McLeish Stays For Season

[GaNgStA kEeKs]

Alex McLeish is set to continue as Rangers manager until at least the end of the season, BBC Sport understands.
An announcement on McLeish's Ibrox future is expected at 1730 GMT when he is likely to say he is staying on.

On Tuesday, McLeish became the first manager of a Scottish club to reach the last 16 of the Champions League.

But the former Hibs and Motherwell boss has endured a poor domestic run, which has left Rangers trailing 17 points behind SPL leaders Celtic.

Responding to the slump in form, Ibrox chairman David Murray announced in mid-November that McLeish's position would be reviewed after the final Champions League group match.

It was the meek exit from the CIS Insurance Cup at the hands of Celtic that prompted Murray to publicly voice his concern.

Since then Rangers have slipped further behind in the league race with defeats at Celtic and Hibs and were held at home by Falkirk.

While Murray did not demand that McLeish win all of these games he did ask for an increased level of performance.

But Rangers' gutsy draw with Inter Milan on Tuesday may have earned the manager a reprieve.

McLeish has been hampered by a host of injuries to key players but an expensively assembled squad, by Scottish standards, was not expected to be trailing Hearts, Hibs and Kilmarnock in the run up to Christmas.

He was busy in the transfer market over the summer in a bid to strengthen the defending champions but the new faces have been largely disappointing.

BBC Sport understands former Lyon manager Paul Le Guen has rejected more than one approach.

Charlton boss Alan Curbishley denies there has been any contact and Newcastle's Graeme Souness has ruled out a return to Ibrox.

Media speculation about a possible successor to McLeish has been frenzied and fanciful.

Former Hearts chief George Burley, Motherwell manager Terry Butcher, Preston's Billy Davies and ex-Monaco coach Didier Deschamps are others to have been linked with the position.

Bit of a surprise this one for me to be honest. My only explanation could possibly be that Rangers targets have rejected them/

I mean, ok he qualified for the knockout stages. First time a Scottish club has but they were VERY lucky and played poorly throughout the competition.

If it wasn't for abysmal conditions in Artmedia they would've killed off Rangers chances by beating Porto and qualifying themselves.

Seems to have been overlooked also that Rangers only drew against Inter to continue the clubs worse run in their history without a win which stretches to 10 or 11 games i think it is.

Whats everyone think of this?

[GETT1NLOTS]

I think it's the right decision to be honest. He won them the title last season and hasn't had a kings ransom to spend this season has he? I'm glad to see that the Chairman is giving him more time.

[GaNgStA kEeKs]

Oh yeah he has done well for them, no doubt about it. I mean he has the same trophy count as O Neil doesn't he? Took them further in the CL than O Neil ever did, albeit with a far easier passage but you can only beat whats on front of you.

It was just i guess the surprise that he was all set to go and now he is being allowed to stay on bla bla bla.

Still don't think the players have been playing for him this season and it will be interesting now to see if the fortunes change now.

[Bigkegman]

I agree Gett1nlots !

The year Celtic go to the UEFA cup final their league form slipped as a result of playing more games and I think this is one of the factors for their dismal league performances.

Granted they didn't have the strongest of groups really but as shown Bratislava where a bit better than the pub team everyone thought and Porto aren't great either but still did have some decent players - they also did beat Inter.

I kinda agree with Kiko in that their targets have rejected them but what would have happened if they hadn't qualified ? - makes me think that he was staying all along as Rangers couldn't get their man.

[FootballFanatic]

As a Hearts supporter, i'm glad he's staying, just so he can keep up rangers' dismal domestic form

Come on the jambos! Hearts for the champions league

[pistol984]

This is fantastic news!

Surely Rangers are favourites for the drop now?

[crowie]

I am sorry but I have to disagree on McLeish being a good manager.

Yes, he has 2 leagues in 3 and a bit seasons. But look at those title wins in detail. First one was won on goal difference, by 1 goal, on last day of the season in the season that Celtic had the run to the UEFA Cup final. Last seasons title was 3 minutes away from going to Parkhead before Motherwells late goals. Its wouldn't have taken a massive change in fortune for either of those titles to end up at Celtic.

The season between those two.....Celtic won the league by 17 points. And the season he took over (mid season fair enough) Celtic won the league by 18 points. This season, what will the gap be at the end of the season?

You also have League Cup final wins over Ayr Utd, Celtic and Motherwell and Scottish Cup wins over Celtic and Dundee.

