Steven Harrigan
Alistair Aird
Grant Cameron
Jamie Currie
Kenny Stewart
Lee Clark
Ross Kilvington
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Adam Robertson
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I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you for your interest in the first edition of The Gallant Few magazine It's a privilege to share our passion for Rangers with all of you, and we're excited to provide you with top-quality written content from a diverse range of incredibly talented writers
Our team has put a lot of hard work into crafting this magazine, and we hope that it will become a valuable source of news, analysis, and commentary for all of you We're committed to providing you with the latest updates on everything happening at Rangers, as well as insights and perspectives from a number of exRangers players and staff
We aim to make a printable version of the magazine available as soon we possibly can. Please do follow our social media channels for further updates
We're always looking for ways to improve the magazine and to better serve our readers, so please don't hesitate to reach out with any feedback or suggestions you may have
Thank you for your support, and we look forward to sharing our love of Rangers with you for many editions to come
Sincerely,
Adam Robertson Editor of The Gallant FewThe Ibrox Main Stand was built using 1,018,000 red Ruabon bricks Those bricks were sourced from the Dennis Ruabon factory in Wrexham, only a few miles from the clubs Racecourse Ground ‘It’s all good Welsh brick and will be here long after the others have gone’-Bill Struth, talking about the stand that now bears his name in honour
My background is in the construction industry, I am a joiner, so I like to think I know a thing or two about building things. The first rule in building anything is, get your foundations correct and the rest will follow, build it and they will come
The new Edmiston House opposite Ibrox is something all Rangers fans should feel a huge sense of pride over After all it wasn’t so long ago, we faced struggles in even getting a fan zone on matchdays off the ground, so to go from that to what we have now in such a short space of time is something to be applauded and celebrated over The building itself represents a symbol of all the spivs tried to pillage and destroy from us, its an act of growth, defiance and a testament to the investors and supporters continued loyalty and backing, my only gripe is we should have made it bigger!
I held off my inaugural visit to the new premises until I had an opportunity to experience it with my family, that might sound rather coy, but shopping, as any woman will tell you should be an experience, an event and for too long we've not had a place to take our children and plant the seeds of future generations of Rangers fans I have two children aged 3 and 5 respectfully, and while it's not quite Willy Wonka’s for them, for it was exactly that for me, a place that for a long time seemed outside our reach or possibility The former Ibrox ‘megastore’ had become a run down, shameful looking shop in previous years, for many different reasons, even finding a simple Rangers branded football or bath duck had become a challenge, so God knows what any European away supporters or football tourists and enthusiasts alike made of it as they ventured inside in anticipation of picking up a souvenir
For anyone not yet been, the club shop is now spread over two floors, with a modest but perfectly acceptable sized café, its bright, modern in its feel and spacious enough that you can
once again lose your traveling party as you search the items on offer.
Not long after I arrived I witnessed a large bus load of supporters arrive, each one more eager than the one before to rummage through the rails of merchandise as if it was some goldmine of a garage sale, I sipped my coffee and Rangers branded shortbread purchased from the 2nd floor café as my two young children gazed in awe of the view of the magnificent stadium across from us I won’t lie a wry smile came over me, it’s been a long time coming, but finally we once again are starring to feel like a proper football club in all aspects, trophies will be won and lost, that’s for the manager and players to contend with but for the men in blazers who sit in the directors box on matchdays, their task is to keep us emptying our pockets when we enter EH, I might have left a far poorer man in monetary terms after my first trip, but I left a far richer man in happiness knowing that the very things so many tried so hard to strip and take from us, we have finally rebuilt.
There will be moans and groans from some sections of our support who view it as a white elephant and proclaim the outlay could be better utilised going towards the playing squad Personally, I think that's a short-term micro view
Photo: Steven Harrigan
The next phase of our continued growth must be aiming for an English Premier League level standards across the board, in as many key areas as feasible on and off the field, even if that transpires to less in transfer fees to spend. Putting aside how Steven Gerrard departed, sadly with him did much of the standards he demanded and had become accustomed to throughout his incredible career, since then there can be no doubt, the overall state of affairs in key areas has gone to rot or at best neglect
Ross Wilson wasn't anywhere near the force of nature in terms of personality Gerrard is, he also lacks the status to demand the same things Gerrard did That, plus a reduction on the overall outlay in several departments, showed.
Looking forward now, James Bisgrove has a big task ahead, but he has shown already he is a man with ambition and forward thinking Him and John Bennett are now tasked with brining a freshness of approach and ideas to all the groundwork laid by those who went before
The multi-purpose concert venue is a magnificent string to our bow, it allows the club to have a continued income flow, host Rangers events without the expense or logistical nightmare of hiring out a hotel and offers both pre-and postmatch entertainment on game days
Live music and Glasgow are two things as embedded as Rangers and the city and since the abandonment and wilful neglect of the city centre there has been a lack of medium sized venues to offer an alternative and more intimate experiencethan the larger ones Having a state of the art, modern, facility with strong transport links is a huge factor, concert goers can enjoy all the restaurants and bars of the towns plush west end or city centre areas before taking a short trip on the Clockwork Orange subway and arriving at EH,
no need for cars if they wish (although it would be handy if the subway ran a little later into the evening)
The footfall of Edmiston House is not yet complete, and even when fully operational we mustn’t allow complacency to set in, keeping on top of new developments or just enhancing the experience is a must.
A museum is due to open sometime in the near future, again this is a project I’m more than excited for. I have been fortunate enough to visit many stadiums from all walks of sport all over the world and while our trophy room at the top of the marble staircase is always impressive this signifies a massive step. Doing it correct and building it to last is a must. Because it’s that museum more than all else that will drive and intrigue the future generations of fans, casting them under the spell that we all find ourselves under. It’s the museum that will drive the profits in the club shop, bring more busloads of fans and have the ability for grandfathers and fathers alike to tell their sons and daughters about days of old as their senses and memories come alive while visiting it
As Bill Struth knew only too well, investing in bricks and mortar is always the right thing to do. Built correctly, it's an investment that will stand the test of time
All this is just further evidence that our rebirth is still firmly on track, these days a modern football club has to be able to make money just about 365 days a year Edmiston House now allows us to do that, and as jealous eyes pry at us from across the city, we remember another one of Mr Struth’s famous sayings " Let the others come after us, "we welcome the chase”
One of the most interesting characters to play with Rangers was goalkeeper Harry Rennie. Having played out most of his career with home club Morton, Hearts and then Hibernian, he arrived at Ibrox in 1908 as a replacement for Alex Newbigging. Rennie was a larger-than-life popular character in Scottish football. He was instantly recognisable to fans because of a disfigurement on the left side of his head It seemed to cause him some disquiet and, in some pictures, he turned his face to the left to obscure the lump. Just a few weeks after joining Rangers he went under the knife and the team photograph of season 1908-09 shows him turned at 90 degrees to the camera, possibly obscuring the bandages following his operation
The procedure transformed Harry’s appearance and when he was called into action that season, some fans did not recognise him Unfortunately, the surgery impaired his eyesight, at least temporarily, and he was not the goalkeeper he
once was. For Rennie however, if his skill was diminished, he could always rely on the ‘lucky’ halfpenny he carried with him!
The keeper was somewhat superstitious and a few years earlier when he served Hibs, they were in freefall seemingly facing relegation On a train journey back from Easter Road one afternoon, he met a famous hangman named Billington who was returning from Inverness. Hearing of Rennie’s woes, Billington handed him what he called the ‘hangman’s lucky penny’ From then, Rennie carried it with him for every match, but he could not halt the slide. After one painful defeat, he stepped outside the ground and threw the penny as far as he could He then saw a halfpenny lying on the ground and decided that this may be the new talisman. From then, Hibs fortunes turned and Rennie always kept it with him
Whether through the halfpenny losing its shine, or perhaps his impaired eyesight, luck deserted Rennie in his biggest game for Rangers – the 1909 Scottish Cup Final against Celtic With Rangers leading 2-1 in the final minutes, he came for a cross. He later said, ‘I dismissed that idea (of palming the ball away) as panic and crude goalkeeping, unworthy of the standard of play associated with the Glasgow Rangers Football Club…’ He caught the ball cleanly, but the referee considered that ball had crossed the line. Few close to the incident agreed, but the goal gave Celtic their scarcely deserved equaliser The
match would go to replay and the club had been robbed of the trophy In the dressing room, it was said that Rennie ‘cried like a child’, believing he had denied the club.
The replay gained its own infamy when the fans rioted at the end of 90 minutes, due to a misunderstanding over whether extra-time would be played. The trophy was withheld, and Rennie lost the opportunity of the medal he deserved He left Ibrox in 1910, heading to Inverness and Kilmarnock before concluding his professional career back at Cappielow.
Rennie will never be considered one of our best keepers, but he had a flamboyant style borne in his early career as full-back. Whilst he is famed as a goalkeeper, he began his career as a full-back He would drift upfield and became something of a keeper/sweeper He also studied the angles of the attack and how to position himself, claiming that he ‘disdained the orthodox and designed a really scientific system for himself’ His unique style and ability earned him caps for Scotland Indeed, he was capped at both Junior and full international level – one of the few players to represent his country as both a defender and goalkeeper
Sadly, luck deserted him at a vital time in his Rangers career. He gained some compensation for his Scottish Cup woes by helping Rangers to a 4-2 win over our Old Firm rivals in the Charity Cup Final With that, his time at Rangers ended as the jersey went to Englishman Herbert Lock.
When Graeme Souness arrived at Rangers in April 1986, the revolution that saw Rangers Football Club revitalised and reborn started in earnest. Over the course of the summer, the club’s firstever player-manager set about bucking a trend at that time that saw the cream of Scottish talent crossing Hadrian’s wall to play in England Helped by the fact that English clubs were banned from playing in European competition, Souness was able to lure Terry Butcher and Chris Woods to Glasgow and later in the season he persuaded Graham Roberts to move north too. But as pivotal as those protagonists were in laying the foundations for the success that followed, neither of them tops the list when it comes to identifying Souness’s best signing. And as vital as the likes of Richard Gough, Ray Wilkins, and Mark Hateley would prove to be as the Souness era progressed, they’re not in the number one slot either In fact, the man at the top of the list isn’t even a player. That’s because the best signing Graeme Souness made when he was Rangers manager was his first one, Walter Ferguson Smith
Born and raised as a Ranger in Carmyle, Smith trained as an electrician and had what he himself admitted was a rather ordinary playing career The highlights from two spells at Dundee United that sandwiched a stint with Dumbarton were a bootkissing celebration when he scored for United in a Dundee derby and a spectacular own goal in the Scottish Cup semi-final replay in 1976 when the Sons went down 3-0 against Hearts.
A pelvic injury hastened the end of Smith’s playing career, but paved the way for him to start what would be an illustrious career as a coach and manager. The nascent days of that journey were at Dundee United under Jim McLean United were emerging alongside Aberdeen as genuine contenders for silverware in Scotland, going toeto-toe with the two heavyweights, Rangers and Celtic A League Cup win in season 1979/80 was
just the beginning, United shocking many when they topped the Scottish Premier Division table at the end of season 1982/83 A controversial defeat in the semi-finals of the European Cup against AS Roma denied United the chance to face a Liverpool side captained by Souness in the Final.
But earlier in that season, Smith looked to be on the verge of moving to his boyhood heroes when McLean was offered the manager’s job at Rangers after John Greig resigned McLean would have a late change of heart, electing to stay in the hotseat at Tannadice Good things come to those who wait, though, and Smith would eventually make his way down the A9 in 1986
As box office as Graeme Souness was – he had the stellar playing CV, medals galore, and was captain of Scotland – Smith had something he didn’t have; a thorough working knowledge of Scottish Football And although Souness is rightly given a lot of credit for the revolution at Rangers, the role that Smith played was arguably just as significant, if not more so Indeed, Smith was so highly thought of by Souness that when Graeme left for Liverpool in April 1991, he wanted his trusty lieutenant to come with him. But Smith declined. He had a date with destiny
I spoke to Sir David Murray for one of the books I was working on, and he told me that he sought counsel from his senior players when it came to deciding who would replace Souness. Among that group were Mark Hateley and Richard Gough They could have put forward the name of someone who had managerial experience, but they were unanimous when it came to the name of the man they wanted to be the next manager of Rangers Football Club It was the proverbial ‘no-brainer’; it had to be Walter Smith
But talk about thrown in at the deep end.
