Ally McCoist masters managerial double-talk

It hasn’t taken Ally McCoist long to pick up the art of managerial double-talk.

Openly discussing transfer targets is generally frowned upon within the game although Sir Alex Ferguson and others are masters at dropping a subtle quote in about a player that they are interested in signing.

McCoist has rarely been known for declining to discuss a subject and doesn’t require much encouragement to go public discussing transfer targets.

Yesterday, despite news breaking about the suspension in share trading and growing concerns over the clubs’ finances, the Daily Record came up with the exclusive news that Rangers were preparing a £2m bid for Spanish journeyman Javi Guerra of Real Valladolid.

Without any contact being made with Valladolid McCoist was happy to dicuss the possibility of making a bid with the Rangers website.

“Quite possibly, he is a very good player and if the opportunity arose, yes,” the Ibrox boss replied.

“I don’t like discussing other team’s players but he’s very good. We’ve been watching a lot of games.

“Valladolid are going well in the second tier in Spanish football just now and he has been battering in all sorts of goals.

“He is someone else’s player and it wouldn’t be fair of me to say much more than that but he is a top player.”

Responding to the Record story Valladolid technical director Alberto Marcos said: “They have not been in touch and I know no more. Javi Guerra is on everyone’s lips after the three goals he scored on Saturday against Sabadell but at present we have no offer on the table. There are rumours and nothing more.”

A month ago the Rangers boss was equally reluctant to discuss Dundee United’s Scott Allan who joined West Brom earlier this week.

“We’ve spoken to Dundee United to let them know our intentions and now we need to speak to young Scott and his representatives,” McCoist confirmed.

“I’ve seen him play a good few times and I think it’s important that a club like Rangers is interested in the best Scottish talent going about, especially the young talent. He comes into that category.

“He is definitely a potential game changer. I’ve seen him do that for the under-21s. He sees a pass.

“He is more forward thinking than the average midfielder, he has quick feet too. I think he will get better but, in terms of young talent in the country, he’s up there with anyone at the moment.”

On Saturday Rangers face St Johnstone with Saints striker Francisco Sandaza also at the centre of speculation linking him with a move to Rangers.

After winning at Arbroath on Sunday McCoist was asked about speculation over a move for Sandanza and replied: “I’ll have a chat with Craig (Whyte) and see where we are on that one. He is one of a number of players, certainly forwards, that I am really, really interested in.”

When it comes to double-speak however McCoist is very much a novice compared to Aberdeen’s Craig Brown.

The former Scotland boss is a master of contradicting what he says with an old favourite being his claim that he never criticises match officials.

With six red cards given against his players in the SPL Brown has had plenty of practise at criticising officials without incurring the wrath of his former employers at the SFA.

After seeing Fraser Fyvie red carded against St Mirren in December Brown explained: “I won’t blame the referee and I won’t criticise him, I’ll continue with my normal reaction to referee’s. All i will say is there was a number of controversial incidents but I will let you decide about them.

“If he (Fraser Fyvie) has used foul language then he has to get a straight red but I have heard foul language aimed at officials on many occasions during the course of the game and not be red carded. He will learn from it and I can’t complain about it if he has used foul language.”

After losing to Rangers in October Brown neatly sidestepped criticising Willie Collum by saying: “I don’t want to be criticising referees but Mackie said he was impeded (relating to an Aberdeen penalty claim).

“If you look at Milsom’s leg you would see it is horrendous (on Steven Naismith’s challenge) and yet it was not even a yellow card.

“But for me the worst of all was the red card (for Rory Fallon), there is no way that was a deliberate elbow. Goian looked like he could attend a wedding straight away, there wasn’t a mark on him. He could have been bride, groom or the best man.”

As Brown says, I don’t criticise referees but..

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