So he has some trophies, fair enough. But anyone who has seen the capitulation of Rangers this season, and yes they really are that bad, will know

1. The team is totally lacking in confidence.

2. The signings made this close season have been dreadful in nearly all cases. Not just poor, dreadful.

3. McLeish has lost the plot on a number of issues, especially the goalkeeping position where he continued playing Watereus despite some errors, eventually dropped him, brought in Klos who then had a game against Aberdeen at Ibrox (not tested) and had a howler v Celtic in the cup. Klos is subsequently dropped and Watereus back in, only for him to have a poor game v Celtic in the league. Poor management, you can't drop someone and then bring him back in 2 games letter and expect it to be all hunky dory again.

4. There are various rumours that he has lost the dressing room, or certainly some of the players.

5. He doesn't seem to even know what tactics he is going to play. He kept Michael Ball at Rangers and told him he would be first choice left back. A week before the end of the deadline he brings in the Greek lad, Kry....., tells Ball he is switching to a back 3, punts Ball, changes his mind after getting hosed at Hearts with a 3 at the back (had to change his tactics after 30 mins!) and then has to sign Bernard on the panic, a player who wasn't fit, doesn't fit in (hence his two fights, one at training, the other at HT in the Celtic cup game, with other Rangers players).


None of the above smacks of being a good manager to me. Ask most Hibs and Motherwell supporters and they won't exactly be singing his praises either.

I could go on but I have to go out But suffice to say Celtic and other teams supporters (like FF above) are all happy with the news. That should tell the story itself.

[Bigkegman]

A friend of mine who has a season ticket for Falkirk told me the story about McLeish trying to get the tactics over to Ferguson. OK we all know that Ferguson isn't the sharpest tool in the box but after 10 minutes Ferguson still didn't understand and to be honest neither did McLeish. As a tactician I don't think McLeish has had any idea how to really change the game if it goes any further than Plan B.

Most managers and assistans will have a game plan set out - i.e let them have the ball for the first 10 mins and let us try and mop up and then try to come more into the came and frustrate - then we will do blah, blah blah........loking at Celtic over the last 2 years or so is if we score - give Rangers the ball and let them try to break us down......

it has been proven - they can't............now more and more teams are doing the same - if you look at the possesion in most of the (10 in a row) games Ranges have dominated - had loads of attempts on goal - loads of corners etc but just can't score.

In Murray's talk tonight he has admitted needing a striker and with there being a problem on the left side of midfield ? - I though Ian Murray had been doing OK ?

any way blah, blah, blah...................tea's up

[MickeyPaul]

I'm not much of a McLeish fan either. For such a fine defender you think he'd be able to organise their defence a bit but they're all over the place. Banging into each other all the time etc. A total joke. And the fact they only appear to try in the Champions League matches doesn't reflect well on his ability to motivate. And as Crowie said, he doesn't seem to have much clue either when it comes to signings.

[all_funkt_up]

dont really have an opinion on him.

always seems like an ok guy, refreshing too to see a vote of confidence. it would have been very to sack him - less so to give him a chance.

[FootballFanatic]

I could go on but I have to go out

Thats alright crowie, it's only HT , we can wait the interval while u get torn in about big eck for the 2nd 45 mins

I don't really see Hearts having much of a chance to win the league, really depends if we make a few singings in january i think, but 2nd place looks a reality and I think we will hopefully be 9 points infront of hibs by sat night and wat will it be? 18 in front of rangers who are away to killie?

Looks a really tough match for eck and his duds, Kris boyd to do the business again

Then it's to ibrox for rangers vs Hearts! Come on son!

[crowie]

To be honest FF, if I were a Jambo I would be very disappointed come the end of this season if Hearts aren't in a CL spot of some sorts. I've said since the start that the thing that will eventually curtail Hearts title challenge is the lack of strength in depth. However the longer they can continue to put out the best starting eleven (or even 9 or 10 of those players) the more chance they have of pulling clear of Rangers. Likewise with Hibs and them staying above Rangers.

Anyway, back to McLeish.

As mentioned, he's had issues with the goalkeeper.

He has problems in the centre of defence. He buys the boy FanFan, gave him all the chat about him being one of his best buys, central defensive organiser. The boy starts off ok, McLeish then adds Rodriguez before the deadline and then Greek Boy after much "will he won't he" signing and non signing talk. Next thing you, FanFan is punted off to right back for a couple of games and then dropped out of sight.