Rangers were trying to fend off the challenge of Alex Smith’s Aberdeen as the title race entered its final furlong. When Smith took over, Rangers were top of the pile, although their advantage was just two points which made the margin for error extremely slight Single goal victories over St Mirren and Dundee United started the Smith era, but a trip to Fir Park in the penultimate league fixture seemed to deliver a fatal blow in the title chase Mark Walters blazed a penalty kick over the bar, and Rangers, minus their captain, Richard Gough, succumbed to a late double from Dougie Arnott, a scourge of the Light Blues in that era His first goal gave Rangers the advantage going into the final day; his second handed the initiative to the Dons. They now travelled to Ibrox for a final day showdown needing just a draw to secure their first title since season 1984/85
Thus, Smith faced a fourth match in charge, the outcome of which would likely shape his
managerial future. Had that majestic header from Mark Hateley not hit the net, had the Englishman not shown his predatory instincts to snaffle the rebound from Mo Johnston’s shot, would Rangers have gone on to embark on one of the most successful eras in their history under the guidance of their rookie manager?
Although we will never definitively know the answer to that question, the significance of that match was massive Hateley’s goals sealed threein-a-row and provided a strong foundation for the Smith era to be built upon.
And what an era that would prove to be Champions of Scotland for the next six years, annexing the coveted nine-in-a-row in the process, Rangers also won a trio of League Cups and were Scottish Cup winners three times, the first of which ended an 11-year wait for the trophy And in season 1992/93, Smith’s side were a single goal away from making the first-ever final of the European Champions League
There were some glorious moments like the 44match unbeaten run in season 1992/93 – that side of Smith’s often triumphed in the face of adversity – and the sensational Scottish Cup Final in 1996 when Brian Laudrup tore Hearts apart Paul Gascoigne’s virtuoso performance against Aberdeen to seal eight-in-a-row springs to mind too
Laudrup and Gascoigne Two of the finest players ever to don a Rangers shirt, yet I don’t think they would have been persuaded to ply their trade in Scotland had it not been for Walter Smith Both have admitted that Smith’s sales pitch was superb, but how he handled both players was exceptional too Laudrup, shackled while in Italy, was given a free role which he used to wreak havoc on defences the length and breadth of the country. And Gascoigne? Perhaps Terry Venables was the only other manager that knew how to handle him Smith’s man-management of the eccentric Englishman was key, and it is no surprise that Gascoigne enjoyed the best years of his career while he was at Rangers.
But let’s not kid ourselves There were some depressing and disappointing times during that first epoch.
Performances in Europe were dismal the majority of the time After coming so close to the Champions League Final in 1993, Smith’s sides never came close again There were back-to-back batterings by Juventus, and maulings in Athens, Zurich, and Gothenburg Masters of all they surveyed in Scotland, Rangers were also-rans on the European stage The manager was criticised for his tactical approach, although at that time the rich were starting to get richer and the yawning chasm that now exists between Rangers and the
There were crisis points domestically too In season 1994/95, Rangers lost THREE home games in a week And one of them was against Celtic Can you imagine the meltdown on social media and fans forums had they been a thing back then? Smith, arguably our greatest manager in the postwar era, would have been subjected to torrents of abuse no doubt, and the keyboard warriors would be bashing away and suggesting in no uncertain terms that the board relieved Smith of his duties.
But Smith rode out most of the storms he faced before he left for Everton in the summer of 1998 Some may argue that he stayed a season too long and that he should have gone at the end of season 1996/97, but having delivered nine, it was only right that Smith should have been given the opportunity to guide his players to an unprecedented ten. It was unfortunately a bridge too far
Walter Smith’s domestic record during his first spell as Rangers manager was as follows:
first goal under Smith when he came on as sub in a 4-0 win over Dunfermline Athletic Shortly afterwards, there was a fine volleyed finish with his right foot in a League Cup tie against Hearts at Tynecastle. That opened the floodgates. He ended season 1991/92 with 39 goals and went 10 better the following season A broken leg sustained while playing for Scotland against Portugal in Lisbon denied McCoist a half century of goals and probably the opportunity to beat Sam English’s total of 44 league goals in one season (McCoist had 34 when his season ended) Jim Forrest’s total of 57 notched up in season 1964/65 would also have been under threat
After a couple of seasons blighted by injury, McCoist was among the goals again in season 1995/96, scoring 20 in all competitions. And although he was used somewhat sparingly during seasons 1996/97 and 1997/98, he still managed to do what he did best when called upon His goal against Hearts in the 1998 Scottish Cup Final, the last of Smith’ first spell in charge, was his 156th in 239 appearances
Incidentally, McCoist also played in the two matches when Walter Smith took charge of Rangers on a caretaker basis before Souness officially arrived on 1 May 1986 Rangers drew 1-1 at Pittodrie and lost 2-1 against Clydebank at Kilbowie in what was a drab end to a dire season
In European competition:
It won’t come as a surprise that Ally McCoist top scored during Smith’s first spell in charge Out of favour and benched by Graeme Souness for the majority of season 1990/91, McCoist scored his
Walter Smith became Everton manager after he left Rangers. He found himself in a sticky situation as the Toffees, one of the leading lights in the English game in the 1980s, were struggling to stave off relegation That would be symptomatic of Smith’s time on Merseyside, with Everton battling for survival in each of the three seasons he spent there He did, however, nurture a talented kid called Wayne Rooney, and although he was eventually sacked, Smith is highly thought of by Evertonians
calling
The Berti Vogts era ended with a miserable 1-1 draw in Moldova, and Smith took over in the midst of the qualifying campaign for the 2006 World Cup Aided and abetted by Ally McCoist, Tommy Burns, and Jim Stewart, Smith restored pride in the nation, masterminding a famous win over France at Hampden. Scotland looked set to do something they hadn’t done for a decade –qualify for the finals of a major tournament – and many of the Tartan Army reckon they would have done had Smith not been lured back to rescue Rangers in January 2007
Smith’s record for Scotland is as follows:
the club against Malmo, a record that has only been surpassed by Dougie Gray and Allan McGregor.
The signing of Weir was another astute move from Smith – he would later rate the centre-back as one his best ever signings – and recruiting Kenny Miller in the summer of 2008 would also bear fruit over those three successful seasons
The Walter Smith Era – Part 2 Rangers needed someone to resurrect them from the wreckage of the Paul Le Guen era There was only one man for the job Walter Smith followed in the footsteps of Jock Wallace by having a second stint as manager of Rangers. But unlike Wallace whose second spell didn’t replicate the achievements he had enjoyed in his first, Smith’s would be laden with silverware and success
He steadied the listing ship between January and May 2007, his side scoring a couple of moraleboosting wins over Celtic in the process, and he fortified a leaky defence by bringing in the veteran Davie Weir. That proved to be an inspired piece of business
In season 2007/08, Smith should have emulated Jock Wallace and added a second domestic Treble to his CV but was denied by bureaucracy and steadfast resistance With his side stoically shutting out Panathinaikos, Werder Bremen, Sporting Lisbon, and Fiorentina to reach the UEFA Cup Final, an extension to the season was denied As a result, Celtic took full advantage of a couple of tired performances in the run-in to win the title Defeat by Zenit St Petersburg meant that a domestic cup double was all that Rangers had to show at the end of a marathon 68-game season
But Smith’s Rangers got their revenge in the shape of three successive league titles, a couple of League Cups, and a solitary Scottish Cup
Once again, the foundation of that success was a rock-solid defence, one that was superbly marshalled by the veteran Davie Weir Smith had worked with Weir at Everton, but when Weir joined Rangers in January 2007, I don’t think either party would have expected him to make over 200 appearances for the club In that time, Weir became the oldest-ever recipient of the Scottish Football Writers’ Association’s Player of the Year, and currently ranks third on the list of ‘Golden Oldies’ to play for Rangers He was 41 years and 77 days old when he made his last appearance for
That move was a risk. Miller had a season with Celtic during which he banged his fist against their crest on his shirt after scoring against Rangers at Parkhead That was treachery in the eyes of some Rangers supporters, but Smith knew that the gamble was a calculated one. And as was so often the case, he was proven correct Before he left to join Bursaspor in January 2011, Miller netted 53 goals in 104 appearances He was also credited with 26 assists and forged a potent partnership with Kris Boyd
Boyd was also revitalised by Smith Another who fell foul of Paul Le Guen, Boyd scored with breath-taking regularity under Smith’s guiding hand He netted twice against Dundee United in the 2007/08 League Cup Final and also shot home the winning spot kick in the shoot out to earn Smith the first trophy of his second spell Another brace helped seal the Scottish Cup in a tight 3-2 win over Queen of the South in the Final And prior to leaving for Middlesbrough in the summer of 2010, Boyd scored a staggering 76 goals in 108 league appearances for Rangers while Smith was the Rangers manager
During that second spell, Walter Smith’s domestic record reads:
ranks as the greatest Rangers manager of the post-war era
However, aside from the memorable run to Manchester, Rangers did not enjoy the best of fortunes in European football:
Ally McCoist would succeed his mentor as manager But the club were soon in disarray, mired in a financial meltdown that saw Rangers demoted to the lowest level on the Scottish Football League pyramid Many suitors (or maybe more accurately swindlers) tried to resuscitate Rangers, and one of them, Charles Green, was chief executive when Walter came out of retirement to take on the role of non-executive director in November 2012
The win percentage was just 29.17%.
Walter’s second spell therefore seemed to mirror his first: dominant domestically but coming up well short in continental competition. There has to be a caveat to the latter, though The playing field during Smith’s first tenure was much more level By the time he came back, Scottish Football was akin to a goldfish swimming in a pool with sharks and piranhas It wasn’t just Rangers that were devoured by the predators at that time
At the end of season 2010/11, Walter Smith decided to call it a day After guiding the club to nine league titles (10 if you include season 1990/91 when he took over with four games to go), five Scottish Cups, and six League Cups, he announced his retirement And whilst his achievements don’t match those of Bill Struth (18 league titles, 10 Scottish Cups and two League Cups), there is a compelling argument that Smith
Smith succeeded Malcolm Murray as Rangers chairman - once again the role was a nonexecutive position - in May 2013, but resigned just three months later Rangers were in disarray, and not even someone as totemic as Smith could stop the carnivorous sharks from feasting themselves on a club that was crippled and in crisis
Walter Ferguson Smith passed away on 26 October 2021 He was 73
He has a permanent place in the hearts of everyone who played under him and worked with him during his time in football That’s the same for every Rangers supporter who witnessed his time in charge of the club too And they will all tell their children and their children’s children about Walter. I know when I talk to my kids about the history of Rangers and the figures who have shaped that history, Walter’s name comes to the fore every single time
I was lucky enough to speak to Walter on a few occasions We worked together on the forewords for the Davie Wilson and David Robertson autobiographies. I still have the email he sent me to sign off the foreword for the Robertson book He wrote:
Hi Alistair, all ok with David’s book foreword.
You are getting good at this!
Getting a wee bit of a pat on the back from Walter Smith made me feel incredible I was walking on air for days afterwards!
I last spoke to Walter in June 2021 when he shared his memories of Mark Hateley with me for Mark’s book, Hitting the Mark On every occasion, I found him engaging, accommodating and humble, and I am gutted that COVID-19 scuppered our plans to meet for a coffee That would have been a special day
In November 2022, Michael Beale became the 18th permanent manager of Rangers Football Club. When Walter Smith began his first spell as manager in 1991, he was manger number nine since our inception in 1872 But is the wily old fox our greatest ever manager?
