Assessment: is Graeme Murty the right man for Rangers?
So we now know what many of us deeply suspected for a long time, but hoped would not happen – Graeme Murty has been appointed Rangers manager permanently.
It has divided the fanbase right down the middle, and it would be a lie to say we are in favour of the appointment.
We are dead against it and consider it a lazy, easy, and unambitious move which looks more than a touch embarrassing considering the hoohah over Derek McInnes and the desire for other more ‘glamorous’ managers.
The fact is Graeme Murty will struggle to attract the calibre of player a more marquee manager would – it does not matter if Mark Allen tries to court a high quality Championship, SPL, or even EPL player to Ibrox – they are a lot less likely to be interested in the move with a youth coach in charge rather than a real name at the helm.
And going by Rangers’ performances of the past three matches, it is the wrong appointment too – while the Aberdeen pair had the mitigating circumstances of the McInnes sideshow, the subsequent three were all disgusting displays. Pure and simple.
HOWEVER.
We do have respect and admire Murty in light of the job he did as (seemingly) reluctant manager. He did a stellar gig out of his comfort zone, so we have no quarrel or criticism of him in terms of the majority of the work he did as caretaker.
HOWEVER.
Being the full-time professional manager takes a special individual, and Rangers have not had that special individual since Uncle Walter departed. We do not believe Murty is close to being another of those special individuals.
HOWEVER.
We are Rangers supporters, first and foremost. Whatever we think of this decision, and however we assess it, we do genuinely wish Murty the best. We want him to prove us utterly wrong about his capabilities to take the hardest football job in Britain and restore the kind of success Rangers fans expect. We also want him to prove us wrong about the board, and our criticisms of them. We need that to happen, because our Rangers have been in the doldrums for far too long.
HOWEVER.
We do not expect to be proven wrong, and that makes us sad. We expect much of the same that is currently the case to continue. Poor football, frequently dreadful results, and the continuation of the current mediocrity of our club.
It is a weak and feeble appointment on the face of it, with a manager who simply is not the right man, just like his predecessor was not. We called that one out immediately and were sadly right.
We expect no difference this time but would dearly hope there is.
Graeme, it is over to you sir.