Whisper it, but Rangers have not only got three wins in a row, but have five wins in the last six matches. After the way that Derek McInnes started his Rangers career as Rangers manager, this is quite the turnaround. Ibrox Noise has long been believers that it does not matter how you win, as long as you do. That’s the Walter Smith School of Winning.
The Walter Smith school of winning
This is the very school that Walter Smith taught at. The great man himself did not win football well. He was not an advocate of pretty, pleasant on the eye football that flowed and blessed the eyes and senses. Instead, the great man was all about winning at all costs, efficiently, clinically and decidedly. This meant that we saw an awful lot of ugly football under him, but fans didn’t care because we won.
There were, of course, a few star players who could make a difference, which definitely helped. But overall, the standard of football was not aesthetically pleasing. We can certainly say that this is very much what Derek McInnes has been doing so far. The football has been far from pretty, but in the last six matches, five wins, and it is very, very hard to argue with that.
Five wins from six
Of course, we all know the disaster of a European result against Jablonec. It was diabolical. But nevertheless, it has put, as we’ve said before, McInnes in the same position that Ange Postecoglou at Celtic was in. A bunch of new signings and now no Europe to contend with, just domestic affairs.
And on that note, it is hard to complain when you’ve just won three in a row, regardless of the manner by which they came around. We will, of course, have upcoming previews of the Old Firm doubleheader in due course. But for now, the old adage applies: you can only beat who you play and Rangers are doing that at the moment.
It doesn’t matter if it’s by hook, crook or a walking stick. The simple reality is that that’s three points in a row, three times. Consequently, that’s all McInnes can possibly do. For all the gripes about this, that and the next thing under his management, and Ibrox Noise has had plenty, it’s hard to argue with nine points out of nine.
Pressure begins to fade
Rangers have now jumped up to third in the league. We’re now five points behind the leaders and this is a better thing to see. We want improvement and we want to be first. But the reality is all you can do is win. That’s the Walter Smith School of Winning.
McInnes now is doing that and, for now, the huge pressure he was under barely a week or two ago has definitely faded. And if he keeps this up, then yes, we are doing the right things at last.
But that depends on if.