We won that league title three years ago. In that 3 years, the team has changed significantly and a lot of talented players, or players who were in purple patches have left or are now rarely playing due to injury -
Morelos, Kent, Hagi, Kamara, Davis, Jack, Aribo, Helander, Roofe, and even McGregor. That’s 10 players who are either no longer at the club or haven’t contributed much this season due to injury/past it. The 2020/2021 versions of those 10 players would all be starters in today’s team, no doubt about that. I don’t know if no crowds was a factor or not, but what I do know is todays group of players do not posses as much quality as the 55 team. There were even the likes of Arfield and Defoe in the squad.
The recruitment since Gerrard left has been shocking. And he was not backed after winning 55 - maybe finances were tight due to covid, but that doesn’t change the fact that he couldn’t freshen up, or add to that winning team.
I maintain that Gio was dreadfully let down by the board in the summer immediately after the Europa League Final. Great money for Bassey and Aribo, I get that, but where was the backing after that - not just simply with money made available but support from the recruitment department for CL campaign and the domestic title. The players identified and brought in were sub par and that is not on Gio.
Then Beale’s summer splurge is where the real damage to this squad has been done! Dessers, mean no harm to him, but he is simply not good enough, especially for the money spent… he’s not even good enough for a Hearts or Aberdeen.
So we are, in my opinion, now with a collection of players, that are levels below the 55 winning team. This squad is not even close to it if we are honest. And those pointing at Tav and Goldson, saying they are the constant, I get that, but first of all they are both 3 years older now, but more importantly, where’s the help for them, who has been brought in to support and compliment them on the field. How many actual leaders (even young players who are leaders) have we signed since we won 55. Butland? Struggling to think of any others!
The personnel on the pitch today are quite different to the team that won 55, so I struggle when people commenting on this season’s teams mentality, then draw conclusions that the 55 team must have won the league because of no crowds. The performance and mentality of today’s team is irrelevant when assessing the performance and mentality of the 55 winning team as they are not the same team!
This is not a particularly talented Rangers team and lacks leaders. They are not good enough, that’s not the players fault. This has happened due back to back poor summer transfer windows, a catalogue of bad decisions and poor strategic planning. I have no doubt the board are trying very hard, but they have a lot to learn and improve as they have overseen the period that saw the team win 55 and then remarkably reach a Europa league final to now being a collection of footballers who simply are not good enough. I do think they have made a very good appointment in Clement, so there is hope…