Souness on discipline

[backup 4,724]

Graeme Souness reveals what Steven Gerrard needs to change in his Rangers side urgently
Allan McGregor's sending off on Sunday was the Ibrox outfit's 12th red card of season.


Graeme Souness admits it’s a bit rich for him to talk about indiscipline at Rangers.
But, as he eyes the dirty dozen which severely-damaged Steven Gerrard’s chances of winning a trophy this term, he says it is something the manager simply has to address and needs to sort out

Gerrard was left stunned, shocked and disappointed as Allan McGregor’s needless kick-out at Hibs star Marc McNulty landed Rangers a 12th red card of the campaign.
Souness, of course, has been there at the centre of storms and orderings-off.
The former player-manager was sent off on his Rangers debut as player-manager for launching Hibs star George McCluskey and racked up scarlets in crunch clashes against the likes of celtic and Aberdeen.
Souness says players have to be on the edge at Ibrox. It’s part of the deal.
But, in a changing footballing world where aggression on the park is viewed differently from his days, insists it has to be controlled and channelled.

And, as Gerrard struggles to get his players to toe the line, Souness is adamant he must fix it to progress successfully in the job.
He said: “There’s always pressure when you play for Rangers and I’m the right person to speak about being sent off wearing a Rangers jersey.
“I played most of my career in England and was only sent off once, playing for Middlesbrough.
“I was sent off a few times when I was with Sampdoria but, up here, I must have been sent off three or four times, Easter Road, Parkhead and Pittodrie, so I know what that pressure is like.
“You don’t want to take that out of people’s games, but what you need is controlled aggression.
“You can’t play at the highest level without having a certain amount of aggravation in your system, but it’s about controlling that.
“I know it’s rich coming from me, but you can’t step across the line as the game has changed dramatically in the last decade.
“It’s not difficult because he’s a young manager. It’s difficult for ANY manager.

“You have better pitches, which means players don’t have to take an extra touch and that, in turn, means that there are fewer challenges, plus the rules nowadays are far stricter.
“Management has never been harder. When people play against Rangers, and I learned this pretty quickly, there are two types.
“You either have a mad celtic supporter who wants to beat you for that reason or you have a kid who grew up supporting Rangers and wants to sign for them.
“I’d play against someone and think: He’s decent; I’ll keep an eye on him.
“Then, when I’d go and see him playing against another team a few weeks later, he’d be a yard short in his pace and aggression.
“That’s the challenge you have playing for Rangers and it’s exactly the same for celtic. It’s always the other team’s biggest game of the season and that will never change.”

Souness was scathing in his assessment of McGregor’s conduct on Sunday.
He added: “That [kick-out] is ill discipline and that’s not acceptable.
“How old is Allan McGregor? 36, 37? He should have worked that out by now. Like the centre-forward they have, who’s reaching the point of no return with the things he gets sent off for.”
Souness was, of course, referring to Alfredo Morelos, who has been responsible for FIVE of the Rangers reds this term.
Although the first was rescinded for a kick-out at Aberdeen, the 22-year-old’s misbehaviour has been a huge problem for Gerrard and the ex-gaffer says it’s halting his and the team’s progress.
Morelos was duped into lashing-out by Scott Brown in the last Old Firm game and Souness shrugged: “He got mugged off.

“That was an old senior pro [Brown] playing the game. Did he get the reactions he was after? He certainly did. You go through life, not just football, and you have to learn from your mistakes.
“That was a mistake and the big clubs in England won’t be looking at him. Elsewhere? Maybe.
“It’s how they [English] see the Scottish game, unfortunately.
“The hardest thing to do in football is score goals. Yes you might get someone in the Championship taking a chance on him, but I can’t see the Liverpools and Manchester Citys and Manchester Uniteds being interested in him. That’s how I see it.
“I wouldn’t know [his valuation], but I’d very much doubt big teams would be interested. Maybe lower end of the Premier League, but they would question his discipline.
“He’s a player, a real player, but he needs to get that out of his game. He’s somehow got to keep that fire, but control that fire.”
While the indiscipline has not been only reason for Rangers failing to win silver this term, Souness believes Gerrard is getting close to celtic.

However, he has told the Ibrox board the gaffer needs cash and said: “He’s done very well. They’re far closer to celtic.
“The word inconsistency springs to mind, but that can happen when you have a group of players, I need to be careful what I say here, but he’s lacking in quality and he knows that.
“Steven can’t say that because he needs to keep those players onside, but he lacks a bit of quality.
“Even so, they’re not a million miles away. Results suggest that because they’re only nine points behind and that’s closer than they’ve been for years.
“I would see them improving again next year, although they need to get some more players in.
“There are two ways to do that. You either buy them or promote them through your system and I don‘t know what he’s got coming through there.
“Whether he has the money to improve things, I don’t know.