Debates such as this are subjective, of course, as we are looking at different eras and different competitions being contested But Rangers
managers are measured on success, and only Bill Struth has won more major honours for the club than Walter
What immediately struck me when I compiled this list was that only nine of our 18 permanent managers have led us to a league title, discounting, of course the lower league titles won by Ally McCoist and Mark Warburton
Smith is also in a select band of five managers that have led Rangers into the final of a major European competition, and he’s one of only six that have managed Rangers to the domestic Treble
Greatest-ever manager? You’d be hard pushed to argue Walter Smith isn’t in the top two, perhaps only just edged out of top spot by Bill Struth in terms of silverware and longevity
But Walter Smith is also one of the greatest-ever Rangers too He loved the club and must have been immensely proud to manage his boyhood heroes to the level of success he did. But it was never about personal gain for Walter He was a proud family man, but when he was at work, his focus was ensuring that Rangers Football Club was first and foremost. As the quote attributed to him attests, ‘Rangers Football Club, do not enter unless you are prepared to put yourself second This should be the one and only time second best is good enough for you.’
Walter Smith’s legacy is everlasting and his place in the pantheon of Rangers legends is secure
Words: Jamie Currie
Shota Arveladze spent some great years at Ibrox following his transfer from Ajax in 2001. The Georgian spent four years in total at Rangers between 2001 and 2004
The Georgian became a fan favourite very quickly. It wasn't only his 57 goals in the 132 matches that had the Rangers fans taking him to their hearts, his infamous dance moves after winning the league titles in 2002/03 on goal difference and beating Dunfermline 6-1 on the final day and the unforgettable Helicopter Sunday victory, winning 1-0 at Easter Road in season 2004/05 live long in the memory.
He also won many trophies and medals at the club: he won two league titles, two Scottish Cups and one League Cup
But Shota had a great career outside of Rangers. Ajax was his breakout spell in the bigger leagues. He managed to win the Eredivisie in 1997-1998 and the Dutch Cup in both 1997-98 season and 1998-99 and along with those medals on a personal level he scored 72 goals in 124 matches.
He had a spell at the end of his career in Spain with Levante, but his success after Rangers kept coming as he joined AZ. He continued scoring for them with 48 goals in 89 games
But the much-loved hitman wasn’t only prolific at club level, he is Georgia’s all-time leading scorer with 26 goals from 61 caps Ironically, his last goal came against Scotland at Hampden in March 2007
Shota then went into management. He managed three Turkish sides between June 2009 and November 2015: Kayserispor, Kasimpasa and Trabzonspor Then, he moved to Isreal to manage Maccabi Tel-Aviv before having the most successful spell in management in Uzbekistan managing Pakhtakor, winning the Uzbek Super League twice (2019 and 2020), the Uzbek Cup twice (2019 and 2020) and the Uzbek League Cup in 2019
That success got him a move to the English Championship where he managed Greg Docherty’s Hull City side
Shota agreed to become the first ex-player to do the Q&A with The Gallant Few.
Q: So Shota, what are you doing at the moment?
SA: I have been spending some time at home in Georgia with my parents and was having some time off over the winter I am now in Istanbul and just waiting to see if any managerial opportunities come up that I could be interested in and waiting to see what I can do next.
Q: How did you find managing Hull City in the English Championship?
A: It was brilliant I really enjoyed it I stayed about nine months Last season we were happy because the season before we had to stay in the league and we managed to do that five games before the end. But there were a lot of new players brought in for the start of last season and we started well but there were a lot of injuries and that in the end cost us a lot of points Then I left the club after that
Q: Do you feel that experience at Hull has made you a better manager for the future?
SA: It’s great working in England with the passion of the fans and how the football is there And they make you love football. It was really fantastic and I have learned a lot from my time at Hull that I will take with me to my next job when it comes
Q: You’re playing in the Weekend of Legends match at the end of the month You obviously played and scored last year in the same match How does that come about in terms of being invited to play?
SA: I don’t know, really I guess they look at players who are available at the time and can still run a bit! But for me, I am just four hours from Glasgow and I enjoy playing in these matches, and being back at Ibrox and getting to see my old friends
Q: How did your move from Ajax to Rangers materialise?
SA: I had one year left at Ajax There were some disagreements about signing a new deal between myself and the board Dick knew me well and he knew I would cost less because I had one year left so that’s happened
Q: Did you realise how big a club Rangers were before joining?
SA: Yes, I knew that Rangers were a huge club The fans are crazy and that shocked me but also winning every week didn’t shock me as much as it
could have with other players as it was similar to Ajax.
Q: What is your favourite Rangers memory?
SA: My favourite goal was the header against Dunfermline when we won the league in the last minute The celebrations were amazing and the stadium was bouncing, so that is one of my favourite times at Rangers.
Q: Do you feel like you could have stayed at Rangers beyond your contract?
SA: Yes, I had everything agreed then I got injured and had to go for an operation and then things changed so I didn’t sign but I moved to AZ and continued to score after Rangers so I feel as if I still could have scored goals and contributed to Rangers at that point in my career
Q: Do you get to watch many Rangers games these days?
SA: I have watched the last few Old Firm matches, but mainly I watch highlights or check up with the scores online. Nine out of ten times I will go out my way to watch the Old Firm games if I am not travelling or working
Q: Do you have a message for any fans who may be reading this?
SA: We appreciate all your support and your hospitality and I would like to wish the fans good luck and God Bless.
‘He needs to hit the ground running!’
It’s one of those common football clichés you hear up and down the Country and it’s been particularly prevalent at Ibrox this season. Usually reserved for playing staff and managers, it was something very much levelled at Michael Beale when he took over from Giovanni Van Bronckhorst A poor run of domestic results for almost the entirety of 2022, followed by humiliation in the Champions League group stages, saw the Dutchman finally lose his job in November, with Rangers already needing to climb the proverbial mountain, to stop Celtic winning back-to-back titles.
Fan discontent had undoubtedly played a part in the Board’s decision to remove Gio and, even with a change of a manager the board faced a stormy AGM, with many asking for culpability for those who appointed him in the first place, as well as questions being asked of a quite shocking period of recruitment and player retention. It didn’t stop there, as several protests were made against senior members of the Rangers management structure which were then followed by the announcement that Chairman Douglas Park, Managing Director Stewart Robertson, Sporting Director Ross Wilson, Academy Director Craig Mulholland and Head of Finance Andrew Dickson would all be leaving the Club. How much clout the protests carried, is up for debate but, whatever the reason, the fans had made their feeling known and it’s fair to say that their replacements will very much have that old phrase ringing in their ears this close season.
It should be made clear straight off, NO ONE was protesting against Douglas Park One of the ‘Three Bears’ who led the fight against Mike Ashley and the dark days of names such as Somers and Easdale, Mr Park will be remembered fondly, taking over as Chairman in 2020 and overseeing a 55th League Title and that glorious
run to Seville with a Scottish Cup thrown in At 72 years of age it was widely accepted, Douglas would be stepping down in the near future anyway and with the club and team in a transition period, he felt now was the right time He will be replaced by Deputy Chairman, John Bennett and goes with best wishes from the vast majority. Mr Bennett, likewise has been at the club since 2015, has invested heavily and will bring huge experience from three decades of a very successful career in the Financial Industry. Fresh ideas and the almost immediate announcement of ‘restructure’ at boardroom level is no coincidence as John (a boyhood fan of the Club) has spoken candidly of taking the Club to the next level and of course being ‘the best in class’.
The same cannot be said, however of Stewart Robertson and Ross Wilson with many calling for their heads well over a year ago following a difficult period which saw manager Steven Gerrard leave the club As Managing Director, Robertson had control of day to day operations and of course, presided over the same ‘success’ that Douglas Park did however the regression in the playing squad since lifting the title two years ago,
failure to secure our biggest assets on new long term contracts, the absolute debacle that was the Australian Friendly against Celtic and refusing to act (until it was too late) with regards GVB’s tenure as Manager, was the final straw for a huge number of Rangers fans As Sporting Director, Ross Wilson took his place alongside Robertson at the forefront of the aforementioned fans protests and it’s fair to say the decision for them both to leave was welcomed by the majority of the support, with the rumour mill now in overdrive regarding even MORE changes to come Roberston will be replaced by Commercial Director, James Bisgrove not as MD but, as CEO (Chief Executive Officer) Exactly what that means, is unclear given the two roles can often be inter-changeable but, given the comments of new Chairman, John Bennett who stated Bisgrove is ‘the ideal candidate to drive the step change in energy and restructuring at Ibrox’ it suggests there could well be more changes afoot within the Management structure at the club There is no doubt, James Bisgrove is very good at his job, in which he has overseen the club return to profitability for the first time for many years and he had this to say about his new role:
“My immediate priority is to ensure Michael Beale and his staff continue to have the resources and environment they require to put a winning team on the pitch and to deliver regular trophies for our supporters This will be underpinned by overseeing the continuation of our positive financial performance and sustained profitability off the pitch I'm personally looking forward to energising our engagement with all Rangers supporters and overseeing a strengthened and aligned culture ”
Of course, James Bisgrove isn’t being welcomed by everyone within the Rangers support with many laying the blame for the Australian friendly firmly at his door Whilst Bisgrove, undoubtedly played a huge part in that, I’m prepared to give him a pass on the proviso that a) he clearly didn’t realise the ramifications with the fans and b) its literally his job to make the Club money No, there are plenty within the Ibrox hierarchy who knew fine well how that one would play out, with some of them speaking up vehemently against it and it’s for that reason it the blame lies squarely at the feet of ‘lifelong’ Rangers fan Stewart Robertson, who really should have known better.
The big question Rangers fans will be asking is, ‘what does this mean for player recruitment and trading going forward?’ The simple answer is, nobody knows just yet however Michael Beale has hinted that it may not create the disruption that some might think Speaking previously about good ‘contacts’ he had made within the game, he then added this:
"I love recruitment I've been heavily involved Ross would deal more with the agents and with the negotiations side I would deal more with the player in terms of does he fit and what I would want from him I have someone else doing the negotiation part and I go on the road and meet the players, as I've always done. But we've got really good infrastructure and really good staff, so Ross leaving is not maybe as big as some would make out "
One thing is clear, his first two signings in Todd Cantwell and Nico Raskin have made positive starts to their Rangers careers, playing the majority of the games and looking every inch like they are up for the fight Two bright, young talents for relatively small outlays is EXACTLY the type of signings and player trading model the Rangers support were promised, only a couple of years ago and if this is the sign of things to come, then perhaps the future isn’t quite as bleak as some would have you believe I see the new appointments and reshuffle as positive and there is no doubt they are all saying the right things but, as I type this in the aftermath of yet another defeat to Celtic (in the Scottish Cup Semi Final) it has never been more apparent how much of an overhaul is required within the first team squad.
With John Bennett, I believe we are in safe hands but, if we are to mount a proper challenge next season, our business HAS to be done early, to give the manager the best possible chance of turning around the mess that has been left by the previous regime Over to you Gentlemen
Words: Steven Harrigan
previously being a key figure in the Steven Gerrard coaching staff, before following him to Aston Villa in November 2021.
His arrival via QPR where a strong start to his managerial career saw the highly rated coach approached for the vacancy at Premiership side Wolves in October 2022, further strengthening his reputation as a manager in the ascendancy
Ibrox Park once stood as the backdrop to the world’s most foremost shipbuilding yards, a place where hard work, skill, camaraderie, and togetherness were needed to stave off the bitter, ice-cold wind of the Clyde that could cut a man in two The massive yards seen generations pass through, before the whistle would sound on a Saturday and off to the match they would go
Rangers supporters have never demanded a side that plays like Puskas's and Di Stefanos all concerning Real Madrid sides, but what we do have as a supporter base spoken or unspoken as a non-negotiable, is for our players to display a work rate. Rangers’ fans will tolerate imperfect characters and honest mistakes but like the foremen and chargehands of Fairfields and Browns preached what will never be accepted is a lack of effort That's why the last few months under Gio were met with so much anger and bile, the team that had just a few months earlier stood on the brink of being the greatest of all time had stopped doing the most basic of all things, putting in a shift. You never want to fail at Rangers because you never worked hard enough, work your butt off
What leads to success is discipline and constancy. Constant hard work leads to success.
