Mark Warburton says 'Judge me in May, not on Old Firm results'

[ian1964 10,761]

Rangers manager Mark Warburton believes he should be judged on their league position at the end of the season - not his side's results against Celtic.

 

The Ibrox side lost the opening Old Firm derby of the season 5-1 and the League Cup semi-final at Hampden.

 

"It has to be where we finish," said Warburton in response to what he should be judged on.

 

"I understand [the comparisons to Celtic] and please don't think for one second I'm understating it."

 

Warburton has guided his side to promotion last season and now to second spot in the Scottish Premiership before Saturday's Old Firm derby at Ibrox.

 

"But, at the end of the season come May, where do Rangers come in the league?" he said.

 

"We spoke at the beginning of the season about being highly competitive and learning and gelling as a team over the course of the season.

 

"So, if we do that and grab second spot, will we have had a good season? You tell me."

 

The Rangers team for the first derby to be staged at Ibrox in four-and-a-half years will be much-changed from the team thumped at Celtic Park.

 

Joey Barton has left the club, fellow midfielder Niko Kranjcar has been sidelined through injury, while defender Philippe Senderos has barely been trusted to play after a poor debut that day.

 

"That was game five of the season - we've moved on from there," said Warburton. "We brought in a number of players, but there are players who won't be present this time.

 

"We've gelled as a squad. We are where we are in the league, but we're delivering highly-competitive performances.

 

"Are we a better team than we were at the start of the season? Of course we are.

 

"When you've got new players coming in who have only played four games, of course you're going to be better.

 

"We're always striving to be better, but we're in a good place right now."

 

Warburton also believes his team has now developed the mental strength required to cope with Saturday's fixture.

 

"Playing for a club of this stature, whether you are a senior pro or a young player, it takes time to learn how to deal with it," he added.

 

"It takes time to understand how to deal with it when it's 0-0 after 20 minutes and the boos start.

 

"But we have a squad which is doing that. We're 19 games in - we're in a better position."

 

Celtic moved 16 points clear of Rangers following a 2-0 victory at home to Ross County on 28 December, while Rangers drew 1-1 with St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park.

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/38457892

[Tannochsidebear 2,429]

Is it only the position that matters, or does the margin come into it as well to determine if we have had a "good" season or not?

 

i.e. if we come second by, say, 4 points but 30 points behind the bheasts, is that a success?

Would the Scottish Cup run come into it also? If we go out the cup to anyone bar the bheasts that has to be a failure, yes?

 

And to pick up on something he is quoted as having said, I have never been to a Rangers game where at 0-0 after 20 minutes the team is booed. I would like evidence that this happened. I know the press are guilty of making things up but I didnt expect our manager to start that pish. There can be frustration if we are playing slowly, badly, and getting outfought, but I have never heard boos in that scenario. Very annoyed at that. Warburton would be better spending his time trying to work out how to win an away game against a top side than spending so much time talking pish with the media.

[cooponthewing 1,139]

Dosnt install much confidence for Saturday?? Not a great attitude imo?.

[MacK1950 2,399]

If he gets us a second place finish this should surely warrant a successful season as most on here have been looking for this.

[pete 2,499]

Is it only the position that matters, or does the margin come into it as well to determine if we have had a "good" season or not?

 

i.e. if we come second by, say, 4 points but 30 points behind the bheasts, is that a success?

Would the Scottish Cup run come into it also? If we go out the cup to anyone bar the bheasts that has to be a failure, yes?

 

And to pick up on something he is quoted as having said, I have never been to a Rangers game where at 0-0 after 20 minutes the team is booed. I would like evidence that this happened. I know the press are guilty of making things up but I didnt expect our manager to start that pish. There can be frustration if we are playing slowly, badly, and getting outfought, but I have never heard boos in that scenario. Very annoyed at that. Warburton would be better spending his time trying to work out how to win an away game against a top side than spending so much time talking pish with the media.

 

There have been great Rangers teams surprisingly knocked out the cup and it remains a banana skin for everyone. I don't think you can judge a manager on a SC run. First year back he has to be cut a bit of slack but Europe is essential.

[cooponthewing 1,139]

I wasn't particularly pleased with his assumption that we should all be content with losing 5/6 times to the unwashed this season. Announcing that second's all we need.

He is half right. However I am sure as feck not content, ever, being beaten by the mhanks. Far from it and certainly not all season.

[der Berliner 3,803]

I'd hazard a guess that spending 10 mins with the media every other will not hamper MW's ability to work out how to win away games. What next, stop visiting his family and cut his sleep short? Sometimes people's mutterings make you wonder ...

[ranger_syntax 4,422]

I'd hazard a guess that spending 10 mins with the media every other will not hamper MW's ability to work out how to win away games. . . . Sometimes people's mutterings make you wonder ...

 

Perhaps something else is hampering MW's ability to work out how to win away games . . .

[ranger_syntax 4,422]

If he gets us a second place finish this should surely warrant a successful season as most on here have been looking for this.

 

It's never really going to be a success unless we win.

 

Given our form earlier in the season then we should be happy enough with second. It looked like we would be lucky to finish 4th for a while. Prior to the season a few in here argued for accepting a top 6 finish.