Just returned to my hotel room from the game today and thought it was time to reflect.
As those who read my first blog post this week would know, I had never before seen a Rangers game live at the ground. My life has been one of following the team via satellite or the internet, so this was a huge moment for me. I have probably been more excited about this game than any Bear could possibly imagine.
I am happy to say that I was not disappointed! We got a result against a good quality EPL team and the boys played some generally entertaining football and scored a few goals (more on that later though).
But even better still, the Gers fans were absolutely brilliant. There were about 2,500 of us crammed into two bays of the Sydney Football Stadium, and we easily made more noise than everyone else put together. We easily outnumbered 'The Cove' - the Sydney FC fanatics - who were located in the bay next us. And after they started singing a few Celtic songs, we put them to shame in response and went home with their tails between their legs. All the Bears sang their hearts out for the full 90 minutes, and then most were still there singing for at least 15 minutes after the whistle.
I can now see why so many travel such long distances to see the boys play. I really want to get to Glasgow and get a taste of Ibrox now. It was fantastic!
In tough times for the club, we should all be proud that it is we who are truly 'The Greatest Fans in the World.'
However, over the last few days, I have also had the misfortune of seeing some of the problems our club is having right now. The club didn't advise the RSA of its itinerary (e.g. supporters events) until after the team landed on Thursday, which made it impossible for most of us to plan our travel accordingly. And I wonder if most fans know that the club flew an entourage of extras with nothing to do halfway across the world at the same time as it is conducting a fire-sale of players because it claims to be skint? It's clear that, at least on the back office stuff, the club is being run by amateurs.
The same paradoxes exist on the field too. Yes, we won the game and we still have the core of a squad that has just won 2IAR, but beyond that we are in trouble. Edu and Davis were excellent in midfield and Boogie was solid in defence, but Lafferty was subpar on the wing and Miller's penalty shot was woeful. Fleck and Wyldd came on as substitutes late in the second half and did not embarrass, but you could see that we lost impetus from this point onwards.
Papac stayed in Glasgow and Whittaker was rested. But beyond this, we have nothing. Heaven only knows what Walter is planning to do if we get a few knocks or suspensions. Where will the replacements come from? The Youth Squad?
To be honest, and a little controversial, I actually don't think it's a bad thing that we seem to be pursuing a strategy of selling off the team to retire the debt quickly. At the rate we're going lately, we ought to be in the black again very soon. Sure, we'll really struggle this year, but if it means we are ready to get into the transfer market with a vengeance in 2011/12, then it's an evil I can live with.
The part that gets to me most about it though is the lies. Even as late as yesterday, McCoist was interviewed saying the signings are still coming - they'll just happen in the next fortnight. Yeah right! Why can't the club just be honest and say it like it is?
As I said at the start of this blog post, Rangers have the best fans. We'll follow follow them anywhere and everywhere. It's time that Bain and Murray came clean and just laid everything out on the table.
BLUE DINGO