JFK-1 1,677 Posted June 30, 2018 Share Posted June 30, 2018 Derek Johnstone: This is Rangers' best squad for a DECADE - even I'm beginning to get excited A MANAGER who does not command respect from the dressing room is a dead man walking. He can be popular, clever and even tactically aware, but if his players don’t have that great esteem the top man needs, mixed with a bit of fear of their gaffer, then it’s not going to work. Rangers know this better than most. Steven Gerrard wouldn’t have had to mutter a single word to his squad on that first day of training to get over the message that he was The Boss. I think this is why more punters have backed Rangers to win the league than even Celtic. I must say, I raised a wry smile when I heard that. Anyone who has read this column will know that time and again I have warned against the Rangers supporters getting carried away, simply because the gap to Celtic is, and has been, so huge. However, I’ve got to admit that even me, someone who has preached keeping feet on the ground, getting as excited as the supporters about what MIGHT happen and while I’m happy with the players brought in, my positivity is growing because of Gerrard. I believe this to be the best Rangers squad in a decade – you read that right - and at long last there are some leaders on the pitch, so badly missing, and players who can put in a proper tackle. Gerrard is missing just one player, I believe, a big centre-forward and once he signs one I think he will be happy with that. I expect something to happen with regards to this pretty soon. Rangers have a chance next season. I now honestly believe that. Recruitment has been good and I’m told the players have bought into what their new manager is preaching. As if they have a choice. Gerrard has clearly not been fazed by the size of Rangers, and the demands and expectations placed on any manager of that football club. This is a Liverpool legend we are talking about here and so this is his kind of environment. And if someone has some doubts about whether they want to be a part of it, then they know where the door is. This is why I believe Josh Windass will leave if Cardiff City or another club bid £3m for a midfielder. Even if he is 50/50 about making a move, he goes. Rangers is not for him and he would leave with my best wishes. Gerrard was a 100 per cent player and that’s what he wants from his players. Total commitment to Rangers. Bruno Alves is a player who has been accused of lacking commitment; however, I am not convinced that we have seen the last of the Portuguese. I fancy Gerrard will play with a three-man defence and that is why I feel the veteran defender might be kept on. I will end on a sad note. Harold Davis, a Rangers legend, passed away this week and I would like to pass on my condolences to his family and friends. Harold was a proper gentleman and will be missed by all the Rangers family. http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/16321349.derek-johnstone-this-is-rangers-best-squad-for-a-decade-even-im-beginning-to-get-excited/ 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
der Berliner 3,283 Posted June 30, 2018 Share Posted June 30, 2018 Who wrote that headline? The article itself is rather sensible, as opposed to the headline. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unicorn 206 Posted June 30, 2018 Share Posted June 30, 2018 Liking the optimism from big DJ even if it’s not even close to being true. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
buster. 4,808 Posted June 30, 2018 Share Posted June 30, 2018 A decade ago we were in the UEFA Cup Final. If this squad manage to get to the third round of qualifiers, they'll be doing well. 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Tannochsidebear 2,320 Posted June 30, 2018 Popular Post Share Posted June 30, 2018 40 minutes ago, buster. said: A decade ago we were in the UEFA Cup Final. If this squad manage to get to the third round of qualifiers, they'll be doing well. That sums this nonsense up quite well. A decade ago we had drew with Barca, beaten Red Star Belgrade, Stuttgart, Lyon, Panathanaikos, Sporting Lisbon, Fiorentina and played 19 matches in Europe in a single season. This year we will all be over the moon if can mange to beat two unpronounceable sides from Macedonia and Croatia. We can certainly claim to have our best squad since 2012, but a decade would be ridiculous given the talent in Walter's 2007-2011 squad, even if the bank was forcing us to reduce the quality year on year. We should be trying to manage expectations in the media, getting carried away wont end well. Let the bheasts do the bragging, we should have nothing to say until we have achieved something. 5 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BEARGER 1,829 Posted July 1, 2018 Share Posted July 1, 2018 DJ did not write that, he is also not the smartest. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrGaryValentine 85 Posted July 3, 2018 Share Posted July 3, 2018 Big Derek is just being silly here. 10 years ago we had just came off the back of our best season in a long, long time. Fair enough the start of the 08/09 season we lost to Kaunus but we did go on to win 3 league championships in a row after that, then we know what happened. We certainly have the best squad we have had since post-admin, but that wouldn't be difficult. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ranger_syntax 3,795 Posted July 3, 2018 Share Posted July 3, 2018 Why focus on the team 10 years ago? The counter example is any squad, over the last ten years, that is better than the current one. I would say that the squad in Walter Smith's last season was pretty good. The current squad will have it's work cut out to demonstrate that it is better than 10/11. Anyways, the headline is rubbish. It makes a big attention grabbing claim with no real justification contained in the article. Perfect to get the useful ones to circulate it. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JFK-1 1,677 Posted July 3, 2018 Author Share Posted July 3, 2018 To try to be fair to Derek I think we can all acknowledge that he is no student of English literature, likely has minimal input on these articles, and certainly doesn't write the headlines. His input may have been little more than trying to make the point that this is the best squad we have had since the pre admin era. Then the journos take over. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BEARGER 1,829 Posted July 3, 2018 Share Posted July 3, 2018 17 minutes ago, JFK-1 said: To try to be fair to Derek I think we can all acknowledge that he is no student of English literature, likely has minimal input on these articles, and certainly doesn't write the headlines. His input may have been little more than trying to make the point that this is the best squad we have had since the pre admin era. Then the journos take over. Aye, but he gets paid handsomely for it. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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