Rangers fans have big expections, they’re fanatical for a reason.
With Rangers due to play Leverkusen twice and then Celtic in the space of a week, The Sports Despatch takes a look at why Rangers fans should be unhappy with their Team.
We recently posted an article that talked about why Rangers fans should not be unhappy with their team, and this article is the counterpoint to this view!
Rangers fans: Why the long face?
Let’s face it. The prize has always been finishing as the winners of the Scottish Premiership.
That’s the bread and butter of what being a Rangers fan is all about.
If we finish below Celtic, the season is a disaster. That’s the view of many Rangers fans, myself included.
It’s a question of trust
For us, the form since the winter break has been nothing short of disgraceful. The capitulation to Hearts was bad enough, but worse was to come.
The defeat to Hamilton Accies was the low point. At home. That’s just not good enough for most Rangers fans.
The problem? Too many of our “big players” didn’t show up, didn’t fancy it.
I don’t need to tell you that performances like that don’t wash with us as fans. The pressure of delivering week in, week out is something that not everyone is cut out to face.
Tavernier, Goldson, Kent (to a lesser extent) – they all need to be called out. They need to deliver for the fans and do it consistently. Nothing else will do.
Steven Gerrard – The Manager
It goes without saying that the buck stops with the manager. Even though he’s painfully honest at times, I believe that he has a winning mentality and won’t stand for people not running through brick walls for him, just as he did as a player.
I don’t blame him: yes, he’s learning, but he has a talented team around him.
Can he overcome this obstacle? Yes, I believe so. I believe that he has the unequivocal backing of the board and the majority of fans – and I really believe that this is part of the (steep) learning curve of any relatively new manager in the top flight.
In my eyes, also, as a former top-level footballer, he commands respect in the dressing room. If he’s going to tell someone off or give them advice, they’ll listen. An example of this is Ryan Jack, who’s clearly flourishing under Gerrard’s tutelage.
What’s next?
The simplest answer for every player is this simple. Always give 110%. It’s that simple.
Oh yes. AND beat Celtic. Every time.
For more like this, please visit our dedicated football page which you can find right here. Meanwhile, follow us on Twitter for coverage of the Premier League, Bundesliga and much more.