Craig Moore has experienced everything as a Rangers player, the highs of 9-in-a-row and the lows of the following season in Walter Smith’s “last”, he was then a pivotal player under both Alex McLeish and Dick Advocaat, again, going from winning trebles to losing the league by 20 points, he knows what he takes to be a success at Ibrox and how hard it is when things aren’t going well.
Speaking to Sky Sports, the former Gers skipper has some concerns about what he has seen, and not just on the pitch, pointing out some of the comments from our leadership group after disappointing results as something that should worry supporters:
“There have been some post-match interviews come out that are quite alarming. Going back to James Tavernier’s after the first away game of the season – lack of hunger, lack of desire.
“This coming from the players and for me that’s a huge concern. Again, Connor Goldson has come out with the same kind of remarks after the match yesterday.
“Rangers are a fantastic club with the best supporters in the world – when they’re onside. You get them offside and it’s a very, very tough place to play. This team needs to show a bit of grit.
“It’s been glossed over that they’re four points ahead (in the league). Performances from the start of the season through to now have been nowhere near good enough.
“In my experience, you can’t win a title playing this way – things need to change.
“Giovanni’s got a big job. The reality is, day in, day out, there needs to be competition and performance in training.
“If you don’t have that, you suffer at the weekend.”
This team needs a bit of grit. Moore is right, Filip Helander and Ryan Jack were sorely missed yesterday. That’s not an excuse but a damning indictment on those that were selected to do a job and failed.
In the past, Allan McGregor, Connor Goldson, Steven Davis and Alfredo Morelos could be relied upon to lead others around them but they were all posted missing yesterday, all th more bizarre when you consider that their new manager was sit-in watching them in the stands.
Giovanni van Bronckorst, at least, has a decent starting position in terms of the league and doesn’t have an injury crisis to contend with either, he almost has a blank canvass on which he can start again – those expecting to be given special dispensation for previous service could be in for a shock.