We Live In Even-More Interesting Times

IT HAS been interesting, reading the MSM's take on the appointment of Mark Warburton as (delete according to particular bigotry) 15th manager of Rangers/second (permanent) manager of Rangers International FC.

The internet bampots on both sides have been out in force. Ra Peepul confident this is the real thing, the start of the march back to glory and domination; the wilder elements in the Celtic Family posting their familiar litany of: "Youse is deid": "Youse is a new club" etc.

I can almost taste their fear. The "green and grey hordes", as Ra Peepul taunt their enemies, have grown used to success. They are revelling in guaranteed European football and lording it over the "diddy" teams.

They can just about accept the odd trip-up in domestic competitions - after all: "Always Cheated - Never Defeated since 1888" is in their DNA. Being ranked among the "top teams in Europe", even if 34th-richest is not all that high a ranking, gives the CF something to puff-out their chests about.

But, deep down they know - when rather than if - the Rangers Tribute Act morphs into a re-born Rangers,these days will, albeit temporarily, pass - and they fear this.

Across the city, the sense of entitlement still burns within the breasts of Ra Peepul.

It hurts them that "they were conned" out of what they see as their birthright - to lord it over Scottish football and be big fish in the European pond - by dodgy financiers, their wealth "off the radar", and by subsequent "investors" who were never "Real Rangers Men".

They so-desperately you can taste it, yearn for the return to the byegone days of yore, when "Timmy" knew his place, and that place was under the brown brogues of Ra Peepul.

Ra Peepul believe the "Real Rangers Men" who now sit in the board room will bring those days back. They will back their judgement, that Warburton and Weir will deliver, and right now, they are starting to feel good about themselves again.

But, they are impatient. Aye, it was a wee bit different to have to go to places like Annan and Brechin on a regular basis. They were like cruise ship passengers, passing this way just once, and taking a passing interest in local culture and how the diddy people live.

This was only supposed to be a three-year journey, before they were back on familiar territory, this additional year in the boondocks was never supposed to happen.

They have slummed for long enough - if it doesn't look as if they will be back in the big time twelve months from now - the backlash will be huge.

Warburton and Weir will have to hit the ground running. Meeting expectations, with the bare bones of a squad which they have inherited and with, as yet - as far as we know - no definite budget towards bringing-in the new talent they need. Well, this will surely be the hardest challenge the new management team has ever faced.

So, how does the MSM play this? Of course, the Lap-Top Loyal will give the new regime every chance to sort things out, they will back them. There will be little criticism, at first, of the new guys - although there will doubtless be some cracking online posts from both sides of the Grand Canyon which separates the two cheeks of the bigoted arse of Scottish Football. There will be little in the way of constructive criticism of the RTA - at least at first.

What we really need, is for another team to come through and join Aberdeen in putting pressure on Celtic, and for Aberdeen to ratchet-up, even more, that pressure. 

We also need, Hibs to find real consistency, of the kind Hearts produced last season, to hand Warburton and Weir an even hotter welcome to the Championship, and for Ian Murray to get St Mirren playing, and James Fowler at Palmerston and Peter Houston at Falkirk to get their teams even-more consistent.

Then, Scottish Football will become interesting again.