have had the old grey matter working overtime pondering several issues these
last months, when coupled with some of the comments in the last mag I
thought I'd throw in some thoughts from Mac. I know my liberal even handed
attitudes are not shared by all but debate is the best way to learn and
appreciate others views, before you dump them in the bucket.
The cup final was mentioned in depth in the last mag and the back page
reminded all about how much it hurt them, but on the basis that you can't
have too much of a good thing suffice to say that the way the support
conducted themselves on the day made this correspondent very proud. We were magnificent from start to finish, from the union flags and celebration of
Her Majesty's Golden Jubilee to the backing given to the team throughout and
of course the frantic celebrations at the goals. The sight of Baz lifting
the trophy to the backdrop of a deserted Celtic end, just as it was when Amo
lifted it when we beat them last time, once again shattered the myth of
TGFITW.
For the first time in a few years the team held up their part of the
bargain and they did deserve us. Just a quick note on the Captain, I really
hope all you doubters have well and truly chocked on all the cloth you must
have eaten, along with the huge dollops of humble pie. Since AMcL arrived
Baz has been absolutely brilliant, long may he continue to wear our colours
and turn in the sort of display he did in the final.
Much was said over the close season about signings or indeed the lack of
them depending on your viewpoint, so far Arteta certainly looks the business
and when he and Baz really get to know each other's game I think they will
be immense in midfield. Muscat has had less outings but up to the Hibs game
he has looked reasonably solid although he occasionally over commits instead
of covering the options. I hope the loonies in black will give him a chance
and not fall over themselves to book him or worse.
There has also been much said about the need to sell before we buy anyone
else but if the price is losing Flo for £6m it is a price too high. In my
opinion the only people in a hurry to see him go are the media who have
waged a one-sided war with him since he arrived. His crime seems to me that
he is the record transfer fee in this backwater and that he is tall but not
Mark Hateley, also he doesn't give them anything to write about. I am not
for a minute going to try and justify a fee of £12million for him, but his
strike rate is excellent and as he showed against Dundee this season, he
works for the team not just for himself to score goals. He doesn't throw
himself around because he is not a physical player, anyone who thinks he is,
obviously never saw him play at Chelsea or for Norway. The press have
branded him a misfit, where the hell did they get that from, if it's because
he doesn't start every game then how come Shota, Lovenkrands, McCann, Mols
and every other striker who is being tried until Eck finds his best aren't.
Hey Leckie maybe I've just hit on it, Rangers have a bunch of misfits as
forwards there's another crackpot theory for you and the rest of your so
called profession to claim as hard hitting insight.
People say he doesn't score against big clubs, ok the current Premier Champs
aren't a huge club, but remember he scored against them at the first
attempt. That is something Jukebox couldn't do in his entire career but no
one said he couldn't score against big teams. If some of you Bears out there
want to believe them so be it or if you genuinely think he has been crap
that's your opinion. However it's not his fault he cost the money and just
ask yourself how much will we have to pay for someone better than Tore, cos
there ain't any point in getting someone worse is there ? It's also worth
noting that the man the press love to compare him with was not accepted
until well into his second season by the vast majority of the support.
(fickle lot us Bears, legends are rarely taken too immediately just ask
Goram, McCoist or Hateley)
Mols is a different matter, like most others I will remember that night in
Munich, sigh and think of what might have been. However it doesn't look like
he is in the frame with Eck just now and with his contract up at the end of
the season, getting money for him now makes sense, but and it's a big BUT,
only if we keep Flo. To sell both of them would smack of selling Fleck and
Falco in the same week prior to a European Tie which we then lost. It would
leave us not only short of cover but also short of options on the striking
front.
RdB has been superb so far this season as the link man coming forward more
and displaying the skills on the ball we all knew he had, but he is prone to
injury and if he's unfit we need options to fall back on. Do we really see
McCann and Dodds as the saviours in the event of a couple of injuries. I may
be scaremungering here and Eck may already have an ideal replacement in the
bag if Flo and Mols both leave. I just don't want us to seemingly get rid of
a player because the press don't fancy him at the Brox.
The shenanigans of the fourth estate continue to beggar belief, I agree with
all those who say we should be taking a hard line on those who print lies
and allow our history and heritage to be besmirched, but I would draw the
line at banning those we just don't like.
Our PR department should counter every lie and stand four square behind the
club whenever our history and heritage are dragged through the gutter by the
scum in it. The latest case in point is our new away strip and the "outrage"
the media seem to feel at the club for daring to bring out an orange top. We
have been accused of encouraging sectarianism, threatening the peace process
in Ulster and everything short of global warming.
In a report on Reporting Scotland the Monday after the Killie game, our top
was referred to as the "controversial new strip". This was followed by the
Dundee Utd game report or the "Real Tangerines" as the moll from the Beeb
put it. If it wasn't so serious it would be a joke like the one attempted
by the Beeb girl. Our whiter shade of pale PR department meekly say it's a
"tangerine" top and was chosen by the supporters. GTF and all that, it is
ORANGE say it loud and be proud, our heritage is orange and when coupled
with the recent Dutch influence it is the perfect choice as an away top
(personally I think it should have union jack and red hand flags embroidered
on it).
