SPL Fanzone: Season review

Season highlight

The conduct of our manager has been inspiring, but probably the 3-2 win against Sporting Integrity FC at Ibrox. The Celtic support came to rub our noses in it and ended up slinking away in a morose and resentful silence.

Season lowlight

February to May inclusive. The realisation Craig Whyte was a shyster, being right about Sir David Murray all along but unable to convince enough of our own fans, hearing Bill Ng, The Blue Knights and Brian Kennedy all saying Duff & Phelps were at it… a miserable fiasco.

Manager’s report card

Ally McCoist deserves 10/10 for his off-the-field performance and 6/10 on it. European qualifiers were a bad joke and both domestic cup exits avoidable, but since late February Ally has marshalled scarce and limited playing resources to great effect. Finishing comfortably second despite being docked ten points is unprecedented.

Player of the season

Sone Aluko, for an inspirational and substantial contribution. It’s incredible to think the guy was a trialist without a club. Sone has shown skill, bravery, trickery and an eye for goal.

Expectations for next season

I’d settle for survival and being remotely competitive: I’d be ecstatic qualifying for European competition.

What needs to be on the club’s summer shopping list?

Rangers need to retain enough experience to augment the impressive young talent we have in McCabe, Ness, Perry, Little and Kerkar. If we can keep half or more of the crown jewels – Davis, McGregor, Aluko, Bocanegra, Naismith, Wallace and Goian – we have the core of a squad capable of success. But that’s a very big ‘if’.

What was the worst moment of the 2011/12 season?

Go on, have a guess…

And what was the best?

I was going to pick one of Neil Lennon’s splendidly childish tantrums, but it’s the march to Hampden by 12,000 plus Rangers fans.

Stephen Smith

SPL Fanzone: Season review - Rangers