The more Ibrox Noise looks at the post-Rangers careers of Michael Beale, and especially Steven Gerrard, the more we’re amazed the Chuckle Brothers were able to win anything in Scotland, even after three years.
With Gerrard’s latest venture, Al-Ettifaq, having not won since October last year, and his spell at Aston Villa being similarly dismal, the boy is evidently not cut out for management any more than the hapless Wayne Rooney.
Poor Jordan Henderson, having made a mercenary call to move out there for money, now wants out because his old mate can’t manage him or the rest of the team for toffee and he doesn’t want the end of his career to be ‘this’.
Meanwhile Beale only has two wins in five since he went to Sunderland, and of course many ‘used’ to credit him as the brains behind 55.
Neither of them is higher than managerial career 40% win ratio, and Gerrard is as low as 32%. Outside of Rangers, obviously.
We have tried to theorise exactly how these two complete eedjits were able to ‘mastermind’ tying their shoelaces never mind 55, and while some would argue Beale was the system and Gerrard the executive decisions, ultimately they clearly absolutely fluked it.
Not only that, but they benefited from a self-destructing Celtic under the hilariously abysmal Barrier Years Neil Lennon who was the kind of manager to celebrate from a league being ‘voted’ in his club’s favour.
No, we have only one tangible true and legitimate answer as to how Pinky and Perky won anything at Rangers and that answer is so simple:
Peak Ryan Jack.
During 55 Ryan Jack enjoyed the best spell of his career. He was titanic, and he single-handedly stopped the goals going in – he covered Tavernier constantly, and while Jack was fit, Rangers just did NOT concede goals. Barely a single one.
He was an absolute titanic monster during that season. Truly brilliant.
There is no coincidence the form and results (to an extent) from February 21 dipped majorly when he was injured.
He did never did get that form back, sadly – the injuries took over.
Anyone who thinks Beale or Gerrard were the reason for 55 is quite understandable to think that, because it probably included Ibrox Noise once upon a time.
But looking at how abysmal both have been in their solo management careers gives an indication that it was a lot more about the players, and particularly Jack, than anything Tweedle-Dee or Tweedle-Dum were doing above them.
Very telling that since 55, Jack has barely been fit, and the team nowhere near as good as a consequence.
Dujon Sterling has been… well… sterling, but there’s a long way to go on that one.
No, Beale and Gerrard are managerial plonkers and there’s just no way they took Rangers to 55.
The players, especially Ryan Jack, did.