starchief

Anyone know how Vigurs is doing? Always thought he had some real talent.

I think he's always going to be a player that will have good and appalling spells. Who? Look at the players that have scored more goals than Tade - how many could we have afforded? Unrealistic expectations here.

Unfortunately, nowhere near the ability any more. Harsh but true. But hey, why not get him, McBain, Munro and Bayne all back. You remember, the ones that were criticised mercilessly when they were here. Here come the short memory brigade who previously shouted about the Invisible Man, the hoofer who can't cut it anymore at this level, the midfielder that can't pass and should get to &*$! and the headless chicken who should never play for ICT again. Just have a quick look at the CTO archives if you can't believe anyone could ever say that.

He has to strengthen in central defence. Is that bloke Hogg still without a club? We also need more invention on the left wing. Maybe we could try to get Aaron Doran back again. We're desperately lacking a defensive mid. I hear Welsh international Tudur-Jones is available. All that leaves is someone capable of working a bit of magic and sticking the ball away. Didn't Rangers have someone like that. Think he's the brother of Graeme Shinnie. Andrew or something. That, combined with our current squad, should probably be chasing top six.

I don't see it as simply not producing talent. McGuire starts to become Aberdeen's first choice - goes to Derby's reserves. Allen plays a few games at Dundee United but prefers youth team football at WBA. Wilson would rather the occasional subs bench at Liverpool than Champions League with Rangers etc etc etc. Now, there's always been a percentage that would go south. The difference is that it's not rejects to the bottom and the cream to the top, it's the likes of Lee Cox going from SPL ICT to EFL2 Swindon. Doesn't matter if we produce talent, if they then try to get south to any club whatsoever for a little bit of more cash to the detriment of a better career*. *I know Cox is English but he's gone from reserves to top league first team back to bottom tier football

I've never thought it was particularly important to go to 16 teams if the money situation remained the same. All you'd have is the OF thumping 10 past Queen of the South or Ayr United or whoever squeaked through. However, it is a real chance to do something long-term. For me, two professional leagues of ten/twelve (local below that). Money shared so that all the bigger clubs can have a chance of competing. The medium sized like ours, with a good manager and the odd gem, can do something special, like challenge occasionally or win the odd cup. Good relegation and SFL1 battles without the prospect of financial collapse if they are relegated. It should partially be based on crowd size intially. If a team like Morton slips out into SFL2, the other clubs get a boost from their slightly larger support, whilst Morton struggle to keep their squad on the basis of no fans from Alloa. Geography however also has to come into play. The Highlands and the south will never have any huge teams but it's still worth representation within these areas for the overall good of the Scottish game. I know some disagree with top ten/twelve but that's based on the current wealth distribution. A 16-team SPL would mean a very poor SFL1. Although I think changing the money structure is infinitely more important than 10, 12, 16 or 18 team leagues. So, a complete reorganisation and wealth redistribution. If possibly the greatest manager in the world took over at one of Scotland's biggest clubs (i.e. Alex Ferguson at Aberdeen), there would still be a struggle to get out of the bottom six, year upon year.

The radio today claimed that HMRC are willing to settle if Craig Whyte is no longer part of it. I know this will enrage some but HMRC won't get any money if they go into liquidation. As dispassionate neutrals, it has to be the line they follow. I found it very difficult to believe that Whyte didn't have some gameplan for resurrecting a phoenix Rangers debt-free and with millions in the bank, plus a healthy sell-on profit for Whyte. It just seemed incredulous, after so many months of due dilligence, that this would happen. But, amazingly, Whyte does seem to be a complete Walter Mitty figure (perhaps even a thief). Surely, this will have a major effect on both his business standing and ability to enjoy a private threat-free life? Did he really not understand the big impact this could have?

It wasn't noticed and, please......don't call me Shirley. (I so hope that isn't meaningless to the younger 'uns)

Bell/Alexander Broadfoot - Perry - Reynolds - Dixon Hayes - Ness - McCulloch - Aluko Riordan - O'Connor Just drew up a quick on-the-spot 11 that Rangers could pick up next year. Only Bell and Reynolds would cost (doubt Reynolds would even cost the £100k he was sold for) and I don't think the wage structure would be out of line with what they could afford (I'm sure McCulloch, Broadfoot and Aluko for instance would compromise substantially). Naturally, there are players you could add or substract, some you will agree or disagree with (maybe Leigh Griffiths,Gavin Gunning etc). But I do think this team would probably be a good challenger for 2nd place, yet be able sell McGregor, Whittaker, Bocanegra, Goijan, Davis, Edu, Wallace and Lafferty, whilst getting rid of Healy. Just a bit of fun to see if I could come up with a reasonable team yet save millions. No need to froth at the mouth over it - you know who you are!

