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Graeme Souness reveals what Steven Gerrard needs to change in his Rangers side urgently
Allan McGregor's sending off on Sunday was the Ibrox outfit's 12th red card of season.
Graeme Souness admits it’s a bit rich for him to talk about indiscipline at Rangers.
But, as he eyes the dirty dozen which severely-damaged Steven Gerrard’s chances of winning a trophy this term, he says it is something the manager simply has to address and needs to sort out.
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Gerrard was left stunned, shocked and disappointed as Allan McGregor’s needless kick-out at Hibs star Marc McNulty landed Rangers a 12th red card of the campaign.
Souness, of course, has been there at the centre of storms and orderings-off.
The former player-manager was sent off on his Rangers debut as player-manager for launching Hibs star George McCluskey and racked up scarlets in crunch clashes against the likes of Celtic and Aberdeen.
Souness says players have to be on the edge at Ibrox. It’s part of the deal.
But, in a changing footballing world where aggression on the park is viewed differently from his days, insists it has to be controlled and channelled.
And, as Gerrard struggles to get his players to toe the line, Souness is adamant he must fix it to progress successfully in the job.
He said: “There’s always pressure when you play for Rangers and I’m the right person to speak about being sent off wearing a Rangers jersey.
“I played most of my career in England and was only sent off once, playing for Middlesbrough.
“I was sent off a few times when I was with Sampdoria but, up here, I must have been sent off three or four times, Easter Road, Parkhead and Pittodrie, so I know what that pressure is like.
“You don’t want to take that out of people’s games, but what you need is controlled aggression.
“You can’t play at the highest level without having a certain amount of aggravation in your system, but it’s about controlling that.
“I know it’s rich coming from me, but you can’t step across the line as the game has changed dramatically in the last decade.
“It’s not difficult because he’s a young manager. It’s difficult for ANY manager.
“You have better pitches, which means players don’t have to take an extra touch and that, in turn, means that there are fewer challenges, plus the rules nowadays are far stricter.
“Management has never been harder. When people play against Rangers, and I learned this pretty quickly, there are two types.
“You either have a mad Celtic supporter who wants to beat you for that reason or you have a kid who grew up supporting Rangers and wants to sign for them.
“I’d play against someone and think: He’s decent; I’ll keep an eye on him.
“Then, when I’d go and see him playing against another team a few weeks later, he’d be a yard short in his pace and aggression.
“That’s the challenge you have playing for Rangers and it’s exactly the same for Celtic. It’s always the other team’s biggest game of the season and that will never change.”
(Image: PA)READ MOR
Souness was scathing in his assessment of McGregor’s conduct on Sunday.
He added: “That [kick-out] is ill discipline and that’s not acceptable.
“How old is Allan McGregor? 36, 37? He should have worked that out by now. Like the centre-forward they have, who’s reaching the point of no return with the things he gets sent off for.”
Souness was, of course, referring to Alfredo Morelos, who has been responsible for FIVE of the Rangers reds this term.
Although the first was rescinded for a kick-out at Aberdeen, the 22-year-old’s misbehaviour has been a huge problem for Gerrard and the ex-gaffer says it’s halting his and the team’s progress.
Morelos was duped into lashing-out by Scott Brown in the last Old Firm game and Souness shrugged: “He got mugged off.
(Image: SNS)
“That was an old senior pro [Brown] playing the game. Did he get the reactions he was after? He certainly did. You go through life, not just football, and you have to learn from your mistakes.
“That was a mistake and the big clubs in England won’t be looking at him. Elsewhere? Maybe.
“It’s how they [English] see the Scottish game, unfortunately.
“The hardest thing to do in football is score goals. Yes you might get someone in the Championship taking a chance on him, but I can’t see the Liverpools and Manchester Citys and Manchester Uniteds being interested in him. That’s how I see it.
“I wouldn’t know [his valuation], but I’d very much doubt big teams would be interested. Maybe lower end of the Premier League, but they would question his discipline.
“He’s a player, a real player, but he needs to get that out of his game. He’s somehow got to keep that fire, but control that fire.”
While the indiscipline has not been only reason for Rangers failing to win silver this term, Souness believes Gerrard is getting close to Celtic.
However, he has told the Ibrox board the gaffer needs cash and said: “He’s done very well. They’re far closer to Celtic.
“The word inconsistency springs to mind, but that can happen when you have a group of players, I need to be careful what I say here, but he’s lacking in quality and he knows that.
“Steven can’t say that because he needs to keep those players onside, but he lacks a bit of quality.
“Even so, they’re not a million miles away. Results suggest that because they’re only nine points behind and that’s closer than they’ve been for years.
“I would see them improving again next year, although they need to get some more players in.
“There are two ways to do that. You either buy them or promote them through your system and I don‘t know what he’s got coming through there.
“Whether he has the money to improve things, I don’t know.
(Image: SNS Group)
“But at all big clubs you’re under pressure to get results and Steven needs some help.
“He needs a few quid to spend because he’s not too far away from catching Celtic.”
Graeme Souness was speaking at The Kris Boyd Charity Golf Day at Trump Turnberry. The Boyd Charity raises funds and awareness for Mental Health.
