So it now seems absolutely 99% certain that Kevin Muscat will indeed be Rangers’ next manager. Ibrox Noise completely endorses this appointment, even although there is obviously a little sense of uncertainty about him jumping up to the level of Rangers, having come from Asia.
He’s been a massive success out there, but time will tell to see how he translates that success to Govan. However, as another Ibrox Noise piece explains, there is a slightly more pressing concern, and that remains Kevin Thelwell.
If Muscat is to come in and be Rangers’ head coach stroke manager, he will still be working under Kevin Thelwell, and Kevin Thelwell signed Yussef Chermiti. No one likes the sporting director. Kevin Thelwell is deeply unpopular and signed a load of garbage for Rangers. Other reports have also questioned his recruitment record, and rightly so.
Of course, it’s entirely possible that Muscat can get more of a song out of this ragamuffin group of players, but still, Thelwell spent £10 million on the Everton failure, and overall about £45 million, depending on source, on all the players combined. Yes, there were players sold, but that’s not the point.
The point is, Rangers invested at least £35 million, £45 million, going by something that Thelwell himself said. ESPN has reported that Muscat doesn’t shy from challenges, and he will need that attitude now. He doesn’t seem to be going anywhere. After all the rumours recently about his being sacked, Muscat appears to be taking the job under Thelwell, so Rangers fans aren’t going to be free of this guy any time soon.
Previously, we used to talk about how any new player coming in under Russell Martin would struggle, given the fact that it was Russell Martin. The player was hamstrung immediately, no matter what. The Scottish Sun noted that Muscat commands respect and tactical authority, which might help offset that dynamic. It’s kind of the same logic.
For Muscat under Thelwell, how will he be able to shine under this sporting director? William Hill’s football report reflected the confidence growing around him. We hope that this structure will allow Muscat to dictate signings a lot more, and to have a lot more freedom than potentially Martin had, although that was probably a good thing in hindsight.
Either way, Thelwell is not a great influence at Rangers, and we do hope that Muscat is able to do his own job.