done with that’. It doesn’t matter what you’ve done in the Championship. This is a higher level. Joey Barton was an absolute disaster.

“Jordan Rossiter and Matt Crooks have been unlucky with injuries so you can’t point the finger at them but it’s another couple of signings that haven’t worked.

“Philippe Senderos? Another one. The list goes on. Joe Garner is the big flagship signing. If you’re paying £1.8 million on a player then you have to say he’s the golden egg and the one who will make a difference.

“Look at Brendan Rodgers across the city. I know we’re talking different levels but it’s relative. They could afford Scott Sinclair but £1.8million is a big outlay for Rangers on Garner, but look at the difference in impact.

“Don’t spend all your money on someone you’ve then got to adapt to how you play. That’s where I’ve got a problem with it. There’s a guy there playing through the middle that looks like he’s in the wrong movie.

“Rangers don’t play that way so why spend £1.8m on him? It’s a big gamble. You would think good players can learn to play the way a manager wants them to, but some can’t.”

And as McCann spoke to a small group of Scottish fitba' hacks a few days later, his tone had not changed one bit.

“For me, there’s something missing with Rangers,” said McCann. “You can play this style of football and it’s pleasing on the eye at times. But, for me, it’s training football. You can have seven-aside games on a Thursday or Friday when you’ll get centre-halves going up front.

“At times Mark has this freedom of movement and I know what he’s doing tactically, it’s this Manchester City thing of a player coming out of position and a player should be intelligent enough to come out and fill that position.

“But sometimes it looks like the player in possession looks confused, as though there’s no structure to the movement. I’ve said for a long time that Mark needs an ability change how they play.

“I don’t think Garner is a bad player but he looks like a guy who’s losing the knack of being a striker, of getting into the right areas."

But in the words of Warburton himself, if Plan A doesn’t work you do Plan A better. No?

“He needs to change,” said McCann. “I heard a stat that they’ve dominated 11 games out of 12. The only one they didn’t was the Celtic game. But how many did they win? There were five draws among them, so they need to find a way of doing something different.

“He says his Plan B is doing Plan A better but pitches are going to get worse, teams now know how they play so they’re just making it difficult. It wouldn’t be as if he would be admitting defeat by changing tactics – it’s football. Even Pep Guardiola spoke about playing against Burnley and how he has to learn to deal with their up and at ‘em style.”

Rangers go to Tynecastle tomorrow night, then their close friends from Aberdeen visit, and then it’s Hearts at Ibrox. These are seriously big games, lots of pressure will be on the team and manager and we will all find out more about this group of players after this run of matches.

“Walter Smith quoted the Bill Struth comment about how you can play against Rangers but can you play for them?” said McCann. “It doesn’t matter where you’ve come from, there’s almost a need from the fans for you to come up with the answers. I look at some of them and it’s as if they’re not dealing with that pressure.

“They’re going to Tynecastle which is one of the best places you can play football, an amazing stadium. I thought Hearts were solid against Motherwell, probably they won’t be as pleasing on the eye as Rangers but I think it’s going to be a really tough game for Rangers.”

McCann stressed that the pressure Warburton is feeling now will pale in comparison to the flak he will come under should the results not come from those crucial games.

“He’s under enormous pressure," said McCann. “Until you’re in that job you don’t know what it’s like. How could he know? The comments King made about the transfer budget and the use of it in the summer is an indication he’s under even more scrutiny because of the signings he’s made. If he’s mid-table it won’t be good enough, in my opinion, absolutely not with the budget he has at his disposal.

“The way they’ve come from the Championship – that wouldn’t be anywhere near good enough.”

Sky Sports will show the biggest head to heads over the festive season, including Manchester City v Chelsea this Saturday and the Old Firm derby on New Year’s Eve.

 

[TheBlueTumshie 146]

On 26/11/2016 at 10:19 PM, Laudrup1984 said:

He's simply one of the few pundits who cares not for fame, profile and attention by spouting controversial pish or appeasing the ex teams fans he played for. He merely calls it as he sees it based on knowledge and understanding of the game, and generally gives the opinions most of us share. His views are always validated with clear evidence and he never says anything just for effect. He's also one of the few pundits who's not afraid to critique us or other teams he played for but he does so in a professional, articulate and constructive manner, again backed up with evidence, knowledge and researched facts whilst also providing positive advice to what he believes they should be doing to better themselves individually and collectively.

I would have him as part of our backroom team in a heartbeat.

 

ok Neil

 

LOL

[Jimfanciesthedude 24,569]

On Saturday, November 26, 2016 at 10:24 PM, HG5 said:

Won't be popular in some parts, but I too have always found Duffy pretty fair, despite his background.

Duffy is excellent as a pundit, guy clearly puts football before allegiances 

[A.T.G 10,773]

He summed up our forward play perfectly on Saturday:

"it's a mess"

[STEPPS BOY 74,044]

He's bang on with the comments in papers today.

[BLUEDIGNITY 33,647]

 

 

[Siam69 26,991]

Spot on, Neil

[TEFTONG 60,190]

I wouldn't object to Rangers finding a Coaching role for McCann...It won't happen as Warburton won't bend to thinking his philosophy is not working..And it would be seen as a challenge to his position..

He was spot on with how Pep adapted to suit an opponent.. He rested De Bruyne and Silva against Burnley as he was aware that he needed more braun than skill on Saturday.. Result was they won the game...

[eskbankloyal 19,446]

Yip, can't argue with a word he has said today.

[BlueSuedeSambas 53,862]

McCann always comes across as thoughtful, intelligent and clued in on the game which is a rarity when it comes to people covering Scottish football.

It's always been a bit of a head scratcher how he hasn't had another gig coaching since he quit Dunfermline.

Maybe he's just Scotland's version of Gary Neville

[scottyscott1963 18,409]

Absolutely no doubt Rangers played a big part in Neil McCanns life and he feels comfortable saying it as he sees it.

[geneva_ger 9,366]

McCann would be a fool to give up what is and will no doubt continue to be, a bright and lucrative future as an independent pundit. I am sure with his honest views he will withstand all scrutiny from anyone attempting to cast him in a partizan light.

Go to a football club as coach/manager and he could lose his reputation.

Stay where you are Neil.

[HG5 11,134]

4 hours ago, Jimbeamjunior said:

Duffy is excellent as a pundit, guy clearly puts football before allegiances 

If only there were more like that!?

[Thermopylae 15,287]

He's one of the best both on and off the park.  I would also say if anyone has the best interests of our club at heart they shouldn't be backing up a manager who it's looking increasingly likely will never put us back on top ... John Greg and Ally McCoist both had huge reputations at the club but they didn't have it in management so there there had to be a parting of the ways and that's just the way it has to be in football