Over the last few days, there have been a couple of ‘interesting’ contributions in regard to Rangers but not necessarily from pro-Rangers media outlets.
It is always wise to take stock of what is being said across the Scottish football commentariat, from those with a mainstream platform like Graham Spiers of the Times Scottish edition, to the rambling blogs of a man by the name of Phil MacGiollabhain.
In the case of the former, there’s not a lot that needs to be said.
Steven Gerrard looks quietly terrified of the size of the job facing him in trying to mould Rangers into a force again in Scotland, let alone Europe, writes @GrahamSpiers https://t.co/sMg1E7kpv6
— The Times and The Sunday Times Scotland (@timesscotland) July 23, 2018
The writer who doesn’t attend many football games is on record as being ‘a boyhood Rangers fan’ yet has revelled in recent years to be a thorn in the side of Rangers, much of it in the guise of a moral crusader.
As included above, back in July 2018, Spiers made another claim that Steven Gerrard was not up to the task. He stated that the formidable Liverpool legend was ‘quietly terrified’ at the tasks ahead, at home and particularly, in Europe.
Of course, journalists and writers give opinions and predictions that turn out to be wrong or wide of the mark. That comes with the territory.
However, it is something different to be completely disrespectful and ill-informed.
It was this tweet from Spiers that has provided much amusement to the Rangers support in recent times, against the backdrop of significant strides forward made in Europe. It is only now with Rangers anticipated title run in and likely victory, that he has attempted to save face.
An article penned last week in the Times stated, “…more than once, I expressed my doubts about Rangers appointing a rookie manager like Gerrard in the first place. It was a huge risk back in 2018 — I think even most Rangers fans admitted it was — but it finally appears to be paying off.”
Spiers continued, “Gerrard, once tipped to be ‘eaten up by the job’ (that one wasn’t from me) has grown in the position impressively. Calm, measured and carrying authority, he has eyed up the Ibrox storm he entered and imposed his beliefs.”
Where was this contrition at the beginning?
You Kent be serious
As for the blogger Phil, where to start dear reader.
By now, it is hard to believe how far he will stretch in order to find some credibility.
The latest offering on Ryan Kent’s contractual situation is amusing, if nothing else in these times of joy as a Rangers fan.
“A few days ago, I was given a tip about a possible problem with the Ryan Kent contract.”
“My information is that the player supposedly had a £15 million release clause in his contract, but there was a typo in the paperwork that was signed and it said £5 million instead.”
“Then the player’s representatives made the folks at Leeds aware of this minor detail which, if true, could save them around £10 million for the winger.”
If indeed!
During Rangers fall and subsequent rise, there have been many actions and people involved in the name of the club that have rightly attracted criticism and close scrutiny.
That should always be welcomed, however for the best part of a decade, too many in the mainstream have enjoyed sticking the boot in without balance or recourse.
Now that the balance of power in Glasgow is shifting and the Ibrox house is getting itself in order, to expect to be welcomed to a seat at the table would be another glaring lack of judgement.