Well, what a disappointment. Waiting for the recruitment of 'Hooperman' we end up being gazumped, Charlie Austin, another of our targets is offered a new three year deal by Burnley and then we lose arguably our hardest-working player in Jamie Mackie. We're beginning to resemble something out of the Keystone Cops. I heard earlier in the week that Phil Beard is on holiday, what a time to pick not to be around. There are just 8 days to go to the kick-off and we have a side that currently looks so disjointed and still full of the 'wrong type' of players that another relegation dogfight seems more likely than promotion. I can't remember not looking forward to our opening match as much as this season...
At this rate, no matter how much I dislike him Barton needs to stay and do a job in midfield. we've got no-one to link up play and I can't see Adel pulling on the hoops again... I'm getting worried...
All rather quiet from the club and manager who love the limelight!! Hiding in the corner with heads bowed?? If Beard is on holiday in the transfer window - well!! Shocking planning!!
If such is the case, it would amount to gross mismanagement. We don't see Santa going bush at Christmas time, do we?
So, yesterday was not a good day for Rangers...missing out on key targets and seeing valued players wanting out. All in all a bad day. However, I don't think this means we can just write of next season and fear the worst. We must remember (depressingly!) that the drop from the Premiership to the Championship is quite significant in terms of style of football, and the quality required. It is sad seeing players go, but perhaps our current squad won't fair as badly as we all fear...look at our opposition and their squads...we won't face anything like what we saw last year. Also, given the shoddy attitudes of many players, we were crying out for changes last year...they are happening, maybe not all with the people we want, but they are happening at least! Just a thought, and sorry to try and be positive in such a gloomy situation.
What the hell, I'll still be there a week in Saturday, full of hope. Lets face it last two times, we've conceded more than 3. Here's hoping it's a return to the Barnsley match 5-2 if I remember.
Agree about the Barton part. If no-one comes in for him then he has to play. It certainly wouldn't be to everyone's liking but Redknapp's got to look around the players at his disposal in 2 weeks and Barton is arguably our best CM on the books.
http://prosoccertalk.nbcsports.com/...-set-to-land-gary-hooper-from-celtic/related/ Look at the bottom of the article and you will all be relieved to see that we don't need Hooper as we have a formidable strike force of Remy, Zamora, Mackie and Holt And we complain about the lazy British press
With Sung (?), Ehmer, Sutherland and Harriman I think we have a nucleus of quality youngsters. If Henry can stay on the pitch I think he will be good, possibly allowing Mbia to add to our defence at CH. Everyone wants a striker right now, Newcastle looking for two, that alone makes it difficult to get a decent striker to play for us in the Championship. If Remy stays until January that will be our quality striker. I still think Andy Johnson will surprise a few of us this season, and Sutherland could well be our impact sub up front. So yes we do need another CF but I don't think it is all doom and gloom as some on here think. We have had some "prestige" signings in the last couple of seasons and look how they have turned out. So fear not my friends the club is in good hands.
Was thinking along similar lines. Is there a possibility that TF and Harry and PB actually have a plan and know what they are doing?!
I think the best we can hope for this coming season, and probably next, is to stabilise, gradually getting out the under-performing players on bloated contracts and bringing in better players, motivated, talented and not over the hill. I cannot presently see any way our current squad can sensibly be regarded as favourites for promotion
'Black Thursday' is becoming all to common but yesterday was by far the worst single 24 hours we've witnessed in a while.
I'll still be there for all home games next season and a lot of the away, but bloody hell, they're really testing my resolve. The Hooper fiasco, Arrys stupid comments, under performing players still here, hard working players leaving, linked with Diouf, kicking long term season ticket holders out of the lower loft and now they cant even get the viagogo system working so that I can sell on one of my 4 season tickets for Sat 3rd August!!! Yes that's 3rd August, 8 days away and the system isn't live. I've almost given up the will to live. Someone pass me a beer!!!!
It all looks worse than it is because we have no distractions this week - golf, cycling and cricket last week were all brilliant. I've turned a corner. This stuff is out of my control. I look at the squad we have now and we should be fine (though it rather hinges on Adel and Remy). Not worth stressing about, I want to get back to LR and start shouting.
I have already written off next season in my mind. We are totally unprepared for it as a club. If its true that Phil Beard has gone away this week then the shows what is currently wrong at the club. How the hell can he take a holiday a week before the season starts, during the busiest part of the transfer window. Madness.