Rangers are hoping familiarity breeds success with the appointment of Michael Beale. Michael or ‘Mick’ is a familiar face around these parts having
Micks’ appearance in the director’s box and watering holes that surround Ibrox for the emphatic 4-1 victory over Aberdeen on October 29th may have been the football equivalent of sending Gio two fish wrapped in a bullet-proof vest and proclaiming, "Luca Brasi sleeps with the fishes " , but it was a change that absolutely needed to happen and, in all honesty, should have happened far sooner than it did Despite a substantial injury list, a list that has never seemed to dissipate or clear for any length of time this campaign showings at Parkhead (twice), and Amsterdam told us all we needed to ever know at that juncture.
Under Van Bronckhurst the memories of the magical and unforgettable European run to Seville had long since faded and with record sales of players like Patterson and Bassey it was still a squad that lacked depth For the second consecutive season Gio had overseen a limp
Dictionary gaffer
noun...
a person in charge of others; a boss
"street cleaners stopping for a smoke when their gaffer isn't in the vicinity"Photo: Rangers FC Photo: Rangers FC
domestic league assault when far more was expected All the hallmarks that had plagued and ended Van Bronckhurst’s time at Feyenoord were starting to show through like weeds on an unkept driveway Gio’s tactical predictability, his lack of a plan B and his inability to make in game alterations most notably away from home against sides who set up in a compact manner set the alarm bells ringing in the support and by the time September came around with a visit to Parkhead and The Champions’ League Group stage starting on the pitch it already resembled end of days stuff
Opponents knew how we would play under Gio and planned accordingly, he kept his wingers wide and struggled to break sides down, his go-to 4-3-3 tactic and instructing his players to cross the ball from the wings into central areas
The game against Livingston at home on October 22nd that ended 1-1 advertised all the failings of Gio’s domestic reign, despite having 80% possession, and 25 shots his Rangers team lacked the answers to a well organised outfit, resorting to throwing cross after cross into the box in desperation more than expectancy
Michael Beales sides have the basic principle of going backwards, to go forward, he believes in his teams playing with poise and purpose, with few touches, one of a team constantly in motion Those are the core principles that have never left him since his days of coaching Futsal in church halls. He likes his midfielders to be comfortable on the ball and be willing to make piercing defence splitting runs in behind in the blink of an eye, while having a rotational frontline that keeps the opponents guessing. Patience is required as Mick and his team continue to coach how they want the side to look on and off the ball
On the training pitch Beale has reintroduced the competitive nature of every session that had gone missing under Gio You don't need to be at the training centre to see the intensity levels witnessed under Gerrard have returned, the old eye test watching our games tell you as much. This is vitally important in a league where you are every other sides cup final and was a factor that Van Bronckhurst despite being a former player at the club failed to ever fully appreciate.
The League cup final remains the one big blot on Michael Beales copybook since he took charge, opting to go for a team that looked to contain, rather than be aggressive in their approach it is the match and his immediate post-match analysis that is normally spot on from the Englishman I'm sure he wishes he could have back and do-over. Failure and setbacks happen in all walks of life, its how Beale responds to them that will define him
Even long before Michael Beale had pushed his chair in the Blue Room back to exit his introductory press conference you could hear the fingers of the online haters tapping away frantically in some quarters to talk down the announcement that club suits would make a return on home match days What many of those so quick to pass comment and judgement failed to acknowledge is that discipline and the need for standards too be reaffirmed at the club was vital, for too long at Ibrox the standards that we accepted was the standards that we got In a day when being a footballer is about a whole lot more than just the hours put in on a training pitch asking players to take responsibility for ironing a shirt, polishing their shoes or being able to do a Windsor knot for a tie is more about reaffirming core values, personal pride, and discipline than it is about looking good.
Many who were quick to criticise seemed to ignore that this was a policy Mick had taken from his time as a coach at Ibrox and introduced to his young QPR squad believing in its substance and quoting that ‘every man should own a suit’
Beale is a somewhat of a perfectionist in his outlook, he believes in being overprepared and leaving no stone unturned
“Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection, we can catch excellence ”
Vincent LombardiPhoto: Rangers FC
In that final at Hampden Raskin and Cantwell might not have been fully fit, due to having not played a whole host of first teams games of late prior to their moves but as the Spaniards found out on a visit to the same stadium a few weeks later it's best to pick your strongest and best players to start, then look to make any changes
Michael Beale is a strong believer in leadership groups, giving those respected senior players a voice and helping him create the cultural architects of his tenure What's App groups and his strong connection with many of the current squad likely played a part in Mick being appointed but they very same links would have given him an insight to what many thought was lacking and missing under the previous manager, from the outset he has been firm and unwavering in his quest for a more disciplined group, setting in motion the building blocks and foundations he hopes will see him through the inevitable roadblocks and setbacks any team encounters. This is why the much talked about decision to allow Partick to score in the Scottish Cup clash in February carries so much weight, not only did Michael Beale make the decision without hesitation it showcased a manger who was willing to go to extreme lengths to protect his players (in this case Malik Tillman), even on a day when his side were nowhere at their best. Talk is cheap, his actions, when faced with a hostile home support are to be applauded
If you want a bird’s eye view of what Michael Beale has achieved so far and what is the challenges still facing him look no further than Aprils 3-2 defeat at Parkhead From a coaching, preparation
and structural standpoint Rangers setup was about as good as you can expect, off the ball the job coached by Michael and his staff to nullify the influence of the deep lying Callum MacGregor was highly impressive and just highlights the positive change from what went before him, yet, once more it was individual, defensive errors that no coach can account for and the lack of ruthlessness in front of goal that cost us points.
Attacking set plays are night and day since Beale and his staff arrived, the attention to detail on them have been a vast improvement. Sadly, defending them has remined our kryptonite from the offset this campaign and it’s still favourable to watch them through the gaps in your fingers Aggression can’t be taught, it’s a mindset, this is one area that needs improved with reinforcements
These are issues that can only be addressed come the close season. The footnote of games at Pittodrie and the Scottish Cup Semi- Final at Hampden, are just that, they results as disappointing as they are change nothing in what’s required come May.
“If they want you to cook the dinner, at least they ought to let you shop for some of the groceries ”
Bill ParcellsA huge summer of transition looks to be ahead with the departure of key lieutenants and servants such as McGregor, Davis, Kent, Morelos, Helander all but confirmed while many others fate beyond the summer are still unclear.
Michael Beale has a massive summer ahead, the departure of Ross Wilson is one that looks to have been from the outside managed and planned for some time, with the sheer lack of on pitch value in recent campaigns all but sealing his fate Beale will be more hands on than his predecessor and no matter what route the club opt to go down in replacing Wilson long term, this summer’s recruitment will rest on him, he knows it and seems willing to embrace the challenge Value exists out there, it’s now up to him to identify it.
If broad shoulders and cusped ears are needed in the playing department, they will certainly be required in the recruitment one, with Beale taking full ownership over from the departed Wilson. Big changes are already afoot at the club with John Bennett now in place as the club’s custodian and we can expect several more moves as the infrastructure continues to be reshaped. The academy and medical departments being the ones in most urgent and desperate need of an overhaul
Mick will bet on himself and his coaching staff to improve any player that walks into 150 Edminston Drive this summer and has plenty of credit in the bank in that regard His eye for a player in the past, helped form the core group that achieved both 55 and the run to last season’s Europa League Final on a shoestring budget and may need to pull similar rabbits from his hat once again as the club looks to both manage FFP and the impending museum to be added to the already impressive Edmiston House footfall
Beale himself has spoken at great length with his desire to personally meet every transfer target in face to face, gauze into the whites of their eyes and see if they have the appetite and swagger to pull on the light blue.
In Glasgow there is a word used to describe certain people who carry themselves with real confidence, Galas The two additions already made by the Gaffer are players who fall under that category and not only provided much needed box to box and creative options in midfield, but are individuals who, first and foremost put in a shift and perhaps most importantly of all, possess broad enough shoulders to cope with the weight of expectation being a Ranger brings
The goalkeeping situation is one that he simply must get correct, being a goalkeeper at Rangers is far more than just being a good or capable shot shopper, it's as much about mentality as anything
Last summer's ridiculous decision to kick the can down the road on a goalkeeping replacement, has been one that has backfired
Alan McGregor was afforded what we all thought to be his farewell send-off in last season’s Scottish Cup Final Coming on late in the game to secure his first ever Scottish Cup Winners medal, with it getting a goodbye not even the likes of a McCoist and Durrant were afforded I’m not sure even the player himself expected to return at that stage, with the contract offer being afford to him at that point in time reflective of that.
All that was to quickly change, a new offer was made, and Allan McGregor returned, but not in his eyes, or the eyes of the senior players to play backup Part of Allan’s makeup and reason he is such a great goalkeeper is his mentality, and his self-belief, it’s what all Rangers keepers need, and what Jon McLaughlin for all his impressive cameo appearances the season before lacks, a presence Senior players knew it, but from the outside looking in it seemed if Gio was reluctant to renege on assurances he had made to Jon about being number 1 The thing is you can’t fool players and supporters for long and displays most notably at Parkhead and in Amsterdam all but sealed his fate then and for the future
I don't believe either of the two current first team goalkeepers (Allan McGregor and Jon McLaughlin), should be on the books for next season for two very different reasons
Allan McGregor's place in the pantheon of Rangers goalkeeping greats is more than secured and while I might not have agreed with the decision to induct active players into the Hall of Fame what is clear is his entry was one that was always going to happen, he is in that regard a first ballot Hall of Famer The very thing that has set Allan apart from many of his peers is his attitude, Allan has always believed he is the best goalkeeper on the books and has carried himself that way throughout his Rangers career
Jon McLaughlin had his opportunity and from the moment of the first pre-season game with Sunderland, in a game that was eventually called off due to a lighting fault reminded us all of the difference between being a solid number 2 and a Rangers number 1.
Robbie McCrorie will be afforded some playing time before this season is out On a human level you can't help but feel sorry for the player who perhaps could have used better communication from Van Bronckhurst on where he stood before signing a new deal and wasting another season of
a short career missing out on valuable playing time, quite why he wasn't allowed to even go out on loan seems almost sabotage. His homegrown status should stand him well to be retained and compete as a number 2, and his sweeper keeper style would allow us to push higher up, plus involve the keeper on greater in any build up play against sides who come and sit deep His involvement in Scotland squads despite his very brief on pitch time points to a mix of potential and high character.
Looking at replacements links with Jack Butland would on the surface at least point to a solid if even unadvertised scouting system in place, the player was one of a number of names linked with the move a year ago before opting to opting to stay at Palace and fight for his opportunity, before sealing a January loan move to Old Trafford
He’s a player I like the look of, a good height, with a solid English Premiership career, and as someone who is currently 2nd choice at Manchester United, it appears has something still to offer
His best days were at Birmingham City, and being honest when they were relegated, he had no choice but to move on if he wanted to stay in the England set up but Stoke was a bad choice, and his career has derailed since that juncture Butland has 9 caps for England and was part of the squad that went to the 2018 World Cup. An exciting prospect at one point, one who 30 years of age still has time to put his career back on track
At full back our captain James Tavernier continues to be our budget Alfonso Davies His engine and one vs one ability coupled with yet another season of incredible numbers, as he surpassed 100 goals
in a Rangers shirt is testament to his professionalism, it’s a position we will have to think with regard to replacing in the future, just due to age and miles on the clock more than anything, but Tav continues to defy any projections season after season A more solid backline has helped him excel in the past and will again in the future What a fullback is and is expected to do now as opposed to 10 years ago, has completely evolved and when the time comes to eventually replace the Rangers captain we will find out how challenging a task that is
Left back is an area we will need to make moves in, despite Borna Barasic’s improvement under Beale you have to buy players who you can win your league with, for Borna’s upside his weaknesses are too often our greatest rivals’ strengths He simply allows too many crosses to played without any pressure from his side and opponents know that he is a weak point at the back post when balls are played from the wings As a Croatian international creating interest in his services should be straight forward, with a move to a more technical, less physical league one that could prove fruitful for all sides
Ridvan is an enigma, it’s safe to say the output hasn’t matched the outlay and his stay in Glasgow looks more and more likely to be coming to an end with a move back to Turkey his preferred destination.