“But at all big clubs you’re under pressure to get results and Steven needs some help.
“He needs a few quid to spend because he’s not too far away from catching celtic.”
Graeme Souness was speaking at The Kris Boyd Charity Golf Day at Trump Turnberry. The Boyd Charity raises funds and awareness for Mental Health.

[Bears r us 30,791]

Cannot disagree with much in what Graeme said there, but that is just my opinion. 

[SonOfLuther 3,400]

My son just said Tav's not had a booking all season.

This true?

[SeparateEntityMyArse 53,714]

15 minutes ago, SonOfLuther said:

My son just said Tav's not had a booking all season.

This true?

Dunno mate it's you that was talking to him 😁

[To Be A Ranger 4,032]

16 minutes ago, SonOfLuther said:

My son just said Tav's not had a booking all season.

This true?

Must be a shite defender not to get booked in an entire season 

[piperpete 3,186]

43 minutes ago, Bears r us said:

Cannot disagree with much in what Graeme said there, but that is just my opinion. 

When can you ever disagree what GS says as he’s the man

[RFC55 108,791]

This is a guy that used to basically murder people on the pitch

 

[Bears r us 30,791]

7 minutes ago, piperpete said:

When can you ever disagree what GS says as he’s the man

That is why I said I agreed with him mate, but not sure if everyone on RM will. 

[pcbear 10,913]

2 minutes ago, Rfc52 said:

This is a guy that used to basically murder people on the pitch

 

Aye the pot calling the  kettle black.

[STEPPS BOY 73,886]

Tomorrow Charlie Mulgrew gives advice on babysitting..

[Bears r us 30,791]

4 minutes ago, Rfc52 said:

This is a guy that used to basically murder people on the pitch

 

 

Just now, pcbear said:

Aye the pot calling the  kettle black.

If you read the full article he starts of by saying just that and then says how the game has changed as well since he was playing. I thought it was spot on by the way. 

[piperpete 3,186]

7 minutes ago, Bears r us said:

 

If you read the full article he starts of by saying just that and then says how the game has changed as well since he was playing. I thought it was spot on by the way. 

Don’t let pesky facts get in the way of the moans mate

[RFC55 108,791]

15 minutes ago, Bears r us said:

 

If you read the full article he starts of by saying just that and then says how the game has changed as well since he was playing. I thought it was spot on by the way. 

I get that and i love souness but ffs it's like the McCanns giving a review of holiday kids clubs 

[SonOfLuther 3,400]

51 minutes ago, To Be A Ranger said:

Must be a shite defender not to get booked in an entire season 

Just checked.

56 games, 1 yellow card v Osijek.

[KBOO72 4,371]

5 minutes ago, Rfc52 said:

I get that and i love souness but ffs it's like the McCanns giving a review of holiday kids clubs 

No it's not. 

[geronimoo 1,474]

Souness was a nutter but at the end of the day he was the Manager and if anyone was gonna be booting cunts it was him and if you wanted to do it, you better run it past him first. With Souness I always had the feeling that if he wanted to march into Hell then the players would follow him, Souness gave out an aura that very few men can do while being a nutter, the kinda guy you could love, hate, fear, and respect at the same time.

[Bears r us 30,791]

30 minutes ago, Rfc52 said:

I get that and i love souness but ffs it's like the McCanns giving a review of holiday kids clubs 

I suppose time makes things also seem different, but he tried his best to say he was no angel when he was playing. Interesting that he was only sent off once in England. 

[Bobby Hume 13,016]

 

2 hours ago, backup said:

Graeme Souness reveals what Steven Gerrard needs to change in his Rangers side urgently
Allan McGregor's sending off on Sunday was the Ibrox outfit's 12th red card of season.

I agree with a lot of what GS said ..... but I must have missed the bit where he reveals what SG must do to curtail indiscipline ..... all he has laid out above is that he needs better players ... how does that stop indiscipline? ...... surely you must discipline the player involved and let him know in no uncertain terms that he has let the side down ..... and use whatever degree of punishment available for the indiscretion committed by that player ..... either financial or by dropping the player from the first team squad for a week or two .... or doing a Wallace on him and shutting him down for good.

I don't see how better players will improve discipline when our two best players are the ones guilty of the crime recently .... in the past we have had top players like Gascoigne also guilty of the same.

[16BlueSherbert90 19,223]

50 minutes ago, geronimoo said:

Souness was a nutter but at the end of the day he was the Manager and if anyone was gonna be booting cunts it was him and if you wanted to do it, you better run it past him first. With Souness I always had the feeling that if he wanted to march into Hell then the players would follow him, Souness gave out an aura that very few men can do while being a nutter, the kinda guy you could love, hate, fear, and respect at the same time.

I like that.  

Love Morelos, but I see what Souness is also saying with regards to how much the game has changed. He's correct. 

[16BlueSherbert90 19,223]

16 minutes ago, Bobby Hume said:

 

I agree with a lot of what GS said ..... but I must have missed the bit where he reveals what SG must do to curtail indiscipline ..... all he has laid out above is that he needs better players ... how does that stop indiscipline? ...... surely you must discipline the player involved and let him know in no uncertain terms that he has let the side down ..... and use whatever degree of punishment available for the indiscretion committed by that player ..... either financial or by dropping the player from the first team squad for a week or two .... or doing a Wallace on him and shutting him down for good.

