We babble on about Walter Smith in January 2007 a lot, and we know that we do, simply because the Grand Master of Rangers’ impact in the month of that year when he came back cannot be overstated.
It is also a template for success.
What did he do?
He took over Paul Le Guen’s shambles of a squad and added David Weir, Ugo Ehiogu, and Kevin Thomson, not to mention Andy Webster.
The difference?
Between that January and the following summer Rangers won fractionally more points than Celtic, who at the time of his arrival were around 20 points clear.
It was too big a gap to catch, but the groundwork was there and Rangers, overnight, became Scotland’s best team again.
Which is why we’re a bit concerned that as we approach July, we have signed no quality experienced defenders and currently have Connor Goldson, Leon Balogun, John Souttar and Ben Davies.
Balogun, of course, got his extension and we were delighted with that, but the one thing we need alongside him and as well as just him are a Premier League-level defender or two, like Everton’s Weir or Villa legend Ehiogu. Because Ben Davies ain’t gonna cut it.
One name that has absolutely cropped up is that of Scott McKenna, and you know what, we’d be happy with that.
25 appearances in the Premier League, 82 in the SPL, 69 in the Championship plus 37 Scotland caps not to mention being left footed.
He’s played in two Euros, world cup qualifiers and Euro qualifiers – he is a solid defender and if there’s one thing Rangers need it’s defenders like that.
He’s a very Walter-style defender, no frills, no fuss – and it’s the kind of addition Walter made back in the day.
Because Rangers’ late great ex-manager knew it starts with defence – you don’t have a team if you don’t have a defence, and we can’t quite understand why a former defender like Philippe Clement doesn’t seem to be seeking any alpha stoppers at the back.
Balogun and McKenna at the back for Rangers would not be a horrible defence, with John Souttar in there too. We have no time for Goldson or Davies.
But we could probably use another too.