was completely overwhelmed by debacle December and knee-jerk January.
So called not least because Klos fecked his knee and yours truly acted
like an odious little jerk with regards to the Chairman after the
Scottish cup-tie.
So, are we, like the little 'King of the Hill' statue at the
'hole-in-the-wall' at Fernhill/Castlemilk looking out for better days?
Or are we looking forward to the future to quote one clever new-waver,
Andy Partridge, with 'Optimism Flamed'?
It's been a roller coaster of a ride this season and then some. The
lows have been dreadfully low and the highs only just giving us some
relief from the almost all-pervading gloom.
Playing wise we've all had our say on Moore yadda, yadda, yadda.
He's gone now; he's history and good riddance to the ponce. If it were
solely down to me then Moore wouldn't be allowed back into Ibrox. Ever!
Boumsong leaving on the other hand was a tough one for this bear to
take.
Now I realise that it was written in the stars that we were never
going to hang on to this guy forever, but even cynical, lil me never
thought for a second it would be at the first transfer window
opportunity.
It's the principle of the thing. As far as I'm concerned the likes
of Jean-Alain-Boumsong coming to Rangers should have signalled that he
was the rock the club was going to be built around ON the park for the
foreseeable future. Think Viera at Arsenal and that's where I'm coming
from.
I cannot and will not ever accept that the club I love is now just a
stepping stone, a breeding ground/feeder club, as it were, for other
clubs to come and pick treasure from. I will never accept this
situation and if you don't agree with me dear reader, then I'd humbly
suggest that it is YOU and not I who have a problem with ambition and
where Rangers SHOULD be in the grand order of the beautiful game here
in Europe.
But the bottom line is, Boumsong has gone and there's no use me
still crying after spilt silk. What we have done though is went out and
brought in a replacement and it has to be said that the Greek Zeus type
chap up till now has looked useful, if a tad 'Bambiesque' on his feet.
Oh, he's got the physical presence all right, but the proof of the
pudding is coming up this weekend and it's coming up fast.
Thomas Buffel was brought in from the continent during the January
sales and is now starting to make his mark on the side. At first glance
I don't know if this slightly built athlete reminds me more of Gary
McSwegan or Trevor Stevens? What I do know is that last Saturday v Hibs
he looked a player all right. And two goals in his last two games will
surely have helped his confidence as well.
Which in my humble opinion is down to Barry Ferguson being back at
his spiritual home. Now I was as angry at the manner of and the timing
of his leaving us at the start of last term as anyone. I was also livid
at some of the stories, which our impartial mhedia, aided and abetted
by Ferguson's yahoo agent, allowed to go unchallenged in the rags. BUT,
he's back now and tell you what, that quick free kick to Novo at
Hampden after he'd came on as a sub told this bear that it was like
he'd never been away.
People were pointing to last Saturday's individual displays from the
likes of Prso and Buffel as Man of the Match candidates. Sorry, but for
me the MOTM award was no contest and neither was it a coincidence that
the side's best performance for well nigh a couple of years came about
because Bazza was back in the thick of the action.
There is another position, which up until now I've overlooked and
that of course is the chap in between the sticks. Now again, just like
every other Rangers supporter I was gutted sitting logged on Follow
Follow when the news came through that Klos was out for at least the
rest of the season.
Hard on the heels of the defeat at the cesspit you just wondered if
life could get any worse. I was also of the opinion that it was make or
break time for youngster, Alan McGregor, at Ibrox and youth should have
been given its head. But the manager in his wisdom plumped for the
services of the more experienced goalkeeper, Ronald Wateruus, who was
languishing in the Man City reserves.
This has proved to be an inspired move by Alex McLeish and in fact
Wateruus has added an extra dimension to the team with his quick
throw-outs, hefty but accurate punts up the park and his composure with
the ball at his feet. The accuracy of his chips with both feet to the
full backs last Saturday and the way he was urging them to go out wide
to receive the ball was a real eye opener and treat for this bear. This
is not so much a goalkeeper as a frustrated ball playing centre half
we've got here.
So it's show time at Chez Squalor once again and despite the four
awful points dropped at Pittodrie this season and the same amount
conceded to the dross at Tannadice we are still in with a good shout
for this league title. In fact for the first time in a few years I
actually am looking forward to taking this mob on in their 'ain midden.'
There are those who would tell you that not losing this game is all
important but I just think that a win on Sunday would see confidence
soar sky high throughout the club and in fact I'd fancy a settled side
to win the remaining games on offer till the end of the season.
In short, Alex McLeish has had as many second chances as Kimberley
Quinn to make us all happy on the home front. Dare I suggest that all
he has to fear is fear itself this Sabbath? Oh, and of course a weak
referee who will no doubt feel he's got to give the home side the
benefit of the doubt on religious grounds.
Go for it Alex. Go for it and ram the words of all your critics this
season (none more than yours truly) right back down our throats.
Yours in Rangers,
The Govanhill Gub