Why Rangers need to stick by Ally McCoist:

Ally McCoist was the man of the moment when Rangers plunged into administration but sadly for some it seems that that moment may now have passed. Saturday’s result against Dundee United in the Scottish Cup has taken a back seat to the performance put in by McCoist’s team. It was a poor result but it wasn’t unexpected. The fans know the truth about Ally’s team and it is not good. There is a lack of fight in this team. Can the support trust Ally to build a winning team once the illegal transfer embargo has been lifted?

The main objective this season was to win the league and Ally is well on the way to that but winning this league was the least the Ibrox support expected. No one is above criticism and the manager must take his share. From the start of this game Rangers did not look prepared. This is unacceptable considering all the hype in the lead up to the game. Surely the plan was to defend for the first part of the game and kill the atmosphere; with only a handful of Rangers supporters taking tickets, but no, they lose a goal in the first fifteen seconds.

The central defensive pairing of Cribari & Ross Perry started badly and fell away and United’s forwards will never have an easier day’s football. The rest of the team did little better and while there are reasons for what happened, the excuses are running out. Like all teams Rangers have their strengths and weaknesses, but this team seems to lack tactical awareness and balance, and seems to have no shape, drive or direction when playing.  Are the players being made aware of what they are doing and why they are doing it? The manager clearly has some serious team-building on his hands as he tries to lead this team from immaturity to maturity.

Rangers’ climb back to the top is a four year struggle, with the Ramsden Cup exit being the low point of this season so far. Going out to Premier League opposition is no surprise, but it is the manner in which the team is playing which is the problem.

We all know that a ship is safe in the harbour but that is not what it is built for. The club got a taste at Tannadice of what awaits them in the future. Teams, especially those from the corrupt SPL, will be up for games against them – something Rangers must be ready for. Rangers set the standard in Scottish football and even when in the third division, the Rangers scalp is still a prized trophy.

After everything that has happened to the club, it seems a long time ago that Ally was being described by the support in his first season in the hot seat as ‘the Rookie’. It is clear that the support do not like what they are seeing from Rangers and it is clear where the buck will stop.

Being in the third division has given Rangers the chance to nurture a pool of young talent, though clearly they have some fast growing up to do, but Ally must nurture this talent and not let it go to waste. Having good players and some good young prospects is one thing, but getting them to play as a team is another. Ally has to stamp his personality on this team. He has to show the same leadership qualities displayed in battling Rangers off-field struggles and transfer these to the pitch.

If last year has shown the support anything it is that Ally McCoist is a fighter. He has already shown that he has leadership qualities and is not afraid to face challenges.

Ally McCoist is the man to lead Rangers through the divisions and has the best interests of the club at heart. Rangers have a golden opportunity to allow the young talent at Ibrox to flourish. This will take time and there will be some bumps on the road, change is a constant part of life and we must not dwell on the past; for Rangers the future is in our own hands. We must not waste it.

Follow me on Twitter @Cyberted72

http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/42143

http://rangersthefallandrise.wordpress.com/

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