[Munki Bhoy]

I wondered that. I could have sworn they announced this months ago. I'm sure when they gave Smith one final year they said at the same time that McCoist would take over after that. But then I checked.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/footbal ... 704867.stm

Manager Walter Smith has signed a one-year deal to remain at Rangers in what will be his last season in football.
The 62-year-old then intends to hand the reins over to his assistants Ally McCoist and Kenny McDowall.

So it was only suggested that they'd do that. This is the confirmation that they have. Cheapest option possible.

[Gaspode_The_Wonder_Dog]

Like Lennon was for your lot? Do you think this is what the clubs want to do or more what money dictates?

[chrysostom]

sometimes it's the best way to keep a long term footballing strategy - with arsenal, everton and utd (and all clubs with coaches who have dictated the club's footballing ethos), they'll both have to decide whether to promote from within, find a young coach with similar style and ideas to their current one or go big and find a coach with their own style. and in most cases, i think the board should choose an option that slips into the club seamlessly without wanting to change things (if it's going fairly well under the predecessor).

[Munki Bhoy]

Pretty much. UEFA are pushing for tighter finance controls after all, and since we get feck all money up here compared to the English Premiership we have even tighter budgets to deal with. On top of that, Rangers are pretty much run by the banks currently and are trying to find a new owner so it's understandable why they've done the cheap thing and promoted from within. Celtic were slightly different. Where the whole of McCoist's team are basically taking one step up the ladder, Lennon was promoted from within but the rest of his team were brought in from outside. It's still the same basic theory though.

I can't help but think they're all looking at Barcelona and thinking "Guardiola was promoted from within and look how well he did" mind you!

[chrysostom]

hmm, i'm still not convinced about guardiola as a manager in his own rite : he's inherited one of the best footballing squads in the last 50 years, and his additions have been mainly board-based - and included the best striker in the world.

[Yudster]

I suppose I should be happy with a 1-1 draw away at Peterborough, given our respective league positions. Not though.

[Johnny 1989]

sometimes it's the best way to keep a long term footballing strategy - with arsenal, everton and utd (and all clubs with coaches who have dictated the club's footballing ethos), they'll both have to decide whether to promote from within, find a young coach with similar style and ideas to their current one or go big and find a coach with their own style. and in most cases, i think the board should choose an option that slips into the club seamlessly without wanting to change things (if it's going fairly well under the predecessor).

I still can't imagine Arsenal without Wenger or Man Utd without Ferguson and in all honesty I haven't a clue who could replace either at present, Rice would be too old to take over full time now for Arsenal.

When both leave it'll be an end of a very big & long era indeed, and I don't think English football will ever be the same again.

[chrysostom]

I'd take Moyes at Arsenal, i think that he's brilliant - and given players of a higher quality, combined with a half decent transfer budget : he could be the next Ferguson.

[Bonanzoid]

I know it's my lot, but even I was standing in this thinking "wow". Not something you see in the UK much, and certainly not to this extent.

I love the "Get it *' up yies!" at the end. Celtic scum.

[Gaspode_The_Wonder_Dog]

I'd take Moyes at Arsenal, i think that he's brilliant - and given players of a higher quality, combined with a half decent transfer budget : he could be the next Ferguson.

I think you would be massively disappointed with him - he would have to change his whole football mentality to play the Arsenal style. There is a sizable minority at Everton that would like to see him go now.

[chrysostom]

really? i think his football is a bit more 'steely' than arsenal's, and with good flair players in the squad i reckon he'd fare ok - better than any of the other premier league managers. i'd definitely not want to see any of the other lot manage arsenal - possibly Hodgson before the liverpool spell. Holloway would be worth it for a laugh...

Wenger has already earmarked a successor in Dragan Stojkovic (a player he managed in Japan, who has gone on to manage), and i think it's likely he'll get the job as he's got the same romance associated with Wenger's arrival.

[Gaspode_The_Wonder_Dog]

Moyes doesn't like flair players. He hardly ever signs any and when he does he destroys all the flair in their body. We are still crying out for wide players and he has been here nearly a decade. Pienaar is not a winger.

[McGuinness-89]

Big game tonight, should have been there but it fell though.Amazed when I heard this morning we haven't won at the Bridge since '02.Has to be 3 points tonight.

Anyone who isn't Blue, feel free to shout SHOOT at the screen whenever Ashley Cole gets the ball.

[chrysostom]

skybet have the best sense of humour.

chelsea to win tonight, just for arsenal's title hopes.

[chrysostom]

believe me, it was odd not wanting a 0-0 draw and a brawl with point deductions.

[Johnny 1989]

First (and hopefully last) time I'll ever thank Chelsea for that result, Nani kept diving on the floor rolling around in agony, I thought Cashley had been shooting at him

[chrysostom]

First (and hopefully last) time I'll ever thank Chelsea for that result

Chelsea have to play United again.

[DevilsDuck]

rubbish!

[Johnny 1989]

First (and hopefully last) time I'll ever thank Chelsea for that result

Chelsea have to play United again.

Oh really, interesting, wonder if Chelsea can beat them there as well?

In other news not only did Bentner score a sodding hat-trick but Clichy scored, CLICHY?!?!?! Surely that's one of the signs of the apocalypse

Having said that, have we inadvertently set a new record for the most players to score a goal this season, so far I count: Van Persie, Fabregas, Wilshire, Walcott, Nasri, Bendtner, Arshavin, Chamakh, Squillaci, Koschelney, Clichy, Vela, Diaby, Sagna, Djourou, Rosicky & Song, the only ones I'm not sure about are Eboue, Gibbs, & Denilson. Vermaelen & Ramsey are the exceptions at the mo as they haven't sodding played for us this year so far, although even Watt has scored several times for Leeds, and Jay Emmanuel-Thomas and Ramsey have scored for Cardiff. In all honesty I don't know I'm just wondering

[McGuinness-89]

The Old Firm match last night was the best game I've watched this season.For all the wrong reasons of course but brilliant television.

[Munki Bhoy]

I preferred the last one, it was better quality football.

[bmstinton93]

I've got a £5 bet on with a mate that Man U beat Liverpool on Sunday. They better not let me down now

[Munki Bhoy]

I've got a £5 bet on with a mate that Man U beat Liverpool on Sunday. They better not let me down now

Oops.

[bmstinton93]

I'm gutted. We were so Shit today. We didn't even deserve the consolation goal

[dimtimjim]

We were so Shit today.

When you say 'we', but you are a good Worcester lad, I assume you mean 'they'....?