I don't see how better players will improve discipline when our two best players are the ones guilty of the crime recently .... in the past we have had top players like Gascoigne also guilty of the same.

Agree with this also. But Gerrard definitely does need to sort out rhe players quality in how they play the game and system. Some of our players are being continually mugged off and the problem mainly lies with the SPFL and how our club is treated on a whole compared to others. This isn't conspiracies, it's fact. They do need to get smarter against the opposition, the refs and the SPFL. 

The million pound question is how though? 

[backup 4,724]

21 minutes ago, Bobby Hume said:

 

I agree with a lot of what GS said ..... but I must have missed the bit where he reveals what SG must do to curtail indiscipline ..... all he has laid out above is that he needs better players ... how does that stop indiscipline? ...... surely you must discipline the player involved and let him know in no uncertain terms that he has let the side down ..... and use whatever degree of punishment available for the indiscretion committed by that player ..... either financial or by dropping the player from the first team squad for a week or two .... or doing a Wallace on him and shutting him down for good.

I don't see how better players will improve discipline when our two best players are the ones guilty of the crime recently .... in the past we have had top players like Gascoigne also guilty of the same.

And, as Gerrard struggles to get his players to toe the line, Souness is adamant he must fix it to progress successfully in the job.
He said: “There’s always pressure when you play for Rangers and I’m the right person to speak about being sent off wearing a Rangers jersey.
“I played most of my career in England and was only sent off once, playing for Middlesbrough.
“I was sent off a few times when I was with Sampdoria but, up here, I must have been sent off three or four times, Easter Road, Parkhead and Pittodrie, so I know what that pressure is like.
“You don’t want to take that out of people’s games, but what you need is controlled aggression.
“You can’t play at the highest level without having a certain amount of aggravation in your system, but it’s about controlling that.
“I know it’s rich coming from me, but you can’t step across the line as the game has changed dramatically in the last decade.
“It’s not difficult because he’s a young manager. It’s difficult for ANY manager.

[1690KWilliam 168]

1 hour ago, Rfc52 said:

This is a guy that used to basically murder people on the pitch

 

Different these days. You don't get away with as much. He is as qualified as anyone to give his views on it. 

[Bobby Hume 13,016]

23 minutes ago, backup said:

And, as Gerrard struggles to get his players to toe the line, Souness is adamant he must fix it to progress successfully in the job.
He said: “There’s always pressure when you play for Rangers and I’m the right person to speak about being sent off wearing a Rangers jersey.
“I played most of my career in England and was only sent off once, playing for Middlesbrough.
“I was sent off a few times when I was with Sampdoria but, up here, I must have been sent off three or four times, Easter Road, Parkhead and Pittodrie, so I know what that pressure is like.
“You don’t want to take that out of people’s games, but what you need is controlled aggression.
“You can’t play at the highest level without having a certain amount of aggravation in your system, but it’s about controlling that.
“I know it’s rich coming from me, but you can’t step across the line as the game has changed dramatically in the last decade.
“It’s not difficult because he’s a young manager. It’s difficult for ANY manager.

👍

Unfortunately mate that is just telling just about everyone of us what we already know .... no great revelation on how to go about changing the players responsible.

Bears R Us had more of a meaningful suggestion .... sending them to see a Sports Therapist ... this is probably the way to go as it has had a lot of quick turn around (3-4 weeks) success.

I still don't see any great advice from GS in the above paragraph ..... though I value his take on the situation with him having had first hand practical experience of the difficulty of controlling aggression.

 

[Bobby Hume 13,016]

26 minutes ago, Sweettartangirl said:

Agree with this also. But Gerrard definitely does need to sort out rhe players quality in how they play the game and system. Some of our players are being continually mugged off and the problem mainly lies with the SPFL and how our club is treated on a whole compared to others. This isn't conspiracies, it's fact. They do need to get smarter against the opposition, the refs and the SPFL. 

The million pound question is how though? 

👍

Sports Therapist STG ..... to control the aggression not suppress it ... as suppression will eventually cause an even more aggressive outburst .... what GS said about controlling the symptom was correct he just did'nt reveal the solution.

 

[Hadron Collider 30,853]

5 minutes ago, Bobby Hume said:

Unfortunately mate that is just telling just about everyone of us what we already know .... no great revelation on how to go about changing the players responsible.

Bears R Us had more of a meaningful suggestion .... sending them to see a Sports Therapist ... this is probably the way to go as it has had a lot of quick turn around (3-4 weeks) success.

I still don't see any great advice from GS in the above paragraph ..... though I value his take on the situation with him having had first hand practical experience of the difficulty of controlling aggression.

 

What hurts most when players are out of line? Just cut wages and bonuses.