At Centre back the Fill Helander role has never truly been replaced, John Souttar will fill a role and play a key part in domestic fixtures next term, a defender who is strongest when under duress, he like Goldson has a great range of passing that sometimes goes under the radar, his game time will be managed with Goldson now finally showing signs of being human and the effects of playing in
mostly every game since his arrival from Brighton, Souttar offers a low risk ready-made rotation option for Goldson.
The summer arrival of Ben Davies is another where the transfer fee will dictate our expectations as fans. Davies will for the most be perfectible serviceable against the large majority of our league but struggles with movement and physicality the higher level of opposition we face, on the ball Davies isn’t at the level we need in big matches, so another centre back option, to play with Connor Goldson is needed He is someone we should be able be recoup the outlay spent on him from Liverpool with a move back to the English Championship.
Millwall’s Jake Cooper is a name that has been continually linked, left sided, he like Helander is aggressive in his defending, but is someone who despite being 28 years if ages, still has a rawness about him
If anyone has been to see The Rolling Stones on one of their 10 farewell tours you will know that despite still being able to occasionally play the hits, they are long past their prime, the same can be said with regards to Ryan Jack sadly, his body
has let him down, his homegrown status and strong dressing room influence could still yet see him retained another season however. A player who still has the tools of great football intelligence and the ability to not only read what is happening ahead of him but to protect the righthand side of our midfield in particular, acting as the bouncer to our defence
A big issue is now he can simply no longer run and cover the pitch in the same ease he and us as supporters have become accustomed to. Throw in his continued struggles for fitness and there can be no doubt we will be getting a reduced Ryan Jack next season.
John Lundstram is a someone Steven Gerrard fell in love with the man over the player and should be moved on if a suitor can be found I’m not quite sure what he is a midfielder, he’s not a defensive one, nor box to box, doesn’t score enough goals to be considered an automatic first pick week in week out, throw in his tendency every game to get booked for getting caught on the wrong side of his opponent and his fit doesn’t seem to be what Michael Beale wants in his midfielders
Glen Kamara is like the house guest who has overstayed his welcome but has no alternative accommodation, the end of season presents us with an opportunity to evict him once again although any fee will be far lower than what we once hoped to rake in, as another example of the awful squad management by the former Director of Football Glen Kamara has all the ability to play at a higher level yet lacks the fire in his belly to challenge even for a starting XI spot at present.
The departure of Ianis Hagi is one that has always seemed inevitable, even before his lengthy injury setback, the player fuelled by his agent and legendary father has long had wandering eyes for a move to pasters new and you get the feeling the deal to secure him was always packaged to him as being a steppingstone for a move to a bigger league. His lack of pace and physically translates as a player who will not always be an automatic first pick home or away domestically, despite a very high technical skillset.
His long-range goals and free kicks that first caught our attention while playing for Romania in the U21 European Championship in 2019 and made him an immediate sensation with the fanbase, after two stunning goals in the comeback win over Braga at home have faded almost as rapidly as his importance to the Rangers first team.
A move here would be one that suits all parties, Hagi gets the first team football he needs to get his career back on track, and Michael Beale much needed funds to reinvest in his vision.
Rabbi Matondo is a player who has faced question marks over his dedication to his craft A highly rated youngster in Manchester City’s academy, he sealed a big money move to Schalke before excelling on loan in Belgium, he might find himself granted a stay of execution partly due to his reported weekly wage and lack of any interested parties, but the leash will be short and the flashes we saw in pre-season will need to become even more frequent to win over the Ibrox faithful
Tillman is certainly a player Michael Beale will be desperate to hold onto, despite his lack of physicality in matches most notably with Celtic due to his age more than anything, the upside we have seen from a player who will end the season at just 21 years of age would make him a popular choice to make the move permanent An accomplished dribbler and finisher, his goals and assist have been a bright spark in an otherwise disappointing domestic season
This however might be a transfer that drags long into the summer, as the player may wish to explore what pathway Bayern Munich have in store for him first before committing to a full time stay in Govan The player might well ask Bayern what loan they would have planned and having grown up in Germany a Bundesliga one seems most plausible. On the whole, if Tillman is to leave it has been a very productive loan and is a market, we will with a high degree of probability explore once again this coming season to bolster our squad.
If ever a player looks like he needs a fresh start it's Ryan Kent, perhaps the intensive and repetitive nature of Scottish football has worn him down but it's clear his output and lack of numbers no longer matches his wage demands A player who has never hidden or shied away and has enjoyed some unforgettable highs in a light blue jersey, he goes with the supports and best wishes and is someone you can see excelling in new surroundings
Two additions to the striking options are likely required this summer Who Beale has in mind as his number 1 striker will be the subject of water cooler, tabloid talk and online chat rooms, I’m more intrigued in the type of profile the former QPR boss opts to go with, my feeling is we will deviate away from the all action type forward and look to a more false 9 type of player, one who can interchange with others along the front line, and cause our opposition problems with movement alone
Kemar Roofe can't be relied upon, often the best ability is availability and far too often the forward is unavailable, struggling for fitness or unwilling to play through the pain barrier The challenge is finding a willing buyer, with the English
Championship his most likely destination any potential suitor will be more than a little suspect about handing a contract in a 48-game season to a player who has recently sustained an injury and missed gametime by falling over on himself. A loan to buy looks the most obvious solution to resolve this scenario
The Alfredo Morelos situation is one Michael Beale walked into and has been forced to contend with, it's one he has overall handled well, keeping the player onside while speculation over his future has been constant.
Throughout his time at the club Morelos has been treated with kid gloves, in part because of his skillset, output and importance to how the side was setup, and on the other hand factoring his incredible determination to overcome the environment he was brought up and raise to become Rangers top European goal scorer ever
A player who has never exceeded 20 league goals, even at his peak the days of him being a force of
nature and singlehandedly manhandling multiple defenders seem a long time ago, he is now reserved to mere flashes of his former self, the man who once turned in the best striking displays in a Rangers shirt since Mols in Eindhoven with man of the match showings against Porto and Feyenoord, has been reduced to displaying faint glimpses of his peak form
Morelos is now in the Elvis in Vegas stage of his career, a player who in all honesty despite his cult status should have been moved on for a sizeable profit some time ago
Antonio Colak has flattered to deceive as a Rangers player, his early hot streak now looks to be just that You can see why he has become something of a nomad with four clubs in as many seasons He simply fails to offer enough to play a lone striking role with massive gaps in his hold up and link up play, he becomes a passenger for long spells, even as a positive dressing room influence Colak is a player that looks to be a bad fit in what Michael Beale looks for from that role and should an offer come in, it's difficult to see the club put too many barriers in the way
Fashion Sakala, like Colak are players who provide low maintenance yet lack trust from the manager due to erratic displays, the manager is looking for consistency and although his systems seem very fluid, they are still ones that require a large degree of tactical discipline to perform at its optimum, one weak spot and the chain is vulnerable
Hibs Kevin Nisbett is a player we should perhaps look towards exploring as a viable second striking option His ability to score all types of goals while proving and excelling at all levels of Scottish football would provide us with a different option and one that would take no time to adjust to the
surroundings With the player entering his final year of his contract any tax Scottish clubs would no doubt attempt to force on us might not quite be as high as it once might have been, after all it wasn't too long ago that Hibs agreed a fee of around £2 3 million with Millwall for his services, only for the player to reject, so a chance to play in a side that has strong creative talents and in European competition would surely appeal to a someone looking to force his way back into the Scotland squad as the possibility of an international tournament next summer looks strong
Elsewhere, looking at any possible domestic additions, names like Barron of Aberdeen, Armstrong of Kilmarnock, Johnson of Motherwell, and Shankland of Hearts will always be linked out of sheer laziness over anything substantial Only Barron would offer a worthwhile squad option alternative with the possible loss of Jack or Arfield Parallels can be drawn with Johnson and Hastie; Armstrong and Jordan Jones and it wasn’t so long-ago Shankland found himself out the Hearts team due to attitude and fitness concerns
John Fleck is a familiar name that could also make a return, filling the role of his good friend and mentor, the most capped British player ever Steven Davis It's one that one that on a Bosman makes a lot of sense, we get an experienced accomplished midfielder who knows what it takes to play at Ibrox while also filling one of the coveted club trained and homegrown slots
No longer burdened by the weight of his early potential and hype, an accomplished player, who can fill in at several spots in midfield from the deeper or more advanced roles, he will be looking to re-establish his career this summer no matter his final destination after failing out of favour at Bramall Lane
A player who is held in such high esteem by some Sheffield United supporters that he is held up as one of the best free-transfers the club has ever made Fleck was integral in helping the Blades climb out of League One, then the Championship, and then ultimately, the fantastic season in the Premier League where the Blades shocked everyone by finishing ninth
The concerns in making the deal are that Fleck has looked less impressive since the clubs relegation to The Championship, despite a strong finish to last season, throw in injury concerns, setbacks including the frightening collapse he suffered at Reading last November, along with now being 31 years of age some will see it as a backwards step, and while Fleck’s stock may have dropped from back in 2019 when he was the subject of a 4 million bid by West Ham, having played at a higher level and being relatively low
risk on the transfer side of things (a free), its perhaps a move that makes sense as we look to fill up sizeable holes across our squad.
If you've ever stood at some seaside amusements and watched as children and pensioners alike fuel the penny arcades you will know that some pennies take longer than others to drop down into the machines
Publicly at least Michael Beale might have proclaimed that the group he inherited wasn't broken but even if the penny has taken longer to drop than most, he now surely knows this is a team in need of major, not keyhole surgery and this summer will be about him embracing expectations as he picks and moulds his Rangers side for something the club hasn't been able to muster since winning 55, a title challenge
Words: Grant Cameron
Allan McGregor recently played in his 500th game for Rangers With rumours surrounding an impending retirement, we look back the club icon’s career at Ibrox
For a little over 35 years, Rangers have pretty much always had an excellent goalkeeper between the sticks (for the sake of this article, and plenty other reasons, this writer is choosing to ignore 2012-2018) From Chris Woods to Andy Goram, Lionel Charbonnier to Stefan Klos, the Rangers defenders and fans were always confident their keeper could keep us in, or even win games for the team Even stand in/backup/temporary guys were of high quality: who can forget the heroics of Andy Dibble, Ronald Wattereus or Neil Alexander?
It is to his immense credit that it can be argued that Allan McGregor has been a better goalkeeper for Rangers than all of the above For most Rangers fans of a certain age, it has recently become a decision between Goram and McGregor. For what it’s worth, I’m still not sure. But what is certain is that both deserve to be Hall of Fame legends
Allan McGregor made his Rangers debut aged 20 in a Scottish cup tie vs Forfar in February 2002, keeping the first of many, many clean sheets In Rangers pub quiz lore, he was on the bench for every single game during the club’s incredible treble winning 2002/03 season, not making a single appearance as deputy to Klos As first team opportunities continued to elude him, he spent two years on loan at St Johnstone and Dunfermline respectively.
As the fractious short lived reign of Paul le Guen disastrously came and went, a rare bright spot was the emergence of McGregor as Rangers number 1 The Frenchman’s insistence in reinstating the recently injured Lionel Letizi, despite McGregor clearly showing the better form, was one of the many reasons Le Guen was gone by early January 2007. Once Walter Smith returned to the manager role, there was no looking back
It was during Rangers incredible 2007/08 UEFA Cup run that McGregor went from very capable to, genuinely, world class In the last 16 tie vs Werder Bremen, McGregor pulled off an insane reaction
stop to deny Sanogo. There were five minut l ft with Rangers 2-1 up on aggregate at the tim fact that both Rangers goals in the first Ibrox were the result of the goalkeeping e Tim Wiese illustrated perfectly the importa having a goalie like McGregor.
