Day of reckoning for a pair of smart Alexs

Stick your sympathy right up your bleating arses. Does the term “five year coefficient” mean anything to ye, Quinn?! You’re straight into the CL Group Stage because of what RANGERS did in the Champions League under Dick Advocaat. Funnily enough, WE’re probably NOT in the CL Group Stage because of what Rangers SPENT in the Champions League under Dick Advocaat (!!) … but that’s all by the way now.

Alex Rae’s been all over the papers, Neil Lennon’s been all over the papers. It’s all set up for some sort of showdown. When we signed Rae, I heard the news on radio Scotland and Jim Duffy - a panelist on the show - was the first man to say “I’m sure all Rangers fans will be looking forward to seeing Alex Rae up against Neil Lennon in next season’s Old Firm clashes”.

Yeah - I’d love to see Lennon getting one to the chops but so would Lennon, if it meant Rae walked and Celtic went a man up. As far as I’m concerned, the two of them can have a cup of tea together in the centre circle and talk about how much they hate the Daily Record - Rangers just have to win.

Last night I was walking back from Ibrox to Exhibition Centre train station (the fekin light was out in the enclosed bridge over the railway - how bl**dy apt was that! Hunners of Gers fans not knowing what would hapen next!) and this, of course, involves walking by the sci-fi movie set which is the Science Centre and surrounding half-landscaped area.

In the late August darkness, it all got decidedly more Sci-fi movie-ish when Alex McLeish’s voice, looming loud from a car stereo deep in the Science Centre’s subterranean service area, stopped dozens of Bluenoses in their tracks and drew us all over, zombie like, to the top of the huge concrete ramp.

Perhaps it was a rapscallion Bhoy or Ghirl having a go at the passing Gers fans. Perhaps it was workmen, out of sight, listening to the fitbaw chat to help their back shift pass quicker. But Radio Clyde were interviewing McLeish and some of us just had to hear what the man was saying. When the Manager of Rangers Football Club talks, no matter the state of the team, people stop and listen.

He was flawless. He said everything he should say and he kept his cool throughout. The opposition were credited, the Rangers players defended, the referee mentioned but philosophically so. No excuses but no … well, no “giving in”.

If it was all about CARRYING himself like a Rangers manager in front of the cameras and maintaining our club’s dignity through the manner of his media utterances then Alex McLeish would be almost perfect. Unfortunately, it’s chiefly about results. It’s all about what’s said on the training ground and in the Dressing Room.

If we win on Sunday, McLeish won’t have any Gers fans spluttering uninformed insults through his carefully chosen words as he did last night. If we lose on Sunday, there could be a new voice which makes us all stop and listen.

So - that’ll be a draw then!

Och - nae worries. Larsson hasnae scored for Celic all season!

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Published:
08.27.04 / 8am
Category:
News