FanFan gave an interview in the Sunday Herald where he as much as said McLeish has done him over big time, made promises, gave him the chat at the start, and then fucked him off when he signed a couple more players. When he was played at right back he thought "WTF, I have NEVER played in this position before, but I am new, will try and help the team...." and the next thing you know its reserve team football.

I would ask anyone here, how good is FanFan as a centre half? No one I would imagine could tell me as he has made 10 appearances for Rangers including subs, and about 3 or those were at centre half. He has had 2 appearances since the end of September, one as a 10 min sub.

Now how bad man management is that? You buy someone, tell them they will be a vital part of the team, 4 games later your playing them in a position they have never played before, replacing them with Bob Malcolm, your making spur of the moment signings for their position, and then you drop them with no reason given. Its like McLeish was playing Champ Man - "Ohh, such and such is available, will sign him as well" - with no thought or plan for his squad.

Then there is Fanny Jeffers, on his way to Norwich before Rangers decide to pinch him for 6 months. Great bit of business apart from the fact he is utter utter pish. I am sure he has went onto the pitch at Parkhead for the last 2 OF games in cammys, dug himself a wee foxhole somewhere behind one of the goals and kipped in there for the entire game. He certainly wasn't seen on the pitch, thats for sure.

And lets not forget Filipio Maniero! Who?? You must remember, the big Italian striker that Rangers signed on deadline day. He came, he had some pasta at the Italian Centre, he went home again a month or so back. 0 appearances.

Wee Ross McCormack, good record in the reserves, must have been thinking WTF is going on with all these diddies in front of me. McCormack keeps Eck in a job with a late equaliser in Porto, 2 CL sub appearances, 1 goal, 3 starts in the league, 2 goals. Is he any good? Who knows as Fanny Jeffers and Stevie "Wooden Top" Thompson and Nieto and Lovenkrands are all getting games at centre forward in front of him.

Ian Murray - ask any Hibee, a good centre half, reads the game well, but your already well stocked with classy centre halves (!), a passable midfield player but not, in any way, a left back. Anyone who saw his Scotland performances v Sweden at Easter Road and v Belarus, will confirm. Where's he playing now??? Left back.

Oliver Bernard, hopeless, one redeeming feature is that he banjoed Barry Ferguson. Twice. On the same day.


Ohh and Bob Malcolm is starting to get a game again. Ohhh Happy Day.


And while we are on one, lets not forget McLeish's record a couple of seasons ago with the "dream team" signings of Ostenstad, Capucho, Mladenovic (is he still there?), Henning Berg, Paulo Vanoli and Emerson. Class signings all, and none have been forgetten


No, if anyone tells me McLeish is a good manager I would have to ask them what substances they are taking at that exact time. Manager of Rangers should always mean you finish 2nd at the worst. I can't see Rangers in their current state finishing 2nd this season. Celtic, Hearts and Hibs could all finish above them, Killie are giving them a fight now, teams realise they are there fo r the taking.

[Bigkegman]

Agree Crowie - if you are manager of one of the old firm then a MUST is finish in top 2.

At the end of every season one half of Glasgow will be happy and the other side sad - but over the last few years both clubs have had something to smile about - Rangers won the league and Celtic final of UEFA but this year it looks slightly different

Celtic win the league & League Cup (at worst) and OK Rangers into Champs League final stages but don't finish runners up in League so no champs football next year !
(unless the SPL come out with some 'new' rule a bit like the 10'000 all seater stadium)..........

[GaNgStA kEeKs]

Them Maniero and Jeffers ones were quality mate

Couldn't agree more actually thinking on all you just said

[crowie]

Originally Posted by Bigkegman

Agree Crowie - if you are manager of one of the old firm then a MUST is finish in top 2.

At the end of every season one half of Glasgow will be happy and the other side sad - but over the last few years both clubs have had something to smile about - Rangers won the league and Celtic final of UEFA but this year it looks slightly different

Celtic win the league & League Cup (at worst) and OK Rangers into Champs League final stages but don't finish runners up in League so no champs football next year !
(unless the SPL come out with some 'new' rule a bit like the 10'000 all seater stadium)..........

Thing is mate, think if you don't catch Hearts or Hibs and say get drawn at Parkhead in one of the earlier rounds of the cup and are emptied from that too. It might just not be "No Champ League", it might be "No European football" full stop.