If ever there was a fitting tribute to Walter Smith, it would be to go out and hammer Aberdeen, a club synonymous with the late manager’s early years at the club.
For those old enough to remember, whilst Celtic were languishing in mid-table, it was the Dons who posed our biggest threat – the famous, winner takes all victory at Ibrox on the last day of the season in 1991 the highlight of several triumphs against bitter rivals, that he led us to success with several key players missing and others playing out of position epitomised his man management skills.
This time, it is Aberdeen who have players missing, most notably in defence, and Rangers should take full advantage – we have to be at it from the word go and never take our foot off the pedal.
Allan McGregor and Steven Davis are the only players from the current squad who played under Smith but others, like Scott Arfield, Ryan Jack, James Tavernier and Connor Goldson will be fully aware of how important a figure he is in the club’s history.
These are the players who should enforce the “relentless” mantra from last year to ensure that Stephen Glass and his team have to endure the hardest 90 minutes of their season.
Modern coaches tend to have a philosophy, Smith’s was just to win, his players never knew when they were beaten – three points and the first complete performance of 2021/22 would be a fitting way for 50,000 fans to say goodbye to a man who meant so much, to so many.