Is Steven Gerrard making Rangers great again?
Article by: Richard
It’s his first management job apart from
coaching Liverpool’s U18’s, but Steven Gerrard
knows how to fix the gap that developed in 2012, between Celtic and a skint,
underperforming Rangers.
coaching Liverpool’s U18’s, but Steven Gerrard
knows how to fix the gap that developed in 2012, between Celtic and a skint,
underperforming Rangers.
The world class football legend has been
working tirelessly since joining Rangers and is totally dedicated to becoming a
management success at Ibrox.
working tirelessly since joining Rangers and is totally dedicated to becoming a
management success at Ibrox.
He has already brought in seven players since
taking over the job. Keeper Alan
McGregor, versatile midfielder Scott
Arfield, centre back Connor Goldson,
central defender Nikola Katic, full
back Jon Flanagan, winger Jamie Murphy plus loan signing
midfielder Ovie Ejaria. with the
promise of more players still to arrive at Ibrox.
taking over the job. Keeper Alan
McGregor, versatile midfielder Scott
Arfield, centre back Connor Goldson,
central defender Nikola Katic, full
back Jon Flanagan, winger Jamie Murphy plus loan signing
midfielder Ovie Ejaria. with the
promise of more players still to arrive at Ibrox.
If he has a chance of succeeding with the difficult
task of turning his Rangers team into league or cup winners, he must prioritise
the weaknesses he found during his studying of many of last season’s Rangers
performances.
task of turning his Rangers team into league or cup winners, he must prioritise
the weaknesses he found during his studying of many of last season’s Rangers
performances.
He saw that Celtic had superior fitness over
other SPL teams, and that was imperative to them dominating the league in
recent years.
other SPL teams, and that was imperative to them dominating the league in
recent years.
Gerrard has made it crystal clear to his squad
that they must be prepared to press the opposition continuously until they win
the ball back. To attain his intentions correctly, all his players must be fit
enough to be able to deliver these tactics.
that they must be prepared to press the opposition continuously until they win
the ball back. To attain his intentions correctly, all his players must be fit
enough to be able to deliver these tactics.
And that’s exactly what Gerrard is looking
for, once his exhaustive pre-season training is over and why he took his
players to Malaga
to improve their fitness levels ahead of the new season.
for, once his exhaustive pre-season training is over and why he took his
players to Malaga
to improve their fitness levels ahead of the new season.
Gerrard couldn’t help but notice the defence
was letting the team down in most games, due to their obvious defensive
deficiencies. Again, a situation which he is resolving.
was letting the team down in most games, due to their obvious defensive
deficiencies. Again, a situation which he is resolving.
Signing Connor
Goldson and Nikola Katic, two
tall central defenders, became one
of his priorities and were both identified by Gerrard as his main defensive targets
in late May. He also brought versatile full back Jon Flanagan to make the defence even stronger.
Goldson and Nikola Katic, two
tall central defenders, became one
of his priorities and were both identified by Gerrard as his main defensive targets
in late May. He also brought versatile full back Jon Flanagan to make the defence even stronger.
The amount of deadwood players who still remain
under contract to Rangers is mainly due to our previous managers’ relatively
poor signing choices during their various transfer periods. Stevie and his
background staff are also working their way through this other problem.
under contract to Rangers is mainly due to our previous managers’ relatively
poor signing choices during their various transfer periods. Stevie and his
background staff are also working their way through this other problem.
Gerrard has stated that he will not continue
playing the same way against every team they meet.
playing the same way against every team they meet.
Frankly, this has been glaringly obvious for
several seasons and thankfully he is addressing the issue.
several seasons and thankfully he is addressing the issue.
Encountering Celtic, Aberdeen, Hibernian and Hearts away from home
should be the most difficult encounters we will meet this season and a new,
positive defence is just part of the reinvention of the team. He will also pick
stronger, faster and fitter midfield battlers for these special occasions.
should be the most difficult encounters we will meet this season and a new,
positive defence is just part of the reinvention of the team. He will also pick
stronger, faster and fitter midfield battlers for these special occasions.
Gerrard will want to pick a very difficult
team to beat and more importantly, one that can also win these games.
team to beat and more importantly, one that can also win these games.
Let’s hope his new team will compete, scrap
and fight for every loose ball during every match, and
return Rangers to our former glory.
and fight for every loose ball during every match, and
return Rangers to our former glory.