IBROX NEW BOYS CAN TOUGH IT OUT
Moore: Our six Ibrox new boys look good but it takes a hard man to succeed at my old club
CRAIG MOORE believes cautious optimism and a dressing-room dog-eat-dog approach can deliver silverware for Rangers this season.
The Ibrox legend has seen Steven Gerrard add six transfer window signings and insists there’s already more bite to the bark of a side now geared to place trophies on the table.
South Africa midfielder Bongani Zungu was the latest recruit on loan from Amiens to join Ianis Hagi’s arrival on a permanent deal along with Jon McLaughlin, Leon Balogun, Calvin Bassey, Cedric Itten and Kemar Roofe.
And the Aussie’s convinced this campaign won’t flatter to deceive like last term’s implosion.
He’s adamant the new faces can provide the edge in domestic and European campaigns that must bring tangible reward for the efforts.
Moore said: “Everyone at
Rangers, from the manager down, knows this season they’ll be judged on success.
“It’s been a great start but they’ve been in good positions before, last season we saw things not go to plan after the winter break. It’s got to be all about something being there at the end of all of the hard work. That’s the end game and what they’re trying to achieve.
“They’ve added six players since the summer and it’s easy for these boys to have a profile and a background but you learn about them in the months ahead.
“I remember walking in the front doors at Ibrox on my first day and climbing the marble staircase. It takes a certain character to be a Rangers player. We’ll learn about these players this season and see if they have what it takes to be successful at the club. It means nothing until we see how they cope with the expectation.”
Moore is convinced the key for success at his old club can be found in the weekly battle for players to try to stamp their name on a team-sheet.
That need to continually look over the shoulder is what Gerrard has been striving for during his time at the helm.
He said: “You never win anything in football with 11 players, every manager knows that. It’s about the ability to stretch the squad and making sure you have quality and depth is always a work in progress. We have watched that happen in the last few months. That can make the crucial difference at Rangers and the players who have come in have done a good job.
“It will give the manager a nice headache and he’ll love having that problem in terms of having competition for places in every position.
“It also creates a competitive environment within the squad, hopefully that will be the key for the success which we hope will now follow.
“When you assess the transfer window, Rangers have
made some really big positive steps in the last few months, especially during difficult times with a pandemic which has affected every club.
“It’s taken time for Steven to create a squad that now has a quality and depth within it and that’s to be expected. Most importantly, he’s also had the support he needed from the club and the boardroom.
“There’s no doubt it’s been positive and that comes from the way Rangers have started.
“Look at the performances and the recent games where they’re scoring goals and the lack of goals they’ve been conceding. The amount of clean sheets has been the foundation to that impressiveive start.
“Factor in thehe impressive campaign in Europe and reaching the Europa League group stage and it’s positivess on all fronts. I wass so impressed with the win over er Galatasaray last st midweek, it was a mature and accomplished performance. It was always going to take time to become a successful team and Steven has now had that and you can see the improvements. impr “A fight for a starting spot is the best ththing for footballers. To knknow if you have a bad performancep and may not play the following foll week only drives dr up standards.” Moor e i sn’ t convinced c the Old Firm F clash a week on o Saturday will only onl bring a body blow tto the loser. He added: “Having that psychological psycholo edge from winning wouldwo be massive. “Nobody wantsw to be on the losing side butbu at this stage even a defeat wouldn’twou be seasondefining.defining. ThereTh will be plenty of twists and turns but it’s an Old Firm dederby so everything will be on theth line.”