Is Pedro Going Back To The Future?

RANGERS, whether old club or new, have always been good at selective amnesia; and that goes for their apologists in the media too. Take the effort from the RWM of the Lap Top Loyal, currently up on the Herald website, in which this particular stenographer (copyright Phil Mac Giolla Bhain) suggests the man whose jaiket currently hangs on the shoogly peg in the manager's office, Senor Pedro Caixinha, just might be the man to finally get something good out of 'Auchenhowie'.

Pedro Caixinha

Note how, the Rangers' training ground is no longer referred to as: “Murray Park”, but, as “Auchenhowie” - clearly the bold Sir David is currently undergoing some Ibrox revisionism, helped no doubt by the very learned Donald Finlay QC perhaps doing payback for having his karaoke favorites outed in yon video a lifetime ago, in his spirited ongoing defence of Mr Craig Whyte.

Any way, as I, and one or two other experienced sports writers have never tired of pointing-out – if, in the wake of liquidation and demotion to the bottom level of Scottish senior football, “new Rangers”, “re-branded Rangers”, or“defiantly-continuing Rangers” had put their faith in the then kids at the training ground, melded them together with the right experienced players and allowed the kids to learn as the club rose through the leagues – Rangers would, I venture, be in a much-better position today to challenge Celtic at the top of the table.

Instead, the men running things, handed Alastair McCoist as big a cheque as they could to finance “the Rangers Tribute Act”, before having to admit – wonderful goal-scorer though he was, fantastic personality though he possessed, in all honesty, Ally couldnae manage.

Ally bought-in has-beens and never will bes, many of whom simply were not “Rangers Class” (that is by the standards of a team used to setting the benchmark for Scotland) – he used if not a sledgehammer, then certainly a lump hammer, to crush the “nuts” of the “diddy teams” in the lower leagues, when he had a chance to blood good young players and see them develop.

Mind you, even some of the more-hyped of the youngsters he did trust enough to give them regular game time haven't made it, but, who knows, with a different approach and a different coach, maybe they could have.

Now it is being suggested Caixinha is going to change things, with the kids being given their chance. Already, we know Ranger will opt out of the SPFL's Development League for Under-20 players next season. Admittedly, it has been suggested the team the club entered this season was, in reality, an Under-17 one, but, Rangers finished sixth in the SPFL Development League this season, behind Ross County, Hamilton, Celtic, Hibernian and Motherwell. I would suggest that is not the best place from which to switch to playing regular games against their contemporaries from some of Europe's biggest clubs, such as the two Manchester clubs, Chelsea, Bayern Munich and Benfica.

All laudable, except, this is at Under-20 level. There is also an official UEFA Youth League, backed by all the biggest clubs, and UEFA, at UNDER-19 level. Celtic play in this competition, which is open to the clubs which qualify for the Champions League. This Under-20 idea, nope, it does nothing for me.

Youth development in Scotland has always been a hit and miss thing, but, you might think, after more than 125-years of organised league football in Scotland, we would have had it sorted-out and a workable plan in place which allows our young talent to flourish.

When it comes to youth development, Rangers are still light years behind Celtic, who are, themselves, a wee bit off the pace being set by Barcelona etc. These stories about getting a return on the millions spent on Murray Park/Auchenhowie seem to me to be something like a Level 5 pr exercise, in keeping Ra Peepul onside.

I mean, Rangers never had a Quality Street Gang. While Celtic had the Kelly Kids, Rangers didn't have the Lawrence Laddies. Celtic have always bred from within, then sold on. Rangers, traditionally raided the lesser Scottish clubs.

Proof:

Lisbon Lions: Ronnie Simpson (bought-in); Jim Craig, Tommy Gemmell, Bobby Murdoch, Billy McNeill, John Clark, Jimmy Johnstone (through the ranks), Willie Wallace (bought-in), Stevie Chalmers (through the ranks), Bertie Auld (through the ranks-sold-on-bought back), Bobby Lennox (through the ranks).

Barcelona Bears: Peter McCloy (bought-in); Sandy Jardine, Willie Mathieson, John Greig, Derek Johnstone (through the ranks), Davie Smith, Tommy McLean (bought-in), Alfie Conn (through the ranks), Colin Stein, Alex Macdonald (bought-in), Willie Johnston (through the ranks).

So, the Lions had an 8-2 split between home-grown and bought-in players (given we take Auld as home-grown). The Bears had a 6-5 split between home-grown and bought-in players.

If we take Scottish football's wonder season – 1966-67, in which both halves of the Old Firm reached a European final; in reaching the Cup-Winners Cup final, Rangers used 20 players. Fifteen of those twenty were home-grown - 75%.

In getting to Lisbon and immortality, the Lions fielded 17 players, while John Fallon was the unused back-up goalkeeper to Ronnie Simpson throughout the campaign. Fifteen of the 18 players were home-grown – 83%.

So, 50-years ago, when both clubs were major forces in Europe, there wasn't that much difference in the development philosophy – both clubs preferred to grow their own talent. Since then, however and with greater emphasis since the arrival of Graeme Souness – which was, remember, more than 30-years ago – Rangers have gone down the buy-in route to a greater extent, but Celtic have followed them.

Take, for instance, a look at the respective squads when the two clubs last reached a European final. In Celtic's case this was the 2003 UEFA Cup final in Seville. The Celtic starting XI that evening was an entirely bought-in team, while of the seven nominated substitutes, only three of whom could play don't forget, the split was 5-2 in favour of bought-in talent, only Jamie Smith and Shaun Maloney had come through the ranks.

Rangers' last European final was the 2008 UEFA Cup final in Manchester. Their starting XI that night had ten bought-in players, plus Barry Ferguson (who, like Bertie Auld in Lisbon had come through the ranks, left and returned). Their bench had a 5-1 bought-in to home-grown split – the unused Charlie Adam being the only player to have come through the ranks.

Maybe there is something to be said for growing your own talent.