The Good, The Bad and The Future

 

What a day Saturday was. The team finally got to see all of their magnificent hard work pay off on the final day of the 2020/21 season when they were presented with the SPFL trophy. 

It started off with a brilliant 4-0 demolishing of Aberdeen that showed that even though the season was done and that this game was just a formality this squad was not about to let their standards drop. Another great showing for Kemar Roofe as he added 2 goals to his tally for the season and another clean sheet for our back 4 and Allan MacGregor was very pleasing to see, but I'd be lying if I didn't admit the best part of the game for me was Jermain Defoe scoring our final goal of the season.

I've spoken before about how I want Jermain to stay (Red, White and Blue Order) and I was over the moon to see him score again. The video that the club put online today of him presenting his mother with his match shirt and winners medal is exactly why. He just exudes class and for me, it has been an absolute privilege to have him play for Rangers.

Then it culminated in a decade worth of waiting, praying, and frustration when we finally got to see that trophy lifted by the Rangers captain James Tavernier. Anyone who says they weren't a bit emotional during that is perhaps being a bit liberal with the truth.

Personally, I celebrated in the house with my kids, however, a large number of Rangers fans went to Ibrox and then on to George Square to fully enjoy and celebrate the moment. This celebration by fans has unfortunately led to a lot of negativity online towards Rangers fans.

Yes, there was some fighting, but show me one event in Scotland that has involved a large group of people drinking all day and hasn't led to fighting...

I won't go into the details of this any further though as it's been covered enough from all angles. Instead lets review the season gone and look at the future as I aim to put a little bit of positivity back into the Rangers online world.

The Good:

After the season we've just witnessed this section could be multiple articles all on its own. I will however try to narrow it down to a few really special points of the season that I think truly show just how great this season has been and one that we will remember forever.

Europe:

Going into the season you would have forgiven some of our fans for not being overly concerned about Europe this year. The priority was 100% the league and everything else was a bonus. I think given it's highly unlikely we will see Rangers win a European cup (never say never) again it also gave it a little less priority in the mind of the average fan who perhaps is not concerned with the financial aspect.

However, after year on year improvement, we once again saw another massive performance from the team that saw us defeat Turkish giants Galatasaray in the qualification rounds and then top our Europa League Group that contained Portuguese title challengers Benfica who had spent 105m Euros in the summer, Standard Liege and Lech Poznan.

After topping the group we then saw a swashbuckling performance over two legs where we beat Royal Antwerp 9-5 on aggregate before unfortunately losing out to Slavia Prague in the round of 16.

Our European improvement under Gerrad has been nothing short of exceptional and has not only helped improve the club's financial status but also boosted the club's image when it comes to potential standings. I can't wait to see how we do in Champions League qualifiers and hopefully the Champions League itself.

Nathan Patterson:

What a revelation young Nathan Patterson has been. His COVID breach aside this has been the season of dreams for the young man.

Most of us were aware that the club had high hopes for Nathan when he was in the academy but when he was forced into the team to replace the injured Tavernier he barely put a foot wrong, including big games against that lot in the Old Firm, Hibs and scoring against Royal Antwerp in Belgium.

He has been rewarded with this form by being called up to the Scotland Euro squad and so long as he can keep progressing under Gerrard and his team and keeps his head the future is as bright for Patterson as he wants it to be.

The Defence:

A season of record-breaking for our defence this year. Only 13 league goals conceded, only 4 at Ibrox. 26 clean sheets in the league, breaking the other lot's record of 25. 

3 of that back 5 were nominated for every Player of the Year going in Allan MacGregor, James Tavernier, and Connor Goldson. Connor Goldson for me the pick of the bunch, having played every minute of the campaign only four years after undergoing major heart surgery and facing the possibility he may never play football again.

That is however nitpicking as every member of that unit has been outstanding this season, and let us not forget Fillip Helander has yet to actually lose a league game in his Rangers career.

Invincibles:

Is there really any more that needs to be said about this? To go a full league season without losing a game is simply astonishing, especially when you consider how threadbare the squad was towards the end of the season.

That sheer will and determination the players showed in those final few games to get the invincible season over the line showed how much of Gerrard's winning character has been embedded in this team.

This was a special season, one we know was special, but one we may not realise quite how special for a while yet. We will talk about this season with our children and our grandchildren. We will tell them of the COVID pandemic, of the lockdowns and the lost ones, but how during that Rangers put on one of the greatest seasons in Scottish football history.

The Bad:

In contrast to the previous segment, this one is easy to keep short because there is very little to write about here. It's been such a good season that it's hard to pick out many bad points.