Later that season, McGregor would injure at a match at Celtic Park Battling throu would make an excellent save from a McDonald penalty, before being forced of replaced by Alexander The injury would me missing Rangers first European final in 3 as Rangers lost 2-0 to Zenit St Petersburg
Over the next three seasons, Rangers wo three league titles, two league cups a Scottish cup with McGregor an absolute the last line of defence. During this time h also establish himself as a regular starter Scotland national team, at a time when S were awash with three excellent o McGregor, Craig Gordon and David Mars was on Scotland duty that McGregor, alo club and international captain Barry Fe would embark a drinking session that led being reprimanded by Scotland but also, fa importantly, Walter Smith, who was extremely disappointed in them Ferguson would leave the club two months later McGregor however, managed to redeem himself in the eyes of Smith and his Rangers career would continue.
As the 2010/11 season, and title race, hurtled towards its conclusion Rangers faced Celtic at Ibrox in the final Old Firm meeting of the season. A win would put Rangers in a commanding position for 3 in a row Truth be told, Rangers weren’t very good that day, and it looked like they might lose
when Anthony Stokes bought a penalty off Craig Thomson Georgios Samaras stepped up, and McGregor dove to his left to turn the ball around the post and Rangers would see the game out 00 Celtic were now in control of their own destiny, and that destiny included a hilarious 3-2 defeat to Inverness. Rangers would indeed clinch 3 in a row, and if you ask most fans their abiding memory of that league win, they will say scoring 3 goals in 7 minutes at Rugby Park on the last day of the season, and *that* penalty save by McGregor
No one knew, of course, that this would be Rangers last league title for ten seasons What happened to Rangers in 2012 has been told and retold enough times the past decade, and this writer will not dwell or wallow here. McGregor, like the vast majority of the playing squad, sought his exit and would sign for Besiktas After one season in Turkey he would sign for Hull City where he would stay for five seasons. When Steven Gerrard was appointed Rangers manager, one of his first signings was to bring McGregor home to Glasgow, following the departure of Wes Foderingham
It was clear very early on in his second act as Rangers number 1 that he was far from past it After years of almost ritual humiliation, most notably against Celtic, Gerrard, McGregor and Rangers began to close the gap on their greatest
rivals As the games went on, it seemed that McGregor was getting better and better as he approached 40 There was a save in a match vs Celtic at Ibrox from Leigh Griffiths that defied all physics and belief But it was in Europe that McGregor would display his most unbelievable form.
The utterly ridiculous save from a bullet header in Prague. The double save utilising hands and legs vs Red Star. The saving of a penalty vs Napoli, having it unfathomably retaken due to the most vindictive rule in football, only to go ahead and save the second one as well I could go on and on, but for a club with such a demanding fan base that plays so many “big” matches, you would hard pressed to name a more big game player in the last 20 years than Allan McGregor
It is extremely difficult to argue against the observation that McGregor has regressed in the last year and a half and that it is time for Rangers to move onto their next number 1. But if we are heading into the last month of Allan McGregor’s career, history will be extremely kind to him The Goram or McGregor “GOAT” discussions will rage on in the supporters clubs, and he will rightly go down as a legend of Rangers Football Club.
“You can plan five years ahead as long as you win on Saturday!”
The above is a rather infamous quote from Simon Rolfes the Managing Director of Sport at German Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen
Therein lies the problem at many and most major football clubs, planning anything depends on the positive results you need to get, it’s fair to say
The Director of Football job is a fairly new concept in Britain but across the continent it’s been a ‘thing’ since the 1980’s
Rangers over the years have had a few that have been that buffer between the manager and the boardroom Most notably Dick Advocaat moved upstairs when Alex McLeish took over from him in 2001 In the last few years Rangers have hired Mark Allen and most recently, Ross Wilson was the incumbent in that role
What exactly does the job remit involve? Excuse my ignorance on this subject as there is five or six different titles for the job of overseeing the football department within a major football club. However the most prevalent job title is that of Director of Football, or the easiest to perhaps understand as an ordinary football supporter.
Ross Wilson’s tenure as Director of Football at Rangers seen him oversee pretty much everything involved within the football side of things and I’ll try to explain why I personally feel he failed to progress the club as well as perhaps the fanbase could expect hin to
Wilson overseen the manager, the appointing of a new manager when required, coaching staff, first team players, the B team, ladies team, the medical team, facilities for those players and the medical department and the one thing most fans will ultimately see recruitment In fact he overseen the entire structure of the football environment within the training centre and the academy
It was his job to grow the infrastructure for the football department and provide those involved within it the best opportunities to win silverware Did he succeed? Well that is up for debate but for me the answer is an emphatic ‘no’
Where did he fail then?
Well, when I was asked to write this article I thought long and hard about where we were when Wilson took over from Mark Allen and look at where Rangers are now and I don’t see the club as far forward as they should be in a footballing sense
When he first arrived he was certainly overshadowed by the manager at that time, Steven Gerrard, that’s no criticism of him as Gerrard was such a massive personality within the club
He communicated quite well at first with a fair few interviews on RTV and came across reasonably well He talked a good game He seems articulate, amiable and ambitious.
As time progressed we began to notice that he appeared to be front and centre only when good things happened. When the proverbial hit the fan…? He tended to be nowhere to be seen. (Who
can forget his wee face peering from the side of the front doors of Ibrox as Aaron Ramsay was unveiled to the fans outside the stadium?)
However, in the last year or so dialogue and communication seemed to be an alien concept to Wilson A host of signings that didn’t live up to hype, a team that was unsuccessful domestically (in the main)all the while the Director of Football said very little, if anything at all
Rangers need a figurehead When Gerrard left he took that role on while he interviewed potential new managers, he told us the responsibility was his and his alone Giovanni Van Bronckhorst was his choice and noticeably he mentioned that he employed Van Bronckhorst due to there being a continuity in regards to the way Rangers would play Within weeks it was abundantly clear the playing style was totally different
As Van Bronckhorst took over it is maybe reasonable to suggest that Wilson expected the Dutchman to become that figurehead at Rangers It became obvious early doors that wasn’t going to be the case.
Gio said as little as he possibly could to the media A Dutch international that had played at the very top level, including obviously with Rangers, he was trained from a very young age in how to deal with questions from journalists etc and to give them next to nothing his media training ensured that he gave next to nothing away.
For me it appears Gerrard’s departure directly correlates with Wilson’s success or failure at Rangers When Gerrard arrived I’d argue that it was he that overhauled the infrastructure within the football department It was Gerrard and Beale that were the biggest influence regards to signings and when he left it appeared that Van Bronchorst had very little input.
The lack of Dutch signings hints to that The links to players that had perhaps been identified by Van Bronckhorst and David Vos… well nothing came
of them. From Doehki to Olsen, Wilson couldn’t get them over the line It looked like Gio accepted that and took the players that Wilson had suggested and just go on with his job
That’s Wilson’s biggest failing A complete lack of first eleven signings, numerous players that were merely squad players that ultimately weren’t good enough to hold down a place in the team seen Rangers title winners caught and overtaken within three months of Gerrard leaving
There’s that lack of quality players and the risk involved with signing the number of injury prone players that Wilson signed too The percentage of Rangers wage bill that sits in the stands on a weekly basis is tantamount to neglect. One or two of those types is perhaps a gamble but five or six just leaves you wide open to constant disruption in terms of planning and decision making as a manager That is on Wilson’s head and no one else’s.
Ross Wilson is actually on record telling all that he was delighted with his recruitment You really do get the feeling Gerrard, Van Bronckhorst and now of course Michael Beale didn’t really agree or respond to that notion
It appears obvious to me that the signings Rangers have made since Beale came in are his signings, not Wilson’s Ultimately it’s Beale’s job that’s on the line if he fails and I fancy that he’s put his foot down in terms of who he wanted in January and most importantly, this summer where due to a lack of succession planning we find ourselves in the midst of a huge overhaul of the playing squad
The massive elephant in the room in regard to that is Wilson being “very comfortable” with player contracts running down From Goldson signing back on at the very last moment to Morelos and Kent’s contracts being allowed to run down when over the years Rangers had serious offers for both That is/was a dereliction of responsibility in my opinion.
I understand the argument that players have the power these days and if they choose to run down their deals then there’s not a lot a football club can do about it but to neglect that responsibility as the Director of Football well that’s partly why there have been protests and banners kicking around demanding change at that level.
Make no mistake, Rangers had very good offers for Morelos and Kent Rangers have to be ruthless in their dealings. That is a major failing on Ross Wilson’s part When Rangers are knocking back over twenty million pounds for those two well our rebuild might well have been much more natural and stable if we had taken the money and coaxed those two out the door when they were at their prime
Added to that you could reasonably argue a complete lack of Scottish signings. There’s been a number of decent young Scots that have left for pastures new while Rangers Director of Football hasn’t even considered the potential they had
Most would agree they’ve all went on to do better things in superior leagues than the SPFL so again, for me, these are opportunities wasted and money that should have been invested in the squad being spent closer to home on young players has been lost to foreign shores That is an area Rangers must improve on in the right here and now
Scottish players have to be the lifeblood of the team All successful Rangers teams have had Scottish players within it Scottish internationals, young Scottish players with potential, players that know exactly what it means to play for the biggest and best club in Scotland It’ll be intersting to see if Michael Beale sees it that way in the summer as he has predominantly looked to England for his transfer targets so hopefully over time he can implement that strategy going forward
Ultimately Ross Wilson’s failure to build a title winning squad will be his legacy. He can take next to no credit for the 55 title winning season, that success belongs to Gerrard with a little help from Mark Allen
Wilson’s inability to wheel and deal successfully in the transfer market was his undoing Not being able to sign potential right under his nose and the acceptance of contracts being allowed to run down on major assets is where most fans agree he failed in making Rangers a better team on the park At the end of the day Rangers have won one title in the last twelve years and that needs rectified and corrected. When he arrived we had finished nine points behind in the league, at the time of his departure the gap was nine points
That gap has obviously increased over the last few weeks but again I’d suggest that is down to the squad that Wilson has allowed to stagnate
The resigning of the older players backfired spectacularly, the obvious dearth of signings that have made any real impact on squad or the number of injury prone players Rangers have signed? Well, the responsibility is Ross Wilson’s and Ross Wilson’s alone
The fact Rangers are as far behind in terms of challenging for the league as they were when Ross Wilson arrived at the club should be a concern for everybody connected with Rangers because in that time Rangers wage bill has spiralled, the transfer fees paid have rocketed and the entire football department has ballooned yet we have seen the first team stagnate domestically, being incapable of beating a half decent Celtic team in the league for over eighteen months
It wasn’t good enough, it isn’t good enough and it’ll never be good enough for the rank and file. Wilson had an ego, that’s for sure, and when those banners appeared demanding he goes well I have a hunch he knew right then he’d been sussed by the fanbase and knew right there it was time to go
Ultimately, I get the feeling Michael Beale is stamping his authority on Rangers here. You can only have one leader and one figurehead at a club like Rangers Beale is that man, the responsibility lies with him this summer He has to get it right, his signings have to hit the ground running and they have to be successful.
A lack of big silver shiny things b i h ld l ft i May cost Wilson his job At Rangers that’s all that matters win trophies or you won’t last l lasted longer than he rightfully
Rangers will be better off witho Rangers are literally no further they were before he took ove His tenure has been a failure
Yes, we had the Europa League 55 and of course the Scottis but two trophies in four years rivals had a complete rebuild and possibly five trophies in th your inability to understand w actually win things in Scotlan anyway, NottinghamForest are m to him.
Looking to the future will we se Director or a Director of Footba with Stewart Robertson also le it looks like there’s a comple the inner workings of the footba
Douglas Park is gone with John Bennett replacing him as Chairman Van Bronckhorst left with Beale taking over Wilson has gone and now Robertson is away also with James Bisgrove taking up the new role of CEO.
