Will Rangers mount an instant assault on the SPL?
It has been an emotional four years packed with highs and
lows, but finally Rangers Football Club are back where they belong: the
Scottish Premiership.
lows, but finally Rangers Football Club are back where they belong: the
Scottish Premiership.
The relief at making it back to the top flight after the
implosion of 2011/12 is palpable, and yet there is a sense of expectation
around Ibrox. Can Mark Warburton’s side maintain a serious challenge for the title
this season?
implosion of 2011/12 is palpable, and yet there is a sense of expectation
around Ibrox. Can Mark Warburton’s side maintain a serious challenge for the title
this season?
Few are blown away by Celtic at the moment, and while their
league triumph of 2015/16 was comfortable enough in the end, having lost just
four matches, there were clear vulnerabilities. A goals conceded ratio of
nearly one per game is hardly befitting of champions, and the manner in which
they were defeated not once but twice by an upwardly mobile but limited Aberdeen side raises
further doubts about their defensive quality.
league triumph of 2015/16 was comfortable enough in the end, having lost just
four matches, there were clear vulnerabilities. A goals conceded ratio of
nearly one per game is hardly befitting of champions, and the manner in which
they were defeated not once but twice by an upwardly mobile but limited Aberdeen side raises
further doubts about their defensive quality.
Those fears raised their head once again in the Hoops’
remarkable 0-1 loss to Gibraltar’s finest, the
Lincoln Red Imps, in
Champions League qualifying just the other day. This was no fluke as the Imps
were good value for their win, and despite Brendan Rodgers’ assertions to the
contrary, being beaten by a semi-professional team that features policemen,
mechanics and convicted criminals amongst their ranks is very much
‘embarrassing’. Rodgers is yet to invest in any defensive reinforcements this
summer, and that could be a disastrous oversight.
remarkable 0-1 loss to Gibraltar’s finest, the
Lincoln Red Imps, in
Champions League qualifying just the other day. This was no fluke as the Imps
were good value for their win, and despite Brendan Rodgers’ assertions to the
contrary, being beaten by a semi-professional team that features policemen,
mechanics and convicted criminals amongst their ranks is very much
‘embarrassing’. Rodgers is yet to invest in any defensive reinforcements this
summer, and that could be a disastrous oversight.
Aberdeen,
after such a bright start to the last campaign, finished the season in second
having suffered eleven defeats and returning a goal difference of just +14, and
a potentially exhausting Europa League campaign could stretch their already
thin squad to its limits this time around.
after such a bright start to the last campaign, finished the season in second
having suffered eleven defeats and returning a goal difference of just +14, and
a potentially exhausting Europa League campaign could stretch their already
thin squad to its limits this time around.
All of the above makes very nice reading for Gers’ fans.
The squad that Mark Warburton inherited upon taking over at
Ibrox was one of youthful prospects and wily old pros who, with goodwill
intended, were coming up to the end of their respective careers. The job that
the former Brentford boss has done then in transforming this current crop into
a well-balanced squad of players with a chance of challenging for domestic
honours this term has been nothing short of outstanding.
Ibrox was one of youthful prospects and wily old pros who, with goodwill
intended, were coming up to the end of their respective careers. The job that
the former Brentford boss has done then in transforming this current crop into
a well-balanced squad of players with a chance of challenging for domestic
honours this term has been nothing short of outstanding.
It is always good having talented young players amongst your
ranks – they tend to play without fear, as witnessed by their performance in
the 2-2 draw with Celtic in the cauldron atmosphere of Hampden Park
in last season’s Scottish Cup semi-final. Be under no illusions, they will have
learnt a lot that day and will be an improved unit because of it the next time
that the Old Firm derby rolls around.
ranks – they tend to play without fear, as witnessed by their performance in
the 2-2 draw with Celtic in the cauldron atmosphere of Hampden Park
in last season’s Scottish Cup semi-final. Be under no illusions, they will have
learnt a lot that day and will be an improved unit because of it the next time
that the Old Firm derby rolls around.
The likes of Martyn Waghorn, James Tavernier and Jason Holt
have been supplemented smartly by Warburton this summer with older heads in
Joey Barton, Clint Hill, Matt Gilks and Nico
Kranjcar, and with Lee Wallace and Kenny Miller returning for another crack
at the big time the balance between youth and experience looks just about
right.
have been supplemented smartly by Warburton this summer with older heads in
Joey Barton, Clint Hill, Matt Gilks and Nico
Kranjcar, and with Lee Wallace and Kenny Miller returning for another crack
at the big time the balance between youth and experience looks just about
right.
If he can keep his discipline in the midfield battleground
then the signing
of Barton looks particularly smart. He has always looked a better player
when motivated by a specific challenge: that was certainly the case at Burnley last season, where he played an integral part in
the Clarets’ ascension to the English top flight. Indeed, the 40 appearances he
made suggest there are still plenty of miles left in the 33-year-old’s legs.
then the signing
of Barton looks particularly smart. He has always looked a better player
when motivated by a specific challenge: that was certainly the case at Burnley last season, where he played an integral part in
the Clarets’ ascension to the English top flight. Indeed, the 40 appearances he
made suggest there are still plenty of miles left in the 33-year-old’s legs.
At the other end of the age spectrum Jordan Rossiter has
been brought in from Liverpool, and the
19-year-old was highly thought of amongst the club’s youth coaches; comparisons
to Xabi Alonso were generous, but still indicative of his
potential nonetheless. Having represented England at all youth levels, it is
fair to say that Warburton has landed a fantastic free signing there.
been brought in from Liverpool, and the
19-year-old was highly thought of amongst the club’s youth coaches; comparisons
to Xabi Alonso were generous, but still indicative of his
potential nonetheless. Having represented England at all youth levels, it is
fair to say that Warburton has landed a fantastic free signing there.
“The Man with the Magic Hat”
After a few Bears’ famous video which went viral, ‘Warburton is magic, he wears a magic hat…’ became common nature, and it is
certainly accurate enough given the former city trader’s fantastic CV in his
short stint as a football manager.
certainly accurate enough given the former city trader’s fantastic CV in his
short stint as a football manager.
Here is a guy who took Brentford, a traditionally unpopular
footballing outpost for the past few decades, and turned them into a
progressive, attractive side, achieving promotion from League One in his first
term as manager and – had he not effectively been sacked halfway through the
next season after club owner Mathew Benham confirmed he planned to replace
Warburton at the end of the campaign – who knows what the Bees, sixth in the
Championship table at the time of the infamous media leak, could have achieved.
footballing outpost for the past few decades, and turned them into a
progressive, attractive side, achieving promotion from League One in his first
term as manager and – had he not effectively been sacked halfway through the
next season after club owner Mathew Benham confirmed he planned to replace
Warburton at the end of the campaign – who knows what the Bees, sixth in the
Championship table at the time of the infamous media leak, could have achieved.
He has impressed in his year to date at the helm, and there
is a feeling around Ibrox and beyond that his penchant for back-to-back
successes could well pave the way for a Rangers tilt at the Scottish
Premiership title this term.
is a feeling around Ibrox and beyond that his penchant for back-to-back
successes could well pave the way for a Rangers tilt at the Scottish
Premiership title this term.