Rangers' January focus

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Rangers' January focus will be on outs rather than ins now that Steven Gerrard has laid the foundations for a title bid.

Chris Jack

THE theory about a manager not being able to fully call a squad his own until he has had at least three or four transfer windows is a well-told one. It carries its fair weight of truth, though, and Steven Gerrard will attest to the veracity of the statement.

The task of building a side capable of winning the Premiership in a single season was always going to be a considerable one and it proved just beyond Gerrard last term as Rangers fell short and Celtic swept the board in Scotland once again.

It said much about the work that Gerrard had undertaken that there were tangible feelings of regret and what might have been at the end of the campaign, though. Rangers were certainly better, but ultimately not quite good enough when it mattered.

Having inherited a group of players that were largely not fit for purpose, Gerrard quickly addressed who needed to go and what needed to be done to put Rangers back on track after years of failure and transitions between Mark Warburton, Pedro Caixinha and then Graeme Murty.

 

The requirement for quality across the park was obvious, but so too was the need to instil some character and spirit into the team. Rangers were shorn of leaders, deprived of players who could not only handle the pressures and expectations but thrive under them.

The likes of James Tavernier, Ryan Jack and Alfredo Morelos were already in situ, and the deals for Allan McGregor and Scott Arfield lined up, but Gerrard had to overhaul his ranks.

Nikola Katic and Connor Goldson were recruited early on and Borna Barisic and Ryan Kent – who ultimately became his biggest signing yet this summer - followed. All four have undoubtedly been shrewd acquisitions and success stories.

Last January, Glen Kamara, Steven Davis and Jermain Defoe were added and the group that are now title challengers really started to take shape before a handful, including Filip Helander, Jordan Jones and Greg Stewart arrived ahead of the new campaign. The foundations laid are being built on.

Gerrard has a side very much in his own image. Physically, technically, tactically and mentally, Rangers are unrecognisable from the team that took to the park in the weeks before his appointment as manager.

Gerrard has ticked off the boxes one by one in the season-and-a-half since his arrival in Glasgow but the most important – delivering silverware and, more precisely the Premiership title – still has to be checked. After a long wait, 2020 could finally be Rangers’ year.

The fact that such progress has been made at a rate as impressive as this speaks volumes for Gerrard’s ability as a coach, but also his eye for a player. His strike rate in the transfer market isn’t flawless but no manager or scout can boast a perfect record with a straight face.

The 39-year-old is now in his fourth window as Ibrox boss and, with the title firmly within sight, it could be seen as the most significant yet. It is likely to be the quietest so far, though.

An incoming can never be ruled out but any player that signs on the dotted line – most likely on a loan deal – would need to improve the side rather than add to the squad. If an opportunity of interest presents itself then Rangers will make their move and anything, of course, can materialise over the course of the next four weeks.

The funds are there, but they are not required right now. Instead, the task for new Sporting Director Ross Wilson will be to clear the decks.

The failure to adequately wheel and deal in the summer was one of the factors behind criticism towards Mark Allen from within the corridors of power at Ibrox and Wilson has to prove more adept at moving on unwanted players.

Rangers have made too many costly mistakes, and then had to pay to clear up their own mess, over recent years but those instances should become fewer and fewer with Wilson working alongside Gerrard.

Flogging Eros Grezda could prove easier said than done for Rangers but others, like Greg Docherty, should be simple enough to do a deal for as Championship clubs eye the midfielder that was so impressive for Shrewsbury in League One last term.

A switch to England could be on the cards for Jamie Murphy as well, while Andy King will return south of the border to Leicester. His loan made sense at the time, but it has proven to be unfulfilling for all parties as just five appearances were made.

Glenn Middleton’s stint at Hibernian was equally as frustrating and another loan would be the best option for him, but it is hard to see Matt Polster making any impact now or next season and an early departure seems inevitable. Decisions will need to be made on Cammy Palmer and Josh McPake, on loan at Partick Thistle and Dundee respectively, and Jamie Barjonas will head out on a temporary basis once again.

There are, then, still deals to be done but major surgery is not required at Ibrox and the focus on January will be on matters on the field as Rangers look to pick up where they left off at Celtic Park on Sunday. A few days in Dubai should be perfect preparation for those that Gerrard will turn to time and again.

It is those players that Gerrard trusts, that he can depend on, and the nucleus of his squad will be expected to see the Gers over the winning line in the Premiership. The Scottish Cup is also on the priority list, while the Europa League offers opportunities as Braga lie in wait in the last 32.

Gerrard has his squad and their ambitions are clear. Now, it is up to the manager and his players to deliver on their 2020 vision at Ibrox.

https://www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/sport/18131820.rangers-january-focus-will-outs-rather-ins-now-steven-gerrard-laid-foundations-title-bid/