Will midfield Ranger step up for Steven Gerrard?

With the Gerrard revolution in full swing, one player has been noticeably and quietly getting on with his work in training, without too much fanfare at all.

Greg Docherty enjoyed a blistering start to his Rangers career – after a few matches to get up to speed, the midfielder became one of the best players in the squad with hard-working, marauding, and tough but technically excellent displays in which he formed a very impressive partnership with now-departed Sean Goss.

Docherty did the ground work, the running, the harrying, the physical labour, while Goss pulled the strings and found runners while also keeping the play ticking over.

This is not to say Docherty couldn’t pass, far from it – indeed he was seen more than once putting in very decent crosses in surprisingly advanced areas, so it’s not like he lacked that quality.

But it all caved in dramatically at Ibrox when Rangers lost 2-3 to Celtic, and the ex-Hamilton man didn’t feature much at all after that, despite in himself not having had an especially awful match that afternoon. Of course, the mismanagement was evident, but unfortunately it led to, in his case, a psyche change from some fans.

A lad like him who was giving everything for the cause and could more than play a bit suddenly got cast to the flames by a portion of the support who appeared to have decided he was garbage.

Don’t get me wrong – a lot of fans were frustrated by this – and pointed out he would be in their side by a mile over Jason Holt – but there was a sizeable chunk who felt Docherty was simply a bad signing.

Which we find impalpable.

Docherty has everything to make it as a Rangers star. As a Rangers captain. He fights for the shirt, he has power, strength, and doesn’t lack for technical ability either. He still has some developing to do (he is only 21 after all) but he is a player Rangers can rely on and we need guys like him in the side.

It is a clean slate for us with all members of the squad – we just hope fellow fans give Docherty the same courtesy.