It took me a while, but finally I cover the Steven Davis deal. The wonderful, if slightly predictable news that the midfield maestro has put pen to paper on a further 12 months at Ibrox, and will possibly push us towards 56.
Ibrox Noise is running out of platitudes for this man, who has become one of our greatest players ever.
It’s ironic – when he first returned in January 2019, he was so far off the pace it was embarrassing.
Surplus at Southampton, he came to Rangers on loan till the summer, and was completely out of sorts with the pace of the SPL. He was slow, cumbersome, and dearly struggled with life back north of the border.
Steven Gerrard even admitted the man was taking his time to get back to form, and Davis was by no means a starter.
Until, that is, the split.
The split of 2019 changed everything. Sure, Celtic had already won the title, but Rangers’ form during this period was exceptional, and showed the capacity of Steven Gerrard’s regime, even if still in a ‘testing’ bed.
But it was Davis’ form in a new position of deep-lying playmaker which stood out most.
Previously a more dynamic CM, the old warhorse was pulled back into the ‘Barry Ferguson’ role – and it’s safe to say he’s never looked back.
His form since that April has been consistently excellent, but this season, 20/21, has been Simply the Best of his career.
He’s been world class, simple as. He’s revelled in his new slot, which makes the best of his attributes and allows him to dictate play like Barry used to. In short, it was a managerial masterstroke by the management team to bring him into that slot, and he’s been thriving on it.
But this season? Just completely remarkable.
Many fans decry the fact he’s not younger, but the younger Davo didn’t have the maturity and wisdom, not to mention experience, to read the game like this and it just wouldn’t have worked.
It does now.
It’s Davo understanding football like few others, and delivering class performances time and time again.
It was a no brainer to give him a new deal – and while he’s not a long term solution, he will be able to give us a season or two more for sure.
And Rangers’ midfield couldn’t be in better hands.
Delighted he has signed another deal, my only concern is his age & I hope SG & RW identify another player of his ilk to slot in that role to lighten the load over the course of next season & eventually become Davo’s replacement. With Arf not getting any younger & Jack’s fitness issues we need to strengthen the MF before we have a crack at the CL next season. I’d personally like to see John Fleck come back north of the border & we could get him cheap once Sheffield get relegated, he knows the club & has something to prove
“has become one of our greatest players ever”. Love this comment, hard to argue otherwise.
One of the most underrated players of his generation.
Davis has always been a class act and a complete professional.
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