Gers get quarter backing
trust. Has the agent worked with us before? Does he know what we need and what type of player comes into Livingston’s category? Boys then come in for a few days, I tell them from the first moment they arrive that if they aren’t good enough on day one then it’s a handshake and goodbye. There’s no point in dragging things out. We train with an intensity and tempo which is similar to how we play and most can’t cope with that.
The pace is too high for them, the physical demands are too much. It’s a shock to their system and a rude awakening that Scottish football isn’t the breeze they’d imagined. Then comes the moment you pull them aside and tell them they’re not up to scratch.
It’s never nice to tell a kid that he’s rubbish but that’s the manager’s job.
You explain why they’re not coming back in and they look at you as though you’re some kind of alien.
They think you don’t have a clue what you’re talking about. It’s your fault that you Like the manage majority rs I was of window Premier glad to see ship slam shut. Our It’s this a hectic transfer talented midfield boy er Nicky month. I told and Cadden him heshould a dream is a loan to work as heneeds conside with but at regular rgoingout this stage first-team on Typicall ofhis y hetook develop matches He hassigned whatwas ment. be saidon a key onloan board. man in atAyr and title their will campaig Champi benefit n.Sowe onship of that willget the further the line. down Alex Rae reckons Rangers’ chances of hitting the Premiership endzone could be blitzed if they don’t go the whole nine yards at Pittodrie on Wednesday.
But former Old Firm rival Mark Wilson feels Celtic could fumble and drop the ball in the next crucial phase of f ixtures due to their games in Europe.
On thi s Superbowl Sunday ex-Ibrox midfielder Rae believes Steven Gerrard will need to pick the right playbook to gain his first win over Aberdeen.
He said: “I don’t think you can underestimate the importance of Wednesday’s game – it’s win or bust.
“I know some people might think that’s a bit dramatic but I honestly feel that if Rangers don’t win at Pittodrie their title chances could be gone.
“But I believe they can win and they undoubtedly owe Aberdeen one.
“On day one of the season they were the better side with 10 men after Alfredo Morelos was wrongly sent off but were unfortunate to lose a late leveller. They had a lot of the ball in the League Cup semi-final but couldn’t make it count.
“And Aberdeen won at Ibrox earlier this season when Rangers were against 10 men for a long period.
“So the Ibrox players will feel there is a score to settle and that will fire them up.
“It’s a period in the season that will be so crucial in the grand scheme of things.
“Celtic have European matches coming up that may have an effect.”
Wilson agrees that the cclashes with Valencia on FFebruary 14 and 21 could ppose problems for the Hoops.
The former full-back said: “The big European nights ttake so much out of you and it can have an effect.
“In years gone by it didn’t mmatter that much but this yyear is different.
“I imagine Celtic will win iin Per th today and so WWednesday becomes the nnext focus.
“I’ ll tell you what, the RRangers fans would have ppreferred Neil Lennon was ttaking the Hibs team to PParkhead because he has ddone well there.”