The Cups:

The obvious starting point is our cup performances. The Old Firm aside we were absolutely woeful in our cup games. A couple of wins against lower league teams and then put out by teams we shouldn't even let lay a glove on us.

That's the beauty of cups, anyone can win on the day, but realistically that is simply not good enough. To not even make a final after the other lot were knocked out early in both is pathetic. The St Mirren game could be put down to complacency and the St Johnstone game to the tank being empty, but either way, Gerrard knows this needs to improve and I expect next season we'll see the team really go for it.

The Midfield:

It may seem a surprise to include the midfield in the bad as they have been outstanding this season, but the reason I include it is that it needs investment. At present, our midfield cost £50k for Glen Kamara and whatever we paid for Joe Aribo. 

You could argue that is a positive because it shows how well we've done finding bargains, but with Ryan Jack suffering a number of injury issues, as well as Arfield, Steven Davis aging (although he shows no signs of it), and Zungu not working out we are desperate for some reinforcements into that area of the pitch.

Hagi and Aribo can both fill in there but neither is at their best in a central midfield role and it is something I have no doubt that Gerrard and Ross Wilson have already identified and know exactly who they plan to target.

There's been a lot of talk of Lewis Ferguson last 2 seasons and with him handing in a transfer request today I imagine that will ramp up. 

A recent poll I ran was ever so slightly against that transfer and part of me feels we're only linked because of the name, however if he does come in he'll get my full support. 

The Future:

Next season is going to be massive for us. We have an opportunity to qualify for the Champions League and if we cement our place as the kings of Scotland again we can guarantee Champions League automatic qualification for the following season, providing some much-needed financial boost.

Euro 2020:

Euro 2020 will see a number of our players represent their countries, not least of which Borna Barisic for Croatia and Glen Kamara for Finland. If both of these players have the type of tournament they're capable of, and I think they will, our resolve to keep them will be tested.

I fully expect at least one, if not both, to be the subject of a bid we can't turn down. The board has shown great resilience last summer to turn down big money bids for Alfie and Kent, and that paid off. However, we know that we need to make one or two big-money sales for the current business plan to work and I think, personally, after the season they've had and a good Euro's they will be the players.

This will leave us with two big holes to cover. I've already highlighted the need for investment in the midfield area and losing one of our best players in the position will create an even bigger need. I'm also not sold on Bassey being able to replace Borna yet. He's a project and needs time to develop. If Borna goes we will need to find someone who can fill that role straight away, and that's a big role as Borna has become a massive part of how we play over the last two years after a tough start.

Incomings:

We already know we have Fashion Sakala, who scored twice tonight by the way, and Nnamdi Ofoborh signed ready to join us in the summer.

Sakala looks like he will be able to contribute straight away, a pacy player who can play across the front three positions and has an eye for goal by all accounts. Ofoborh remains a mystery though. After agreeing to sign for us Bournemouth loaned him to Wycombe where he started the first 3 games before quickly finding himself on the bench as a bit-part player and then eventually out of the matchday squad altogether. His final game for Wycombe coming in March.

Like Bassey and Simpson, I very much assume he is a project and we won't be expecting him to feature much next season, but as our only incoming midfielder at the moment it highlights the need for some real investment in that area.

To date Ross Wilson has pretty much been almost perfect for me, Zungu may not have worked out but that is why he was a loan deal, and the signings of Roofe, Hagi and most recently Wright have been brilliant. 

This is a big summer and I'm more than confident he is up to the task.

Outgoings:

Apart from the previous two I discussed as possible outgoings I expect a lot of the fringe players to move on. I don't expect we will see Jordan Jones or George Edmundson back at the club, the former having had a very successful loan at Sunderland so far which will no doubt see interest in him increase.

I would also expect to see Greg Stewart and potentially Glen Middleton leave, with perhaps Nikola Katic going out on a year's loan to get a full season under his belt as he will be fighting with Helander and Balogun for that 2nd spot beside Goldson.

56:

Bring. It. On.

Hopefully this article has helped remind us that despite all that negativity in the online world the last few days, it's mainly nonsense and no worse than any other team's fans have been guilty of over the years or even things like dance festivals. Meanwhile, this season has been utterly stupendous.

The Rambling Ger

Twitter - @GerRambling

IG - TheRamblingGer

P.S - Those of you who follow me on Twitter will have seen me retweeting my 5 year old's Champions Challenge for the Rangers Charity the last week. Glad to say he completed it last Sunday and thanks to all the kind donations he's very close to £2k raised. We had originally aimed for £150 but smashed that very quickly, when we got to £1872 we thought that would be a good place to end it but smashed that so are now hoping to reach £2021.55 by close of play on Sunday to mark this perfect season.