Berwick Rangers ...... Not Again

Ibrox was desolate last night. 

I can only imagine the Rangers legions have seen enough of Berwick Rangers over the past year. 

For those who did turn up, you might have mistaken this for a friendly match. Rangers dominated possession in the opening stages. Most of the passing was between Rangers midfield and defence, with the midfield players struggling to turn and play a forward pass. It was in stark contrast to Rangers performance last Friday night, when they annihilated Airdrie 6-0. 

With Rangers unable to field trialists, they had to settle with roughly the same team that produced a host of disappointing results and performances last season. With Daly and Law the only players dropping out, it's frightening the effect this had on the team. Rangers were slow and struggled to create any clear cut chances in the opening half. Rangers tried to play everything through the middle and never had any width to their play. Shiels and Templeton were Rangers experienced players in attack and they failed to threaten the Berwick goal. 

When McKay came on for Shiels in the second half, he instantly made an impact angling the ball over the Berwick keeper when Tempelton sent him through on goal. Five minutes later Rangers were two nil up. This time Crawford crossed an inch perfect ball onto the head of Andy Little. Little rose high in the air and powered the ball into the top right hand corner. Once the second goal went in McAusland was brought on to see out a two nil win. Rangers will have to raise their tempo in the next round against Queens if they want to get their hands on the Ramsdens Cup. 

I was surprised to see Ally McCoist talking about resigning Kenny Miller after the game. Rangers need to put more faith in the young players at Ibrox. Crawford and McLeod combined to break the deadlock against Airdrie on Friday  and it was young McKay who bailed Rangers out last night. 

You only have to look at how the experienced SPL players are playing to wonder why Miller would be a good idea. 

Where is Dean Shiels, SPL's former player of the year?

If we sign Kenny Miller does that mean that 40 goal a season Nicky Clark sits on the bench all year?

We have went out and signed Cammy Bell when we have a perfectly good young keeper in Gallagher. When Cammy Bell is available for selection in September, it will be harsh to drop Gallagher considering his performances in the opening games of the season.

Where will Peralta fit into the team?

We have a lot of players at the club now and any more signings can only be seen as excess. 

Ian Black - Second Best Is Not Good Enough

I have no doubt that most footballers bet on matches but it had to be Ian Black who got caught. After spending the whole of last year getting battered by opposition players on the field, he now finds himself tangled up in an embarrassing off field battle. And I have no sympathy for him. If proven guilty his Rangers career should come to a swift end.

The betting rules are strict and players know they are forbidden from betting on any football match. But it does becomes serious when a player bets on games he's playing in. Rangers were quick to get rid of Sandaza when he embarrassed the club. If Ian Black is proven guilty of betting on his own matches, I see this as a greater offence than Fran Sandaza talking off the record about his contract. Rangers used Sandaza's stupidity as a way of getting a poor performer off the wage bill. 

Was Ian Black any better than Fran last year? 

The honest answer would have to be no.

McCoist definitely has his favourites in the Rangers team and Black is one of them. Last year there were times throughout the season Black should have been dropped. The younger players were shining and many were dropped to the bench to make way for Blacks mediocre performances. If convicted guilty of the betting allegations Black, like Sandaza, should be immediately dismissed. But not for betting on football matches and not for betting on matches he was involved in. 

Ian Black should be immediately dismissed for betting against Rangers. 

Black has top flight experience and won cup finals. His start to the season has been impressive however that should not stop him getting his books. No Rangers player should ever walk out onto a football field predicting defeat and especially not at the level we are playing at. What sort of example is that to set to the younger players like McLeod and Crawford?  

Rangers is all about winning. It always has been. We have been lucky enough to have a mentality running through the club where second best is not good enough. As soon as we start accepting players who not only think that we will get beat, but also want to make a financial gain out it - that's when we will start to loose our winning ways.

Union Bears

Last Saturday at the Brechin match I watched the Union Bears from the main stand and was impressed by their banners and the vocal atmosphere they bring to the stadium.

It is amazing to watch the whole change in the Broomloan Stand during match days as it appears to be the place to be at Ibrox these days.The whole stand feed of the singing and they have everyone bouncing around creating a welcome atmosphere. The banner unfurled before the game was very impressive so well done Union Bears.

