What a window that was. A glut of incoming, few important losses, and a mightily different shaped squad now compared with how it looked only a few weeks ago. There is so much to discuss and talk about and we will get through as much of it as possible, but all in good time.
We start your February with Graeme Murty, and the project that it appears he is building at Ibrox. Like most fans we had more than our fair share of reservations about Rangers promoting essentially a youth coach to the most important job in Scottish football.
It was a risky venture, and we were hand on heart dead against it. Truth is, we were far from alone. This was an appointment which divided supporters down the middle, and ultimately the lack of a marquee name instead concerned fans who wanted a major patriarch in charge, someone who knew Rangers, the SPL, and could galvanise with modest resources.
It appeared Murty was none of these and most fans were disappointed at best at the announcement.
However, while his (proper) debut was a crushingly disappointing loss against Clarke’s Killie, he has won every single subsequent match bar an excellent draw again at Parkhead, and even his occasional verbal mistakes (Parkhead’s atmosphere is second to none?!) do not detract from what appears to be a slither of momentum on the pitch.
He has settled on 4-2-3-1, a formation his predecessor could not make work, and while Rangers are hardly guilty of a lot of spectacular football, they are getting the results.
Bears of a certain vintage will remember even the colossus that was the 9IAR side did not play consistently great football. It had some extraordinary footballers such as Laudrup and Gazza, of course, but as a team it was filled with winners more than players. It was a team, like Walter’s second spell, that simply knew how to work as a unit and bestride like a titan against everyone, even if it did not play the fanciest footwork at all times.
You only have to ask Celtic fans of the 90s if they would exchange their nifty football under Tommy Burns and the like for the winners’ trophies Rangers boasted back then.
And Murty seems to be extraordinarily cultivating the same kind of winning mentality even when the fare on display does not appear to merit it.
Last night’s win at Bellslea was frankly an eyesore – the football ‘played’ was at times painful to watch, and flowing footwork was completely AWOL. But three decent goals were the difference, more than the difference, and while Rangers’ play at times hurt the eyes, they showed plenty of glimpses of the gulf in class.
But it was the win which counted – and Rangers have only won in 2018. We have to give Murty credit for this. At this precise juncture, he is proving a lot of doubters wrong – how long it will last remains to be seen, but if Rangers keep on building up this head of steam under him, it could be quite a while.
We would say bigger tests under Murty are yet to arrive but the comical irony is he is four points from six against Aberdeen and Celtic this season and that is an exceptional return when we expected so little.
We will talk about the squad and the window’s work in a later entry, but for now, Murty is doing as much as he possibly can.
Welcome back ibroxnoise
Murty is actually 10 points from 12 this season against Aberdeen and Celtic. In fact, I think he has never lost to either team.
Add in an impressive January transfer window and I agree with the article – Go Murty!!
Mark Allen has to be mentioned also he's been brilliant this window.
Turning down 8M for Escobar also shows great intention by the club & board.
If he gets 20+ in the SPL & he plays in the world cup we can triple that no bother.
All the signings have made us stronger, apart from Cummings he needs to up his game big time or him and Maid Marion are heading back to Sherwood Forest.
Sick we never got Tyler Roberts!!
Agree with You about Tyler Roberts Mate 😀 And I Also Hope Cummings comes good! 😀
"…four points from six against Aberdeen and Celtic this season…"
Isn't it 10 points from 12? 3 wins against Aberdeen and the draw against Celtic? I mean, I know he was caretaker in the first two fixtures, but he still picked the team and was in charge those days. Credit where credit is due.
My biggest question is if GM as done this well so fast with little money how bad is PC ?
I think Murtys man-management is the key really. He's got them feeling like a gang, with a positive environment. Every photo taken from the academy is evidence of that, laughing, getting on while equally putting in the work. Florida came at the right time too i think. There's something natural, embryonic developing at Auchenhowie. It's early days, but something feels right about it all. We can only hope it continues.
FF
Fair article. I think it's a case of horses for courses. Murty has brought in players that are attuned to our rubbish standard of Scottish football. That's not a slight on our new players, our game is just garbage compared to the rest of the world.
I also feel Jimmy Nichol must be a massive positive influence on our players also.
Watching the Frazerburgh game last night was most disappointing from a footballing point of view. I take on board Murty made 6 changes, but Bates distribution of the ball was woeful. Again we have failed to bring in a tall, solid centre half who can header for fun. I would certainly have Alves (when fit) and Martin at the back. Hodgson, Halliday and Kranchar are the most biggest waste of wages on our books.
All in all, the new signings seem to add a bit of steel to our game. But, we seem to fade in the last 15-20 minutes in games, for example, Aberdeen and Ross County, we fell apart and were lucky not to lose points because of it, so hopefully we can fix that before Saturday because we ginger nut will have Hibs fighting and bullying us for the full 90 minutes on Saturday!
Don’t forget Herrera also woeful, totally agree about Bates just a big lad with little talent , definitely not Rangers class and can’t seehim improving .
Welcome back Richard and Co was wondering what had gone down !!!! Very happy with signings and agree with other posts …those we have are more attuned to the Scottish Football which is to be honest poor !@@ Cummings will be awesome once he gets more game time and hopefully his work rate will rub off on Morelos who can be lazy .Good work by the Board and Mark Alllen …onwards…just shows what a little improvement can do …it'll be even better when it starts to fully gel…Hibs will be a stern test as Ginger Twat will have them fired up …we need to show then ..Murts doing a good job ..Jimmy Nic a total legend…I bet the crack is fabulous and the advice and steering for Murty immense…We will be a force up to the End of this season and even better next when we will fully challenge for our rightful place …WATP GSTQ
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Jason Cummings needs game time also he is not the player to have up front on his own he needs to have a partner to play off McBurnie would have been the ideal guy for that job how did we manage to miss out on him I am more than happy at what Murty is doing good luck to him
Well hows he going to fit into a 4-2-3-1???
Last night we practically put out a 2nd string team and sill won. No fod, no Martin, no tav, no morales, no murphey,
The fact that we started with hailday and kranjcar who haven’t been getting a game really says it all. Good result and giving others a chance to show why they are there
Welcome Home. Well said as usual Robbie Wilson.
Ibrox Noise, there's a constant and loud sound from NO voters stating You don't speak for me Nicola Sturgeon.
It appeared Murty was none of these and most fans were disappointed at best at the announcement.
Well sorry but by stating.
"
It appeared Murty was none of these and most fans were disappointed at best at the announcement" You appear not for the first time to feel you speak for a large section of Anti Murty people.
At no point have I thought ANYONE ELSE should get the job on merit. NOBODY
If he doesn't get the job here's one guy who will kick up hell.
McCoist, total Peoples Choice. Talked a good game
Fabulous player, great patter merchant.
Through away a 15/16 point lead and got worse as it goes on.
Murty isn't a fancy Dan. But clever man manager
Great to have you back giving us the lowdown on alL things concerning our great club. I was thinking you had gone for good. WATP
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