Thing is, I think Tansey is actually far more suited to a more attacking midfield role. He's been pushed back as, well, who else can do it, with Jones, Proctor and Cox all injured for large parts of the season (I know Cox also has other reasons for not being there lately). I actually think Tansey, with Jones to back him up, could be a hugely important player but more in the final third, rather than in front of the defence.

Strange. I thought Wylde would be the exact kind of player they would want to keep. I know it says he volunteered but who knows the real truth?

Esson Tudur-Jones Peirmayr - Golobart - Gillet - G.Shinnie Gnapka - Tansey - Foran Sutherland - Winnall Time to shut up shop, so Tudur-Jones comes in as the libre sweeper position, with Golobart and Gillet on marking duty. Piermayr and Shinnie are the two most mobile of our full-backs. Tade needs some time out, so Winnall gets his chance. Quite easy to alter this team, if we look like winning. However, stopping the goal deluge must come first. This is the team to do it.

Remember when Munro went, Hogg came in. It's a matter of luck who gets the career-threatening injury. There's no guarantee that if Munro had stayed and no Hogg, then Grant would be out with a long-term injury. I can't see any other big misses (besides Rooney, who wouldn't have stayed) from last year (given that Duncan can't get a game for RC).

Why assume Billy MacKay knows where the net is? He's scored 14 goals in the whole of his career (83 appearances).

Might as well get the inevitable 'but would he go if asked - he loves it up here' Seriously though, VB was brought in as a long term plan. How many of these players are his? Look at Fergie's early record. Chelsea would do better to give their manager a couple of years if they want to compete long-term without continually dishing out masses of cash.

What did he do wrong at Inverness, Hearts, Derry and East Fife? Thought he did well at all these clubs. Can't count Ross County because of what he went through. So his only real failure was at Livi. Can't see why he can be classed as a poor coach.

Given that the league was at it's best under Thatcher, I can't see how independence will add an extra 20,000 to Albion Rovers gate and cultivate a generation of Dalglishes from Darren Mackies.

Team against Rangers 2010: Esson McCann - Tokely - Munro - Shinnie Hayes - Duff - Duncan - Ross Foran - Rooney So, are we really missing McCann and Duff. I would have thought not. Duncan can't get a game for RC in SFL1 and looked a spent figure in his last year. Rooney wouldn't stay and is a loss we struggle to patch up with freebies. So, we're missing Munro (who's miss would have been less with Hogg injury-free). There isn't a great experiment. Duncan, Golabek, McBain were all past their best. Sanchez, Odhiambo, Duff are no big misses. Rooney (and Duff) refused contracts. Munro's a miss but given most people were calling for Proc to leave now and saying Tokely was 5th choice, are these players they will now use to beat Butcher with. Give us back Rooney and an injury-free Hogg and we're pushing for top six again. Butcher's fault we don't have either? Not in my book. Munro is the only mistake.

Smee's right. Remember the spirit and fight when the likes of Munro, Duncan, Tokely, Black and McBain were all regulars? Let's remind ourselves of the accomplishments of these lions http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_prem/8062736.stm

I thought Proc did well too. But he's either a sweeper or a defensive mid. Never a wing back or a central defender.

Why people are bothering with an obvious troll fails me. You know you can hide posters so you never have to read wind-up merchants ever again.

Proctor as a wing-back? With what pace? And Hayes is battling in the middle to get the ball out to Proctor? This is worthy of Renegade's selections in the deep past.

Thought Ross was probably the worst player on the pitch. Here's my take: Esson Piermayr - Tokely - Williams - Gillet Tansey - Jones - Foran Hayes - Mackay - Sutherland Contrary to most other people, I thought Tansey stood up to be counted, even though he wasn't playing well. Ross was rubbish, even though I think he's got a lot of talent. Same with Hayes but obviously he has to stay in. Doran would really be my choice for the left-wing but in failing that I'd drop Tade for Sutherland. I think this is our best back four. Gillet's the best player but always looks likes a full-back trying to play central defender. It might be tempting to switch this to 4-4-2 with Hayes on the right, Foran on the left and Mackay/Sutherland up front.

Sorry, second goal from Aluko.

Check out the first goal for Gillett. Williams was our best outfield player I thought. Needed Tokely for a bit of presence and barking orders. Didn't seem to be a team today. I know Tokely had a bad game in his last but better than what was out there I think. But get Jones in midfield and let Foran and Tansey push on. That's what they're best at and that's what Jones is best at.