BlueMeanie
Well-Known Member
- Kris Boyd
IN the weeks leading up to Steven Gerrard’s sudden departure, Rangers didn’t have their troubles to seek.
Something wasn’t quite right. I don’t know what it was, and I still can’t put my finger on it.
Some Rangers fans still haven't forgiven Steven Gerrard for swift exit
In Gerrard’s last seven league games in charge, Gers managed five wins and two draws. Yet they’d also gone six games without a clean sheet.
There were obvious underlying issues, but Gerrard left with his head held high.
Sure, people slated the timing of his exit — it still rankles with many fans — but it’s undoubtedly been for the best. Giovanni van Bronckhorst has lifted the place and Rangers are playing like champions once more.
Not bad on the back of a mid-season arrival, with his new team demoralised after a lamentable League Cup semi-final loss.
In his nine games in charge, Gers have recorded eight wins and a draw.
They’ve kept seven clean sheets while increasing their lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership.
Rangers are also safely through to the knockout stages of the Europa League to play Borussia Dortmund.
Domestically, Van Bronckhorst has won all seven league games, scoring 14 goals and conceding just one.
You can safely say he’s hit the ground running. Rangers are back to being the team we know they are.
The Dutchman has made subtle changes, little tweaks here and there, most notably in defence where both full-backs are not so advanced. They are defending as a solid unit, meaning Connor Goldson and Calvin Bassey haven’t been left one-on-one.
With the defence organised, Rangers have so many attacking options they are once more proving too good for the opposition.
One player who has had a big part to play in the Van Bronckhorst revolution is Alfredo Morelos.
I don’t think there’s any doubt the fact that both Van Bronckhorst and his assistant Roy Makaay speak Spanish has been massive.
2
Van Bronckhorst and Roy Makaay
They’ve been able to put their arm around Morelos and get a tune out of him again.
I’m not for a second suggesting that Gerrard Michael Beale and Gary McAllister failed to do that.
But you don’t need to have played at the highest level to see the Colombian is almost back to his best.
He’s fitter, he’s sharper and he looks like he’s got his hunger back.
All that disappeared for a while. He’d put on weight and wasn’t doing nearly enough for the team.
But he’s back scoring, and that’s down to Morelos. It’s also down to Van Bronckhorst and how he can communicate with his striker.
Morelos has got that loving feeling back and Rangers are reaping the rewards.
The whole team seems to be benefiting from a change of management.
Sometimes it just happens. Things reach a natural conclusion. From Gerrard’s point of view, he wouldn’t have been happy with how things were going. Little things were beginning to creep in and have an effect — like having to come from behind almost every week to win.
Travelling up and down the road isn’t ideal, either. I know, I did it. It takes its toll on your family life.
Listen, when everything settles down — and it will — people will recognise that Steven Gerrard did a brilliant job at Rangers.
He inherited a shambles, so he deserves enormous credit.
Fans are always angry when someone leaves their football club, but it’s usually because you’ve done a great job and they don’t want you to go.
People will point to his record of one trophy in three years, but these same people will never get over the fact it was the one trophy they craved the most.
Had Gerrard won three Scottish Cups and three League Cups, and Celtic had delivered ten-in-a-row, then plenty of Rangers fans would still be in hiding today.
Yet he secured the trophy every Rangers fan wanted — the one that crushed Celtic’s hopes of the ten.
Yet things had dropped off this season and the change came at the right time.
Van Bronckhorst has made a brilliant start but knows tougher challenges will follow.
He and Gerrard are two totally different characters. Van Bronckhorst is more calm and collected.
There is an emotional side to Gerrard, as he showed as a player.
He didn’t truly know the football club before he arrived. He left with an understanding and appreciation of just how big Rangers are.
Van Bronckhorst arrived back in Glasgow already well aware of what he was walking into. I think that has helped him, too.
It will be interesting to see what happens this month in terms of transfers. If one or two leave, then I’d expect one or two to arrive.
The club have been linked with John Souttar and Xavi Simons. Many other names are sure to follow in the coming weeks.
I think he has to be looking at another striker. You always want to enhance your attacking options and keep competition for places high.
It’s an area where I think Rangers could do some business. I think Van Bronckhorst will be keen to strengthen if he can.
His working relationship with Ross Wilson will be key in the coming days and weeks.
:shh:
