I have given up on Europe this season. After we were found not fit for purpose I couldn’t quite face watching others who are just as inadequate running around making money. That would have just got me annoyed.
Last night saw Smith manage his last ever Champions League game for R*ngers. It was against a team that have laid claim to be the worst in the competition. Some were seeing it as a chance for the grizzled old badger to leave the competition on a high while others, ok me, looked at it as an opportunity for them to lose a game against poor European opponents something that Smith has excelled at during his two tenures as manager. Neither happened it was a bore draw, again, something that Smith has excelled at.
In his time in charge Smith has only won 6 Champion League group games. Martin O’Neill won 6 while the ridiculed Gordon Strachan won 7. Smith had 6 bites at the Champions League cherry, O’Neill and Strachan only had 3.
When Smith returned in January 2007, Scottish Football witnessed a spending spree not seen since the early 2000’s as Smith spent £29.37m in an 18 month period. That spend has seen 3 wins 18 games at the premier table and saw them reach a European final with just 2 wins making them the worst team (statistically) to contest a European final.. While domestically that initial spend has seen them dominate a hapless Celtic.
I’ll be glad when he goes. Smith is the most successful R*ngers manager since some other bloke in a blazer and brogues. He seems to educe fear into our club but history will show that he wasn’t a Stein, Ferguson or even a Strachan.
His domestic record is a charge sheet against those in charge of our club.
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Picklive
Thecelticblog has recently joined Picklive, which has been described as “a new whole realm of entertainment” by the BBC and it’s well known that they don’t lie. Ok, they call Strictly Come Dancing ‘entertainment’ but let’s ride with it.
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Smith seems to do most things right, whether you like his tactics or not. The next thing Lenny, and the board should learn is how to work the media. No matter what happens auld Wattie comes across as a straight talker, without brag or bluster. By and large he tends to give a balanced view of games and stays away from ridiculous statements such as describing his players as “astonishingly brilliant” after being pumped. They should also slap a gag on players. Stokes’ recent comments will only fire Rangers players up for the game at Ibrox. You’d have thought Samaras would have advised him to be a wee bit more circumspect.
Your final comment LOTW is right on the money. Instead of calling for a root and branch review of the SFA the board should take stock of themselves. Wont happen though. The last board change only came about when the fans, en-masse, decided not to renew season tickets, thereby forcing the bank to withdraw support. In stepped Fergus with a good business brain and an appreciation of the fact that success at a football club is dictated by events on the pitch
Don’t really care about the post march stuff would rather he got the in match stuff right. Players have foot in mouth disease. Your dealing with guys that life in a bubble who can’t open a can of tuna without an agents help.
The above post has been submitted to real radio for moderation before its passed to Ewan Cameron for inclusion in his hit show.
Set your sights low then aim lower.
It`s the Rangers supporters who have been shelling out for CL matches who may be most dismayed by that dismal record. Of course you may be relying on the newspapers so the words diemal and record would tend to be far apart. It show that as MON once said. `the hardest thing is to win a football match`, or words to that effect.
If the match is on this Saturday we may have the same thought but hopefully not at the final whistle!
My light went out on me! Although I quite like diemal, I meant to write dismal. Computers can be silly. 🙂
Come on the Bhoys!
@ianin440
diemal?
Wouldn’t a Mr Mackay see that as a death threat? 😀