Exciting times await us, with this overhaul it’s clear John Bennett is steering Rangers in a new direction The old place was stale Out with the old, with the new and I’m sure most of us look forward to seeing what the future brings
Whether that sees a new Director of Football replacing Wilson, time will tell but if those that will make those kind of decision such as Bennett and Bisgrove then they could do worse than look at gits such as Davie Weir, Christian Nerlinger, Paul Mitchell Guys with a proven track record that their current employees would be sad to see go, unlike Ross Wilson who when he left Southampton… well their fans were glad to see the back of him
There have been some fantastic European nights at Ibrox over the years that’s for sure Conquering English champions Leeds United in 1992, who merely thought they had to turn up to get a result, to defeating Parma, a side featuring a who’s who of international superstars, in the qualifiers for the Champions League in 1999
These are just two examples from a list which could stretch as long as the clubs honours roll, yet there is one night which perhaps stands out from the rest, not just in European terms, but of its significance to the recent hegemony of Europe’s top five leagues, from which Rangers achieved something they quite simply weren’t meant to achieve - reaching a major European final.
Of course, we reached the UEFA Cup final in 2008, while the ugly sister from the other side of Glasgow reached the final of the same competition in 2003, yet the European landscape has changed over the previous decade Scottish teams shouldn’t be anywhere near a European final, much less actually play in one, and here Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s men where, defeating RB Leipzig to reach the final of the Europa League, ten years after the lowest point in the clubs history.
Last season was peculiar and it mimics the 2007/2008 campaign where we also reached the final of Europe’s secondary competition, while losing the league crown having led for the vast majority of the season before claiming a Scottish Cup triumph in the 68th and final match of an extraordinary season
Steve Gerrard led us to the high of claiming title number 55, yet failure to qualify for the Champions League and a complacency which meant we failed to build upon the title win eventually saw him depart in acrimonious circumstances for Aston Villa in November, with former Ibrox star Van Bronckhorst arriving as his replacement.
A 2-0 win was required against Sparta Prague in the penultimate match of the Europa League group stage and Alfredo Morelos scored twice to give the new gaffer a wonderful start.
After Christmas, the league title looked to be slipping from the grasp of the club as the Dutchman’s tactics appeared to favour continental football rather than the sheer physicality of the Scottish game, evident by draws against Aberdeen and Ross County while the Parkhead debacle won’t be discussed.
Solace was found in Europe Borussia Dortmund were taken apart in the Westfalenstadion with one of the finest Rangers performances of the previous 30 years, stunning the Germans with four goals and taking a healthy lead back to Glasgow The second leg ended in a 2-2 draw and the club were through to the last 16 for the third straight season.
Red Star Belgrade and Braga were dispatched to send the Ibrox side into a first European semifinal since 2008, with Leipzig awaiting.
A packed Ibrox is a sight like no other and the second leg against the Germans demonstrated that the atmosphere is one of the best on the continent Having lost the first leg 1-0, there was still plenty of confidence that the job could be done and a win by two or more goals would see the club march onto Seville
The Gers couldn’t have asked for a better start, with James Tavernier scoring his seventh goal in the competition (finishing as overall top scorer) as the captain fired home from close range following some excellent work down the left flank by Ryan Kent and if Ibrox was bouncing in the lead up to the kick off, the atmosphere was now simply extraordinary and the crowd were baying for blood
Rangers had come out of the traps with such speed and ferocity that Leipzig simply didn’t know what had hit them It was like watching a heavyweight boxer take a few early uppercuts that stung the senses and the Germans were clearly on the ropes fighting to remain relevant
Glen Kamara almost delivered the knockout blow Some excellent build up play by Joe Aribo and Scott Wright ensued in the ball lying at the Finnish midfielders feet and he struck a lovely shot across Gulacsi that nestled into the net 2-0 Rangers Easy street.
With the boisterous crowd giving the players a lift, Aribo nearly made it 3-0 before the break, but heading into the interval with a two-goal advantage and one foot in the final was the dream scenario before the match
As much as Rangers had dominated the first half, the beginning of the second 45 was scrappy and with just 20 minutes left, Leipzig found the goal they required to draw the tie level on aggregate
Christopher Nkunku met a low cross from the left and steered the ball into the net with a delightful touch that Allan McGregor failed to stop and it was clear who had the ascendancy as the Gers were rocking.
It only took ten minutes, but it felt like a lifetime Tavernier takes a freekick just inside the Leipzig half which drifts over the defenders into the path of Kent lurking on the left wing He weaves and turns before taking the ball to the byline and delivering a dangerous cross which Josko Gvardiol just prevents from going into the net, however he steers the ball into the path of John Lundstram who slams it home to make it 3-1 and Ibrox erupts
The decibel levels must have hit record numbers when Artur Dias eventually blows the final whistle, ending arguably the longest 13 minutes known to man The club has made it, a first European final in 14 years, a fifth major European final in the clubs history and the chance to become the only Scottish team to win two of the three major European titles Sunny Sevilla awaited
This piece wont delve into the final too much, rather focussing on one of the wildest nights the stadium has ever seen There is nothing quite like Ibrox on European nights and while older generations had Leeds in 1992, this generation had Leipzig 2022
There has been some movement at Rangers recently with Sporting Director Ross Wilson moving on to join Nottingham Forest Michael Beale spoke about ‘losing an ally’ and the club, as they would do, praised him in their final statement regarding his departure, citing his achievements: 55, the Woman’s side, the Europa League final and the winning of the Scottish Cup last season
However, Wilson’s departure was less wellthought-of on social media, with many glad of the ex-Falkirk, Huddersfield and Southampton employee’s decision to move on and be as far away as possible from the summer re-build.
Wilson’s Rangers career was on thin ice with fans because his recruitment has been so poor, but even more galling than the recruitment was his apparent ‘relaxed’ mood when we are literally months away from losing two players, whether they are in good form or otherwise, should have been massive levellers in order to sell on and raise cash for the upcoming summer re-build. Connor Goldson was in a similar situation last summer and he chose to sign on, potentially saving Rangers millions of cash as they would have had to search for a replacement with his leadership and robust nature Maybe Wilson had earmarked John Souttar for that role, and at this point, we will never find out
But in terms of Kent and Morelos, they will both admit they have not hit the heights this season to date Both were instrumental in the run to the Europa League final and then if Gio hadn’t played Morelos at Dundee further aggravating a thigh
injury, would he have played in the final and there could have been a different outcome? Perhaps, but what ifs aren’t exactly helpful at this point.
The two players are seen as key players for the team, not only by the fans, but by Michael Beale too. You saw that in the previous Celtic match at Parkhead, both were in the starting line-up and I am sure barring injuries, both with take the field at Hampden in the Scottish Cup semi-final
Realistically, relying on Rabbi Matondo, or Antonio Colak or Fashion Sakala – for all the good he has contributed – doesn’t bare thinking about In fact, you could point to the recruitment and suggest that could be are their door that even with both not anywhere near their top levels this season,
they still getting picked That is because those behind the two big-hitters, if you want to term them that, are nowhere close to the quality that those two bring, albeit fleetingly this season.
Given the situation Rangers find themselves in with Alfredo Morelos and Ryan Kent, it’s now up to Michael Beale and those above him to sort out the mess left behind by the departed Sporting Director The question for the Rangers manager is: does he wish to keep both of his go-to guys?
Speaking on March 12, Beale spoke of his desire to keep Ryan Kent around, saying: “Ryan Jack’s in a place where I’ve said publicly that I’d like him to stay, and it’s the same with Ryan Kent ”
But the former Rangers first-team coach and QPR manager, Beale, was a little bit more open-ended when it came to discussing the future of the £1m signing from HJK Helsinki.
Speaking on the contract situation of the Colombian, Beale said: “Alfredo’s situation is slightly different.
“He’s been at the club for a long time and I need to see a little bit more from Alfredo day in, day out
“When he’s played when the team has needed him, he’s fine
“But I want some more energy in the final third “Can he provide that? If he can, then he’s a better option than what he’s been in the last few months “I just think that’s fair and everything I’m saying
here has been told to his face as well ”
Those quotes from the win over Motherwell along with his previous suggestion that he has a specific number nine in mind points to the conclusion that we are about to see the last of Morelos in a Rangers shirt Whereas Kent, seems to be the one who is most likely to stay if the manager has his way.
Now the burning question: do Morelos and Kent deserve new deals?
The short answer to that question is no It may be time to cut ties and it could be good for both players’ careers if they go somewhere fresh and new because this season, like most, of us before Michael Beale entered the building seemed sick and fed up with where the team was headed
However, both players’ form picked up upon Beale’s arrival Their output is still miles off what you would expect from them, especially in the league Kent has played 29 times in the league –at the time of writing – recording eight assists and three goals. However, Kent is the top second assister at Rangers with 0 19 per90, showing he is involved so much more in the build-up play
Morelos has had a troubled season. Right back to the PSV away match where he was left at home He’s really never been able to hit the heights of 2019 in terms of goals and fitness, but still he’s a better option than anything we currently have –but the Colombian has 11 league goals this campaign in a season that has been stuttery at best
These guys are almost back at square one at Rangers in terms of having to prove themselves again They are the perfect cases of players who could have been flipped earlier and the club held on too long.
In terms of offering them new deals, I am still torn Part of me thinks that we should get their heads and fitness correct, get them firing next season and then cash in the summer after But anything could happen in that twelve-month period and you could end up with an injured or unhappy player And the other part of me thinks a clean break would be for the best, not only for the players, but Beale would have to build a new attack and look to the future, which is something everyone, especially the fans are doing just now.
Either way, come next season if they are here at Rangers in time we will look back and think for special moments we will have had our £8 million worth out of Kent and Morelos. Two players the younger fans could call heroes in a period when they first came there weren’t many wearing a blue shirt
Words: Adam Robertson
ChatGPT is all the range at the moment, popping up everywhere you look. From writing songs, poems to break up messages, ChatGPT does it all I'm quite tempted to ask it to write my next university assignment
I sat down with ChatGPT and asked it to pick the most statiscially succesful Rangers team based on data alone Now, I'll hand you over to the brilliant ChatGPT.
As a language model, I, ChatGPT, have been asked to provide an article naming the best Rangers FC team based on statistics. While some fans may disagree with the chosen players or formation, the purpose of this article is to objectively analyze the data and provide a team that statistically represents the most successful Rangers team.
The statistics used in this article were sourced from official sources, such as the Rangers FC website and various football statistics databases. It is important to note that statistics do not always tell the whole story and that there may be subjective opinions about which players should be included in the team.
While some Rangers fans can be passionate about their team, it is important to keep in mind that this article is not intended to offend or belittle any individual or group. The intention is to provide a factual representation of the most successful Rangers team based on statistical data
With that said, let us take a look at the best Rangers team based on statistics, and celebrate the achievements of the players who have contributed to the success of the club over the years.
Here is the list of the most statistically successful players for Rangers FC in each position based on their performances:
Stefan Klos
Sandy Jardine
John Greig
Richard Gough
Arthur Numan
Graeme Souness
Barry Ferguson
Brian Laudrup
Willie Henderson
Davie Cooper
Ally McCoist
Walter Smith
Goalkeeper: Stefan Klos - Klos played for Rangers from 1998 to 2005 and during this time he made 237 appearances for the club, keeping 118 clean sheets and conceding only 163 goals. He won six Scottish Premier League titles, four Scottish Cups, and three Scottish League Cups with the team Klos is widely regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in Rangers' history and he was named the Scottish Premier League Goalkeeper of the Year in 2002, 2003 and 2004
Right Back: Sandy Jardine - Jardine played for Rangers from 1965 to 1982 and made over 674 appearances for the club He won numerous titles during his career at Rangers, including three Scottish Cups, five Scottish League Cups, and seven Scottish Premier League titles. He was known for his versatility and his ability to play in various positions Jardine is widely regarded as one of the best right-backs in Rangers' history and he was inducted into the Scottish Football Hall of Fame in 2005
Center Back: John Greig - Greig is a Rangers legend who played for the club from 1961 to 1978, making over 755 appearances for the team During his time at Rangers, he won numerous titles including five Scottish Cups, four Scottish League Cups, and seven Scottish Premier League titles. He was known for his leadership skills and his ability to inspire his teammates Greig is widely regarded as one of the greatest Rangers players of all time and he was inducted into the Scottish Football Hall of Fame in 2004.
Center Back: Richard Gough - Gough played for Rangers in two spells, first from 1987 to 1997 and then from 1998 to 2000. He made over 400 appearances for the club and won numerous titles including six Scottish Premier League titles, four Scottish Cups, and five Scottish League Cups He was known for his strength, aerial ability, and his leadership skills Gough is widely regarded as one of the best defenders in Rangers' history and he was inducted into the Scottish Football Hall of Fame in 2009.
Left Back: Arthur Numan - Numan played for Rangers from 1998 to 2003 and made over 140 appearances for the club. During his time at Rangers, he won numerous titles including three Scottish Premier League titles, two Scottish Cups, and two Scottish League Cups He was known for his attacking ability, his excellent crossing, and his solid defensive skills. Numan is widely regarded as one of the best left-backs in Rangers' history
Central Midfield: Graeme Souness - Souness played for Rangers from 1986 to 1991 and made over 75 appearances for the club During his time at Rangers, he won numerous titles including three Scottish Premier League titles, one Scottish Cup, and two Scottish League Cups. He was
known for his physicality, his passing ability, and his leadership skills Souness is widely regarded as one of the best midfielders in Rangers' history and he was inducted into the Scottish Football Hall of Fame in 2004
Central Midfield: Barry Ferguson - Ferguson played for Rangers in two spells, first from 1998 to 2003 and then from 2005 to 2009 He made over 400 appearances for the club and won numerous titles including five Scottish Premier League titles, five Scottish Cups, and six Scottish League Cups. He was known for his passing ability, his work rate, and his leadership skills Ferguson is widely regarded as one of the best midfielders in Rangers' history and he was inducted into the Scottish Football Hall of Fame in 2019.
Attacking Midfield: Brian Laudrup - Laudrup played for Rangers from 1994 to 1998 and made over 100 appearances for the club. During his time at Rangers, he won numerous titles including three Scottish Premier League titles, one Scottish Cup, and one Scottish League Cup He was known for his pace, his dribbling ability, and his technical skills Laudrup was named the Scottish Football Writers' Association Player of the Year twice and was inducted into the Rangers FC Hall of Fame in 2014. He is widely regarded as one of the best players to have ever played for Rangers and is also considered as one of the greatest Danish footballers of all time
Right Wing: Willie Henderson - Henderson played for Rangers from 1960 to 1972 and made over 400 appearances for the club During his time at Rangers, he won numerous titles including three Scottish Cups, four Scottish League Cups, and three Scottish Premier League titles He was known for his dribbling ability, his pace, and his crossing Henderson is widely regarded as one of the best wingers in Rangers' history and he was inducted into the Scottish Football Hall of Fame in 2004
Left Wing: Davie Cooper - Cooper played for Rangers in two spells, first from 1977 to 1989 and then from 1990 to 1991 He made over 400 appearances for the club and won numerous titles including three Scottish Premier League titles, one Scottish Cup, and two Scottish League Cups He was known for his dribbling ability, his vision, and his crossing. Cooper is widely regarded as one of the best players in Rangers' history and he was inducted into the Scottish Football Hall of Fame in 2004
Striker: Ally McCoist - McCoist played for Rangers from 1983 to 1998 and made over 580 appearances for the club During his time at Rangers, he won numerous titles including ten Scottish Premier League titles, nine Scottish Cups, and one Scottish League Cup He is the club's all-time leading scorer with 355 goals and was known for his goal-scoring ability, his work rate, and his leadership skills. McCoist is widely regarded as one of the best strikers in Rangers' history and he was inducted into the Scottish Football Hall of Fame in 2007
These players were chosen based on their performances and contributions to Rangers FC during their respective tenures at the club, and their success was measured through various statistics such as appearances, goals, assists, titles won, and individual awards
I asked ChatGPT why it decided to choose Graeme Souness in midfield over the legendary Jim Baxter ChatGPT responded:
The decision to include Graeme Souness instead of Jim Baxter in the most statistically successful Rangers team was based on a number of factors, including the players' overall performance and impact on the team's success. While both players are certainly among the greatest in Rangers' history, Souness was a key figure in the team's success during the 1980s and early 1990s, helping the club win numerous domestic and
European titles His leadership, skill, and physicality in the midfield were crucial to the team's success and helped set the standard for future Rangers teams. Ultimately, the decision to include Souness over Baxter was based on his overall impact on the team and his contribution to its success during this period
While Baxter was undoubtedly a hugely talented player and a Rangers legend, his time at the club was somewhat more limited than Souness' due to his move to Sunderland in 1965. Baxter did return to Rangers for a second spell in 1970, but was never quite able to recapture the heights of his earlier years at the club
Klos over Goram
I also asked ChatGPT why it decided to choose Stefan Klos over the late great Andy Goram, ChatGPT responded with:
The decision to include Klos instead of Goram in the most statistically successful Rangers team was based on a number of factors, including Klos' overall performance and impact on the team's success during his time at the club Klos played a key role in the team's success during the late 1990s and early 2000s, helping the club win numerous domestic titles, and was known for his agility, shot-stopping ability, and command of his area Ultimately, the decision to include Klos over Goram was based on his overall impact on the team and his contribution to its success during his time at the club.
According to statistics from WhoScored com, Klos had an average match rating of 7 14 during his time at Rangers, which was higher than the average match rating for Andy Goram (7 00) during his time at the club Overall, while both Klos and Goram were outstanding goalkeepers for Rangers, the statistics suggest that Klos had a slightly greater impact on the team's success during his time at the club
Richard Gough would be the captain of the most statistically successful Rangers team due to his leadership qualities, his success at the club, and his experience. As mentioned in his description, Gough was appointed as Rangers' captain in 1991 and led the club to several trophies during his time as skipper He was a commanding presence on the field, and his leadership skills were highly valued by his teammates and coaches.
Gough was also a key member of the Rangers team that won nine consecutive Scottish Premier League titles between 1989 and 1997, which is a significant achievement in the club's history His experience in winning titles and leading successful teams would make him the perfect candidate to captain the most statistically successful Rangers team
In addition to his success at Rangers, Gough also played for the Scotland national team and played in two World Cups. This international experience further adds to his leadership credentials and highlights his ability to perform at the highest level
Overall, Gough's leadership, success, and experience make him the ideal candidate to captain the most statistically successful Rangers team.
Walter Smith would be the manager of the most statistically successful Rangers team due to his tactical acumen, man-management skills, and success at the club During his two spells as Rangers manager, Smith won 21 trophies with the club, including 10 Scottish Premier League titles, five Scottish Cups, and six Scottish League Cups.
Smith was known for his ability to build winning teams, often with limited resources, and his tactical flexibility. He was able to adapt his tactics to suit the opposition, and his teams were renowned for their defensive solidity and ability to grind out results
Smith was also a skilled man-manager, able to get the best out of his players and build strong team spirit He was highly respected by his players and was able to create a winning culture at the club
His success at Rangers and his understanding of the club's values and traditions make him the perfect candidate to manage the most statistically successful Rangers team. In addition, his experience in managing top-level players and his ability to build cohesive and successful teams would ensure that the team plays to their full potential.
Overall, Walter Smith's tactical nous, manmanagement skills, and success at Rangers make him the ideal candidate to manage the most statistically successful Rangers team.
According to reports, Rangers are close to signing Norwich star Kieran Dowell. The 25 year old has been linked with the club with his contract at Norwich expiring at the end of the season
Dowell, born in Ormskirk, started his career at Everton before moving on to a number of different clubs on loan In 2020, Dowell left Everton to join Norwich City for a reported £2 2 million, scoring on his debut against Luton Town.
As with all players linked with Rangers, we want to know everything about them From past tweets to what school they went to, Rangers Twitter will uncover all. Luckily, we followed a more conventional route and sat down with the good folks at Canary Cast
Kieran Dowell is an advanced attacking midfield player for Norwich, usually playing in the number 10 position but has also been known to play on the right hand side of a 3, cutting in on his left foot.
Dowell was seen as a promising player at Everton, what’s happened at Norwich?
It's an interesting one with Kieran and I will leave you with something a Nottingham Forest fan told me when we signed him He's a very good '1 in 3' game player and he has been very similar here. In our promotion season, when fit, he played a key part and this season, again, when available has been one of our most creative players
He's had some really bad injuries here which has stalled his progress, along with his lack of pace and one footedness it does feel like as soon as a league figures out his strengths, it's quite easy to stop him playing.
How has Dowell performed this season for Norwich City?
Kieran's season has been just very stop start in general so difficult to really paint a picture He has been injured since February but before that was seen as a key cog in David Wagner's system with Norwich wanting him to stay, it's Kieran's decision to be leaving the club
Kieran has a wonderful technical ability. You can see when he's on it, his touch, dribbling over a short distance and passing can be superb
Kieran's consistentcy is what lets him down He can play well in a game and then you'll forget he's there for the next 3/4 Unfortunately for me he's never got himself in the best shape to improve his off the ball game, pressing and tracking back if on the wing and he's far too reliant on his left foot, making him at times rather predictable
Former Norwich City player Todd Cantwell is quickly becoming a fan favourite at Rangers, are they any similarities between both players?
An interesting one when comparing Todd and Kieran. I'd say Todd is more of a natural athlete and Kieran is a much better technical player. I personally wouldn't trust Kieran in a 3 as an 8 but against the weaker teams, when you have all of the ball I feel he'll be able to unlock defences
All the noises we are hearing is that Kieran wants a fresh start away from Norwich City
Our manager and sporting director were keen to keep a hold of him but from both sides I think the fact he's been allowed to run down his contract is quite telling
What message would you like to share with the Rangers fans about Kieran Dowell?
With Kieran you can see there's real quality there but again at 25 there's a reason we've let him go, after spending 2 million on him a few seasons ago
He's flattered to deceive on a number of occasions and for me, physically he's never done enough to really improve his all round game
You can tell he's much more of a footballer than an athlete. His injury record has been quite unfortunate here so I wouldn't hold that massively against him and he may be one that shines under a big atmosphere but you can ask a fan of any club he's been at and I think they'll say the same, talented but always leave you with a what if
What’s happened with Norwich City this season?
Currently 12th in the Championship, out of sight from the play-offs. What do the club need to do to push for the Premier League next season?
Norwich have been on a downward trend for the last couple of seasons since selling our best player after promotion In the premier league, with our current owners we just don't have the finances to really achieve and the fans are tired of the hierarchy really blaming them for a lot of the teams underachieving moments this season I think we'll have to start very quickly next season before the place turns once again
There is clearly a talented footballer in Dowell but it sounds like there is some underlying fitness and consistency issues, which is not a million miles away from the transfer business we would expect from Ross Wilson and co
After recent performances, the Rangers players have come under scrutiny Malik Tillman, looked a super star earlier on in the season, but now looks as if his bags are already packed to return to Munich. Glen Kamara is clearly out of favour with only 2 appearances since March 2023 and players like Ryan Jack, Ianis Hagi, Steven Davis are unfortunate with injuries Then players like Scott Arfield just can't do enough to find themselves in the starting line up
The only bright sparks of our recent performances have been Nicolas Raskin and Todd Cantwell. Raskin looks like a player that can make things happen, he is calm and composed when on the ball and always looking to move it forwards Cantwell is a work horse, who looks hungry to make a name for himself at Rangers. He's a technical player who can get you up off your seat but he's not afraid to track back and put in a tackle too
All in all, Michael Beale needs to strengthen across the whole squad For a number of years now, we have been missing a number 10 who will take games by the scruff of the neck and get the results that our current team have ultimately bottled Is Kieran Dowell that number 10 that we have been crying out for we may soon find out
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