Graeme Souness reveals what Steven Gerrard needs to change in his Rangers side urgently
Allan McGregor's sending off on Sunday was the Ibrox outfit's 12th red card of season.
Graeme Souness admits it’s a bit rich for him to talk about indiscipline at Rangers.
But, as he eyes the dirty dozen which severely-damaged Steven Gerrard’s chances of winning a trophy this term, he says it is something the manager simply has to address and needs to sort out.
inRead invented by Teads
Gerrard was left stunned, shocked and disappointed as Allan McGregor’s needless kick-out at Hibs star Marc McNulty landed Rangers a 12th red card of the campaign.
Souness, of course, has been there at the centre of storms and orderings-off.
The former player-manager was sent off on his Rangers debut as player-manager for launching Hibs star George McCluskey and racked up scarlets in crunch clashes against the likes of Celtic and Aberdeen.
Souness says players have to be on the edge at Ibrox. It’s part of the deal.
But, in a changing footballing world where aggression on the park is viewed differently from his days, insists it has to be controlled and channelled.
And, as Gerrard struggles to get his players to toe the line, Souness is adamant he must fix it to progress successfully in the job.
He said: “There’s always pressure when you play for Rangers and I’m the right person to speak about being sent off wearing a Rangers jersey.
“I played most of my career in England and was only sent off once, playing for Middlesbrough.
“I was sent off a few times when I was with Sampdoria but, up here, I must have been sent off three or four times, Easter Road, Parkhead and Pittodrie, so I know what that pressure is like.
“You don’t want to take that out of people’s games, but what you need is controlled aggression.
“You can’t play at the highest level without having a certain amount of aggravation in your system, but it’s about controlling that.
“I know it’s rich coming from me, but you can’t step across the line as the game has changed dramatically in the last decade.
“It’s not difficult because he’s a young manager. It’s difficult for ANY manager.
“You have better pitches, which means players don’t have to take an extra touch and that, in turn, means that there are fewer challenges, plus the rules nowadays are far stricter.
“Management has never been harder. When people play against Rangers, and I learned this pretty quickly, there are two types.
“You either have a mad Celtic supporter who wants to beat you for that reason or you have a kid who grew up supporting Rangers and wants to sign for them.
“I’d play against someone and think: He’s decent; I’ll keep an eye on him.
“Then, when I’d go and see him playing against another team a few weeks later, he’d be a yard short in his pace and aggression.
“That’s the challenge you have playing for Rangers and it’s exactly the same for Celtic. It’s always the other team’s biggest game of the season and that will never change.”
(Image: PA)READ MOR
Souness was scathing in his assessment of McGregor’s conduct on Sunday.
He added: “That [kick-out] is ill discipline and that’s not acceptable.
“How old is Allan McGregor? 36, 37? He should have worked that out by now. Like the centre-forward they have, who’s reaching the point of no return with the things he gets sent off for.”
Souness was, of course, referring to Alfredo Morelos, who has been responsible for FIVE of the Rangers reds this term.
Although the first was rescinded for a kick-out at Aberdeen, the 22-year-old’s misbehaviour has been a huge problem for Gerrard and the ex-gaffer says it’s halting his and the team’s progress.
Morelos was duped into lashing-out by Scott Brown in the last Old Firm game and Souness shrugged: “He got mugged off.
(Image: SNS)
“That was an old senior pro [Brown] playing the game. Did he get the reactions he was after? He certainly did. You go through life, not just football, and you have to learn from your mistakes.
“That was a mistake and the big clubs in England won’t be looking at him. Elsewhere? Maybe.
“It’s how they [English] see the Scottish game, unfortunately.
“The hardest thing to do in football is score goals. Yes you might get someone in the Championship taking a chance on him, but I can’t see the Liverpools and Manchester Citys and Manchester Uniteds being interested in him. That’s how I see it.
“I wouldn’t know [his valuation], but I’d very much doubt big teams would be interested. Maybe lower end of the Premier League, but they would question his discipline.
“He’s a player, a real player, but he needs to get that out of his game. He’s somehow got to keep that fire, but control that fire.”
While the indiscipline has not been only reason for Rangers failing to win silver this term, Souness believes Gerrard is getting close to Celtic.
However, he has told the Ibrox board the gaffer needs cash and said: “He’s done very well. They’re far closer to Celtic.
“The word inconsistency springs to mind, but that can happen when you have a group of players, I need to be careful what I say here, but he’s lacking in quality and he knows that.
“Steven can’t say that because he needs to keep those players onside, but he lacks a bit of quality.
“Even so, they’re not a million miles away. Results suggest that because they’re only nine points behind and that’s closer than they’ve been for years.
“I would see them improving again next year, although they need to get some more players in.
“There are two ways to do that. You either buy them or promote them through your system and I don‘t know what he’s got coming through there.
“Whether he has the money to improve things, I don’t know.
(Image: SNS Group)
“But at all big clubs you’re under pressure to get results and Steven needs some help.
“He needs a few quid to spend because he’s not too far away from catching Celtic.”
Graeme Souness was speaking at The Kris Boyd Charity Golf Day at Trump Turnberry. The Boyd Charity raises funds and awareness for Mental Health.
