Gerrard has simply GOT to find a replacement for stricken Katic
IT’S IMPOSSIBLE TO FIGHT FOR A TITLE WITHOUT KEY MEN, SO...
You have to prepare at all levels. Once the window shuts, then that’s it
GRAHAM ROBERTS still stands as a perfect example of the power of central defensive reinforcement.
Signed by Graeme Souness back in December 1986, the Englishman’s uncompromising influence was crucial to Rangers pulling clear of Celtic and delivering a first title in nine years to Ibrox.
Roberts remains hopeful his former club can mark the season ahead by ending an even longer wait for success. Considering their prospects from his home in Essex, the 61-year-old expressed faith in the management of Steven Gerrard as Rangers deal with the monumental pressure of trying to stop their Parkhead rivals from claiming ten in a row.
Security at the back is essential, however. And Roberts believes nothing can be left to chance now that Nikola Katic has been ruled out for the ‘foreseeable future’ with a serious knee injury.
The 23-year-old Croat played 29 times last term, but is facing months of recovery from suspected cruciate ligament damage. That leaves Connor Goldson, Filip Helander and George Edmundson as the three available central defenders. While excellent in a Europa League win over Braga, former Oldham youngster Edmundson only has four Premiership starts to his name.
Roberts was impressed by the strength of the partnership between Goldson and Helander that saw Rangers concede just seven times in a ten-game unbeaten run before the Swede suffered a foot injury last December.
Helander’s return to full fitness is an obvious boon, but Roberts feels Gerrard must go back into the market to cover Katic’s absence and ensure sufficient depth.
‘They have to get someone else in now,’ said Roberts. ‘If Katic is going to be out for a long time, you have to replace that. Two experienced centre-halves don’t get by.
‘When Graeme Souness went up there, he brought in Terry Butcher and he had Dave McPherson. Those two played then I came in during December.
‘The following year, Richard Gough arrived and actually played right-back for a while.
‘Graeme knew that central area of the pitch was where he had to strengthen and I think that’s what Steven has to do now. He has to make sure they are nice and solid there in terms of options.
‘To me, Goldson and Helander looked the best partnership. I like them when they play together. They worked really well in that period before Helander got injured.
‘That obviously looks like it’s going to be the partnership at the start of the new season but Rangers are right into it with a difficult game against Aberdeen on August 1.
‘They have to keep their fingers crossed those two stay fit if they don’t bring anyone in. But all it takes is a little niggle and there are a lot of games in quick succession.
‘You just can’t take the chance. Once the transfer window is finished, that’s it. You have to prepare at all levels and if you don’t, you’ll come unstuck. It’s a real shame for Katic and I wish him well because I think he is a good player.’
Sportsmail understands Rangers have already started to consider options, with a loan move one obvious solution while Katic is sidelined.
The challenge will lie in finding the right profile of addition. Even if regarded primarily as back-up, not every player could cope with the intensity of scrutiny that will be applied next season.
In truth, those already at Rangers still have something to prove in that respect given the way their domestic form unravelled following last season’s winter break.
Again, Roberts views Helander’s availability as crucial. The 27-year-old won a league title in Sweden with Malmo before moving to Verona and then Bologna in Serie A.
‘Having Helander there is important because he has done it before, as well as being a good player,’ argued Roberts, capped six times by England.
‘That experience is always good. He knows what it takes to get over the line, as do one or two more. It’s about getting the others to buy into that same mindset. I was talking to Jermain Defoe on Friday at a Q and A.
‘He was telling me how up they were for this season. That was really good to hear and he is another who sets standards.
‘But it’s tough to make that change into a team with a real, consistent winning mindset.
‘I thought they were going to win the League Cup last season, they deserved it on the day. But that’s what Celtic do. They get over that line.
‘Rangers have to find a way of doing the same. This season is vital. Everyone knows what the league is about.
‘I think back to my time and Terry was always a winner. Chris Woods might not have won things but he was an England international. I had won the UEFA Cup and FA Cup. And the gaffer (Souness) had won mega trophies.
‘That spine was really strong and everyone else fed off it. You could feel that attitude in the dressing room before games and we went more than 1,100 minutes without losing a goal.
‘The confidence in what we were doing just built and built.’
Gerrard has already moved to turn Defoe’s loan into a permanent contract, while Ianis Hagi, Jon McLaughlin and Calvin Bassey have been added to the squad. Speaking before Katic was injured, the Ibrox manager admitted he would focus on quality over quantity in his remaining transfer dealings.
‘Rangers will give everything they’ve got next season,’ added Roberts. ‘I’m always optimistic but I think Steven might need to bring two or three in, just to give
that extra strength. The good thing for me is that there is no winter break this year. That could be a big factor when you look at what’s happened over the past two seasons.
‘I don’t know what Celtic do when they go away, but they seem to come back and hit another level. Rangers have to make sure they get to that level and stay there.
‘Everyone knows there will be huge pressure to come but Steven is up for the challenge. He has lived with pressure his whole life at Liverpool. He is the right person for the job. He’s been unfortunate not to win a trophy and he’s had a great run in the Europa League.
‘But he has to win a trophy this year. That’s not me putting pressure on him. Steven will know that himself. That’s just the nature of Rangers.’