And if the quality of goals that were scored in this match is an indication of future Ibrox matches then we will all be looking forward to the remaining fixtures.

As the Union Bears sing  "All we care about is Rangers FC".

Neil Alexander

Last year when all the shameless players walked out on our team Neil Alexander stayed with us to help the team start the long journey back to the top.

We had players who used the situation to get themselves not only a move to England but to triple their wages.

Now I know that footballers have to make as much money as they can during their short career but the way some of the so called club men ran for the exits was shameful. Then months later we read reports of how saddened they were to leave and how they still loved the club. 

Two of the players had been sidelined for months while injured and were getting paid during this period only to repay us by quitting the club at the first opportunity.

We know who they are and I for one will never forgive any of them as in my eyes they were money grabbing Traitors.

So it has saddened me that one man who did stay for the fight was in my eyes not rewarded for wanting to play for our club. I also understand the need for cutting the wage bill but when you hear the money that has been paid out to non playing staff I think Neil should have been rewarded for his loyalty.

The song He dives to the left he dives to the right Neil Alexander he stayed for the Fight will be fondly remembered by myself.

Many thanks for your efforts during your time at Ibrox Neil you did us proud and it will never be forgotten by true Rangers fans.....Neil Alexander he stayed for the Fight!

Rangers 4 Brechin 1

Rangers opened their Scottish League One campaign with an emphatic victory over Brechin. 

Over 44,000 fans turned out to see Sandy Jardine unfurl the championship flag before kick off. It didn't take long before the fans were celebrating again, when Heggarty tapped in the opener after 2 minutes. Nicky Law who continued to impress had his shot blocked which fell into the path of Hegarty. After the shocking result against Forfar, Rangers started the match at a high tempo and dominated the opening stages. Black came close after crashing an indirect free kick at the Brechin keeper Graeme Smith. Black had an impressive first half, spraying passes all over the pitch while playing at a quicker pace than usual. 

Daly had plenty of chances throughout the first half and on another day could have had a hatrick. Going in at half time two up flattered the Brechin team as Rangers squandered countless chances in the first half. Rangers pursuit of a second goal eventually came through man of the match, Nicky Law.  Law went on a driving run beating three Brechin players in the process, before driving a low strike from 25 yards out. It was a special finish and nothing more than Rangers deserved. 

Brechin turned the game on its head in the second half when Jackson scored an overhead kick after Rangers failed to defend a Brechin corner. Rangers heads went down after this and they were under pressure until Andy Little was fouled in the box by McLean. Deemed as a goal scoring opportunity, the penalty was awarded and McLean was dismissed. Ian Black missed his first attempt but made no mistake with the rebound. Dean Shiels came on for Crawford and topped off the afternoon when he scored the pick of the goals. After receiving the ball on the left hand corner of the box, Shiels stepped inside before curling his effort over the Brechin keeper. 

Rangers played an attacking style of football that has not been seen at Ibrox for sometime. The only criticism that McCoist can have is that his team were not ruthless in front of goal and this nearly came back to haunt them, after Brechin scored and gained some momentum. 

DC

Charles Green - The Consultant

Charles Green has returned to Ibrox as the power struggle continues within the Ibrox boardroom. With Charles and his shareholders owing 51% of the club, he can pretty much come and go as he pleases. Charles Green took a lot of pressure off the club when we were on our knees. He had the balls to stand up and fight everyone who kicked us when we were down. He went too far in the end and inevitably had to go. However, returning as a consultant could work in Rangers advantage if he is used in the right way. In his role as consultant, Green can fight Rangers corner against the SFA and the media without Rangers as a club suffering the consequences. 

Green and his stakeholders are quite right to be worried about the decline in Rangers share price. If Green was still at the helm, I don't think we would have seen the same quantity or quality of signings this summer, settling for winning the second division with the same team as last year. While watching a repeat of last season might be every Rangers fans worst nightmare, financially the club would be in a better place. Rangers fans rallied a round the club last year, raising 22 million in the process. I just hope the club doesn't squander all its money fighting its way back into the top flight. We need to learn from our mistakes. Spend less than we earn. Green doesn't have the class you would normally associate with a Rangers representative but we won't see the back of him until Rangers start improving on their finances.