The orange day at the cup final would have been hailed in every other place
in planet football as a triumph and magnificent spectacle. All we got was
the insinuation that it was purely sectarian and would they have done it if
the Dutch colours weren't orange.
But they are and the Dutch Royal Family is the House of Orange so clearly
the Dutch must be very sectarian indeed, what do you mean they're not and
religion is seen as a personal issue in the Netherlands. How can that be,
orange equals sectarianism say our press, well I've news for them, they're
the bigots and if they weren't so bigoted against us they might accept an
orange top for what it is. It's funny how amidst all the bleating that our
official colours are Blue, Red and White (so where does orange fit in), that
the same Mob have never mentioned Celtic's various yellow/gold tops when
their official colours are green and white(grey after one wash). If they can
see the wearing of orange as sectarian why not the colours of the Pope, or
indeed the Green of Islam if you really want to be ridiculous.
The other thing that has got on my goat from the press is this siding with
the TEN they all seem to be indulging in. Scottish football would be better
off without the Old Firm tosh and the continued fawning to the pie-man and
that nonentity from Sheep City. This is in support of clubs who are only in
business because of the OF, you've been fleecing our supporters for years
(£24 for Easter Road for example).
Be clear on one thing you utter idiots, without the OF you lot are nothing
absolutely nothing. You can't fill your poxy grounds, (the English 3rd
division get bigger crowds when there's no OF involvement), you would be
lucky to get £1million every 10 seasons for TV rights. Resign from the SPL,
go on do it, I dare you, see how long you last you bunch of leeches.
We might have a season or even two of sorting out our future but what are
you lot going to do with no coat tails to hang onto or dinner table to get
the leftovers from. By the way why should the SFA recognise their new
set-up, the SFA currently recognise the SPL from which they are going to
resign, so are the SFA going to turn round and say we don't recognise you
any more we are going with the leeches.
Maybe we should bring in eight new teams from the League and go back to a
top ten, that would really shaft them good and proper. The likes of Falkirk,
Airdrie Utd, Raith, St Johnstone, St Mirren could be just as good as the
current lot if they had the money from our fans and the TV rights. Call
their bluff Mr (new) Chairman and although it might hurt, join with Celtic
to teach these upstarts a lesson. I still think some form of escape to
England or to a wider European League (with perhaps a reserve team playing
here to thank those who helped us on the way), is a must for Rangers.
However with the current financial climate the game has got itself into in
this continent that is likely to be some way off now.
One final rant is on a favourite subject, the men in black, just when you
thought it couldn't get any worse we have the Sun pandering to their ego's
with this unbelievable Big Brother send-up. Now accuse me of having a sense
of humour by-pass all you like but some of these idiots are actually likely
to deliberately be more controversial just to get a mention from Syme in the
paper.
The standard of the refs and their assistants (?) has long been of concern
to me but I'm sure they are getting worse. When Dallas is hyped by the press
as the best, we really are in trouble. Like most of his counterparts I don't
think he's particularly biased, just inconsistent. Refs are always going to
make mistakes and that will always be part of the game and always has been.
The problem is inconsistency one tackle is a foul, the same one 2 minutes
later isn't etc etc. Linesmen are in an even worse situation, offsides can
be tricky to judge but stop sticking your flag up as if it is attached to
the defenders arms. The attacking team is supposed to get the benefit of the
doubt if you're not sure.
We should be doing everything to improve the officiating here not make it
worse, the Press continually put Refs under more pressure by complaining of
a bias towards the old firm. I can't answer for the Mhanks but if the press
genuinely think Refs are biased towards Rangers then stop indulging in the
free bars guys it really is addling your brains. If bias does exist it's in
favour of the "smaller teams", time after time heavy tackles are allowed
when it's the enthusiasm shown by the smaller team. The same tackle is
punished with a free kick against us and fouls from them which warrant
yellows are let off with a finger waving session. If Dallas had any guts at
least one red would've been shown to the Hibs thugs who almost succeeded in
their attempts to boot us off the park and out of our rhythm at Easter Rd.
Yet all the focus is on the one red he did show, more inconsistency but by
the press this time.
Our defensive frailties have been a bit concerning to date and we must
tighten at the back for the start of our European campaign. I know Eck's
still evaluating things but I hope he resists the temptation to move Rickson
back. Ross signing a new deal is good news and he gives us better options
for defence than Rickson, he is a far better midfielder than defender. I'm
not convinced he is the answer in midfield but does add grit when we need
it. The attacking play looks extremely promising and I'm looking forward to
the number of goals that will come from the sweeping moves at pace (along
the ground mostly I'm glad to say) that have been evident so far this
season. The link-ups between Baz, Arteta, RdB and the flying Dane will be
even better when Eck decides who else best fits into the jigsaw. I for one
think we will get it right and am looking forward to the season.
Never let them forget we are the people it gets right up them.
Rule Britannia.
BIG MAC