PRAYING FOR TITLE JOY
Gio has the best group in the country.. if Gers can stand firm and keep them together, they’ll be smiling all the way to two-in-a-row come May IBROX LEGEND WRITES EXCLUSIVELY FOR YOU EVERY WEEK
IT is great to see Alfredo Morelos grinning again but if Gio van Bronckhorst can keep his squad intact through January it will be the Rangers fans smiling come May.
My old club is starting 2022 on top of the league and on top form. They are going to take some shifting but the next few weeks will be vital – even before anyone kicks a ball again.
It’s straightforward for me. If Rangers can fend off the expected interest in their top players then they will be the ones who remain on top by the end of the season.
Nothing is guaranteed in the January window but I think Rangers will look to the big picture – and the £40m carrot up for grabs of the Champions League at the end of the season.
The rewards are huge and I am sure they will do everything in their power to keep hold of the club’s best players.
This is the best squad in the country. Rangers have strength in depth in every position. If they can keep this group together then they will take some stopping. It would be daft to suggest they’ll romp it by 25 points again.
Celtic have brought in a few and may go out and spend more in January so it’s up to Rangers to remain firm.
But if Gio can keep hold of the quality like Joe Aribo, Alfredo Morelos, Ryan Kent and Glen Kamara then I believe the title will be staying at Ibrox.
Obviously if some ridiculous offers come in then it’s a worry.
But even if that is the case then Gio will have a list of players he could go to if he wants to bring in replacements.
We know the market is crazy and English clubs can spend top dollar in terms of transfer fees and wages. I’d imagine there might be some goings in terms of the fringe players and there could be a loan deal or two coming in.
I just feel the Gers board will try everything in their power to keep this squad together.
It looks like a settled group and they seem to be enjoying their football under van Bronckhorst.
Just look at Morelos. There’s no doubt for me the striker has had a new lease of life under Gio.
I’m not saying he wasn’t doing the business for Steven Gerrard, as you only need to look at his outstanding performances last season.
But you’ve got to admit he wasn’t quite himself in the early part of this campaign.
I don’t know if that was down to the fact he came back late for pre-season.
Sometimes if you miss the early stages of the return it can take a while to get up to speed.
He certainly looks the part now with six goals in eight games under the new management regime. Morelos also has a smile on his face again.
Listen, the striker is one of these guys who sometimes can’t hide his emotions. If he’s angry, he looks angry.
If he’s in a wee huff, there’s no way for him to hide it.
You get players like that and
I know he has his critics. But I’ve always been a fan.
I also like to see him enjoying his football and that looks to be the case again.
His goal against St Mirren summed it up last Sunday.
It was a brilliant header that Jak Alnwick managed to save.
He didn’t stand back and admire his effort though. He was on it in a flash and he nearly took the net off.
That’s the sign of a hungry striker – and it’s great news for Rangers he’s rediscovered his mojo. He’s not the only one either.
You’ve got to hand it to van Bronckhorst.
He’s come in on the back of the League Cup defeat and not just steadied the ship.
He’s got the side flying again.
Seven wins on the bounce, five clean sheets on the spin.
He has tweaked the way Rangers play and you’ve got to say it’s worked a treat. It’s provided a spark to several players, not just Morelos. The new line up has really freed up Joe Aribo.
I keep banging on about him but it’s only because I really think he’s top drawer and he’s excelling in that attacking role in the middle.
Aribo has got the lot. He’s big, strong and quick, he’s got great feet and he’s added goals.
No wonder there’s a lot of talk about clubs being interested.
Keeping him is key but it’s the same for a few of them.
Rangers are in good shape for 2022. A good January and it can be a happy new
year.